A Study of the History of the Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin Dynasties (Revised Edition)

Author: Tian Yuqing
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-02-01
Features: The book Explorations in the History of the Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin Dynasties collects recent works on history within the title's chronological scope. Most articles were written between 1979 and 1989, though a few were completed slightly later, but their content was all developed during those ten years. Two articles were written earlier, and since they have thematic connections or parallels with the other articles in Explorations, they were included after being edited. Naming the book Explorations lacks originality and does not fully satisfy me. I originally wanted to incorporate the ten-year time frame into the title. These ten years were vastly different from the past, with improved external conditions for reading and writing, which was truly rare. A literary figure titled an article Ten Years of Stumbling, which caught my attention. I was eager to find a similar title. After much deliberation, however, I abandoned this idea. After all, history is distinct from literature, and ancient history differs from modern history. Ancient history lacks a sense of the present and is inherently dry, while my articles are quite concise, making them difficult to read without a light touch. For such a book, giving it a title that is philosophical, literary, and lively would feel out of place. It is better to keep it simple and practical. My interest lies in uncovering hidden truths, and naming the book Explorations is quite fitting. All the articles included in Explorations have been revised, with some undergoing significant changes or even being rewritten. The revisions may involve changing titles, adding internal headings, supplementing or correcting materials, or refining and expanding arguments. However, the main themes of each article generally remain consistent to preserve their authenticity. Several articles now include brief postscripts, which usually contain additional information or conclusions not included in the original revisions, or serve as explanations of the original work. Since some articles in Explorations already had "appendices" or "postscripts," the newly added text in the editing process is uniformly labeled "Author's Postscript" to distinguish it from the original supplementary material. Over the past ten years, every thought or work I have produced has inevitably left me with the regret of being a latecomer. Yet, my self-awareness and understanding of scholarly discipline have grown steadily. A learned and versatile literary figure, when asked about his plans to write similar works after completing one of his books, replied that if he had the desire to write but could not, he would only regret it; but if he had the opportunity to write but produced something mediocre, he would regret it, and regret is a bitter feeling. Therefore, he emphasized, "I would rather regret than regret." I have pondered these words for a long time. I know that disciplines differ, and knowledge varies in depth, so I cannot speak in general terms or compare myself to predecessors. Nevertheless, the scholarly maxim "I would rather regret than regret" is like a contemporary Records of the Grand Masters, deeply moving and thought-provoking. I take it as my guiding principle. The book Explorations in the History of the Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin Dynasties collects recent works on history within the title's chronological scope. Most articles were written between 1979 and 1989, though a few were completed slightly later, but their content was all developed during those ten years. Two articles were written earlier, and since they have thematic connections or parallels with the other articles in Explorations, they were included after being edited.