Jiangyunlou shumu 絳雲樓書目

Jiangyunlou shumu 絳雲樓書目 is a book catalogue compiled during the late Ming period 明 (1368-1644) by Qian Qianyi 錢謙益 (1582-1664), courtesy name Shouzhi 受之, style Muzhai 牧齋 or Mengsou 蒙叟, from Changshu 常熟, Jiangsu.

Qian was a junior compiler (bianxiu 編修) of the Hanlin Academy 翰林院 and was famous as a poet and collector. His private library, the Crimson Cloud Pavillion (Jiangyunlou 絳雲樓), was unfortunately destroyed by a fire in 1650. The catalogue was written on the base of remnants and the memory of the owner. It is divided into 72 sections, roughly arranged according to the traditional four categories Confucian Classics, historiography, "Masters and philosophers", and belles-lettres, but with some deviations and subcategories not known in the large book catalogues.

The Classics are divided into the subcategories general books on the Classics (Zongji 總經), commentaries on each of the Classics (Yijing 易, Shangshu 書, Shijing 詩, Liji 禮, books on music Yue 樂, Chunqiu 春秋, Xiaojing 孝經, Lunyu 論語, Mengzi 孟子, Daxue 大學, Zhongyong 中庸), lexicography (Xiaoxue 小學, the glossary Erya 爾雅, and apocryphal texts (Weishu 緯書).

The historiography category includes official dynastic histories (Zhengshi 正史), annals and chronicles (Biannian 編年), "miscellaneous histories" (Zashi 雜史), biographies (Shizhuanji 史傳記), ancient regulations (Gushi 故事), law texts (Xingfa 刑法), genealogies (Pudie 譜牒), historical critique (Shixue 史學), book catalogues (Shumu 書目), and geography books (Dizhi 地志).

The "Masters" section includes general collections (Zizong 子總), Confucian treatises (Rujia 儒家), Neo-Confucian teachings (Daoxue 道學), books of dialecticians (Mingjia 名家), legalist texts (Fajia 法家), Mohist texts (Mojia 墨家), "miscellaneous" masters (Zajia 雜家), coalition advisors (Zongheng 縱橫), agricultural books (Nongjia 農家), military texts (Bingjia 兵家), Buddhist writings (Shijia 釋家), books on Daoism (Daojia 道家), novellas and stories (Xiaoshuo 小說), miscellaneous skills and arts (Zayi 雜藝), astronomy (Tianwen 天文), arithmetics (Lisuan 歷算), geomancy (Dili 地理), astrology (Xingming 星命), prognostication by hexagrams (Shishi 十筮), prosopomancy (Xiangfa 相法), prognostication by the liuren and dunjia methods (Ren-dun 壬遁), books of the Daoist canon (Daozang 道藏), Daoist books [not in the Canon?] (Daoshu 道書), medical texts (Yishu 醫書), Christian texts (Tianzhujiao lei 天主教類), encyclopaedias (Leishu 類書), and forged books (Weishu 偽書).

The belles-lettres category finally is divided into the sections collected literature from the Six-Dynasties period (Liuchao wenji 六朝文集), Tang-period prose (Tang wenji 唐文集), poetry from the Tang (Tangshi 唐詩), anthologies of shi-type poetry (Shi zongji 詩總集), Song-period prose (Song wenji 宋文集), Jin- and Yuan-period prose (Jin-Yuan wenji 金元文集), prose from the early Ming period (Mingchu wenji 明初文集), Wenji zong 文集總), elegiac rhapsodies (Saofu 騷賦), bronze and stone inscriptions (Jinshi 金石), examination discussions and questions (Lunce 論策), memorials to the throne (Zouyi 奏議), literary theory (Wenshuo 文說), poetry critique (Shihua 詩話), edicts of the present dynasty (Benchao zhishu 本朝制書), "veritable records" of the present dynasty (Benchao shilu 本朝實錄), history books of the present dynasty (Benchao guoji 本朝國紀), biographies [of contemporary persons] (Zhuanji 傳記), administrative rules (Diangu 典故), and "miscellaneous records" (Zaji 雜記).

For each book, the 4-juan long catalogue indicates not just book titles and size, but also the edition and gives information on the author.

The Jiangyunlou shumu is included in the series Yueyatang congshu 粵雅堂叢書 and Congshu jicheng chubian 叢書集成初編, along with a commentary written by Chen Jingyun 陳景雲 (1670-1747). A further list of Chen, Jiangyunlou shumu buyi 絳雲樓書目補遺 (included in the series Guangutang shumu congkan 觀古堂書目叢刊), includes books not listed in the catalogue; Chen also wrote the short catalogue Muzhai shumu 牧齋書目.

There is also a 2-juan long manuscript version of the Cuigu Studio 萃古齋 of Qian Shiji 錢時霽 (c. 1732-1802).