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Songbai leichao 宋稗類鈔 "Categorized anthology of petty matters from the Song period" is an encyclopaedic collection of notes to Song-period 宋 (960-1279) poetry (shihua 詩話) compiled during the Qing period 清 (1644-1911) by Pan Yongyin 潘永因 (fl. 1662), courtesy name Changji 長吉, from Changshu 常熟, Jiangsu.
The book of 8 juan length is divided into 59 chapters, with one juan of supplements. According to some bibliographies, there was a version of 36 juan length, with 60 chapters. The Songbai leichao imitates the famous collection Shishuo xinyu 世說新語 and quotes the discussions of Song-period scholars to a very wide range of topics. It has been highly recommended for the excellent quality of the language and the clarity and shortness of the paragraphs, so that it can almost be rated as a literary book instead of only an encyclopaedia.
Unfortunately, Pan does not indicate his sources. The style of Pan's book is exemplary and has been imitated by later scholars of the Qing period. The stories included in the Songbai leichao in fact also include events taking place in the Tang 唐 (618-907) and Yuan 元 (1279-1368) periods. The division into chapters with significant titles is very helpful for an overview of the broad topics Pan Yongyin was interested in.
The Songbai leichao is included in the series Siku quanshu 四庫全書.
| 1. | 君範 | Rules for the sovereign |
| 符命 | Prophetic signs | |
| 吏治 | Administration by officials | |
| 遭際 | Vicissitudes in life | |
| 異數 | Extraordinary calculations | |
| 誅謫 | Chastisement and execution | |
| 2. | 讒險 | Slander and defamation |
| 諂媚 | Flattery and adulteration | |
| 科名 | Fame by graduation | |
| 隱逸 | Life in seclusion | |
| 躁競 | Anxious for competition | |
| 奢汰 | Waste and prodigy | |
| 叛逆 | Rebels | |
| 3. | 厚德 | Rich of virtues |
| 雅量 | Magnanimity | |
| 鑒識 | Conoisseurship | |
| 才幹 | Talent and competence | |
| 品行 | Classified conduct | |
| 忠義 | Ideals of loyalty | |
| 貞烈 | Martyrs of chastity | |
| 4. | 家範 | Family rules |
| 志尚 | Ideal guidance | |
| 豪曠 | Bold and generous | |
| 放誕 | Untrammeled and reckless | |
| 權譎 | Tricky and planful | |
| 頤養 | Taking care of oneself | |
| 閑情 | Moods in leisuretime | |
| 異稟 | Outstanding talents | |
| 5. | 文苑 | The garden of literature |
| 博識 | Knowledge | |
| 詩話 | Poetry critique | |
| 詞品 | Classification of poetry | |
| 儷語 | Couplets | |
| 辭命 | Appropriate wording | |
| 尚論 | Clinging to the past | |
| 格言 | Mottos | |
| 6. | 箴規 | Adhortation |
| 稱譽 | Praise | |
| 詆毀 | Slander | |
| 詼諧 | Humour | |
| 紕謬 | Mistakes | |
| 尤悔 | Regret | |
| 傷逝 | Lament | |
| 7. | 宗乘 | Religion |
| 道教 | Daoism | |
| 報應 | Redemption of good and evil deeds | |
| 神鬼 | Spirits and ghosts | |
| 怪異 | Strange matters | |
| 方技 | Magic | |
| 工藝 | Skills | |
| 音樂 | Music | |
| 飲食 | Drinking and diet | |
| 8. | 古玩 | Antiques |
| 八法 | The eight methods | |
| 丹青 | Red and green (painting) | |
| 草木 | Herbs and trees | |
| 鳥獸 | Birds and beasts | |
| 搜遺 | Supplement |