Later Record of the Northern Expedition

金幼孜Bashu Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

3.3

Word count: 3.2K words
Chapters: 2

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Summary

Northward Expedition: The Later Record is a work of Chinese history by Jin Youzi.

Editor's review

Northward Expedition: The Later Record was written by Jin Youzi and belongs to the category of Chinese historical works, recording what he observed and heard while accompanying the army on the northern expedition. Jin Youzi served as a civil official in the imperial retinue during the northern expedition; such retinue records typically combine observations of the route with a court perspective, and are useful for understanding the march routes of the Ming northern expeditions, the scenery beyond the frontier, and the duties of civil officials accompanying the emperor. The 2024 reprint by Bashu Publishing House makes the book easier for readers to obtain. It should be noted that the materials only identify the book as a work of Chinese history and provide no detailed chapter structure, so reading should be based on the actual content of the original book, and its length or format should not be assumed in advance. Overall, the book is suitable as a supplementary source of historical material on the early Ming northern expeditions, and its value becomes clearer when read alongside veritable records and biographies; those seeking a systematic military history or a complete geographical account will need to look for specialized works elsewhere.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Historians of the Ming dynasty interested in retinue documents and records of observations from the northern expeditions
Readers interested in Jin Youzi's life and the early Ming system of civil officials accompanying the emperor
History enthusiasts with a basic understanding of the early Ming northern expeditions who wish to expand their source base
University history students using it as auxiliary reading on Ming frontier documents

Not a good fit for

Readers with no background in early Ming history who are looking for an introductory general history
Those expecting a systematic and complete military history or detailed geographical research
Readers who prefer vernacular narration and highly readable popular works

Reading tips

First learn about Jin Youzi and the background of the early Ming northern expeditions before entering the main text, to reduce obstacles to understanding
Pay attention to itinerary nodes and the observational perspective of the accompanying civil official while reading, and take brief notes
Compare with related retinue documents such as The Northward Expedition Record, noting similarities and differences in the records
There is no need to read straight through; read by itinerary sections or selected topics

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
北征後錄

FAQ

What does Northward Expedition: The Later Record mainly record?

According to the materials, this book is a work of Chinese history written by Jin Youzi and belongs to the retinue records related to the northern expedition. The specific chapters and level of detail should be based on the original book. Such documents usually concern the march and observations along the way, and can provide auxiliary material for understanding the early Ming northern expeditions.

What background knowledge is needed to read this book?

It is advisable first to have a basic outline of the early Ming northern expeditions, to understand Jin Youzi's identity as a civil official in the retinue, and to be familiar with simple classical Chinese reading. Without this background, direct reading may make it difficult to grasp the record's focus and historical value.

Is this book suitable as an introductory reader for Ming history?

Not very suitable. This book is a specialized historical source work, not a general history or popular introduction. Readers without a foundation in early Ming history are advised to read overview works first and then use this book as supplementary material.

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About the author

金幼孜 Author

Jin Youzi was a civil official of the early Ming dynasty. Because public information about his life is limited, its details are difficult to set out; his surviving works, however, confirm that he accompanied a northern campaign and left a record of it. Five of his works are held in this collection, including the Beizheng lu, the Beizheng houlu, and different editions of these texts. Based on firsthand experience, they describe the geography, people, and events encountered on the march, and possess both historical and literary value. His style tends toward reportage: the language is concise, with attention to on-site observation and little rhetorical embellishment. Besides the northern campaign records, his works also touch on historical reading, Eastern philosophy, and literary appreciation, suggesting a certain breadth of reading and a grounding in letters and history. Overall, Jin Youzi is known for his travel and campaign records, which offer later readers a detailed reference for the early Ming northern campaigns and preserve a valuable text for the study of literati travel writing of the period.