A Textual Research On The Supplement And Study Of Xie Cheng 's Later Han

The History of Later Han, written by Xie Cheng, is the first book about the history of the Later Han, which is named The History of Later Han after following the Dong Duan Han Ji. This book, based on extensive, provides rich history data on the historical works of the Later Han, especially about the Three Wu area. Although there are different views on the time of this book’s lost, but the lost is an indisputable fact. The existing series are mainly Yao Zhiyin’s series, Wang Wentai’s series, Sun Zhizu’s series, Lu Xun’s series, Zhou Tianyou’s series etc. Because the book has been lost long ago, there are many variants between the various series, whose reference master copy’s quality is different, so it is very necessary to make some sort of work on these series before studying the value of this book. The existing compilation compiles and edits mainly from the Beitang Shuchao, Yiwen Leiju, Chuxueji, Taiping Yulan and other Books; Shui Jing Zhu, the Pei Songzhi’s annotation of Sanguozhi, Li Xian’s annotation of Fan Ye’s the History of Latter Han, the annotation of literary selections and other ancient annotations. These existing compilations mainly preserve the historical materials about political, economic, cultural and civil life of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Under the condition of lacking of historical materials, these series’ value appears, especially what is not recorded by the Fan Ye’s History of Later Han, and Yuan Hong’s Hou Han Ji. And the drawing materials this book lays particular attention to individual biography and Jun-Guo biographies, which are closer to the first-hand information material, so the credibility is higher than other history books of the Later Han. Therefore this book has certain collation value to Fan Ye’s The History of Later Han and Yuan Hong’s Hou Han Ji.This thesis is divided into six chapters,which intend the study Xie cheng’s the History of Later Han. To research on a book, we must first understand the author and his life, and when and how the book produces. The first chapter of this thesis is to research Xie Cheng’s life stories and when and how the History of Later Han produces. Through the analyzing of Kuaiji Sages Biography, San Guo Zhi and other related historical data, we can generally grasp the life stories of Xie Cheng, and then interpret the historical background which Xie Cheng wrote the History of Later Han. Based on the analyzing the life stories of Xie Cheng and the historical background which Xie Cheng wrote the History of Later Han, this chapter infer Xie Cheng’s motivation of writing the History of Later Han, which is the Sun Wu regime requires a History of Later Han to consolidate their legitimacy, and Xie Cheng literacy can write such a History of Later Han, coincidently, the History of Later Han produces. So it should be good for Sun Wu regime, does not conform the legitimism of Sima’s replacing of the Wei dynasty, so it gradually lost.The second chapter is mainly doing some textual research through searching the description of the History of Later Han in Jing Ji Zhi, Yi Wen Zhi and official or private bibliography works, as well as the quotations of official or private Lei Shu. Thus, the loss of Xie Cheng’s the History of Later Han is a long process, there were at least two editions, among which one is named Han Shu, another is a edition published at the year of Yongle, during the late Ming and early Qing period, although they may not be complete.The third chapter of this thesis is the study of the series of Xie cheng’s the History of Later Han. Through compared with the existing Yao Zhiyin series, Sun Zhizu series, Wang Wentai series, Lu Xun series and Zhou Tianyou series, this chapter analysis the characteristics and inheritance of the existing series edition, and points out that Zhou Tianyou series is the best among the various series.Based on the analyzing the series editions in the third chapter, the fourth chapter is doing some collation and compilation using Zhou Tianyou series as master copy. This chapter mainly discusses some punctuation in the Zhou Tianyou entries, and puts forward different views on individual words, and proposes different opinions on some comments annotated by Zhou Tianyou, as well as suspectes some items which don’t belong to Xie cheng’s the History of Later Han. Under the previous compilation, this chapter does the collection of the History of Later Han from Jing Song vision Taiping Yulan, the other literature commentary of the Song Dynasty, and the poetic annotation after the Song Dynasty.Following collation and compilation in the fourth chapter and analyzing the existing series literature, the fifth chapter of this thesis deduced that the historical materials of Xie cheng’s History of Later Han are mainly taken Dong Guan Han Ji as the reference, as well as some individual biography and Jun-Guo biographies, also the popular Buddhist literature and other religious literature. Under the influence of Shi Ji, Han Shu, Dong Guan Han Ji, the style Xie cheng’s History of Later Han is a Jizhuanti, which consists of Di Ji, Zhi, and Lie Zhuan. Thereinto, the Zhi includes Bai Guan Zhi, Yu Fu Zhi, and Di Li Zhi; while Dongyi Lie Zhuan is among this book’s Lie Zhuan. Analyzing of the existing literature, it is inferred that Xie cheng’s History of Later Han may has Bing Zhi; as well as inferred that Du Xing Zhuan, Fang Shu Zhuan, Yi Min Zhuan, Lie Nü Zhuan, which followed by Fan Ye, in this book; there may also have Huang Hou Zhuan and Zong Shi Zhuan, which should be arranged the first place of the Lie Zhuan. At the aspect of historical criticism, Xie cheng’s History of Later Han follows the Dong Guan Han Ji’s Xu, and Xie cheng’s comments named Quan.The sixth chapter of this thesis is mainly on the research of value of Xie Cheng’s History of Later Han, which mainly consists of historical value and literature value. From the aspect of historical value, it has preserved some historical materials during the period of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Under the condition of lacking of historical materials in the Eastern Han Dynasty,this book provide some valuable materials about political, academic, legal, social life, which could compensate the insufficient Fan Ye’s History of Later Han and Yuan Hong’s Hou Han Ji. From the advantage of literature, its main value is do some Collation on text and historical records to the existing books of the Later Han dynasty, including Fan Ye’s History of Later Han, Yuan Hong’s Hou Han Ji, Sima Biao’s Xu Han Shu, Hua Qiao’s History of Later Han, along with other kinds of History books of the Later Han.