Outer Records of Taiwan

江日升Jun 2024

4.1

Word count: 131K words
Chapters: 19

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history and are highly original, inventive, and literary. Early intellectual forms are especially distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local gazetteers and customs—all vast and profound in content.

This series, "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture: Original Texts," preserves the original appearance of the books and focuses on conserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers may cultivate character and subtly appreciate the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

Taiwan Waiji is a historical work in the event-based narrative (jishi benmo) style written by the Qing-era author Jiang Risheng. Taking the rise and fall of the Zheng family as its main thread, it records military and political changes in Taiwan and the southeast coast during the late Ming and early Qing. The book belongs to the "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series and preserves the original appearance of the text, emphasizing authenticity, so readers can encounter primary classical Chinese historical sources rather than secondhand summaries. Its value lies in presenting, from the perspective of a descendant of the principals, the full course of several generations of the Zheng family—Zheng Zhilong, Zheng Chenggong, and Zheng Jing—operating at sea, and it is of considerable reference value for understanding Southern Ming history, maritime frontier history, and the early development of Taiwan. The text is in classical Chinese with a clear narrative thread, but personal names, place names, and official titles are dense, so beginners need reference works. It is suitable for slow reading as supplementary source material for topics in Southern Ming history and maritime history, and can also be read against Southern Ming Historical Materials for mutual verification. When reading, first grasp the chronological framework of the four generations of the Zheng family, then examine each volume in detail; there is no need to rush.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers researching late Ming and early Qing history and the Zheng family
Enthusiasts interested in Taiwan's early development and maritime frontier history
Readers able to read simple classical Chinese and willing to read primary sources slowly
Scholars consulting Southern Ming maritime sources for papers or special topics

Not a good fit for

Beginner readers hoping for vernacular stories or popular historical romances
Readers who only want a quick overview of Taiwan's general history
Readers who have significant difficulty reading classical Chinese

Reading tips

First read the table of contents and opening volume to clarify the timeline from Zheng Zhilong to Zheng Keshuang before entering the main text.
Keep a Chinese historical chronology and a dictionary of official titles at hand to check figures and dates.
Read against Southern Ming Historical Materials, comparing different records of the same event to appreciate mutual verification of sources.
After each volume, summarize in your own words the main events and relationships among figures in that volume.

版权信息
台湾外记
自序
陈序
彭序
郑序
余序
吴序
凡例
郑氏
应谶五代记
平澎台诸将姓氏
附土音字说
误字
台湾外记卷之一（天启辛酉年至崇祯己卯年共十九年）
台湾外记卷之二（崇祯庚辰年至顺治丙戌年共七年）
台湾外记卷之三（顺治丁亥年至顺治癸巳年共七年）
台湾外记卷之四（顺治甲午年至顺治己亥年共六年）
台湾外记卷之五（顺治庚子年至康熙壬寅年共三年）

FAQ

Is this book in vernacular or classical Chinese?

This book belongs to a series of facsimile or original-text editions; the main text is classical Chinese narrative, not a vernacular adaptation. The text is generally readable, but personal names, place names, and official titles are dense, so beginners should read slowly with a chronology and reference works; it should not be treated as a popular reader.

Can I read it without a foundation in Southern Ming history?

You can, but efficiency will suffer. It is advisable first to understand the basic outline of the several Southern Ming regimes and the Zheng family, then enter the book; otherwise you may easily get lost among names and dates. If you are just curious, you can start with the volumes recording Zheng Chenggong and Zheng Jing.

Is it suitable as an introductory book on Taiwan history?

Not very suitable. The book focuses on the Zheng family and maritime military and political affairs in the late Ming and early Qing; it is specialized source material, not a general historical survey. To begin studying Taiwan history, first read general histories to build a framework, then use this book as supplementary primary material.

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About the author

江日升 Author

Very little is known about Jiang Risheng. His nationality, dates of birth and death, and English name are not clearly recorded in publicly available sources, and the verifiable information about his identity remains quite limited. It is known that only one work survives under his name, Taiwan Waiji (An Informal Record of Taiwan), which is commonly classified under social sciences. Based on the available material, Jiang Risheng is remembered chiefly as the author of this work; reliable records of his personal experience, background, and intellectual lineage are lacking, making a detailed account impossible. Taiwan Waiji recounts the historical changes and related figures in Taiwan during the late Ming and early Qing periods. Drawing on hearsay and documents, it is strongly narrative in character and serves as one of the important reference sources for the study of early Taiwanese history, exerting a degree of influence in the field. Overall, Jiang Risheng's output is limited and public information about him is insufficient; further understanding of the man and his book awaits the discovery and collation of more historical materials.