Chapter 1053 – The Yongle Dictionary

“Gentlemen, ladies, the second lot carried out in today’s charity auction is an ancient book from the mysterious oriental country of China …… six hundred years ago, which is also one of the earliest encyclopedias of society, and only a few hundred volumes have survived in the world. These six volumes of precious ancient books are all by are treasured by Mr. Bonadette, and now they are also taken out for charity, let’s dedicate our applause to Mr. Bonadette.”

William gave a brief evaluation of the several newly appeared antiques on the stage, and his words also attracted the attention of some rich people who liked to collect antiques, and they all looked towards several crystal glass cabinets pushed in the middle of the venue.

The same crystal glass display cabinets, but the objects placed inside were changed from diamond jewelry to several books, and in the six display cabinets at the very front, a volume of ancient books with yellowed pages was placed in each cabinet, adding up to a total of six books.

The size of these ancient books are the same, up to almost half a meter, that is, the width is also thirty centimeters, the open book is magnificent, is so that each exhibition cabinet, can only be placed so a book.

“This …… this …… could it be the Yongle Canon?”

In these several display cabinets were launched, Zhuang Rui’s eyes can no longer see other things, his whole attention, are placed in those display cabinets of books, do not care about behavior rude, Zhuang Rui pushed away in front of some people, a few steps snatched to the side of the display cabinets.

“Yongle Grand Canon, Volume 5,868 of 36 ……”

On the front of the yellowish book jacket, sixteen fonts with clear, smooth and upright strokes were presented in front of Zhuang Rui, which were copied by the book hands with one stroke of the regular script Pavilion style used by the officials in the Ming Dynasty, which made Zhuang Rui’s body trembled slightly, that’s right, it was the “Yongle Dictionary”, it was the ancient encyclopedia of China that condensed the countless wisdom of the forefathers.

Although the books are not open, but Zhuang Rui can also be seen from the yellowish book jacket, a layer of yellow silk even the traces of the brain wrapped, so that it appears particularly solemn, the upper left side of the front of the book jacket glued to a rectangular bookmarks, framed with the title of the “Yongle Dazhen” four words, the word below the word there are two lines of small letters, indicating that this volume of the book of the number of volumes.

The so-called book jacket, is a modern book cover, because like people wear clothes wrapped around the outside of the book, there is a “book jacket” this image of the name, the ancient book jacket with multiple layers of rice paper hard mount, is the Yuan Dynasty and the pre-Ming Dynasty book binding commonly used way.

Looking at this even modern prints are rarely seen large volumes, Zhuang Rui can imagine, more than 10,000 books of the magnificent “Yongle Dazhong” on the shelf, as a small library, can be said to be a brilliant masterpiece.

Zhu Di usurped the throne, was Fang Xiaoru and other scholars regarded as “treason”, and thought of inheriting the great-grandfather to compile a large class book of unchristian cause.

In this way, on the one hand, through the scholar centralized, can eliminate the resistance between the dynasty and the field, to achieve the purpose of the scholar; on the other hand, can also show off the rule of literature, to establish their own orthodox position, so in the reign of the year (1403 years) in July, ordered the compilation of the “Canon of Yongle”.

Yongle Dadaian” first name “document Dacheng”, is China’s encyclopedic collection of documents, the entire catalog of 60 volumes, the text of 22,877 volumes, mounted into 11,095 books, about 370 million words, this ancient cultural treasure trove of ancient and modern books 7,000 to 8,000 kinds.

Speaking of the “Yongle Dictionary”, can not help but mention the compilation of the two great ministers: xie jin and yao guangxiao, this ancient monumental work, it is under the auspices of the two, in all parts of the enlisted a large number of book repair people for the description of the column, clear copy, drawing and circle work, after six years of compilation and become.

Xie Jin is a famous talent in the early Ming Dynasty, Ming Emperor Zhu Di appreciated his talent, and appointed him to preside over the compilation of “Taizu Shilu” and “biographies of women”, but the most famous for him to go down in history, or he presided over the compilation of the “Yongle Grand Dictionary” of the experience.

As for Yao Guangxiao, is more legendary, Yao Guangxiao 14 years old became a monk, the name of Tao Yan, the jianghu person sick tiger, the legend is that Zhu Di rose up to clear the side of the king, is Yao Guangxiao’s handwriting, in one fell swoop to support Zhu Di ascended to the throne of the emperor, and even by the folk called the emperor’s teacher, Zhu Di is the most trusting and reliance on the person.

With Yao Guangxiao’s participation, all the editorial “Yongle Dazhi” personnel living conditions are very generous, they live in the Royal Collection not far from the Wanyuange Chonglifang, etc., by the Guanglu Temple morning and evening supply of wine and food, tea and fruit, but also sent to the anointing fee, officials involved in the editing of the can be exempted from the dynasty, the treatment is very generous, at that time some people to “the world’s arts and culture of the British, Jijiehu Xianjie in the capital! “to describe the Yongle Dictionary” compilation of the pomp and circumstance.

The scale of the Yongle Dictionary far exceeded all the books compiled in the previous generation, leaving many rich stories and puzzles for the future generations, but the Yongle Dictionary has been passed down to today’s only one percent, two, the other because of natural or man-made destruction, and ultimately annihilated in the long river of history.

Yongle Dazhen” is like a “treasure ship”, the Chinese culture before the 14th century all loaded into its warehouse, but today, people can only be exposed on the water through a small section of the mast to guess all the sunken treasure ship.

History of the “Yongle Dazhen”, brought people too much surprise and admiration, its destruction also brought the same strong sadness and regret, leaving the future generations many mysteries to be explored, now, many people do not know “Yongle Dazhen” is a book, there are many people familiar with the “Yongle Dazhen”, I’m afraid that a lifetime will not have the opportunity to see the “Yongle Dazhen” in its original form.

Zhuang Rui in the study of Ming history, once specifically to the National Library of China, borrowed the “Yongle Dazhen” original, is in the first glance at this glass cabinet in the good books, Zhuang Rui know, these six books is absolutely and the National Library collection of the “Yongle Dazhen” in the same place, must have flowed from China.

“Buy it, must buy it, no matter how much money it costs, must bring it back to his museum.”

Looking at these six copies of the Yongle Dictionary, Zhuang Rui’s eyes are red, to know, the Yongle Dictionary, although there are still hundreds of copies of the book remaining in the world, but the content of each book is different, that is to say, each copy of the Yongle Dictionary existing in the world is a true orphan book.

In fact, strictly speaking, the “Yongle Dictionary” that survives now is not the original Yongle years, which has many twists and complex stories.

In the Ming emperor, Ming Shizong (Emperor Jiajing) favorite “Yongle Dazhen”, usually on the desk often have a few books “Dazhen” to read at any time, Jiajing thirty-six years in the palace fire, the three halls were burned, the fire spreads, and soon endangered the building in the “Dazhen”, Ming Shizong overnight under the three gold medals, the people of the “Dazhen” in a timely manner to rescue it.

In order to prevent the future to suffer a similar scourge, Ming Shizong born the idea of re-recorded “canon”, Jiajing forty-one years, Ming Shizong appointed Gao Gong, Qu Jingchun, Zhang Juzheng and others responsible for re-recorded “Yongle Canon” work, re-recorded the work of the whole spent six years, to the Ming Mu Zong Longqing first year in April before the final completion.

And the “Yongle Dazhen” of the original, in the Jiajing re-recorded, became confused, some people believe that the “Dazhen” of the original destroyed in the war or fire, has long been gone. Some people believe that the “canon” should be martyred, just for hundreds of years, and then no book of “Yongle canon” of the original revealed in the world.

How could China, known for its detailed historical records, have not even documented the whereabouts of such a large and important canon? Many scholars, including Zhuang Rui, including the study of history, are mind-boggling, the original actually suffered what fate? How lost? So far is still a big mystery in history.

The Yongle Canon” has been lost, escaped the war in the late Ming Dynasty, “Canon” copy, although there are more than 2,000 volumes of mutilations, but experienced theft, burning and looting of the tragic fate of the Eight-Power Allied Forces in 1900 into the occupation of Beijing when the destruction of the final.

The remaining about 400 zero copies were collected by 30 institutions in 8 countries and regions. Even so, the Yongle Dazhi, a marvelous book, is still favored by scholars today for its great value of information and cultural relics.

Zhuang Rui did not expect, actually can be in such a private auction, to see such a precious six volumes of “Yongle Dazhen” scrolls, which makes him a moment of surging heart, around the glass cabinet carefully measured up, forgetting that at this time the auction is still in progress.

William on the stage saw Zhuang Rui almost put his eyes on the glass cabinet, and thought that he was distinguishing the authenticity of the books inside, opened his mouth and said, “Mr. Zhuang, these six volumes of ancient books, are identified by experts and instruments, are indeed the things of your country hundreds of years ago, this point also please rest assured.”

“Uh …… sorry, Mr. William, please continue.”

Zhuang Rui scratched his head in some embarrassment, he knew that he had interfered with the process of the auction, and hurriedly withdrew a few steps backward.

“These six precious ancient books will not be sold separately, together the reserve auction price is three million eight hundred thousand dollars, each time the shouting price is one hundred thousand dollars, interested friends can start the auction.”

William knew that these six volumes of ancient books from China were actually taken out by Bonadette on a temporary basis only yesterday, and the pricing was not very high, perhaps it was just a special lot taken out specifically for that Chinese man.

“Five million dollars.”

Zhuang Rui did not hide his love for these six ancient books, when William’s words had just fallen, he directly shouted to five million dollars, for Zhuang Rui, these lone books are unique, even if he spends more money, he will also want to include them in his museum.

“Five and a half million dollars.”

In the corner not far from Zhuang Rui, a middle-aged man with the same Asian face raised the number plate in his hand.