Chapter 30 The third section of my country's first history review monograph - "Shi Tong"
Liu Zhiji (661-721 A.D.), styled Zixuan, was born in Tang Pengcheng (now Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province).famous historian.Born in a family of officials and eunuchs, he has been fond of historiography since he was a child. He was a Jinshi at the age of 20, but he was not reused all his life. He has been engaged in compiling national history for many years. "Shi Tong" was written by him summarizing years of research results and personal experience. It was completed in the fourth year of Zhongzong Jinglong (AD 1710). It has 20 volumes and 49 chapters, including 36 inner chapters and 13 outer chapters.The inner part mainly reviews the historical methods, calligraphy, genres, styles, etc. of various historical books from the perspective of historical theory, and the outer part mainly narrates the origin and flow of historical books, miscellaneously commenting on the gains and losses of ancient people's writing history, and correcting and questioning.
Liu Zhiji loved historiography all his life, read a lot of books, and had his own unique views on the old histories. He also worked in the history museum for many years and was well aware of the various drawbacks of the history museum.With his incisive insights, the author theoretically analyzes and summarizes the historiography before the Tang Dynasty, states the advantages and disadvantages, boldly criticizes, dares to correct errors, and insists on a progressive view of history.For example: He dared to question the "Yao Dian", which was regarded as a classic by old historiography, and dared to expose and criticize the hypocrisy and superstition of the Five Elements Theory, thinking that it was "covering the ears and stealing the clock" (see "Shu Zhi Wuxing"), deceiving himself and others.
Liu Zhiji believes that historians must have "historical talent", "historical knowledge" and "historical knowledge" (that is, the "three talents"), and believes that the three are indispensable, and "historical knowledge" is the most important of the three.This progressive view was praised and followed by later historians.Qing Dynasty historian Zhang Xuecheng added another "Shi De" in "Wen Shi Tong Yi", which further developed Liu Zhiji's point of view.In fact, this is also what Liu proposed that "the good is integrity, and the good and the evil must be written", and he opposes "false writing with curved pens". This is a summary and development of the fine traditions of Chinese historiography. The whole book of "Stone" actually implements this kind of thought.
He also analyzed and criticized the history books of all dynasties before the Tang Dynasty from a macro perspective, including those respected as classics, from the content to the compilation method, pointed out the gains and losses, and summarized the "six schools" (namely "Shangshu", "Spring and Autumn", "Zuo Zhuan", "Guoyu", "Historical Records", "Hanshu" as the representative of the six writing forms of history books) "Two Styles" (that is, two genres of biography and chronicle), and on the Some historical genres and compilation methods have been analyzed and discussed in detail, and a series of unique insights have been put forward, emphasizing "general knowledge"; the text does not have to be rigidly established, but must change with the changes of the times; It is a good idea to focus on the straightness of the text; to compose the history must have a sign, to pass the letter, and so on.
"Shi Tong" is not only a monograph on historical theory, but also has its own precise opinions on literature, such as advocating "anti-frivolous rhetoric in simplicity" ("Miscellaneous Shuo II"), opposing the exaggerated style of parallel couples in the early Tang Dynasty that followed the Six Dynasties, and advocating simplicity Unpretentious writing style, advocates using "contemporary colloquial language" to record events. "Shi Tong" itself has simple language, fluent writing, sharp writing style, thorough discussion, and the love and hatred are cast between the lines. It is a masterpiece of prose in the early Tang Dynasty.
Among the works of later generations studying "Shi Tong", the "Shi Tong Tong Shi" written by Pu Qilong in the Qing Dynasty is the most famous.Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House has collated and checked books, which are relatively easy to use.