Complete Notes of the Song Dynasty. Volume 1. One

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 scholars 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 collection to "complete collections of notes by Song Dynasty scholars" and excluding "scattered individual notes that have not formed complete collections," as well as "specialized collections with focused themes and rigid structures," such as "poetic discussions, recorded sayings, genealogical records like The Tea Classic, The Painting Spectrum, The Records of Renowned Officials, and The Maxims for Officials." Of course, 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 Press in 1984 (June), the latter, while including many notes by Song Dynasty scholars, has two shortcomings: first, it mixes notes with fiction, genealogical records, popular narratives, and poetic discussions; second, some of the versions included are not of high quality. However, the author only evaluates the book from the perspective of Song Dynasty notes and does not deny its overall documentary value.
When compared with the Comprehensive Collection of Notes and Fiction from the Song Dynasty published by Hebei Education Press in 1995 (February), the latter has the following shortcomings: first, it only includes 188 notes by Song Dynasty scholars, and some important notes are inexplicably missing, such as Hong Mai's Rongzhou Notes, Zhou Mi's Kixin Miscellaneous Records, Zhou's Qingbo Magazine, Wang Guoguo'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 (which has already included ten volumes of Continued Moke Weixi), Zhao Liantian's Houlinglu, Ye Mengde's Shilin Yanyu, Lu You's Laoxue Anbei, 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 misattributing the author of Yanji Yimolu as "Wang Muyong" instead of "Wang Yong," "Ding Wei" instead of "Ding Wei" for the author of Ding Jin Gong Tanlu, "Song Qi" instead of "Song Qi" for the author of Song Jingwen Gong Bizhi, "zhou" instead of "zhou" in Pingzhou Ketao, "ji" instead of "yi" in Jiyu Bilianlu, "zhu" instead of "shu" in Zhuailin Xulu, "Dai Zhi" instead of "Dai Zhi" for the author of Shupu, "Zhao Jin" instead of "Zhao Jinlu" for the author of Yangkao Manbi, and "Chen" instead of "Chen" for the author of Fuxuan Yelu, and so on.
Second, most of the notes by Song Dynasty scholars in this book are being published for the first time after being collated and punctuated, reflecting the "new" characteristic. Among the 49 notes in the first volume, 13 have already been collated and punctuated by Zhonghua Book Company and Shanghai, while 36 have been newly collated and punctuated, accounting for over 73% of the total. Among these newly collated notes, some of the more important ones include Zhang Ji's Jia Shi Tanlu, Wang Zeng's Wang Wen Zheng Gong Bilu, Song Qi's Song Jingwen Gong Bizhi, Jiang Xiufu's Jiang Liji Zazhi, Zeng Bu's Zeng Gong Yilu, Su Shi's Quchi Bilu, Su Shi's Yujiao Xianhua Lu, Chao Shuozhi's Chao Shi Keyu, Wang Qiner's Wang Shi Tanlu, etc. Although some of these notes are not long, their content covers the social economy, politics, and customs of the time, leaving behind valuable historical materials for later generations, making them highly treasured.
Third, compared to previously collated and punctuated notes by Song Dynasty scholars, this book exhibits a relatively "accurate" characteristic, with more precise collation and punctuation. The compilers and collators of this book are mostly scholars who have made outstanding achievements in the field of ancient Chinese history and literature, especially in Tang and Song literature and history. Although it may not be the absolute best, they are undoubtedly top-tier candidates. Taking the first volume as an example, particularly Kong Fanli, who collated and punctuated works such as Dongpo Zhilin, Quchi Bilu, Yujiao Xianhua Lu, Longchuan Luezhi, and Longchuan Biezhi, Deng Guangming and Zhang Xiqing, who collated and punctuated Sishui Jiwennu, Yu Yunuo, who collated and punctuated Nanbu Xinwen and Jinshi Huayuan, Diao Ji Litan, and Ding Jin Gong Tanlu, and Huang Chunyan, who collated and punctuated works such as 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 the book are presented to readers with high quality.
For example, 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 minister of the Ministry of Works, Wang Gong, of the Zidao era, served as the director of the Qiao Prefecture in the Bingwen year" (page 23), mistakenly treating the last reign title of Emperor Taizong of Song as the name of "the minister of the Ministry of Works, Wang Gong." This has now been corrected to: "The minister of the Ministry of Works, Wang Gong, served as the director of the Qiao Prefecture in the Bingwen year of the Zidao era." Similarly, in the first volume of Song Minqiu's Chunming Chuachao Lu (Zhonghua Book Company, 1980 edition), the original text reads: "In the eleventh month of the Kaobao eighth year, Jiangnan was pacified, and the Bian River was left to await the boat of the Liguang ruler" (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 boat of the Liguang ruler." These improvements are evident, further ensuring that the quality of the book's punctuation has been 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 misattributions and punctuation errors, according to the compilers' plan, the entire book is divided into approximately 10 volumes and will be completed within five to six years. The author 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.