Zizhi Tongjian (Complete 20 Volumes)

Author: Sima Guang (Song Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1956-06-01
Features: Mao Zedong once told someone in his later years that he had read the "Zizhi Tongjian," a historical chronicle over 3 million characters long, 17 times! Qing Dynasty scholar Wang Mingsheng also said: "This is a book that is indispensable in the world and must be read by scholars." By reading the "Zizhi Tongjian," one can observe the rise and fall of history and draw lessons from the experience of governing and ruling—this is still the meaning that Emperor Shenzong of Song had said: "Learning from the past to benefit governance." As can be seen, the "Zizhi Tongjian" truly lives up to its name.
The "Zizhi Tongjian" is a monumental historical work compiled collectively, with Sima Guang as the chief editor, Liu Shu, Liu Ban, and Fan Zuyu as associate editors, and Sima Guang's son, Sima Kang, responsible for reviewing the text. It covers history from the 23rd year of King Weilie of Zhou (400 BC) to the 6th year of Xingde in the Later Zhou Dynasty (959 AD), a total of 1,362 years of history, divided into 294 volumes, with over 3 million characters in total; in addition, there are 30 volumes of the "Index" and 30 volumes of the "Discussions on Discrepancies."
The "Zizhi Tongjian" is an extremely important chronological history of China. It not only provided ruling experience to the feudal ruling class but also holds high historical value, being valued by political figures, military strategists, writers, and historians throughout the ages.