Translation History (Full 10 Volumes)

Author: Ma Chao (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2002-01-01
Features: The Annals of History (《》) consists of 160 volumes. The main text is divided into five parts: Ancient Times, Three Dynasties, Spring and Autumn, Warring States, and Extraneous Records.
1. Ancient Times (the Three Emperors and Five Kings), totaling 10 volumes.
2. Three Dynasties (the Xia, Shang, and Western Zhou), totaling 20 volumes.
3. Spring and Autumn (the 12 rulers of the Spring and Autumn period), totaling 70 volumes.
4. Warring States to the fall of Qin, totaling 50 volumes.
5. Extraneous Records (covering celestial phenomena, geographical records, names of things, institutions, etc.), totaling 10 volumes.
At the end of the book, genealogical charts are included to complement the main text, a feature unprecedented in previous historical works. It is described as "a bold and original creation, forming its own distinct style." The Annals of History not only meticulously records the rise and fall of each dynasty and their underlying patterns but also extensively covers the doctrines of the Hundred Schools of Thought and their canonical institutions, reflecting various aspects of social life at the time. In terms of sources, in addition to Confucian classics, it widely incorporates the theories of the Hundred Schools of Thought, treating the classics, history, philosophy, and literature equally, with mutual corroboration. The textual research is extremely precise, and the material coverage is quite comprehensive. In terms of style, it combines the characteristics of annals with the strengths of both chronological and biographical histories. He created a comprehensive historical genre that integrates biographies, events, charts, and tables in a single book.