Biographical Notes on Ma Duanlin

Author: Wang Ruiming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-12-01
Features: Ma Duanlin was a renowned historian during the transitional period between the Song and Yuan dynasties. To seek methods for governing the state and ensuring the people's well-being, he explored the principles of integrating past and present, emphasized the flexibility of policies, and took Du You's Tongdian as a blueprint to complete the comprehensive and insightful work Wenxian Tongkao. Wenxian Tongkao is a monumental work in the study of ancient Chinese institutional systems, with a unique structure, abundant historical materials, rich content, and incisive commentary. This book discusses Ma Duanlin's life and achievements, explaining his historical context, family background, political ideals, economic intentions, historical thought, and methods of historical research in nine chapters. It concludes with an introduction to the achievements of Wenxian Tongkao in bibliography, the author's intentions in writing it, and the evaluations it has received over the generations, truly reflecting Ma Duanlin's true character and historical accomplishments.