Old Book of Tang (Complete 16 Volumes)

Author: Liu Xiang (Later Jin)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-12-07
Features: The Old Book of Tang, compiled during the Later Jin period of the Five Dynasties, is the earliest systematic record of Tang Dynasty history. Originally titled The Book of Tang, it was later renamed the Old Book of Tang to distinguish it from the New Book of Tang compiled by Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi of the Northern Song Dynasty. The book is divided into three parts: Annals, Treatises, and Biographies, totaling 200 volumes. The authors of the Old Book of Tang were close to the Tang Dynasty and had access to a large amount of Tang Dynasty historical materials, especially those from the early period of the Tang Dynasty. Notable among them are the 130 volumes of the Book of Tang compiled successively by Wu Jing, Wei Shu, Yu Xiulie, and Linghu Qian, which provide a relatively complete account of historical events from the early Tang Dynasty to the reign of Emperor Daizong. There are also the veritable records of each reign from Emperor Gaozu to Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty. However, historical materials from the later period of the Tang Dynasty were less accessible, with only one volume of the veritable record of Emperor Wuzong and other fragmented materials. The Old Book of Tang was completed in a short period, largely compiling Tang Dynasty historical materials. Many parts of the book use terms like "the current emperor" and "our" (referring to the Tang Dynasty), which are inherited from the old style of the Tang Dynasty's official history or veritable records. "The current emperor" refers to the emperor during the time of the Tang Dynasty historians' writing, and "our" refers to the Tang Dynasty. The term "min" (a respectful address for officials) often appears in the commentaries, reflecting the titles used by Tang Dynasty historians. In terms of material acquisition and editing, completeness of style, and clarity of language, the later parts of the Old Book of Tang are inferior. The Annals after Emperor Mu are verbose and redundant; the Treatises and Bibliography only cover the era of Emperor Xuanzong; the Biographies have significant omissions regarding figures from the late Tang Dynasty; and phenomena such as duplicate entries and repeated accounts also exist. These indicate that the Old Book of Tang is relatively rough. However, the Old Book of Tang provides detailed accounts of historical events and preserves rich historical materials, making it valuable for readers to understand the processes and specifics of historical events. It has been highly regarded by later generations. Although the Annals after Emperor Mu are somewhat chaotic and criticized by later scholars, they still preserve many valuable historical materials. For example, the uprisings of Pang Xun and Huang Chao are recorded in detail in the Annals of Emperor Yizong and Emperor Xizong, which are even more precious given that there are no biographies for Pang Xun or only brief accounts of Huang Chao in the Biographies. The Annals of Emperors Zhaozong and Aidi provide detailed descriptions of the arrogance and tyranny of certain warlords and eunuchs, reflecting some specific scenes during the decline of the Tang Dynasty. The part of the Zizhi Tongjian on the Tang Dynasty by Sima Guang largely adopts the Old Book of Tang because of its detailed and clear accounts. The Old Book of Tang also includes many articles of great historical value. For instance, the biographies of Lü Cai and Lu Zangyu include important essays on their opposition to superstition. The biography of Jia Dan includes two memorials he submitted for the compilation of geographical maps. These are influential documents in the history of Chinese thought and geography. Additionally, in the biographies of Fu Yi, Di Renjie, Yao Chong, and others, articles opposing Buddhism are included, which reveal the significant impact of Buddhism's prevalence on politics, economy, and society during the Tang Dynasty, as well as the struggles of secular landlords against Buddhism. Some of these articles are among the earliest preserved in the Old Book of Tang. The New Book of Tang, which appeared after the Old Book of Tang, although supplemented with more historical materials, especially in the Treatises, tables, and biographies of the later Tang Dynasty, often presents overly concise narratives and accounts, making it difficult for readers to understand specific situations. It has either deleted or compressed many of the articles included in the Old Book of Tang into brief fragments, even rewriting them in prose to alter the original form of historical documents. In comparison, the Old Book of Tang holds an irreplaceable value in preserving historical materials that the New Book of Tang cannot match.