Ma Xulun Talks About Historical Anecdotes: Shiwu Yushen and Shiwu Xushen

Ma Xulun Talks About Historical Anecdotes is divided into Shiwu Yushen (Remnants from the Stone House) and Shiwu Xushen (Sequel to Remnants from the Stone House).

Shiwu Yushen contains a total of 133 entries, documenting anecdotes and historical tidbits since the late Qing Dynasty. It is a work compiled from the author's notes on literature, art, and history across different periods, holding high value as historical material. The book also records famous figures of the Republican period and their legacies, such as Li Jingxi, Zhang Taiyan, Wang Jingan, and Li Shutong, mostly derived from the author's personal experiences or what he heard firsthand. Additionally, it includes articles reviewing celebrity calligraphy and paintings, offering insightful critiques of ancient works and contemporary masters.

Shiwu Xushen collects 94 anecdotes from the late Qing and early Republican periods. Entries such as "Miscellaneous Notes on Scholars in the Qing Dynasty," "Zhou Chichen on the Recovery of Zhejiang in the Xinhai Revolution," "The Formula for Eight-Legged Essays," "Zhang Xun's Restoration," and "Pan Fu Kills Shao Piaoping and Lin Baishui" record historical facts. It also includes anecdotes of dozens of figures including Zhang Zhidong, Zhang Zongchang, Tang Erhe, Sun Chuanfang, Tao Chengzhang, Xia Zhenwu, Cai Yuanpei, Chen Jieshi, Xia Mianzun, and Xiong Xiling.