Shantang sikao 山堂肆考

Shantang sikao 山堂肆考 "Extended investigations of the Mountain Hall" is an encyclopaedia compiled during the Ming period 明 (1368-1644) by Peng Dayi 彭大翼, courtesy name Yunju 雲舉 or Yihe 一鶴, from Lüsi 呂四 (today part of Qidong 啟東, Jiangsu).

The book of 228 juanlength (with a supplement of 12 juan) was finished in 1595. It was soon lost but could be reconstructed by Zhang Youxue 張幼學, who published it in 1619.

The book is divided into five parts or collections (ji 集) called according to the five notes of traditional Chinese music (gong 宮, shang 商, jue 角 [a special reading], zhi 徵 [a special reading], and yu 羽). It includes 45 chapters covering various topics following the traditional encyclopaedic sections. For each sub-chapter, the compiler has written a short introduction including a list of reference books. The Shantang sikao is based on a large amount of sources, ranging from the Confucian Classics and the histories to anthologies and belles-lettres. The arrangement is very clear, and for each paragraph quoted, the sources are indicated – except some rare examples of negligence. Informations on the state offices, family relationship, or eating and drinking, for example, are distributed over different chapters.

The Shantang sikao was first printed in 1595 by Zhou Xian's 周顯 Jinling Studio 金陵書林 and then in 1619 by Mei Ye's 梅墅 Shiqu Studio 石渠閣. During the Qing period 清 (1644-1911), it was printed by the Wenjin Studio 文錦堂. It is included in the series Siku quanshu 四庫全書.