Xiāngzhōu jì 湘州記
Records of Xiangzhou by 甄烈 (Zhēn Liè, fl. Southern Dynasties, 5th–6th century CE) — zhuàn 撰
About the work
A fragmentary geographic record of Xiāngzhōu 湘州 (modern Hunan), attributed in the KRP text to 甄烈 Zhēn Liè, an otherwise unidentified author of the Southern Dynasties period. The three surviving fragments are all preserved in Tàipíng yùlǎn 太平御覽. This Xiāngzhōu jì should be distinguished from the Xiāngzhōu jì by Yú Zhōngyōng 庾仲雍 (KR2k0180).
Abstract
The three surviving passages, all from Tàipíng yùlǎn, cover:
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Stone Swallows (juàn 49): “The stone formation shaped like a swallow — large and small as one — when the mountain is bright and the clouds clear, they fly in formation.” A phenomenon also recorded in Luó Hán’s Xiāngzhōng jì (KR2k0177).
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Stone Swallow Mountain (juàn 171): “Shíyàn Mountain 石鷰山 — the stone shaped like a swallow, large and small as one; when the mountain is bright and clear, they toss and fly.” Apparently a variant description of the same phenomenon.
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Auspicious vapor in Xiangdong (juàn 171): “In the Dàmíng 大明 reign period [457–464 CE], a geomancer said there was a Son of Heaven’s qi in Xiangdong 湘東. An envoy was dispatched to survey the area, and ridges were cut to suppress it — yet the Prince of Xiangdong duly became the Son of Heaven.” This last fragment provides a terminus post quem of 457–464 CE for the text, or at minimum for the episode (referring to Emperor Míng of Liú Sòng, who was indeed Prince of Xiangdong before accession in 465 CE).
The text is fragmentary but provides data on the Stone Swallow phenomenon in zero-degree Lingnan geography (also recorded by Luó Hán and Yú Zhōngyōng), and on the political omens associated with Xiangdong in the late Liu Song period.
Translations and research
No substantial secondary literature located.
Links
- ctext.org search: https://ctext.org/search.pl?if=en&search=甄烈