Wei Shu (Complete Eight Volumes)

Author: Wei Shou (Northern Qi)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-07
Features: The Wei Shu consists of 124 volumes, including 12 volumes of chronicles, 92 volumes of biographies, and 20 volumes of treatises. Due to some chronicles, biographies, and treatises being excessively long, they were further divided into upper, lower, or upper, middle, and lower sections, resulting in a total of 130 volumes. Compiled by Wei Shou of the Northern Qi. The Xianbei ethnic group is an ancient people native to the eastern foothills of the Greater Khingan Mountains in northeastern China. In the late 1st century CE, following the disintegration of the Xiongnu Empire, the Xianbei gradually migrated westward, becoming a powerful ethnic group in the Gobi Desert. In the early 3rd century CE, the leader of the Tuoba Xianbei, Yilu, established the state of Dai in the northern frontier. In 376 CE, the state of Dai was destroyed by the former Qin Empire, which was founded by the Di ethnic group. In 386 CE, the Tuoba Xianbei tribes once again elected Tuoba Guo as the king of Dai, restoring the state. Tuoba Guo dissolved the original tribal organization of the Tuoba Xianbei, adopted settled agriculture, moved the capital to Pingcheng, and in 398 CE renamed the state as Wei, which became known as Northern Wei in history. Due to its absorption of advanced Han culture, the Northern Wei grew increasingly powerful and ultimately unified northern China in 439 CE, ending the turbulent period of the Sixteen Kingdoms. In 493 CE, Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei moved the capital to Luoyang, changed his surname to Yuan, and implemented a series of Sinicization reforms. During the reign of Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei, the empire reached its peak, capturing Hanzhong in the west, probing into the Sichuan Basin, consolidating defenses around Luoyang in the east, and competing with the Liang Dynasty for control of the Huainan region. However, the empire soon collapsed due to political corruption and popular resistance, splitting into the Eastern Wei and Western Wei as two rival states. The Wei Shu records the history of the Tuoba Xianbei from its early stages to 550 CE, when the Eastern Wei was replaced by the Northern Qi. During Tuoba Guo's reign, Deng Yuan was ordered to compile the Dai Ji (Records of Dai), a 10-volume chronicle of the dynasty's history. In the second year of Emperor Taiwu's reign (Shenjia era), an imperial edict was issued to compile the Guo Ji (Records of the State), which was later standardized as a chronological history by Cui Hao, resulting in a 30-volume work. The Wei Shu suffered significant losses during its transmission, with 2 volumes of chronicles and 22 volumes of biographies missing, as well as three incomplete volumes that were later supplemented by later scholars. Wei Shou was a native of Xiaqiyang in Julu, Northern Qi, styled Boqi, and known by his childhood name Fuzhu. He was sharp-witted and skilled in writing, alongside Wen Zixing and Xing Zicai, earning the title of the "Three Wits." However, he was considered frivolous and was nicknamed "the startled butterfly." When commissioned to compile the Wei Shu, he claimed, "What insignificant brat dares to show displeasure with Wei Shou? Raise him up, and he will ascend to heaven; press him down, and he will descend to the underworld." After the book was completed, public opinion was divided, and it was criticized as the "filthy history." Wei Shou revised the manuscript three times before it was finalized.