Shangshu gushi 尚書故實

Shangshu gushi 尚書故實 "Factual evidence from ancient books" is a collection written during the Tang period 唐 (618-907) by Li Chuo 李綽 (d. 862), about whose life not much is known. Lao Ge 勞格 (1820-1864) says in his Langguan shizhu timing kao 郎官石柱題名考 that Li Chuo was a descendant of a family of officials and a son of Li Kuanzhong 李寬中, a descendant of Li Shu 李紓 (778-834), who had been a member of the imperial house and was Vice Minister of Personnel (libu shilang 吏部侍郎). Li Chuo hailed from the commandery of Zhao 趙. His courtesy name was Jianmeng 肩孟. It is known that he had a quarrel with Qian Yu 錢珝, Chamberlain for Ceremonials (taichang 太常) about court robes. Li Chuo is believed to be the author of a stone inscription called Shengxianmiao xinggong ji 升仙廟興功記. According to this inscription, Li bore the title of a director in the Ministry of Rites (libu langzhong 禮部郎中).

The thematic range of the short Shangshu gushi is very wide. It mainly includes stories of contemporary significance, but also investigates some older affairs. It is an interesting source for the social history of the latter half of the Tang period.

It is included in the series Baichuan xuehai 百川學海, Baoyantang miji 寶顏堂秘笈, Tangdai congshu 唐代叢書, Jifu congshu 畿輔叢書, Congshu jicheng 叢書集成 and Siku quanshu 四庫全書.