The
Zizhi Tongjian () was a pioneering reference work in
Chinese historiography, published in 1084, under the form of a chronicles. In 1065 CE,
Emperor Yingzong of Song ordered the great historian
Sima Guang (1019-1086) to lead with other scholars such as his chief assistants
Liu Shu,
Liu Ban and
Fan Zuyu,
[Xu Elina-Qian, p.20] the compilation of a
universal history of China. The task took 19 years to be completed,
and, in 1084, it was presented to his successor
Emperor Shenzong of Song. The Zizhi Tongjian expose Chinese history from -403 BCE to 959 CE,
contains 294 volumes (
巻), and about 3 million
Chinese characters.
The book
The book chronologically narrates the
history of China from the
Warring States to the
Five Dynasties (403 B.C.-959 C.E). The major contributor was Sima Guang, was active in each step, from collecting events and dates from various previous works, to drafting and publication.
Sima Guang left the traditional usage in Chinese historiography. Since almost 1,000 years and the
Shiji, standard Chinese dynastic histories primarily divided chapters between annals (
紀) of rulers, and biographies (
傳) of officials. In Chinese terms, the book changed the format of histories from biographical style (紀傳體) to chronological style (編年體), which is better suited for analysis, activism and criticism. According to Wilkinson,
"It had an enormous influence on later Chinese historical writing, either directly of through its many abbreviations, continuations, and adaptations. It remains an extraordinarily useful first reference for a quick and reliable coverage of events at a particular time."Derivative and commented works
In the 12th century,
Zhu Xi produced a reworked, condensed version of Zizhi Tongjian, known as Tongjian Gangmu, or
Zizhi Tongjian Gangmu (
通鉴纲目). This condensed version was itself later translated into
Manchu language, upon the request of
Qing Dynasty Kangxi Emperor. This Manchu version was itself translated into French by French
Jesuit missionary
Joseph-Anna-Marie de Moyriac de Mailla. His twelve-volume translation, "Histoire générale de la Chine, ou Annales de cet Empire; traduit du Tong-kien-kang-mou par de Mailla" was published posthumously in Paris in 1777-1783.
The
Zhonghua Shuju edition contains textual criticism made by
Yuan Dynasty historian
Hu Sanxing.
See also
