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“...COLLECTION
The Morrison Collection at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) comprises the Chinese
books accumulated by Dr. Robert Morrison (1782-1834), the first Protestant missionary to China, during
his sixteen years residence in Guangzhou (Canton) and Macao between 1807 and 1823, together with a
small number of nineteenth-century additions to the collection. Morrison5 s English-language books and
the Chinese books that he collected after his return to China in 1826 up until his death in 1834 were
donated by his son to the Morrison Education Societyand were ultimately given to the University of
Hong Kong where they formed the basis of its Morrison Library.
1807-1823 (The Formation of the Collection)
Morrison first arrived in Guangzhou in September 1807, whereupon he immersed himself in Chinese
language and culture. To begin with he ateslept and dressed as a Chinesebut his constitution was ill-
prepared for such an extreme change in lifestyle, and he soon became ill. Forced...”
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“...branches of some Guangzhou publishing houseswere also
established in the nearby town of Foshan also referred to in publishing credits as Chanshan )
The vast majority of commercial editions collected by Morrison were printed by Guangzhou publishing
houses, as is evidenced by designations for Guangzhou such as ^Guangdong provincial capitaF,
)Guang town)Goat town)etc. that are often prefixed to the name of tlie publishing
house. The following commercial publishing houses represented in the Morrison Collection explicitly
give Guangzhou or Foshan as their place of business:
Guangxintang at Guangzhou): 3 editions dating between 1770 and 1817;
Jianxiangzhai at Guangzhou): 1 edition dating at 1818;
Jujingtang at Guangzhou): 3 editions;
Wenyuantang at Guangzhou): 3 editions dating at 1775;
Wuchelou (at Guangzhou): 1 edition dating at 1757;
Wuyunlou at Guangzhou): 5 editions dating between 1814 and 1838;
Zhengxiantang (at Guangzhou): 1 edition;
Zhengzu Huixiantang (at Guangzhou): 3 editions;...”
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“...Catalogue of the Morrison Collection
Hebizhai at Jiuyaofang in Guangzhou): 3 editions dating between 1797 and 1819;
Jinguangtang at Jiuyaofang in Guangzhou): 2 editions dating between 1793 and 1823;
Rongdetang at Jiuyaofang in Guangzhou): 2 editions;
Shangguzhai run by the Pan family (at Jiuyaofang in Guangzhou): 5 editions dating
between 1780 and 1816;
Xinjianzhai at Jiuyaofg in Guangzhou): 36 editions dating between 1773 and 1821;
Bowenzhai at Xihujie in Guangzhou): 1 edition;
Fuwenzhai at Xihujie in Guangzhou): 7 editions dating between 1813 and 1820;
Liushuzhai run by Kang Eryou at Xihujie in Guangzhou): 2 editions dating at
1806;
Wenbaozhai at Xihujie in Guangzhou): 1 edition dating at 1816;
Xiaowentang at Xihujie in Guangzhou): 2 editions dating between 1804 and 1821;
Yiwentang run by the Yang Yongqing (at Xihujie in Guangzhou): 2 editions
dating between 1806 and 1815;
Fuwentang at Foshan): 5 editions dating between 1821 and 1824;
Lao Huixiantang at Foshan):...”
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“...includes a substantial minority of private and official editions, which are usually of a
much higher quality, both physically and textually, than the commercially-produced books.
Private editions are generally books that were written or edited by members of the scholar-official
elite, and privately-published for dissemination amongst their peers. As would be expected, most of the
private editions in the Morrison Collection were published by members of the scholar-official class living
in the Guangzhou regionincluding prominent scholarly figures of the time such as Zhang Dunren
1754-1834) and Ruan Yuan 1764-1849). These private editions include a number of fine
facsimile reprints of Song dynasty editions:
Daguang yihui yupian 1704 facsimile reprint by Zhang Shijun of a Song
edition);
c/rcwgxzw gwa/zgyww 1704 facsimile reprint by Zhang Shijun of a Song
edition);
Song Wang Fuzhai zhongding kuanzhi (1802 facsimile reprint by Ruan Yuan
of a set of Song dynasty bronze rubbings);
z /7...”
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“...of a set of thirteen vocabulary lists that are
believed to have been compiled by the Interpreters Institute between about 1492 and 1549);
_ Yunti zhentu (a set of four colour drawings and explanatory text illustrating the stages in
an attack on a fortified position using scaling ladders);
Longhu zhentu (a set of seven colour drawings and explanatory text illustrating various
battle formations);
an the medical case-notes of Dr. Li Jufan [the doctor in
charge of Morrison5s pharmacy in Guangzhou] for the year 1820);
MteAwan a collection of medical charms and spells);
Qingxian fuzhou (a collection of invocational charms and spells);
Hanzi qituobu (a Chinese Kitab, comprising phonetic transliterations of prayers and
pieces from the Qur5n);
Jw a collection oflegal cases in various hands dating from the Qianlong period);
Daqing liili (a copy of the Qing penal code, bound with the collection of legal cases);
Aomen jiliie ^||P^SB§ (a description of Macao, being a copy of a printed...”
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“...circa 1700.
RM c,153.k3. 16 fascs. in 3 vols. 26.5 cm.
17.4 x 13.31119
39
Yuedong biji. n.d. RM 428.
Notes on Guangdong. Written by Li Tiaojoian (1734-1803).
RM c.l53.y.l, 4 fascs. in 1 vol. 18 cm.
12.7x9.21020
Geyi lishu. n.d. RM 153.
The distances between every prefectural and county town in Guangdong province and every staging post in the
province.
ff. 166.
RM c.l56.k.l. 3 fascs. in 1 vol. 26.5 cm.
22.4x16.2932
Yangcheng guchao. 1806. RM 124.
A description of Guangzhou. Compiled from earlier references by Qiu Chishi in 1806.
ff. 4,3,37,22,28, 57, 60,34,79,32,73.
RM c.l54.y.l. 5 fascs. in 1 vol. 26.5 cm.
1806 )
17.5x13.41019
'...”
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“...Catalogue of the Morrison Collection
201
1751 )
21.7x15.21020
\ Haichuang Aziwu chanshi yulu. n.d. RM 786.
' The sayings of Jinwu (1633-1681), abbot of Haichuang temple in Guangzhou. Compiled by Jinbian (?-1697).
I ff. 1, 1,5,60,66.
RM c.801h.l. 2 fascs. in 1 vol. 27.5 cm.
I
I
20.4x15.21020
/ Haichuang Langru dashiyulu. n.d. RM787.
! The sayings of Fazhen (7-1773), abbot of Haichuang temple in Guangzhou from 1755 to 1773. Compiled by
/ Moyan.
i ff 3, 29, 19, 26.
I RM c.801.1.1. 1 fasc. in 1 vol. 28 cm.
RM c.502.p.5 (6). 1 fasc. [in 1 vol.]. 26.5 cm.
_
23.4x16.41020
Writings of Buddhst Masters
Chanzong yongjiaji. 1801. RM 779.
The collected writings of Xuanjue (665-713).
ff. 55.
RM c.801.y.4. 1 fasc. in 1 vol. 27 cm.
RM c.801.p.4 (8). 1 fasc. [in 1 vol.]. 27 cm.
1801 )
21.0x14.8818
Yunqi dashi yigao. 1768. RM 672.
A collection of posthumous writings by 23iuhong (1535-1615).
ff. 2, 6, 68, 8....”
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“...202
Catalogue of the Morrison Collection
RM c.801.y,ll. 1 fasc. in 1 vol. 24.5 cm.
17
18.0x12.51020
33
33
Aziwu chanshi guangxuantai ji. 1819. RM 807.
' The collected writings of Jinwu (1633-1681), abbot of Haichuang temple in Guangzhou. Compiled by Guzheng
and Guyun.
RM c.801.k.l3. 8 fascs. in 2 vols. 26.5 cm.
1819 )
19.0 x 13.9919
Illustrative Anecdotal Stories
Liudaoji. 1796. RM770.
A collection of anecdotal stories illustrating the six conditions of sentient existence. Compiled by Hongzan in
1679.
ff. 124,414140,40.
RM c.801.1.11. 2 fascs. in 1 vol. 27.5 cm.
(
1796 )
21.5 x 15.31222
18
Chiyan. 1797. RM763.
A collection of anecdotal stories illustrating the salvation in store for those who recite the name of Buddha.
Anonymous. Compiled post-1742.
ff. 22.
RM c.801.p.2 (4). 1 fasc. [in 1 vol.]. 23.5 cm.
RM c.801.p.2 (10). 1 fasc. [in 1 vol.]. 23.5 cm.
^~~
1797 )
17.7 x 12.1817
_...”
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