Dragon Gate Collection:

Author: Hou Yilin
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-03-01
Features: The Longmen Collection consists of twenty volumes, with one appendix, compiled by Hou Yilin during the Ming Dynasty. Hou Yilin, styled Shunzhao and known as the Four-Grove Mountain Man, was from Leqing, Wenzhou, Zhejiang. His birth and death years are not recorded in historical records. According to the line "Together with you, we were born in the spring of Dingchou, sharing one hundred sixty-six years of life" from Wang Shuogao's Yujieyuan Cuncao, Volume 7, Huo Hou Sigu Shekai Yun, it is known that Hou Yilin was born in the 12th year of the Zhengde era (1517) and was still alive at the age of 80 (in the 27th year of the Wanli era, 1599), maintaining poetic exchanges with Wang Shuogao. The academic value of the Longmen Collection lies in its preservation of a significant amount of historical records from the Jiajing and Longqing periods, making it highly valuable as a historical source. The Longmen Collection has a Ming Longqing-era printing, preceded by an introduction by Hou Yuyuan from the 6th year of the Longqing era (1572) and a preface by Xia Jing from the 23rd year of the Jiajing era (1544). At the end, there is a postscript by Dai Xiang from the 6th year of the Longqing era and a postface by Wang Zheng. This printing is recorded in Wenruilou Mubai, Volume 9, Qianqingtang Mubai, Volume 24, and Wenzhou Jingji Zhi, Volume 27. However, it is not included in The Art Section of the Ming History, The General Catalogue of the Siku Quanshu, or The Catalogue of Fine Ancient Chinese Books. The Spectrum of the Divine Machine is a renowned work in the history of Chinese science and military history, receiving ample attention both domestically and internationally, and having exerted significant influence.