Records of the Western Regions Waterways (Including Two Other Works) -- A Collection of Historical Records of Sino-foreign Transportation

Author: Xu Song (Qing Dynasty), edited by Zhu Yuqi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-07-01
Features: The Records of Waterways in the Western Regions (with two additional works) is a renowned work on the historical geography of the Western Regions by the Qing Dynasty scholar Xu Song. The "two additional works" are Supplementary Notes to the Western Regions Chapter of the Book of Han and Ode to Xinjiang. The three works vary in style but share the same subject and are organically connected. Since their publication, they have been widely known as The Three Works of the Great Xing Family, The Three Works of the Western Regions, and The Three Works of Mr. Xu Xingbo. The Records of Waterways in the Western Regions documents detailed geographical information about the sources, basins, and lakes of various rivers in the Western Regions. Its coverage extends from west of Jiayuguan to the east and south of Balkhash Lake in the vast northwestern region of today. Following the style of The Waterways of the States, Xu Song added his own annotations, meticulously recording the conditions of each river while also providing in-depth research on the historical changes of administrative divisions, institutional systems, factories, pastures, frontier posts, military stations, famous scenic spots, historical facts, and ethnic changes within the basins. From an academic perspective, the work has three notable characteristics: 1. Emphasis on field investigations and surveys. Xu Song traveled extensively across the northern and southern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains, meticulously documenting and mapping each location he visited. Each hydrographic system in the book is accompanied by detailed survey maps. 2. Creatively classifying the waterways of the Western Regions into 11 systems based on the principle that inland rivers flow into lakes. 3. Fully incorporating the advanced Western projection and surveying techniques to obtain the geographic coordinates of the Western Regions. Additionally, as an academic work of great practical value, The Records of Waterways in the Western Regions features concise yet vivid and elegant prose. Many passages can even be read as travelogues. Simultaneously with The Records of Waterways in the Western Regions, Xu Song compiled Supplementary Notes to the Western Regions Chapter of the Book of Han, verifying the historical changes of ancient place names and using modern knowledge to interpret the past. The two works complement each other, with a focus on contemporary geography, and often include the note "mutually referenced" in related sections, reflecting the author's meticulous craftsmanship. Ode to Xinjiang is a literary work that narrates the achievements of pacifying the Western Regions and expanding the territory since the reign of Emperor Qianlong, as well as providing a concise description of the mountains and rivers in the northern and southern routes of Xinjiang. The Records of Waterways in the Western Regions (with two additional works) is compiled and edited based on Xu Song's original manuscripts and revised versions, integrating his annotations and revisions according to established conventions. With this volume, readers can appreciate the complete form of this masterpiece by the Xu family and, through the traces of Xu Song's revisions, gain insight into his methods and processes of scholarship and research.