References

• 《四庫全書總目提要·卷136 子部·類書類二》

Source: 'Yulin' (喻林) is a comprehensive anthology of ancient Chinese parables and metaphors, comprising 120 volumes. It was compiled by Xu Yuantai (徐元太) during the Ming Dynasty. Xu Yuantai, whose courtesy name was Ruxian (汝賢), was from Xuancheng. He passed the jinshi (進士) examination in the 1545 (乙丑) during the Jiajing era and held the position of Minister of Justice (刑部尚書). 'Xu Yuantai' dedicated over twenty years to the compilation of 'Yulin', which is organized into ten major categories, each subdivided into subcategories. The book encompasses a total of over 580 subcategories, reflecting the compiler's diligent and meticulous effort. The method of citing sources in 'Yulin' follows the example set by Cheng Dachang in his 'Yanfanlu' (演繁露). Each entry in 'Yulin' is annotated with the source and the specific chapter and volume, which sets it apart from the often plagiarized and disjointed works of the Ming period. In his preface, 'Xu Yuantai' claims to have consulted over 400 different texts, though a review of the listed sources indicates that the actual number is less than half of this. This discrepancy suggests that he may have provided an approximate figure without thorough verification. Despite his extensive references, 'Xu Yuantai' occasionally failed to trace the original sources of some entries. For instance, the parable of the eloquent Liao, which originally comes from the 'Hanfeizi' (韓非子), and the story of a Zhou official who did not find success, which originates from Wang Chong's 'Lunheng' (論衡), are both cited from the 'Yiwen Leiju' (藝文類聚). Similarly, the story of a man carrying gold and jade who never returns home, which is from the 'Book of the Later Han' (後漢書) 'Geng Yan's Biography' (耿弇傳), is cited from 'Wenxuan' (文選) with Li Shan's commentary. The saying about the certainty of turning gray and the uncertainty of achieving fame, which is from Liu Zhiji's 'Shitong' (史通), is cited from 'Shiwen Leiju' (事文類聚). The story about birds and beasts seeking warmth in cold weather, which is from Shen Yue's commentary on 'Ruan Ji's Poems' (阮籍詠懷詩), is mistakenly attributed to Li Shan. There are also instances where 'Xu Yuantai' misidentifies the periods of historical figures. For example, he lists Du Yu, He Xiu, and Fan Ning as Han dynasty figures, Chen Shou as a Wei dynasty figure, and Li Shan as a Sui dynasty figure, all of which are incorrect. Additionally, he includes texts like 'Shen Pei's Poetic Commentary' (申培詩說), 'The External History of the Tianlu Pavilion' (天祿閣外史), and 'Wuhou's Heart Book' (武侯心書), which are known to be forgeries from the Ming dynasty. He also treats 'Guangchengzi' (廣成子), which is actually a collection of extracts from 'Zhuangzi' (莊子) by Su Shi, as a separate work. The identity of 'Wu Nengzi' (無能子) is also unclear, further highlighting the book's occasional lack of rigor. Despite these shortcomings, 'Yulin' is a pioneering work in its comprehensive collection of parables and metaphors. Since the Six Classics, parables have been widely used to convey meaning, but 'Yulin' is the first work to compile them into a single anthology. Its extensive and rich content, including fragments and partial texts, provides valuable resources for writers and scholars. Thus, 'Yulin' is a significant and indispensable reference in the field of Chinese literature. ==References== * 《四庫全書總目提要·卷136 子部·類書類二》