Xiepu 蟹譜

Xiepu 蟹譜 is a book on crabs written during the Song period 宋 (960-1279) by Fu Hong 傅肱 (fl. 1059), courtesy name Ziyi 自翼, style Guaishan 怪山. He hailed from Guiji 會稽 (modern Shaoxing 紹興, Zhejiang), but about his life virtually nothing is known.

The preface of the 2-juan-long book Xiepu was written in 1059. The text consists of a general introduction and two chapters. In the first chapter, Fu provides a general introduction to the topic and quotes from older sources on crabs. The second chapter presents the author's own observations and findings.

Fu Hong describes the species, their appearance and colours, their habitat, and where specific crabs were to be found. He also provides information about life cycles and whether specific crabs could be eaten or not. In the chapter Shulei 殊類 "Extraordinary species", the author even renders an imaginary account of a crab "large like a door". The chapter Xiaobao 孝報 "Filial response" is the story of a soldier who fed his starving mother with crabs, so that she recovered.

The Xiepu is included in the series Baichuan xuehai 百川學海, Shanju zazhi 山居雜志, Shuofu 說郛 (Wanwei Shantang 宛委山堂 edition), Gujin shiwen leiju 古今事文類聚, Siku quanshu 四庫全書 and Congshu jicheng chubian 叢書集成初編.

Xu Xiepu 續蟹譜

A continuation of the book, Xu xiepu 續蟹譜, was written during the early Qing period by Chu Renhu 褚人穫 (1635-1682), courtesy name Jiaxuan 稼軒 or Xuejia 學稼, style Shinong 石農. It is included in the series Ciyantang congshu xinbian 賜硯堂叢書新編, Zhaodai congshu 昭代叢書 and Shuobu xinshu 說部新書.