Historical Records of the Five Dynasties - (Translations from the Asian Classics) Annotated by Xiu Ouyang (Hardcover)

About the Book

Written by Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072), an intellectual giant of the Song dynasty, Historical Records of the Five Dynasties offers a compelling interpretation of the Five Dynasties period (907-979). In overhauling the existing official history, Ouyang Xiu made several notable decisions. He recast the entire narrative in the popular "ancient" style to make for a rare fluency. He adopted rigorous moral categories to evaluate historical figures, reflecting the new regimen of his day. He also annotated portions of the text to establish a methodology for future writers. The Historical Records thereby became the official version-the last of China's dynastic histories to be written by an individual in a private capacity. In addition to its provocative commentary and lucid presentation, Historical Records is an eloquent statement on the art and craft of historical writing in the eleventh century.

Book Synopsis

Only fragments of historical text from China's middle period have been translated into English, until now. Here at last is the first major Chinese historical work from the Song dynasty. Written by Ouyang Xiu, an intellectual giant of the eleventh century, this is a history of the preceding century (907-979), a period known as the Five Dynasties.

The historical and literary significance of Ouyang's achievement cannot be underestimated. In rewriting the existing official history of the Five Dynasties, Ouyang--whose own time was characterized by extraordinary intellectual and political innovation--made several notable decisions. He rewrote the history in the "ancient" style preferred by forward-thinking literati; he even rewrote the original documents quoted within biographies. He also relied on his own moral categories, reevaluating the worth of the historical figures in light of his own convictions that individuals should take personal responsibility for the fate of society. Ouyang's history would eventually become the official version--the last state-sanctioned dynastic history of imperial China to be written by an individual in a private capacity. In addition to its provocative insights and lucid presentation, Historical Records of the Five Dynasties is an eloquent statement on the art of historical writing in the eleventh century.

A preeminent scholar of Chinese history, Richard L. Davis has provided a thorough introduction and rendered nearly two-thirds of the Chinese original into English, including complete sections critical to understanding the politics and personalities of the time. Biographical clusters based on Ouyang's moral categories also appear in full, helping readers to appreciate the Confucian agenda that informs the work.

Review Quotes

Historical Records of the Five Dynasties is not only the best introduction to Chinese dynastic historiography in medieval times, but also an excellent and first-hand account of a century scarcely discussed...is a must for historians of medieval and late imperial China.--Hilde De Weerdt "Medieval Review "

He should certainly congratulate himself on having achieved something of a breakthrough in the historical study of China.--T. H. Barrett "Journal of the School of African and Oriental Studies "

About the Author

Richard L. Davis is Chair Professor of History at Lingnan University, Hong Kong. His books include Wind Against the Mountain: The Crisis of Politics and Culture in Thirteenth Century China and Court and Family in Sung China, 960-1279.