Gangling Poetry Events Gangling Ancient Views Series of Local Documents on Yangzhou

Author: Qing) Ruan Yuan compiled, (Qing) Gu Lan wrote
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2005-05-01
Features: "Gangling Poetry Affairs," ten volumes, compiled by Qing Ruan Yuan. Ruan Yuan (1764-1849), styled Boyuan, styled YunTai, also styled LeTang Anzhu, was a native of Yixing, Jiangsu, and lived in the Hubei Road Bridge in Yangzhou for generations. He passed the imperial examination in the 54th year of the Qianlong reign (1789), was selected as a Ciji, appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, and rose to the position of governor of Hubei, Guangdong, and Yunnan. In his later years, he was summoned to be appointed as a Daren of the Tiren Pavilion and granted the title of Taizhao. It records the commendable words and virtuous deeds of famous scholars in Yangzhou from the Qing Dynasty before Ruan Yuan. Some entries present events through poetry, while others record poetry through events. "Gangling Ancient Views," seven volumes, written by Qing Gu Lan, with a Jiaqing 13th year edition passed down. Gu Lan, also known as Gu Xieyin, was a native of Jiangdu in the late Qing Dynasty, and his birth and death years are unknown. From the two prefaces of the book, the author appears to have been a scholar of the Qian, Jia, and Dao periods. He also wrote "Zhou Chuanmingwu Shu," thirty-two volumes. "Gangling Ancient Views" was originally a lecture manuscript composed by the author for his students. The book extensively collects the cultural and historical records of the Yangzhou region, with the time frame extending to the Yuan Dynasty. It is beneficial for understanding the local customs and legends of Yangzhou. In his preface, Qing Chongtao said, "This book can serve as a record of famous scenic spots and a supplement to historical records. It polishes the present and enriches the past, far from the petty concerns of poetic verses and descriptions of wind and moon." It records the local figures and ancient sites of Yangzhou, with ancient sites categorized and arranged, while the figures are listed in chronological order until the Yuan Dynasty. Occasionally, there are annotations by the Gu family on textual research.