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Yanyi yimou lu 燕翼詒謀錄

May 25, 2019 © Ulrich Theobald

Yanyi yimou lu 燕翼詒謀錄 "Plans and support for the coming generations" is an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the administrative system of the Northern Song dynasty 北宋 (960-1126) written by the Southern-Song 南宋 (1127-1279) scholar Wang Yong 王栐, courtesy name Shuyong 叔永, style Qiuzhi Laosou 求志老叟, from the military prefecture of Wuwei 無為軍 (today's Lujiang 廬江, Anhui).

The title of the 5-juan long book is derived from two verses in the great ode (daya 大雅) Wenwang you sheng 文王有聲 of the Confucian Classic Shijing 詩經 "Book of Songs", saying that "[King Wu 周武王] would leave his plans to his descendants, / and secure comfort and support to his son" (transl. Legge).

The book was finished in 1227 and is divided into 162 short chapters dealing with various aspects of statecraft, like the office system, official appointment by examinations, economic policy, military, administrative geography, etc. It is therefore a valuable addition to other books on administration and policy during the Song period.

It is included in the series Baichuan xuehai 百川學海 and Xuejin taoyuan 學津討原. In 1981, the Zhonghua Book Company 中華書局 published a modern edition.

Sources:
Li Xin 李欣 (2017). "Yanyi yimou lu banben jiazhi zhi yanjiu 《燕翼詒謀錄》版本價值之研究", Fazhi yu shehui 法制與社會, 2017 (6).
Li Xueqin 李學勤, Lü Wenyu 呂文郁, ed. (1996). Siku da cidian 四庫大辭典 (Changchun: Jilin daxue chubanshe), Vol. 1, 940.
Wu Feng 吳楓, ed. (1987). Jianming Zhongguo guji cidian 簡明中國古籍辭典 (Changchun: Jilin wenshi chubanshe), 938.