Mochouhu zhi 莫愁湖志

Mochouhu zhi 莫愁湖志 is a book on a lake close to Nanjing 南京, Jiangsu, written by Ma Shitu 馬士圖 (19th cent.), courtesy name Jucun 掬村.

The name of the lake is derived from a lady called Lu Mochou 盧莫愁, who lived there during the Liu-Song period 劉宋 (420-479). Poems about Lu Mochou do not write anything about a lake. That is only a theme in relation to Lu Mochou in the writings of Ye Tianmin 葉天民 (c. 1300), in particular his poem Mochou yanting shi 莫愁煙艇詩 "Mochou's boat in the mist". According to traditional report the lake was the place where the eventual founder of the Ming dynasty 明 (1368-1644), Zhu Yuanzhang 朱元璋, got to know Xu Da 徐達 (1332-1385), who became one of his best generals. For his merits Xu was presented with the area. It was still in the possession of the Xu family during the Qing period 清 (1644-1911).

Ma's collection was first printed in 1882. It begins with a preface, a list of poems mentioning the lake, a map, and rhapsodies on the lake. The book of 6 juan then continues as a local gazetteer describing the landscape, bridges, shrines, ancient places and "writer clubs" (shushe 書社). The second half of the book quotes from poems and other writings on Lu Mochou and the lake, including inscriptions on the base of a statue of the lady (Mochou xiaoxiang 莫愁小像) and one of Zeng Guofan 曾國藩 (1811-1872) (Zeng Wenzhenggong yixiang 曾文正公遺像), and a short text written for the inauguration of a new hall dedicated to the great statesman (Xinjian Zeng Gong ge ji 新建曾公閣記). This anthology of literature on Lake Mochou and the lady of that name is very refined and elegant, and the surrounding of the place are described very concise.