Liangxi Manzhi--A Collection of Small Works by Famous Artists Through the Ages

Author: Fei Gun (Song Dynasty), annotated by Luo Shouzhong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-05-01
Features: This book is a collection of notes. "Liangxi" is an alias for Wuxi. It consists of ten volumes. The content records the political affairs and regulations of the Song Dynasty, examines historical accounts, comments on poetry and prose, and occasionally includes anecdotes. Volume 4 is entirely dedicated to the life of Su Shi. Fei Gun has no biography in the History of the Song Dynasty, and details of his life are scarce. It is known only that he styled himself Buzhi, was from Wuxi, and passed the imperial examination as a Guozijian (a special examination for scholars from prestigious families). The title of this book is related to the author's place of residence. Liangxi is located southwest of the Wuxi county seat and was named after Liang Hong, who resided there during the Eastern Han Dynasty. "Manzhi" (Random Notes), as the author described in his preface, refers to the practice of writing down one's thoughts at leisure over time, which gradually accumulated into a collection titled Manzhi. The main content of this book is summarized concisely and specifically in the General Catalogue of the Four Treasuries as follows:
Volume 1, 2, and the first entry of Volume 3 discuss court rituals and customs, while the remaining entries of Volume 3 mostly cover miscellaneous matters such as the "Yuanyou Faction" and other events. The last entry of Volume 3 and the entirety of Volume 4 are devoted to Su Shi. Volumes 5 to 9 primarily examine historical accounts and evaluate poets, while Volume 10 delves into supernatural and fantastical topics, reflecting the author's eclectic style, which is not limited to historical writing.