A Comprehensive Study of History
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Summary
Editor's review
Liu Zhiji proposed the theory of the "three strengths of a historian" (talent, learning, and insight), stressing that a historian must possess narrative ability, broad erudition, and outstanding historical insight, with particular emphasis on the spirit of "direct writing" and opposition to bending the brush to flatter the world. The book's critical readings of classics such as the Chunqiu (Spring and Autumn Annals), Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian), and Hanshu (Book of Han) 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 sake of the honored and analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the biographical and annalistic forms—insights that remain illuminating today.
The Zhonghua Book Company edition uses Pu Qilong's Shitong Tongshi (Comprehensive Explanation of Shitong) of the Qing dynasty as its base text, with meticulous collation and detailed annotation, and is currently recognized by the academic world as the authoritative edition. Reading this book 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-dynasty intellectuals constructed a historiographical system with rigorous thought. For understanding the intellectual transformation of traditional Chinese historiography 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 inspiration
Not a good fit for
- Casual readers expecting light, narrative-driven history books
- Beginners unfamiliar with the expressive forms of classical Chinese literature
Reading tips
- Begin by reading the "Xulu" (prefatory record) and "Xuli" (prefatory examples) at the front of the volume to grasp the overall framework and the Tang-dynasty historiographical context
- Read alongside Fu Zhenlun's Liu Zhiji Nianpu (Chronological Biography of Liu Zhiji) or Qu Lindong's Zhongguo Shixueshi Gang (Outline of the History of Chinese Historiography) for broader context
- Focus especially on core chapters such as "Zhishu" (Direct Writing), "Qubi" (Bent Writing), "Yigu" (Doubting Antiquity), and "Huojing" (Perplexity over the Classics) to appreciate Liu Zhiji's critical spirit
About the publisher
Zhonghua Book Company is a publisher known for collating ancient texts and academic publishing, with its output centered on Eastern philosophy, culture, classic works, art, and historical reading. Its library contains 532 titles, including Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms, Guo Qingfan's Collected Commentaries on Zhuangzi, the four-volume Chinese Literature: Four Great Classical Novels, and the two-volume Table of Seal and Clerical Script Forms from Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin. These titles span historical classics, commentaries on the philosophers, classical novels, and philological reference works. Representative authors include Chen Shou, Guo Qingfan, Wu Cheng'en, Shi Nai'an, Cao Xueqin, Luo Guanzhong, Xu Wenwu, and the Hanyu Dazidian character-form group, reflecting a focus on primary sources and scholarly editors. Its publishing character lies in combining authoritative editions and annotated texts with both accessible classics and specialized research. Public information on its fuller catalog is limited; this note describes only the directions evident in the library's holdings.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 原序
- 内篇 六家第一
- 内篇 二体第二
- 内篇 载言第三
- 内篇 本纪第四
- 内篇 世家第五
- 内篇 列传第六
- 内篇 表历第七
- 内篇 书志第八
- 内篇 论赞第九
- 内篇 序例第十
- 内篇 题目第十一
- 内篇 断限第十二
- 内篇 编次第十三
- 内篇 称谓第十四
- 内篇 采撰第十五
- 内篇 载文第十六
- 内篇 补注第十七
- 内篇 因习第十八
- 内篇 邑里第十九
- 内篇 言语第二十
- 内篇 浮词第二十一
- 内篇 叙事第二十二
- 内篇 品藻第二十三
- 内篇 直书第二十四
- 内篇 曲笔第二十五
- 内篇 鉴识第二十六
- 内篇 探赜第二十七
- 内篇 摸拟第二十八
- 内篇 书事第二十九
- 内篇 人物第三十
- 内篇 覈才第三十一
- 内篇 序传第三十二
- 内篇 烦省第三十三
- 内篇 杂述第三十四
- 内篇 辨职第三十五
- 内篇 自叙第三十六
- 外篇 史官建置第一
- 外篇 古今正史第二
- 外篇 疑古第三
- 外篇 惑经第四
- 外篇 申左第五
- 外篇 点繁第六
- 外篇 杂说上第七
- 外篇 杂说中第八
- 外篇 汉书五行志错误第十
- 外篇 汉书五行志杂驳第十一
- 外篇 暗惑第十二
- 外篇 忤时第十三
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About the 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.
