History of Heaven

丁耀亢Jun 2024

3.7

Word count: 76K words
Chapters: 11

Summary

Traditional Chinese culture has a long intellectual history, marked by a high degree of originality, inventiveness and literary quality. Its early forms of thought are highly 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 customs and gazetteers are all profound and extensive. This series, "Essential Classics of Chinese Traditional Culture: Original Texts," preserves the original appearance of the books 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 come to appreciate the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

Tianshi (A History of Heaven) was written by Ding Yaokang and is included in the series "Essential Classics of Chinese Traditional Culture: Original Texts," which aims to preserve the original appearance of the books and transmit traditional thought and culture. The title contains the word "history," which easily leads readers to mistake it for a conventional annalistic history; in fact, it is better understood from the perspective of traditional literati who used history to discuss affairs and convey ideas: it embodies the observations and judgments of ancient intellectuals on the rise and fall of dynasties and on the gains and losses of human affairs, and it carries a strong conceptual character and a personal manner of writing. The book's value lies in offering a sample for observing traditional historical writing; through it, readers can appreciate how the ancients organized historical materials, how they made judgments, and how they embedded praise and blame in their narratives. In reading, one should not be anxious to ask whether the historical facts are complete, but should pay attention to the tendencies in its selection of materials, its manner of discussion and its language style, and place it back in the context of traditional historiography and collected writings for comparison. For readers who love the original classics of Chinese learning and are willing to discern the historical views of the ancients behind the text, this is a book that requires patient comparative reading.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in traditional historical writing and the works of ancient literati
Readers of literature and history who wish to read original classics of Chinese learning and appreciate the historical views of the ancients
University students who need traditional historical writing materials for comparative research
Self-learners who enjoy slow reading with annotations and are willing to verify historical events

Not a good fit for

Readers looking for concise general histories or collections of historical stories
Those who lack patience for classical Chinese expression and seek fast reading

Reading tips

First understand the era and writing background of Ding Yaokang before entering the main text, so as to avoid taking it out of context.
When reading each historical discussion, first summarize its selection of materials and judgments, then compare it with accounts in common historical works.
Prepare pen and paper to mark language of praise and blame and turns in argument, so as to appreciate the style of traditional historical writing.
You may choose passages of interest for close reading; there is no need to read the whole book through at once.

版权信息
卷一大逆二十九案
卷二淫十九案
卷三残三十六案
卷四阴谋二十五案
卷五负心十三案
卷六贪十三案
卷七奢十四案
卷八骄十六案
卷九朋党六案
卷十左道二十四案

FAQ

Is Tianshi a general history in the usual sense?

It should not be read with the expectations of a general history. It is closer to a work in which a traditional literatus uses historical events as material for commentary; its focus is on historical views and discussion, not on a complete unfolding of the historical process. If readers adjust their expectations and read it as historical commentary, they will more easily grasp its value.

Can readers without a historical background read this book?

They can try, but assistance is needed. It is advisable first to have a basic knowledge of Chinese dynasties, and while reading to use reference books to verify names and events and to consult related historical works for comparison. Without any foundation at all, readers may be blocked by classical Chinese and allusions, and the reading will be rather difficult.

How should one read to discern the author's historical views?

Pay attention to which historical events the author chooses, how he makes judgments, where his language of praise and blame falls, and the turns between discussion and narrative. Compare the same event with accounts in common historical works; the differences often best reveal the author's stance and intent.

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About the author

丁耀亢 Author

Ding Yaokang is an author about whom little biographical information survives; his dates of birth and death, native place, and nationality are not confirmed in publicly available sources and await further verification. Judging from the thirteen works held in the collection, his writing centers on the Tianshi series: this collection, arranged in volumes such as "Twenty-Five Cases of Conspiracy" (vol. 4), "Thirteen Cases of Greed" (vol. 6), "Fourteen Cases of Extravagance" (vol. 7), "Sixteen Cases of Arrogance" (vol. 8), and "Six Cases of Factions" (vol. 9), gathers historical events and cases by theme, carrying a clear tone of admonition and commentary and touching on both Eastern philosophy and folk literature. A separate work, Chujie Jilue, has a title suggesting an account of hardships endured. Overall, Ding Yaokang's writing emphasizes the classified arrangement of historical stories and moral judgment; his language is concise, and he is skilled at arguing through examples. His works are often grouped under classics and literary appreciation and are suitable for readers interested in traditional narrative and philosophical themes.