Yangzhou Watercraft Chronicle

Author: (Qing) Li Dou
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-05-01
Features: The book is organized according to the division of urban areas in Yangzhou and the layout of suburban scenic spots, with clear and structured narration; the records of characters are interwoven among them. A "" (literally "painting boat") is a boat used for outings and banquets. The title "" (Record of the Painting Boat) reflects the idea of recording and describing the places visited during travels. Its content includes the evolution of city walls and water systems, mountains, rivers, gardens, temples, shrines, markets, cultural relics, and comprehensive coverage of local customs and historical anecdotes. It also incorporates famous essays, poems, couplets, construction methods, as well as the grandeur of the Kangxi and Qianlong emperors' southern tours, imperial poems, imperial calligraphy, and biographies of renowned scholars. The culture of a society can generally be divided into refined and popular aspects—"the refined influence of scholars and officials" and "the trivial and vulgar matters." The book equally records both the seen and heard, as well as the people and events it covers, without bias.