Material Bibiliography

This is the inside title page of the genealogy. In the middle, "Genealogy of Li Family" is written. On the right column notes the pubshing date, 1928 and on the left records the name of the private publishing house.

This is an image of Master Loyalty and Stability, an identified ancestor of Li Family. This genealogy contains seven and only seven images. 

On the right page is an endorsement for the image of Master Loyalty and Stability by Wen, Tianxiang, a renowned military general from Southern Song dynasty. In the tradition of genealogy compilation, family members would ask established figures (even outside the family) to leave some form of writing, to promote the status of the whole lineage. Wen Tianxiang's personal chaligraphy adds to the value of this short endorsement. 

This genealogy of Li family, first compiled in late 1753 in the form of manuscript, and recompiled for multiple times until this latest edition from 1928 in block printing, exposes an angle into the history of Li family, one of the most renowned family based in modern day Xinghua county, Jiangsu province, China. This family catches people's attention for giving birth to a prime minister in late 17th century and a prolific poet and painter in the 19th century. 

Part (five volumes) of the manuscript version is still extant today. As a privately compiled work, the older copy does not contain any reference to the publisher. It begins and ends with blank pages, functioning as a protective cover. Each character in the title appears one by one on in page 2 through 5. The older version was published by Li Peiyuan,who was 23rd generation of this clan, and also known for his expertise in calligraphy.

This later print production in the form of 20 volumes credit to a local private publishing house, Xingjiantang (Xingjian hall). The title of the book Lishi shipu (Genealogy of Li Family), along with the reference to the printing house and the publishing date, is written on the inside page. The outside pages again do not contain any information, only serving protective purpose. This later version was published under the name Li Zhengxi, who was recognized as chief compiler for local gazetteers. Both old and later versions do not reveal any commerical or aesthetic tone through their pages.