Yun Yudeng Chengzhai Diary (Vol. 1 & 2)

Author: (Qing) Yun Yuding
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2004-04-01
Features: National Committee for the Compilation of the History of the Qing Dynasty · Documentary Series. This book records the diaries of Yun Yuding throughout his life. It includes documents, current affairs, notes on reading classics, discussions on classical Chinese poetry and prose, folk customs, and family matters. The book not only reflects the corruption of the late Qing court but also documents ancient books, calligraphy and paintings, medical prescriptions, weather and astronomical phenomena, geography, and earthquakes to varying degrees. Therefore, the book holds high historical value and readability, making it a highly recommended work.
The Chengzhai Diary has been long preserved in the Peking University Library, comprising a vast collection of thirty-six volumes and over a million words. Due to the difficulty in recognizing Yun’s cursive script and the challenges of punctuation, it was never published or made public. After his retirement, Mr. Shi Xiaofeng devoted his spare time to meticulously this heavy and precious material over ten years—a truly commendable effort. Despite his advanced age, he worked diligently, undeterred by the extremes of weather, and meticulously proofread, edited, and transcribed the entire Diary.
Since Yun’s Diary is a casual record, I used cursive script, making the characters extremely difficult to decipher. Sometimes, to identify a single character, I had to consult cursive script dictionaries but could not understand its meaning. Later, I encountered the same character elsewhere and, by comparing the contexts and rereading repeatedly, grasped its significance. When encountering names of people or historical events, I always traced their origins to clarify them thoroughly. This dedication, meticulousness, and professionalism, especially in his advanced years, are truly admirable.