Jinyan 今言

Jinyan 今言, full title Jinyan leibian 今言類編 "Actual words, arranged thematically", is a collection of historiographical texts compiled by the Ming-period 明 (1368-1644) scholar Zheng Xiao 鄭曉 (1499-1566), who is also the author of the books Wuxuebian 吾學編 and Wuxuebian yu 吾學編餘.

The 4-juan long Jinyan can be seen as a supplement to these books. It includes 344 short chapters with themes covering the whole Ming period from the beginnings to the Jiajing reign-period 嘉靖 (1522-1566). As the short statements are of unofficial character, they can provide additional information no included in the great dynastic histories. Most texts deal with event history and the military campaigns against the Oirats, the southwestern tribes, and the pirates in the East China Sea, but there is also information on water conservancy, tribute grain transport, salt administration, or ceremonies of the imperial family. A small number of texts deals with religion.

The book was first printed in 1566 and is included in Zheng's collected writings Zheng Duanjiangong quanji 鄭端簡公全集. It is included in the series Jilu huibian 紀錄匯編, Congshu jicheng chubian 叢書集成初編 and Yuan-Ming shiliao biji congkan 元明史料筆記叢刊.