The ''leishu'' () is a genre of
reference books historically compiled in China and other East Asian countries. The term is generally translated as "encyclopedia", although the ''leishu'' are quite different from the modern notion of
encyclopedia.
The ''leishu'' are composed of sometimes lengthy citations from other works, and often contain copies of entire works, not just excerpts. The works are classified by a systematic set of categories, which are further divided into subcategories. ''Leishu'' may be considered
anthologies
In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs or excerpts by different authors.
In genre fiction, the term ''anthology'' typically catego ...
, but are encyclopedic in the sense that they may comprise the entire realm of knowledge at the time of compilation.
Approximately 600 ''leishu'' were compiled from the early third century until the eighteenth century, of which 200 have survived. The largest ''leishu'' ever compiled was the 1408 ''
Yongle Encyclopedia
The ''Yongle Encyclopedia'' () or ''Yongle Dadian'' () is a largely-lost Chinese ''leishu'' encyclopedia commissioned by the Yongle Emperor of the Ming dynasty in 1403 and completed by 1408. It comprised 22,937 manuscript rolls or chapters, in ...
'', containing 370 million
Chinese characters
Chinese characters () are logograms developed for the writing of Chinese. In addition, they have been adapted to write other East Asian languages, and remain a key component of the Japanese writing system where they are known as ''kanji ...
, and the largest ever printed was the ''
Gujin Tushu Jicheng
The ''Gujin Tushu Jicheng'' (), also known as the ''Imperial Encyclopaedia'', is a vast encyclopedic work written in China during the reigns of the Qing dynasty emperors Kangxi and Yongzheng. It was begun in 1700 and completed in 1725. The wor ...
'', containing 100 million characters and 852,408 pages.
History
The genre first appeared in the early third century. The earliest known was the ''
Huanglan'' ("Emperor's mirror"). Sponsored by the emperor of
Cao Wei, it was compiled around 220, but has since
been lost. However, the term ''leishu'' was not used until the
Song dynasty (960–1279).
In later imperial China dynasties, such as the
Ming and
Qing
The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speaki ...
, emperors sponsored monumental projects to compile all known human knowledge into a single ''leishu'', in which entire works, rather than excerpts, were copied and classified by category. The largest ''leishu'' ever compiled, on the order of the
Yongle Emperor of Ming, was the ''
Yongle Dadian'' containing a total of 370 million
Chinese characters
Chinese characters () are logograms developed for the writing of Chinese. In addition, they have been adapted to write other East Asian languages, and remain a key component of the Japanese writing system where they are known as ''kanji ...
. The project involved 2,169 scholars, who worked for four years under general editor
Yao Guangxiao. It was completed in 1408, but never printed, as the imperial treasury had run out of money.
The ''
Qinding Gujin Tushu Jicheng'' (Imperially approved synthesis of books and illustrations past and present) is by far the largest ''leishu'' ever printed, containing 100 million characters and 852,408 pages. It was compiled by a team of scholars led by
Chen Menglei
Chen Menglei (; 1650-1741) was a Qing dynasty scholar-writer known for being the chief editor, compiler, and author of the Gujin Tushu Jicheng Chinese encyclopedia. In 1670, he became a Jinshi. Chen Menglei conducted research for over 50 years, c ...
, and printed between 1726 and 1728, during the Qing dynasty.
The ''riyong leishu'' (encyclopedias for daily use), containing practical information for people who were literate but below the
Confucian elite, were also compiled in the later imperial era. Today, they provide scholars with valuable information on non-elite culture and attitudes.
According to
Jean-Pierre Diény, the
Jiaqing reign (1796–1820) of the Qing dynasty saw the end of the publication of ''leishu''.
In other countries
Other countries in East Asia also adopted the genre of ''leishu''. In 1712, the ''
Sancai Tuhui
''Sancai Tuhui'' (, ), compiled by Wang Qi () and his son Wang Siyi (), is a Chinese ''leishu'' encyclopedia, completed in 1607 and published in 1609 during the late Ming dynasty, featuring illustrations of subjects in the three worlds of heaven ...
'', a richly illustrated ''leishu'' compiled by Ming scholar Wang Qi () in the early 17th century, was printed in Japan as ''
Wakan Sansai Zue''. The Japanese version was edited by Terajima Ryōan (), a physician born in
Osaka.
Importance
The ''leishu'' have played an important role in the preservation of ancient works, many of which have been lost, only preserved completely or partially as part of a ''leishu'' compilation. The 7th-century ''
Yiwen Leiju'' is especially valuable. It contains excerpts from 1,400 pre-7th century works, 90% of which have been otherwise lost. Even though the ''Yongle Dadian'' is itself largely lost, the remnants still contain 385 complete books that have been otherwise lost. The ''leishu'' also provide a unique view of the transmission of knowledge and education, and an easy way to locate traditional materials on any given subject.
Major compilations
Approximately 600 ''leishu'' were compiled, from the Cao Wei period (early third century) until the 18th century, of which 200 have survived. Among the most important, in chronological order, are:
*''
Yiwen Leiju'' (Collection of literature arranged by categories), compiled by
Ouyang Xun
*''
Beitang Shuchao'' (北堂书钞 ,Excerpts from books in the Northern Hall), compiled by
Yu Shinan ca. 630
*''
Chuxue Ji'' (初學記,Writings for elementary instruction), compiled by Xu Jian et al. between 713 and 742
*''
Taiping Yulan'' (''Taiping Imperial Reader''), compiled by
Li Fang et al., published 984
*''
Cefu Yuangui
''Cefu Yuangui'' (冊府元龜) is the largest ''leishu'' (encyclopedia) compiled during the Chinese Song Dynasty (AD 960–1279). It was the last of the ''Four Great Books of Song'', the previous three having been published in the 10th centu ...
'' (Outstanding models from the storehouse of literature), compiled by
Wang Qinruo
Wang Qinruo ( 962 – 22 December 1025), courtesy name Dingguo, was an official in China's Northern Song Dynasty. He was the chancellor from 1017 to 1019 during Emperor Zhenzong's reign and from 1023 to 1025 during Emperor Renzong's reign.
Wang ...
et al., completed in 1013
*''
Yuhai'' (玉海,Ocean of jade), compiled by
Wang Yinglin
Wang may refer to:
Names
* Wang (surname) (王), a common Chinese surname
* Wāng (汪), a less common Chinese surname
* Titles in Chinese nobility
* A title in Korean nobility
* A title in Mongolian nobility
Places
* Wang River in Thaila ...
1330–40
*''
Yongle Dadian'', completed 1408, the largest ''leishu'' ever compiled
*''
Qinding Gujin Tushu Jicheng'', 1726–28, the largest ''leishu'' ever printed
Notes
References
Citations
Cited works
*
*
*
{{Authority control
Anthologies
Chinese classic texts
Chinese encyclopedias
Reference works