Four Dynasties Records - Tang and Song Historical Notes

Author: Unknown
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1989-02-01
Features: The Record of Four Dynasties, compiled by Song Shi Shao Weng. Shao Weng styled Si Zong, styled Jing Yi. He self-identified as a native of Longquan. Li Lei in the 71st volume of Song Shi Ji Shi referred to him as a native of Jian'an, which differs from his self-description. In the B of The Record of Four Dynasties, under the entry "Emperor Gaozong's Six Voyages to the Sea," Shao Weng himself stated, "My great-grandfather Li Yingshi, whose ancestors were originally from Guishi, Guangzhou, moved to Pucheng in Jian'an." The Zhejiang Prefecture Gazetteer also records that Shao Weng's ancestors were from Guishi, Guangzhou, who later moved to Pucheng and then to Longquan. According to this, Shao Weng's ancestral home was Guishi, Guangzhou (now in Henan), and he later resided in Longquan, Zhejiang (now in Zhejiang). It is more accurate to rely on his self-identification. Shao Weng has no biography in the Song Shi, and his life story is difficult to trace. In the A of The Record of Four Dynasties, under the entry "The Six Gentlemen of Qingyuan," it is recorded that in the year Gengchen (1220), when the capital was in turmoil, Zhou Duanchao said to Shao Weng, "You can now reveal your inner thoughts." Shao Weng replied, "With the master present, how dare I speak." The same collection also mentions Shao Weng's private correction of the examination papers of Xu Huangding with Zhen Dexiu (1118–1233). Based on this, the Siku Quanshu Zongmu Tieshuo notes that Shao Weng "may have also served as an official, but his specific position is unknown." Later scholars generally agree with this, and it is likely true. During the time of the compilation of The Record of Four Dynasties, Neo-Confucianism was flourishing, and Shao Weng followed the teachings of Yue Shi and was also on good terms with Zhen Dexiu, so his learning was largely influenced by Zhu Xi. However, in the records involving Zhu Xi, Shao Weng was unafraid to be straightforward. For example, in the B under the entry "Lu Learning," it is recorded: "I once traveled together with scholars from Fujian and rested together. We discussed the decline of Zhu Zai's family reputation, and he even said, 'In my entire life, I have sold the Wuyi Mountains.'" It is deeply regrettable that Zhu Zai's family reputation has declined, which is one example. Therefore, the Siku Tieshuo praises Shao Weng as "not one to cling to factions" and "his discussions are largely fair." Zhou Zhongfu in the Zhengtang Dushujiaoshi also remarked, "It is clear that he is impartial in judging right and wrong." These comments are quite fair. After the Southern Song Dynasty moved south, the records became quite brief. Li Xinchuan's Juyan Yilai Nianyao Luelu and Chaoye Qinzhi Hao are considered detailed and can supplement the historical records. Beyond these two works, the most notable is The Record of Four Dynasties. However, Li's two works only cover the 36 years of Emperor Gaozong's reign, while The Record of Four Dynasties differs. It is divided into five volumes: A, B, C, D, and E, with a total of 209 entries. Each entry has a title and is not arranged in chronological order. The A, B, C, and E volumes record events from the reigns of Emperor Gaozong, Emperor Xiaozong, Emperor Guangzong, and Emperor Ningzong, while the D volume only records three events: Emperor Ningzong's accession to the throne, the Qingyuan Faction Ban, and is clear and well-organized, with ample historical value. Especially in its detailed and specific account of the rise and fall of Han Tuozhou—from his rise to power to his execution—no other work matches its depth. The Song Shi's biography of Han Tuozhou draws heavily from this work. It contains many important records of the court rules, state policies, institutional systems, and anecdotes of the Southern Song Dynasty. Therefore, when Cheng Gongxu reviewed the two volumes, he praised it as "detailed and extensive, with factual accounts and subtle wording. In the future, it will be sufficient for historians to supplement lost records, and it is not a minor matter." The Record of Four Dynasties is one of the indispensable works for studying the Southern Song Dynasty. However, it also contains many errors. For example, in the A under the entry "Gongxiao Yi Wang Da Jie," it mistakenly attributes the poem "Gantang Guan" by Liu Yuxi to Zhao Zhongshi's visit to Tianzhu. Song Chen Yu in the "Zang Yi Fu Bei" criticized this. The same collection also includes the entry "Harm the Sage and Establish the Throne," which records that during Emperor Guangzong's abdication, the Empress Dowager Ciyi took something from the inner quarters to give to Emperor Ningzong. Zhou Mi in the "Qidong Ye Yu" volume three also questioned this, stating, "How could the imperial treasures be taken only after the ascension to the throne? Each has its own duties—how could they be placed in the inner quarters? This is likely not true." Other examples include the entry "Han Shou in a Letter" in the B, which records that after Han Tuozhou's execution, Zhang Liangneng suggested using his head to negotiate with the Jin, but Wang Jie protested, arguing it was unacceptable. Zhou Mi believed this was "not true," and it was likely Lin Dameng, Lou Ling, and Ni Si who strongly opposed it. Additionally, Wang Shizhen in the "Juyi Lü" volume eight criticized the work for being "rather tedious and fragmented," stating it "does not match Li's Chaoye Qinzhi." This is also true. Previous scholars categorized Li's work in the history section, while placing this work in the fiction category, which may be related to the aforementioned shortcomings. However, this does not affect its reference value. The standard edition of The Record of Four Dynasties is the one published in the Guangxu year (1778) by the Zhiyuzuji. This edition was used as the basis for the current collation. The original work was divided into five volumes, each with one volume. When Bao Tingbo published this work, he added an appendix at the end of volume E, which detailed the "Secret Records of the Qishui Inkstone," mentioning Wang Daming's tombstone. He included the Zhenmu's copy preserved by Gao Shiqi and a volume of inscriptions and annotations by famous scholars of the Song and Yuan dynasties. This appendix is still included here for reference.