Marks of Connoisseurship by Collectors
In addition to the academic value of a rare book and its significance in terms of the date and proofreading of the edition, one of the most important pieces of evidence in the connoisseurship and collecting of rare books is the appearance of "seals and records," which help trace the history of the book's transmission over the years. The "T'ien-lu lin-lang" library, representing the imperial collection of rare books, is also uniquely precious as a reflection of the Ch'ing dynasty rulers. The seals and records on rare books reassembled in the "T'ien-lu lin-lang" collection under the Chia-ch'ing Emperor reveal the following six large, regulated imperial seals: "Treasure of the Hall of Five Blessings and Five Generations" (or "Treasure of the Septugenarian Son of Heaven from the Hall of Five Blessings and Five Generations"), "Treasure of the Octogenarian [Emperor]," "Treasure of the Emperor Emeritus," "Treasure Imperially Viewed by Ch'ien-lung," "Continued Appreciation of T'ien-lu," and "T'ien-lu lin-lang." As long as a book from the vast holdings of the Ch'ing court had one or more of these seal impressions, it could be safely regarded as having belonged to the T'ien-lu lin-lang Library. Thus, the appearance of these imperial seals serves as one of the most important criteria in judging books. At the same time, the study of other collectors' seals and marks in a book provides important evidence outlining the history of its transmission, including its course in becoming a part of the imperial collection.
Literary Anthology
Edited by Hsiao T'ung, Liang dynasty
Annotated by Li Shan and five other officials, T'ang dynasty 1158 imprint by Ming-chou, Sung dynasty
Literary Anthology of Six Courtiers or named Literary Anthology of Six Masters was combined both editions in one - Literary Anthology (文選) during Sung dynasty, one is annotated by Li Shan (李善) and another one is annotated by five other officials, T’ang dynasty. The book collectors’ seals on the book have 41 pieces, the main collectors’ seals are from the book collector family – Mao Chin(1599-1659). It can be generalized and understood that this book was collected via Mr. Wen Cheng-ming (文徵明), Wen Chia (文嘉), Mao Chin (毛晉), Mao Piao (毛表), Wang Ch’ung (王寵), Yang Lu (楊錄), Hsia Shih-cheng (夏時正) during Ming dynasty; then handed over Wu Li (吳歷), Chi Chen-i (季振宜) in Ch’in dynasty, subsumed it into inner court of Ch’in dynasty finally. It’s not difficult to understand that Sung edition is very popular and collectors like to keep it from the collection tracking and those collectors’ seals are the best evidence.
The Dragon Niche Handbook of Buddhist Terms
Written by the monk Hsing-chün, Liao dynasty
Imprint from Chia-hsing Prefecture, Sung dynasty (960-1279)
This is a book of Common Chinese Words, the first book to check by pronunciations and separated into 4 volumes as per four classical tone categories - 平 (flat), 上 (rising), 去 (falling), and 入 (checked). The collectors’ seals of this book is not only the collection book of “T’ien-lu lin-lang” but also has a square seal carved in “內殿書印” (Nei-tien Shu-yin) is collection book seal of inner court of South Sung dynasty and all of books in the inner court of South Sung dynasty have to be printed.
Commentaries on the Classic of Rites
Written by Chen Hao, Yüan dynasty
1477 imprint by the Directorate of Ceremonial, Ming dynasty
This is one of the Four Books and Five Classics (五經四書) which was printed by the Directorate of Ceremonial as per order from emperor, so there is a secret seal of official edition of Ming dynasty on book “表章經史之寶” (Pao-chang Ching-shih Chih Pao). This writing was collected by K’ui Hsu (？-1717) during reign of K’ang-hsi & Yung-cheng Emperors and then it was collected as collection books of T’ien-lu lin-lang. Hsu is son of Bachelor – Ming Chu (明珠) in K’ang-hsi reign. His collection books had printed seal “謙牧堂藏書記” (Ch’ien-mu-tang Tsang-shu-chi) and “兼牧堂書畫印” (Chien-mu-tang Shu-hua-yin). K’ui Hsu was the private book collector with most books in the Continuation of the T’ien-lu Lin-lang Catalogue.
Collected Works of Han Yü
Written by Han Yü, T'ang dynasty and compiled by Li Han
Annotated by Liao Ying-chung, Sung dynasty
Wan-li (1573-1620) reign reprinted by Mr. Hsü's Tung-ya Hall of Tung-Wu, Ming dynasty
Mr. Hsü Shih-t’ai, Ming dynasty, Tung-ya Hall reprinted Collected Works of Han Yü of Shih-ts’ai Hall edition, printed by Liao Ying-chung, South Sung dynasty. The edition of Tung-ya Hall was engraved exquisite and also corrected the wrong words on the edition of Shih-ts’ai Hall by Mr. Liao. Each volume of original edition on the end should have printed record but this edition had removed out with fake seal of collection book. That was usual way to falsify by bookmen at the time.
