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The Zizhi tongjian 資治通鑒 "Comprehensive mirror to aid in government" is one of the most important traditional histories of China. In respect of influence it is only second to the first universal history of China, the Shiji 史記, or even surpasses the latter. The Zizhi tongjian was written by the Northern Song period 北宋 (960-1126) writer and politician Sima Guang 司馬光. The Zizhi tongjian consists of 294 chapters (juan "scrolls") plus 30 juan of register (mulu 目錄) and a text-critical apparatus (kaoyi 考異) of 30 juan. It covers the time period between the reign of king Weiliewang 周威烈王 (r. 425-402 BCE) of the Eastern Zhou period 東周 (770-221 BCE) and the reign of emperor Shizong 後周世宗 (r. 954-959) of the Later Zhou 後周 (951-960), or the years 403 BCE to 959 CE.
Sima Guang had always been interested in history but was repelled by the bad structure of traditional historiography which made an access to events and their circumstances very cubersome. He therefore decided to write history by himself. His first work was a draft called Tongzhi 通志 "Comprehensive records" in 8 juan, covering the Warring States period 戰國 (5th cent.-221 BCE)and the short-lived Qin dynasty 秦 (221-206 BC). He submitted this book to emperor Yingzong 宋英宗 (r. 1063-1067) in 1066 who immediately appreciated it and ordered to continue the work. Emperor Shenzong 宋神宗 (r. 1067-1085) granted the book the title of Zizhi tongjian, wrote a preface to it and had it included in the Institute for the Veneration of Literature 崇文院 of the Imperial Archives. In 1084 the whole book was completed.
Although Sima Guang is often called the sole author of the book he had only written part of it. The rest was compiled by a team of historians under his supervision. The most important members of the team were Liu Shu 劉恕, Liu Ban 劉攽 and Fan Zuyu 范祖禹. Liu Shu was a historian of wide knowledge who constructed the theoretical background of the Zizhi tongjian. Liu Ban was an expert on the history of the Han period, Fan Zuyu on that of the Tang period 唐 (618-907).
The composition of the Zizhi tongjian was made in three steps. In the first step the compilers collected all available source material from all ages, put together accounts on specific events and arranged the material chronologically. The result was the so-called congmu 叢目 "clustered overview". The second step was to screen the material, to eredicate redundancies, to select the most detailed passages, and to clear contradictions. The result was the changbian 長編 "long version". This version was again, in a third step done by Sima Guang himself,abbreviated and refined.
The compilers of the Zizhi tongjian used a vast amount of material, not only the official dynastic histories and miscellaneous histories, but, especially for the Tang period, a lot of official and private sources of all kinds: veritable records (shilu 實錄), family registers (jiapu 家譜, pudie 譜牒), family biographies, condolences and essays. The text-critical apparatus is of great help to reconstruct wordings in primary sources.
The great advantage of the Zizhi tongjian over the official dynastic histories is that it is arranged chronologically. While the latter are following a biographic-thematic pattern of historiography (jizhuanti 紀傳體) in which specific historical events are to be found in many different chapters, namely the biographies of the persons involved, the Zizhi tongjian follows an annalistic pattern (biannianti 編年體), coupled with a short introduction and summary to each important event. This makes is very easy for the reader to follow the course of events and to understand how things in history developed. Inspite of this great advantage the Zizhi tongjian is still a traditional history which lays most stress on political events, not on the history of culture, economy, literature, and so on. It is also influenced by Confucian thinking of righteous rule and usurpatious rule and is therefore biased towards persons thought to be not backed by a right to rule. Sima Guang gives his own comments to history, in paragraphs introduced by the words chen Guang yue 臣光曰 "servant Guang says". His book served in first line as a textbook on governance and should be read by princes and emperors as a guideline how to rule and what not to do as a ruler. Sima Guang was, by the way. also an excellent writer whose literary talent is seen in the Zizhi tongjian. It is one of the most-read traditional histories of China.
A textual revision was undertaken after the submission to the throne, and in 1086 the Zizhi tongjian was printed in Hangzhou. The print is lost, and from a print from 1132 only fragments exist. During the Qing period 清 (1644-1911) Hu Kejia 胡克家 reprinted a Yuan period 元 (1279-1368) version, which served also as the base for the modern reprint by the Zhonghua shuju press 中華書局 in 1956.
The most important commentary to the Zizhi tongjian is Hu Sanxing’s 胡三省 Tongjian yinzhu 通鑒音注. Less important - but helpful - commentaries are Shi Zhao’s 史炤 Tongjian shiwen 通鑒釋文 from the Southern Song period 南宋 (1127-1279), Wang Yinglin’s 王應麟 Tongjian dili tongshi 通鑒地理通釋 and Yan Yan’s 嚴衍 Zizhi tongjian bu 資治通鑒補.
During the Guangxu reign 光緒 (1875-1908) the Suzhou press 蘇州书局 published the collectaneum Zizhi tongjian huike 資治通鑒匯刻 that includes the most important additions and supplements to the Zizhi tongjian:
- 資治通鑒 Zizhi tongjian, 294 juan, by Sima Guang 司馬光 (Song), comm. by Hu Sanxing 胡三省 (Yuan)
- 資治通鑒目錄 Zizhi tongjian mulu, 30 juan, by Sima Guang 司馬光 (Song)
- 通鑒釋文辨誤 Tongjian shiwen bianwu, 12 juan, by Hu Sanxing 胡三省 (Yuan)
- 通鑒外紀 Tongjian waiji, 10 juan, and Mulu 目錄, 5 juan, by Liu Shu 劉恕 (Song), comm. and suppl. by Hu Kejia 胡克家 (Qing)
- 稽古錄 Jigulu, 20 juan, with text-critical apparatus (Jiaokanji 校勘記) by Sima Guang 司馬光 (Song)
- 通鑒宋本校勘記 Tongjian Songben jiaokanji, 5 juan, and Yuanben jiaokanji 元本校勘記, 2 juan, by Zhang Ying 張瑛 (Qing)
- 續資治通鑒 Xu zizhi tongjian, 220 juan, by Bi Yuan 畢沅 (Qing)
- 明紀 Mingji, 60 juan, by Chen He 陳鶴 (Qing), suppl. by Sun Kejia 孫克家 (Qing)
A similar collectaneum, the Zizhi tongjian quanshu 資治通鑒全書, has been published by Hu Yuanchang 胡元常 in 1891, printed in Changsha 長沙, Hunan, by Yang Dewu 楊德吾:
- 資治通鑒 Zizhi tongjian, 294 juan, by Sima Guang 司馬光 (Song), comm. by Hu Sanxing 胡三省 (Yuan)
- 資治通鑒目錄 Zizhi tongjian mulu, 30 juan, by Sima Guang 司馬光 (Song)
- 資治通鑒考異 Zizhi tongjian kaoyi, 30 juan, by Sima Guang 司馬光 (Song)
- 資治通鑒釋例 Zizhi tongjian shili, 1 juan, by Sima Guang 司馬光 (Song)
- 資治通鑒問疑 Zizhi tongjian wenyi, 1 juan, by Liu Xizhong 劉羲仲 (Song)
- 資治通鑒釋文 Zizhi tongjian shiwen, 30 juan, by Shi Zhao 史炤 (Song)
- 通鑒释文辨誤 Tongjian shiwen bianwu, 12 juan, by Hu Sanxing 胡三省 (Yuan)
- 資治通鑒敍錄 Zizhi tongjian xulu, 3 juan (appendix)
The style of the Zizhi tongjian became so popular that historians started writing similar chronicles for a lot of other periods of history.
- Zizhi tongjian bu 資治通鑒補 by Yan Yan 嚴衍 (1575-1645), same period as the Zizhi tongjian
- Zizhi tongjian waiji 資治銅鑒外記 by Liu Shu 劉恕 (1032-1078), from mythological times to the end of the Spring and Autumn period 春秋 (770-5th cent. BCE)
- Xu zizhi tongjian changbian 續資治通鑒長編 by Li Tao 李燾 (1115-1184), Northern Song: 960-1126
- Jianyan yilai xinian yaolu 建炎以來繫年要錄 and Jianyan yilai chaoye zaji 建炎以來朝野雜記 by Li Xinzhuan 李心傳 (1166-1243), from 1127 on (Southern Song)
- Xu Song biannian zizhi tongjian 續宋編年資治通鑒 by Li Shiju 劉時舉 (Southern Song), from 1127 to 1224
- Zizhi tongjian qianbian 資治通鑒前編 by Jin Lüxiang 金履祥 (1242-1303), from mythological times to the end of the Spring and Autumn period
- Zizhi tongjian xubian 資治通鑒續編 by Chen Cheng 陳檉 (Cheng Jing 陳桱), creation of the world and early Song
- Song-Yuan zizhi tongjian 宋元資治通鑒 by Wang Zongmu 王宗沐 (16th cent.), and one by Xue Yingqi 薛應旂, Song and Yuan Dynasties
- Zizhi tongjian houbian 資治通鑒後編 by Xu Qianxue 徐乾學 (Qing Dynasty), Song and Yuan Dynasties, lost
- Xu zizhi tongjian 續資治通鑒 by Bi Yuan 畢沅 (1729-1797), Song and Yuan Dynasties
Sources:
Chen Guangchong 陳光崇 (1992). "Zizhi tongjian 資治通鑒", in: Zhongguo da baike quanshu 中國大百科全書, Zhongguo lishi 中國歷史, vol. 3, pp. 1618-1619. Beijing/Shanghai: Zhongguo da baike quanshu chubanshe.
Shi Tingyong 施廷鏞 (ed. 1986). Zhongguo congshu mulu ji zimu suoyin huibian 中國叢書目錄及子目索引匯編, p. 207-208. Nanjing: Nanjing daxue chubanshe.
| Contents |
1.-5.周紀 Zhou 1-5
6.-8.秦紀 Qin 1-3
9.-68.漢紀 Han 1-60
69.-78.魏紀 Wei 1-10
79.-118.晉紀 Jin1-40
119.-134.宋紀 (Liu-)Song 1-16
135.-144.齊紀 Qi 1-10
145.-166.梁紀 Liang 1-21
167.-176.陳紀 Chen 1-10
177.-184.隋紀 Sui 1-7
185.-265.唐紀 Tang 1-81
266.-271.後梁紀 Later Liang 1-6
272.-279.後唐紀 Later Tang 1-8
280.-285.後晉紀 Later Jin 1-6
286.-289.後漢紀 Later Han 1-4
290.-294.後周紀 Later Zhou 1-5
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Exemplarious translation:
卷第六十五，漢紀五十七，孝獻皇帝庚[...]建安十三年（戊子，公元二零八年)
[...]亮曰：「豫州軍雖敗于長坂，今戰士還者及關羽水軍精甲萬人，劉琦合江夏戰士亦不下萬人。曹操之眾，遠來疲敝，聞追豫州，輕騎一日一夜行三百餘里，[...]且北方之人，不習水戰；又，荆州之民附操者，逼近勢耳，非心服也。今將軍誠能命猛將統兵數萬，與豫州協規同力，破操軍必矣。操軍破，必北還；如此，則荆、吴之勢强，鼎足之形成矣。成敗之機，在於今日！」權大悦，與其群下謀之。[...]
進，與操遇于赤壁。時操軍眾已有疾疫，初一交戰，操軍不利，引次江北。瑜等在南岸，瑜部將黄蓋曰：「今寇軍我寡，難與持久。操軍方連船艦，首尾相接，可燒而走也。」乃取蒙沖鬦艦十艘，載燥荻、枯柴、灌油其中，裹以帷幕，上建旌旗，預備走舸，系于其尾。先以書遺操，詐云欲降。時東南風急，蓋以十艦最著前，中江舉帆，餘船以次俱進。操軍吏士皆出營立觀，指言蓋降。去北軍二里餘，同時發火，火烈風猛，船往如箭，燒盡北船，延及岸上營落。頃之，煙炎張天，人馬燒溺死者甚眾。瑜等率輕銳繼其後，雷鼓大進，北軍大壞。操引軍从華容道步走，遇泥泞，道不通，天又大風，悉使羸兵負草填之，騎乃得過。羸兵為人馬所蹈藉，陷泥中，死者甚眾。劉備、周瑜水陸并進，追操至南郡。時操軍兼以餓疫，死者太半。[...]
65. Records of Han 57, Emperor Han Xiandi, [...]13th year of the reign period Jian'an (cyclical signs wuzi, 208 AD)
[Zhuge] Liang said: "Although our armies of Yuzhou have been defeated at Changbang, the people returning together with Guan Yu's naval army are ten thousand well equipped man, and there are not less than ten thousand soldiers who fought at Jiangxia under Liu Qi. On the other side, Cao Cao's men are tired and exhausted, pursuing the Yuzhou army, their light cavalry did not have a rest for one day and one night on a distance of more than 300 miles. [...] And, the northern people are not accustomed with water ways. Cao Cao's followers in the area of Jingzhou do not serve him with their heart and feelings. Uniting the armies of the fierce generals, counting several ten thousand men, and join their forces with our Yuzhou army, we will definitely beat Cao Cao. He cannout but withdraw to the north, and the areas of Jingzhou and Wu will be strong, shaping China to a three legged pot (symbolizing three kingdoms). The chance to beat Cao Cao has come!" [Sun] Quan was very pleased and sat together with his officers to make out a plot. [...]
They advanced and met with Cao Cao at the Red Cliff. At this time, the army of Cao Cao was very numerous, but the soldiers were already weakened by a pestilence, and during the first clashes, Cao Cao suffered a defeat and withdrew his troops to the north bank of the Yangtse. [Zhou] Yu and the others camped at the southern bank. Zhou Yu's division general Huang Gai said, "The troops of the bandits (of Cao Cao) are numerous, but we are left alone; it would be difficult to hold our position for longer time. Cao Cao has tied his war-ships together. If bow and stern are firmly bound together, it is easy to burn all the ships and make him run away." Huang Gai made use of ten big war-ships, filled them with fire wood and dry reeds, soaked with oil and stuffed with fabrics. On the top he erected his flags, and provided also ships to push these burning ships forward, binding them at the stern of the burning ships. He had written a letter to Cao Cao, pretending to go over to him. At this time, a fierce wind came from the south-east, and HUANG GAI moved forward with his war ships, the burning ships forward. In the middle of the Yangtse stream, he hoisted up the sails. The other fighting ships followed them. The soldiers of CAO CAO's army all left the camp to gaze at the incoming ships of HUANG GAI who had pretented to desert. When the distance to CAO CAO's camp was two miles, they incended the ships at the same time. In the fierce wind, the ships immediately kept fire and rushed forward like arrows. The fire burned down CAO CAO's whole northern flot and immediately spread to the camp where the flames reaches high up to the sky. Masses of people and horses died in the flames. ZHOU YU commanded his troops, and they advanced, with the sound of thunder drums and earthquake. The northern army was badly defeated, and CAO CAO looked for a gateway for his army along the road of Huarong. Unfortunately, they came into a swampy area that made it impossible to pass through, and the wind was still very fierce. The most emaciated soldiers were ordered to collect reed and to pile it upon the swampy locations. Finally, the cavalry could pass, but under the feet of horses and men, many exhausted men were stamped to death. On land and water, LIU BEI and ZHOU YU marched forward and reached the prefecture Nanjun. Of CAO CAO's army, more than half had died of pestilence and starvation.
Translated by.
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Chinese literature according to the four-category system
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