The Third Case: Secret Teachings on Living Beings

A complete record of birds, beasts, insects, and fish that have never been documented in this manner before.

The Fourth Case: Secret Teachings on Portraiture

The art of "capturing the spirit in those eyes" original: "傳神阿堵" (chuán shén ā dǔ). A famous phrase attributed to the 4th-century painter Gu Kaizhi, who believed the spirit of a person resided in the pupils of their eyes. has never before been successfully compiled into a book. Our workshop has obtained these secret teachings and humbly offers them to the world.

Item: A Compendium of Zither Scores

The original scores of the ancients and the new melodies of contemporary masters are all fully recorded here.

Item: A Compendium of Chess Scores

Fine editions from predecessors and new manuals for the game of Go by modern players are all included without exception.

Item: A Compendium of Calligraphy

The subtleties of the four scripts Likely referring to Seal, Clerical, Regular, and Cursive scripts. are compiled here to serve as a bridge for future students, leaving nothing out.

Item: A Compendium of Seals

Featuring seals from the Qin and Han dynasties along with various historical manuals and the marks used on the artworks of famous worthies. We have selected the most exquisite examples to serve as a formal standard for seal composition, script styles, and carving techniques. Anything beneficial to the art of engraving is explained with exhaustive detail.

Item: A Compendium of Many Skills

Regardless of the scale—from major matters suitable for scholarly social exchange to the minute details of daily household life—anything that might assist a literatus when his own resources are exhausted has been broadly collected and compiled for the benefit of like-minded friends. original: "多能鄙事" (duō néng bǐ shì). The title alludes to a passage in the Analects where Confucius explains he has many practical skills because he was of humble status in his youth.

Item: The Sea of Hardship in Social Correspondence

True writing arises from emotion; when inspiration strikes and the brush flies, it is a joy. However, throughout one's life, one is often burdened by social obligations to people one barely knows. Every day brings requests for social writing: if it is not a celebratory poem, it is a funeral oration or a eulogy. One is forced to ask why they are celebrating or where the grief comes from, leaving the mind flustered and the brush struggling—a thousand-fold misery. This edition prunes away the clichés and stale phrases of old, seeking out fresh words and elegant lines to offer a shortcut. It allows the writer to wield the brush and fulfill social duties without ceasing, helping the man of letters escape this "sea of hardship" and reach a land of joy.

Item: New Book for Aid in Government, Third Collection

The first and second collections of the "New Book for Aid in Government" original: "資治新書" (Zīzhì Xīnshū). A reference to works meant to assist officials in administration and governance. are already in circulation. This third collection has been in preparation for a long time and is nearing completion. We humbly invite the contribution of official documents and famous essays for inclusion.

Engraved and stored at the Mustard Seed Garden Son-in-law's Studio in the eighth month of the Xinsi year of the Kangxi reign The "month of the cassia" (August/September) in the year 1701..