The Complete Illustrated Compendium for Provincial Governors

Page 4

...and so it was. In the past, the pursuit of rarities like the "Dragon-Grip" This likely refers to a rare plant or local curiosity mentioned on the previous page that caught the eye of officials. was considered an extraordinary event. The local chroniclers of the time would dip their brushes in ink, boasting of the names of such things to bring honor to their region. Those seeking favor in the district then used these "boasts" to flatter their superiors. Gradually, this became an established precedent. Forced levies and wide-ranging demands followed; those who had to provide were exhausted, yet those receiving were never satisfied. If a strong-willed official qiangxiang li; literally "stiff-necked official," meaning one who resists unfair orders delayed or failed to deliver, reprimands and punishments followed immediately. Therefore, the common social ills that plague the people and corrupt the officials are truly the fault of those who offer such flattery.

This being the case, the writer of a gazetteer must instead state: "In such-and-such a village, there are mountains and marshes; their grains, livestock, and vegetables are suited for such-and-such a species. In another village, there are plains and lowlands; their grains, livestock, fruits, and vegetables are suited for such-and-such a species." If a village is poor and the soil is barren, producing nothing of note, then the sources of the people’s food and clothing—even if meager—should be recorded so that their level of wealth is clear.

If timber, reeds, and rushes original: "huan wei" (萑葦). Common plants used for weaving mats and building materials. come from a specific village, or if medicinal herbs and flower buds come from another, these are the resources the people rely on for "the nourishment of the living and the burial of the dead," A classic Confucian phrase referring to the essential cycle of life and the duties of filial piety. as well as for firewood, cooking, and the art of planting. For timber, one must record its specific use; for medicines, one must investigate their primary healing properties. By describing the labor required for cultivation peizhi; the intensive process of nurturing plants and recording the difficulties of transport by water or land, the cost and the difficulty of obtaining these goods will be made clear. As for metals like gold and tin, or decorative feathers, if they are not naturally suited to the land, one must clarify exactly how they were obtained...