Supplement to the History of the Five Dynasties

陶岳Jun 2024

4.0

Word count: 34K words
Chapters: 8

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history and are highly original, inventive, and literary. Early forms of thought are strikingly distinctive, and topics such as religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and customs and local gazetteers are broad and profound.

This series, “Essence of Classic Chinese Learning: Original Texts,” preserves the appearance of the original books and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers can cultivate their temperament and be subtly influenced by the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

Wudai Shibu, compiled by Tao Yue of the Northern Song dynasty, is an important notes-style historical work recording events of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. During the Five Dynasties, regimes changed frequently and historical sources were severely scattered, so works of this supplementary kind were often relied upon outside the official histories to preserve details. Tao Yue’s records mostly concern the words and deeds of figures, institutional changes, and anecdotes from court and society; they can fill gaps in the official histories and offer another perspective for later research on Five Dynasties politics and social conditions. This book preserves the appearance of the original and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture; it is suitable for consulting historical sources and for thematic study. It should be noted that what notes-style histories record is not necessarily all reliable history, so readers should read with a critical eye and cross-check with the official histories and other sources. For general readers, it can be treated as a side door into Five Dynasties history: first establish a rough historical framework, then read the entries in detail, and the gains will be more substantial.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Professional scholars and graduate students researching the history of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
Cultural and historical workers who need to consult original records of Five Dynasties historical sources
Advanced readers interested in reading ancient notes-style historical sources
Readers engaged in research on Chinese historiography and textual scholarship

Not a good fit for

General readers seeking light reading and storytelling narrative
Beginners with no Classical Chinese foundation who are unwilling to verify sources
Readers hoping for a systematic and complete general history of the Five Dynasties

Reading tips

First understand the general historical outline of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, then move on to specific entries.
Read alongside the Old History of the Five Dynasties and the New History of the Five Dynasties, noting similarities and differences.
Make brief notes entry by entry, marking places that can be cross-verified with the official histories.
Maintain a critical attitude toward doubtful records and do not readily trust a single source.

版权信息
五代史补提要
序
五代史补卷一
五代史补卷二
五代史补卷三
五代史补卷四汉二十条
五代史补卷五周二十三条

FAQ

What is the relationship between Wudai Shibu and the official histories?

It is a supplementary historical work outside the official histories. What it records is mostly historical events, words and deeds of figures, and court and social observations not detailed in the official histories, and it can be used with reference to the Old History of the Five Dynasties and the New History of the Five Dynasties. It cannot replace the official histories, but it can supplement details and provide another perspective on records; when reading, it is best to cross-check them against one another.

Can everything recorded in the book be treated as reliable history?

It is unwise to generalize. Notes-style historical works draw on varied sources, and some content comes from hearsay and may be inaccurate or exaggerated. Readers should maintain a critical attitude, verify key historical events against the official histories and other sources, and treat it as a lead to historical sources rather than an absolute conclusion.

Is there a threshold for ordinary history enthusiasts reading this book?

There is a certain threshold. The book preserves the appearance of the original, is written in Classical Chinese, and involves a large number of Five Dynasties figures and events. If enthusiasts already have a basic historical framework and the ability to read Classical Chinese, they can attempt it; if they lack both, it is advisable to first read modern scholars’ popular works on Five Dynasties history and then return to the original text.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

陶岳 Author

Tao Yue is an author whose birthplace, dates of birth and death, and other biographical details are not clearly recorded; available public information is limited. What can be confirmed is that he wrote one extant work, Supplementary History of the Five Dynasties (Wudai Shibu), which is included in the collection and classified under social sciences. The book concerns the history of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, supplementing omissions or sparse records in the standard histories; it belongs to the traditional genre of historical supplements and shows the author's systematic attention to the figures, institutions, and events of that period. His writing emphasizes the compilation of historical facts, setting out events one by one rather than pursuing literary elaboration. Its style is plain and concise, and it offers later students of Five Dynasties history primary material for reference. Because the sources are scattered, no other deeds of Tao Yue can be verified; readers should rely on Supplementary History of the Five Dynasties as the main basis for understanding his scholarly orientation and should note the work's value as historical material for research on the Five Dynasties.