General Catalog of Annual Chronicles of Chinese Dynasties (Revised Edition)

Author: Yang Dianxun
Editor-in-Chief: Liu Zhuoying
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1997-05-01
Features:
Chronicles:
Yao Zhonghua (Birth and death years unknown)
Shun's Chronological Table (One volume, compiled by Xu Shidong of the Qing Dynasty)
"Records of Reading from Yanyu Tower" (Volume 1) [Note: This table extends to 110 years.]
Shun (Qing Dynasty, Zuo Xuan)
"Notes from Three Remaining Years" (Volume 16)
Ji Chang (Yin King Wen Ding, born in the first year of King Wen Ding of Yin, died in the 28th year of Emperor Xin of Yin (approximately 1095–1034 BC))
"Questioning the Birth Year of King Wen" (Liu Yuqing, "Journal of Jinyang Academic" (bimonthly), Third Issue of 1982)
"Questioning the Death of King Wen" (Ding Shan, "Journal of Zeshan Bimonthly" (Second Volume, First and Second Combined Issue, April 1942))
"King Wen's Age" (Wang Wan, "Continued Drafts of the" (Volume 11))
"Examination of King Wen's Age" (Guan Daozhong, "Bimonthly Journal of Guanghua University" (Fourth Volume, Seventh Issue, March 10, 1936)) [Note: This examination doubts his age as 63.]
"King Wen's Age at the Time of Conquering Yin" (Shi Zhi, "Notes on the "Records of the Grand Historian" with Annotations and Examinations" (April 1979, "Continent Magazine" (Fifth Volume, Fourth Issue)))
"Examination of the Date of King Wen's Conquest of Yin" (Shen Hua, "Journal of South China Normal University" (Fourth Issue of 1979))
"Views on the Year of King Wen's Conquest of Shang" (Zhao Guangxian, "Yanfu" (Fourth Issue of 1991))
"Inferring the Year of King Wen's Conquest of Zhou from Astronomical Phenomena" (Zhao Guangxian, "Historical Research" (Tenth Issue of 1979))
"Re-examining the Date of King Wen's Conquest of Shang and the Early Zhou Era" (Zhao Guangxian, "Journal of Humanities" (Second Issue of 1987))
"On the Chapter 'World Conquest' of the "Lost Zhou Book" and Drafting the Schedule of King Wen's Conquest of Shang" (Zhao Guangxian, "Historical Research" (Sixth Issue of 1986))
Ji Dan (Yin King Yi, born in the 12th year of King Yi of Yin, died in the 35th year of King Cheng of Zhou (approximately 1079–974 BC))
"Chronological Table of the Duke of Zhou" (One volume, compiled by Mou Ting of the Qing Dynasty, published in the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, included in "Snow Mud Miscellaneous Texts," "Tianrang Pavilion Series," "Juoxue Pavilion Series," and the "Shaojing Tang" of the Zhang family in the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, "Remains of the Great Masters of Qi and Lu")
"Questioning the Duke of Zhou" (Ding Shan, "Journal of Zeshan Bimonthly" (Second Volume, First and Second Combined Issue, April 1942)) [Note: Claims Ji Dan was born in the eighth year of King Yi of Yin (approximately 1077) and died in the third year of King Cheng of Zhou (approximately 1018).]
"Chronological Notes of the Duke of Zhou" (Sun Yi compiled)
"Collected Works of the Duke of Zhou"
Zhong Er (King Hui of Jin, born in the fifth year of King Hui, died in the 24th year of King Xiang, 672–628 BC)
"Chronological Table of Zhong Er of Jin" (Wang Yuzhe compiled, "Examination of Zhong Er of Jin" (June 1939, Second Issue of "Journal of Historical Studies"))
"Chronological Table of Zhong Er of Jin" (Jiang Xing compiled, "Appendix of Zhong Er of Jin" (1980, Jiangxi People's Publishing House)) [Note: This table covers from the age of 17 to 70.]
"Examination of the Age of Zhong Er of Jin" (Li Mingfang, "Collected Works of Ancient Chinese History" (Third Issue of 1981))
"Discerning the Birth Year of Zhong Er of Jin" (Jin Yan, Fu Yaqian, "Journal of Shanxi Normal University" (Social Sciences) (Third Issue of 1982)) [Note: Claims Zhong Er was born in the 21st year of Duke Zhuang of Lu and the fourth year of Duke Xian of Jin (673 BC).]
Gong Qiao (Birth year unknown, died in the 20th year of Duke Zhao of Lu, ?–522 BC)
"Chronological Table of Zi Chang" (Zheng Keting compiled, "Biography of Zi Chang" (Chapter 2) (1941, Commercial Press)) [Note: This table covers from the eighth year of Duke Xiang of Lu (565 BC) onwards.]
Postscript:
The "General Catalogue of Chronological Tables of Chinese History" was published in 1980. The chronological tables collected cover those available until 1979, totaling 3,015 tables, with 277 reference articles and notes, reflecting 1,829 table compilers. Subsequent searches up to 1982 yielded another 238 tables, 52 reference articles, and 194 compilers (89 already listed in the "Catalogue," 105 not listed). Published in the 13th issue of "Documentary Series" in September 1982. After the "Supplement" was published, the newly discovered chronological tables were compiled into the "Third Catalogue" (unpublished); however, the compilation of the "Third Catalogue" faced numerous issues, primarily due to the compiler leaving their original workplace in 1985, limiting access to books and academic journals, and inability to conduct thorough searches in libraries. Thus, many newly published works were inevitably omitted, which is a matter of great regret and sorrow.
The present "General Catalogue," "Supplement," and "Third Catalogue" are compiled into the "Revised General Catalogue of Chronological Tables of Chinese History," totaling 4,450 tables, 645 reference articles, and 2,396 compilers. Since the "General Catalogue" was published, many friends and colleagues have sent letters with suggestions for improvement, which were not individually replied to at the time. On the occasion of the revised edition's publication, I humbly present my views as follows:
Some colleagues suggested that the included reference articles, though useful, may be overly extensive, risking redundancy. Should they be selectively included? I believe that as long as the references serve the purpose of consultation, the accuracy of their arguments may vary, and it is the reader's responsibility to discern the essence. Therefore, the revised edition retains the original practice of including everything, with only additions and no deletions. I wonder how the readers will view this approach.
Some colleagues proposed that since the "General Catalogue" includes a list of missing tables, it should aim to be comprehensive, particularly in collecting lost chronological tables. All records in public and private bibliographies, local chronicles, collected works, and miscellaneous texts should be thoroughly searched to provide a summary of previously compiled chronological tables. I believe this expectation is too high for the compiler. Summarizing past chronological tables is no easy task! With limited knowledge and resources, I hope colleagues interested in this work can fulfill this aspiration.
Another suggestion was to include my article "General Introduction to Chinese Chronological Tables" as an appendix in the revised edition for the readers' convenience. However, this article, drafted in 1979, requires significant revisions and additions. Without revision, publishing it would weigh heavily on my conscience. Thus, I was unable to meet this request in the revised edition. I sincerely hope for your understanding.
The above are my humble opinions. I sincerely hope readers will not hesitate to offer criticism. During the compilation of this book, many colleagues generously assisted, some by providing newly compiled chronological tables, others by sharing their personal collections, and some by correcting errors and conducting research. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of them. Additionally, when the "General Catalogue" was published in 1980, the late master of Ci poetry (deceased), Professor Xia Chengtao, inscribed the title; Professor Jiang Liangfu wrote the preface for the "Examination of Historical Chronological Tables" and "Questioning the Birth Year of Scholars of the Song and Yuan Dynasties." My profound gratitude is expressed here.
April 1994, Yang Dianxun