Tang and Song Historical Records: Notes from the Old Learning Studio

Author: (Song) Lu You
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-08-13
Features: The old scholar's balance is at the bottom, dare not deceive oneself even with the finest hair? Often silent in reading, closed doors still have teachers. Great difficulties reveal themselves, true hearts sleep in the morning. Tang and Yu are before the eyes, this life is not a rhino. This is a poem by the famous Southern Song patriotic poet Lu You (styled Wuguan, styled Fangweng, 1125–1209) inscribed on his study room, the Old Scholar's Studio (seen in Volume 50 of Jian Nan Shi Gao). The naming of the Old Scholar's Studio dates back to the late Chunxi period (1190), when Lu You retired to his hometown Shanyin (now Zhejiang Shaoxing, near Jinghu Lake). The studio was located by the lake, with only two thatched houses, but backed by green mountains and facing clear waters, making it a good place for reading and writing for the poet. Lu You also explained the meaning behind naming the studio, saying it was "inspired by Shi Kang's saying that 'even in old age, learning is like walking at night with a candle'" (seen in the self-note to the poem "Old Scholar's Studio" in Volume 33 of Jian Nan Shi Gao). His Notes from the Old Scholar's Studio were likely written during this period, though some entries may have been composed earlier, but the final completion must have been during his time of studying by the lake, as otherwise, he would not have used the name of the studio as the title. Lu You's youngest son, Lu Ziyu, said: "The Notes from the Old Scholar's Studio were written during the Chunxi and Shaoxi periods by the Grand Historian" [3]. This statement is largely reliable. Lu You was a renowned poet and a scholar with extensive knowledge. The Continuation of the Wuxi Records described him as "possessing comprehensive learning, extraordinary literary talent, and a deep love for poetry. His other writings on historical records and biographies were profound. He was particularly well-versed in the customs, institutions, and historical developments of the preceding dynasty, as well as the backgrounds of historical figures. Thus, his fame shone brightly in his time." Among Lu You's numerous works, Notes from the Old Scholar's Studio may not occupy a large proportion, but the content recorded is mostly based on the author's personal experiences, observations, and hearsay, making it rich in content and highly valuable for reference.
Among these, there are many records of the resistance against the Jin forces. For example, Volume 1 describes how Emperor Gaozong of Song, Zhao Gou, "when crossing the Yangtze River from Weiyang, though in great haste, the two ministries still set up canopies and departed, with soldiers and civilians ambushing and attacking Huang Xiang with bricks and tiles," Volume 2 records the assassination of Qin Hui by Shi Quan of the Imperial Guard, and also mentions the painter Zhao Guang, who refused to paint for the Jin forces even at the cost of having his right thumb cut off, to avoid being captured by the Jin army. Additionally, it records the story of Li He, a commoner famous for selling roasted chestnuts in the former Song capital Kaifeng, whose son risked his life to present roasted chestnuts to a Song envoy sent to the Jin court, tears streaming down his face. These entries reflect the patriotic fervor of the people, their resistance against the Jin forces, and their intense hatred for the Song ruling faction's surrenderists.
Regarding the exposure of Qin Hui, Volume 1 describes how Qin Hui "killed Yue Fei in Lin'an and was arrested, and the people of the city wept bitterly," while another entry notes that "when in power, Qin Hui repeatedly accused others of crimes, his power was terrifying." Volume 3 records the "Ten Guests" of Qin Hui, Volume 2 describes how the people of Song Bianzhong mocked Qin Hui's deeds as "an achievement that could not be abandoned," Volume 8 details Qin Hui's autocratic and cruel nature, and Volumes 2, 3, and 5 separately record how Qin Hui's son Qin Xie and his granddaughter acted arrogantly and oppressively.
Regarding peasant uprisings, Volume 3 records Tong Guan's sale of official ranks during the suppression of Fang La's rebellion, and Volume 9 describes the course of the uprisings led by Wang Xiaoguo (Bo) and Li Shun. These records help in understanding peasant uprisings. The notes also contain a large amount of content on the famous objects, institutions, and customs of the time, as well as various anecdotes and interesting stories, which are helpful for the study of cultural history.
Additionally, Lu You's Shanhui Shi Hua (Mountain Gathering Poetry Talks) has not been passed down, but the notes preserve some materials on poetry theory, revealing some of his views on poetry composition.
Regarding Notes from the Old Scholar's Studio, predecessors have given it many positive evaluations. Chen Zhenzun in Zhiqi Shulu Jieshuo said that Lu You "knew his predecessors personally and, by the time of his advanced age, his records and anecdotes were truly remarkable." The Siku Zongmu Tiye described the notes as "often containing rare anecdotes and old records, which are sufficient for reference." Li Cimeng in Yue Man Tang Dushiji said it "provides miscellaneous accounts of historical customs and occasionally examines old texts, all of which are meticulous. The discussions on current events and figures are also mostly fair." These remarks are not excessive.
In summary, the notes are rich in content, serious in attitude, and strong in reference value, making them among the best in the genre of Song-era notes.