Historical records of the five dynasties / Ouyang Xiu, translated with an introduction by Richard L. Davis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ouyang, Xiu, 1007-1072.

Contributor:

Davis, Richard L.

Standardized Title:

Wu dai shi ji. English

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

China--History--Five dynasties and the Ten kingdoms, 907-979.

China.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (750 p.)

Place of Publication:

New York : Columbia University Press, c2004.

Language Note:

English

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Summary:

Only fragments of historical text from China's middle period have been translated into English, until now. Here at last is the first major Chinese historical work from the Song dynasty. Written by Ouyang Xiu, an intellectual giant of the eleventh century, this is a history of the preceding century (907-979), a period known as the Five Dynasties. The historical and literary significance of Ouyang's achievement cannot be underestimated. In rewriting the existing official history of the Five Dynasties, Ouyang-whose own time was characterized by extraordinary intellectual and political innovation-made several notable decisions. He rewrote the history in the "ancient" style preferred by forward-thinking literati; he even rewrote the original documents quoted within biographies. He also relied on his own moral categories, reevaluating the worth of the historical figures in light of his own convictions that individuals should take personal responsibility for the fate of society. Ouyang's history would eventually become the official version-the last state-sanctioned dynastic history of imperial China to be written by an individual in a private capacity. In addition to its provocative insights and lucid presentation, Historical Records of the Five Dynasties is an eloquent statement on the art of historical writing in the eleventh century. A preeminent scholar of Chinese history, Richard L. Davis has provided a thorough introduction and rendered nearly two-thirds of the Chinese original into English, including complete sections critical to understanding the politics and personalities of the time. Biographical clusters based on Ouyang's moral categories also appear in full, helping readers to appreciate the Confucian agenda that informs the work.

Contents:

Historical records of the five dynasties

Contents

Acknowledgments

List of Maps

Introduction

Chapter 1: Annals I: Basic Annals of Liang

Chapter 2: Annals II: Basic Annals of Liang

Chapter 3: Annals III: Basic Annals of Liang

Chapter 4: Annals IV: Basic Annals of Tang

Chapter 5: Annals V: Basic Annals of Tang

Chapter 6: Annals VI: Basic Annals of Tang

Chapter 7: Annals VII: Basic Annals of Tang

Chapter 8: Annals VIII: Basic Annals of Jin

Chapter 9: Annals IX: Basic Annals of Jin

Chapter 10: Annals X: Basic Annals of Han

Chapter 11: Annals XI: Basic Annals of Zhou

Chapter 12: Annals XII: Basic Annals of Zhou

Chapter 13: Biographies of the Royal Families: Liang

Chapter 14: Biographies of the Royal Families: Taizu of Tang

Chapter 15: Biographies of the Royal Families: Mingzong of Tang

Chapter 16: Biographies of the Royal Families: Emperor Fei of Tang

Chapter 17: Biographies of the Royal Families: Jin

Chapter 18: Biographies of the Royal Families: Han

Chapter 19: Biographies of the Royal Families: Taizu of Zhou

Chapter 20: Biographies of the Royal Families: Shizong of Zhou

Chapters 21-23: Biographies of Liang Subjects

Chapters 24-28: Biographies of Tang Subjects

Chapter 29: Biographies of Jin Subjects

Chapter 30: Biographies of Han Subjects

Chapter 31: Biographies of Zhou Subjects

Chapter 33: Biographies of Martyrs in Service

Chapter 35: Biographies of Sixc Ourtiers of Tang

Chapter 36: Biographies of Righteous Sons

Chapter 37: Biographies of Court Musicians and Actors

Chapter 38: Biographies of Eunuchs

Chapter 39: Miscellaneous Biographies

Chapters 40-41: Miscellaneous Biographies

Chapters 42-43: Miscellaneous Biographies

Chapters 44-45: Miscellaneous Biographies

Chapters 46-47: Miscellaneous Biographies

Chapters 48-50: Miscellaneous Biographies

Chapters 51-53: Miscellaneous Biographies

Chapters 54-55: Miscellaneous Biographies

Chapters 56-57: Miscellaneous Biographies

Chapter 61: Hereditary House of Wu

Chapter 62: Hereditary House of Southern Tang

Chapter 63: Hereditary House of Former Shu

Chapter 64: Hereditary House of Later Shu

Chapter 65: Hereditary House of Southern Han

Chapter 66: Hereditary House of Chu

Chapter 67: Hereditary House of Wu/Yue

Chapter 68: Hereditary House of Min

Chapter 69: Hereditary House of Nanping

Chapter 70: Hereditary House of Eastern Han1

Notes

Offices of the five Dynasties

Prefectures Cited

Biographical Entries

Works Cited

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 603-626) and index.

ISBN:

9780231502283

0231502281

OCLC:

213305854