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Historical Records of the Five Dynasties
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Historical Records of the Five Dynasties Hardcover - 2004

by Xiu Ouyang; Richard Davis (Translator)


From the publisher

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.

First line

Taizu [Zhu Wen, Quanzhong, C.E. 852-911], the Divinely Martial, the Originally Sagacious, and the Filial Emperor, surnamed Zhu, was native to Wugou hamlet, Dangshan County, Songzhou.

Details

  • Title Historical Records of the Five Dynasties
  • Author Xiu Ouyang; Richard Davis (Translator)
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Pages 736
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Columbia University Press, U.S.A.
  • Date 2004-03-03
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Annotated, Bibliography, Illustrated, Index, Maps
  • ISBN 9780231128261 / 0231128266
  • Weight 2.52 lbs (1.14 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.44 x 6.56 x 1.75 in (23.98 x 16.66 x 4.45 cm)
  • Ages 22 to UP years
  • Grade levels 17 - UP
  • Themes
    • Chronological Period: Medieval (500-1453) Studies
    • Cultural Region: Asian - General
    • Cultural Region: Asian - Chinese
  • Library of Congress subjects China - History - Five dynasties and the Ten
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2003055286
  • Dewey Decimal Code 951.018

Media reviews

Citations

  • Choice, 11/01/2004, Page 541

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.
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Historical Records of the Five Dynasties
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Historical Records of the Five Dynasties

by Richard L. Davis

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Description:
Historical Records of the Five Dynasties" by Ouyang Xiu, translated by Richard L. Davis, is a seminal work in Chinese historical literature that provides a comprehensive account of the tumultuous period known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907-960 AD) in Chinese history. Written by the renowned Song dynasty historian and statesman Ouyang Xiu, this translation offers readers invaluable insights into the political intrigue, military conflicts, and cultural developments of this pivotal era.
The book begins with an overview of the collapse of the Tang dynasty and the subsequent fragmentation of China into multiple rival states, each vying for dominance over the Central Plains. Ouyang Xiu meticulously chronicles the rise and fall of the Five Dynasties—the Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou—as well as the myriad kingdoms and regional powers that emerged during this period of disunity.
Through vivid narrative and meticulous analysis, Ouyang Xiu delves into the… Read More
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Historical Records of the Five Dynasties (Translations from the Asian Classics)
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Historical Records of the Five Dynasties (Translations from the Asian Classics)

by Ouyang, Xiu; Davis, Richard [Translator]

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9780231128261
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Columbia University Press, 2004-03-03. Hardcover. New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title!
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Historical Records of the Five Dynasties (Translations from the Asian Classics)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Historical Records of the Five Dynasties (Translations from the Asian Classics)

by Ouyang, Xiu; Davis, Richard [Translator]

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  • Hardcover
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ISBN 13
9780231128261
ISBN 10
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