Leishu: Difference between revisions
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The ''[[Qinding Gujin Tushu Jicheng]]'' (Imperially approved synthesis of books and illustrations past and present) is by far the largest ''leishu'' ever printed, containing 100 million characters and 852,408 pages. It was compiled by a team of scholars led by Chen Menglei, and printed between 1726 and 1728, during the Qing dynasty.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=605}} According to Jean-Pierre Diény, the [[Jiaqing Emperor|Jiaqing reign]] (1796–1820) saw the end of the publication of ''leishu''.{{sfn|Lehner|2011|p=47}} |
The ''[[Qinding Gujin Tushu Jicheng]]'' (Imperially approved synthesis of books and illustrations past and present) is by far the largest ''leishu'' ever printed, containing 100 million characters and 852,408 pages. It was compiled by a team of scholars led by Chen Menglei, and printed between 1726 and 1728, during the Qing dynasty.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=605}} According to Jean-Pierre Diény, the [[Jiaqing Emperor|Jiaqing reign]] (1796–1820) saw the end of the publication of ''leishu''.{{sfn|Lehner|2011|p=47}} |
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| ⚫ | The ''riyong leishu'' (encyclopedias for daily use), containing practical information for people who were literate but below the Confucian elite, were also compiled in the later imperial era. Today, they provide scholars valuable information on non-elite culture and attitudes.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=602}} |
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==In other countries== |
==In other countries== |
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==Importance== |
==Importance== |
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The ''leishu'' have played an important role in the preservation of ancient works. Many works have been otherwise lost, only preserved completely or partially as part of a ''leishu'' compilation. The 7th-century ''[[Yiwen Leiju]]'' is especially valuable. It contains excerpts from 1,400 pre-7th century works, 90% of which have otherwise been lost. The ''Yongle Dadian'', though itself largely lost, still contains 385 complete books that are lost.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=602}} They also provide a unique view of the transmission of knowledge and education, and a easy way to locate traditional materials on any given subject.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=602}} |
The ''leishu'' have played an important role in the preservation of ancient works. Many works have been otherwise lost, only preserved completely or partially as part of a ''leishu'' compilation. The 7th-century ''[[Yiwen Leiju]]'' is especially valuable. It contains excerpts from 1,400 pre-7th century works, 90% of which have otherwise been lost. The ''Yongle Dadian'', though itself largely lost, still contains 385 complete books that are lost.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=602}} They also provide a unique view of the transmission of knowledge and education, and a easy way to locate traditional materials on any given subject.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=602}} |
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==Major compilations== |
==Major compilations== |
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Revision as of 06:30, 17 November 2014
The leishu (Chinese: 類書; lit. 'classified books') is a genre of reference books historically compiled in China. It is generally translated as "encyclopedia", although the Chinese leishu are quite different from the modern notion of encyclopedia.[1] They often contain copies of entire works, not just excerpts, classified by category.[2]
History
The genre first appeared during the Cao Wei period (early third century AD),[3] although the term leishu was not used until the Song dynasty (960–1279).[1]
In the later imperial China (Ming and Qing dynasties), emperors sponsored monumental projects to compile all known human knowledge into a single leishu, in which entire works, rather than excerpts, were copied and classified by category. The largest leishu ever compiled, on the order of the Yongle Emperor of Ming, was the Yongle Dadian containing a total of 370 million Chinese characters. The project involved 2,169 scholars, who worked for four years under general editor Yao Guangxiao. It was completed in 1408, but never printed, as the imperial treasury had run out of money.[2]
The Qinding Gujin Tushu Jicheng (Imperially approved synthesis of books and illustrations past and present) is by far the largest leishu ever printed, containing 100 million characters and 852,408 pages. It was compiled by a team of scholars led by Chen Menglei, and printed between 1726 and 1728, during the Qing dynasty.[4] According to Jean-Pierre Diény, the Jiaqing reign (1796–1820) saw the end of the publication of leishu.[5]
The riyong leishu (encyclopedias for daily use), containing practical information for people who were literate but below the Confucian elite, were also compiled in the later imperial era. Today, they provide scholars valuable information on non-elite culture and attitudes.[3]
In other countries
Other countries of the Sinosphere also adopted the genre of leishu. In 1712, the Sancai Tuhui, a richly illustrated leishu compiled by Ming scholar Wang Qi (王圻) in the early 17th century, was printed in Japan as Wakan Sansai Zue. The Japanese version was edited by Terajima Ryōan (寺島良安), a physician born in Osaka.[5]
Importance
The leishu have played an important role in the preservation of ancient works. Many works have been otherwise lost, only preserved completely or partially as part of a leishu compilation. The 7th-century Yiwen Leiju is especially valuable. It contains excerpts from 1,400 pre-7th century works, 90% of which have otherwise been lost. The Yongle Dadian, though itself largely lost, still contains 385 complete books that are lost.[3] They also provide a unique view of the transmission of knowledge and education, and a easy way to locate traditional materials on any given subject.[3]
Major compilations
Approximately 600 leishu were compiled, from the Cao Wei period (early third century) until the 18th century, of which 200 have survived. Among the most important, in chronological order, are:[6]
- Yiwen Leiju (Collection of literature arranged by categories), compiled by Ouyang Xun
- Beitang Shuchao (Excerpts from books in the Northern Hall), compiled by Yu Shinan ca. 630
- Chuxue Ji (Writings for elementary instruction), compiled by Xu Jian et al. between 713 and 742
- Taiping Yulan (Imperially reviewed encyclopaedia of the Taiping era), compiled by Li Fang et al., published 984
- Cefu Yuangui (Outstanding models from the storehouse of literature), compiled by Wang Qinruo et al., completed in 1013
- Yuhai (Ocean of jade), compiled by Wang Yinglin 1330–40
- Yongle Dadian, completed 1408, the largest leishu ever compiled
- Qinding Gujin Tushu Jicheng, 1726–28, the largest leishu ever printed
Notes
- ^ a b Lehner 2011, p. 46.
- ^ a b Wilkinson 2000, p. 604.
- ^ a b c d Wilkinson 2000, p. 602.
- ^ Wilkinson 2000, p. 605.
- ^ a b Lehner 2011, p. 47.
- ^ Wilkinson 2000, p. 603–5.
Bibliography
- Lehner, Georg (10 May 2011). China in European Encyclopaedias, 1700-1850. BRILL. ISBN 90-04-20150-5.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Wilkinson, Endymion Porter (2000). Chinese History: A Manual. Harvard Univ Asia Center. ISBN 978-0-674-00249-4.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Zurndorfer, Harriet T. (2013). "Fifteen hundred years of the Chinese encyclopaedia". Encyclopaedism from Antiquity to the Renaissance. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-47089-7.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help)