Shi'erbian 示兒編

Shi'erbian 示兒編, full title Lüzhai shi'er bian 履齋示兒編 "A compilation for my children from the Studio of Treading the Path [of Virtue]", is a "brush-notes"-style book (biji 筆記) written during the Southern Song period 南宋 (1127-1279) by Sun Yi 孫奕, courtesy name Jizhao 季昭, style Lüzhai 履齋, from Luling 廬陵 (today's Ji'an 吉安, Jiangxi). The dates of life of Sun are unknown, but an event mentioned in the book is dated 1197.

The book of 30 juan length opens with a preface written 1205, where Sun Yi states that he intended to present his scholarly findings for his descendants. It is divided into several sections: one juan of general discourse (Zonglun 總說), five juan of discussions on the Classics (Jingshuo 經說), four fascicles on literature and poetry (Wenshuo 文說, Shishuo 詩說), three juan of critical corrections (Zhengwu 正誤), four of miscellaneous records (Zaji 雜記), and six juan of character studies (Zishuo 字說). The main focus of the book is on the critical evaluation of historical texts, literary works, and various scholarly theories, with some mention of anecdotes and stories from both the court and the common people.

The book contains numerous citations, though it does have some errors, such as the attribution of the two glossaries Guangya 廣雅 and Boya 博雅 (which is an alternative name of the Guangya) to Zhang Yi 張揖 (early 3rd cent.), or the assumption that the poet Du Fu 杜甫 (712-770) borrowed from Bai Juyi's 白居易 (772-846) works, which is also inaccurate. In the section on the classics, Sun Yi repeatedly argues that jingshu 荊舒 was a "phrase used for punishment" (cheng ju 懲句), and that Duke Xi 魯僖公 did not engage in this practice, visible in the book Mengzi 孟子, where the practice is attributed to the Duke of Zhou 周公.

Although the book contains occasional contradictions and mistakes, it is still a valuable resource for studying classical texts, historical research, and understanding variations in character meanings and usage. The more convoluted or questionable parts of the book can be disregarded, but its careful analysis of important texts and issues should not be dismissed. The work was later revised and supplemented by the Qing-period 清 (1644-1911) scholar Gu Guangqi 顧廣圻 (1776-1835), whose edition provides additional insights and clarifications, making it worth consulting for further study.

The text is included in the series Siku quanshu 四庫全書, Zhibuzuzhai congshu 知不足齋叢書 and Congshu jicheng chubian 叢書集成初編 (with Gu's commentary).