Record of Audiences at Yan

李东阳The Commercial Press · ChinaJun 2024

3.6

Word count: 16K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Yandui lu (Record of Audiences), in one juan, was compiled by Li Dongyang of the Ming dynasty. Li Dongyang, courtesy name Binzhi, style name Xiya, was a native of Chaling, Huguang. He received the jinshi degree in the eighth year of the Tianshun era. Selected as a shujishi, he was appointed compiler. He rose through the ranks to expositor-in-waiting and served as lecturer to the Eastern Palace. During the reign of Emperor Xiaozong he rose to Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion and participated in state affairs. Later, entrusted with the emperor's dying commands, he assisted Emperor Wuzong. His biography appears in Mingshi, juan 181. This work records, from the second month of the tenth year of the Hongzhi era to the eighth month of the sixth year of the Zhengde era, all the words of summons and audiences, fully set down in this compilation.

Editor's review

Yandui lu (Record of the Yan Audience) is a notebook-style historical work in which Li Dongyang, a senior Ming minister, recorded item by item, in his capacity as a close attendant, the words exchanged during audiences from the tenth year of Hongzhi to the sixth year of Zhengde. Its value lies not in literary style but in immediacy: the exchanges between ruler and minister, the handling of government affairs, and the details of court ceremony are all recorded as they occurred, supplementing what the veritable records and administrative compendia omit and providing firsthand material for studying the political operations, ruler-minister relations, and circumstances of grand secretaries from the Hongzhi to the Zhengde reign. Li Dongyang served through the reigns of Xiaozong and Wuzong, holding positions as a designated regent and as a senior minister, and his presentation of audience procedures, the transmission of imperial instructions, and the fine balance maintained by grand secretaries in their responses is especially revealing of the flexibility and pressure within the institutional system. This edition is a photocopy reprint of the original Republican-era Commercial Press printing; the appearance of the edition is clear and makes it easy to check the original engraved layout. It should be read as historical source material rather than as narrative, and in conjunction with the relevant biographies in the History of Ming and the Veritable Records of the Ming for a fuller context. It is suitable for close reading by researchers of Ming history, enthusiasts of institutional history, and readers concerned with the political practice of scholar-officials.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Researchers of Ming history and Ming political institutions who need firsthand audience records as source material
Readers of literature and history interested in ruler-minister relations and the circumstances of grand secretaries during the Hongzhi and Zhengde reigns
Enthusiasts of rare books and photocopy editions who value the appearance and layout information of the original printing
Readers with a foundation in Classical Chinese who wish to approach the realities of Ming government through notebook records

Not a good fit for

Readers of general history books who prefer complete narratives and plot-driven progression
Beginners who find Classical Chinese difficult and expect vernacular translation and annotation
Readers seeking a general survey of Ming society and culture rather than details of political audiences

Reading tips

Begin with the table of contents and the introductory notes, sort out the timeline of audiences, then read through in chronological order to avoid fragmented quotation
Keep the Biography of Li Dongyang in the History of Ming and the relevant years of the Veritable Records of the Ming at hand for comparison, noting where they complement or differ
Make brief notes on the figures and official titles in key audiences to clarify the positions of grand secretaries, the Directorate of Ceremonial, and the Six Ministries in the exchanges
If citing it in research, pay attention to the layout of the photocopy edition and the original page numbers, and record each source item by item for verification

About the publisher

The Commercial Press China · Founded in 1897

"Republic-era Commercial Press Original Editions" refers to original books printed by The Commercial Press during the Republican period, not a separate publishing house. Judging from the 300 titles held in the collection, its publishing focus centers on classical poetry and lyrics, literary appreciation, classic works, military texts, prose and miscellaneous writings, and Eastern philosophy. Representative titles include Wang Guowei's Renjian Cihua, Zhong Rong's Shipin, the lyric collections of Xin Qiji and Liu Yong, Sun Wu's The Art of War, and Lü Buwei's Xianshi Lan. Its author resources are mainly classical writers, together with modern scholars such as Li Jingbang and Guo Huaruo, whose collations and annotations are also represented, giving the list a character centered on original texts while attending to annotation and appreciation. Public information on the precise Republican-era catalog and printings is limited; this overview is based only on the titles held in the collection.

版权信息
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FAQ

Was this book recorded by Li Dongyang himself, or compiled by later hands?

According to the title and contents, the book consists of Li Dongyang's own records of the words exchanged at audiences from the second month of the tenth year of Hongzhi to the eighth month of the sixth year of Zhengde, and is therefore a participant's firsthand record. This publication is a photocopy of the original Republican-era Commercial Press printing, not a modern re-punctuated edition, so readers must parse the punctuation themselves.

Can someone without a foundation in Classical Chinese read this book?

This is a Classical Chinese notebook work in photocopied original form, with no modern annotation or vernacular translation, so the threshold for reading Classical Chinese is relatively high. Without a foundation, readers are advised first to read selected Ming historical sources with translation and annotation, then attempt to read this item by item with the help of reference works; otherwise it is easy to give up.

How does it differ from the audience records in the Veritable Records of the Ming?

The Veritable Records of the Ming is an officially compiled chronological source that was edited by the court scholars; Yandui lu is a grand secretary's personal firsthand record, closer to the scene in detail and tone, but its selection reflects a personal perspective. Reading the two together reveals differences in fullness and wording, and they can serve to corroborate each other; one should not simply use one to reject the other.

What should be noted when reading the photocopied original edition?

The photocopy preserves the original engraved layout, variant characters, and traces of old-style punctuation, which may be unfamiliar at first. Readers are advised to familiarize themselves with the format first, compare illegible passages with other editions or relevant quotations, and note the original page numbers and edition information when citing, so as to maintain academic standards.

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About the author

李东阳 Author

Li Dongyang was a literatus of the Ming dynasty; public information about his life and official career is limited, and his birth and death years and native place are not clearly established in the available sources. Judging from the five works held in the collection, his writing falls mainly into two kinds: poetry criticism and notes. Huailutang Shihua (also titled Lutang Shihua) is a work of shihua discussing poetic meter, tonal patterns, and approaches to composition; its arguments are practical and show careful attention to the craft of poetry. Yan Dui Lu, by contrast, is a notebook record of court affairs and observations. Though different in subject, both reflect his familiarity with institutions and his concern for literary standards. Later generations have classified his writings under ancient poetry, classical literature, and Eastern philosophy, and they are often consulted by students of Ming poetics and literati life. Given the limited sources, his biographical details should not be over-inferred; readers may understand his style and influence through the works themselves.