Selected Materials on the Social and Economic History of the Ming Dynasty (Volume 1 & 2)

Author: Xie Guozhen (compiled) / Nian Jianqiang (etc. proofread)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: The peak period of Ming Dynasty's historical records and notes. The content is also very extensive, covering politics, economy, academia, culture, technological inventions, and other aspects, with extremely rich materials. Broadly speaking, it can be divided into the following categories:
1. Comprehensive records of historical documents and biographies of the Ming Dynasty, such as Jiao Hong's Xian Zheng Lu, Wang Shizhen's Yanzhou Shanshi Sibu Cao and Yanzhou Shiliao (both front and back collections), as well as He Qiaoyuan's Mingshan Zang. Especially Mingshan Zang, which includes the biographies of technological experts and merchants, is quite distinctive.
2. Records of Ming Dynasty's social economy, customs, folk culture, as well as court rules, rituals, political flaws, and other issues, such as Shen Defu's Wanli Ye Huo Bian, Xie Zhaozhang's Wuzha Zazu, Zhu Guozhen's Yongzhuang Xiaopin, Lang Ying's Qixiu Leigao, and Fan Lian's Yunjian Jumu Chao. Such books became extremely numerous after the Wanli era.
3. Records of agricultural production, such as Xu Guangqi's Nong Zheng Quan Shu, Kuang Yao's Bianmin Tuzuan, Shen family's Nong Shu, and Zhang Lixiang's Yangyuan Jianwen Lu.
4. Records of handicraft production, such as Zhang Han's Songchu Mengyu, Song Yingxing's Tian Gong Kai Wu, and Huang Cheng's Xushu Lü.