Historical Records with Annotations (Complete 9 Volumes)

Author: Han Zhaoqi (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-12-01
Features: The Annotated Records of the Grand Historian is divided into nine major volumes, totaling approximately 5.5 million words, which is ten times the length of the original Records of the Grand Historian. Based on the "Three Commentaries on the Records of the Grand Historian" and the Collected Annotations and Examinations of the Records of the Grand Historian," this work extensively incorporates diverse sources, pioneering innovations. Compared to previous annotations of the Records of the Grand Historian throughout history, it exhibits distinct features. The Annotated Records of the Grand Historian boasts six major strengths:
1. The entire work is approximately 58 million words, while the original text of the Records of the Grand Historian is over 5 million words. The newly added annotations are ten times the length of the original, demonstrating unprecedented detail and extensive research.
2. The book corrects over 200 errors in the wording and punctuation of the current standard editions (including the collated edition published by Zhonghua Book Company) of the Records of the Grand Historian.
3. Grounded in traditional interpretations, it fully incorporates new research findings over the past century. It refutes inaccuracies in traditional explanations and proposes insightful new interpretations for previously unclear passages.
4. It employs the "dual-evidence method" advocated by Mr. Wang Guowei for annotating the Records of the Grand Historian. The work emphasizes the use of documents and artifacts newly discovered or unearthed in China over the past century to examine and verify the historical facts narrated in the Records of the Grand Historian.
5. It collects and cites comments by political figures, military strategists, and thinkers from ancient and modern times regarding historical figures and events in the Records of the Grand Historian, making the annotations more robust and vivid.
6. The annotations place great emphasis on the literary qualities of the Records of the Grand Historian, fully collecting and citing relevant materials to substantiate its literary merits.
With these strengths, The Annotated Records of the Grand Historian demonstrates profound academic rigor, broad perspectives, precise insights, and a literary language that complements the work's literary qualities. It stands as a new classic in Records of the Grand Historian annotation, marking a milestone in the 21st century, following the "Three Commentaries" before the Tang Dynasty.
The Annotated Records of the Grand Historian is not only detailed in annotations and rich in materials but also visually engaging. It includes 35 topographic maps of historical periods and regions covered in the Records of the Grand Historian, as well as over 130 pictures related to historical sites, archaeological discoveries, and unearthed artifacts. Additionally, the book provides pinyin pronunciations for difficult and uncommon characters, modern names for historical places, corresponding Gregorian dates for ancient imperial reign periods and lunar calendar dates, and approximate modern equivalents for ancient units of measurement. These features are highly relevant and urgently needed for contemporary readers.