Jing Zhai Ancient and Modern Yellow

Author: Li Zhi
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1995-12-10
Features: The author Li Zhi, styled Renqing, styled himself Jingqi, was a native of Zhending Langcheng (now Langcheng, Hebei). He passed the imperial examination in poetry and prose in the seventh year of the Zhengda era of the Jin Dynasty (1230) and was appointed as a low-level official in Gaoling. Later, he was assigned as an assistant magistrate of Junzhou. Due to war, he wandered between Xinxian and Guoguo and once resided in places like Taiyuan. Despite his hardships, he never stopped writing or reciting, achieving profound knowledge through self-study. In the second year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1265), he was summoned and appointed as a Hanlin Academician. He died at home in the sixteenth year of the Zhiyuan era (1279) at the age of eighty-eight. In addition to Jingqi Jinguji, his works include Jingqi Wenji (forty volumes), Bishu Congxue (twelve volumes), Fansuo (forty volumes), Ce Yuan Haijing (twelve volumes), and Yigu Yandan (thirty volumes).
Regarding the author's name, many historical books have referred to him as "Li Zhi," such as Biographies of Famous Officials of the Yuan Dynasty, Biography of Li Zhi in the Yuan Shi, Yonglang Daquan, General Catalog of the Siku Quanshu, and Catalog of Books in the Baisonglou. Ke Shaomin in New Yuan Shi states that Li Zhi's original name was Zhi, but he later changed it to the name he is known by today. However, neither of these accounts is conclusive. Shi Guoqi (styled Beiyanyan, a figure from the Qianlong and Daoguang eras) pointed out in Ligeng Tang Congshuo that "Renqing was born in the Gengzi year of the Dading era, and in the Gengjin year of the Zhizheng era, he passed the imperial examination at the age of fifty-one. He was appointed as a magistrate in Gaoling and assigned as an assistant magistrate of Junzhou. After the fall of the Jin Dynasty, he crossed north and engaged in secret calculations, being the only one who could uphold moral integrity and literary excellence even in old age. As seen in his letters to the Hanlin Academy, his true intentions were clear—he was a strong advocate of the Jin Dynasty after passing the imperial examination and a pioneer in reforming the calendar during the Yuan Dynasty. In life, he was a contemporary of Wang Hunan and Li Zhuangjing as a (a loyalist who remained loyal to the fallen dynasty), and in death, he was enshrined alongside Yang Wenyuan and Zhao Xianqin in the Temple of the Four Virtuous Scholars. Alas! His scholarship and conduct were so outstanding, yet how could later generations fail to recognize him and mistakenly change his name, calling him Zhi as Zhi, thus confusing him with the female Taoist priest Li Jilan, who was morally corrupt and lacked substance? How tragic! Today, his words are preserved, and his name is correct. If they could be published and shared with the world, it would be a great blessing to future scholars, allowing those who cling to fragments and shortcomings to see the complete picture. How could this not be a great kindness to posterity?"