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Shantang sikao 山堂肆考 "Extended investigations of the Mountain Hall" is an encyclopaedia compiled during the Ming period 明 (1368-1644) by Peng Dayi 彭大翼, courtesy name Yunju 雲舉 or Yihe 一鶴, from Lüsi 呂四 (today part of Qidong 啟東, Jiangsu).
The book of 228 juanlength (with a supplement of 12 juan) was finished in 1595. It was soon lost but could be reconstructed by Zhang Youxue 張幼學, who published it in 1619.
The book is divided into five parts or collections (ji 集) called according to the five notes of traditional Chinese music (gong 宮, shang 商, jue 角 [a special reading], zhi 徵 [a special reading], and yu 羽). It includes 45 chapters covering various topics following the traditional encyclopaedic sections. For each sub-chapter, the compiler has written a short introduction including a list of reference books. The Shantang sikao is based on a large amount of sources, ranging from the Confucian Classics and the histories to anthologies and belles-lettres. The arrangement is very clear, and for each paragraph quoted, the sources are indicated – except some rare examples of negligence. Information on the state offices, family relationship, or eating and drinking, for example, are distributed over different chapters.
| 河圖、括地象、易有大極，是生兩儀。兩儀未分，其氣混沌，清濁既分。伏者為天，偃者為地。 | The River Chart and the representations of Earth and the Classic Yijing "Book of Changes" reveal the Great Ultimate, which gives rise to the two forms (Yin and Yang). Before the two forms are distinguished, their respective substances (qi 氣) are in a state of chaos, with clarity and turbidity already divided. The forces that lie hidden are called Heaven, and the forces that rest are called Earth. |
| 《爾雅》：「春為蒼天，夏為昊天，秋為旻天，冬為上天。於春言色，於夏言氣，於秋言情，於冬言位，相備也。」 | The [glossary] Erya says: "Spring represents the Azure Heaven, Summer represents the Vast Heaven, Autumn represents the Profound Heaven, and Winter represents the Upper Heaven. In Spring, we speak of color; in Summer, we speak of energy (qi 氣); in Autumn, we speak of emotions; in Winter, we speak of position. These correspond and complement one another." |
| 《楚辭注》云：「東方皥天，東南方陽天，南方赤天，西南方朱天，西方成天，西北方幽天，北方玄天，東北方變天，中央鈞天，是為九天，亦名九野。史又有六天欲界、十二天界、十四天界之説垂象。」 | The commentary on the "Poetry of the South" say: The East is the Bright Heaven, the Southeast is the Sun Heaven, the South is the Red Heaven, the Southwest is the Vermilion Heaven, the West is the Completion Heaven, the Northwest is the Obscure Heaven, the North is the Mysterious Heaven, and the Northeast is the Changing Heaven. The centre is the Round Heaven. These are the Nine Heavens, also known as the Nine Fields. Historians also have the concept of Six Heavens, and theories of the Twelve Heavens and the Fourteen Heavens, which express the changes and symbols." |
| 《易·繫辭》：「天垂象見吉凶。聖人則之。」 | The Xici Commentary of the Yijing says, "Heaven manifests symbols to reveal good or bad fortune; the sage follows them." |
| 【依形】邵康節曰：「天何依？依於形。地何附？附於天。」 | It relies on form. Shao Kangjie (Shao Yong) says, "What does Heaven rely on? It relies on form. What does Earth attach to? It attaches to Heaven." |
| 【益謙】《易·謙卦》：「天道虧盈而益謙。地道變盈而流謙。人道惡盈而好謙。」 | It augments the humble. The hexagram Qian of the Yijing says, "It is the way of heaven to diminish the full and augment the humble. It is the way of earth to overthrow the full and replenish the humble. It is the way of men to hate the full and love the humble." |
| 【助順】《易·繋辭》：「天之所助者，順也。人之所助者，信也。」 | It assists those with compliance. The Xici Commentary of the Yijing says, "What Heaven assists [are objects or people with] compliance; what people assist are [other people with] trustworthiness." |
| 【羣物之祖】董仲舒曰：「天者，羣物之祖。故徧覆包含而無所殊。建日月風雨以和之，經陰陽寒暑以成之。」 | It is ancestor of all things. Dong Zhongshu says, "Heaven is the ancestor of all things; therefore, it covers and contains everything without distinction. It establishes the sun, moon, wind, and rain to harmonize them, and the principles of Yin and Yang, cold and heat, to complete them." |
The Shantang sikao was first printed in 1595 by Zhou Xian's 周顯 Jinling Studio 金陵書林 and then in 1619 by Mei Ye's 梅墅 Shiqu Studio 石渠閣. During the Qing period 清 (1644-1911), it was printed by the Wenjin Studio 文錦堂. It is included in the series Siku quanshu 四庫全書.
| 宮集 Section Gong "Do" | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | 天文 | Astronomy |
| 7-14 | 時令 | The seasons |
| 13-32 | 地理 | Geography |
| 33-37 | 君道 | The way of the ruler |
| 38-41 | 帝屬 | Imperial affairs |
| 42-48 | 臣職 | State offices A |
| 商集 Section Shang "Re" | ||
| 49-80 | 臣職 | State offices B |
| 81-82 | 仕進 | Official career |
| 83-85 | 科第 | State examinations |
| 86 | 學校 | Schools |
| 87-90 | 政事 | Governance |
| 91-96 | 親屬 | Relatives A |
| 角集 Section Jue "Mi" | ||
| 97-100 | 親屬 | Relatives B |
| 101-112 | 人品 | Humankind |
| 113-114 | 形貌 | Shape, complexion, comportment |
| 115-120 | 性行 | Human nature |
| 121-132 | 文學 | Literature |
| 133 | 字學 | Scholarship |
| 134-135 | 謚法 | Posthumous titles |
| 136-141 | 人事 | Human affairs |
| 142-143 | 誕育 | Education |
| 144 | 民業 | Professions |
| 徵集 Section Zhi "Fa | ||
| 145-147 | 釋教 | Buddhism |
| 148 | 道教 | Daoism |
| 149 | 神祇 | Gods and spirits |
| 150 | 僊教 | Immortals |
| 151 | 鬼怪 | Spectres and ghosts |
| 152-158 | 典禮 | Rituals |
| 159-163 | 音樂 | Music |
| 164-169 | 技藝 | Skills and arts |
| 170-174 | 宮室 | Palaces and buildings |
| 175-183 | 器用 | Tools and utensils |
| 184-186 | 珍寶 | Jewellery |
| 187 | 幣帛 | Money |
| 188-190 | 衣服 | Clothing |
| 191-192 | 飲食 | Drinking and eating A |
| 羽集 Section Yu "Sol" | ||
| 193-194 | 飲食 | Drinking and eating B |
| 195 | 百穀 | The hundred grains |
| 196 | 蔬菜 | Vegetables |
| 197-201 | 花品 | Flowers |
| 202-203 | 草卉 | Grasses |
| 204-208 | 果品 | Fruits |
| 209-210 | 樹木 | Trees |
| 211-216 | 羽蟲 | Feathered animals |
| 217-222 | 毛蟲 | Hairy animals |
| 223-224 | 鱗蟲 | Scaly animals |
| 225 | 甲蟲 | Insects |
| 226-228 | 昆蟲 | Worms |
| 229-240 | 補遺 | Supplement |