Shiwu jiyuan 事物紀原

Shiwu jiyuan 事物紀原 "Compound source of matters and facts", also called Shiwu jiyuan jilei 事物紀原集類, is an encyclopaedia compiled during the Southern Song period 南宋 (1127-1279) by Gao Cheng 高承 (fl. 1197). A Ming-period 明 (1368-1644) edition says that the author is not known. The book was finished and printed in 1197. It comprises 10 juan with 55 topics.

The encyclopaedia deals with 1,765 topics, ranging from the universe to social entertainment. Gao quoted from ancient books all he could find about the various themes, with the intention to provide his readers with a broad range of general information. The headlines of the topics all have four characters that can be used as a mnemonic verse. Gao's indication of his sources is very excellent, and he provides also some analytical thoughts on it. Later editions have been enlarged by supplementary chapters.

There is a print from 1197 produced by Master Yu 余氏 from Jian'an 建安 and one from 1447 by Yan Jing 閻敬 from Nanchang 南昌 which uses the longer title for the book. Master Chen 陳氏 from Haining 海寧 published a print in 1722. The Shiwu jiyuan is included in the series Siku quanshu 四庫全書 and Xiyinxuan congshu 惜陰軒叢書. The latter edition has been reproduced in 1937 by the Shanghai Shangwu Press 上海商務印書館 in the series Congshu jicheng chubian 叢書集成初編.

There are also some revised versions of the Shiwu jiyuan, like the Shiwu jiyuan shanding 事物紀原刪定 by the Ming-period scholar Zhao Bi 趙弼 (fl. 1445) and the Shiwu jiyuan bu 事物紀原補 by the Qing-period scholar Nalan Yongshou 納蘭永壽 (1702-1731), republished in 1989 by the Zhonghua shuju press 中華書局.