Manuscript on paper, entitled in J. “Izō shomoku”; Ch. “Yi cang shu mu” 醫藏書目 [“List of Medical Books”]
59 folding leaves. Two parts in one vol. 8vo (265 x 180 mm.), orig. yellow wrappers, new stitching. [Japan]: from the last page (in trans.): “copied from a copy made in 1656 from the Chinese edition.”
A fine manuscript copy, with additions, of the earliest bibliography of Chinese medical books, written by Yin (1541-1621). One of the four Prefaces was written by Chen Yidian 陳懿典 (undated). Chen’s Preface traces the history of the concept of “collection” (cang or zang 藏) to the Buddhist Tripitaka and later the Daoist canon, which both used “collection” (zang) in their titles. Even though the Classicists (that is, the Confucians) had not produced any collection with this word in its title, the dynastic histories contained bibliographical treatises, beginning with the “treatise on art and literature” (“yiwen zhi” 藝文志) in the Book of Han and Liu Xin’s Qilüe 七略 [Seven Outlines], the first official bibliography in China.
Chen then notes that in recent years, his teacher Jiao Hong 焦竑 (1540-1620) had compiled Jingji zhi 經籍志 [Treatise on Classical Books], which had divided its contents into categories and then given brief synopses of the titles. Chen’s friend Yin Zhongchun had roughly followed this example in compiling Yicang shumu and included books of which he only knew the title, so as to give a record of what literature must once have existed.
There are also Prefaces by Hong Bangji 洪邦基, dated 1618 (wuwu), the monk Zhixian 智舷, dated in the same year, and by Yin himself, undated. Zhixian again points out that Yin has included titles that he has not himself seen, as well as books circulating only in manuscript that have not yet been committed to print.
Our manuscript is in two parts. The first lists Chinese medical works, divided by category. Each category is supplied with a note explaining its purview. Yin provides authorship, title, and number of juan. The list has been used to authenticate medical titles, as books mentioned in it are guaranteed to have been in circulation by the time of its compilation.
The second part of the manuscript contains a work titled Michuan zhenzi xinfa 秘傳疹子心法 [Secretly Transmitted Knowledge and Methods of Papules], another work by Yin. It has an undated Preface by Yin’s son, Yin Zhiyi 殷志伊, apparently written after Yin Zhongchun’s death.
Fine copy.
A fine manuscript copy, with additions, of the earliest bibliography of Chinese medical books, written by Yin (1541-1621). One of the four Prefaces was written by Chen Yidian 陳懿典 (undated). Chen’s Preface traces the history of the concept of “collection” (cang or zang 藏) to the Buddhist Tripitaka and later the Daoist canon, which both used “collection” (zang) in their titles. Even though the Classicists (that is, the Confucians) had not produced any collection with this word in its title, the dynastic histories contained bibliographical treatises, beginning with the “treatise on art and literature” (“yiwen zhi” 藝文志) in the Book of Han and Liu Xin’s Qilüe 七略 [Seven Outlines], the first official bibliography in China.
Chen then notes that in recent years, his teacher Jiao Hong 焦竑 (1540-1620) had compiled Jingji zhi 經籍志 [Treatise on Classical Books], which had divided its contents into categories and then given brief synopses of the titles. Chen’s friend Yin Zhongchun had roughly followed this example in compiling Yicang shumu and included books of which he only knew the title, so as to give a record of what literature must once have existed.
There are also Prefaces by Hong Bangji 洪邦基, dated 1618 (wuwu), the monk Zhixian 智舷, dated in the same year, and by Yin himself, undated. Zhixian again points out that Yin has included titles that he has not himself seen, as well as books circulating only in manuscript that have not yet been committed to print.
Our manuscript is in two parts. The first lists Chinese medical works, divided by category. Each category is supplied with a note explaining its purview. Yin provides authorship, title, and number of juan. The list has been used to authenticate medical titles, as books mentioned in it are guaranteed to have been in circulation by the time of its compilation.
The second part of the manuscript contains a work titled Michuan zhenzi xinfa 秘傳疹子心法 [Secretly Transmitted Knowledge and Methods of Papules], another work by Yin. It has an undated Preface by Yin’s son, Yin Zhiyi 殷志伊, apparently written after Yin Zhongchun’s death.
Fine copy.
Details
Title
Manuscript on paper, entitled in J. “Izō shomoku”; Ch. “Yi cang shu mu” 醫藏書目 [“List of Medical Books”]
Author
YIN, Zhongchun 殷仲春
Condition
Unknown