Rongzhai

Author: Hong Mai (Southern Song Dynasty) Peng Wei Xin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: Record of the Yue Studio covers a vast range of topics, including historical and literary allusions, astronomy and geography, anecdotes and strange tales, the sayings of the Hundred Schools of Thought, as well as literary and poetic expressions. It uniquely excels in the examination and recording of classics, history, art, and philosophy. Upon its release, it was highly praised by Emperor Xiaozong of the Song Dynasty, and it became a treasured collection in the imperial libraries of successive dynasties, sparking endless fascination among scholars for millennia. Hong Mai (1123-1202), a renowned Southern Song Dynasty litterateur, styled Jinglu and styled as Rongzhai, was from Poyang (now Bopoyang, Jiangxi). He passed the imperial examinations during the Shaoxing era and rose to the position of Academician of the Dongming Hall. Possessing extensive knowledge, he was known as a learned scholar who extensively studied classical texts throughout his life. In addition to Record of the Yue Studio, his works include the supernatural collection Yijian Zhi and the compilation Ten Thousand Tang Poems.