Study On Hailusuishi,an Encyclopedia Of The Song Dynasty

Encyclopedia is a special genre of document in Chinese cultural history,which have been more than 1,600 years since its first appearance in the period of Three-kingdoms and Caowei.In the Song Dynasty,encyclopedia has developed into its peak stage and quite a mounts of them are compiled privately.Among them,Hailusuishi is a distinctive and rarely concerned encyclopedia in earlier stage of the Southern Song Dynasty.But in academic research,it is only used as a tool for the analysis and citations for other studies,and there are rare comprehensive and detailed studies on the encyclopedia itself.Based on documents in many fields and the author's biography,the dissertation studies the background,thought,content,layout and characteristics of Haishileishu.It puts the encyclopedia in the historical context of the Song Dynasty to explore the reasons for its uniqueness.The dissertation consists of six chapters.The first chapter,from a historical perspective,comprehensively studies its author Ye Tinggui,whose records were rare in historical books.Summarizes his life from many historical books,the chapter studies his thoughts,cultural propositions,books and attitudes against the cultural background between northern and southern Song Dynasties when the place where he was living and working,Quanzhou,was the first largest port in China where there were frequent exchanges with other cultures and Ye Tinggui's horizons were broadened.The second,third and forth chapter,comparing various types of ancient books,makes a detailed study on its content and category division of entries,its compilation style,its citations and their values.These chapters also analyze the purpose,classification and characteristics of entries' category,finding the unique features of the encyclopedia and the values of its emendation and collection.The encyclopedia also cites entries on domestic and foreign transportation only recorded in an ancient book Shibolu(Record of Boats and Ships),which help us to learn about the book and sea transportation in the Song Dynasty.Besides,the encyclopedia collects regional history data of South China,which is helpful for the research on regional history.These can lead us to explore the ancient social structure and cultural ideology so as to reveal the process and characteristics of the encyclopedia's evolution and reasons behind.Hailusuishi was finished in 1149.Although itwasabrilliant encyclopedia,few people paid attention toit over a long time.The fifth chapter finds out the reasons why it was unpopular.It makes a comparison with other two popular encyclopedias Baishiliutieshileiji and Jinxiuwanhuagu in the Tang and Song Dynasties.Based on the study on the layouts,features,circulation and influence on the society,the chapter reveals the ideological and cultural characteristics of Hailusuishi so as to conclude the reasons for its unpopularity.The sixth chapter,from the political,economic,cultural and social perspective,summarizes the encyclopedia's effect on the inheritance of history,culture and society of the Song Dynasty,as well as its influence on later encyclopedias' development.From its research value,effects and problems/ deficiencies,the chapter also makes an in-depth study on the positive role of ancient encyclopedias in the preservation of historical documents,inheritance of feudal culture and maintaining of the orthodox Confucian thoughts,and ontheir negative impact on academic innovation and science and technology development.