A Comparison of the Editions of “Summary of Chinese Rhymes (Gujin yunhui juyao)” and Textual Research of the Yuan Manuscripts

Abstract

The editions of the Summary of Chinese Rhymes (Gujin yunhui juyao) are widely spread. Systematically sorting out the situation of the various editions of the library collections, sorting out their basic features, and comprehensively selecting 12 editions, from the angle of content similarities and differences, this paper analyzed that the Shanghai Library edition, the Imperial Library edition, the Kyujanggak edition, the Korean edition, the Komazawa edition, and Hui-yao edition are one series, whilst the Ming-manuscript edition, the Taipei edition, the Jiangxi edition, the Imperial Wenyuan Library edition, and the Huainan edition are one series, the “Five Mountain” edition is a special kind of version. According to the content details, it was proved that the system of the Yuan editions is more consistent and all are composite editions because there is no new edition compiled by Yu Qian (fl. 1339). Chen Bao’s edition is the base of Yu’s edition, all kinds of Ming editions copied from the Yuan edition, Korean editions copied from the Yuan edition, and Japanese editions copied from the Yuan edition. Combined with the Yuan and Ming editions, analyzing the internal contents of the “Five Mountain” edition, the systematic appearance of Chen’s edition (an unrevised edition of the Yuan edition) could be restored, thus separating it from Yu’s edition.