Zhiben Huijiao Shitouji

Author: Zheng Qingshan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-04-01
Features: This book is the result of over a decade of effort by Mr. Zheng Qingshan, with standardized and meticulous collation, making it one of the best editions close to the original work of Cao Xueqin. It is based on the earliest extant Zhi Ping manuscripts—Jia Xu, Yi Mao, and Geng Chen—while the 64th and 67th chapters are based on the Lie Zang manuscript. Compared to other ten manuscripts, it is comprehensively collated and verified. The collation follows the principle of removing falsehoods and preserving truth, with the standards of preserving authenticity, following common versions, and choosing the best text for revisions. The four methods of collation proposed by Mr. Chen Yuan—direct comparison, internal comparison, external comparison, and reasoning comparison—are used. Notably, it corrects some difficult and previously uncorrected textual issues. Important revisions are accompanied by collation notes, appended to the end of each chapter. The last 40 chapters are appended using the Cheng Jia manuscript held by the Institute of Literature of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Additionally, an appendix is included with excerpts of Zhi Ping comments on the missing last 30 chapters of Cao Xueqin's work, for readers to compare. This book is the result of Mr. Zheng Qingshan's over a decade of effort, with standardized and meticulous collation, making it one of the best editions close to the original work of Cao Xueqin.