Jottings from a Lodge

沈作喆Tibet People's Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

Rating 3.3

Word count: 47K words
Chapters: 12

Summary

For truly he had no mind to speak—he merely lodged them there. I dwell in seclusion among the mountains, with no one to converse with; when something comes to mind, I lodge it on bamboo slips. Miscellaneous and jumbled, humorous and vulgar sayings are all present, yet perfect words and wondrous truths occasionally survive therein. Later, when I recite them, I rejoice as if seeing old friends of my life, clapping hands in lively talk, laughing together in joy. Therefore I name it "寓简" (Lodged on Slips), merely to amuse myself—perhaps like the carefree spirit of the Lacquer Garden, or perhaps there are those like Huizi who may know it as the use of the useless? Self-preface written at Yushan in the summer of the Jiawu year.

Editor's review

Yujian is a notebook-style work by Shen Zuozhe of the Southern Song dynasty. The title comes from the phrase "lodged there and nothing more"; in his self-preface the author candidly states that, dwelling in seclusion among the mountains with no one to converse with, he lodges his thoughts and records on bamboo slips. The contents are miscellaneous and jumbled, humorous and vulgar sayings coexisting with perfect words and wondrous truths. This "no mind to speak" posture gives the whole book a leisurely, casual, and unrestrained notebook character, containing both reflections on life and worldly affairs and witty, thought-provoking remarks worth savoring. This edition is a newly collated modern edition. For readers who wish to understand Song-dynasty notebook literature and the secluded life and intellectual temperament of literati, it is a volume worth reading carefully. It is not suited to readers seeking systematic theory or coherent narrative, but rather to casual browsing at leisure, savoring the ancients' pleasure of "clapping hands in lively talk, laughing together in joy" through one short slip after another. The vulgar and humorous expressions interspersed throughout also provide vivid material for observing the daily speech of Song-dynasty literati.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in ancient Chinese notebook literature
Those who wish to understand the secluded life and intellectual temperament of Song-dynasty literati
Readers who enjoy short essays and casual browsing
Beginning readers engaged in the study of ancient literature or textual scholarship

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking systematic theory or complete narrative
Beginners hoping for modern vernacular interpretation or detailed annotation
Readers who prefer coherent plots and tightly structured works

Reading tips

Keep it as a bedside or desk book for leisure, reading three to five entries a day without rushing.
While reading, note the author's "no mind to speak" attitude in the self-preface and appreciate the casual tone of the notebook style.
Pause at vulgar or humorous passages and understand their wit in the context of Song-dynasty society.
If using it for research, jot down topics and entries of interest for later classification.

About the publisher

Tibet People's Publishing House China · Founded in 1971

Tibet People's Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for collating Tibetan and Chinese ancient texts and publishing traditional culture. Judging from the books in its catalogue, its publishing focuses on medicine, Eastern philosophy, classics, and ancient poetry. It offers traditional Chinese medical and health-preserving works such as the Compendium of Materia Medica, Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold, and Principles of Correct Diet, as well as canonical and philosophical texts including the Book of Changes, Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, Annotated Edition of the Erya, and Luxuriant Dew of the Spring and Autumn Annals, along with historical and geographical works such as The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores. Its authors include figures such as Li Shizhen, Sun Simiao, King Wen of Zhou, Zuo Qiuming, Guo Pu, Dong Zhongshu, Hu Sihui, and Ma Huan. The house emphasizes the collation and republication of ancient texts, balancing scholarship and accessibility, and has developed its own strengths in transmitting Tibetan and Chinese cultural classics. Public information is limited, so other publishing details are omitted here.

版权信息
序
卷一
卷二
卷三
卷四
卷五
卷六
卷七
卷八
卷九
卷十

FAQ

What does the title Yujian mean?

According to the author's self-preface, he dwelt in seclusion among the mountains with no one to talk to, and lodged his memories on bamboo slips. Though the contents are miscellaneous, perfect words and wondrous truths occasionally survive therein. Hence he named it "Yujian," taking the sense of "lodged there and nothing more," merely for self-amusement rather than deliberate authorship.

Is this book suitable for reading straight through?

Yujian is a notebook-style work, and its entries do not necessarily follow a coherent thread; it is better suited to casual browsing and reading in segments. Forcing a straight read may make the contents seem jumbled, whereas skipping according to interest or reading a few entries a day better reveals its leisurely charm.

Does the book contain vulgar and humorous talk?

The author's self-preface explicitly says, "though humorous and vulgar sayings are all present, perfect words and wondrous truths occasionally survive therein," indicating that the book contains both humorous, colloquial language and refined discourse—their coexistence is one of its characteristics.

What background is needed to read this book?

This is an ancient notebook work with a certain amount of classical Chinese; readers with basic classical Chinese reading ability can attempt it. If one's classical Chinese foundation is weak, reference tools or an annotated edition may be used alongside.

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About the author

沈作喆 Author

Shen Zuozhe's life, official career, and dates of birth and death are not found in the available materials. Public information is limited, and his courtesy name, native place, and English name cannot be verified, so only his surviving writings can be briefly described. Two works by him are held in the collection, both titled Yujian (Moral Discourses in Brief), which suggests that his writings center on this title. In the common classification, the book is placed under Eastern philosophy; its content presumably leans toward philosophical reflection and reflections on life, likely in the form of miscellaneous notes discussing self-cultivation, conduct in the world, and the pursuit of learning, with concise language that embodies principles in concrete matters. Given the extant materials, it is difficult to detail his intellectual antecedents or scholarly lineage, and no reliable record of his associates or influence has been found. Readers wishing to understand him should turn directly to the text of Yujian and grasp his concerns through its topics, citations, and style. In short, Shen Zuozhe is an author whose life is largely obscure and who is known only through Yujian, whose value lies mainly in the book's philosophical content and note-form style.