Zhu Fu Yuan Gui (Complete 12 Volumes)

Author: Wang Qinruo et al. (Northern Song Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2003-06-01
Features: The Cufu Yuanquanshu comprises 1,000 volumes, 31 sections, and 1,116 categories. Although it shares the same number of volumes as the Taiping Yuluan, each volume is larger in content, resulting in approximately double the total word count—about 9.4 million characters. It is the second-largest book in the Siku Quanshu,《》 only after the Peiwen Yunfu. The purpose of compiling this work was "to record historical facts of past dynasties as a reference for future laws and regulations, so that readers may gain benefits upon opening the book." Its distinctive feature lies in preserving the original text without altering it, adding annotations below the original text when necessary, and ensuring all sources are reputable and authoritative histories. Each section is preceded by a general preface, and each category by a brief introductory note, which are concise yet informative, aiding in the use of the book. However, since most of the sources were common books, the references were not annotated, leading to it being overlooked by scholars from the Song to the Qing dynasties. It was only in modern times that the renowned historian Chen Yuan paid attention to it, praising and promoting it. This book is rich in material, with extensive citations, covering everything from ancient times to the Five Dynasties. It is organized by categories and chronology, including the virtuous deeds of rulers and officials, the treacherous acts of villains, the evolution of rituals and music, the leniency or severity of laws, the discussions of officials and scholars, and the fame and conduct of scholars—all of which can be said to summarize the entire Seventeen Histories. The historical texts it collects are all ancient manuscripts from the Northern Song Dynasty or earlier, making it valuable for supplementing and verifying historical records. Regrettably, it was not utilized by Qing Dynasty collectors of lost texts. Since then, its usage has gradually increased.