Title

Things Heard and Spoken along the Way: An Exploration of Practical Knowledge Related to Traveling during the Song and Yuan

Author

Wu Ya-ting

Genre

Article

Pages

159-198

DOI

10.6503/THJCS.202103_51(1).0004

Download

PDF

Language

Chinese

Key words

travel, the history of knowledge, travel knowledge, encyclopedias, medical texts, Essential Prescriptions for Inns

Abstract

This article investigates practical knowledge regarding long-distance travel during the Song and Yuan periods. It relies primarily on an in-depth analysis of encyclopedias for daily use (riyong leishu 日用類書) and medical texts (yishu 醫書). After a thorough examination of these source materials, the article discusses three significant categories of knowledge. The first category concerns important travel notices for completing the trip smoothly. The second deals with auspicious times and directions for starting the excursion. The third then covers various prescriptions for dealing with medical emergencies during the journey. Among medical texts, particular attention is paid to the Lüshe beiyaofang 旅舍備要方, or Essential Prescriptions for Inns, which was compiled by Dong Ji 董汲 in the late Northern Song.

The study not only clarifies the state of knowledge regarding travel during the Song and Yuan periods but also describes how this knowledge supported different types of travel activities. Most importantly, by discussing the means of circulating this knowledge through books, reading, passing it on and putting it into practice, the article sheds light on the networks and capabilities that enabled Song and Yuan individuals to move across different areas.