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Author: (Northern Wei) Li Daoyuan, annotated by (Republic of China) Yang Shoujing, Xiong Huizhen
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: The Shui Jing Zhu Shu written by Yang Shoujing and Xiong Huizhen represents a comprehensive summary and development of Li studies since the Ming and Qing dynasties, embodying the highest level of the Li geography school and receiving significant attention from academia. The newly revised and annotated edition, compiled by renowned scholars Duan Xizhong and Chen Qiaoyi, combines the strengths of two photocopied editions from Beijing and Taipei, incorporates existing research achievements, and integrates personal insights, making it even more perfect. It is hailed by academia as "the most complete Shui Jing Zhu Shu version except for the final draft by Xiong Huizhen." A newly compiled "Index of Water Names" has been added to correct some errors, and the book is reprinted to meet readers' needs. The Preface states:
[1] The I Ching states that the sky gives birth to water first, hence its subtle presence in the north and its primacy among all things. The Xuan Zhong Ji says: "In all the world, the most abundant thing is water. It floats the sky and carries the earth, reaching everywhere high and low, nourishing all things."
[2] When its flow bends and erodes stone, its essence, though thin as the tip of an inch, spreads its blessings across the universe in no time, unmatched by any divine force. Thus, the wise cannot fathom its depths or fully grasp its vastness.
[3] In the past, the Great Yu Ji recorded mountains and seas but was incomplete, while the Geographic Records were brief yet insufficient. The Book of Documents and Annals were too concise, and the Tribute of States offered only fragmented descriptions. The Shui Jing merely sketched the outlines of watercourses but lacked breadth, as if each spoke of its own intentions yet rarely covered the broader picture.
[4] Those who seek to trace maps and follow paths have heard much of the regions, but travelers who traverse the land rarely understand the connections. Even if they vaguely recall what they have heard, they still remain deeply uncertain.
[5] I had no interest in mountains in my youth and grew distant from the pursuit of knowledge. My understanding of profound texts was limited, and my knowledge of vast subjects was shallow. I lacked the ability to learn from one fact and infer another, nor did I possess the wisdom to observe the broader context. Learning alone brought no recognition, and the ancients lamented my isolation. Scholars sighed at my ignorance, as if I stood facing a wall. Seeking depth in solitude, I shuttled between silence and distant journeys—hence the difficulty.
[6] Yet time flows like a river, and the passage of years reveals truths. Drinking from rivers and sipping from seas, one follows their nature to fulfillment. With leisure at hand, I dedicated myself to the Shui Jing, laying out the foundations of its text.
[7] The Great Master said, "Great rivers interlock, small rivers connect, all flowing east to the sea." I traced the branching and merging of tributaries, examined their paths along the routes, searched for streams and canals, and compiled them.
[8] Where the text contains errors, I corrected them with supplementary notes. What is not recorded in the Shui Jing—water sources not part of its original scope—is beyond the bounds of annotations. Yet ancient times were obscure, and names changed with dynasties. Cities crumbled, rivers altered their courses, and different names arose, varying across eras. Maps and texts often contradicted each other, some streams diverging with strange names, others cutting straight paths with general labels. Crooked shoals and winding rapids, converging waters and flowing currents, intricate networks and numerous branches—such confusion made even the twelve main rivers difficult to articulate.
[9] Light streams and subtle patterns are hard to discern, but one can still present personal insights and the views of others, leaving the unknown as a blank space. Thus, I compiled a corrected version of the Shui Jing, appending key details to avoid personal biases and to facilitate easy reference.
[10] I hope this effort serves as a guide for those who seek to explore the text with ease.