A Tang Miscellany

Youyang zazu is an important Tang dynasty miscellany by the erudite and well-traveled chronicler, Duan Chengshi (c. 800-863). Duan collected over thirteen hundred anecdotes, notes, and tales, which he recorded based on firsthand information, hearsay, and books. Duan’s entries treat a fantastically broad array of subjects, including tattoos, fancy foods, supernatural occurrences, flora and fauna, temple art of Chang’an, and falconry. A Tang Miscellany: An Introduction to ‘Youyang zazu’ includes a biographical sketch of Duan, a textual history of the miscellany, a summary of the content of the collection, and a selection of 145 translations.