Tang and Song Historical Records: Jade of the Crane Forest

Author: Luo Da Jing (Song Dynasty), annotated by Wang Rui Lai
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Features: The Jade Glimmer of the Crane Forest: Tang and Song Historical Notes expresses deep dissatisfaction with the Southern Song Dynasty's reliance on the Jiangnan region and strongly criticizes Qin Hui's surrender policies that led to national decline. It shows empathy for the suffering of the common people and contains many records that can be cross-referenced with historical accounts to fill gaps and correct errors. More importantly, it offers insightful and beneficial comments on literary schools, artistic thought, and writing styles.
Luo Da Jing (1196–1242), styled Jing Lian, was also known as Ru Lin or the Crane Forest Scholar. He was from Ji Shui in the Southern Song Dynasty. In 1226, he passed the imperial examinations and served as a legal officer in Rongzhou, a judge in Chenzhou, and a prosecutor in Fuzhou. During his time in Fuzhou, he was dismissed from office due to political conflicts in the court. After that, he never returned to official life and devoted himself to reading and writing, becoming well-versed in various fields and specializing in authorship.
Luo Da Jing had aspirations to govern and benefit the state. He possessed sharp insights into literary criticism from the pre-Qin, Han, Six Dynasties, Tang, and Song periods. He wrote a ten-volume work titled The Interpretation of the I Ching. Inspired by Du Fu's poem To Yu Shi Ma, which includes the lines "Clear air shines like gold without cracks, and refined dew blooms like jade," he composed the notes The Jade Glimmer of the Crane Forest. This book expresses deep dissatisfaction with the Southern Song Dynasty's reliance on the Jiangnan region, criticizes Qin Hui's surrender policies that led to national decline, shows empathy for the suffering of the common people, and contains many records that can be cross-referenced with historical accounts to fill gaps and correct errors. More importantly, it offers insightful and beneficial comments on literary schools, artistic thought, and writing styles.