On Jiao Hong's Historiography

Jiao Hong(1540-1619),born in Nanjing of Jiangsu province,is a famous scholar in middle-to-later of the Ming Dynasty.He bocomes a Juren in his early years.But then he experiences hardship much.He becomes a Zhuangyuan when he is 50 years old.Then he has been an official for ten years.Owing to honest and frank,he is not able to deal with official communication.His grade is lowered.He is detached to Funing.He lives in his hometown in his major time when he is old.He devotes himself to writing and teaching in his most time.Jiao Hong's idea and the study of learning are affected by the scholars in the preceding dynasty and the Ming dynasty.The brothers Su Shi and Su Zhe,and Zheng Qiao,are his preceding dynasty scholars.Yang Shen,Geng Dingxiang,Shi Xingtang and Luo Rufang,are his present dynasty scholars.Jiao Hong has obtained many achievements in the study of history.As to historiography,he has done great contribution to the textual criticism,contents and compilation.His main works in the textual criticism includes Su Shu Kan Wu,Jiao Shi Bi Cheng,and so on.The former contains a little content and is a tool book for the beginners to learn Confucian classics.Jiao Shi Bi Cheng which contains comprehensive content and produces a further affects to the subsequent times,is his representative work in the textual criticism.His achievement in contents is reflected in Guo Shi Jing Ji Zhi,which is his main contents work.This book contriuted many to the style sheet and has itself characters in the classification.Many subsequent history works are influenced by this book.Xian Zheng Lu is Jiao Hong's most important history work.It's capacity is very large.Many characters and their legends are compiled in it.It reflects Jiao Hong's much thought,such as applying idea,the idea of concerning the common people.It also embodys his some suggestion that one should accomplish history works alone,should pay more attention to collect and arrange history and should insist on direct recording and so on.Xian Zheng Lu is thought highly of by many subsequently scholars.It ??helps much to finish Ming Shi in Qing Dynasty.In addition,Li Zhi,Tan Qian,and so on,are deeply influenced by Jiao Hong.Li Zhi is Jiao Hong's intimate friend,and his much learning in history is from Jiao Hong.Tan Qian's Guo Que,quotes Jiao Hong's comments on many important matters.This embodys that Tan Qian thinks highly of Jiao Hong.