Ancient Chinese History (A Republic-Era Masters' History Collection)

The book comprises three volumes, two parts, four chapters, and 170 sections in all, covering the period from ancient times through the Sui dynasty. Although it only reaches the Sui dynasty, it breaks with traditional methods of compilation and divides Chinese history into three major periods according to its historical development and evolution. Written in a chapter-based format (or the annals-style format), it has the advantage, as its author Xia Zengyou clearly explained, of being better suited for "use in the lecture hall," which in practice also means better suited to society's needs. It has been called "a famous new-style general history" in the history of modern Chinese historiography.