Guang baijiang zhuantong 廣百將傳統

Guang baijiang zhuan 廣百將傳 "Enlarged comprehensive biographies of one hundred generals", also known as Guang mingjiangzhuan 廣名將傳 or Guang mingjiangpu 廣名將譜, is a collection of biographies of eminent generals in Chinese history. It was compiled during the late Ming period 明 (1368-1644) by Chen Yuansu 陳元素 (fl. 1606), courtesy name Gubo 古白, Xiaoping 孝平 or Jingang 金剛, style Suweng 素翁, Chukuo Xiansheng 處廓先生 or Zhenweng Xiansheng 貞文先生. He was a poet and calligrapher. Chen's version was commented on by Huang Daozhou 黃道周 (1585-1646), courtesy name Youxuan 幼玄, style Shizhai 石齋, and enlarged by Zhou Liangfu 周亮輔, style You'an 猷菴. It is written as a supplement to the Song-period 宋 (960-1279) book Baijiangzhuan 百將傳. The complete title of the commented and supplemented version, printed in 1643, is Xinjuan xiuxiang pangpi xiangzhu zongduan guang baijiangzhuan 新鐫繡像旁批詳注總斷廣百將傳.

In 20 juan, the Guang baijiang zhuantong presents the history of 185 commanders from the Zhou 周 (11th cent.-221 BCE) to the Ming periods, with a focus on persons of the Ming and some Southern-Song-period 南宋 (1127-1279) generals fighting against the Jurchens. The book is enriched by 20 illustrations. For each person, a critique explains the strong points of his ability to wage war successfully.