History Literature / ZiZhiTongJian

''Zizhi Tongjian'' (Chinese: 資治通鑑, "Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance") is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084. Compiled by a team led by Sima Guang, ''Tongjian'' took 19 years to be completed, and records Chinese history from 403 BC [[note]]The first historical event recorded is how 3 clans who held great power in the state of Jin (Han, Zhao and Wei) managed to defeat another great clan (Zhi) whose might was greater than the trio combined. After defeating the Zhi clan in 453 BC, the three clans then eventually carved up the state of Jin between them, creating 3 of the 7 major powers during the Warring States Era. The Zhou King acknowledged this partition in 403 BC by conferring Marquessates to the heads of the 3 clans. In 386 BC, the 3 states finally deposed the last duke of Jin and divided the last remaining Jin territory between themselves, which marked the final end of the Jin state.[[/note]] to 959 AD, covering 16 [[UsefulNotes/DynastiesFromShangToQing dynasties]] and spanning across almost 1,400 years [[note]]As a comparison, ''Tongjian'' covered parts of ''Shiji'' (written by Sima Qian, who is not related to Sima Guang), and entire eras covered by the next ''18'' of the official ''24 Histories'' (of China; no. 24 covered the Ming Dynasty)[[/note]]. It contains 294 volumes (巻, ''juan'') and about 3 million Chinese characters.

Wang Fuzhi, a Chinese essayist, historian, and philosopher of the late Ming to early Qing dynasties, wrote a commentary on the work, titled "Comments after reading the Tongjian" (读通鉴论, "Du Tongjian Lun"). Before that, students of famed Southern Song philosopher Zhu Xi compiled one of his works: "The String and Mesh of Zizhi Tongjian" (資治通鑑綱目, ''Zizhi Tongjian Gangmu '') One crucial idea promoted in the work was that Shu-Han was the legitimate successor to the Han dynasty, instead of Cao-Wei or the Western Jin.

Wang Fuzhi, a Chinese essayist, historian, and philosopher of the late Ming to early Qing dynasties, wrote a commentary on the work, titled "Comments after reading the Tongjian" (读通鉴论, "Du Tongjian Lun"). Before that, students of famed Southern Song philosopher Zhu Xi compiled one of his works: "The String and Mesh of Literature/ZiZhiTongJian" (資治通鑑綱目, ''Zizhi Tongjian Gangmu '') One crucial idea promoted in the work was that Shu-Han was the legitimate successor to the Han dynasty, instead of Cao-Wei or the Western Jin.

Wang Fuzhi, a Chinese essayist, historian, and philosopher of the late Ming to early Qing dynasties, wrote a commentary on the work, titled "Comments after reading the Tongjian" (''读通鉴论'', "Du Tongjian Lun").

[[caption-width-right:350:[[ArchiveBinge Good luck reading through the whole thing]]. [[note]] 2019 compilation of the 294 volumes compressed into 20 issues [[/note]] ]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[ArchiveBinge Good luck reading through the whole thing]]. [[note]] 2019 compilation of the 294 stories compressed into 20 issues [[/note]] ]]

* WrittenByTheWinners: Averted. Sima Guang had little motive or interest in intentionally defaming dynasties which fell centuries before his time. As he clearly stated in the preface, the objective of ''Tongjian'' was to teach emperors on governance. Of particular interest is his dispassionate treatment of the Jin Dynasty of the 3rd-5th centuries CE, whose imperial house were Sima Guang's own kinsmen (he claimed descent from one of the brothers of Sima Yi, whose grandson was Emperor Wu of Jin, the founder of that dynasty).

* WrittenByTheWinners: Averted. Sima Guang had little motive or interest in intentionally defaming dynasties which fell centuries before his time. As he clearly stated in the preface, the objective of ''Tongjian'' was to teach emperors on governance. Of particular interest is his dispassionate treatment of the Jin Dynasty of the 3rd-5th centuries CE, whose ruling House of Sima were Sima Guang's own kinsmen (he claimed descent from one of Sima Yi's brothers).

* WrittenByTheWinners: Averted. Sima Guang had little motive or interest in intentionally defaming dynasties which fell centuries before his time. As he clearly stated in the preface, the objective of ''Tongjian'' was to teach emperors on governance. Of particular interest is his dispassionate treatment of the Jin Dynasty of the 3rd-5th centuries CE, whose ruling House of Sima were Sima Guang's own kinsmen.

* WrittenByTheWinners: Averted. Sima Guang had little motive or interest in intentionally defaming dynasties which fell centuries before his time. As he clearly stated in the preface, the objective of ''Tongjian'' was to teach emperors on governance.

Wang Fuzhi, a Chinese essayist, historian, and philosopher of the late Ming to early Qing dynasties, wrote a commentary on the work, titled "Comments after reading the Tongjian" (''讀通鑒論'', "Du Tongjian Lun").

''Zizhi Tongjian'' (Chinese: 資治通鑑, "Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance") is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084. Compiled by a team led by Sima Guang, ''Tongjian'' took 19 years to be completed, and records Chinese history from 403 BC [[note]]The first historical event recorded is how 3 clans who held great power in the state of Jin (Han, Zhao and Wei) managed to defeat another great clan (Zhi) whose might was greater than the trio combined. After defeating the Zhi clan in 453 BC, the three clans then eventually carved up the state of Jin between them, creating 3 of the 7 major powers during the Warring States Era. The Zhou King acknowledged this partition in 403 BC by conferring Marquessates to the heads of the 3 clans. In 386 BC, the 3 states finally deposed the last duke of Jin and divided the last remaining Jin territory between themselves, which marked the final end of the Jin state.[[/note]] to 959 AD, covering 16 [[UsefulNotes/DynastiesFromShangToQing dynasties]] and spanning across almost 1,400 years [[note]]As a comparison, ''Tongjian'' covered parts of ''Shiji'' (written by Sima Qian, who is not related to Sima Guang), and entire eras covered by the next ''18'' of the official ''24 Histories'' (of China; no. 24 covered the Ming Dynasty)[[/note]]. It contains 294 volumes (巻) and about 3 million Chinese characters.

''Zizhi Tongjian'' (Chinese: 資治通鑑, "Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance") is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084. Compiled by a team led by Sima Guang, ''Tongjian'' took 19 years to be completed, and records Chinese history from 403 BC [[note]]The first historical event recorded is how 3 clans who held great power in the state of Jin (Han, Zhao and Wei) managed to defeat another great clan (Zhi) whose might was greater than the trio combined. After defeating the Zhi clan in 453 BC, the three clans then eventually carved up the state of Jin between them, creating 3 of the 7 major powers during the Warring States Era. The Zhou King acknowledged this partition in 403 BC by conferring Marquessates to the heads of the 3 clans. In 386 BC, the 3 states finally deposed the last duke of Jin and divided the last remaining Jin territory between themselves, which marked the final end of the Jin state.[[/note]] to 959 AD, covering 16 [[UsefulNotes/DynastiesFromShangToQing dynasties]] and spanning across almost 1,400 years [[note]]As a comparison, ''Tongjian'' covered parts of ''Shiji'' (written by Sima Qian, who is not related to him), and entire eras covered by the next ''18'' of the official ''24 Histories'' (of China; no. 24 covered the Ming Dynasty)[[/note]]. It contains 294 volumes (巻) and about 3 million Chinese characters.

''Zizhi Tongjian'' (Chinese: 資治通鑑, "Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance") is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084. Compiled by a team led by Sima Guang, ''Tongjian'' took 19 years to be completed, and records Chinese history from 403 BC [[note]]The first historical event recorded is how 3 clans who held great power in the state of Jin (Han, Zhao and Wei) managed to defeat another great clan (Zhi) whose might was greater than the trio combined. After defeating the Zhi clan in 453 BC, the three clans then eventually carved up the state of Jin between them, creating 3 of the 7 major powers during the Warring States Era. The Zhou King acknowledged this partition in 403 BC by conferring Marquessates to the heads of the 3 clans. In 386 BC, the 3 states finally deposed the last duke of Jin and divided the last remaining Jin territory between themselves, which marked the final end of the Jin state.[[/note]] to 959 AD, covering 16 [[UsefulNotes/DynastiesFromShangToQing dynasties]] and spanning across almost 1,400 years. It contains 294 volumes (巻) and about 3 million Chinese characters.

* RealitySubtext: Before Sima Guang began his work on ''Tongjian'', he had been an ardent opponent of reforms led by Wang Anshi, a fellow scholar-official. Since Wang had the support of then-emperor Shenzong, Sima Guang decided to leave the capital Kaifeng for Luoyang. His work on ''Tongjian'' was in many ways a TakeThat to the shortcomings he perceived in Wang's reforms. [[note]]By the time ''Tongjian'' was completed, Emperor Shenzong had passed. Sima Guang was then appointed to lead the government. He proceeded to remove many policies implemented by Wang. However, modern historians have noted that Sima did not bring any alternative policies to the table. Essentially, the Northern Song lost valuable time while trying (and failing) to reform itself.[[/note]]

* BigScrewedUpFamily: The author emphasizes the need for the emperor to keep the relatives of his mother and empress (''waiqi'') under firm control, lest they garner too much influence or otherwise set bad examples for the empire. The work itself provides many examples of ''waiqi'' families who either brought ruin to themselves or the empire through their reckless actions and extravagance.

As a "textbook" for emperors, historical events which are culturally significant or otherwise do not involve governance issues were generally ignored. For example, many of China's great poets, from Qu Yuan to Li Bai and Du Fu were not mentioned in the text. Much like ''Literature/TheArtOfWar'', the advice encapsulated in the work is largely common sense, but may not always be easy to follow.

''Zizhi Tongjian'' (Chinese: 資治通鑑, "Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance") is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084. Compiled by a team led by Sima Guang, ''Tongjian'' took 19 years to be completed, and records Chinese history from 403 BC [[note]]The first historical event recorded is how 3 clans who held great power in the state of Jin (Han, Zhao and Wei) managed to defeat another great clan (Zhi) whose might was greater than the trio combined. After defeating the Zhi clan in 453 BC, the three clans then eventually carved up the state of Jin between them, creating 3 of the 7 major powers during the Warring States Era. The Zhou King acknowledged this partition in 403 BC by conferring Marquessates to the heads of the 3 clans in 403 BC. In 386 BC, the 3 states finally deposed the last duke of Jin and divided the last remaining Jin territory between themselves, which marked the final end of the Jin state.[[/note]] to 959 AD, covering 16 [[UsefulNotes/DynastiesFromShangToQing dynasties]] and spanning across almost 1,400 years. It contains 294 volumes (巻) and about 3 million Chinese characters.

The work has never been fully translated into English.

''Zizhi Tongjian'' (Chinese: 資治通鑑, "Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance") is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084. Compiled by a team led by Sima Guang, ''Tongjian'' took 19 years to be completed, and records Chinese history from 403 BC [[note]]The first historical event recorded is how 3 families who held great power in the state of Jin (Han, Zhao and Wei) managed to defeat another great family (Zhi) whose might was greater than the trio combined. After defeating the Zhi family, the three families then proceeded to carve up the state of Jin between them, creating 3 of the 7 major powers during the Warring States Era.[[/note]] to 959 AD, covering 16 [[UsefulNotes/DynastiesFromShangToQing dynasties]] and spanning across almost 1,400 years. It contains 294 volumes (巻) and about 3 million Chinese characters.

* BigScrewedUpFamily: The author emphasizes the need for the emperor to keep the relatives of his mother and empress (''waiqi'') under firm control, lest they garner too much influence or otherwise set bad examples for the empire. The work itself provides many examples of ''waiqi'' families who either brought ruin to themselves or the empire through their reckless actions.

* WrittenByTheWinners: Averted. Sima Guang had little motive or interest in intentionally defaming dynasties which fell centuries before his time. As he clearly stated in the preface, the objective of ''Tongjian'' was to teach emperors on governance.

* WarIsGlorious: Not according to the author, who frowns upon excessive military expeditions, as supplying such expeditions places a heavy burden upon the people.

''Zizhi Tongjian'' (Chinese: 資治通鑑, "Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance") is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084. Compiled by a team led by Sima Guang, ''Tongjian'' took 19 years to be completed, and records Chinese history from 403 BC [[note]]The first historical event recorded is how 3 families who held great power in the state of Jin (Han, Zhao and Wei) managed to defeat another great family (Zhi) whose might was greater than the trio combined. After defeating the Zhi family, the three families then proceeded to carve up the state of Jin between them, creating 3 of the 7 major powers during the Warring States Era.[[/note]] to 959 AD, covering 16 dynasties and spanning across almost 1,400 years. It contains 294 volumes (巻) and about 3 million Chinese characters.

''Zizhi Tongjian'' (Chinese: 資治通鑑, "Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance") is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084. Compiled by a team led by Sima Guang, ''Tongjian'' took 19 years to be completed, and records Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynasties and spanning across almost 1,400 years. It contains 294 volumes (巻) and about 3 million Chinese characters.

* BigScrewedUpFamily: The author emphasizes the need for the emperor to keep the relatives of his mother and empress (''waiqi'') under firm control, lest they garner too much influence or otherwise set bad examples for the empire. The work itself provides many examples of ''waiqi'' families who either brought ruin to themselves or the empire via their reckless actions.

* WarIsGlorious: Not according to the author. The work frowns upon excessive military expeditions, as supplying such expeditions places a heavy burden upon the people.

* ConspicuousConsumption: Frowned upon by the author, who criticized this as wholly destructive.

As a "textbook" for emperors, historical events which are culturally significant or otherwise do not involve governance issues were generally ignored. For example, many of China's great poets, from Qu Yuan to Li Bai and Du Fu were not mentioned in the text.

* BigScrewedUpFamily: The author emphasizes the need for the emperor to keep the relatives of his mother and empress (''waiqi'') under firm control, lest they garner too much influence or otherwise set bad examples for the empire.

!!It provides examples of: