Qinjing

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The book called Qínjīng ( Chinese禽 经; "bird book") is the earliest ornithological work in China. According to tradition, it was written by Shi Kuang (Shī Kuàng 师旷) during the spring and autumn annals and commented on by Zhang Hua (张华) (232–300) from the time of the Western Jin Dynasty . 1 booklet (juan).

authenticity

Since it cites works from the time after Shi Kuang, even into the last few years of the Southern Song Dynasty, it is easy to see that both the author's statement and the commentator's information (i.e. Zhang Hua from the time of the Jin Dynasty ) are wrong.

Dating

Lu Dian (1042–1102) from the Northern Song Dynasty first quoted it in his animal book called Piya ; it is probably a work of the Tang or Song period published under a different name.

content

The book reports on the (Chinese mythical) phoenix ( fènghuáng ) and several dozen other known bird species , such as crow , pheasant , vulture , crane , cuckoo or partridge . The focus of interest is the ecology, and it also pays attention to the adaptation of the body structure. For example, it says: "The life purpose of the pelican is water, that of the woodpecker is wood." "Birds that eat living beings have a long beak, grain-eater a short one." Almost all of the knowledge in this work is acquired through observation, it has a certain amount scientific importance.

It is an important source on the history of Chinese food and drink culture.

Shi Kuang: the legendary music master Kuang

The alleged author Shi Kuang ("Music Master Kuang") was a famous ancient Chinese musician who worked at the court of Duke Ping ( Jin Ping gong ) in the ancient Jin state of the spring and autumn periods and was known for his good hearing. According to legend, he was born without eyes. There are many legends about him; Among other things, he is often mentioned in the book Zhuangzi , and above all in the rich legends of Zuozhuan . It is reported that he told Duke Ping about the attack by the Qi State Army on Jin State; from the bird calls he knew when the qi withdrew.

Further ornithological records

Early ornithological records are still the work contained in the old book series Tang Song congshu called Guihai qinzhi 1 juan "Notes on birds from Guihai (ie from the far south) in one notebook (juan)" It is from Fan Chengda (1126-1193) , the politician and poet of the Southern Song Dynasty, also known for his travelogues.

Important prints (selection)

The book was included in many old book series (e.g. in the Tang Song congshu or in the prestigious Siku quanshu of the Qianlong era ), from which it can be concluded that it is popular and highly valued.

Modern editions

Under the title Shi Kuang Qinjing , the 1991 edition of the Congshu Comprehensive Collection was reprinted by Zhonghua shuju Verlag in Beijing. It has the ISBN 7-101-00894-1 .

literature

See also

List of sources on the history of Chinese food and drink culture

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ He wrote the account of strange things (Bowu zhi 博物 志), an early print of which is contained in the book collection called Mice huihan . This book was translated into English by R. Greatrex: The Bowu zhi. An Annotated Translation (Stockholm 1987). Fan Ning 范宁 has obtained a critical modern Chinese edition, it was published under the title Bowu zhi jiaozheng (博物 志 校正), Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1980. The collected writings of Zhang Hua are entitled Jin Zhang Sikong ji and are in contained in the book series Han Wei Liuchao baisan mingjia ji .
  2. ↑ Our presentation is based mainly on the information in the Cihai and the Zhongguo pengren wenxian tiyao , the latter of which at first glance initially classifies it chronologically under the Jin dynasty .
  3. ↑ His collected writings have appeared under the title Taoshan ji , a well-known print is that of the book series Juzhenban congshu ; a well-known print of the aforementioned book Piya is contained in the collective work Wuya quanshu (五 雅 全书).
  4. ↑ Zhongguo pengren wenxian tiyao, p. 8.