Biānzhū 編珠
Strung Pearls
by 杜公瞻 (Dù Gōngzhān, Suí, 奉敕撰)
About the work
A 4-juan Suí-period classified literary-allusion treasury compiled by 杜公瞻 by imperial command of Suí Yángdì 隋煬帝, presented in the first month of Dàyè 7 (大業七年正月, 611). For the full description, see the primary catalog entry KR3k0002.
This Kanripo record (KR3k0079) represents a distinct textual witness from the WYG edition cataloged at KR3k0002, which preserves only the 2-juan core in the recension transmitted via Gāo Shìqí 高士奇 (Kāngxī era). The KR3k0079 file opens directly with 杜公瞻’s original preface — signed “著作佐郎兼散騎侍郎臣杜公膽謹序” (note: the character 膽 for 瞻 is a textual variant) — and proceeds through the 4-juan text in what appears to be a fuller or differently-based transmission. The preface explicitly states: “帝在江都日，好為雜詠及新體詩…爰命微臣編錄，得窺書囿，故目之曰『編珠』。其朱書者故實，墨書者正義。時大業七年正月，奉敕撰進，勒成四卷” (the emperor, residing at Jiāngdū, liked to compose záyǒng and new-style poetry; he commanded his minister to compile this text to assist the search; red entries are gùshí [allusions], black are zhèngyì [canonical citation]; presented to court in the first month of Dàyè 7, in 4 juan).
Prefaces
Dù Gōngzhān’s preface (dated Dàyè 7 / 611): States that the emperor at Jiāngdū frequently composed verse and wanted a handy compendium of allusive parallels. The 4-juan work covers 14 subject categories in the format: allusion (red, gùshí 故實) / source (black, zhèngyì 正義). The categories include Heaven, Earth, Mountains and Rivers, Dwellings, Ceremonial Guards, Music, Garments and Adornments, Pearls and Treasures, Silks, Wine and Banquets, Grain, Vegetables, Fruits, Carriages and Oars.
Abstract
See KR3k0002 for full description of the Biānzhū and its complex transmission history (including the Sìkù editors’ reservations about authenticity). The present KR3k0079 file appears to represent either:
- The full 4-juan original (rather than the 2-juan partial recension transmitted through Gāo Shìqí’s Kāngxī-era recovery), or
- A differently constituted edition based on a Japanese manuscript transmission parallel to the KR3j0082 Qúnshū zhìyào pattern.
The variant character 膽 for 瞻 in the preface signature is a scribal variant (both are shěng xíng of 瞻 in different manuscript traditions) and does not affect the attribution.
Translations and research
See KR3k0002 for full bibliography.
Links
- Primary catalog entry: KR3k0002 Biānzhū 編珠 (WYG edition, 2 juan).
- Wikidata: Q10901070.