Essentials of the Comprehensive Study of History
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Summary
Traditional Chinese thought has a long history and is highly original, inventive and literary. Early intellectual forms are distinctive, and religious theology, classical Chinese medical texts, ancient military works, Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist and other schools, feng shui and metaphysical studies, the Twenty-Four Histories, and customs and geography are all profound and extensive. This series, Essential Classics of Chinese Traditional Culture, preserves the original appearance of the texts and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers cultivate their temperament and subtly appreciate the classics.
Editor's review
Shitong Huiyao is attributed to Lu Shen and belongs to Essential Classics of Chinese Traditional Culture. Its value lies not in offering an all-encompassing overview of historiography but in letting readers directly encounter the original appearance of a traditional text and experience the language and thought patterns ancients used when discussing historiographical questions. This book preserves the original appearance of the text, and the editing focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture, so readers can better appreciate the texture of the text itself rather than secondhand conclusions paraphrased in modern terms. For readers who wish to understand traditional Chinese historiographical ideas from the source and become familiar with the expressive habits of ancient texts, it offers a relatively direct entry point. Its strength is its relatively manageable size, making it convenient as a first stop for approaching classical historical discourse; it can also be read alongside the original Shitong to observe how later scholars summarized and organized the historiographical thought of Liu Zhiji and his line. It is suited to slow reading in quiet periods, with notes to sort out its concepts and judgments, rather than fast reading. One caveat: this is not a popular introduction, and it lacks modern translation, annotation and background exposition, so first-time readers should be prepared.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- General readers interested in traditional historiographical theory who wish to encounter the original text
- Lower-year students in Chinese history and classical literature as an introductory reader
- Classics enthusiasts who enjoy slow reading of ancient works and taking reading notes
- Primary and secondary school teachers of literature and history who need to understand ancient historical discourse
Not a good fit for
- Beginners seeking sentence-by-sentence vernacular translation and detailed annotation
- General readers seeking plot-driven or story-like reading
- Advanced researchers seeking a systematic textbook of historiographical methodology
Reading tips
- First read through once without seeking full understanding, mark difficult terms, then return and read closely paragraph by paragraph.
- Keep a notebook and excerpt key points from the original under themes such as the duties of historians and the selection of historical sources.
- Read alongside the original Shitong or related works on the history of historiography for mutual confirmation.
- Limit each reading session to about half an hour to avoid fatigue from the density of classical Chinese.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 史通会要上
- 建置第一
- 家法第二
- 品流第三
- 义例第四
- 史通会要中
- 书凡
- 修词
- 叙事
- 效法
- 隽永
- 篇目
- 史通会要下
- 丛篇一
- 丛篇二
- 丛篇三
- 丛篇四
- 丛篇五
- 丛篇六
- 丛篇七
FAQ
Is this book suitable for readers with no classical Chinese foundation?
Not very suitable. The book preserves the original appearance of the text and lacks modern vernacular translation and detailed annotation, so readers with a weak classical Chinese foundation may be blocked by terminology and sentence patterns. It is better to read an annotated selection of Shitong or an introductory book on the history of historiography first, then approach this book, which will be much smoother.
What is the relationship between Shitong Huiyao and Shitong?
Judging by the title and attribution, this book is related to Lu Shen's summarizing and organizing of content from Shitong and belongs to the huiyao type of text centered on Shitong, rather than a complete presentation of Liu Zhiji's original work. It should be read as an auxiliary reader for entering the historiographical thought of Shitong, not as a replacement for the original.
What background knowledge should one have before reading this book?
It is best to have a rough understanding of Tang-dynasty historiography, the institution of official historians, and the basic ideas of Shitong, knowing that Liu Zhiji discussed such questions as historical talent, historical learning and historical insight. With this background, readers will more easily grasp the selections and intentions of this book.
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About the author
陆深
Author
Lu Shen: public sources offer limited information about his life, including his native place and dates of birth and death; all that is known is that seventeen works survive under his name. Judging from Representative works such as Xishan Yuhua, Yutang Manbi, Jintai Jiwen and Chunfengtang Suibi, he excelled at the informal essay and notebook form, writing on court and local affairs, reading notes, and landscapes, in a plain style attentive to detail. Shitong Huiyao shows his engagement with historiography, while Shuji reflects an interest in calligraphy. Yanshan Ji is a collection of his own poetry and prose, and Yuzhang Manchao and similar works consist mainly of local observations and miscellaneous records. Overall, Lu Shen's writing combines the ease of literati notebooks with a scholar's antiquarian curiosity, spanning social studies, culture, literary appreciation and Eastern philosophy; it will interest readers concerned with Ming dynasty notebook literature and the intellectual world of the literati.
