"World of Words"

Author: Liu Qinghua
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Publishing Date: 2004-06-01
Features: The Colloquies of the Wei and Jin is a classical masterpiece that records the social, political, military, intellectual, cultural, social customs, and literary spirit and talent from the late Han Dynasty to the early Southern Dynasties of the Song. It has had an extremely profound influence on Chinese literature, aesthetic customs, intellectual culture, and especially the spirit of scholars. The book consists of thirty-six sections and 1,130 entries, compiled collectively by Liu Yijing of the Southern Dynasties of the Song and his literary scholars. Liu Yijing (403–444 AD) was a native of Pengcheng (now Xuzhou, Jiangsu) in the Southern Dynasties of the Song and a cousin of Emperor Wu of the Song. He was enfeoffed as Prince of Linchuan and held the positions of Vice Minister of State Affairs and Director of the Secretariat. He was fond of Confucianism in his youth and developed an interest in Buddhism in his later years. The History of the Southern Dynasties describes him as "simple in nature, with few desires, and fond of literature and poetry, attracting literary scholars from near and far." At a time when the imperial family of the Southern Dynasties of the Song was generally lacking in literary talent, Liu Yijing's literary prowess not only won him the favor of Emperor Wu of the Song but also attracted many literary talents, resulting in a wealth of writings. Works such as The History of the Southern Dynasties, The Southern History, and The Sui History attribute to him, in addition to The Colloquies of the Wei and Jin (ten volumes), The Biographies of the Exemplary Figures of Xuzhou (ten volumes), The Canon of Narratives (two types), and The Collection of Fragments (three hundred volumes, all of which are now lost), as well as the collection of strange tales The Records of the Spirit World and The Records of Miracles. However, The Colloquies of the Wei and Jin is not only the most accomplished work in Liu Yijing's writings but also one of the highest achievements in the fiction of the Han, Wei, and Six Dynasties periods.