The Seal of the Unity of the Three — Vol. 2 - The Golden Elixir

Appendix 2
Main Indicators of Textual Filiation
This appendix concerns eighteen major textual features in which the
redactions of the Cantong qi by Peng Xiao, Zhu Xi, Yu Yan, and
Chen Zhixu agree with, or differ from, one another. The variants
consist of omissions or additions of verses; changes in the sequence of
verses; and relocations of portions of text. Although an analysis of
these features cannot be as dependable as a complete survey of textual
variants, they provide, by correlating them to one another, basic
indications on the filiation of the Ming- and Qing-dynasty commentaries
from the earlier redactions.
The two Tang redactions are omitted from this list, as it is certain
that no Ming- or Qing-dynasty commentary is directly based on their
texts. Chu Yong’s and Chen Xianwei’s commentaries are also omitted,
as their texts derive from Zhu Xi’s and Peng Xiao’s redactions, respectively.
References to section and verse numbers are to the text of the
Cantong qi found in Appendix 3.
1 準 繩 墨 、 執 銜 轡 、 正 規 矩 、 隨 軌 轍 “. . . who level the markingcord
and the plumb-line, hold the bit and the bridle, align the
compass and the square, and follow the tracks and the ruts.” (2:3–
6)
Chen Zhixu’s reading corresponds to Peng Xiao’s redaction. Zhu Xi
omits the third verse and reads: “. . . who hold the bit and the bridle, level
the marking-cord and the plumb-line, and follow the tracks and the
ruts” ( 執 銜 轡 、 準 繩 墨 、 隨 軌 轍 ). Yu Yan reads: “. . . who hold the bit
and the bridle, bear the leveling marking-cord, align the compass and the
square, and follow the tracks and the ruts” ( 執 銜 轡 、 有 準 繩 、 正 規 矩 、
隨 軌 轍 ). 1
1
Zhu Xi’s reading corresponds to the one found in the Yin Changsheng
redaction. Yu Yan’s reading corresponds to the one found in the two-juan
anonymous redaction.