History of the Deer-Tail Whisk

王得臣Jul 2024

3.7

Word count: 41K words
Chapters: 47

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history, marked by a high degree of originality, inventiveness, and literary quality. Early forms of thought are highly distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of traditional Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and geography are all profound and extensive in content.

This series, "Original Texts of Classic Chinese Cultural Essence," preserves the appearance of the original books and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers can cultivate their temperament and subtly appreciate the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

The Zhushi is a note-style (biji) work by Wang Dechen of the Song dynasty. Included in the "Classic Chinese Studies: Essence of Culture, Original Texts" series, it preserves the original text and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture. The character "zhu" in the title evokes the image of elegant gatherings and refined conversation; the contents are largely miscellaneous records of things seen and heard, often touching on institutions and regulations, anecdotes about people, comments on poetry and prose, and observations on customs, reading like idle talk with an elder, revealing the spirit of the age in small details. Its value lies not in systematic rigor but in offering a window onto the life and intellectual interests of Song-dynasty literati, and in letting readers appreciate the note-style mode of writing—jotting things down at random, prompted by events. It is best read as a text to be entered in sections, without seeking a continuous plot; when encountering terms for institutions or objects, consult reference works or relevant annotated editions. Suitable for readers interested in Song-dynasty notes, literati culture, and the popularization of traditional culture.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Song-dynasty notes and literati life
Lovers of short miscellaneous records who enjoy reading in sections
Readers of traditional culture interested in institutions, customs, and anecdotes
Writers and popularizers seeking source material

Not a good fit for

General readers expecting a complete narrative or continuous plot
Beginning readers who need modern translation, annotation, and detailed textual research
Readers who read only vernacular works and are unwilling to engage with classical Chinese

Reading tips

Read entry by entry, selecting a few items each time and noting observations of interest.
Mark terms for institutions and objects as you go, then look them up together after finishing the whole text.
Read alongside similar Song-dynasty notes to compare differences in perspective and focus.
After reading, retell the gist of one anecdote to check whether you have truly understood it.

版权信息
麈史
序
睿谟
国政
朝制
官制
国用
任人
礼仪
音乐
台议
忠谠
惠政
利疚
贤德
志气
度量
知人
不遇
治家
场屋
体分
学术
经义
诗话
论文
碑碣
书画
辨误
明义
姓氏
古器
风俗
奇异
盛事
戒杀
鉴戒
真伪
谗谤
占验
语谶
博弈
谐谑
杂志
乖谬
夏敬观跋

FAQ

Is the Zhushi a history book or a note-style work?

Judging from the title and Wang Dechen's tradition of writing, it belongs to the note-style (biji) genre; its contents are mostly miscellaneous records of things seen and heard, touching on institutions, people, and customs, and it is not a formally structured biographical history. It is best read entry by entry, without demanding the systematic completeness of official history.

What background knowledge is needed to read this book?

A basic familiarity with Song-dynasty history makes for smoother reading, but it is not essential. References to institutions and objects may pose obstacles; reference works or relevant annotated editions can help. On a first reading, grasp the general meaning of each entry and gradually fill in background—do not stop over individual difficulties.

Why is the book called Zhushi?

"Zhu" is often associated with the fly-whisk used in refined conversation among the ancients; the title carries a sense of casual talk and miscellaneous notes, suggesting that the contents are largely observations and comments jotted down at random and prompted by events. The precise reason for the name still requires attention to the original preface and postscript; readers may note the author's own remarks and the series description.

Is this edition suitable for beginners?

This edition is a series compilation that preserves the original text, suitable for readers who already have some ability to read classical Chinese and wish to engage with the original. Those who rely entirely on vernacular translation and annotation may need a separate annotated edition. Beginners can start with shorter entries and gradually adapt to the style.

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About the author

王得臣 Author

Wang Dechen: his dates of birth and death, native place, and life events are all unknown, and available public information is limited, making it difficult to sketch a complete biographical trajectory. Judging from the surviving works, he is the author of the book Zhushi, and a combined edition, Zhushi · Houqinglu, also circulates; the library holds two of his works. His writing mostly falls into the category of notes and miscellaneous records, covering court and popular anecdotes, institutional precedents, and stories about people, in a plain style characteristic of Song dynasty biji. Such works are loosely organized and record matters as they arise; they served as conversation material for scholars of the time and preserved scattered materials for later generations to understand the social conditions and scholarly atmosphere of the period. In common classifications his books are placed under Eastern philosophy and social sciences, indicating content of reference value for intellectual history and social and cultural research. Because the transmission and compilation of the original texts are relatively complex, this entry offers only a brief introduction to the two works held in the library and makes no conjectures about his life.