Author Critiques of the Twenty-Six Histories

Author: Men Kui
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2006-06-01
Features: To draw lessons from history and to promote the fine traditions of the Chinese nation, the Twenty-Six Histories have become essential reading for those with aspirations. The Biographies of the Authors of the Twenty-Six Histories is the first comprehensive evaluation of the authors of the Twenty-Six Histories in the field of literature and history. It selects representative and influential figures from each history and provides detailed accounts of their growth, their reasons for engaging in historical compilation, as well as their knowledge, talents, character, and contributions to historical writing, outlining their profiles and main spirits. Each biography integrates modern and contemporary academic research, striving for factual accuracy and clear perspectives.
The Twenty-Six Histories refer to twenty-six historical works written in the chronicle style. They include: Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Book of Han (Han Shu), Book of the Later Han (Hou Han Shu), Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Zhi), Book of Jin (Jin Shu), Book of Song (Song Shu), Book of Southern Qi (Nan Qi Shu), Book of Liang (Liang Shu), Book of Chen (Chen Shu), Book of Wei (Wei Shu), Book of Northern Qi (Beiqi Shu), Book of Zhou (Zhou Shu), Book of Southern History (Nan Shi), Book of Northern History (Beishi), Book of Sui (Sui Shu), Old Book of Tang (Jiu Tang Shu), New Book of Tang (Xin Tang Shu), Old Book of the Five Dynasties (Jiu Wudai Shu), New Book of the Five Dynasties (Xin Wudai Shu), History of Liao (Liao Shi), History of Jin (Jin Shi), History of Song (Song Shi), History of Yuan (Yuan Shi), New History of Yuan (Xin Yuan Shi), History of Ming (Ming Shi), and Draft History of Qing (Qing Shi Gao).
Among these twenty-six histories, Records of the Grand Historian is a comprehensive history, while the rest are mostly dynastic histories. They were written one after another over more than two thousand years, the result of painstaking efforts by hundreds of scholars across dozens of generations.