Wang Ming - Sheng 's Study Of Tang Dynasty

The period of Qianjia(the Qianlong Emperor and Jiaqing Emperor) in Qing Dynasty is the most prosperous one for ancient Chinese historical textual criticism with large quantity of outstanding scholars, among which Wang Mingcheng one of the three best historianscholars is the representative. Wang Mingcheng has an important contribution to the research on Tang history, which firsly focus on study of the Xin Tangshu and Jiu Tangshu.Wang Mingsheng made a detailed comparative study to the two books on historical sources,compiling style, content, historiography and summed up the pros and cons of the two books. He also made detailed emendation and corrected mistakes ellipsis and addition on the two books. The main methods of Wang’s research has induction, induction and comparison proving method, etc. The method combined the text records with monument is major feature.These ways used in the research complementarily and comprehensively made great achievement and is worthy of future reference.Wang Mingsheng greatly emphasized on careful study of the Tang’s laws and institutions, especially in the Bureaucracy, geography, military system, examination system, the ritual system and so on. Wang Mingsheng’s study on official System of the Tang Dynasty,related to the central institutions of the Tang Dynasty, Royal and noble rank and bureaucratic changes. The study of geography is on the cuoe place names, similarplace names andthe evolution and geographical shape of political district in Tang Dynasty.The study on military system is mainlyonthe mansion army system, mercenary system and the system that the eunuch take charge of army.The study on the imperial examinations isthe explanation of the basic characteristics and merits in examination system.Cultural aspects include the study of Tang Dynasty cultural taboo and ritual system and other aspects of culture.On the base of careful study of the relevant historical documents, laws and institutions of the Tang Dynasty,Wang Mingsheng make a deep research and made outstanding contributions to the Tang Dynastyfor future generations so that we can understand the characteristics and history of the evolution of the system.In addition, Wang Mingsheng made comments on important historical facts and historical figures of the Tang Dynasty and based on the facts, his comment points are clear, objective, notfollowing the crowd flow, establishing the principle on commenting.Of course,there are some gaps and shortcomings on Wang Ming-sheng’s research,such as the omissions on collation of Xin Tangshu and Jiu Tangshu, harshcommentary on the history and too many questions remaining on collation. These issue also needs our attention.Overall, the achievements of Wang Mingsheng in Tang history research is fruitful. He investigated the compilation features of Xin Tangshu and Jiu Tangshu, carefully explored the Tang Dynasty of laws and institutions, with unconventional comments and uniqueinsights on the evaluation of important facts and figures of the Tang Dynasty,. his insights is very instructive for future generations and provides a new way of thinking in Tang study.