View source for Leishu

{{Short description|Sinosphere genre of reference work}}
{{italic title}}
[[File:Gǔjīn Túshū Jíchéng page.png|thumb|upright|A page from the ''[[Complete Classics Collection of Ancient China]]'', the largest ''leishu'' ever printed]]
The '''''leishu''''' ({{zh|t=類書|s=类书|l=category books|first=t}}) is a genre of [[Reference work|reference books]] historically compiled in China and other East Asian countries. The term is generally translated as "encyclopedia", although the ''leishu'' are quite different from the modern notion of [[encyclopedia]].{{sfn|Lehner|2011|p=46}}
The ''leishu'' are composed of sometimes lengthy citations from other works,{{sfn|Zurndorfer|2013|p=505}} and often contain copies of entire works, not just excerpts.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=604}} The works are classified by a systematic set of categories, which are further divided into subcategories.{{sfn|Zurndorfer|2013|p=505}} ''Leishu'' may be considered [[anthologies]], but are encyclopedic in the sense that they may comprise the entire realm of knowledge at the time of compilation.{{sfn|Zurndorfer|2013|p=505}}
Approximately 600 ''leishu'' were compiled from the early third century until the eighteenth century, of which 200 have survived.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=603}} The largest ''leishu'' ever compiled was the 1408 ''[[Yongle Encyclopedia]]'', containing 370 million [[Chinese characters]],{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=604}} and the largest ever printed was the ''[[Complete Classics Collection of Ancient China]]'', containing 100 million characters and 852,408 pages.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=605}}
==History==
[[File:Yongle Dadian Encyclopedia 1403.jpg|thumb|The ''[[Yongle Dadian]]'', the largest ''leishu'' ever compiled]]
The genre first appeared in the early third century. The earliest known was the ''[[Huanglan]]'' ("Emperor's mirror"{{efn|Compare the later "[[speculum literature]]" in the Western tradition.}}). Sponsored by the emperor of [[Cao Wei]], it was compiled around 220, but has since [[Lost literary work|been lost]].{{sfn|Zurndorfer|2013|p=505}} However, the term ''leishu'' was not used until the [[Song dynasty]] (960–1279).{{sfn|Lehner|2011|p=46}}
In later imperial China dynasties, such as the [[Ming]] and [[Qing]], emperors sponsored monumental projects to compile all known human knowledge into a single ''leishu'', in which entire works, rather than excerpts, were copied and classified by category.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=604}} The largest ''leishu'' ever compiled, on the order of the [[Yongle Emperor]] of Ming, was the ''[[Yongle Dadian]]'' containing a total of 370 million [[Chinese characters]]. The project involved 2,169 scholars, who worked for four years under general editor [[Yao Guangxiao]]. It was completed in 1408, but never printed, as the imperial treasury had run out of money.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=604}}
The ''[[Complete Classics Collection of Ancient China]]'' (''Qinding Gujin Tushu Jicheng'') is by far the largest ''leishu'' ever printed, containing 100 million characters and 852,408 pages.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=605}} It was compiled by a team of scholars led by [[Chen Menglei]], and printed between 1726 and 1728, during the Qing dynasty.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=605}}
The ''riyong leishu'' (encyclopedias for daily use), containing practical information for people who were literate but below the [[Confucian]] elite, were also compiled in the later imperial era. Today, they provide scholars with valuable information on non-elite culture and attitudes.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=602}}
According to [[Jean-Pierre Diény]], the [[Jiaqing Emperor|Jiaqing reign]] (1796–1820) of the Qing dynasty saw the end of the publication of ''leishu''.{{sfn|Lehner|2011|p=47}}
==In other countries==
[[File:Sancai Tuhui World Map.jpg|thumb|The world map entitled [[Shanhai Yudi Quantu]], from the ''[[Sancai Tuhui]]'', an illustrated ''leishu'']]
Other countries in East Asia also adopted the genre of ''leishu''. In 1712, the ''[[Sancai Tuhui]]'', a richly illustrated ''leishu'' compiled by Ming scholar Wang Qi ({{lang|zh|王圻}}) in the early 17th century, was printed in Japan as ''[[Wakan Sansai Zue]]''. The Japanese version was edited by Terajima Ryōan ({{lang|ja|寺島良安}}), a physician born in [[Osaka]].{{sfn|Lehner|2011|p=47}}
==Importance==
The ''leishu'' have played an important role in the preservation of ancient works, many of which have been lost, only preserved completely or partially as part of a ''leishu'' compilation. The 7th-century ''[[Yiwen Leiju]]'' is especially valuable. It contains excerpts from 1,400 pre-7th century works, 90% of which have been otherwise lost. Even though the ''Yongle Dadian'' is itself largely lost, the remnants still contain 385 complete books that have been otherwise lost.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=602}} The ''leishu'' also provide a unique view of the transmission of knowledge and education, and an easy way to locate traditional materials on any given subject.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|p=602}}
==Major compilations==
Approximately 600 ''leishu'' were compiled, from the Cao Wei period (early third century) until the 18th century, of which 200 have survived. Among the most important, in chronological order, are:{{sfn|Wilkinson|2000|pp=603–5}}
*''[[Yiwen Leiju]]'' (Collection of literature arranged by categories), compiled by [[Ouyang Xun]]
*''[[Beitang Shuchao]]'' (北堂书钞 ,Excerpts from books in the Northern Hall), compiled by [[Yu Shinan]] ca. 630
*''[[Chuxue Ji]]'' (初學記,Writings for elementary instruction), compiled by Xu Jian et al. between 713 and 742
*''[[Taiping Yulan]]'' (''Taiping Imperial Reader''), compiled by [[Li Fang (Song dynasty)|Li Fang]] et al., published 984
*''[[Cefu Yuangui]]'' (Outstanding models from the storehouse of literature), compiled by [[Wang Qinruo]] et al., completed in 1013
*''[[Yuhai]]'' (玉海,Ocean of jade), compiled by [[Wang Yinglin]] 1330–40
*''[[Yongle Dadian]]'', completed 1408, the largest ''leishu'' ever compiled
*''[[Complete Classics Collection of Ancient China]]'', 1726–28, the largest ''leishu'' ever printed
== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}
== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}
=== Cited works ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book
|last=Lehner |first=Georg
|title = China in European Encyclopaedias, 1700&ndash;1850
|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=28s6jhep0FAC&pg=PA46
|year=2011
|publisher=BRILL
|isbn=978-90-04-20150-7
}}
*{{cite book
|last=Wilkinson |first=Endymion
|authorlink=Endymion Wilkinson
|title = Chinese History: A Manual
|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ERnrQq0bsPYC&pg=PA602
|year=2000
|publisher=Harvard University Asia Center
|isbn=978-0-674-00249-4
}}
*{{cite book
|last=Zurndorfer |first=Harriet T.
|chapter=Fifteen hundred years of the Chinese encyclopaedia
|title = Encyclopaedism from Antiquity to the Renaissance
|chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=fROhAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA505
|year=2013
|publisher=Cambridge University Press
|isbn=978-1-107-47089-7
}}
{{refend}}
{{Clear}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Leishu| ]]
[[Category:Anthologies]]
[[Category:Chinese classic texts]]
[[Category:Chinese encyclopedias]]
[[Category:Reference works]]