Imperially Appointed Catalogue of the Four Treasuries (Revised Edition, Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Ji Yun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-01-01
Features: The Siku Quanshu comprehensively records the classics of various dynasties, with a scale far surpassing that of previous eras. According to Yang Jialuo's Overview of the Siku Quanshu, "The Han Yiwenzhi lists 678 works, totaling 54,999 volumes; about 594 years later, the Sui Jingjízhi lists 6,150 works, totaling 50,088 volumes; and about 659 years later, the Song Yiwenzhi lists 9,549 works, totaling 29,927 volumes. Over the centuries, both public and private catalogs have been compiled, with numerous overlaps and repetitions, making it difficult to investigate in detail. This record focuses on the key aspects. Since the Xuzhi, another 500 years passed before the Qianlong era launched the project of compiling the Siku Zongmu, which lists 10,585 works and 171,155 volumes. However, throughout history, most catalogs were merely for preservation, with little effort in review and correction. It was not until the reign of Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty and Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty that such efforts were made to collect and review ancient and modern texts for the benefit of scholars. The Zongmu was based on collective work, but this is not to diminish Ji Yun's decisive role in its compilation. Any reader of the Zongmu will see that the entire work has a unified purpose, and even the writing style is remarkably consistent. The most prominent aspect is the criticism, even aversion, toward Neo-Confucianism. This annotated edition of the Qinding Siku Quanshu Zongmu extensively collects and incorporates the research findings of various scholars on the Zongmu, presented in footnotes for each entry. It also applies modern punctuation to the entire work, making it convenient for readers from all backgrounds to use. Editing and punctuating these 200 volumes of the Zongmu is undoubtedly an extremely arduous task. Although the Zongmu belongs to the field of bibliography, the academic scope it covers is extremely broad. Combined with its concise yet profound entries, many sections are difficult to interpret.