Jia Sixie, author of China's first agricultural encyclopedia, was one of the leading agronomists in Chinese history. In the late years of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), he wroteQimin Yaoshu(Essential Skills for the Common People). It is the earliest and most complete agricultural encyclopedia still in existence inChina.
Jia Sixie was born in Yidu County (today'sShouguangCounty) inChina'sShandongProvince. He completed the book amid chaos caused by wars during the years of 533 to 544. He saw the sufferings of the poor farmers in his hometown and other places while traveling throughNorth China'sHebeiandShanxiprovinces andCentral China'sHenanProvince. With his profound knowledge on agriculture, he believed that the development of agriculture could help those farmers out.
The book, which has 92 chapters in 10 volumes and nearly 120,000 characters, covers a wide range of topics and records on production experiences and methods. It includes advice on farming, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery and sideline occupations.
Qimin Yaoshuwas first distributed mainly among common people. In the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), it became an official guiding book on agriculture. In the late Tang Dynasty (618-907), the book was introduced toJapanwho now still has the earliest incomplete version of the Northern Song Dynasty, Now,, the book has been translated into several languages.
Qimin Yaoshuis considered as an important summary of farming knowledge. At present, it is still studied by Chinese farmers and students majoring in agriculture.
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