DING, Qian 丁謙.

Zhejiang tu shu guan cong shu di yi ji 浙江圖書館叢書第一集 [The Zhejiang Library Collectanea, First Installment].

One of the Prefaces carries the alternative title Penglai xuan di li xue cong shu 蓬萊軒地理叢書 [Geographic Collectanea from the House of the Land of Immortals]. Eight vols. 8vo, orig. wrappers, orig. stitching. [Hangzhou]: Zhejiang tu shu guan, 1915.

First edition of this collection of studies in historical geography; their focus is the so-called dynastic or standard histories, each written under a new regime following the collapse of an old one. The studies concentrate on the geographical “narratives” (zhuan 傳) included for foreign states or peoples with which a given regime was in contact. Foreign states include, for example, Korea, Japan, and Ryūkyū (Okinawa). For the early periods, some of these “narratives” constitute important sources for the national histories of those countries.

The author, Ding Qian (1843-1919), served as an instructor in a coastal county in Zhejiang during the Sino-French War (1884-85), distinguishing himself in coastal defense. In retirement, he dedicated himself to scholarship (Zheng & Tan, Zhongguo lishi da cidian, 28). The studies included in the collection are:

1. Han shu ge wai guo zhuan di li kao zheng 漢書各外國傳地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography in Each of the Narratives of Foreign Countries in the “Book of Han”]. The Book of Han was written by Ban Gu in 58-76 CE. It covers the years 206 BCE-24 CE.

2. Hou Han shu ge wai guo zhuan di li kao zheng 後漢書各外國傳地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography in Each of the Narratives of Foreign Countries in “Book of the Later Han”]. The Book of the Later Han was written by Fan Ye 范曄 (398-445) and finished in 445 CE. It covers the years 25-220 CE.

3. San guo zhi wai guo zhuan di li kao zheng 三國志外國傳地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography in the Narratives of Foreign Countries in the “Records of the Three Kingdoms”]. The Records of the Three Kingdoms was written by Chen Shou 陳壽 (233-97 CE) in 264-80. It covers the years 221-80 CE.

4. Jin shu si yi zhuan di li kao zheng 晉書四夷傳地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography in the Narratives of the Barbarians of the Four (Directions) in the “Book of Jin”]. The Book of Jin was written by Fang Xuanling 房玄齡 (578-648) in 646. It covers the years 265-420.

5. Song shu yi mo di li kao zheng 宋書夷貊傳地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography of the Narratives of the Eastern and Northern Barbarians in the “Book of Song”]. The Book of Song was written by Shen Yue 沈約 (441-513) in 447-78. It covers the years 420-78.

6. Nan Qi shu yi mo zhuan di li kao zheng 南齊書夷貊傳地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography in the Narratives of the Eastern and Northern Barbarians in the “Book of the Southern Qi”]. The Book of the Southern Qi was written by Xiao Zixian 蕭子顯 (489-537) in 537. It covers the years 479-502.

7. Liang shu yi mo zhuan di li kao zheng 梁書夷貊傳地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography in the Narratives of the Eastern and Northern Barbarians in the “Book of Liang”]. The Book of Liang was written by Yao Silian 姚思廉 (d. 637) in 629-36. It covers the years 502-56.

8. Wei shu ge wai guo zhuan di li kao zheng 魏書各外國傳地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography in Each of the Narratives of Foreign Countries in the “Book of Wei”]. The Book of Wei was written by Wei Shou 魏收 (506-72) in 551-54. It covers the period 386-550.

9. Zhou shu yi yu zhuan di li kao zheng 周書異域傳地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography in the Narratives of Distant Lands in the “Book of Zhou”]. The Book of Zhou was written by Linghu Defen 令狐德棻 (583-666) in ca. 629. It covers the years 557-81.

10. Sui shu si yi zhuan di li kao zheng 隋書四夷傳地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography of the Narratives of the Barbarians of the Four (Directions) in the “Book of Sui”]. The Book of Sui was written by Wei Zheng 魏徵 (580-643). It covers the years 581-617.

11. Xin Tang shu ge wai guo zhuan di li kao zheng 新唐書各外國傳地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography of Each of the Narratives of Foreign Countries in the “New Book of Tang”]. The New Book of Tang was written by Ouyang Xiu 歐陽修 (1007-72), Song Qi 宋祁 (998-1061) et al. in 1043-60. It covers the period 618-906.

12. Xin wu dai shi si yi fu lu di li kao zheng 新五代史四夷坿錄地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography of the Appendices on the Barbarians of the Four (Directions) in the “New History of the Five Dynasties”]. The New History of the Five Dynasties was written by Ouyang Xiu in 1037-53. It covers the years 907-60.

13. Song shi wai guo zhuan di li kao zheng 宋史外國傳地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography in the Narrative of Foreign States in the “History of the Song”]. The History of the Song was written under the direction of Mongolian scholar Tuotuo 脫脫 (1314-55) in 1343-45. It covers the years 960-1279.

14. Liao shi ge wai guo di li kao zheng 遼史各外國地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography in Each of the Narratives of Foreign Countries in “History of the Liao”]. The History of the Liao was written under the direction of Tuotuo in 1343-44. It covers the years 916-1125.

15. Jin shi wai guo zhuan di li kao zheng 金史外國傳地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography in the Narrative of Foreign Countries in the “History of the Jin”]. The History of the Jin was written under the direction of Tuotuo in 1343-44. It covers the years 1115-1234.

16. Yuan shi wai yi zhuan di li kao zheng 元史外夷傳地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography in the Narrative of the Outer Barbarians in the “History of the Yuan”]. The History of the Yuan was written by Song Lian 宋濂 (1310-81) et al. in 1369-70. It covers the years 1206-1369.

17. Ming shi ge wai guo zhuan di li kao zheng 明史各外國傳地理攷證 [Examination and Verification of the Geography in Each of the Narratives of the Foreign Countries in the “History of the Ming”]. The History of the Ming was written by Zhang Tingyu 張廷玉 (1672-1755) et al. in 1678-1735 and was later revised. It covers the years 1368-1644 (Wilkinson, Chinese History, 626).

Zhejiang Library, the publisher of Ding’s collection, was founded in 1900 as one of China’s earliest provincial libraries.

Fine set.

References

Wilkinson, Endymion. Chinese History: A New Manual. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Asia Center, 2013.

Zheng Tianting 郑天挺 & Tan Qixiang 谭其骧, eds. Zhongguo lishi da cidian 中国历史大辞典. Vol. 1. Shanghai: Shanghai cishu chubanshe, 2021.