Abstract: The regulation about book inspection was not strict in the Ming Dynasty. The central government’s intervention in local publication was inefficient, and did not send imperial officials to carry out special inspections. Thus the responsibility of the book inspection fell on the censors, who were in charge of cultural education, especially officials in schools. Most of time, book inspection was spontaneous, which made relevant policy unstable and unsustainable, No systemic law or regulation had taken shape. Consequently, as a very bright-colored and dazzling phenomenon, there was an active, free and pluralistic book publishing prospect in the late Ming Dynasty.

Key words: Wang Dian, Jianyang, book inspection, educational inspector