"Annals of the Barbarians, Explanatory Notes," "Explanations of the Records of the Outer Regions"

Author: Zhao Ruxi (Song Dynasty)
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Features: The Record of Foreign Countries was compiled by the author while serving as the local administrator of Quanzhou, based on relevant documents and his interactions with foreign merchants. It is an important work for studying overseas transportation and trade, as well as China-foreign relations during the Song Dynasty. The annotators have provided detailed notes on place names, products, and other elements in the book, building upon the research of previous scholars. The Records of the Foreign Regions Beyond the Four Seas, introduced to China by Western missionaries during the late Ming Dynasty, also brought Western culture. This book is a representative work that introduced Western geography at the time and is one of the earliest geographical texts on the world in China, significantly challenging traditional Chinese geographical concepts. The annotations explain the names of people and places in the book, including their original forms.