Yúnxuān jí 筠軒集
The Yún-xuān (Bamboo-Pavilion) Collection by 唐元 (撰)
About the work
A 13-juǎn truncated recension of Táng Yuán 唐元 (1269–1349) — 8 juǎn shīgǎo + 5 juǎn wéngǎo. Originally 50 juǎn per Zhū Wénxuǎn’s xíngzhuàng, edited by Táng’s son Guìfāng 桂芳 from six separate zázhù (Jìngtáng, Sīlè, Wúmén, Fēnyáng, Jīnlíng, Lǎoxué cónggǎo). The present recension was produced by Chéng Mǐnzhèng 程敏政 for his Tángshì sānxiānshēng jí 唐氏三先生集 (the “Three Mr. Tángs”). Táng had been Huīzhōulù xué jiàoshòu retired — never holding a Hànlín position — yet the collection contains Hùcóng Luányáng qīngshǔ sìshǒu, Yùtáng yèzhí, CháhǎnNàoěr Lǐlíngtái shī — Yuán imperial-travel themed poems for which no documented occasion exists; the Sìkù tíyào suggests these may be misattributed pieces by other hands.
Tiyao
Yúnxuān jí, 13 juǎn. By Táng Yuán of the Yuán. Yuán’s zì Chángrú, a man of Shèxiàn. Tàidìng dīngmǎo (1327) by wénxué awarded Píngjiānglù xuélù. Re-appointed Jiàndélù Fēnshuǐ xiàn jiàoyù. Retired as Huīzhōulù xué jiàoshòu, died. In the collection his Zhū Kèyòng zǒngguǎn shīhuì xù is from Zhìzhèng yǐyǒu (1345), self-titled age 77 — so born Sòng Xiánchún 5 jǐsì (1269). From start to end in the Yuánshèng prosperity, hence his compositions are mostly hépíng wēnhòu zhī yīn (peaceful, gentle tones). He also wrote Yìdàyì jiànwén lù and others — quite deep in classical learning. Hence his discussions also do not depart from zhèng. Per Zhū Wénxuǎn’s xíngzhuàng, Yuán had Jìngtáng zázhù, Sīlè zázhù, Wúmén zázhù, Fēnyáng zázhù, Jīnlíng zázhù, Lǎoxué cónggǎo — almost 1000 pieces, in 50 juǎn. Edited by his son Guìfāng — hence the present recension still has Guìfāng’s tíshí in places. The present recension is Chéng Mǐnzhèng’s edition for Tángshì sānxiānshēng jí — only shīgǎo 8 juǎn + wéngǎo 5 juǎn. Plainly not the original appearance. His descendant Zé 澤 requested Wāng Yìzhī’s qǐxù (preface-to-supplication): “after the war-fires, only 20% or 30% remains” — so this collection too is worm-eaten and depleted, fortunate to survive. Only that Yuán in fact passed his life as a xiāngxiào (county-school) teacher, never holding yīguān táigé (one Hànlín post) — yet the collection has Hùcóng Luányáng qīngshǔ sìshǒu; also Yùtáng yèzhí; and CháhǎnNàoěr Lǐlíngtái etc. poems — the reason not understood — perhaps misattributed pieces by other hands. Respectfully collated.
Abstract
The Yúnxuān jí is one of three Huīzhōu Táng-family literary collections combined by Chéng Mǐnzhèng in his Míng-era Tángshì sānxiānshēng jí. The textual transmission is a clear case of progressive truncation: 50 juǎn (Yuán-era Guìfāng edition) → 20–30% wartime survival → 13 juǎn (Chéng Mǐnzhèng truncated edition). The Sìkù tíyào’s suspicion that the imperial-travel poems are mis-attributed is a useful philological warning. Composition window: from Táng’s earliest preserved compositions (post-c. 1290) to his 1349 death.
Translations and research
- Yáng Lián. 2003. Yuán-shī shǐ.
- Standard references on Chéng Mǐn-zhèng’s 16th-c. Táng-shì sān-xiān-shēng jí compilation.
Links
- WYG SKQS V1213.4, p427.