Essential Techniques for the Common People

CORE DEFINITION

Essential Techniques for the Common People is the most complete ancient Chinese book on agriculture and animal husbandry, written by Jia Sixie, an official of the Northern Wei dynasty, and completed in the second year of Wuding of the Eastern Wei (544 AD), with another account placing it between 533 and 544 AD. It covers agricultural techniques, horticulture, afforestation, sericulture, animal husbandry, veterinary medicine, breeding, brewing, cooking, storage, and famine relief in the lower Yellow River region of China during the 6th century. The main text is divided into 10 volumes and 92 chapters, citing nearly 200 ancient texts, including important Han and Jin dynasty agricultural works such as Fan Shengzhi's Book and Monthly Instructions for the Four Classes of People, which are now lost, so later generations can only understand the agricultural practices of that time through this book. Since its publication, the book has been highly valued by successive Chinese governments, and after spreading overseas, it has often become a classic for studying ancient species changes. When Darwin studied evolution, he referenced a 'Chinese encyclopedia' in his On the Origin of Species, which was this book. In the Siku Quanshu, it is classified under the Agricultural category of the Masters section.