Tang Dynasty Chronicles (Illustrated Edition)

Author: None
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: In the past, Liu Xun of the Jin Dynasty and the historian Zhang Zhaoyuan compiled the "Tang History" in 200 volumes, chronicling the 290 years of the Tang Dynasty. Later generations criticized it for its disorganized structure and fragmented facts. Thus, during the Qingli period of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty, a new compilation was published, totaling 225 volumes, completed over 17 years, with and as the main compilers.
Liu Xun and were renowned scholars of the Northern Song Dynasty, with greater literary fame than Liu Xun and Zhang Zhaoyuan. After more than a decade of collecting and verifying historical records, all previously unpublished materials from the Five Dynasties period were included, making the work more accurate and comprehensive. Moreover, it is easier to refine and polish than to create from scratch. Replacing the old with the new was inevitable. However, critics still faulted it for its obscure wording and lack of literary refinement, as well as its selective omission of imperial decrees, which were too brief. How difficult it is to write history!
Yet, reading history is equally challenging. The "Old Tang History" has 200 volumes, and the "New Tang History" has as many as 225. Who could possibly read every word without missing a single detail? Beyond these, there are works like Sun Fu’s "Tang Dynasty History," Zhao Zhan’s "Tang Dynasty Annals," Chen Pengnian’s "Tang Dynasty Chronicles," Yuan Shu’s "Tang Dynasty Annals of Events," each with 100 or dozens of volumes. Even if one spent their entire day reading at the desk without stopping, it would still be impossible to finish them all.
For the younger generation, with limited knowledge, to read all of the Tang history is not only impractical but also impossible. They turn to popular novels from the market, such as "Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties," "Complete Story of the Tang Dynasty," "The Xue Family Generals," "Eastward Expedition," "Westward Expedition," "Luo Tong’s Northern Expedition," as well as "Journey to the West," "The Palace of Eternal Life," "Flowers and Mirrors," and "Green Plum Blossom." They read these day and night, mistaking them for factual accounts. But how can they know that these tales are baseless and full of fabrications? They may entertain but do little to enlighten the mind and may even mislead it.
I, though unworthy, have compiled popular tales of the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, publishing them in installments. The refined scholars of the land did not mock my simplicity and even praised them for aiding popular education. Thus, I turned back to the Tang Dynasty to create a narrative of 100 chapters, using official history as the foundation to ensure accuracy and incorporating anecdotes as supplementary threads, avoiding falsehoods.
Xu Mao Gong was not a strategist before his rise, and Li Yao had no magical powers. Luo Yi died in rebellion, yet had no descendants. Yu Shao’s fame did not extend to his children. Tang Xuanzang’s journey to India did not involve demons, nor did Xue Ren Gui’s achievements in the heavens rely on his son-in-law. Empress Wu’s debauchery did not result in secret sons, and Yang Guifei’s execution did not allow her to achieve enlightenment and reunite with her husband. Such absurdities and vulgar tales are refuted here, breaking worldly superstitions and serving as a complement to historians. The fictional characters of fiction will surely not sneer from the sidelines.
However, the book was completed in haste and has not been thoroughly revised. Errors may remain, and I hope the scholars of history across the land will correct my shortcomings.
Written in the eleventh year of the Republic of China, the summer solstice on the ninth day of the ninth month, by Cai Dongfan of Ancient Yue at the Linjiang Study.