Bo Yang's Plain Language Version of Zizhi Tongjian (Second Series: The Rise and Fall of the Later Han, Full Four Volumes)

Author: Sima Guang (compiled), Bo Yang (translated)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: The colloquial version of Zizhi Tongjian titled "Qin Wind and Han Rain" (4 volumes) was created by Taiwanese scholar Bo Yang and published by Beiyue Literature and Art Press. Bo Yang began working on the translation of Zizhi Tongjian in 1983, publishing it in monthly installments as a magazine by the Taiwan Yilin Publishing Company under the title Bo Yang's Version of Zizhi Tongjian. Bo Yang spent a decade (1983-1993) translating Zizhi Tongjian into modern language, personally redrawing maps, and infusing his own historical perspectives to discuss the causes of historical success and failure. This made a historical work originally intended only for emperors and generals feel remarkably accessible to modern readers. The series underwent extensive revisions, including a comprehensive correction of names and places in the original text, addressing numerous omissions and errors, as well as adapting terms and narrative styles that were not suitable for mainland Chinese readers or modern Chinese language norms. Additionally, historical maps and charts were redrawn based on the Historical Atlas of China and the latest research findings.