A study on the classification systems of the Shu-mu Da-wen

서목답문의 분류체계에 관한 연구

The results of the study can be summarized as follows. The Shu-mu Da-wen was selected and compiled by Zhang Zhi Dong at the end of Qing Dynasty as a reading list for students preparing for the state examination and for the purpose of choosing the best from several versions. Whether it was compiled and edited by Zhang was in dispute. But it is almost certain that Zhang was the main editor because Shu-mu Da-wen showed his political, educational and scientific thoughts and knowledge distinctively. The followings are characteristics of Shu-mu Da-wen being compared with Si-ku Quan-shu Zong-mu Ti-yao. 1. In Jing-bu, the Confucian classics are divided into Zheng-jing Zheng-zhu and 'Lie-chao Jing-zhu Jing-shuo Jing-ben kao-zheng. Zheng-shi lei is divided into Zheng-shi fen he ke ben and Zheng-shi zhu bu biao pu kao-zheng. It is the special sorting method to include Du-ben lei in Jing-bu and Chu xue du-ben in Bie-lu in order to provide first learners for reading order. 2. Shi-bu included Gu-shi newly and Di-li lei is divided into Gu Di-li and Jin di-li in Shi-bu. Tian-wen Suan-fa lei is divided into Zhong-fa and Xi-fa in Zi-bu. Zhang distinguished between old books and contemporary ones to find out the origin and include newly published books in the East and the West. 3. Zhou-Qin zhu-zi is newly added to Zi-pu. In Ji-pu, Bie-ji and Zong-ji are categorized according to their style and period respectively. This show the new sorting method which added classifying system concerning academic development. It is the prominent feature in the compiling system to make Bie-lu and Cong-shu respective chapters. With those characteristics the Shu-mu Da-wen had been edited and published several times. It had a wide effect not only on compiling methods of cataloging afterwards and but also on classification systems before decimal classification was introduced in China.