China Literary Dictionary: Song Dynasty Volume

Author: Zeng Zaozhuang, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-09-01
Features: This book collects writers based on the traditional Chinese concept of pan-literature. Poets, lyricists, literary critics, novelists, and authors of literary notes are all included. Those who were recorded in the "Biographies" section of the History of Song (including the "Biographies of Confucian Scholars" and "Biographies of Daoist Scholars") and left behind collected works are also included. This book is limited to writers who lived during the Northern and Southern Song dynasties (960-1279). The scope of inclusion is primarily based on the History of Song, Complete Lyrics of the Song Dynasty, Complete Poems of the Song Dynasty, Complete Writings of the Song Dynasty, and The Great Compendium of China·Song Literature Division, but not all are included. The selection criteria are whether the writer has made definite contributions and distinctive characteristics in literature. As long as a writer has made significant contributions and distinctive characteristics in literature, this book will include them even if they are not mentioned in the aforementioned works but have other available materials. The entries in this book generally include the author's name, style name, birth and death years, life story, literary activities, evaluation of literary achievements, surviving works and their editions, and sources of information.
Name, Style Name, and Birth and Death Years:
- The birth and death years are annotated with the Common Era (CE) years.
- If the birth and death years cannot be determined but there is a general timeframe, a question mark is added after the CE years.
- If the birth and death years are completely unknown, it is stated as "Birth and Death Years Unknown."
- If the place of origin can be verified, it is stated as "Place of Origin: [Ancient Name], now [Modern Name]." If the ancient and modern names are the same, it is written as "Including [Province]." If the place of origin has changed, it is written as "Original Place of Origin: [Place], later moved to [Place]." If the place of origin is unknown, it is stated as "Place of Origin Unknown." If both the birth and death years and the place of origin are unknown, it is stated as "Birth and Death Years and Place of Origin Unknown."
Life Story:
- This book focuses on the author's life story, so it is relatively detailed.
- Official positions such as passing the imperial examination, holding office, changing positions, and other official careers are annotated with dates when available.
- Generally, only the era name is indicated, not the temple name (e.g., "Xining Year 1" instead of "Xining Year 1 of Emperor Shenzong"). The Common Era years are not annotated.
- The Song Dynasty's official system was complex, and the original titles from the source material are generally retained without modification.
- Titles of nobility are generally limited to the posthumous title after the asterisk (), while posthumous honors (original, changed, or private) are all clearly indicated.