The Research On The Inscriptive Writings And Bibilology Of The Song Dynasty

The engraving printing reached its summit in both the South and North Song Dynasty in the aspects of the scale,quality and the popularity. It enjoyed a mature development after the time of period from the Tang Dynasty through the Hou Liang,Hou Tang,Hou Jin,Hou Han to the Hou Zhou. But it was in the Song Dynasty that engraving printing was put into a full use and the industry got a fast development reaching a higher level in the quantity,the sorts of engraving,the spread of engraving house,the scale as well as the technology and the artistic standard. Due to the developed technology of engraving, there was an increase in the collection and circulation of books and people began to learn how to manage books. Gradually the knowledge about bibilology got enriched and it promoted objectively the speedy development of the research towards bibilology in the Song Dynasty. The inscriptive writings dispersing in the literary works of the Song Dynasty more clearly reflect from different point of views the success of bibilology study in the dynasty. The relation between inscriptive writings and bibilology could be seen obviously when paying attention to the means used for appraising bibilology.Usually the close relation between inscriptive writings and bibilology at the turn of Ming Dynasty to Qing Dynasty arouses great attention and the bibilology of the Song Dynasty gets mentioned only from the angle of calligraphy. Though the bibilology research in the Song Dynasty already reaches the peak of perfection and its depth and width could not by surpassed by the modern scholars, the real statement about bibilology study of the Song Dynasty from the point of view of the close relation between the inscriptive writings and bibilology is rarely seen. Even though Mr Peter Chang said in his article the Several Problems under discussion in the Bibilology Research of China'it was only a difference in emendation though the people of Song Dynasty in their notes mentioned the differences among Jian Ke,Ji Shu and Min ben, I would like to have a try to discuss the bibilology displayed in the inscriptive writings of the Song Dynasty not to find another shortcut but to improve the great glory of bibilology of the Song Dynasty and the relative research. My thesis is going to enjoy a full development through the following parts.Part 1 The Inscriptive Writings of the Song Dynasty'Inscriptive writings'is a writing style in the old days. It originates from the understanding towards some book,article and poet and usually gets expressed in casual way. With the later development, long or short, it becomes an independent style. The discussion about the origin of inscriptive writings consists of three aspects:1.The inscriptive writings for the sutra manuscript in the Dun Huang stone room, an important resource2.'Ti hou','Shu ou'originating from the casual notes on the articles,painting,calligraphy and the ending of books3.'Bao Wei'appearing on the appraisal of painting,calligraphy and literary works produced during the time from Liu Chan to Tang DynastyThen comes the summary about the inscriptive writing in the South and North Song Dynasty as regard to the quantity and the writers. Firstly, in the aspect of quantity, give an overall analysis to the inscriptive writings appearing in the 399 personal collections of literary work that are composed by the people in the Song Dynasty and contained in Wen Yuan Ge Si Ku Quan Shu. Finally Take some examples to analyze, such as the inscriptive writings written by Ou Yangxiu,Shu Shi,Huang Tingjian,Lv You,Zhou Bida and Lou Yao etc.Part 2 The Study about the Inscriptive Writings and Bibilology of the Song DynastyBefore the Song dynasty, appraisal towards bibilology had already begun, but it was very limited in the range, the main purpose being to tell the difference and to clarify the quality good or bad. In the Song Dynasty, the prosperity of engraving printing and the increase in editions of books offered a favorable condition for the bibilology study in that time. Besides, the problems caused by the complexity of editions became more complicate, thus further forced the scholars to investigate the research. At the same time, the appearance of the progress in the emendation,catalogue,the research towards the gravestones and copper utensils and the appraisal to paintings and calligraphy helped enrich the knowledge about bibilology. All of this mentioned above makes the research take a further step in the depth and width. And especially the inscriptive writing made by the literates in the Song Dynasty exactly reflect from different angles the great success of the bibilology study in the dynasty. The bibilology research in Song Dynasty are displayed by the next aspects:1.The newly-coined massive terms for bibilology, which are seen in the inscriptive writingsIt is going to be analyzed from the following point of views: the distinction with engraving edition,the one with non-engraving edition,the classification according to engraving houses,time,storage places,surnames or first names of collectors,the character size,the quality of books( good or bad),the status( complete or fragmentary )and the damage degree of books1.The comparison of bibilology in the inscriptive writings including the changes of book titles,division or combination of books or volumes,adding or deleting of the content,changes at all times,and distinction of notes as well as with or without appendix.2.The disclosure of bibilology features through referring to inscriptive writings3.The appraisal towards bibilology that is mentioned in the inscriptive writings4.The statement in the inscriptive writing about checking bibilology true or false5.The narration in the inscriptive writings about the origin of bibilology6.The relation in the inscriptive writings about the judgment of bibilology.Part 3 The Means for Appraising Bibilology, which are Mentioned in the Inscriptive Writings Made by the Learners in the Song Dynasty Bibilology appraisal is the core of bibilology research. Before the invention of engraving printing, books were circulated in the form of manuscript. The appraisal for the different bibilology mainly referred to the emendation and got mentioned only in the Sui Shu·Jing Ji Zhi·Xu composed by Wei Zheng before the Song Dynasty.But when going into the Song Dynasty, the books in both printing and manuscript spread together and there was an increase in the sorts and quantity of bibilology enriching the content features and external ones of bibilology. Besides, the experience coming from the successful research of gravestones,copper utensils,paintings and calligraphy also brought some inspiration in the appraisal towards bibilology. As for the results of appraisal, they are mostly told in the form of inscriptive writings except through some specific works composed by some scholars.The following means got mentioned in the inscriptive writings:1.The appraisal as per the preface and inscriptive writings of the original work2.The appraisal as per the Hui Zi in the books3.The appraisal as per the changes of books and volumes4.The appraisal as per the inscriptive writings in the original manuscript5.The appraisal as per the seals of the collection of books6.The appraisal as per the records in a catalog 7.The appraisal as per the publishing format and the ink color8.The appraisal as per the content of booksPart4 The Influence That the Inscriptive Writings of the Song Dynasty put on the BibilologyTalk about the status and value of the inscriptive writings in the Song Dynasty and the aftertime research.