A Comprehensive Catalogue of Qing Dynasty Poetry and Prose Collections (Volumes 1, 2, and 3)

Author: Ke Yuchun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-01
Features: This book provides a comprehensive survey of existing Qing Dynasty poetry and prose collections, recording over 40,000 collections by more than 19,700 authors. Each collected collection is annotated with the number of volumes, versions, author biographies, main content, and the institutions or private collectors holding them. There are numerous Qing Dynasty poetry and prose collections in existence, vast as the sea, but they are scattered across various locations. Some are even manuscripts or copies that have never been published, and over time, they have inevitably suffered from water damage, insect infestation, mold, and deterioration, leading to gradual loss. Investigating and cataloging this vast and precious cultural heritage for further organization, compilation, and research is a task of great significance and a monumental undertaking. The author of this book, working alone, devoted decades of effort, traveled across major libraries in key regions of the country, and examined tens of thousands of Qing Dynasty poetry and prose collections to complete this three-volume, 5.6 million-word monumental work. Although Qing Dynasty poetry and prose collections are personal works, they reflect the thoughts, knowledge, actions, and experiences of the Qing people, covering everything from major military and state affairs to trivial daily matters. Their content is extremely broad, serving as both rich historical records and invaluable treasures of cultural heritage, holding great value for the study of Qing history and traditional Chinese culture. When evaluating the collected collections, the book strives to use the perspectives of contemporary scholars to avoid biases caused by later generations judging the past with modern concepts, thereby giving the book a strong research and academic rigor. As a specialized work in bibliography and source studies, this book provides a key for academia to unlock the treasures of Qing Dynasty poetry and prose collections.