Research On The Engraved Books Of Ji Gu Ge

Mao Jin,born in Changshu,is reputed as a bibliophile and book engraver in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasty.With his fame spreading far and wide,Mao Jin made prominent contributions in history.This dissertation takes Ji Gu Ge as its object of study and gives special weight to his book publishing activities,inclusive of bibliotheca of Ji Gu Ge,contents of publications,proofreading,selection of master copies and sequence of printed copies.The doctoral dissertation is divided into seven chapters as its main body,headed by an introduction of research status and concluded by an appendix.The main body is as follows.Chapter One introduces Mao Jin's family background,lifetime and writings.The dissertation,through reference to Genealogical Tree of Mao Family in Ji Gu Ge housed by Changshu Library,from which no preceding scholars have ever quoted,complemented his personal information.This chapter also conducts a philology-based review of Mao Jin's publications and annotates his works for reference,including the content,version,diffusion and collection of his works.Chapter Two expands on bibliotheca of Mao Jin and probes into its origin and diffusion with priority given to his most noteworthy handwritten manuscripts.In this chapter catalogue of Existing Ji Gu Ge Manuscripts is preliminary established,based on which features,values and impacts of Mao Jin's manuscripts are analyzed.Besides,the dissertation expounds List of Treasured Jiguge Books sold out by Mao Yi,son of Mao Jin,to correct omissions in precursory researches.Chapter Three gains an insight into the contents of his publications,elaborately introduced and supplemented publications ever known but yet to be seen and those consigned to Mao Jin by some others.By using the catalogues made by Tao xiang and Gu xiang,and based on an analysis of the social and academic background in the late Ming Dynasty,dissects the reason for his selection.Chapter Four explores his endeavor at proofreading.Using many a case of handwritten proofread copies of Mao Jin,the dissertation summarizes and analyzes his method of proofreading and the specific revised details,offeres a marked contrast between proofread copies and printed ones,reproduces the whole process from proofreading to publication,delves into the method of revision and error correction and points out that the belief prevalent among researchers since the Qing Dynasty that Mao Jin was willfully prone to revision based on no grounds whatsoever was slanted and could not hold water.By sorting through Mao Shi Shou Jiao Ben Jing Yan Lu and referring to Proofreading Records of Thirteen Classics by Ruan Yuan and Annotations in Revising Thirteen Classics by Pu Tang,the dissertation examined differences between master copies and Mao Jin's revised ones,analyzes reasons behind those omissions and reassuringly confirms that publications by Mao Jin were not that flooded with errors,as was found by previous researches.Chapter Five makes a study of master copies for Ji Gu Ge publications.Starting with a case study of Jin Dai Mi Shu and Collections of Tang Poetry,the dissertation concludes that Mao Jin,in singling out sources,adhered to the principle of selecting high-toned ones largely composed of publications in Song and Yuan Dynasties,handwritten manuscripts and ancestral collections,most of which were rare ones.For Mao Jin,he neither blind faith in the books of Song Dynasty,nor excluded the mill block-printed editions.Rather,he picked and chose master copies in terms of their practical value as his sole criterion,thus precluding the possibility that Mao Jin took liberties with master copies,as was claimed by some scholars in the Qing Dynasty.Chapter Six examines initial publications and follow-up ones of Ji Gu Ge,rectifies omissions in predecessors'research findings,unveiles Mao Jin's efforts put into publication and his meticulous attitude in doing so and criticizes Ye Dehui for his irresponsible comment that Mao Jin,instead of being something of a publisher,is no different than ordinary ones.Also,bookshops at that time made some compilations and comments based on reprinted versions of Ji Gu Ge originals and whole new engraved ones.This chapter also researches on the circulation and influence of Ji Gu Ge publications since Qing Dynasty,highlighting adoption of Ji Gu Ge publications in An Imperial Collection of Four Classics as well as comments made by editors of Si Ku Quan Shu on Ji Gu Ge publications.Mao Jin scored brilliant achievements both as a bibliophile and publisher and over a given period no one else was match for him.His approach of publication and ideas involved gave late-comers food for thought and contributed tremendously to the preservation and circulation of ancient books.