San Fu Huang Tu Annotation

Author: Wei Quanrui (Editor)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Qin capital Xianyang and Han capital Chang'an were renowned ancient capitals of China. Sanfu Huangtu is dedicated to the construction of Qin and Han capitals, with a focus on the Han capital Chang'an. It meticulously details the layout, palaces, pavilions, gardens, ponds, terraces, warehouses, bridges, cultural facilities, and ritual buildings of Chang'an and its surrounding areas, making it exceptionally comprehensive. It is a crucial historical document for studying ancient capitals, particularly the Han capital Chang'an. Sanfu Huangtu, also known as Xijing Huangtu and simply Huangtu, does not attribute its authorship. The earliest version of the book was compiled during the late Han Dynasty, as indicated by Sun Xingyan's preface ("compiled by someone in the late Han Dynasty"), Miao Changyan's inscription ("compiled between the Han and Wei dynasties"), Chao Gongwu's "Zhanxiang Shujiazhi" ("compiled between the Liang and Chen dynasties"), Song Liankui's preface ("compiled by someone in the late Han Dynasty"), and Chen Zhi's opinion ("the original book should have been completed in the late Han Dynasty, early Wei period"). While these accounts differ, they all rely on the fact that Ru Chun, Jin Zhuo, and Liu Zhao, who annotated books, already cited Sanfu Huangtu. This evidence is indeed conclusive, as the three annotators' references to the book prove it was already in existence during their time. Ru Chun was a person from the Wei Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period and served as the Chen Prefect of the Wei state. He frequently quoted Sanfu Huangtu in his annotations to the Book of Han, with at least four references still visible today. Liu Zhao was a person from the Southern Dynasties during the Liang Dynasty and held positions such as Fengchaoqing during the reign of Emperor Wu of Liang. His annotations to the "Shijiu" section of the Book of the Later Han and the "Jiangguo" section both cite Sanfu Huangtu, with two references still preserved, as seen in the supplement of this book. Based on the references of these annotators, Sanfu Huangtu's earliest version should, as Chen Zhi suggested, have been compiled in the "late Han Dynasty, early Wei period." The claims about the Liang and Chen dynasties being too late to explain the objective existence of Sanfu Huangtu being cited by Ru Chun and Jin Zhuo are untenable.