Jin Shi Records

Author: Chen Yan
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-12-01
Features: This book primarily collects Jin Dynasty poems and provides detailed supplements and explanations. During the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, the Complete Jin Poems was compiled, and at that time, the Annals of Jin Poems already existed. However, it was lost afterward, and Chen Yan compiled this book in 1936. Chen Yan believed that in selecting Zhongzhou Collection, Yuan Haowen included mostly poems depicting landscapes and objects, and living authors of the time were not selected, leaving many Jin Dynasty authors overlooked. Therefore, this book does not include "poems of ordinary, uneventful matters" (Chen Yan, Preface to Annals of Yuan Poems), and it pays attention to recording authors omitted in Zhongzhou Collection. The book comprises 16 volumes, covering "poems of significance" by over 180 Jin Dynasty authors, as well as works by anonymous writers, miscellaneous songs, folk sayings, and prophecies. However, since Chen Yan compiled Annals of Jin Poems after Annals of Yuan Poems, Jin Dynasty authors who were included in Annals of Yuan Poems are not repeated here. But important poets like Yuan Haowen, though included in the "Old Masters" section of Annals of Yuan Poems, are still found in Annals of Jin Poems. After its publication, Annals of Jin Poems did not receive much attention. Today, it is recognized that although the book adopts the traditional form of poetic annals, it provides extensive references and gathers relatively rich materials, making it helpful for understanding and researching Jin Dynasty poetry. However, there are occasional inaccuracies in the book.