Geographic Records Compilation and

Author: Li Tai (Tang Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-02-01
Features: The "Guodi Zhi" (Book of Regional Records) comprises 550 volumes and was compiled by Li Tai, Prince of Wei, in the early Tang Dynasty. It incorporates the characteristics of the "Geographic Records" in the "Book of Han" and the "Guoli Wang and Di Zhi" (Book of Regional Records by Prince Guoli Wang), establishing a new genre of geographic books. It paved the way for later works such as the "Yuanhe Junti Zhi" (Regional Records of the Yuanhe Era) and the "Taiping Huanyu Ji" (Comprehensive Records of the Taiping Era). The collection we have compiled now includes dozens more entries than Sun's compilation, but it still falls far short of the original 550 volumes and 5 supplementary volumes of prefaces and summaries. Moreover, these are all fragmented and excerpted, losing their original form. Although these are mere fragments of the "Guodi Zhi," they include explanations of place names from the entire "Records of the Grand Historian," making them still valuable references for studying the "Records of the Grand Historian" and historical geography. We have annotated the sources of the prefaces and summaries, added punctuation, and made some textual corrections. Some scholars in China have debated certain aspects of historical geography, but the merits and flaws of the original work are left for readers to judge. As for improper arrangements and textual errors in our compilation, they are due to our limited knowledge and expertise. We kindly ask readers to point them out so we may correct them. The "Commentary on the Records of the Grand Historian" and the excerpts from the "Records of the Grand Historian" are based on the annotated version of the "Records of the Grand Historian" published by Zhonghua Book Company in the 24 Histories series. This commentary is relatively complete. Additionally, the ancient texts that cite the "Guodi Zhi" are sometimes referred to as the "Kunyuan Lü" (Records of Prince Wei), the "Zhenguan Di Ji" (Records of the Zhenguan Era), the "Wei Wang Di Ji" (Records of Prince Wei), or the "Guodi Xiang" (Regional Imagery). Although the names differ, their content is entirely the same. The entries we have compiled here follow the original titles without alteration.