Wei Shu (8 Volumes in Total) -- Traditional Vertical Layout

Author: Wei Shou (Northern Qi)
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1974-01-01
Features: The Book of Wei consists of 124 volumes, including 12 volumes of chronicles, 92 volumes of biographies, and 20 volumes of treatises. Due to some chronicles, biographies, and treatises being excessively long, they were further divided into upper, lower, or upper, middle, and lower volumes, totaling 130 volumes in reality. Compiled by Wei Shou of the Northern Qi. The Xianbei ethnic group was an ancient people native to the eastern foothills of the Greater Khingan Mountains in northeastern China. In the late 1st century, following the disintegration of the Xiongnu Empire, the Xianbei gradually migrated westward and became a powerful ethnic group in the Gobi Desert. In the early 3rd century, the leader of the Tuoba Xianbei, Yilu, established the state of Dai in the northern frontier. In 376, the state of Dai was destroyed by the Former Qin, a state established by the Di ethnic group. In 386, the Tuoba Xianbei tribes once again elected Tuoba Gui as the ruler of Dai, restoring the state. Tuoba Gui dissolved the original tribal organization of the Tuoba Xianbei, adopted settled agriculture, moved the capital to Pingcheng, and in 398 renamed the state as Wei, which became known as Northern Wei in history. Due to its absorption of advanced Han culture, the Northern Wei grew increasingly powerful and ultimately unified northern China in 439, ending the turbulent period of the Sixteen Kingdoms. In 493, Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei moved the capital to Luoyang, changed his surname to Yuan, and implemented a series of Sinicization reforms. During the reign of Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei, the state reached its peak, capturing Hanzhong in the west, probing into Sichuan, consolidating defenses around Luoyang in the east, and competing with the Liang Dynasty for control of Huainan. However, it soon collapsed due to political corruption and popular resistance, splitting into the Eastern Wei and Western Wei, two rival states. The Book of Wei records the history of the Tuoba Xianbei from its early period to 550 AD, when the Eastern Wei was replaced by the Northern Qi. During Tuoba Gui's reign, Deng Yuan was ordered to compile The Chronicles of Dai in 10 volumes, arranging the state's historical events chronologically. In the second year of the Shengjia era under Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei, an edict was issued to compile The Chronicles of the State, which was finalized in a chronological style by Cui Hao as a 30-volume work. The Book of Wei suffered significant losses during its transmission, with 2 volumes of chronicles and 22 volumes of biographies missing, as well as three incomplete volumes that were later supplemented by later scholars using other historical texts. Wei Shou was a native of Xiaquyang in Julu, Northern Qi, styled Boqi, and known by the childhood name Fuzhu. He was sharp-witted and skilled in writing, alongside Wen Zixing and Xing Zicai, earning the title of the "Three Wits." However, he was considered frivolous and was nicknamed "the startled butterfly." When commissioned to compile The Book of Wei, he claimed, "What insignificant youth dares to oppose Wei Shou, daring to make him angry—press him, and he will ascend to heaven; restrain him, and he will descend to the underworld." After the book was completed, public opinion was divided, condemning it as the "Scandalous History." Wei Shou revised the manuscript three times before it was finalized.