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Gujinkao 古今考 "Investigation of old and new" is a "brush-notes"-style book (biji 筆記) written during the Southern Song period 南宋 (1127-1279) by the philosopher Wei Liaoweng 魏了翁 (1178-1237). He wrote a similar book called Jingwai zachao 經外雜鈔.
The book of 1 juan length is a compilation of information on various regulations of the political, administrative and ritual system of the "old" Zhou 周 (11th cent.-221 BCE) and the "new" Han period 漢 (206 BCE-220 CE). The greatest part of the two dozen of chapters originated in the annals-biography (ch. 1 Gaozu benji 高祖本紀) of Emperor Gaozu as recorded in the official dynastic history Hanshu 漢書.
Wei made notes on terms and respective characters. Four entries only have headlines, but no text. The unfinished draft found entrance into a revision by Fang Hui 方回 (1227-1307), courtesy name Wanli 萬里, style Xugu 虛谷 or Ziyang Shanren 紫陽山人, from Shexian 歙縣 in the prefecture of Huizhou 徽州 (in today's Anhui province). Fang completed and continued Wei's draft and created a whole book of 37 juan length called Xu gujin kao 續古今考.
Fang had obtained the jinshi degree in 1262 and was tea and salt monopoly supervisor (chayan ganguan 茶鹽幹官) of Chiyang 池陽, and later prefect of Yanzhou 嚴州. As a partisan of Jia Sidao 賈似道 (1213-1275), Fang was dismissed after the latter's downfall. When the Yuan army conquered China, Fang was appointed military coordinator (zongguan 總管) of the Route of Jiande 建德路. He also wrote the book Yingkui lüsui 瀛奎律髓 and the critique Wenxuan Yan Bao Xie shi ping 文選顏鮑謝詩評. His collected writings are called Xugu ji 虛谷集, Tongjiang ji 桐江集, and Tongjiang xuji 桐江續集.
Fang added some comments on Wei Liaoweng's fragmentary collection. He made a distinction between the commentaries of Wei (Heshan Xiansheng 鶴山先生) and his own (Ziyang Fangshi 紫陽方氏). Apart from the Hanshu, Fang also consulted other sources of the Han period. Some of these sources are lost, like the books Jiankao 劍考 on swords or Yupei kao 玉佩考 on jade girdle pendants. Moreover, Fang Hui left the disciple of the administrative system and discusses a wide array of matters and issues from the Han period. Some of his commentaries show the influence of Neo-Confucian thinking, which is an anachronism when talking about the early imperial period. Both books are, nonetheless, useful for more knowledge about early Han China.
The text can be found in the series Siku quanshu 四庫全書, Xu baichuan xuehai 續百川學海, Baoyantang miji 寶顏堂秘笈 and Yijingtang cangshu 詒經堂藏書.
Another book titled Xu gujin kao is attributed to Yuan Haowen 元好問 (1190-1257), who is known for the story collection Xu yijian zhi 續夷堅志 and the poetry critique Zhongzhouji 中州集. However, the origins of the 9-juan-long book are uncertain. The preface from 1406 attributed to the writer Xie Jin 解縉 (1369-1415) is too crude to have been written by Xie. The language of the book itself also not appears to have been compiled by a person from the time in which Yuan Haowen lived. Moreover, it quotes from the books Kunxue jiwen 困學紀聞 and Wenxian tongkao 文獻通考, which were compiled or published after Yuan's death. Remarks on the "Confucian Analects" Lunyu 論語 and the Zhongyong 中庸 refer to Qing-period 清 (1644-1911) commentators. The compilers of the book catalogue Siku quanshu zongmu tiyao 四庫全書總目提要 conclude that this book titled Xu gujin kao must have been compiled during the early Qing period, and decided not to include it into the Siku quanshu corpus.