On the cover of volume 1 there is a Latin inscription in European ink: “Uen him çuy chao, id est liber de morum compositione a bacchalaureo Kieu Kum Li Thoma Christiano. Continet 5. tomos.” On the cover of volume four there is a Portuguese inscription in Chinese ink: “Composto pelo Pay do Li so leam celebre siam cum do Dor.^e Maygrot.”

The Wenxing cuichao is a collection of ancient sayings and anecdotes chosen to edify the public. Many of these are taken from the writings of contemporary missioners in China and of exemplary converts, such as the Daiyi bian 代疑編 by Michael Yang Tingyun 楊廷筠 (Jap-Sin I, 165b), the Piwang 闢妄 by Paul Xu Guangqi 徐光啟 (Jap-Sin I, 159), the Xingxue cushu 性學觕書 by Giulio Aleni (Jap-Sin II, 16), the Feilu huida 斐錄彙答 by Alfonso Vagnone (Jap-Sin II, 57), the Huanyou quan 寰有詮 by Francisco Furtado and Li Zhizao 李之藻, and the Zhujiao yuanqi 主教緣起 (Jap-Sin II, 36) by Adam Schall. The book is divided under three headings:

1. Chongde 崇德 (the estimation of virtue), juan 1–3.
2. Xiute 修慝 (the betterment of one’s own conduct), juan 4.
3. Bianhuo 辨惑 (the dissipation of doubts), juan 5.

Before each of the these three parts there is a short introduction by Li Yifen 李奕芬 (zi Suoliang 所良), the son of the author.
Cf. Jap-Sin I, 34b; Courant 3433–3434.

Li Jiugong (zi Qixu 其敘) was a native of Fujian. In the preface to his book Lixiu yijian 勵修一鑑 (Jap-Sin I, 166.e), published in 1639 (Chongzhen 12), he tells us that in 1628 (Chongzhen 1) both he and his elder brother Jiubiao 九標 (zi Qixiang 其香) were taking part in the government examinations at Sanshan 三山 (Fujian). It was there that they met Giulio Aleni for the first time. They were much impressed by the Christian doctrine and were soon baptized.

Liu Yunde in his preface gives an interesting account of Li Jiugong’s family. Li’s grandfather was a learned scholar, competent in the classics. The scholar and minister Wang Shimao 王世懋 (1536–1588) thought highly of him. Li Jiugong’s elder brother Jiubiao, an official at the ministry of Ceremonies (太堂寺), was known for his writings. He had written two books: the Shen[Zhen]shu 枕書 and the Kouduo 口鐸 (cf. Jap-Sin I, 81). Then we are told that Jiugong’s son Li Suoliang 李所良 was an accomplished literateur. He passed his provincial examinations with great honor. The Li family was not well off and Li Jiugong made his living as a school teacher.

Cf. JWC 1:259–267, 2:227–230; Répertoire, p. 288 (Liu Yunde).
Source: Albert Chan, SJ, Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 28-30.

JapSin I, 34.b
Wenxing cuichao 文行粹抄.
Compiled by Li Jiugong 李九功.
Five juan in five volumes. Chinese bamboo paper. The book is in fairly good condition.

On the cover of volume three there is a Latin inscription in Chinese ink: “Extracta ex libris & historiis auctore Li Kieu cum de Fokien eiusdem patriae cum Ye Colao (葉閣老 Ye Xianggao 葉向高, 1559–1627).”