Xí shàng fǔ tán 席上腐談

Decaying-Mat Discussions

by 俞琰 (Yǔ Yǎn, 1245–1314)

Yǔ Yǎn’s miscellaneous reading-notes (zhá jì 札記) — the upper juàn devoted to philological examinations of names and objects, the lower to broader discussions. The title (literally “decaying [talk] on the mat”) is a self-deprecating humility-formula. Preserved in the WYG edition.

Tiyao

The Sìkù editors note: “Xí shàng fǔ tán, two juàn, by Yǔ Yǎn of the Sòng. This work consists of his miscellaneous reading-notes. The first few dozen entries of the upper juàn are investigations of objects and nomenclature…”

Dating. Within Yǔ Yǎn’s active life (c. 1284–1314). Dynasty: 宋-元.