Wei Zheng compiled Qunshu Zhiyao (hereinafter referred to as Zhiyao), extracting the text related to governing the country. This book retains the old features of many classics. Zhiyao was introduced to Japan in the late Tang Dynasty, and the important editions we see today are all from the collection of Japan. This project is intended to focus on the following aspects:
A Research on Different Editions of Qunshu Zhiyao in Japan
First, collect and collate different editions of Zhiyao collected in Japan. Including the earliest Kujō clan edition from the Heian period, Kanesawa-bunko edition from the Kamakura period, and the most readable Suruganokuni edition, and finally the Tenmei edition. Textual research on different editions of Zhiyao collected in Japan, discussing the similarities and differences of different editions, we can know the evolution process of various editions, which is of great help to understand the dissemination and importance of this book.
Secondly, the collection of various editions of Zhiyao in Japan is used to collate the cited books, and the lost books can be compiled. The edition of Japanese collections dates back to a relatively early age. Taking Zhiyao to collate the quoted books can correct many problems of the original books. In addition, Zhiyao also quoted the lost books and articles, so we can use Zhiyao to retrieve the lost documents.
Thirdly, this project will discuss the selected articles of Zhiyao and the ways of governing the country mentioned in the book. Narratological methods can be used. The compiler of Zhiyao used this book as an admonition book to recommend the way of governing the country by selecting articles. Today, we can still manage the enterprise by means of the way of governing the country in Zhiyao.
This project will sort out different editions of Zhiyao collected in Japan, and then explore their inheritance relationship. Next, using the collation and compilation of Zhiyao to make up for the inadequacies in philology. Finally, taking the contents in Zhiyao as an example, analyses the selected articles of Zhiyao from the perspective of narratology.
Specific directions are as follows: 1. Discuss the spread of Zhiyao in Japan and the relationship between different editions of Zhiyao in Japan. 2. Make use of the cited books in the collation of Zhiyao and compile the lost parts. 3. Discuss the attitude of selecting articles in Zhiyao and the application of the way of governing the country in the book today.