Tang Zhéchōngfǔ Huìkǎo

Author: Zhang Pei
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-08-01
Features: The main materials for Studies on Tang Zhéchongfu. Zhang Pei, during his long-term engagement in cultural relics and museum work, encountered a vast number of Tang Dynasty epitaphs. He noticed that many of them contained information related to the (fubing system). Thus, he casually copied and categorized these records, accumulating nearly a thousand index cards over a decade. Most of these Tang epitaphs were newly discovered by cultural relic and archaeological workers after 1949, and previous scholars had never had access to them. Using these materials to enrich and develop research on the undoubtedly broadened the perspective and revealed many new issues.
Previously, scholars had already achieved significant results in this field. For instance, the Qing Dynasty scholar Lao Jingyuan’s Studies on Tang Zhéchongfu, Luo Zhenyu’s Supplementary Studies on Tang Zhéchongfu and Further Supplementary Studies on Tang Zhéchongfu, as well as Gu Jiguang’s Collected Annotations on Tang Zhéchongfu, all hold high academic value. However, as the saying goes, "a clever woman cannot cook without rice." When these scholars could not access the newly unearthed epitaphs after 1949, history demanded that later generations of scholars contribute to the advancement of this research. Comrade Zhang Pei responded to this trend of the times, using his newly acquired precious materials to supplement and develop a crucial aspect of the study of the throughout history. His main contributions are fully reflected in the "New Supplements" of the book. Most of the content in the "New Supplements" is derived from Tang Dynasty epitaphs. Therefore, we believe that Tang epitaphs are the key factor that has contributed to the book’s significance.
Not only does the book add substantial new content in terms of materials, but it also presents many original insights. The book includes numerous author’s notes. These notes are often the result of the author advancing the study of this issue by referring to the achievements of previous scholars and incorporating new evidence. From both quantity and quality perspectives, the book significantly surpasses earlier research in this field. It is certain that the publication of this book will undoubtedly promote the study of the and Tang Dynasty history.
This book collects Tang Zhéchongfu materials discovered since the 1930s, especially those found since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. To facilitate the study of Tang history, particularly the Tang military system, the book organizes and interprets the materials obtained by the three preceding scholars—Lao Jingyuan, Luo Zhenyu, and Gu Jiguang—since the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, along with the newly added materials, into a comprehensive collection.