Qianqiu zhaji 潛邱劄記

Qianqiu zhaji 潛邱劄記 "Notes from Deep Hill" is a "brush-notes"-style book (biji 筆記) written during the early Qing period 清 (1644-1911) by Yan Ruoqu 閻若璩 (1636-1704). The book's name goes back to a place name close to Taiyuan 太原, Shaanxi, Yan's hometown.

The book of 6 juan length is transmitted in two versions: the first is the Shanyang 山陽 edition by Wu Yujin 吳玉搢, and the second is the version published by the Zhangsun Xuelin Studio 長孫學林. Yan feared that the notes would be lost, and thus embedded the central statements into his commentary, Shangshu guwen shuzheng 尚書古文疏證.

This work comprises the author's notes and textual studies on the Classics. They were written over many years and scattered throughout the manuscript. Wu Yujin subsequently collected, organised, and edited the notes. However, he also revised and abridged parts of the text. The first two fascicles represent the original version of the manuscript, containing miscellaneous notes and discussions on textual studies. Juan 2 corresponds to the third fascicle of the original edition, focusing on geographical features and the verification of place names. Juan 3 of the transmitted version assembles various paragraphs from the original three fascicles. Mourning clothes are the topic of juan 4.

The original prefaces and postscripts of miscellaneous notes (zawen xuba 雜文序跋), along with supplementary corrections on Gu Yanwu's 顧炎武 (1613-1682) Rizhilu 日知錄, are gathered in juan 5. The final part brings together Yan Ruoyu's correspondence with colleagues regarding classical and historical texts. The revised edition omits the 6th juan of the original text, which includes a rhapsody.

Although Wu Yujin recompiled and edited Yan's book, which does not correspond to the original work, it presents meticulous research, excellent arguments, and reliable evidence. Yan's scholarship was so rigorous that he even refuted passages from the Rizhilu, a work highly praised by his peers, further highlighting his exceptional erudition and innate talent for critical analysis.

The text is included in the imperial series Siku quanshu 四庫全書 and Huang-Qing jingjie 皇清經解.