Essentials of the Twenty-Four Histories in Plain Language (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Feng Guochao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-01
Features: History records the entire process of the birth and development of a country and nation, encompassing its spiritual wealth and wisdom, and revealing the objective laws of its rise and fall. As Mr. Lu Xun once said, "History writes the soul of China and points to the future of the nation." The study and research of history are not only about evaluating the merits and demerits of historical figures and political factions but also concern the rise and fall of a nation. Learning, researching, and compiling history hold significant practical meaning for the nation, the country, and individuals. Among the spiritual treasures left to us by our ancestors, historical classics are vast as the sea, and the "Twenty-Four Histories" shine like pearls in the vast ocean. As the mainstay of Chinese historiography, the "Twenty-Four Histories" is the only complete official history collection in China, compiled by the emperors after the Qianlong reign. It uses a unified chronological and biographical style to comprehensively and systematically record the historical process of China from ancient times to the Ming Chongzhen era, fully displaying the rise and fall of successive dynasties, covering various aspects such as economy, politics, science and technology, military, art, and foreign affairs of different historical periods. It is truly an encyclopedia of Chinese civilization. To allow this monumental historical work to shine anew in the new century, the national-level publishing institution Guangming Daily Press organized experts and scholars to comprehensively organize the "Twenty-Four Histories" according to a new scientific system, selecting its finest parts and accurately translating the classical language into modern Chinese. This enables readers to cross the deep and lengthy literary gap and enjoy the joy of reading effortlessly. Moreover, we broke the rigid format-focused model of the past, accompanying it with nearly four thousand exquisite illustrations. Using artifacts, paintings, ruins, and other visual elements from multiple perspectives, we immerse readers in the real historical scenes, allowing them to truly experience the holistic, three-dimensional, and concrete evolution of Chinese civilization. From this, they can savor the profound and vast Chinese culture and the mysterious wisdom of life. The Guangming edition of "Essentials of the Twenty-Four Histories in Plain Language" strives to present readers with a classic version of the "Twenty-Four Histories" that integrates history, literature, and aesthetics. The "Twenty-Four Histories" primarily records the nearly five thousand years of development of ancient Chinese society since the Yellow Emperor and the rise and fall of dozens of dynasties, reflecting the orthodox concepts and spirit of each era. Therefore, it is the most authoritative treasure trove for studying Chinese history and ancient Chinese culture, truly an encyclopedia of Chinese civilization. Mao Zedong was deeply passionate about reading history, particularly fond of the "Twenty-Four Histories." Over twenty years, he read through about forty million words of the "Twenty-Four Histories," some parts multiple times, even using different colored pens to heavily underline and annotate. His meticulous study was not only to enrich his historical knowledge but also, more importantly, to use history as a mirror to seek the laws, lessons, and experiences of social development and the rise and fall of nations, summarizing governance strategies and the art of ruling. It is evident that the "Twenty-Four Histories" played an irreplaceable role in accumulating Mao Zedong's profound historical literacy and his great practice of leading the Chinese revolution.