Complete Notes on the Song Dynasty. Volume 1, Chapter 6

Author: Zhu Yian / Fu Xuanzhong, et al. (editors)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-10-01
Features: Upon reviewing this book, the editor found that it possesses the following characteristics: First, based on a scientific definition of the term "notes," the book attempts to compile as many notes written by Song Dynasty authors as possible, truly reflecting the "comprehensiveness" of the Complete Notes of the Song Dynasty, avoiding omissions and disorganization. The compilers adhere to the principle that "notes are spontaneous records rather than deliberate compositions," limiting the inclusion to "collected notes of Song Dynasty authors" while excluding "scattered individual notes that have not formed a complete collection," "specialized collections with focused themes and rigid structures," such as "poetic discussions, recorded sayings, genealogical records like The Tea Classic, Painting Spectra, Records of Renowned Officials, and Official Precepts," etc." Naturally, it also excludes novels and biographies that narrate stories in a sequential manner. Comparing this book with the Grand Collection of Notes and Fiction published by Taiwan's Emerging Books Company in 1984, the latter, despite including many Song Dynasty notes, has two shortcomings: first, it mixes Song Dynasty notes with fiction, genealogies, popular narratives, poetic discussions, etc., and second, some of its versions are not refined. Of course, the reviewer judges this book only from the perspective of Song Dynasty notes and does not deny its overall documentary value. Comparing it with the Comprehensive Collection of Notes and Fiction of Dynasties·Song Dynasty Notes and Fiction published by Hebei Education Press in 1995, the latter's shortcomings are: first, it only includes 188 Song Dynasty notes, and some important notes are inexplicably excluded, such as Hong Mai's Rongzhou Notes, Zhou Mi's Kixin Miscellaneous Records, Zhou's Qingbo Magazine, Wang Guanguo's Xuelin, Yue Ke's Muchen History, Luo Daqing's Helin Yulu, Wang Bi's Mianshui Yantalu, Ouyang Xiu's Retirement Records, He's Chunzhou Jiwen, Peng's Moke Weixi (though Continued Moke Weixi in ten volumes has been compiled), Zhao Liantian's Houlinglu, Ye Mengde's Shilin Yanyu, Lu You's Laoxue An Notes, Gong Mingzhi's Zhongwu Jiwen, etc. Without these notes, it is difficult to reflect the full picture of Song Dynasty notes, which is a great regret. Additionally, the catalog of Song Dynasty notes and fiction compiled in the latter contains numerous errors, such as the author of Yanji Yimolu being mistakenly listed as "Wang Muyong" instead of "Wang Yong," the author of Ding Jinguo Tanlu being listed as "Ding Wei" instead of "Ding Wei," the author of Song Jingwen Gong Biji being listed as "Song Qi" instead of "Song Qi," the character "zhou" in Pingzhou Ketao being mistakenly written as "zhou," the character "ji" in Jiyu Balianlu being mistakenly written as "yi," the character "zhu" in Zhuailian Xulun being mistakenly written as "shu," the author Dai Hu being listed as "Dai Zhi" instead of "Dai Zhi," the author Zhao Jin being listed as "Zhao Jinlu" instead of "Zhao Jinlu," and the author Chen being listed as "Chen" instead of "Chen," etc. Second, most of the Song Dynasty notes in this book are newly collated and punctuated for the first time, reflecting the "newness" of the collection. Among the 49 notes in this volume, 13 have been previously collated and punctuated by Zhonghua Book Company and Shanghai, while 36 are newly collated and punctuated, accounting for over 73% of the total. Among these newly collated and punctuated notes, some important ones include Zhang Ji's Jia Shi Tanlu, Wang Zeng's Wang Wen Zheng Gong Bilu, Song Qi's Song Jingwen Gong Biji, Jiang Xiufu's Jiang Linji Zazhi, Zeng Bu's Zeng Gong Yilu, Su Shi's Quchi Biji, Su Shi's Yujiao Xianhua Lu, Chao Shuozhi's Chao Shi Keyu, Wang Qiner's Wang Shi Tanlu, etc. These notes, though some may be short, contain valuable historical materials related to the social economy, politics, and customs of the time, leaving behind precious resources for later generations. Third, compared to previously collated and punctuated Song Dynasty notes, this book demonstrates a relatively "accuracy" in collation and punctuation. The compilers and collators of this book are mostly scholars with outstanding achievements in ancient Chinese history and literature, particularly in Tang and Song literature and history. Although it may not be the absolute best selection, it can be considered first-class. Taking the compilation of this volume as an example, figures such as Kong Fanli, who collated and punctuated Dongpo Zhilin, Quchi Biji, Yujiao Xianhua Lu, Longchuan Luezhi, and Longchuan Biezhi, Deng Guangming and Zhang Xiqing, who collated and punctuated Sishui Jiwen, Yu Yunuo, who collated and punctuated Nanbu Xinwen, Jinshi Huayuan, Diao Ji Litan, and Ding Jinguo Tanlu, and Huang Chunyan, who collated and punctuated Sun Weimin Zhengnan Lu, etc., are all renowned experts in Song Dynasty history or Song Dynasty literature and documents. This is sufficient to ensure that the collation, punctuation, and collation of this book are presented to readers with high quality. For instance, the previously published Xiangshan Yelu by Shi Wenying (Zhonghua Book Company, 1984 edition) contains some punctuation errors, such as the original text in the first volume: "The Vice Marshal, King Wang Gong, of the State of Zhen, in the year Zhiwen of the Zidao era, served as the military governor of Qiao" (page 23), mistakenly taking the last reign title of Emperor Taizong of Song, "Zidao," as the name of "Vice Marshal, King Wang Gong." This has now been corrected to: "The Vice Marshal, King Wang Gong, served as the military governor of Qiao in the year Zhiwen of the Zidao era." Another example is Chunming Chu Chao Lu by Song Minqiu (Zhonghua Book Company, 1980 edition), where the first volume originally read: "In the eleventh month of the Kaobao eighth year, Jiangnan was pacified, and the Bian River was left to await the journey of the Prince of Li." (page 5). This has now been corrected to: "In the eleventh month of the Kaobao eighth year, Jiangnan was pacified, and the Bian River was left to await the journey of the Prince of Li." These improvements are evident, thereby ensuring that the quality of the punctuation in this book has further improved. In conclusion, The Complete Notes of the Song Dynasty is the third large-scale anthology in the field of Song Dynasty literature and history after The Complete Poems of the Song Dynasty and The Complete Writings of the Song Dynasty. Although it has only published the first volume so far, with inevitable shortcomings such as some incorrectly marked and improperly punctuated sentences, according to the compilers' plan, the entire work is divided into approximately 10 volumes and is expected to be completed within five to six years. The reviewer believes that as the compilers accumulate more experience and the collators gradually improve their skills, they will eventually present a brand-new, high-quality documentary anthology to the readers.