Zhenze changyu 震澤長語

Zhenze changyu 震澤長語 "Useful words of Master Zhenze" is a "brush-notes"-style book (biji 筆記) written during the Ming period 明 (1368-1644) by Wang Ao 王鏊 (1450-1524), courtesy name Jizhi 濟之, style Zhenze 震澤, from Mingwu 明吳 (today's Suzhou 蘇州, Jiangsu). He was Minister of Revenue (hubu shangshu 戶部尚書) and Grand Academician of the Hall of Literary Profundity (Wenyuan Ge da xueshi 文淵閣大學士), but he retired when the chief eunuch Liu Jin 劉瑾 (1451-1510) took control over the court. His posthumous title is Wenke 文恪. He also wrote a local gazetteer on Suzhou, Gusu zhi 姑蘇志. Wang Ao's collected writings are called Zhenze ji 震澤集.

His book of 1 juan, written after his retirement, is divided into thirteen categories: Classics and commentaries (Jingzhuan 經傳), State policies (Guoyou 國猷), Administrative systems (Guanzhi 官制), Food and economy (Shihuo 食貨), Astronomy and calendar systems (Xiangwei 象緯), Literature (Wenzhang 文章), Musical theory (Yinlü 音律), Phonology (Yinyun 音韻), Philology (Zixue 字學), Family and clan names (Xingshi 姓氏), Miscellaneous discourses (Zalun 雜論, Daoism and Buddhism (Xianshi 仙釋), and Dream omens (Mengzhao 夢兆).

The content is extensive, and the arguments presented are generally well-founded. Among the categories, those concerning the Classics and Commentaries, State policies, and Administrative Systems are of greater value, as they trace developments from antiquity to more recent times, offering detailed records on official systems and historical references throughout various dynasties.

This work discusses history and politics, examines philology and poetry, investigates phonetics and characters — with well-founded arguments throughout. Many of the discussions are insightful and offer significant value to the study of literature and history. It provides detailed accounts of the desolation in cities during the early Ming dynasty and the economic developments after the Xuande reign-period 宣德 (1426-1435). The book also records information on mid-Ming taxation and official salaries, which can serve as useful historical references. It includes detailed figures from the confiscations of Liu Jin's and Zhu Ning's 朱寧 (d. 1521) wealth and assets.

In addition, it compiles anecdotes, little-known stories, and poetry from contemporaries, which can also serve as valuable references. However, there are occasional errors in verification, overly speculative arguments, and some inclusion of superstitious and supernatural content. Some aspects of its textual criticism are questionable. For instance, in disputing the claim that "records of successive dynasties were all preserved in the Grand Secretariat (neige 內閣), and Yang Shiqi 楊士奇 (1365-1444) did not privately send them to the Directorate of Ceremonial (silijian 司禮監)," the author's assertion was later used by Jiao Hong 焦竑 (c. 1540-1620) in his Jiaoshi bisheng 焦氏筆乘 to argue that Yang Shiqi was falsely accused. In this case, Wang Ao's inaccurate judgment affected others' views.

Wang Ao's descendant, Wang Yongxi 王永熙, had Wang Ao‘s writings printed, along with a continuation of Zhenze jiwen 震澤紀聞 by Wang Zun 王遵, Yongxi's father, and the book Yingshi jiüe 郢事紀略 — collectively titled Zheze Xiansheng bieji 震澤先生別集.

The Zhenze changyu was widely circulating. It is included in the series Baoyantang miji 寶顏堂秘笈, Jieyue Shanfang huichao 借月山房彙鈔, Zhihai 指海, Zeguzhai chongchao 澤古齋重鈔, Shiguju huichao 式古居彙鈔, Jilu huibian 紀錄彙編, Shuofu xu 說郛續, Wuchao xiaoshuo 五朝小說, Wuchao xiaoshuo daguan 五朝小說大觀, Siku quanshu 四庫全書 and Congshu jicheng chubian 叢書集成初編.