An Explorative Study On Leishu Of Ming Dynasty

"A book for all book", Leishu, as a special literary form in the Chinese culturalhistory, plays an irreplaceable role in the development of the transmission of theChinese civilization and the integration of the ancient culture. As agreed by the mostpeople, the earliest Leishu originates from "Huanglan". From the Cao-Wei Dynasty tothe Ming Dynasty, Leishu showed a strong stage characteristics in its long evolution.Leishu served as a link between past and future at its peak period, and laid a greatfoundation for further progress. This thesis will base on this point to launch asynchronic study from the perspective of the compilation of the historical documents.Set basis on the analysis and the explanation of the preliminary issues of Leishu,this book will expound on the Ming Dynasty’s Leishu from its profile, basic patterns,material obtaining, compilation, categorial system, arrangement and retrieving system,to its status in the ancient Leishu compilation history. Focusing on the nature and thecharacteristics of Leishu, the preface will elaborate its content and form, and its innerconnotation; trace the origin, and outline the Leishu evolution in the chronologicalsequence; analyse its rise and decline; and introduce the current study of Leishu ofMing Dynasty, and brief on the book itself. The book composes of five chapters. Thefirst chapter centres on the composition of Leishu of Ming Dynasty by observingbooks from all dynasties, categorizes Ming Dynasty’s Leishu under different criteria,gather statistics of the maintenance and lose of the Leishu of Ming Dynasty, andspread intensive examination on the cause of formation from the view of socialenvironment. Chapter two illustrates the wide material obtaining and heavycomposition of Ming Dynasty’s Leishu from both official and private compilation,sorts out different Leishu compilation styles by varied ways of material analysis, andconcludes the Ming Dynasty’s Leishu insufficiencies in terms of its material obtaining and compilation. Chapter three demonstrates in detail the diversity of the categorialsystem, the abundance of categorial arrangement, and the multi-dimensional structureresulted from intermingled category of horizontal expansion and vertical penetrationby enlisting specific Leishu of Ming Dynasty. The fourth chapter combines with thetypical Leishu to reveal the strong and weak points of the formation and retrievingsystem of Ming Dynasty’s Leishu. Chapter five selects several inspiring Leishu to theancient people to carry out a case study, and discusses the practical function and valueof the Ming Dynasty’s Leishu in the real case, and comprehensively accounts thedecisive role of the Ming Dynasty’s Leishu in the long ancient compilation history ofChina.