Yujing xintan 玉鏡新譚

Yujing xintan 玉鏡新譚 "New discourses of the Jade Mirror" is a historical miscellany compiled during the late Ming period 明 (1368-1644) by Zhu Changzuo 朱長祚 (dates unknown).

The work comprises 10 juan and primarily compiles archival materials on the struggle between the eunuch faction led by Wei Zhongxian 魏忠賢 and the Donglin Faction (Donglin dang 東林黨), comprising various state officials and scholars. It covers major historical events, including Wei Zhongxian's rise to power, his domination of the court, the collapse of his faction, and the subsequent trials of his remaining associates. Because it uses derogatory terms for the Manchus, the book was later banned by the Qing dynasty 清 (1644-1911).

As one of the historical miscellanies of the Yuan 元 (1279-1368) and Ming periods, the book reflects the author's firsthand observations: Zhu Changzuo personally witnessed the rise and fall of the eunuch faction and painstakingly gathered relevant materials to compile this ten-volume work. The text is organised into 32 chapters, each arranged by topic. Within each category, the narrative outline of events is presented first, followed by excerpts from memorials and imperial edicts. Fascicle 8 provides a complete record of the investigation and trial procedures in the cases Ms Ke 客氏 (1591-1627), the foster-mother of Emperor Xizong 明熹宗 (r. 1620-1627), and Wei Zhongxian, while juan 10 preserves rare documents such as the "Sentence on the execution of rebels" (Zhu ni yuan shu 誅逆爰書). Zhu Changzuo compiled the work from original sources, including court bulletins and postal reports. He identifies loyal officials by name, whereas those who flattered the eunuch faction are recorded only by their official titles.

After its initial publication in the early Chongzhen reign-period 崇禎 (1628-1644), the book was never reprinted, and surviving copies are extremely rare. As such, it provides invaluable primary source material for the study of factional struggles and political history in the late Ming dynasty. It was later punctuated and edited by Qiu Zhengwei 仇正偉 and published in 1997 by the Zhonghua Book Company 中華書局 as part of the series Lidai shiliao biji congkan 歷代史料筆記叢刊.