Zizhi Tongjian (Complete 20 volumes)

Author: Sima Guang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-09-01
Features: Zizhi Tongjian is not only a great historical work but also a great literary work. In this monumental work, the author employs keen observation and unique artistic techniques to vividly depict the vast and tumultuous social life, while successfully shaping numerous lifelike historical figures. Over the course of a millennium, the academic and social value of Zizhi Tongjian has been recognized by an increasing number of people. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially since the Reform and Opening-Up, countless versions of Zizhi Tongjian have emerged, but few of them are of high quality, making them rare indeed—"like the feathers of a phoenix and the claws of a qilin." A significant portion of these versions, however, are carelessly produced and irresponsible, either taking excerpts out of context or making arbitrary annotations, misleading readers. Zizhi Tongjian is a collective historical work, with Sima Guang as the chief editor and Liu Shu, Liu Ban, and Fan Zuyu as associate editors. Sima Guang's son, Sima Kang, was responsible for reviewing the text. Originally intended to be titled Tongzhi, the work was renamed Zizhi Tongjian by Emperor Shenzong after his accession to the throne, meaning "to learn from the past for the governance of the present." Zizhi Tongjian covers history from the 23rd year of King Weili of Zhou (400 BC) to the 6th year of Xingde in the Later Zhou Dynasty (959 AD), a total of 1,362 years, divided into 294 volumes with over 3 million words. Additionally, there are 30 volumes of the Catalogue and 30 volumes of the Investigation of Discrepancies. It took 19 years to compile this monumental work. Sima Guang wrote Zizhi Tongjian to consolidate the feudal regime of his time, which determined that the content of the book was primarily political history. He classified historical rulers into five categories based on their abilities: founders, successors, decline, revivals, and chaotic downfall. Zizhi Tongjian exposes and condemns historical events to serve as a warning for future rulers. The work also contains many valuable historical records on military, economic, cultural, academic thought, and historiography. The materials collected in Zizhi Tongjian are extremely rich, with estimates suggesting that it cites over 300 books. Zizhi Tongjian is one of China's most important chronological histories, not only providing governance experience for the feudal ruling class but also holding significant historical value. The entire work is meticulously structured, with clear connections between sections, and its language is concise. These qualities have had a profound impact on later historiography.