Ānyǎtáng jí 安雅堂集
The Ān-yǎ-táng (Peaceful-and-Elegant Hall) Collection by 陳旅 (撰), edited by 陳籲 (編)
About the work
The 13-juǎn collected works of Chén Lǚ 陳旅 (1287–1342), edited by his son Chén Yù 陳籲. Yuánshǐ rúxué zhuàn records 14 juǎn; the Sìkù tíyào judges the discrepancy a bǐwù (writing-error of three/four). Two prefaces by Zhāng Zhù 張翥 張翥 (1349) and Lín Quánshēng 林泉生 (1351). Chén Lǚ’s prose was sought by Sū Tiānjué as the Yuán wénlèi preface-writer in preference to anyone else of equal eminence. Yú Jí passed on his literary mantle (“wǒ lǎo jiāng xiū fù zǐ sī wén”). The Sìkù tíyào corrects the Yuánshǐ rúxué zhuàn (which is Sòng-Lián-authored) on a small but consequential matter — the juǎn-count — preferring Jiāo Hóng’s Jīngjí zhì and the surviving text.
Tiyao
Ānyǎtáng jí, 13 juǎn. By Chén Lǚ of the Yuán. Lǚ’s zì Zhòngzhòng, a man of Pútián. Recommended as Mǐnhǎi rúxué guān. Zhōngchéng Mǎ Zǔcháng recognized him; took him to the capital. Also recognized by Yú Jí. Píngzhāng shì Zhào Shìyán brought him in as Guózǐ zhùjiào. After two terms he went out as Zhèjiāng rúxué tíjǔ. Was called back as yìngfèng Hànlín wénzì. In Zhìyuán 1 (1335) promoted to Guózǐjiān chéng; two years later died in office. Career fully recorded in Yuánshǐ rúxué zhuàn. The collection per his biography is 14 juǎn; the present is 13 juǎn, edited by his son Yù; with Zhāng Zhù preface (Zhìzhèng 9 = 1349) and Lín Quánshēng preface (Zhìzhèng 11 = 1351). The juǎn-count agrees with Jiāo Hóng’s Jīngjí zhì. The Yuánshǐ must have a bǐwù — “san” 3 → “si” 4. The biography characterizes his prose as “diǎnyǎ jùnjié, always seeking to match the ancient writer, never merely flattering the time’s taste”; also “when Yú Jí saw his work, he said I’m old and about to retire — I leave my writing to you”; Zhāng Zhù’s preface also says: “in Tiānlì / Zhìshùn, Mr. Yú gave his fame to the four quarters with his wénzhāng — and his evaluation of Chén Lǚ was particularly thick; Lǚ in turn was able to absorb and steep himself in [Yú’s style] — so the fǎdù tightened further.” This is jìshí (true record). Sū Tiānjué’s Yuán wénlèi, that age the writers were línlì (forest-like in number) — but he chose to entrust the preface to no other but Chén Lǚ — clearly because he too knew Chén’s prose was worthy of chuánxìn. Respectfully collated.
Abstract
The Ānyǎtáng jí preserves the principal monument of one of the most consequential late-Yuán prose writers — the YúMǎZhào SòngLián mantle-bearer of mid-late-Yuán yǎzhèng prose. Chén’s role as the chosen preface-writer for Sū Tiānjué’s Yuán wénlèi (the canonical late-Yuán prose anthology) makes his collection structurally important to the period. The tíyào’s philological correction of the Yuánshǐ rúxué zhuàn’s juǎn-count (14 → 13) is a small but useful instance of Sìkù-era textual care. Composition window: from Chén’s earliest preserved compositions (post-1320, after his arrival at the capital) to his 1342 death in office.
Translations and research
- Yuán-shǐ rú-xué zhuàn (Chén Lǚ biography).
- Yáng Lián. 2003. Yuán-shī shǐ.
Links
- WYG SKQS V1213.1, p1.