Lianxizhi 濂溪志

There are at least three books with the title Lianxizhi 濂溪志 "Records of Fall Creek", the most important ones being written by Li Zhen 李楨 and Li Shengci 李嵊慈. Both lived during the Ming period 明 (1368-1644). A third version was presented by Zhou Hao 周浩, who lived during the Qing period 清 (1644-1911).

Li Zhen 李楨 (jinshi degree 1571), courtesy name Weiqing 維卿, hailed from Anhua 安化, Hunan. His highest office was Minister of Justice (xingbu shangshu 刑部尚書) in the Southern Capital Nanjing 南京 (today in Jiangsu). His book of 9 juan explains the life and teachings of the Northern Song-period 北宋 (960-1126) philosopher Zhou Dunyi 周敦頤 (1017-1073), who is known as Master Lianxi 濂溪先生. The book includes texts and interpretations of Zhou's writings Taiji tushuo 太極圖説 and Tongshu 通書, as well as personal documents like the tomb inscriptions of Zhou, and later interpretations of his teachings.

Li Shengci 李嵊慈 (fl. 1624), courtesy name Yuanying 元穎, hailed from Longcheng 龍城 (today's Chaoyang 朝陽, Liaoning), and was prefect (zhizhou 知州) of Daozhou 道州 (present-day Daoxian 道縣, Hunan). This place was the hometown of Zhou Dunyi, for which reason Li Shengci became interested in this person. He read Li Zhen's book and decided to add some information. The result was a 13-juan long book, yet contemporaries did not regard this book well.

Zhou Hao 周浩 (early 19th cent.), courtesy name Wuqiao 午橋, was a 24th-generation descendant of Zhou Dunyi. Zhou obtained a revised version of Li Shengci's book which had been compiled by Wu Darong 吳大熔. Zhou Hao carefully amended this version, eliminated errors and added positive statements. The result was a work of 7 juan of length which was divided into seven chapters, namely literary remains of Zhou Dunyi (Yishu 遺書), miscellaneous writings (Zazhu 雜著), annalistic biography (Nianpu 年譜, the ancestral shrine (Cige 祠葛), praise (Baochong 褒崇), sympathy and solicitude (Youxu 優恤), and statements (Wenlu 文錄). The appendix includes poems on Zhou Dunyi and his thought.

There exist in total eight different versions of texts on Zhou Dunyi's life and teachings, the oldest being prints of Xu Conghua 胥從化 (fl. 1573; title Zhou Lianxi xiansheng shilu 周濂溪先生實錄), Li Zhen, Zhou Shenke 周沈珂 and Zhou Zhihan 周之翰 (jinshi degree 1592; title Zhou Yuangong shixi yifang ji 周元公世系遗芳集), and Li Shengci from the Ming period; of Wu Darong 吳大鎔 (fl. 1685, title Daoguo Yuangong Lianxi Zhoufuzi zhi 道國元公濂溪周夫子志), Zhou Hao (Lianxizhi and Lianxi yifang ji 濂溪遺芳集), and Peng Yulin 彭玉麟 (1816-1890; title Xixianlu 希賢錄) from the Qing period.