The Writing Reason and History Material Value of the Brief Sketch of the South and North Part of Ming Dynasty

The Brief Sketches of the South and North Parts of the Ming Dynasty is a book by Ji Liu-qi recording the transitional period from the Ming to the Qing which is in the time of great disturbance. The author, with a patriotic love for the Ming , writes the book to draw a historical lesson from the Ming which has been overthrown because of its chaos and disturbance. He wants to show his blazing love for his country in the book and wishes that the book could be preserved forever in the world. There are a lot of historical materials of that period in the book especially the materials about the peasant uprising and fighting against the Qing Dynasty, many of which are not mentioned in other books. In the book, there are also some records about the author's personal experiences, which are what the other historical materials lack of. Ji Liu-qi is neglected all his life and so his writing experience expressed in the book is the first hand materials to help the reader to know his life.