Siku Tiyao Bianzheng (Volume 1 and 2) -- 20th Century Academic Masterpieces Reprinted

Author: Yu Jiaxi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-11-01
Features: "A Critical Examination of the Siku Catalogue" consists of four hundred and ninety chapters, including sixty-one in the Classics section, one hundred and eight in the History section, two hundred and seventeen in the Philosophy section, and one hundred and three in the Literature section. It can be said that his focus lies primarily in the Philosophy and History sections, differing from the Qing scholars' emphasis on Classics and philology. In terms of the time periods covered, it includes works from ancient times to the Qing Dynasty, but the majority are from the Song Dynasty, numbering two hundred and thirty, nearly half of the entire work. All of this demonstrates the author's specialized expertise within his broad knowledge. "A Critical Examination of the Siku Catalogue" covers a vast and profound subject, providing precise and scientific interpretations of the various complex and difficult issues in nearly five hundred books. It addresses matters such as the attribution of authors, the origins and completions of works, the division and combination of content, the completeness and fragmentation of transmissions, and the authenticity of manuscripts, all with very specific corrections and insights. It should be said that the "Siku Catalogue" clearly exhibits obvious biases with explicit tendencies, such as suppressing the Song Dynasty studies from the perspective of Han studies' orthodoxy or making frivolous and superficial criticisms of Western studies with limited understanding. Criticisms of these biases are relatively easy, and although Mr. Yu's observations are very acute, discussions or criticisms can vary based on different perspectives, so it is unnecessary to address them one by one or engage in detailed debates, which is why they are generally lessed.