Sheshi suibi 涉史隨筆

Sheshi suibi 涉史隨筆 "Occasional notes related to history" is a story collection written during the Southern Song period 南宋 (1127-1279) by Ge Hong 葛洪 (d. 1237), courtesy name Rongfu 容父, style Panshi Laoren 蟠室老人, from Dongyang 東陽 in the prefecture of Wuzhou 婺州 (in today's Zhejiang province). He was a student of Lü Zuqian 呂祖謙 (1137-1181) and was a vice director in the Imperial Secretariat (shangshu yuanwailang 尚書員外郎), and then in the Ministry of Works (gongbu yuanwailang 工部員外郎), concurrently having a provisional function in the editorial office in the Bureau of Military Affairs (quan shumiyuan jianxiang zhufang wenzi 權樞密院檢詳諸房文字). In 1228, he was appointed Participant in Determining Governmental Matters (can zhizheng shi 參知政事). He was invested as Commandery Duke of Dongyang 東陽郡公.

The book of 1 juan in length was written after Ge's retirement. It focuses entirely on matters concerning high officials in the past. The preface shows how some prominent ministers rose from humble origins to positions of power, along with Ge's own reflections on the subject. The book's judgments on state officials are fair and reasonable, grounded in both facts and logic. Particularly noteworthy is Ge Hong's insight into history, for instance, in his discussion of powerful ministers in the Southern Song dynasty such as Qin Hui 秦檜 (1091-1155), Han Tuozhou 韓侂胄 (1152-1207), Shi Miyuan 史彌遠 (1164-1233), and Jia Sidao 賈似道 (1213-1275), he argues that their excessive concern with consolidating power led them to eliminate capable and virtuous individuals, ultimately causing the decline of the state. On this point, Ge Hong remarks that people are often wary of the dangers posed by eunuchs, yet fail to recognize the equally serious threat of treacherous ministers—a significant and troubling oversight, in his view.

The book is included in the series Deyueyi congshu 得月移叢書, Zhibuzuzhai congshu 知不足齋叢書 and Jinhua congshu 金華叢書.