Shūlín Qīnghuà Shūlín Yúhuà

Author: Ye Dehu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-04-01
Features: The mountains of Suzhou are majestic and lush; the waters of Taihu are clear and gentle. Thus, its people are outstanding, and the customs are simple and honest. Du Mu chose to live in Canglang, and Yu Shang took the name Yuyang. Those who belong to other provinces still yearn for this land, let alone the land where their roots and origins lie! Ye Huanbin, the Minister of Personnel, is a descendant of Mr. Song Shilin, who lived in Dongting East Mountain for generations. During the Daoguang and Xianfeng eras, he fled the chaos of the Cantonese rebels and moved his business to Hunan, settling in Changsha. Huanbin passed the imperial examination as a native of Xiangtan, served as a probationary official in the Ministry of Personnel, but was not fond of officialdom and stayed home to care for his parents. He deeply studied classical texts, calligraphy, geography, and literature, and also explored astrology, medicine, feng shui, and Buddhist scriptures, mastering all of them. He collected all kinds of books, inscriptions, paintings, ceramics, and coins. He personally created Xiyuan Garden, enjoying the beauty of water and trees. His brothers, sons, and nephews appreciated and admired them, making it a joy in life. Friends and scholars across the country envy his serene blessings. In recent years, the military chaos in Hunan led to the constant migration of the people, and Huanbin returned to his ancestral home in Suzhou. Suzhou is indeed a major center of learning, with textual scholars from the Hui family to Song Yuting and Chen Shoufu, textual critics from Chen Jingyun to Gu Qianli and Zhang Shao'an, and collectors from Xu Chuanshi to Huang Naoju and Wang Langyuan, all of whom are beyond the reach of ordinary people. Huanbin, especially, had a deep understanding of the origins of book engraving and printing, tracing it back to the Tang Dynasty and continuing to the present day, even seeking overseas sources. Old prints and fine copies, the famous seals of collectors—He Benxian and He Benbei—are like exploring the throat and pointing at the palm. This collection, "Qin Hua Qing Hua," imitates the "Yushi" by your family's Ju Chang and compares to Yu Lichu's "Miyan Bu," continuing the legacy of past scholars and opening new paths for future generations. Qiansun also shares the same passion for textual studies. During the Dingmao examination in Sichuan, his question on the "Selection of Rites" was appreciated by his teacher Li Shunde, who encouraged him in the study of bibliography. He has been diligent and devoted for over fifty years without ever relaxing. Reading your "Qing Hua," I find that everything you have said aligns with what I wanted to express, and there are also some things you have not yet mentioned. Adhering to the subtle meaning of "Song Chan Yi Min" and rejecting the ignorant views of "Chong Lun Wen Zhai" resonates with me deeply. Huanbin does not find the suffering of fleeing from war, but takes returning home as a joy. Cao Chuang, who lived in Tiao, still completed the "Quhua Painting"; Bai Shi, who had long lived in Shanyang, also took the name Qianqiu. In the past, when people were far from home, they often expressed their sentiments about their homeland. How many like you have truly put this into practice! However, the learning of Jiangsu Province has now declined, and it is hoped that you can rise and revitalize it. On the day of the winter solstice in the year Zhuangong, Jiangyin Miao Qiansun wrote this preface.