Complete Notes on the Song Dynasty (Volume 1, Part 1)

Author: Zhu Yisan, Fu Xuanzhong, et al.
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-10-01
Features: Upon reviewing this book, the editor found that it possesses the following characteristics: First, based on a scientific definition of the term "notes," the book strives to compile as many notes written by Song Dynasty scholars as possible, truly reflecting the "comprehensiveness" of the Complete Notes of the Song Dynasty, avoiding omissions and disorganization. The compilers adhere to the principle that "notes are spontaneous records rather than deliberately composed works." They limit the collection to "collected works of notes by Song Dynasty scholars," excluding "scattered individual notes that have not formed a complete collection," as well as "specialized collections with focused themes and rigid structures," such as "poetic discussions, recorded sayings, genealogies, The Tea Classic, Painting Spectacles, Records of Prominent Officials, and Official Precepts," and certainly not including novels or biographies that narrate stories in detail. Comparing this book with The Great Collection of Notes and Fiction published by Taiwan's Emerging Press in 1984, the latter, while including many Song Dynasty notes, has two shortcomings: first, it mixes Song Dynasty notes with fiction, genealogies, popular tales, poetic discussions, etc., and second, some of the versions are not refined. Of course, the reviewer judges this book only from the perspective of Song Dynasty notes and does not deny its overall documentary value. Comparing it with The Collection of Notes and Fiction of All Dynasties·Song Dynasty Notes and Fiction published by Hebei Education Press in 1995, the latter has the following shortcomings: first, it only includes 188 Song Dynasty notes, and some important notes are inexplicably excluded, such as Hong Mai's Rongzhou Notes, Zhou Mi's Kixin Miscellaneous Records, Zhou's Qingbo Magazine, Wang Guanguo's Xuelin, Yue Ke's Muchen History, Luo Daqing's Helin Yulu, Wang Bizhi's Mianshui Yantailu, Ouyang Xiu's Retirement Records, He's Chunzhou Jiwen, Peng's Moke Weixi (the ten volumes of Continued Moke Weixi have already been compiled), Zhao Liantian's Houlinglu, Ye Mengde's Shilin Yanyu, Lu You's Laoxue'an Notes, Gong Mingzhi's Zhongwu Jiwen, etc. Without these notes, it is difficult to reflect the full picture of Song Dynasty notes, which is a great regret. At the same time, the catalog of Song Dynasty notes and fiction compiled in the latter contains many errors, such as Wang Muyong being mistakenly listed as the author of Yanji Yimolu instead of Wang Yong, Ding Wei being listed as the author of Ding Jin Gong Tanlu instead of Ding Wei, Song Qi being listed as the author of Song Jingwen Gong Biji instead of Song Qi, the character "zhou" being mistakenly written as "zhou" in Pingzhou Ketao, the character "ji" being mistakenly written as "yi" in Jiyou Bilianlu, the character "zhou" being mistakenly written as "shu" in Zhuailian Xulun, Dai Hu being listed as the author of Shupu instead of Dai Zhi, Zhao Jin being listed as the author of Yangkao Manbi instead of Zhao Jinlu, Chen being listed as the author of Fuxuan Yelu, and so on. Second, most of the Song Dynasty notes in this book are presented to the public for the first time after being collated and punctuated, reflecting the "new" characteristic. In the 49 notes compiled in this book, 13 have already been collated and punctuated by Zhonghua Book Company and Shanghai, while 36 have been newly collated and punctuated, accounting for over 73% of the total. Among these newly collated and punctuated notes, some important ones include Zhang Ji's Jia Shi Tanlu, Wang Zeng's Wang Wen Zheng Gong Bilu, Song Qi's Song Jingwen Gong Biji, Jiang Xiufu's Jiang Lijin Zaaji, Zeng Bu's Zeng Gong Yilu, Su Shi's Quchi Bilu, Su Shi's Yujiao Xianhua Lu, Chao Shuozhi's Chao Shi Keyu, Wang Qiner's Wang Shi Tanlu, etc. These notes, though not lengthy, contain content related to the social economy, politics, and customs of the time, leaving behind valuable historical materials for later generations, making them extremely precious. Third, compared to previously collated and punctuated Song Dynasty notes, this book has the relatively "accurate" characteristic, meaning the collation and punctuation are more precise. The compilers and collators of this book are mostly outstanding scholars in the fields of ancient Chinese history and ancient Chinese literature, especially in Tang and Song literature and history. Although it is not daring to call them the best in the world, they can be considered first-class. Taking the compilation as an example, especially Kong Fanli, who collated and punctuated Dongpo Zhilin, Quchi Bilu, Yujiao Xianhua Lu, Longchuan Luezhi, and Longchuan Biexhi, Deng Guangming and Zhang Xiqing, who collated and punctuated Sishui Jiwen, Yu Yunuo, who collated and punctuated Nanbu Xinwen, Jinshi Huayuan, Diao Ji Litan, and Ding Jin Gong Tanlu, and Huang Chunyan, who collated and punctuated Sun Weimin Zhengnan Lu, etc., are all renowned experts in Song Dynasty history or Song Dynasty literature studies. This is sufficient to ensure that the collation, punctuation, and collation of the book are presented to readers with high quality. For example, the previously published Xiangshan Yelu by Shi Wenying (Zhonghua Book Company, 1984 edition) contains some punctuation errors, such as the original text in the first volume: "The Vice Marshal, King of Hui, Wang Gong, served as the director of Qiao in the year Zhiwen of the Zidao era" (page 23), mistakenly taking the last reign title of Emperor Taizong of Song, "Zidao," as the name of "Vice Marshal, King of Hui." This has now been corrected to: "The Vice Marshal, King of Hui, Wang Gong, served as the director of Qiao in the year Zhiwen of the Zidao era." Another example is Chunming Chuachao Lu by Song Minqiu (Zhonghua Book Company, 1980 edition), the first volume originally reads: "In the eleventh month of the Kaobao eighth year, Jiangnan was pacified, and Bian River was left to await the boat of Li Guozhu." (page 5). This has now been corrected to: "In the eleventh month of the Kaobao eighth year, Jiangnan was pacified, and Bian River was left to await the boat of Li Guozhu." These improvements are evident, thus ensuring that the quality of the book's punctuation has been further improved. In conclusion, The Complete Notes of the Song Dynasty is the third large-scale anthology in the field of Song Dynasty literature and history after The Complete Poems of the Song Dynasty and The Complete Writings of the Song Dynasty. Although it has only published the first volume so far, with inevitable shortcomings such as some incorrectly marked and punctuated sentences, according to the compiler's plan, the entire book is divided into about 10 volumes and will be completed in five to six years. The reviewer believes that as the compilers gradually accumulate experience and the collators steadily improve their skills, they will eventually present a brand-new, high-quality documentary anthology to the readers.