Notes from the Studio of Idle and Leisure -- Qing Dynasty

Author: [Qing] Chen Qiyuan, edited by Yang Lu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: Several characteristics of Yongxian Qi Notes:
1. Extensive historical materials. Due to the author's erudition and broad knowledge, living in a prominent family and traveling extensively, his records are rich and varied. He begins by describing his family's history and prosperity, which serves as a microcosm of the rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty. There are accounts of the prosperous era under Emperor Qianlong, when the emperor stayed at Chen's Anlan Garden and inscribed the "Baohe Zhenzhen" scroll, as well as the romantic affairs. There are also descriptions of the devastation after the Taiping Rebellion, where the Chen family members "dug into ditches, scattered in all directions, their homes burned down, and the elders faded away," along with the lament of "thorns and copper camels." In his observations from his official travels, he records the pros and cons of local governance, such as the incident of "killing white ducks": in Zhangzhou and Quanzhou prefectures, "wealthy households killed people and paid poor ones to take the blame to death," known as "killing white ducks." Even if the superior officials investigated and overturned the verdict, the local officials would still impose severe punishments due to false confessions, while the parents of the "white ducks," fearing that clearing the case would lead to the death of their entire family, dared not appeal. As a result, hundreds of innocent deaths occurred each year. The Qing scholar Huang Jiqing also recorded the incident of "killing white ducks" in Chaozhou in his "Chaozhou Collection." Yang Zhongxi in his "Xueqiao Shihua" (Volume 10) cited this. This shows the extreme authenticity of his records. The entry "The mistake of relying solely on eye-witnesses and informants in capturing bandits" records that in the eleventh year of the Tongzhi reign, Qing troops suffered a major defeat while capturing bandits in Yangzhou, as "eye-witnesses and informants falsely accused commoners of being bandits, nearly leading to the wrongful execution of many." Chen Qiyuan lived in troubled times, and his records include events related to the Taiping Army, the Nian Army, the Tianli Society, and the White Lotus Society. For example, he records how the Governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, Ji Zhichang, feared that the White Lotus Society case would involve innocent civilians, so he burned the "names of the cult members" to save thousands of households and prevent trouble in the region, but himself was exiled to Xinjiang and died. These incidents reveal the darkness of the bureaucracy and the suffering of the people. Among his observations, there are also accounts of China's foreign relations, such as the "Diplomatic Diary of the Russian Envoy" in Volume 5, which details the Russian envoy's journey to the capital after the signing of the Treaty of Nerchinsk. Chen Qiyuan "presented the original text" to show the respect foreign countries had for China. He also recorded the "Foreigner Raid on Dianshan Lake," describing how British ruffians robbed a grain ship and killed over a dozen civilians and soldiers. Chen Qiyuan ordered the capture of three foreign bandits but was released by the British consul due to "extraterritoriality," leaving him "filled with anger to the core!" The book also includes "A Collection of Recent Foreign Affairs," selecting news from foreign newspapers that were "relevant to China's major policies." Chen advocated for "paying attention to worldly affairs." By comparing and referencing historical materials from both China and abroad, he gained a broad perspective on history. In terms of science and technology, the entry "Chen Qilan's Star Destiny Theory" uses the scientific perspective of the solar system to analyze the absurdity of "star destiny theory," pointing out that neither nobles nor commoners are destined by fate. He was a believer in Western science, such as the "Western Measurement Method," which described sunspots and stated that their appearance was not a sign of disaster. He also wrote about the ingenuity of "Western Manufacturing," such as how a German ironclad ship arrived in Wusong, and Feng Zhuru of the machine bureau bought a piece of ship's iron for 1,500 taels of silver. He also recorded Western medical dissections and autopsies, as well as balloon battles in France and Germany. He praised the establishment of the book bureau by Zuo Zongtang, the founding of the shipbuilding bureau by Li Hongzhang, and the establishment of the steamship navigation bureau by Li Hongzhang. Regarding reading and scholarship, entries such as "The Difficulty of Acquiring Knowledge," "The Challenges of Research," "The Futility of Valuing Song Dynasty Editions," and "Differences in Interpretations of Classical Texts" all reflect his thoughts on reading and research methods. Entries such as "Differences in Official Names and Systems Throughout History," "Evolution of Official Attire," "The Great Ceremony of Cultivating the Earth," and "Records of Court Rituals and Objects" involve the verification of national and court customs, which are beneficial to historical records.
2. Valuable historical materials. Some are not recorded in other books or are cited by later authors. For example, in the entry "Changes in Surnames" in Volume 8, it is recorded that Qian Chenqun and Qian Zeshi's original surnames were not Qian; few people knew that Li Hongzhang's original surname was Xu. As for the original surname of the Chen family, where Chen Qiyuan belonged, it was Gao, which is recorded in Volume 1 in the impeachment of Gao Shiqi by Guo Jiao: Guo also accused Chen Yuanlong of associating with Gao Shiqi, calling them "uncle and nephew." As a result, both were dismissed. Chen Yuanlong defended himself, saying, "The Chen family originally came from the Gao family. If I had associated with Gao Shiqi, why would Gao Shiqi call me 'uncle'?" The matter was eventually clarified. Later, Tang Rong cited this entry in his "Stories from the Qing Court." In Volume 1, it is described that his second cousin, Chen Moshan, was skilled in medicine and served as the Minister of Rites when Heshen summoned him for a medical consultation. Wang Jie, his mentor, told Chen, "This is a treacherous official. If you go, you will be killed with medicine!" Chen was torn between going and not going and had no choice but to refuse Heshen's invitation, resulting in his demotion. Chen Kangqi, in his "Langqian Jiyun," cited this entry and added comments. Chen Qiyuan had interactions with many famous officials and scholars, such as Zuo Zongtang, Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang, Ding Richang, and Yu Yue, benefiting greatly from their advice on both literature and politics. The anecdotes he recorded about famous figures are also not found in other books. For example, when Lin Zexu was exiled to Xinjiang, he temporarily stayed at the home of Wen Lanqiao, who was Chen Qiyuan's mother-in-law. At the time, Chen was in his thirties and was deeply committed to learning and governance, writing essays such as "Strategies for Border Defense" and "Proposals for Land Reclamation" to present to Lin Zexu, with whom he shared the same ideas, praising him for having the talent of "Jia Sheng." Lin also elaborated on the importance of land reclamation and border defense, as well as the development of maritime transport. Later, when Lin Zexu became the Governor of Shaanxi and Gansu, he indeed implemented the land reclamation method. These historical materials can supplement the shortcomings of official histories.
3. More impartial in judging historical facts. For example, in Volume 4, he directly criticizes corrupt officials through the character Dai Xiongzhao: "Farmers toil in the fields, covered in sweat and dust, working diligently all year, accumulating only a small profit. Yet scholars and officials live in luxurious mansions, ride in carriages, wear fine clothes, and eat delicacies, their lives and those of the common people are as different as heaven and earth. Even if they dedicate themselves to the people's affairs and dare not slacken, they fear that their blessings will be reduced. How much more so if they are arrogant, extravagant, and indulgent, endlessly greedy for wealth, accumulating gold and silver for their descendants. It is clear to everyone that this is not possible!" In Volume 5, the entry "Report on Misappropriation of Disaster Relief Funds" criticizes the corrupt Shanyang scholar who embezzled disaster relief funds: "In years of famine, the common people suffer and turn to the brink of death, calling to heaven for help. When they are finally relieved, it is truly like being given life. Those in charge should be how to dedicate themselves to comforting the people. Instead, they embezzle the funds. How is their heart different from that of a wolf or a tiger?" When Chen Qiyuan was handling the Fengbei Granary in Qingpu, the clerks wanted to profit from it. Chen said, "This little money is the food of the poor in times of famine. How can you bear to take away the food that the hungry people will eat tomorrow?" The clerks were moved upon hearing this.