| Abstract |
Guisheng, composed in the Wanli Era of Ming Dynasty, is one of the most important cultural events in the history of Guilin. Initiated by Viceroy of Liangguang, Liu Jiwen and compiled by local author Zhang Mingfeng （a.k.a. “The Hermit of Lishan”）, the project combined transcribed scripts of Guilin’s cliff inscriptions （mainly poetry and prose from traveling literati of Tang and Song Dynasties）, together with selected inscriptions, a preface, and summarizing comments. The book begins by listing place names, a “Prologue” by Zhang Mingfeng, followed by poems, prose and inscriptions, and ends with the section “Lishanren-yue” （Words from The Hermit of Lishan）. Guisheng is not only a work of chorography, but also a comprehensive travel guide. Penned by various authors, it’s a project of “cultural memory” promoted by officials, as well as an anthology of traveling poets and prosaists in the Guilin region. The comments from Zhang Mingfeng also reveal his thought processes in understanding and putting together this work, a display of rich regional and historical reflections. This study examines the making of Guisheng, from collecting to compiling, and ventures into deeper meanings of Guilin’s regional narratives, based on features of cliff inscriptions and Zhang Mingfeng’s editing guidelines. |
