Definition
Leishu (類書) is a traditional Chinese literary genre consisting of encyclopedic reference works that compile excerpts from earlier texts and arrange them into systematic categories. These works function as anthologies of quotations, summaries, and excerpts rather than original compositions.
Overview
Leishu emerged as a means of preserving and transmitting the vast corpus of Chinese literature, especially as many original texts were lost or became inaccessible. By extracting passages from classical, historical, philosophical, and technical sources, leishu provided scholars, officials, and later readers with a convenient reference for research, education, and examination preparation. The genre flourished from the Han dynasty (2nd century BC) through the Ming dynasty (17th century AD), producing some of the largest printed books in Chinese history. Notable examples include the Yiwen Leiju (義文類聚, 7th century), the Taiping Yulan (太平御覽, 10th century), the Cefu Yuangui (冊府元龜, 11th century), and the Tongzhi (通志, 12th century).
Etymology/Origin
The term leishu is composed of two Chinese characters: 類 (lèi) meaning “category” or “class,” and 書 (shū) meaning “book.” Thus, leishu literally denotes a “category book.” The genre originated in early imperial China as scholars sought to systematize knowledge for administrative and scholarly purposes. Early precursors such as the Shiji (史記) bibliography and the Qin and Han dynastic catalogues laid the groundwork for the systematic compilation characteristic of leishu.
Characteristics
- Compilation Method: Leishu are assembled from pre‑existing sources; they rarely contain original prose. Each entry includes a quotation or summary together with a citation to the source work.
- Thematic Organization: Content is divided into broad thematic sections (e.g., astronomy, geography, rites, medicine, literature) and further subdivided into more specific categories.
- Size and Scope: Many leishu are extensive, ranging from several hundred to tens of thousands of juan (scrolls/volumes). The Yongle Dadian (永樂大典), though often classified separately as an imperial encyclopedia, reflects the same compilation principles.
- Purpose: Served as reference tools for officials, scholars, and later for the general literate public; facilitated the study of classics, the preparation for civil service examinations, and the preservation of otherwise lost works.
- Transmission: Initially handwritten; from the Song dynasty onward, woodblock printing enabled wider distribution. The genre declined after the Ming period as new forms of encyclopedic literature, such as the Siku Quanshu (四庫全書), adopted different editorial models.
Related Topics
- Chinese encyclopedias – broader category that includes leishu as well as later works like the Siku Quanshu.
- Bibliographic history of China – study of Chinese cataloguing and compilation practices.
- Imperial examination system – the educational context in which leishu were frequently consulted.
- Classical Chinese literature – source material frequently excerpted in leishu.
- Woodblock printing – technology that facilitated the mass production of leishu during the Song and Ming dynasties.