References

• 《四庫全書總目提要·卷142 子部·小說家類三》

Source: "Soushen Houji" (《搜神後記》), a ten-volume collection, is traditionally attributed to 干宝 (Gan Bao) of the Eastern Jin dynasty. However, this attribution is widely considered to be a forgery. The text includes a well-known entry about the "Peach Blossom Spring" (桃花源), which is a verbatim copy of the poem and preface found in the author's own collection, with the addition of a note stating that the fisherman's name is Huang Daozhen. Another entry about the servant of Gan Bao's father is also a direct copy from the 茶经 (Classic of Tea) by 陆羽 (Lu Yu). The authenticity of "Soushen Houji" has been questioned due to several inconsistencies. For instance, the text mentions events from the years 437 and 439 (the 14th and 16th years of the Yuanjia era), which are well after the traditionally accepted death year of Tao Qian (陶潜) in 427. Additionally, Tao Qian's works often use the Chinese zodiac system to date events rather than imperial era names, which are used in "Soushen Houji." These discrepancies strongly suggest that the text is a later forgery. Despite these issues, the language and style of "Soushen Houji" are considered to be of a high literary quality, suggesting that it was written by someone with a deep understanding of classical Chinese literature. The 茶经 by 陆羽 and the "Fengyan Jianwen Ji" (封演见闻记) both cite entries from "Soushen Houji," indicating that the text was well-known and respected in later periods. For example, the entry about a man who, due to illness, could drink a large quantity of water and later vomited a parasitic growth, is cited in the "Fengyan Jianwen Ji" and matches the version in "Soushen Houji." Some of the stories in "Soushen Houji" have become iconic in Chinese literature and have been referenced by poets and writers for centuries. Notable examples include the story of Ding Lingwei transforming into a crane and the tale of Axiang and the thunder chariot. These stories have been widely cited in Tang and Song dynasty poetry and continue to be used in modern literature. While the attribution to Tao Qian is likely false, "Soushen Houji" remains a valuable source of information about the beliefs and folklore of the Six Dynasties period. It provides insights into the supernatural and mythological elements that were prevalent in Chinese culture during that time. ==References== * 《四庫全書總目提要·卷142 子部·小說家類三》