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Gujin shuohai 古今說海

Oct 31, 2010 © Ulrich Theobald

Gujin shuohai 古今說海 "Ocean of old and new tales" is a series of collectanea (congshu 叢書) of short stories compiled by the Ming-period 明 (1368-1644) scholar Lu Ji 陸楫 (1515—1552), courtesy name Siyu 思豫, style Xiaoshan 小山, from Wujiang 松江 in the Southern Metropolitan Province Nanzhili 南直隸 (today part of Shanghai), and son of the calligrapher Lu Shen 陸深 (1477-1544).

The collection was finished in 1544 and has a total length of 142 juan. It contains 135 novels, arranged in four parts (bu 部) and seven different styles (jia 家). Because the selected stories cover a wide range of literary aspects and style, it can be called a kind of encyclopaedia of Tang- 唐 (618-907) and Song- 宋 (960-1279) period novellas.

The first part (Shuoxuan 說選 "Selection of tales") contains so-called "Petty records" (Xiaolu 小錄) and "Supplementary notes" (Pianji 偏記), the second part (Shuoyuan 說淵 "Profoundness of tales") covers "Alternative biographies" (Biezhuan 別傳), the third part (Shuolüe 說略 "Conciseness of tales") is dedicated to "Miscellaneous notes" (Zaji 雜記), and the fourth part (Shuozuan 說纂 "Assortment of tales") includes "Remnant affairs" (Yishi 逸事), "Dispersed records" (Sanlu 散錄) and "Miscellaneous compilations" (Zazuan 雜纂).

Some of the stories are extracted from the encyclopaedia Taiping guangji 太平廣記. Although the Gujin shuohai does not contain as many stories as similar collections, e. g. Zeng Zao's 曾慥 (early 12th cent.) Leishuo 類說, famous for the exclusiveness of the stories, or Tao Zongyi's 陶宗儀 (1329-1410) Shuofu 說郛, known for the wide range of the selection, the sources in the Gujin shuohai are quoted in full and have virtually not been abbreviated - which was a common method in such anthologies.

The oldest surviving print was produced in 1544 by Master Lu's 陸氏 Yanshan Academy 儼山書院 and is now stored in the Beijing Library 北京圖書館. There are furthermore a print from the Wanli reign-period 萬曆 (1573-1619), a print of the imperial Wenjin Hall 文津閣, a print from 1821 by Master Shao's 邵氏 Youshan Studio 酉山堂, a print by the Jicheng Tushu Press 集成圖書公司 in Shanghai from 1909, and a print from 1915 by the Jinbu Press 進步書局 in Shanghai.

The series Gujin shuohai itself is included in the huge imperial series Siku quanshu 四庫全書, as part of the books on miscellaneous issues (zajia 雜家), sub-category "miscellaneous compilations" (zabian 雜編).

Table 1. The series Gujin shuohai 古今說海
(Ming) 陸楫 Lu Ji (comp.)
1544 edition by Master Lu of Yunjian 雲間陸氏(陸楫, Yanshan Shuyuan 儼山書院); 1821 edition by Master Shao of Shaoxi 苕溪邵氏 (Youshantang 酉山堂); 1909 edition by Shanghai Jicheng Tushu Gongsi 上海集成圖書公司; 1915 lithographic edition by Shanghai Jinbu Shuju 上海進步書局

說選部 Shuoxuan bu

小錄家 Xiaolu jia
北征錄 一卷 Beizhenglu (Ming) 金幼孜 Jin Youzi
北征後錄 一卷 Beizheng houlu (Ming) 金幼孜 Jin Youzi
北征記 一卷 Beizhengji (Ming) 楊榮 Yang Rong
偏記家 Pianji jia
平夏錄 一卷 Pingxialu (Ming) 黃標 Huang Biao
江南別錄 一卷 Jiangnan bielu (Song) 陳彭年 Chen Pengnian
三楚新錄 三卷 Sanchu xinlu (Song) 周羽翀 Zhou Yuchong
溪蠻叢笑 一卷 Ximan congxiao (Song) 朱輔 Zhu Fu
遼志 (契丹國志) 一卷 Liaozhi (Qidan guo zhi) (Song) 葉隆禮 Ye Longli
金志 (大金國志) 一卷 Jinzhi (Da-Jin guo zhi) (Song) 宇文懋昭 Yuwen Maozhao
蒙韃備錄 一卷 Mengda beilu (Song) 孟珙 Meng Gong
北邊備對 一卷 Beibian beidui (Song) 程大昌 Cheng Dachang
桂海虞衡志 一卷 Guihai yuheng zhi (Song) 范成大 Fan Chengda
真臘風土記 一卷 Zhenla fengtu ji (Yuan) 周達觀 Zhou Daguan
北戶錄 一卷 Beihulu (Tang) 段公路 Duan Gonglu
西使記 一卷 Xishiji (Yuan) 劉郁 Liu You
北轅錄 一卷 Beiyuanlu (Song) 周輝 Zhou Hui
滇載記 一卷 Dianzaiji (Ming) 楊慎 Yang Shen
星槎勝覽 四卷 Xingcha shenglan (Ming) 費信 Fei Xin

說淵部 Shuoyuan bu

別傳家 Biezhuan jia
靈應傳 一卷 Lingyinzhuan (Tang) NN
洛神傳 一卷 Luoshenzhuan (Tang) 薛瑩 Xue Ying
夢遊錄 一卷 Mengyoulu (Tang) 任蕃 Ren Fan
吳保安傳 一卷 Wu Bao'an zhuan (Tang) 牛肅 Niu Su
崑崙奴傳 一卷 Kunlun nuzhuan (Tang) 楊巨源 Yang Juyuan
鄭德麟傳 一卷 Zheng Delin zhuan (Tang) 薛瑩 Xue Ying
李章武傳 一卷 Li Zhangwu zhuan (Tang) 李景亮 Li Jingliang
韋自東傳 一卷 Wei Zidong zhuan (Tang) NN
趙合傳 一卷 Zhao He zhuan (Tang) NN
杜子春傳 一卷 Du Zichun zhuan (Tang) 鄭還古 Zheng Huangu
裴伷先別傳 一卷 Pei Zhouxian biezhuan (Tang) NN
震澤龍女傳 一卷 Zhenze longnü zhuan (Tang) 薛瑩 Xue Ying
袁氏傳 一卷 Yuanshi zhuan (Later Shu) 顧夐 Gu Xiong
少室先姝傳 一卷 Xiaoshi xianshu zhuan (Tang) NN
李林甫外傳 一卷 Li Linfu waizhuan (Tang) NN
遼陽海神傳 一卷 Liaoyang haishen zhuan (Ming) 蔡羽 Cai Yu (narr.)
蚍蜉傳 一卷 Pifu zhuan (Tang) NN
甘棠靈會錄 一卷 Gantang linhui lu () NN
顏濬傳 一卷 Yan Jun zhuan (Tang) NN
張無頗傳 一卷 Zhang Wupo zhuan (Tang) NN
板橋記 一卷 Banqiaoji (Tang) NN
鄴侯外傳 一卷 Yehou waizhuan (Tang) 李蘩 Li Fan
洛京獵記 一卷 Luojing lieji (Tang) NN
玉壺記 一卷 Yuhuji (Tang) NN
姚生傳 一卷 Yaoshengzhuan (Tang) NN
唐晅手記 一卷 Tang Xuan shouji (Tang) 唐晅 Tang Xuan
獨孤穆傳 一卷 Dugu Mu zhuan (Tang) NN
王恭伯傳 一卷 Wang Gongbo zhuan (Tang) NN
中山狼傳 一卷 Zhongshan langzhuan (Song) 謝良 Xie Liang
崔煒傳 一卷 Cui Hui zhuan (Tang) NN
陸顒傳 一卷 Lu Yong zhuan (Tang) NN
潤玉傳 一卷 Runyuzhuan (Tang) 孫頠 Sun Wei
李衛公別傳 一卷 Li Weigong biezhuan (Tang) NN
齊推女傳 一卷 Qi tuinü zhuan (Tang) NN
魚服記 一卷 Yufuji (Tang) NN
聶隱娘傳 一卷 Nie yinniang zhuan (Tang) 鄭文寳 Zheng Wenbao
袁天綱外傳 一卷 Yuan Tiangang waizhuan (Tang) NN
曾季衡傳 一卷 Zeng Jiheng zhuan (Tang) NN
蔣子文傳 一卷 Jiang Ziwen zhuan (Tang) 羅鄴 Luo Ye
張遵言傳 一卷 Zhang Zunyan zhuan (Tang) NN
侯元傳 一卷 Houyuanzhuan (Tang) NN
同昌公主外傳 一卷 Tongchang gongzhu waizhuan (Tang) 蘇鶚 Su E
睦仁蒨傳 一卷 Mu Renqian zhuan (Tang) 陳鴻 Chen Hong
韋鮑二生傳 一卷 Wei Bao ersheng zhuan (Tang) NN
張令傳 一卷 Zhang Ling zhuan (Tang) NN
李清傳 一卷 Li Qing zhuan (Tang) NN
薛昭傳 一卷 Xue Zhao zhuan (Tang) NN
王賈傳 一卷 Wang Jia zhuan (Tang) NN
烏將軍記 一卷 Wu jiangjun ji (Tang) 王惲 Wang Yun
竇玉傳 一卷 Dou Yu zhuan (Tang) NN
柳參軍傳 一卷 Liu canjiang zhuan (Tang) 李朝威 Li Chaowei
人虎傳 一卷 Renhuzhuan (Tang) 李景亮 Li Jingliang
馬自然傳 一卷 Ma Ziran zhuan (Tang) NN
寶應錄 一卷 Baoyinglu (Tang) NN
白蛇記 一卷 Baisheji (Tang) NN
巴西侯傳 一卷 Baxi hou zhuan (Tang) NN
柳歸舜傳 一卷 Liu Guishun zhuan (Tang) NN
求心錄 一卷 Qiuxinlu (Tang) NN
知命錄 一卷 Zhiminglu (Tang) NN
山莊夜怪錄 一卷 Shanzhuang yeguai lu (Tang) NN
五真記 一卷 Wuzhenji (Tang) NN
小金傳 一卷 Xiaojinzhuan (Tang) NN
林靈素傳 一卷 Lin Lingsu zhuan (Song) 趙與時 Zhao Yushi
海陵三仙傳 一卷 Hailing sanxian zhuan (Song) NN

說略部 Shuolüe bu

雜記家 Zaji jia
默記 一卷 Moji (Song) 王銍 Wang Zhi
宣政雜錄 一卷 Xuanzheng zalu (Song) 江萬里 Jiang Wanli
靖康朝野僉言 一卷 Jingkang chaoye qianyan (Song) NN
朝野遺記 一卷 Chaoye yiji (Song) NN
墨客揮犀 一卷 Moke huixi (Song) 彭乘 Peng Cheng
續墨客揮犀 一卷 Xu moke huixi (Song) 彭乘 Peng Cheng
聞見雜錄 一卷 Wenjian zalu (Song) 蘇舜欽 Su Shunqin
山房隨筆 一卷 Shanfang suibi (Yuan) 蔣子正 Jiang Zizheng
諧史 一卷 Xieshi (Song) 沈俶 Shen Chu
昨夢錄 一卷 Zuomenglu (Song) 康與之 Kang Yuzhi
三朝野史 一卷 Sanchao yeshi (Yuan) 吳萊 Wu Lai
鐵圍山叢談 一卷 Tieweishan congtan (Song) 蔡絛 Cai Tao
孔氏雜說 (珩璜新論) 一卷 Kongshi zashuo (Henghuang xinlun) (Song) 孔平仲 Kong Zhongping
瀟湘錄 一卷 Xiaoxianglu (Tang) 李隱 Li Yin
三水小牘 一卷 Sanshui xiaodu (Tang) 皇甫枚 Huangfu Mei
談藪 一卷 Tansou (Song) 龐元英 Pang Yuanying
清尊錄 一卷 Qingzunlu (Song) 廉布 Lian Bu
睽車志 一卷 Kuichezhi (Song) 郭彖 Guo Tuan
話腴 (藏一話腴) 一卷 Huayu (Cangyi huayu) (Song) 陳郁 Chen You
朝野僉載 一卷 Chaoye qianzai (Tang) 張鷟 Zhang Zhuo
古杭雜記 一卷 Gu Hang zaji (Yuan) 李有 Li You
蒙齋筆談 (節錄巖下放言) 一卷 Mengzhai bitan (Jielu yanxia fangyan) (Song) 葉夢得 Ye Mengde (or 鄭景璧 Zheng Jingbi)
文昌雜錄 一卷 Wenchang zalu (Song) 龐元英 Pang Yuanying
就日錄 一卷 Jiurilu (Song) 趙□ Zhao N
碧湖雜記 一卷 Bihu zaji (Song) 謝芳得 Xie Fangde
錢氏私志 一卷 Qianshi sizhi (Song) 錢愐 Qian Mian; 錢世昭 Liu Shizhao (comp.)
遂昌山樵雜錄 一卷 Suichang shanqiao zalu (Yuan) 鄭元佑 Zheng Yuanyou
高齋漫錄 一卷 Gaozhai manlu (Song) 曾慥 Zeng Zao
桐陰舊話 一卷 Tongyin jiuhua (Song) 韓元吉 Han Yuanji
霏雪錄 一卷 Feixuelu (Ming) 劉績 Liu Ji
東園友聞 一卷 Dongyuan youwen (Yuan) NN
拊掌錄 一卷 Fuzhanglu (Yuan) 元懷 Yuan Huai

說纂部 Shuozuan bu

逸事家 Yishi jia
漢武故事 一卷 Han Wu gushi (Han) 班固 Ban Gu
艮嶽記 一卷 Genyueji (Song) 張淏 Zhang Hao
青溪寇軌 一卷 Qingxi kougui (Song) 方勺 Fang Shao
煬帝海山記 一卷 Yangdi haishan ji (Tang) 韓偓 Han Wo
煬帝迷樓記 一卷 Yangdi milou ji (Tang) 韓偓 Han Wo
煬帝開河記 一卷 Yangdi kaihe ji (Tang) 韓偓 Han Wo
散錄家 Sanlu jia
江行雜錄 一卷 Jiangxing zalu (Song) 廖瑩中 Liao Yingzhong
行營雜錄 一卷 Xingying zalu (Song) 趙葵 Zhao Kui
避暑漫抄 一卷 Bishu manchao (Song) 陸游 Lu You
養痾漫筆 一卷 Yangke manbi (Song) 趙溍 Zhao Jin
虛谷閑抄 一卷 Xugu wenchao (Yuan) 方回 Fang Hui
蓼花洲閑錄 一卷 Liaohua zhouxian lu (Song) 高文虎 Gao Wenhu
雜纂家 Zazuan jia
樂府雜錄 一卷 Yuefu zalu (Tang) 段安節 Duan Anjie
教坊記 一卷 Jiaofangji (Tang) 崔令欽 Cui Lingqin
孫內翰北里志 (北里志) 一卷 Sun neihan beili zhi (Beilizhi) (Tang) 孫棨 Sun Qi
青樓集 一卷 Qinglouji (Yuan) 夏庭芝 Xia Tingzhi
雜纂 三卷 Zazuan (Tang) 李商隱 Li Shangyin; (Song) 王君玉 Wang Junyu, 蘇軾 Su Shi (supp.)
損齋備忘錄 一卷 Sunzhai beiwang lu (Ming) 梅純 Mei Chun
復辟錄 一卷 Fubilu (Ming) 楊瑄 Yang Xuan
靖難功臣錄 一卷 Jingnan gongchen lu (Ming) 朱當{氵+眄} Zhu Dangmian
備遺錄 一卷 Beiyilu (Ming) 張芹 Zhang Qin
Sources:
Beijing Dongfang Shoucangjia Xuehui 北京東方收藏家協會, ed. (1996). Zhonghua shoucang da cidian 中華收藏大辭典 (Beijing: Beijing Yanshan chubanshe), 295.
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Deng Xia 鄧夏 (1984). "Mingben Guji shuohai ji qi pianmu 明本《古今說海》及其篇目", Tushuguan zazhi 圖書館雜誌, 1984 (4): 51-52+28.
Li Xueqin 李學勤, Lü Wenyu 呂文鬰, ed. (1996). Siku da cidian 四庫大辭典 (Changchun: Jilin daxue chubanshe), Vol. 2, 2070.
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