Zhanshengtang cangshu mu 澹生堂藏書目

Zhanshengtang cangshu mu 澹生堂藏書目 is a book catalogue compiled during the late Ming period 明 (1368-1644) by Qi Chenghan 祁承㸁 (1563-1628), courtesy name Erguang 爾光, style Yidu 夷度, Kuangweng 曠翁 or Mishi Zhiren 密士志人, from Shanyin 山陰 close to Shaoxing 紹興, Zhejiang. His highest office was right administration vice commissioner (you canzheng 右參政) of Jiangxi. His collected writings are called Mujin ji 牧津集 and Danshengtang ji 澹生堂集. Qi was an ardent collector of books and compiled several handbooks for collectors, Zhanshengtang cangshu yue 澹生堂藏書約, Gengshen zhengshu lüeli 庚申整書略例, Liang-Zhe shuzhu kao 兩浙著述考, and Zhanshengtang Mingren jibu mulu 澹生堂明人集部目錄.

His own library catalogue includes more than 9,000 books of more than 100,000 juan of length and is organized according to the four traditional categories Confucian Classics, historiography, Masters and Philosophers, and belles-lettres. These categories are divided into 64 sub-categories (lei 類) with 243 chapters (zimu 子目).

The original catalogue was not divided into fascicles, but later editions arrange the text into 14 juan. The book register is written in tables and enriched with remarks to different editions and prints. After the catalogue was finished, Qi added further entries at the end of the register.

The Classics section includes books on the Yijing 易經, Shangshu 尚書, Shijing 詩經, Chunqiu-Zuozhuan 春秋左傳, the ritual classics, the Xiaojing 孝經, Lunyu 論語, Mengzi 孟子, collected commentaries on the Classics (Zong jingjie lei 總經解類), books of and on Neo-Confucians (Lixue lei 理學類), and such on lexicography (Xiaoxue lei 小學類).

Figure 1. Beginning of the Zhanshengtang cangshu mu 澹生堂藏書目

Reprint of the Mantang edition 漫堂鈔本 by Song Luo 宋犖 (1634-1714).

The historiographical categories includes the subcategories history book on the Ming dynasty (Guochao shi lei 國朝史類), the official dynastic histories (Zhengshi lei 正史類), annals and chronicles (Biannian shi lei 編年史類), comprehensive histories (Tongshi lei 通史類), alternative histories (Yueshi lei 約史類), excerpts from history books (Shichao lei 史鈔類), historical critique (Shiping lei 史評類), history of independent dynasties (Bashi lei 霸史類), miscellaneous histories (Zashi lei 雜史類), biographies (Jizhuan lei 記傳類), books on ancient regulations (Diangu lei 典故類), books on ritual and court music (Liyue lei 禮樂類), books on statecraft and administration (Zhengshi lei 政實類), books on geography (Tuzhi lei 圖志類), and registers and genealogies (Tupu lei 圖譜類).

The Masters section lists books of Confucian scholars (Rujia lei 儒家類), Daoist scholars (Daojia lei 道家類), Buddhist books (Shijia lei 釋家類), books of "all the Masters" (Zhujia lei 諸子類), books on agriculture (Nongjia lei 農家類), novellists (Xiaoshuojia lei 小說家類), military treatises (Bingjia lei 兵家類), astronomical books (Tianwenjia lei 天文家類), books on the Five Agents (Wuxingjia lei 五行家類), medical treatises (Yijia lei 醫家類), books on arts and skills (Yishujia lei 藝術家類), and encyclopaedias (Leijia lei 類家類).

The category on belles-lettres and collected writings lists series (Congshu lei 叢書類), collections of imperial edicts (Zhaozhi lei 詔制類), collections of memorials to the throne (Zhangshu lei 章疏類), collections of elegies and rhapsodies (Cifu lei 辭賦類), anthologies (Zongji lei 總集類), additional collections (Yuji lei 餘集類), collected writings of individual persons (Bieji lei 別集類), and literary critique (Shiwenping lei 詩文評類).

Qi's catalogue is part of Xu Youlan's 徐友蘭 (1842-1905) collection Shaoxing xianzheng yishu 紹興先正遺書.