China Literary Dictionary (Song Dynasty Volume)

Author: Zeng Zaozhuang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-09-01
Features: This book collects writers based on the traditional Chinese concept of pan-literature. It includes authors of poetry, ci, poetic prose, fiction, and literary notes. The subjects of the "Biographies" in the History of Song (including the "Biographies of Confucian Scholars" and "Biographies of Daoist Scholars") who left behind collected works are also included. This book limits its scope to writers who lived during the Northern and Southern Song dynasties (960–1279). The selection criteria mainly refer to the History of Song, Complete Lyrics of the Song Dynasty, Complete Poems of the Song Dynasty, Complete Prose of the Song Dynasty, and The Great Compendium of China·Song Literature Division, but it does not include all of them. The selection standard is whether the writer has made a definite contribution and has distinctive features in literature. As long as a writer has made a definite contribution and has distinctive features in literature, they will be included even if they are not mentioned in the aforementioned books but have other relevant materials. The entries in this book generally include the writer's name, courtesy name, birth and death years (with the years in the Common Era in parentheses); life story, literary activities, evaluation of literary achievements, surviving works and their editions, and sources of information.
Name, Courtesy Name, and Birth and Death Years:
- The birth and death years are noted in the Common Era in parentheses.
- If the birth and death years cannot be determined but there is a general timeframe, a question mark is added after the Common Era years.
- If the birth and death years are completely unknown, it is written as "Birth and Death Years Unknown."
- If the place of origin is known, it is written as "Place of Origin: [Place], now [Modern Place Name]." If the ancient and modern place names are the same, it is written as "Including [Province]." If the place of origin has changed, it is written as "Original Place of Origin: [Place], later moved to [Place]." If the place of origin is unknown, it is written as "Place of Origin Unknown." If both the birth and death years and the place of origin are unknown, it is written as "Birth and Death Years and Place of Origin Unknown."
Life Story:
- This book focuses on the life story, so it is relatively detailed.
- Official positions such as passing the imperial examinations, holding office, changing positions, and other official careers are noted with dates when available.
- Only the era name is generally noted, not the temple name (e.g., only "Xining Yuan" is noted, not "Xining Yuan of Emperor Shenzong"). The Common Era years are not included in parentheses.
- The Song Dynasty's official system was complex, so the original titles from the sources are generally retained without changes.
- Titles of nobility are generally limited to the posthumous title after the asterisk (), while posthumous names (original, changed, or private) are all clearly indicated.