Carved by the Confucian academies of Jiangnan–Zhejiang in 1334
This is the sole surviving edition of a Yuan-carved, Yuan-printed collection of literary works, lost to history for nearly 600 years.
Liu Minzhong (1243–1318), a prominent statesman who served across four reigns during the early Yuan dynasty, was hailed by the imperial court as a “true Confucian of the era.” Known for his filial piety, integrity, and moral rectitude, Liu possessed a commanding yet harmonious demeanor and excelled at mentoring younger scholars. Deeply concerned with current affairs, he harbored little personal ambition for official distinction. His poetry, prose, and calligraphy—described as embodying the styles of Yan Zhenqing and Mi Fu—were highly esteemed. Even after retiring to his hometown, the court often sought his writing for major projects and granted him a stipend to live in comfort. More than a decade after Liu’s passing, his son-in-law Wei Yi Entrusted someone to compile Liu’s posthumous works. In 1334, the Confucian academies of Jiangnan–Zhejiang allocated surplus educational funds to carve and print a 25-volume edition of Collected Works of Master Zhong’an, Minister Liu Wenjian. This collection fills gaps in official historical records and serves as a critical resource for studying Yuan-era society, institutions, and literature.
Original Yuan editions of the Collected Works of Master Zhong’an, Minister Liu Wenjian are exceedingly rare. By the early Ming dynasty, even the compilers of the Yongle Encyclopedia were unable to access a complete copy, resorting to alternative editions. In 1931, during a book acquisition campaign by the National Beiping Library, a pristine Yuan-printed copy of the Collected Works of Master Zhong’an, Minister Liu Wenjia was rediscovered, complete from beginning to end. After over a month of effort, the library successfully purchased the collection. This copy, once part of the collections of Prince Yi Hongxiao (1722–1778), Han Taihua, and the Haiyuan Pavilion of the Yang family, features calligraphy modeled on the style of Zhao Mengfu. The ancient elegance of the paper and ink, combined with the absence of repair marks on the wooden blocks, makes the collection a true national treasure.