A Random Chat with the North of the Pool (Vol. 1 and 2)

Author: Wang Shi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1982-01-01
Features: Among the four sections of the book, the first three sections are of greatest reference value. For example, in the section "Talk of Antiquities," the entry "Hanlin Qing Shi Shu" records the addition of Manchu foreign secretaries in the Imperial Stables during the early Qing Dynasty and the addition of Manchu secretaries and secretaries in the Hanlin Academy's daily records. The entries "Eight Banners Imperial Examination," "Taiwan Imperial Examination," "Manchu Imperial Examination," and others record some aspects of the imperial examination system during the Shunzhi and Kangxi periods. The entry "Funeral for the Dead" records the old custom of the Eight Banners using servants and concubines for funeral sacrifices, which can be cross-referenced and supplemented with classic works such as the "Qing Tong Li" and "Qing Tong Dian." Some entries in the section "Talk of Contributions" are hearsay, but they can also supplement historical records. For example, the entry "Shi Ge Bu" records Shi Kefa's ride on a donkey to the Qing army camp when Yangzhou fell, refusing to surrender and being executed, which can broaden knowledge. "Talk of Art" accounts for about one-third of the book's content, mainly featuring the author's personal views on poetry and painting through the theory of spiritual charm, explaining his own beliefs. Therefore, the "General Catalog of the Four Treasuries" describes "Talk of Art" as "nine volumes, all discussing poetry and prose, leading with novelty, truly unique." Some entries also preserve materials related to art in the late Ming and early Qing periods, such as the entry "Yue Poetry," which records fragments of poems by the three great masters of Lingnan, Qu Da Jun and Chen Gong Yin, among others.
Among the four sections of the book, the first three sections are of greatest reference value. For example, in the section "Talk of Antiquities," the entry "Hanlin Qing Shi Shu" records the addition of Manchu foreign secretaries in the Imperial Stables during the early Qing Dynasty and the addition of Manchu secretaries and secretaries in the Hanlin Academy's daily records. The entries "Eight Banners Imperial Examination," "Taiwan Imperial Examination," "Manchu Imperial Examination," and others record some aspects of the imperial examination system during the Shunzhi and Kangxi periods. The entry "Funeral for the Dead" records the old custom of the Eight Banners using servants and concubines for funeral sacrifices, which can be cross-referenced and supplemented with classic works such as the "Qing Tong Li" and "Qing Tong Dian." Some entries in the section "Talk of Contributions" are hearsay, but they can also supplement historical records. For example, the entry "Shi Ge Bu" records Shi Kefa's ride on a donkey to the Qing army camp when Yangzhou fell, refusing to surrender and being executed, which can broaden knowledge. "Talk of Art" accounts for about one-third of the book's content, mainly featuring the author's personal views on poetry and painting through the theory of spiritual charm, explaining his own beliefs. Therefore, the "General Catalog of the Four Treasuries" describes "Talk of Art" as "nine volumes, all discussing poetry and prose, leading with novelty, truly unique." Some entries also preserve materials related to art in the late Ming and early Qing periods, such as the entry "Yue Poetry," which records fragments of poems by the three great masters of Lingnan, Qu Da Jun and Chen Gong Yin, among others.