Complete Notes on the Song Dynasty: Volume 1 (1)

Author: Zhu Yian
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-10-01
Features: Upon reviewing this book, the editor found that it possesses the following characteristics: First, the book defines the term "notes" scientifically and strives to collect as many notes written by Song Dynasty scholars as possible, truly reflecting the "comprehensiveness" of the Complete Notes of the Song Dynasty, avoiding omissions and disorganization. The compilers adhere to the principle that "notes are spontaneous records rather than deliberate compositions," limiting the collection to "complete collections of notes by Song Dynasty scholars" and excluding "scattered individual notes that have not formed complete collections," as well as "specialized collections with focused themes and rigid structures," such as "poetic discussions, recorded sayings, genealogical records like The Tea Classic, Painting Spectra, Records of Prominent Officials, and Official Precepts," and certainly not including novels or biographies that narrate stories in detail. Comparing this book with The Great Collection of Notes and Fiction published by Taiwan's Emerging Book Company in 1984, the latter, while including many notes by Song Dynasty scholars, has two shortcomings: first, it mixes Song Dynasty notes with fiction, genealogies, popular tales, and poetic discussions; second, some of the versions are not refined. Of course, the author evaluates this book from the perspective of Song Dynasty notes and does not deny its overall documentary value. Comparing it with The Collection of Notes and Fiction of All Dynasties·Song Dynasty Notes and Fiction published by Hebei Education Press in February 1995, the latter's shortcomings include: first, it only collects 188 notes by Song Dynasty scholars, and some important notes are inexplicably missing, such as Hong Mai's Rongzhou Notes, Zhou Mi's Kixin Miscellaneous Records, Zhou's Qingbo Magazine, Wang Guanguo's Xuelin, Yue Ke's Muchen History, Luo Daqing's Helin Yulu, Wang Bi's Mianshui Yantalu, Ouyang Xiu's Retirement Records, He's Chunzhou Jiwen, Peng's Moke Weixi (which has already included ten volumes of Continued Moke Weixi), Zhao Liantian's Houlinglu, Ye Mengde's Shilin Yanyu, Lu You's Laoxue'an Notes, Gong Mingzhi's Zhongwu Jiwen, etc. Without these notes, it is difficult to reflect the full picture of Song Dynasty notes, which is a great regret. Additionally, the catalog of Song Dynasty notes and fiction compiled in the latter contains numerous errors, such as the author of Yanji Yimolu being mistakenly listed as "Wang Muyong" instead of "Wang Yong," the author of Ding Jin Gong Tanlu being listed as "Ding Wei" instead of "Ding Wei," the author of Song Jingwen Gong Ji being listed as "Song Qi" instead of "Song Qi," the character "zhou" in Pingzhou Ketao being mistakenly written as "zhou," the character "ji" in Jiyu Bilaolu being mistakenly written as "yi," the character "zhur" in Zhuailian Xulun being mistakenly written as "shur," the author of Shupu being listed as "Dai Zhi" instead of "Dai Zhi," the author of Yangkao Manbi being listed as "Zhao Jin" instead of "Zhao Jinlu," and the author of Fuxuan Yelu being listed as "Chen" instead of "Chen," and so on. Secondly, most of the notes by Song Dynasty scholars in this book are presented to the public for the first time after being collated and punctuated, reflecting the "new" characteristic. In the 49 notes compiled in this book, 13 have already been collated and punctuated by Zhonghua Book Company and Shanghai, while 36 have been newly collated and punctuated, accounting for over 73% of the total. Among these newly collated and punctuated notes by Song Dynasty scholars, some of the more important ones include Zhang Ji's Jia Shi Tanlu, Wang Zeng's Wang Wenzheng Gong Bilu, Song Qi's Song Jingwen Gong Ji, Jiang Xiufu's Jiang Liji Zazhi, Zeng Bu's Zeng Gong Yilu, Su Shi's Quchi Bilu, Su Shi's Yujiao Xianhua Lu, Chao Shuozhi's Chao Shi Keyu, Wang Qiner's Wang Shi Tanlu, etc. These notes, though not lengthy, contain content related to the social economy, politics, and customs of the time, leaving behind valuable historical materials for future generations, making them extremely precious. Thirdly, compared to previously collated and punctuated notes by Song Dynasty scholars, this book has the relatively "accurate" characteristic, meaning the collation and punctuation are more precise. The compilers and collators of this book are mostly outstanding scholars in the field of ancient Chinese history and literature, especially in Tang and Song literature and history. Although it is not daring to call them the best in the world, they can be considered top-tier choices. Taking the compilation as an example, among them, Kong Fanli, who collated and punctuated works such as Dongpo Zhilin, Quchi Bilu, Yujiao Xianhua Lu, Longchuan Luezhi, and Longchuan Biexhi, is particularly renowned in the study of Song Dynasty history and literature. Deng Guangming and Zhang Xiqing, who collated and punctuated Sishui Jiwen, are also highly respected experts. Professor Yu Yunuo, who collated and punctuated Nanbu Xinwen and Jinshi Huayuan, Diao Ji Litan, and Ding Jin Gong Tanlu, and Professor Huang Chunyan, who collated and punctuated works such as Sun Weimin Zhengnan Lu, etc., are all celebrated experts in the study of Song Dynasty history or literature. This is sufficient to ensure that the collation, punctuation, and collation of this book are presented to readers with high quality. For example, the previously published Xiangshan Yelu by Shi Wenying (Zhonghua Book Company, 1984 edition) contains some punctuation errors, such as the original text in the first volume: "The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, Wang Gong, of the Zidao era, served as the director of the Qiao Military Barracks in the Bingwei year" (page 23), mistakenly taking the last reign title of Emperor Taizong of Song, "Zidao," as the name of "Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, Wang Gong." This has now been corrected to: "Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, Wang Gong, served as the director of the Qiao Military Barracks in the Bingwei year of the Zidao era." Another example is Chunming Chuachao Lu by Song Minqiu (Zhonghua Book Company, 1980 edition), where the first volume originally read: "In the eleventh month of the Kaobao eighth year, Jiangnan was pacified, and the Bian River was left to await the boat of the Liguang ruler" (page 5). This has now been corrected to: "In the eleventh month of the Kaobao eighth year, Jiangnan was pacified, and the Bian River was left to await the boat of the Liguang ruler." These improvements are evident, thus ensuring that the quality of the punctuation in this book has further improved. In conclusion, The Complete Notes of the Song Dynasty is the third large-scale anthology in the field of Song Dynasty literature and history after The Complete Poems of the Song Dynasty and The Complete Writings of the Song Dynasty. Although it has only published the first volume so far, with inevitable shortcomings such as some incorrect annotations and punctuation errors, according to the compiler's plan, the entire book is divided into approximately 10 volumes and will be completed within five to six years. The author believes that as the compilers gradually accumulate experience and the collators steadily improve their skills, they will eventually present a brand-new, high-quality documentary anthology to the readers.