The content of "The Classic of Mountains and Seas": The Classic of Mountains and Seas is an ancient book from the Pre-Qin period in China. It is generally believed that it mainly describes ancient mythology, geography, products, mythology, witchcraft, religion, ancient history, medicine, folk customs, ethnicity, etc. Some scholars believe that "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" is not only mythology, but also ancient geography, including some overseas mountains, rivers, birds and beasts.
The "Classic of Mountains and Seas" has eighteen volumes, including five volumes of "The Classic of Mountains", eight volumes of "The Classic of Seas", four volumes of "The Classic of Great Wilderness", and one volume of "Seine Classic", which records more than 100 countries. There are 550 mountains and 300 waterways in the country, as well as information on the geography, customs and products of the country’s landscapes. Among them, most of what is contained in the "Shan Jing" is the survey records of wizards, alchemists and ancestral officials of the past dynasties. After long-term writing and compilation, they will be somewhat exaggerated, but they still have high reference value.
"The Book of Mountains and Seas" introduces the mountain treasures in the hinterland of China from the east, south, west and north, especially some exotic birds and monsters, strange flowers and rocks, which have never been seen or heard of before. Among them, "Overseas Classic" introduces the customs and habits of legendary overseas countries, such as the Two-Headed Country, the Three-headed Country, the Woman's Country, the Husband's Country, the Adult Country, the Lilliputian Country, etc. It is pleasing to the eye and can make people gain a lot of knowledge.
Contents of "The Classic of Mountains and Seas"
"The Classic of Mountains and Seas" is an ancient book from the Pre-Qin Dynasty. It is the oldest geography book rich in myths and legends. It mainly describes ancient geography, products, myths, witchcraft, religion, etc., and also includes ancient history, medicine, folk customs, ethnicity, etc. In addition, "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" also records some strange events in the form of running accounts, about which there is still considerable controversy. There are 18 chapters in the book, about 31,000 words. There are 5 chapters in the Wuzang Mountain Sutra, 4 chapters in the Overseas Sutra, 4 chapters in the Haineijing, 4 chapters in the Dahuang Sutra, and 1 chapter in the Haineijing. "Hanshu·Yiwenzhi" contains 13 chapters, not including the Dahuang Jing and Hai Nei Jing. The content of the whole book is divided into five chapters of the Wuzangshan Sutra and four chapters of the Overseas Sutra as one group; four chapters of the Haineijing are as one group; and five chapters of the Great Wilderness Sutra and one chapter of the Shumu Haineijing are another group. The organizational structure of each group has its own beginning and end, runs through it, and has an order and purpose. A group of Wuzang Mountain Sutras, divided into chapters according to the azimuthal order of south, west, north, east and center. Each chapter is divided into several sections. The previous section and the following section are connected with related sentences to make the chapters The relationship between them is very clear.
This book records these things one by one according to region and not according to time. Most of the things recorded start from the south, then go west, then north, and finally reach the central part of the mainland (Kyushu). Kyushu is surrounded by the East China Sea, the West China Sea, the South China Sea, and the North Sea. Ancient China has always regarded "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" as history, and it is an essential reference book for historians of all generations in China. Due to the long history of the book, even Sima Qian thought when he wrote "Historical Records": "By the time of "Yu Benji", "Mountains and Seas" All the monsters in "The Classic of Mountains and Seas", I dare not say anything about it."
The author of "The Classic of Mountains and Seas"
The author and the time of writing of "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" have not yet been determined. In the past, it was believed that it was written by Yu and Boyi, and probably came from the records of the Zhou and Qin people, which is not credible. Modern Chinese scholars generally believe that "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" was not written at one time, nor was it written by one person. It was written by people from Chu, Bashu, and Qi in the east from the early Warring States to the early Han Dynasty. It was not compiled until the Western Han Dynasty. Together. Many of these may come from oral tradition. The earliest version of "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" was compiled by Liu Xiang and Liu Xin and their sons in the Western Han Dynasty. Guo Pu of the Jin Dynasty once annotated the Classic of Mountains and Seas, and the textual annotators include Bi Yuan of the Qing Dynasty's New Correction of the Classic of Mountains and Seas and Hao Yixing's Notes on the Classic of Mountains and Seas.
Liu Xin (the earliest editor): (approximately 53 BC-23 BC) was an ancient classicist, bibliographer, and astronomer in the late Western Han Dynasty. His given name was Zijun, and later his name was changed to Xiu and his given name was Uncle Ying. A native of Pei (now Peixian County, Jiangsu Province). The fifth generation grandson of Liu Jiao, King of Chu Yuan of the Han royal family, he was the son of Liu Xiang. When he became emperor, he was Huang Menlang. In Hepingzhong, he was ordered to write together with his father in the main school and tell the biography of the six schools. After Liu Xiang's death, Liu Xin was reinstated as the captain of the Zhongbao School. When Emperor Ai came to the throne, Wang Mang recommended him to be a senior official in Taishi Zhong, a senior official in the imperial palace, and a senior official in the Imperial Guard. Inheriting his father's work, he wrote "Seven Strategies", which was the first book classification catalog in my country. He once proposed the establishment of academic officials for ancient classics such as "Zuo Zhuan", "Mao Shi", and "Guwen Shangshu", but was opposed by Dr. Jinwen. Because he offended the ruling ministers, he served as the governor of Hanoi, Wuyuan, Zhuojun and other places. Wang Mang's new policy brought many officials to Zhaoyin in Beijing, and he was granted the title of Hongxiuhou and National Preceptor. At the end of Emperor Di's reign (23), he plotted to kill Wang Mang, but committed suicide after revealing the incident. The Ming Dynasty compiled "Liu Zijun Collection". Liu Xin listed it in "The Classic of Mountains and Seas", around the Jianping period of Emperor Ai of the Han Dynasty (6 BC to 5 BC).