New Book of Tang
Encyclopedia
The New Book of Tang is a classic work of history about the Tang Dynasty
edited by Ouyang Xiu
and Song Qi
and other official scholars of the Song Dynasty
. The emperor called for a revision of the former Book of Tang
in 1044. The New Book was presented to the throne in 1060. It was given its name "Xin" ("new") to distinguish it from its predecessor. It has been canonised as among the Twenty-Four Histories
.
frequently invokes the principle of reason in evaluating historical accounts, and purges all accounts containing elements of myth or superstition.
Ouyang Xiu
and Song Qi
both disliked the Tang Dynasty's style of flowery prose. They changed the original wordings in the documents that they quoted in the book. However, some of the changes they made did more harm than good as they made some of the sentences difficult to understand.
. The women kill or maim themselves in horrible ways, and represent examples of Tang Dynasty women that were intended to deter contemporary readers from extreme behavior. For example, Woman Lu gouges her own eye out to assure her ailing husband that there will be no second man after him. Biographies of 35 overly filial and fraternal men are also included in the work, though these men do not resort to the extremes of female mutilation found in the female biographies.
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
edited by Ouyang Xiu
Ouyang Xiu
Ouyang Xiu was a Chinese statesman, historian, essayist and poet of the Song Dynasty. He is also known by his courtesy name of Yongshu, and was also self nicknamed The Old Drunkard 醉翁, or Householder of the One of Six 六一居士 in his old age...
and Song Qi
Song Qi
Song Qi was a Chinese statesman, historian, essayist and poet of the Song Dynasty.-Imperial advisor:Song was a Grand Councilor in the Imperial Chinese court. In this role, he was called to become a military analyst:While China had many men in Chinese cavalry, very few of them actually had horses...
and other official scholars of the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
. The emperor called for a revision of the former Book of Tang
Book of Tang
The Book of Tang , Jiu Tangshu or the Old Book of Tang is the first classic work about the Tang Dynasty. The book began when Gaozu of Later Jin ordered its commencement in 941...
in 1044. The New Book was presented to the throne in 1060. It was given its name "Xin" ("new") to distinguish it from its predecessor. It has been canonised as among the Twenty-Four Histories
Twenty-Four Histories
The Twenty-Four Histories is a collection of Chinese historical books covering a period from 3000 BC to the Ming Dynasty in the 17th century. The whole set contains 3213 volumes and about 40 million words...
.
Contents
Ouyang XiuOuyang Xiu
Ouyang Xiu was a Chinese statesman, historian, essayist and poet of the Song Dynasty. He is also known by his courtesy name of Yongshu, and was also self nicknamed The Old Drunkard 醉翁, or Householder of the One of Six 六一居士 in his old age...
frequently invokes the principle of reason in evaluating historical accounts, and purges all accounts containing elements of myth or superstition.
Ouyang Xiu
Ouyang Xiu
Ouyang Xiu was a Chinese statesman, historian, essayist and poet of the Song Dynasty. He is also known by his courtesy name of Yongshu, and was also self nicknamed The Old Drunkard 醉翁, or Householder of the One of Six 六一居士 in his old age...
and Song Qi
Song Qi
Song Qi was a Chinese statesman, historian, essayist and poet of the Song Dynasty.-Imperial advisor:Song was a Grand Councilor in the Imperial Chinese court. In this role, he was called to become a military analyst:While China had many men in Chinese cavalry, very few of them actually had horses...
both disliked the Tang Dynasty's style of flowery prose. They changed the original wordings in the documents that they quoted in the book. However, some of the changes they made did more harm than good as they made some of the sentences difficult to understand.
Biographies
Four biographies of women appear in this new book that were not present in the first Book of TangBook of Tang
The Book of Tang , Jiu Tangshu or the Old Book of Tang is the first classic work about the Tang Dynasty. The book began when Gaozu of Later Jin ordered its commencement in 941...
. The women kill or maim themselves in horrible ways, and represent examples of Tang Dynasty women that were intended to deter contemporary readers from extreme behavior. For example, Woman Lu gouges her own eye out to assure her ailing husband that there will be no second man after him. Biographies of 35 overly filial and fraternal men are also included in the work, though these men do not resort to the extremes of female mutilation found in the female biographies.
External links
- Chronicles of the Chinese Dynasties, Twitchett, Official History under the T'ang, 191-236.