The Researching Of Prefectural Publishing In Ming Dynasty

As the important part of official publication in Ming Dynasty, publication in charge of local authority doesn’t deserve enough attention by scholars, lacking systematic and in-depth study. Gu Jin Shu ke authored by Zhou Hongzu is inadequate although indispensable documents for study of publication by local authority in Ming Dynasty in view of scholars. In fact, there are abundant historical data recorded in catalogues, pre-texts and local gazetteers. Therefore, through systematically analyzing and researching, this paper summarizes the condition and characteristic of publication in charge of local authority, including categories, origin, funds and distribution.Following the tradition of Song Dynasty, publication in charge of local authority in Ming Dynasty took on some distinctive characteristic. First, more participators were involved, such as provincial and secondary officials affiliated to administrative and education departments, especially the censorial officials unique to Ming Dynasty some of who acquired outstanding part, students at state schools, relatives of authors, printers. Second, diverse investment channel reflected officialdom ecology in Ming Dynasty. Third, it was general phenomenon for local officials to publishing books for relatives, friends, teachers and themselves. Forth, there was a boom period of publication in Jiajing and Wanli Era. Regionally, officials in Nan Zhili, Zhejiang, Fujian published more books.