On The Authenticity of A Collection of Yongle Qin Literature on Music(Yǒnglè Qínshū Jíchéng)

Abstract

The disputes remain in the academia on the authenticity of A Collection of Yongle Qin Literature on Music(Yǒnglè Qínshū Jíchéng) consisting of 20 volumes. Zhang Yunliang views it be compiled under the order of Ming Emperor Chengzu( 成祖)(r. 1403-1424) but copied on the red checkered silk paper by the imperial scribes of the Ming court, whereas Zha Fuxi takes the different idea that it not be the manuscript but a copied-book by the late Ming antique book dealers off The Complete Volumes of Qin Literature on Music(Qínshū Dàquán) edited in the reign of Emperor Wanli( 萬歷) of the Ming period. Based on the content and edition, this article stands by the conclusion that A Collection of Yongle Qin Literature on Music(Yǒnglè Qínshū Jíchéng) is the product by the imperial scribes of the Ming dynasty which covers the whole Song-Yuan theories on music included in The Yongle Canon(Yǒnglè Dàdiǎn). Emperor Qianlong( 乾隆)(r. 1736-1795) used to read it right after it had been bought and collected in the imperial library of the Qing court in 1759.

關于《永樂琴書集成》二十卷精抄孤本的真偽問題,學界有針鋒相對的觀點。張允亮認為該書系明成祖敕撰,明內府朱絲欄寫本;查阜西認為該書系明季書商抄襲萬歷年間刊行的《琴書大全》,冒充內府寫本的偽作。本文試從內容和版本兩個角度來考察這部寫本,證明《永樂琴書集成》確系明內府寫本,自乾隆廿四年(1759)三月由侍衛那爾泰買到庋于昭仁殿,就屢經御覽,保存了《永樂大典》中宋元琴論的全部內容,堪稱中古時代琴學的淵藪。