Supplement to Contemporary Worthies
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Summary
The Chinese traditional cultural thought has a long history and is highly original, inventive and literary. Early thought forms are highly distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and metaphysical learning, the Twenty-Four Histories, customs and local gazetteers—all are profound and extensive. This "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture Original Texts" series preserves the appearance of the original books, with the emphasis on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers can cultivate their temperament and quietly appreciate the classics of Chinese learning.
Editor's review
Jin Xian Bei Yi was compiled by Xiang Dushou of the Ming dynasty and belongs to the body of traditional historical writing. The name "Bei Yi" (supplementing what was omitted) indicates its nature as a compilation and supplement, focused on preserving materials on persons or historical events. It is included in the "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture Original Texts" series; this edition preserves the appearance of the original book without excessive popularization, and is therefore better suited to readers who already have experience reading classical Chinese and are interested in Ming-dynasty historical works. Its value for reading lies in giving readers direct contact with the original organization of traditional historical materials and an understanding of how people of earlier times compiled and preserved documents from preceding eras, rather than offering an easy storyline. For study, it should be read against the historical background of the Ming dynasty and in comparison with related historical works in order to grasp the sources and selections of the materials. For general readers the book has a relatively high threshold and is better used as specialized reference material or for a collection.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with some grounding in classical Chinese who are interested in Ming-dynasty historical works
- Students studying Xiang Dushou or the tradition of Ming-dynasty historical compilation
- Researchers who need access to primary historical materials for comparative topical reading
- Readers who value the appearance of the original book and collect traditional historical materials
Not a good fit for
- Beginning readers who struggle with classical Chinese and need vernacular annotation
- General readers expecting a continuous historical narrative or an easy story
- Beginners hoping to grasp Ming history quickly through a modern research introduction
Reading tips
- First consult Xiang Dushou's life and the background of the compilation of Jin Xian Bei Yi to clarify its nature as a compilation.
- Read it alongside related Ming-dynasty historical works, noting the sources and selections of the materials.
- Read section by section and take excerpts to facilitate later checking of persons and events.
- Mark unfamiliar personal and place names first and look them up together, so as not to interrupt the pace of reading.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 提要
- 今献备遗原序
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷一
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷二
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷三
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷四
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷五
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷六
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷七
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷八
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷九
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷十
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷十一
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷十二
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷十三
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷十四
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷十五
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷十六
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷十七
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷十八
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷十九
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷二十
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷二十一
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷二十二
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷二十三
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷二十四
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷二十五
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷二十六
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷二十七
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷二十八
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷二十九
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷三十
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷三十一
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷三十二
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷三十三
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷三十四
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷三十五
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷三十六
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷三十七
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷三十八
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷三十九
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷四十
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷四十一
- 钦定四库全书 今献备遗卷四十二
- 题今献备遗后
FAQ
Is Jin Xian Bei Yi a novel or a historical work?
Judging from the title, the author Xiang Dushou, and traditional cataloguing, it belongs to historical writing and has the nature of a compilation and supplement; it is not a novel. It should be treated as traditional historical material, with attention to its sources and organization, rather than read in expectation of a plot-driven narrative.
Can general readers understand this book directly?
The threshold is relatively high. The book preserves the appearance of the original, and both its language and its format are quite traditional; general readers without a grounding in classical Chinese and Ming-dynasty history may find it difficult. It is advisable first to acquire some ability to read literary Chinese, or to use reference works and related research materials as aids, before turning to the original text.
What preparation is needed before reading this book?
It is advisable first to learn about Xiang Dushou himself and the general background of Ming-dynasty historical compilation, and to prepare a dictionary of classical Chinese and reference works on Ming-dynasty historical texts. While reading, distinguish the original materials from later research, take notes section by section for easy comparison and checking, and avoid treating the compiled text as a complete narrative.
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About the author
项笃寿
Author
Xiang Dushou was a Ming dynasty bibliophile and scholar whose life is sparsely documented in publicly available sources; neither his dates nor his place of origin are clearly recorded. His surviving representative work, JINXIAN BEIYI, is the main basis for understanding his scholarship. The book collects anecdotes and deeds of Ming dynasty figures and has the character of a compiled historical source, reflecting the author's interest in organizing and preserving contemporary documents as well as the Ming literati fashion for recording anecdotes and gathered observations in private writings. Xiang Dushou's works circulated narrowly and are few in number, and later specialized research on him and his book is limited, so questions about his family background, associations, and official career remain open. On the whole, he is a relatively marginal figure among Ming cultural writers, and his significance lies chiefly in the Ming biographical materials preserved for later readers through JINXIAN BEIYI.
