Dunhuang Manuscripts of Shuyi: Writing Models of the Tang
2 min readThe Tang people might refer to writing models or formulas when they wrote letters. These writing models and formulas are called shuyi. Dunhuang shuyi can be divided into three classes: friends’ letters, comprehensive writings, and applied writings.
Models for friends’ letters, around a dozen in number, may be divided into tw parts: the first part tells one the way to write date and expressions used in letters in different seasons; the second part is the text, arranged according to months, consisting of models of a letter and a reply. Many samples are letters ofpresupposed travelers far away in the frontiers to their friends in the Central Plains and replies are from inland friends. Parallelism of four and six characters is used, and the letters are characterized by elegant wording, real feelings, appropriate allusions, and regular antitheses. Though they are polite formulas, these expressions are gorgeous rhetoric with harmonious syllables and poetic quality. The feelings of parting and longing described in this way are more touching than prose. People followed these models and would achieve better effect than if they improvised.
Comprehensive writings, also called lucky and unfortunate events writings, include sample writings concerning wedding, funeral, greeting, as well as names of gifts emperors and housemasters gave to their concubines and juniors, national festivals and relevant activities, holiday resources and days of rest, procedures of wedding and funeral, modes and ranks of mourning dress, family customary moral standards, feudal code of ethics, and even expressions of condolence, almost involving all aspects of the Tang society, so they are extremely precious data of social history.
Models for applied writings refer chiefly to samples of statement, account, memorial and other types of letters as well as oral expressions for business transactions. They also include various letters written between friends. There are over 20 such models, including Guiyijun Shu Zhuang Ji (Collection of AppliedWritings of Return-to-Allegiance Army), Cishi Shuyi (Applied Writings of the Governor), Ji Shi Bei Yao (Applied Writings for Record Keepers) and Lingwu Jiedushi Bai Zhuang Ji (Collection of Applied Writings by Military Commissioner of Lingwu).
These writing models were mostly found in the late-Tang and Five Dynasties, mainlsinvolving documents between local officials and their subordinates. Though full of du11 formulas, they have also preserved many precious data concerning the relations between outlying military governors with the central government and between military assistants and commissioners.
