Collected Notes on Historical Materials (Volume 1 and 2) -- Series of Collected Notes on Historical Materials from Different Dynasties

Author: Wang Shizhen Lesen
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1998-01-01
Features: Among the four sections of the book, the first three sections are most valuable in terms of reference. For example, in the section "Tang Gu" (Discussions on Antiquities), the entry "Hanlin Qing Shi Shu" records the addition of Manchu Assistant Vice Ministers in the Imperial Academy and the establishment of Manchu posts for the Imperial Secretariat and Secretariat during the early Qing Dynasty. Entries such as "Eight Banners Examination," "Taiwan Examination," and "Manchu Examination" discuss certain aspects of the examination system during the Shunzhi and Kangxi periods. The section "Suicide for the Tomb" records the old custom of the Eight Banners using servants and concubines for suicide during the early Qing Dynasty, which can be cross-referenced and supplemented with classic works like The Rites of the Qing Dynasty and The General Treatise of the Qing Dynasty. Some entries in the section "Tang Xian" (Discussions on Contributions), though based on rumors, can also supplement historical records. For instance, the entry "Shi Ge Bu" (Shi Kefu) describes how Shi Kefu rode a donkey to the Qing army camp when Yangzhou fell, refusing to surrender and being executed, which can broaden knowledge. The section "Tang Yi" (Discussions on Arts) accounts for about one-third of the book's content, mainly featuring the author's personal opinions on poetry and painting, expressed through spiritual insights. Therefore, The General Catalogue of the Four Treasuries describes it as "The nine volumes of 'Tang Yi' discuss poetry and literature, setting new standards and truly being uniquely skilled." Some entries preserve materials related to arts during the late Ming and early Qing periods, such as the entry "Yue Shi" (Guangdong Poetry), which records fragments of poems by the three great figures of Lingnan, such as Qu Dajun and Chen Gongyin.