Ling Wai Da De Annotation

Author: Zhou Qufei (Song Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: A Record of Events from Beyond the Mountains is the only surviving work of Zhou Qufei, representing his most valuable achievements during his tenure in Guangxi. This book is indeed rich in content and holds significant historical value, deserving to be regarded as an immortal work. This can be fully affirmed by examining its significance in the following two aspects:
1. It is an important historical document in Guangxi local history, comprehensive in content and early in era. Guangxi has historically been developed relatively late, with a diverse ethnic population and unique customs. Due to regional differences and varying climates and products, it was often unfamiliar to the Central Plains people, who referred to it as a land of the strange. Since the Qin and Han dynasties, northern visitors to Guangxi occasionally left written works, but most were driven by curiosity, bordering on superstition, and were often brief.
2. It serves as valuable material for studying maritime trade between China and the West during the Song Dynasty, as well as the ancient history of regions such as the South China Sea, Southeast Asia, West Asia, East Asia, and North Africa in the 12th century. Maritime trade in the Song Dynasty was far more developed than in previous dynasties. During the Tang Dynasty, the Office of Mutual Markets was established to oversee foreign merchant transactions, but market ships were scarce.
Beyond these two aspects, the book also includes references to parts of modern Hainan Province and Guangdong Province, which hold considerable historical value for research. Additionally, it covers topics in biology, folklore, ethnic history, and the history of handicrafts, among others, though these are not elaborated on here.