Shi Tong (Generalities of History)

Name: Shi Tong (Generalities of History)
ISBN: 9787532573103

刘知幾Shanghai Classics Publishing House · ChinaJan 2023

4.1

Word count: 267K words
Chapters: 24
ISBN: 9787532573103

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Summary

Shi Tong (Generalities of History) is in twenty fascicles. Its thirty-nine inner chapters set forth the origins and evolution of historical writing, its forms and conventions, and the methods of composition, while its thirteen outer chapters discuss the establishment and history of the office of historiographer and evaluate the merits and shortcomings of particular historical works. Of the inner chapters, the three titled Titong, Pimiu, and Chizhang were lost long ago, so that only forty-nine chapters have come down to us. The work is the earliest treatise on historical theory produced in China.

Editor's review

As the first systematic treatise on historiography in Chinese history, Shitong (Generalities on History) was completed in 710, the fourth year of Jinglong under Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, after nearly a decade of compilation by the Tang historian Liu Zhiji. The work marks not only ancient Chinese historiography's leap from mere record-keeping to theoretical reflection but also established the basic paradigm for later historiographical criticism. The book comprises twenty juan, with ten juan and thirty-nine chapters in the inner section and ten juan and thirteen chapters in the outer section; forty-nine chapters survive. The inner chapters mainly discuss the forms of historical writing, compilation methods, and views of history, while the outer chapters trace the origins of the office of the historian and assess the merits and defects of historical works through the ages.

Liu Zhiji proposed the theory of the "three strengths of the historian" (talent, learning, and insight), stressing that a historian must combine narrative ability, broad erudition, and outstanding historical judgment, with particular emphasis on the spirit of "direct brush" and opposition to distorting the record to curry favor with the world. The book's critical readings of classics such as the Chunqiu, Shiji, and Hanshu display remarkable scholarly courage and depth of thought. For example, he points out the limitations of the Chunqiu's practice of concealing faults for the exalted and analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the biographical and annalistic forms—insights that remain instructive today.

The Zhonghua Book Company edition uses Pu Qilong's Shitong tongshi of the Qing dynasty as its base text, with meticulous collation and detailed annotation, and is currently recognized by scholars as the authoritative edition. Reading it requires patience: its parallel-prose style and numerous literary allusions pose challenges for modern readers, but those who delve into it will glimpse how Tang intellectuals constructed a historiographical system with rigorous thought. For understanding traditional Chinese historiography's intellectual shift from "how to record" to "why record," Shitong is an indispensable milestone.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Researchers interested in the development of ancient Chinese historiographical theory
University teachers and students majoring in history or textual scholarship
Readers of literature and history who wish to understand the compilation logic of traditional historical works in depth
Humanities and social science scholars seeking cross-disciplinary methodological thinking

Not a good fit for

Casual readers expecting light narrative history
Beginners unfamiliar with classical Chinese literary expression

Reading tips

First read the "Xulu" and "Xuli" prefixed to the volume to grasp the overall framework and the Tang historiographical context
Read alongside Fu Zhenlun's Liu Zhiji nianpu or Qu Lindong's Zhongguo shixueshi gang for broader context
Focus on core chapters such as "Zhishu," "Qubi," "Yigu," and "Huojing" to appreciate Liu Zhiji's critical spirit

About the publisher

Shanghai Classics Publishing House China · Founded in 1956

Shanghai Classics Publishing House is a professional publisher centered on the collation of ancient texts and academic research works. Its publishing areas cover historical readings, classical poetry, folk literature, literary appreciation, canonical works, and Eastern philosophy. Its books include Chen Yinke's A Brief Discussion of the Origins of the Sui and Tang Institutions, Xin Qiji's Chronological Annotated Edition of Jiaxuan's Ci (Simplified Edition), Tang Xianzu's The Peony Pavilion, Liu Xie's The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, as well as New Annotations to Three Hundred Tang Poems (Collector's Edition), Annotated Edition of Han Changli's Collected Works (Simplified Edition, 3 volumes), and Youyang Zazu. Its authors include Chen Yinke, Xin Qiji, Tang Xianzu, Liu Xie, Deng Guangming, Hengtang Tuishi, Han Yu, and Ma Qichang. In terms of publishing characteristics, the house emphasizes collation, annotation, and compilation of ancient texts alongside academic research works, and continues to issue simplified and collector's editions that balance scholarship and accessibility. Public information about the publisher's fuller publishing profile is limited.

版权信息
史通原序
内篇
卷一
卷二
卷三
卷四
卷五
卷六
卷七
卷八
卷九
卷十
外篇
卷十一
卷十二
卷十三
卷十四
卷十五
卷十六
卷十七
卷十八
卷十九
卷二十

FAQ

What is the modern value of Shitong?

Its value lies not only in the history of historiography but also in methodological inspiration: how to build an evaluative system, how to balance objective recording with value judgment, and how to handle the relationship between scholarly tradition and critical innovation—questions that cross disciplinary boundaries.

How should non-specialist readers approach it?

It is advisable to begin with the outer chapters "Shiguan jianzhi" and "Gujin zhengshi," which trace the evolution of historical writing in relatively concrete terms, before gradually moving into the theoretical discussions of the inner chapters. A modern Chinese translation may be consulted alongside for assistance.

What is special about the Zhonghua Book Company edition?

This edition uses Pu Qilong's 1752 printed edition as its base text, collated against various fine Ming and Qing editions, and includes selected excerpts from Cheng Qianfan's Shitong biji and biographical materials on Liu Zhiji. Its collation notes are detailed and it preserves the traditional commentary format, offering high scholarly reliability.

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About the author

刘知幾 Author

Liu Zhiji is a renowned historian in ancient China, though details of his life remain limited in publicly available sources and are difficult to describe in full. Judging from his extant works, he devoted himself over a long period to the study of historical theory and historiography. His representative work, Shitong (A Comprehensive Study of Historiography), is China's first systematic treatise on historical theory, reflecting his deep thinking on the structure of historical writing, the selection of source materials, and the cultivation of historians. The library holds two of his works, both related to Shitong, commonly classified under Eastern philosophy, which shows that his influence extends beyond historiography in the narrow sense into broader intellectual and cultural fields. The writing of Shitong is concise yet rigorously argued; it summarizes earlier traditions of historical compilation and has had a profound impact on later historical criticism. As information about his birth and death dates and nationality remains unclear, this introduction can only outline his writings and scholarly standing based on available materials and widely accepted knowledge.