Siku Quanshu Zongmu, Two Volumes

Author: (Qing) Yongrong
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2003-08-01
Features: The Qing government began compiling the massive "Siku Quanshu" (Complete Collection of the Four Treasuries) in the 37th year of the Qianlong reign (1772), using about ten years to gather a large workforce and resources. During the compilation, content summaries were written for books included in the "Siku Quanshu" and those not included. Later, these summaries were categorized and compiled into a separate book, known as the "Siku Quanshu Zongmu" (General Catalogue of the Siku Quanshu), also referred to as the "Siku Quanshu Zongmu Tieshuo" (General Catalogue of the Siku Quanshu with Summaries).
To compile the "Siku Quanshu," a special institution called the "Siku Quanshu Guan" (Siku Quanshu Office) was established in Beijing. Whenever a book was completed, the officials of the office would draft a summary and place it at the beginning of the book. The content of the summaries included discussions on the main themes and origins of the books, the structure of their chapters, and their development. Additionally, the summaries would list the authors' titles and affiliations, examine the strengths and weaknesses of the books, and clarify textual additions, deletions, and structural changes.
Before being included in the "Zongmu," the summaries were further revised and supplemented. Ultimately, they were synthesized, balanced, and polished in terms of language by the chief compiler Ji Yun and Lu Xizhong. Ji Yun, who spent a long time in the Siku Quanshu Guan, played a significant role in the compilation and refinement of the summaries. Therefore, although the "Zongmu" was officially headed by Yongrong, the sixth son of Emperor Qianlong, it was actually compiled under Ji Yun's direction.
The "Zongmu" consists of 200 volumes, organized into four major categories—Jing (Confucian classics), Shi (history), Zi (philosophy), and Ji (poetry)—each further divided into subcategories. Some of the more complex subcategories are further subdivided into subheadings. Each major and subcategory is preceded by a preface, and each subheading is followed by an explanatory note, summarizing the origins and reasons for the classification of the works. At the end of each category, there is a "Cunmu" (recorded but not included), consisting of books that the compilers deemed of low value or whose content was deemed unfavorable to feudal rule, thus not included in the "Siku Quanshu."
At the beginning of the "Zongmu," there are sections listing the so-called "imperial edicts" of Emperor Qianlong, memorial essays submitted by the officials of the Siku Quanshu Guan, and lists of personnel and general guidelines, which roughly record the compilation process and organizational structure of the "Siku Quanshu" and the "Zongmu."
In July 1782 (the 47th year of the Qianlong reign), the first draft of the "Zongmu" was completed. Over the next seven or eight years, the content of the "Zongmu" was revised several times as the "Siku Quanshu" was continuously supplemented and updated. According to current knowledge, the "Zongmu" was finalized in 1789 (the 54th year of the Qianlong reign) and published in woodblock form at the Wuying Hall in the same year (see the 1933 publication "Catalogue of Palace Library Woodblock Editions"). In 1795 (the 60th year of the Qianlong reign), local officials in Zhejiang reprinted the woodblock edition from the Wuying Hall in Hangzhou's Wenlan Pavilion. Since then, the "Zongmu" has been widely disseminated.
The evaluation of books in the "Zongmu" is based on feudalist perspectives. On one hand, it praises the highly esteemed "Hanxue" (Han learning) of the time, with some summaries focusing excessively on minor textual (examinations). On the other hand, it promotes Confucianism and Confucian thought, which served as the theoretical foundation of the feudal social superstructure. Although the summaries sometimes disagreed with the views of Cheng Yi and Zhu Xi on specific issues, they fundamentally adhered to their Neo-Confucian principles and fiercely attacked works that deviated from feudal orthodoxy. Additionally, some summaries showed disdain toward ethnic minorities within China and revealed feudal imperialist sentiments in their descriptions of neighboring countries. These are the flaws of the book, which should be criticized.
However, we should also recognize the positive aspects of the "Zongmu." According to careful statistics during our recent (compilation), the "Zongmu" records 3,460 species and 79,309 volumes of books included in the "Siku Quanshu," as well as 6,793 species and 93,505 volumes in the "Cunmu." These books (basically) encompass the important works of ancient China before the Qianlong reign, with a particular emphasis on works from before the Yuan Dynasty. These over 10,000 books are accompanied by summaries of their general content and systematic categorization, providing great convenience for understanding ancient literature.
Moreover, the compilers of the "Siku Quanshu" and the summaries, such as Dai Zhen, Shao Jinhan, Zhou Yongnian, and Yao Ding, possessed expertise in various fields. The "Zongmu" incorporates some of their research findings, correcting certain errors and omissions of previous scholars (though the "Zongmu" still contains many flaws and gaps, which can be found in works like Yu Jiaxi's "Dialectical Examination of the Siku Tieshuo").
Therefore, as a systematic and relatively comprehensive bibliographic tool, the "Zongmu" remains useful for reference today. Our purpose in publishing this facsimile edition is precisely for this reason.