Beidong Suoyan (Tang and Song Historical Materials Notebooks Collection)

Author: Sun Guangxian
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Since the chaos and dispersion of the Tang dynasty following the rebellion of Guangming, the secret archives have been lost, and after Emperor Wuzong, there was a period of obscurity with no fame spread among the court and the people. I was born in Min'e and served in Jingyi, often feeling ashamed of my lack of knowledge about the stories of Chang'an. During my travels, I dedicated myself to extensive research. Recently, I met the former Fengxiang Yangbing, the young prefect, who often spoke of the old tales of Qin. These stories have been deeply engraved in my memory. Later, I met Yuan Cheng, the middle inspector, in Zhou Palace, and our friendly conversations often matched his accounts. Yuan said to the younger generation of the old aristocracy, "Those of you who were born in Chang'an have heard more than those in Fuchun, which is why your love for inquiry has been greatly enriched." After that, whenever I heard a story, I dared not take it at face value but cross-referenced it multiple times before putting pen to paper. Not only did I want to preserve these stories in words, but also to use them as a means of warning. Over three years, I collected these notes, and now, with my retirement, I have compiled them. First, I listed the words and deeds of the wise of the Tang dynasty in the conversation, and those with similar themes from the Tang to the Later Tang, as well as the states of Liang, Shu, and Jiangnan, were appended at the end. In total, I compiled thirty volumes of stories. The Book of Yu says, "In the dream of the land, the Yi was created," and there is a record of "hunting in the Jiangnan dream." As I worked in the north of Jingjiang, I titled this work "North Dream Fragments," with its details being self-explanatory. Though not a grand work, I hope to inspire my descendants to look up to the past, as it is like weaving silk and hemp. Those who are knowledgeable should not mock it too much.