Shǐxīng jì 始興記
Records of Shixing Anonymous — Southern Dynasties period (265–589 CE)
About the work
A very short fragmentary geographic record of Shǐxīng 始興 (modern northern Guangdong, around Shaoguan), of unknown authorship. Only two brief passages survive in the KRP text, with no attribution in the title header. The terminus post quem is not established; the Suí shū bibliography does not list it. Given the subject matter and style, a Southern Dynasties composition is most likely.
Abstract
The two surviving passages are:
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Wang Mountain 王山: “East of the commandery is Wang Mountain, its plants and trees luxuriant, its many stones crystal-clear.” A brief scenic description of the principal local mountain.
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Sacred Drum 聖鼓: “The drum of Qín Guìyáng County 秦桂陽縣 fled by itself from the government hall to Lín Wǔ 臨武, and was therefore named the Sacred Drum 聖鼓. Today Linwu has a Sacred Drum City 聖鼓城.” An anecdote of a magically self-transporting drum, explaining the place name Shèng Gǔ Chéng 聖鼓城 (Sacred Drum Citadel) in Linwu county.
These fragments are too brief to establish the work’s scope or organization with confidence.
Translations and research
No substantial secondary literature located.
Links
- ctext.org search: https://ctext.org/search.pl?if=en&search=始興記