Wang Wenzheng bilu 王文正筆錄

Wang Wenzheng bilu 王文正筆錄 "Wang Wenzheng's brush notes", also called Yigong bilu 沂公筆錄 "Brush notes of the Duke of Yi", is a collection of stories compiled during the Northern Song period 北宋 (960-1126) by Wang Zeng 王曾 (978-1038), courtesy name Xiaoxian 孝先, from Yidu 益都 in the prefecture of Qingzhou 青州 (in today's Shandong province). In 1002, he took the imperial examinations and achieved first place at every stage, thus becoming the top graduate (zhuangyuan 狀元). He rose through the ranks to hold high offices, including Vice Director of the Palace Secretariat (zhongshu shilang 中書侍郎), concurrent Supervisor of the Chancellery (tong zhongshu menxia pingzhang shi 同中書門下平章事), Grand Academician (daxueshi 大學士) of the Hall Assembling the Worthies (Jixian Dian 集賢殿), and was invested as Duke of Yi 沂國公. He was posthumously honoured with the title "Duke Wenzheng" 王文正公.

The book of two juan records the court's old affairs, comprising more than thirty entries. Most of them concern events from the reigns of the first three rulers of the Song dynasty. Only one or two entries relate to the reign of Emperor Renzong 宋仁宗 (r. 1022-1063). The author was deeply familiar with court institutions and precedents, and his accounts are regarded as reliable and well-founded. For instance, his descriptions of Li Hang 李沆 (947-1004) and Wang Dan 王旦 (957-1017), who were believed to have possessed keen insight into political developments and the ability to foresee future events, became well-known anecdotes. Later, Li Tao 李燾 (1115–1184), in compiling the chronicle Xu zizhi tongjian changbian 資治通鑑長編, often adopted Wang Zeng's text. The book is also cited in the Sushui jiwen 涑水記聞.

Nevertheless, anecdotes about figures such as Wang Jian'er 王劍兒 (Wang Yansheng 王彥昇, 917-974) and Zhang Yongde 張永德 (928-1000) are quite reminiscent of romantic tales (chuanqi 傳奇). The reference to "River Market Music" (Heshi yue 河市樂) offers valuable material for the history of Chinese drama, whilst the story of Wang Dan refusing private visits stands out as a remarkable example of incorruptible governance. Overall, the work preserves valuable historical sources, many of which also possess a vivid, almost dramatic quality.

The text is included in the series Siku quanshu 四庫全書, Baichuan xuehai 百川學海, Lidai xiaoshi 歷代小史, Shuofu 說郛, Xuejin taoyuan 學津討原, Rongyuan congshu 榕園叢書, Gujin shuobu congshu 古今說部叢書, Yueyatang congshu 粵雅堂叢書, Shiwanjuanlou congshu 十萬卷樓叢書 and Congshu jicheng chubian 叢書集成初編. In the last three texts, the book is called Yigong bilu.