Records of the Shenyang Guesthouse

The *Simgwan-nok* (Records of the Shenyang Residence) is an annalistic historical source compiled from the day-by-day records kept by Korean envoys during their stay at the hostage residence in Shenyang. Its entries begin in the second month of the Chongde era and end before the Qing court established its capital at Beijing in the eighth month of the Shunzhi era, spanning eight years. The work comprises seven juan and covers the daily life of the Korean crown prince Yi Jeong and his party in Shenyang, the Qing court's protocol and provisions for the hostages, envoy exchanges between the Later Jin (Qing) and Korea, material trade, military and political news, and social observations within Shenyang itself—first-hand, close-range observation. Its value lies in offering details of early Qing statecraft from a foreign perspective, which can be cross-checked against official histories such as the *Veritable Records of the Qing*; the Japanese scholar Naito Konan once praised it as a precious source for early Qing history. This edition, prepared and published by Qunyan Press, makes it easier for researchers and history enthusiasts to consult in one place. Suitable reading scenarios include: researchers of early Qing Manchu-Korean relations and Qing foreign relations using it for source verification; readers interested in Northeast Asian society around the Ming-Qing transition reading it thematically; and courses in relevant university departments using selections as supplementary material. Because it is a classical-Chinese annalistic record with highly specialized personal names, place names, and official titles, general readers should begin with the editorial introduction and notes, then read closely the years relevant to their own interests, rather than feeling obliged to read the whole work through.