Notes from the Studio of Indolent Leisure

Author: (Qing) Chen Qiyuan
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1997-12-01
Features: Several characteristics of the notes in Yongxian Qi Jin:
1. Extensive historical materials. Due to the author's erudition and broad knowledge, living in a renowned family and traveling extensively, he witnessed many events and recorded them vividly. The first part describes the author's family background and prosperity, which is a of the rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty. It includes the prosperity of the Qianlong era, when the emperor stayed at Chen's Anlan Garden and appraised the "Bohai Zhenzhen" scroll, as well as the romantic affairs. It also describes the devastation of the Chen family after the Taiping Rebellion, with their descendants scattered and their homes destroyed, and the lamentation of the "thorns and copper camels." In terms of governance, he recorded the incident of "killing white ducks": in Zhangzhou and Quanzhou, wealthy households would kill poor people and pay them gold to take the blame, calling it "killing white ducks." Even if the officials investigated and overturned the verdict, the local officials would impose even harsher punishments due to the false confessions. The parents of the "white ducks," fearing that clearing the case would lead to their own deaths, dared not appeal. As a result, hundreds of innocent people were wrongfully executed each year. The Qing scholar Huang Jiqing also recorded the incident of "killing white ducks" in Chaozhou in his collection of anecdotes, which was cited by Yang Zhongxi in his "Xueqiao Shihua." This shows the extreme authenticity of the records. The entry "The reliance on eye-witnesses in capturing bandits led to errors" describes how in the eleventh year of the Tongzhi era, Qing troops in Yangzhou were defeated in their attempt to capture bandits. The eye-witnesses mistakenly pointed ordinary people as bandits, leading to the wrongful execution of many. Chen Qiyuan lived in troubled times, and his records include events related to the Taiping Army, the Nian Army, the Tianli Society, and the White Lotus Society. For example, he recorded how the Governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, Ji Zhichang, feared that the White Lotus Society case would involve innocent people, so he burned the "names of the cultists" to save thousands of families and prevent unrest in the region. However, he himself was exiled to Xinjiang and died there. These incidents reveal the darkness of the officialdom and the suffering of the people. Among his observations, there are also records of Sino-foreign interactions. For instance, in Volume 5, the "Diplomatic Diary of the Russian Envoy" details the envoy's journey to the capital after the signing of the Treaty of Nerchinsk. Chen Qiyuan "copied the original text" to show the respect foreign countries had for China. He also recorded the "robbery case of foreigners in the Shantung Lake," where British ruffians robbed a grain ship and killed over a dozen civilians and soldiers. Chen Qiyuan ordered the capture of three foreign bandits but was released by the British consul due to "extraterritoriality," leaving him "filled with indignation to this day!" The book also includes "A Compilation of Recent Events in the West," selecting news from foreign newspapers that were "relevant to major Sino-foreign affairs." Chen advocated for "paying attention to worldly affairs." By comparing and referencing historical materials from both China and the West, he gained a comprehensive understanding of history. In terms of science and technology, the entry "Chen Qiyuan's Star Fortune Theory" uses the scientific perspective of the solar system to analyze the absurdity of the "star fortune theory," pointing out that neither nobles nor commoners were destined by fate. He was a believer in Western science, such as in the "Western Measurement Method," where he wrote that there were black spots on the sun and that their appearance was not a sign of disaster. He also discussed the ingenuity of "Western Manufacturing" and recorded how a German ironclad warship arrived in Wusong, and Feng Zhuru of the machine bureau bought a piece of ship's iron for 1,500 taels of silver. He also recorded the dissection and treatment of corpses by Western doctors, as well as the balloon battles in the air between Germany and France. He praised the establishment of the book bureau by Zuo Zongtang, the opening of the shipbuilding bureau by Li Hongzhang, and the founding of the steamship hiring bureau by Li Hongzhang. Regarding reading and scholarship, entries such as "The Difficulty of Being Erudite," "The Difficulty of Research," "The Futility of Valuing Song Dynasty Editions," and "Differences in Interpretations of Classical Texts" all reflect his thoughts on reading and research methods. Entries like "Differences in Official Names and Systems Throughout History," "Evolution of Official Attire," "The Great Ceremony of Cultivating the Fields," and "Records of Court Ceremonial Items" involve the verification of national and court rituals, which are beneficial to historical records.
2. Valuable historical materials. Some are not recorded in other books or are cited by later authors. For example, in Volume 8, the entry "Changes in Surnames" records that Qian Chenqun and Qian Zeshi's original surnames were not He; Li Hongzhang's original surname was Xu, but few people knew this. As for the Chen family, whose original surname was Gao, this is recorded in Volume 1, where Guo Jie criticized Gao Shiqi. Guo also accused Chen Yuanlong of associating with Gao Shiqi, calling them relatives. As a result, both were dismissed. Chen Yuanlong defended himself, saying, "The Chen family originally came from Gao. If I were to associate with Gao Shiqi, why would he call me his uncle?" The matter was eventually clarified. Later, Tang Rong cited this entry in his "Anecdotes from the Qing Court." Volume 1 also describes how his second cousin Chen Meishan was a skilled physician and was summoned by Heshen, the prime minister, to treat him. His mentor Wang Jie told him, "This is a treacherous official. If you go, he will kill you with medicine!" Chen Meishan was torn between going and not going and ultimately refused Heshen's summons, leading to his demotion. Chen Kangqi, in his "Langqian Jiyun," cited this entry and added his comments. Chen Qiyuan had interactions with many famous officials and scholars, such as Zuo Zongtang, Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang, Ding Richang, and Yu Yue, benefiting greatly from their discussions on literature and politics. The anecdotes he recorded about famous figures are often not found in other books. For example, when Lin Zexu was exiled to Xinjiang, he temporarily stayed at the home of Wen Lanqiao, who was Chen Qiyuan's mother-in-law. At the time, Chen Qiyuan was in his thirties and was deeply committed to learning and governance. He wrote essays such as "Strategies for Border Defense" and "Proposals for Land Reclamation" and presented them to Lin Zexu, who found his ideas aligned with his own and praised him for having the talent of "Jia Sheng." Lin also elaborated on the importance of land reclamation for border defense and the development of maritime transport. Later, when Lin Zexu became the governor of Shaanxi and Gansu, he indeed implemented the land reclamation method. These historical records can supplement the shortcomings of official histories.
3. More impartial arguments on historical facts. For example, in Volume 4, using Dai Xiongzhao's voice, he directly criticizes corrupt officials: "Farmers toil in the fields, covered in sweat and dust, working diligently all year round, yet their earnings are only a few coins. Meanwhile, scholars and officials live in luxurious mansions, travel in carriages, wear fine clothes, and eat delicacies, their lives vastly different from those of the common people. Even if they dedicate themselves to the people's affairs, they fear that their blessings will be diminished, let alone their arrogance, extravagance, and insatiable greed, accumulating wealth and treasures for their descendants. It is clear to the heavens that this is not right!" In Volume 5, the entry "The Report of Infringement on Relief Funds" exposes the corruption of the Shangyang scholar who embezzled relief funds: "In years of famine, the common people suffer and turn to the brink of death, calling for help. When they receive relief, it is truly like being given life. Those in charge should be all heart to comfort the people, yet they instead embezzle the funds. How is their heart any different from that of a wolf?" When Chen Qiyuan was handling the Fengbei Granary in Qingpu, the clerks wanted to profit from it. Chen said, "This little money is meant to feed the hungry people in times of famine. How can you bear to take away the food that the starving people will need in the future?" The clerks were moved to see his sincerity.