物件是歷史記憶的化身，也是不同文化之間人們交流的「語言」。透過一個物品的物質形態或視覺呈現，可以看到物的社會生命及歷史記憶。本文從物質書寫的角度，探討晚明謝肇淛所撰《五雜組》一書。就物的選擇、性質、功能，物所在的空間、物與人的關聯等等探索此書所開展的地域視野，包含在地敘述及域外想像；並就器物與物產的敘述，物性的描述與評價，詮解朝廷與域外諸國貢物與賜物的往返現象，藉以突顯晚明與異域諸國之間的政治及教化關係。最後，則觀照筆記體著作的書寫策略，就物在筆記體著作脈絡（或結構）的位置，析辨其紀實特徵與抒情性。

Objects reveal a lot about themselves and others. They are accumulations of historical memories; at the same time, they also form a medium of cross-cultural conversations. Through the depictions of their forms and their visual representations, we get to see their 「being」 in history as well as in the society. In this paper, we examine the local narratives and foreign imaginations presented in Wu Za Zu, a book by Zhau-zhi Xie in Late Ming Dynasty, by probing about the selection, qualities, functions, locations, and human-object relationships of the chosen objects. In addition, we attempt to analyze the (differences and contrasts displayed in the) descriptions, assessments of the chosen objects and discuss the cultural connotations entailed in paying tribute and granting gifts. Finally, we attempt an analysis of the aesthetic and originality of the texts by looking at the significance of the chosen objects that appear in these texts.