A Random Chat with the North of the Pool (Complete Two Volumes) -- Qing Dynasty, New Edition

Author: Wang Shizhen (Qing Dynasty), edited and annotated by Jin Siren
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Features: Among the four sections of the book, the first three sections are most valuable in terms of reference. For example, in the section "Tang Gu" (Discussions on Antiquities), the entry "Hanlin Qing Shi Shu" records the establishment of Manchu foreign secretaries in the Taipu Temple and the addition of Manchu chief clerks and secretaries in the Hanlin Academy's Residence Note Office during the early Qing Dynasty. Entries such as "Eight Banners Open for Examinations," "Taiwan Opens for Examinations," and "Manchu County Examinations" document certain aspects of the county and provincial examination systems during the Shunzhi and Kangxi periods. The entry "Suicide for Burial" describes the old custom of the Eight Banners using servants and concubines for burial during the early Qing Dynasty, which can be cross-referenced and supplemented with classic works such as The Qing Tong Li (General Regulations of the Qing Dynasty) and The Qing Tong Dian (General Annals of the Qing Dynasty). In the section "Tang Xian" (Discussions on Contributions), some entries, though based on rumors, can still supplement historical records. For instance, the entry "Shi Ge Bu" (Shi Kefu as a Minister of History) recounts how Shi Kefu, when Yangzhou fell, rode a donkey to the Qing army camp and was executed for refusing to surrender, providing interesting anecdotes. The section "Tang Yi" (Discussions on Art) accounts for about one-third of the book's content, primarily featuring the author's poetic and artistic critiques based on the theory of spiritual resonance, expressing his personal views. Thus, the General Catalogue of the Four Treasuries describes it as, "The nine volumes of 'Tang Yi' discuss poetry and literature, setting new standards and truly distinguishing itself." Some entries also preserve materials related to literature and art from the late Ming and early Qing periods, such as the entry "Yue Shi" (Guangdong Poetry), which records fragments of poems by the three great poets of Lingnan, such as Qu Dajun and Chen Gongyin.