The Bamboo Annals

Name: The Bamboo Annals
Author: Uncredited Author

竹书纪年

by Uncredited Author (不提撰人)

Status: Completed
Length: 17k Words
Genre: Historical
Subgenre: Unknown
Updated: 9mo ago
Source: Fanqie

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2Chapters

28Reads

8.1Score

1Listens

717Reads · all time

Synopsis

The Bamboo Annals is an important chronological history of ancient China. It is traditionally attributed to an official historian of the State of Wei during the Warring States period. In the Western Jin dynasty, it was unearthed on bamboo slips from an ancient tomb in Jixian, in present-day Henan, which gave the work its name. The book is divided into two volumes and records history from the Yellow Emperor through the twentieth year of King Anxi of Wei during the Warring States period, though some accounts say it continues to King Ai of Wei. Its contents span the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, making it one of the key sources for studying pre-Qin history. Arranged chronologically, the book systematically records major events such as the accession of rulers, the relocation of capitals, military campaigns, sacrifices, calamities and strange phenomena, and diplomatic affairs. It also interweaves myths and legends with accounts of auspicious signs, reflecting the early historical belief that heaven and humanity were interconnected. Its concise narrative and archaic language distinguish it from later histories. Some of its records differ from those in surviving works such as Records of the Grand Historian. Its accounts of the chronology of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, the abdication system, and certain royal lineages are particularly distinctive, offering scholars an alternative source of historical evidence. The Bamboo Annals was partially lost during its transmission, and later generations distinguished between an “Ancient Text” version and a “Modern Text” version. The Ancient Text version is mostly preserved in quotations in encyclopedias and commentaries by earlier scholars, while the Modern Text version was compiled and supplemented by later generations. The work is not only a valuable historical source, but has also had a profound influence on textual studies, chronology, and research into ancient history. It is an important classic for understanding the course of ancient Chinese history and the traditions of historical writing. This book is suitable for historians, scholars of textual studies, and readers interested in ancient Chinese civilization. It can serve as a foundational reference for the study of pre-Qin history and culture.

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