Pinghaoji 平濠記

The short text Pinghaoji 平濠記 is a description of the rebellion of Zhu Chenhao 朱宸濠 (1499-1519), Prince of Ning 寜 of the Ming dynasty 明 (1368-1644), in 1519. The book was written by Qian Dehong 錢德洪 (jinshi degree 1532), actual name Kuan 寬 (Dehong was his courtesy name), courtesy name Hongfu 洪甫, from Yuyao 餘姚. His highest office was sectional director in the Ministry of Justice (xingbu langzhong 刑部郎中).

The rebellion of the prince was put down under the command of Wang Shouren 王守仁 (Wang Yangming 王陽明, 1472-1529). The basic events are described in Wang's descriptive memorial Xugong shu 敘功疏, and details in his annalistic biography Nianpu 年譜. Qian Dehong's book provides even more details which are not found in these texts. There is an appendix consisting of five paragraphs of further information provided by Huang Wan 黃綰 (1480-1554), Long Guang 龍光, and Lei Ji 雷濟, as well as in Qian's own afterword Ziba 自跋. Very important for the analysis of events were the literary remains of Wang Shouren which disclosed unknown information, for instance, the role of the local chieftain Ye Fang 葉芳 and of district magistrate Chen Mian 陳冕 in the capture of Zhu Chenhao.

The Pinghaoji is described in the book catalogue Siku quanshu zongmu tiyao 四庫全書總目提要, Cunmu 存目 section and is included in the series Xuxiu siku quanshu 續修四庫全書.