A Guest's Account of Yunnan

云间顾山贞Nanhai Publication Company · ChinaSep 2023

3.3

Word count: 17K words
Chapters: 2

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Summary

This book is Ke Dian Shu, written by Gu Shanzhen of Yunjian.

Editor's review

Ke Dian Shu records, from a first-hand perspective, the social upheavals and the landscapes and customs witnessed in Yunnan during the Ming–Qing transition, and is a relatively rare example of the notebook-style historical source. Its accounts of local customs, people, military affairs and everyday details both fill gaps in local histories and gazetteers and can be cross-checked against the official histories, giving it dual value for the recovery of historical materials and for the study of regional culture. This Nanhai Publishing House edition makes it easier for readers to sense, through firsthand notebook writing, the real texture of frontier society at a time of dynastic change. The book is short and its narrative fragmentary; it is best read closely as historical material rather than as a continuous story. It suits readers interested in Ming–Qing history, Yunnan local history or ancient notebook literature, who can move between consulting it and reading it casually; noting personal names, place names and dates as they read, and comparing it with relevant histories, will yield better results.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Researchers of Ming–Qing history and Yunnan local history who need to compile rare notebook sources
Readers of history and literature interested in frontier society at a time of dynastic change
Readers who enjoy the ancient notebook genre and are used to fragmented reading
Compilers of local gazetteers and textual editors, who may use it as corroborating material

Not a good fit for

Ordinary fiction readers expecting a continuous plot and character development
Beginners without historical background who would need a guide to read it
Readers seeking a systematic general history rather than scattered notes

Reading tips

Read the preface or editorial notes first to understand the background of the book and its textual editions, then move on to the main text.
Keep a historical map of Yunnan and a Ming–Qing chronological table at hand to check place names and dates as you read.
Excerpt entries by theme—customs, military affairs, people—for easier retrieval and citation later.
Read it alongside related contemporary histories and gazetteers of Yunnan, noting differences between the notebook's accounts and official records.

About the publisher

Nanhai Publication Company China · Founded in 1988

Nanhai Publication Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literature and arts titles, covering fields such as classical poetry, martial arts fiction, and folk literature. Judging from the more than 1,600 books in the database, the company has released classical poetic works including the Nineteen Old Poems and the Nine Songs, as well as multiple volumes of Huanzhulouzhu's series The Swordsmen of Mount Shu, along with related writings by authors such as Guan Hanqing, Qu Yuan, Zuo Si, and Wang Zhihuan. Its publishing character lies in balancing the organization of classic texts with the dissemination of popular literature, placing poetry anthologies alongside long martial arts novels and presenting a relatively diverse literary profile. Public information is limited, and further details about its editorial practices and series planning remain to be supplemented.

版权信息
客滇述

FAQ

Is this book a complete general history of Yunnan?

No. It is a notebook-style record of the author's personal observations, fragmentary in content and focused on episodes he experienced or heard about, rather than a general history organized systematically by time or topic. Readers should treat it as source material and use it together with official histories and local gazetteers to form a more complete picture.

Can I understand it without a historical background?

You can follow the literal meaning, but depth of understanding will be limited. The book involves many personal names, place names and the military and political background of a time of dynastic change; without relevant background knowledge it is easy to lose track of events. It is advisable to first acquire basic facts about Yunnan during the Ming–Qing transition and then return for a close reading; the results will be noticeably different.

Should I take notes while reading?

Yes, it is advisable. Notebook content is scattered, and the same person or event may appear in several places; jotting down entries and page numbers and grouping them by theme makes it easier both to compare with histories and to retrieve and cite later when writing, and is more rewarding than a single read-through.

Is this book suitable as a source for research citations?

It can serve as corroborating material, but with caution. Notebooks rely largely on personal observation and are subject to memory errors and bias; when citing, check other historical sources and note the edition and page numbers, and avoid drawing conclusions from a single notebook alone.

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About the author

云间顾山贞 Author

Yun Jian Gu Shanzhen: little is known about this author, as no clear records survive regarding his life, native place, or identity, and the available public information is limited, making it difficult to sketch a complete biographical outline. Among his extant works is one title, Ke Dian Shu (An Account of Sojourning in Yunnan), which is commonly classified under folk literature. The work takes the observations of a sojourner in Yunnan as its thread and has the character of recording local customs and social conditions, written in a plain, natural style close to folk narrative and attentive to documenting and retelling everyday life in Yunnan. Given the scarcity of materials on the author, the work is all the more valuable: it offers readers a readable text for understanding the folk life of the region and preserves Yun Jian Gu Shanzhen's name in bibliographic records through Ke Dian Shu, making it a concrete example for the study of folk literary writing.