Selected and Commented on Works from the Travel Notes of Xu Xiake

Author: Huang Shen
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-12-01
Features: This book is one of the selections from "Classics of Ancient History in the New Century." Based on the reading needs of readers in the new century, it selects representative chapters from "The Travel Diary of Xu Xiake" and provides insightful commentary from a fresh perspective and unique angle. Additionally, to facilitate reading, it includes concise prefaces and brief annotations. The book offers in-depth and well-considered critiques, with fluent writing and strong readability.
"The Travel Diary of Xu Xiake" is a major Chinese geographical work written in a diary format. Xu Xiake, during his travels spanning over 30 years in the late Ming Dynasty, wrote 17 travel diaries of famous mountains such as Mount Tian Tai, Mount Yandang, Mount Huangshan, and Mount Lu, as well as works like "Diary of Zhejiang Tour," "Diary of Jiangxi Tour," "Diary of Chu Tour," "Diary of Guangxi Tour," "Diary of Guizhou Tour," and "Diary of Yunnan Tour." Except for the lost fragments, over 600,000 words of travel diary materials have been preserved. After his death, they were compiled into "The Travel Diary of Xu Xiake." There are several published versions, including 10-volume, 12-volume, and 20-volume editions. The work primarily records the author's observations and travels from 1613 to 1639, providing detailed accounts of geography, hydrology, geology, and botany. It has made significant contributions to both geography and literature.
His major achievements in geography include:
① Detailed investigation and scientific documentation of the types, distribution, and differences of karst regions, particularly the characteristics, types, and causes of karst caves. In Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan alone, he personally explored over 270 caves, each with specific records of direction, height, width, and depth. He preliminarily discussed their causes, pointing out that some caves were formed by mechanical erosion by water and that stalactites were gradually formed by the evaporation of calcium-rich water droplets. He was an outstanding pioneer in the extensive study of karst landscapes in China and the world.
② Correction of errors in historical records regarding the sources of Chinese waterways. For example, he refuted the long-standing "Min Mountains guiding the Yangtze River" theory, which had been popular since the "Book of Documents·Yu Gong" over a thousand years ago, and affirmed that the Jinsha River is the headstream of the Yangtze River. He correctly pointed out that erosion and scouring are more severe in areas with curved riverbanks or where cliffs are close to the water, and that the gradient of the riverbed is proportional to the erosion force. He also provided scientific explanations for the occurrence of springs and the formation of underground streams.
③ Observation and documentation of many ecological varieties of plants, clearly identifying the influences of terrain, temperature, and wind speed on plant distribution and blooming times.
④ Investigation of volcanic remnants on Mount Da Ying in Tengchong, Yunnan, scientifically documenting and explaining the texture and formation of red pumice ejected by volcanic eruptions. His detailed description of geothermal phenomena is among the earliest in China. He also made many vivid records of the human geography of the places he visited, including local economies, transportation, urban settlements, ethnic minorities, and cultural relics.
His contributions to ancient Chinese geography surpassed previous scholars, especially in his detailed documentation and exploration of karst landscapes, which were at the forefront of the world at the time.
His main literary characteristics include:
① Descriptions of landscapes and events based on realism, imbued with a strong sense of life.
② Precise depiction of landscapes and objects, often employing dynamic descriptions or personification, far more detailed than previous travel diaries.
③ Rich vocabulary and creativity in word choice.
④ Avoidance of clichés and conventional expressions.
⑤ Emphasis on emotional expression in landscape writing, blending emotions with scenes, while also focusing on conveying subjective feelings.
⑥ Through rich descriptive techniques, the diary achieves high artistic quality and enduring aesthetic value.
Additionally, while recording his travels, he often included details about the lives, customs, and ethnic minority settlements of the local people, as well as conflicts and mergers among local lords, which were often omitted in official histories. These records hold certain historical and ethnological value.
"The Travel Diary of Xu Xiake" has been praised by later generations as "the true, grand, and extraordinary words of the world."