Zhu Shiqi

Hu YunyuNanhai Publication Company · ChinaJun 2024

3.2

Word count: 145 words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Shiqi, courtesy name Pingren, was a licentiate of Yuyao, Zhejiang. In the final years of the Chongzhen reign he joined his fellow townsmen in founding the Changgu Society, which corresponded with the Jishe Society of Yunjian. After the fall of the two capitals, when the edict came down, □□ Shiqi took the Thirteen Classics and the Twenty-One Histories to sea, lived in exile in Japan, and ended his days there.

Editor's review

Taking Shiqi, a licentiate of Yuyao in the late Ming, as its thread, this book presents the choices and destination of an ordinary scholar at the turn of a dynasty: forming a society and lecturing, carrying the classics and histories to sea after the fall of the two capitals, and living out his life in exile in Japan. The sources are brief but inherently charged; the editor organizes the material around the figure's movements and the historical setting, letting readers glimpse the conditions and spiritual orientation of scholars amid dynastic change. The book is short and serves as an introductory read for the study of late-Ming and early-Qing scholars, and as casual reading for those interested in book collecting, the transmission of the classics and histories, and cross-sea exile. Readers may note two pivotal moments—the founding of the society and the carrying of books to sea—which were at once personal choices and a reflection of how, amid a changing era, the literary tradition might be preserved in another form.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the circumstances and choices of late-Ming and early-Qing scholars who want to approach through an individual case
Readers concerned with the circulation of books, the transmission of the classics and histories, and cross-sea cultural exchange
History students who can use it as case material to broaden their horizons and gather sources
History enthusiasts who enjoy short biographical sketches and narratives that reveal the large through the small

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking systematic dynastic history or macro-level historical analysis
Specialist researchers who require extensive source criticism and annotation
General readers who prefer long, richly narrated biographies with strong plot

Reading tips

Begin with the section on the figure's movements and establish the chronology of the three moments: forming the society, the fall of the two capitals, and going to sea into exile
As you read, consult background material on the late Ming and early Qing to understand the pressures of the era behind the figure's choices
Use the detail of carrying the classics and histories to sea as a point of departure for reading on book circulation and cultural exchange
After reading, write a short note recording your understanding of and questions about the figure's choices

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
诸士奇

FAQ

Who was Shiqi, and what is this book about?

According to the sources, Shiqi, courtesy name Pingren, was a licentiate of Yuyao, Zhejiang. In the late Ming he joined his fellow townsmen in founding the Changgu Society, which corresponded with the Jishe Society of Yunjian; after the fall of the two capitals he took the Thirteen Classics and the Twenty-One Histories to sea, lived in exile in Japan, and ended his days there. This book unfolds around his movements and the historical setting.

Is this book suitable for learning about late-Ming scholar societies?

It can serve as a case-based introduction. The book touches on Shiqi founding the Changgu Society with his fellow townsmen and corresponding with the Jishe Society of Yunjian, helping readers sense the culture of scholar societies in the late Ming; for a systematic understanding, read it alongside specialized works.

How should the episode of carrying the classics and histories to sea be understood?

It is an important recorded act of Shiqi: at the turn of the dynasty he took the Thirteen Classics and the Twenty-One Histories to sea and lived in exile in Japan. Readers may understand it as one individual's way of preserving the literary tradition, and extend their reading with background on book circulation in the late Ming and early Qing.

What background knowledge is needed to read this book?

A basic familiarity with late-Ming and early-Qing history is enough to read it through. If concepts such as the licentiate status, scholar societies, or the fall of the two capitals are unfamiliar, consult brief background material first; the book will then read more smoothly.

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About the author

Hu Yunyu Author · Chinese · 1878–1947

Hu Yunyu (1878–1947), originally named Yunyu and styled Pu'an, went by his courtesy name and was a native of Jing County, Anhui. A noted philologist, exegete and bibliophile of the Republican era, he was also a poet of the Southern Society and a member of the Tongmenghui. He served as president of the Republican Daily and as director of the Shanghai Local Gazetteer Office. His writings span language studies and literary-historical biography, including A History of Chinese Philology, A History of Chinese Exegesis, A Dictionary of Colloquial Expressions and A Survey of Chinese Customs. Thirty-three of his works are held in this collection, among them Mr. Hua Wangjin, Zuo Maodi, Fu Guan, Chen Gou, Zheng Weihong, the Monk Hunrong, Zhou Qizeng and Wang Xing, the Embroidery Needle. Most take Ming and Qing figures as their subjects, falling under comprehensive biography and touching on Eastern philosophy and classic works. Concise and fact-centered, they reveal his narrative skill beyond textual scholarship.