Essentials of the Siku Quanshu (Four Volumes)

Author: Lin Zhiman
Publisher: China Worker Publishing House
Publication Date: Not available
Features: The "Siku Quanshu" (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries) is vast and endless to read; moreover, the difficult and obscure classical Chinese poetry and prose intimidate contemporary young readers. In light of this, we have carefully selected the essence of 118 representative works from the "Siku Quanshu" and compiled this "Essence of the Siku Quanshu." With the aim of facilitating reading and recitation, the selected texts are rich in interest, brimming with vitality, every line thought-provoking, and every piece inspiring wisdom. After meticulous proofreading by relevant experts and scholars, each piece is accompanied by a concise title, and a brief preface is provided before each article to outline the author's life, main content, ideological value, and manuscript history. Additionally, specialized terms and difficult vocabulary are annotated to remove obstacles for modern readers and stimulate their interest in reading ancient classics.
The "Siku Quanshu" is the largest series of compendia ever organized personally by Emperor Qianlong. Under the direction of the chief compiler Ji Yu (Xiaolan), it was completed by 360 top scholars over a lifetime, published in 1772. The collection encompasses the four traditional divisions of classics, history, philosophy, and literature, totaling 3,461 entries, 79,039 volumes, and nearly 1 billion characters, making it a monumental cultural compendium. After its completion, four copies were first prepared and stored in Wenyuan Pavilion, Wenyuan Pavilion, Wenjin Pavilion, and Wensu Pavilion (collectively known as the "Four Inner Courts" or "Northern Four Pavilions"). In 1788, three additional copies were added and stored in Wenhui Pavilion, Wenzong Pavilion, and Wenlan Pavilion (collectively known as the "Three Zhejiang Pavilions" or "Southern Three Pavilions"). These seven copies were deeply hidden in imperial archives, making them difficult for the public to access. Subsequently, they suffered repeated destruction in wars, with the copies from Wenyuan Pavilion, Wenzong Pavilion, and Wenhui Pavilion lost forever. The Wensu Pavilion copy was looted by Japanese invaders, the Wenlan Pavilion copy was once dispersed, and the Wenyuan Pavilion copy was relocated to Taiwan for preservation in the late 1940s. The surviving copies of the "Siku Quanshu" are now extremely precious.