Continue Zizhi Tongjian

Author: Bi Yuan
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1992-01-01
Features: The Zizhi Tongjian, compiled by Sima Guang of the Northern Song Dynasty, is described as "extensive in scope and profound in thought, unparalleled in ancient times" (Siku Quanshu Zongmu Tiyao). Its achievements reached the pinnacle of ancient annalistic history, making it an immortal classic of learning and occupying an important position in the history of ancient Chinese historiography. The Zizhi Tongjian records history from the 23rd year of King Weilie of Zhou (403 BC) to the 6th year of Xingde in the Later Zhou Dynasty (959 AD), covering 1,362 years of history. Subsequent historians then engaged in continuous compilation. This work can be divided into two categories: supplementing the beginning and continuing the end. The former includes Liu Shu's Tongjian Waiji (10 volumes), which starts from Bao Ji and ends at the 22nd year of King Weilie of Zhou (404 BC), connecting with the Zizhi Tongjian; and Song Lixiang's Tongjian Qianbian (80 volumes), which begins with Tang Yao and continues with the Zizhi Tongjian. The latter includes Li Tao of the Southern Song Dynasty's Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian (520 volumes), which starts from Jianlong and ends at Jingkang, covering 168 years of history from nine Northern Song dynasties; Wang Zongmu's Song Yuan Zizhi Tongjian (64 volumes), which follows the example of the Zizhi Tongjian and records the history of the Song and Yuan dynasties; Xue Yingqi's Song Yuan Zizhi Tongjian (157 volumes), also following the example of the Zizhi Tongjian and recording the history of the Song and Yuan dynasties; Xu Qianxue's Tongjian Houbian (184 volumes), which starts from the first year of Emperor Taizu of Song (960 AD) and ends at the 27th year of Emperor Zhizheng of Yuan (1367 AD), also recording the history of the Song and Yuan dynasties; and Xia Xie's Ming Tongjian (100 volumes), which specializes in the history of the Ming Dynasty. The work that combines both supplementing the beginning and continuing the end is Chen ’s Tongjian Xubian (24 volumes), which begins with Pan Gu to Gaoxin Shi, absent in the Tongjian Qianbian, and then records the history of Tang and the Five Dynasties and Khitan; followed by 22 volumes detailing the history of the two Song dynasties to continue the Zizhi Tongjian. Additionally, Bi Yuan's Xu Zizhi Tongjian also belongs to the category of continuing the Zizhi Tongjian. Through the continuous compilations of these scholars, a complete series of Tongjian-based historical works has formed in the vast collection of Chinese historical texts. The arrangement of content in this book equally emphasizes the history of the Song, Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties, overcoming the past flaw of ancient histories focusing more on the Song and less on the Liao, Jin, and Yuan, which is a significant feature of this book.