Liuyanzhai biji 六研齋筆記

Liuyanzhai biji 六研齋筆記 (also written 六硯齋筆記) is a "brush-notes"-style book (biji 筆記) with a focus on artworks written during the late Ming period 明 (1368-1644) by Li Rihua 李日華 (1565-1635), courtesy name Junshi 君實, style Jiuyi 九疑, Zhunen 竹懶 or Chijushi 痴居士, from Xiaxing 嘉興, Zhejiang. Li was famous for his expertise in literature and writings, and his paintings, of which the scroll Suqian shuiyi tu 宿遷水溢圖 is the most famous. He wrote the books Tianzhitang ji 恬致堂集 (collected writings), Zuili congtan 檇李叢談, Shuhua xiangxiang lu 書畫想象錄, Zitaoxuan zazhui 紫桃軒雜綴, Weishuixuan riji 味水軒日記, Meixu Xiansheng bielu 梅墟先生別錄 and Tianzhitang shihua 恬致堂詩話, and some more.

Because Li was an expert painter and calligrapher, the book of 4 juan deals to a large extent with these arts. The writing is elegant and refined, and the format resembles that of inscription-style notes or colophons (ti-ba 題跋). The compilers of the imperial book catalogue Siku quanshu zongmu tiyao compared the style and effects of Li's book with that of painting scrolls adorned like embroidered silk and carved jade, into whose spirit one becomes immersed after prolonged perusal. The various notes in the book are presented with clarity and charm.

For each authentic work referenced, the author diligently records its inscriptions, poems, colophons, dates, and names—all of which are valuable for scholarly verification and serve as useful references for later generations. However, many of the miscellaneous accounts in the book lack careful examination and factual rigor. Wang Shizhen 王士禎 (1634-1711), in his Juyilu 居易錄, pointed out numerous errors in attributions of poetry and artworks. These errors stem from the fact that while the author was skilled in the appreciation of calligraphy and painting, Li Rihua was less rigorous in historical and textual verification.

There are two continuations of Li's book, namely Liuyanzhai erbi 六研齋二筆, and Liuyanzhai sanbi 六研齋三筆, both with a length of 4 juan which gives the whole works a length of 12 fascicles. The three prefaces of the second part are dated 1630, and that of the third part 1626, and 1634, respectively. A revised reprint from 1768 was published in the collection Li Zhunen Xiansheng shuobu quanshu 李竹嬾先生說部全書.

The text is found in the series Guoxue zhenben wenku 國學珍本文庫 and Siku quanshu 四庫全書.