{"product_id":"historical-records-of-the-five-dynasties-paperback","title":"Historical Records of the Five Dynasties - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eXiu Ouyang\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eRichard Davis\u003c\/b\u003e (Translator)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOnly fragments of historical text from China's middle period have been translated into English, until now. Here at last is the first major Chinese historical work from the Song dynasty. Written by Ouyang Xiu, an intellectual giant of the eleventh century, this is a history of the preceding century (907-979), a period known as the Five Dynasties. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe historical and literary significance of Ouyang's achievement cannot be underestimated. In rewriting the existing official history of the Five Dynasties, Ouyang--whose own time was characterized by extraordinary intellectual and political innovation--made several notable decisions. He rewrote the history in the \"ancient\" style preferred by forward-thinking literati; he even rewrote the original documents quoted within biographies. He also relied on his own moral categories, reevaluating the worth of the historical figures in light of his own convictions that individuals should take personal responsibility for the fate of society. Ouyang's history would eventually become the official version--the last state-sanctioned dynastic history of imperial China to be written by an individual in a private capacity. In addition to its provocative insights and lucid presentation, \u003ci\u003eHistorical Records of the Five Dynasties\u003c\/i\u003e is an eloquent statement on the art of historical writing in the eleventh century. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA preeminent scholar of Chinese history, Richard L. Davis has provided a thorough introduction and rendered nearly two-thirds of the Chinese original into English, including complete sections critical to understanding the politics and personalities of the time. Biographical clusters based on Ouyang's moral categories also appear in full, helping readers to appreciate the Confucian agenda that informs the work.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eRichard L. Davis is Chair Professor of History at Lingnan University, Hong Kong. His books include \u003ci\u003eWind Against the Mountain: The Crisis of Politics and Culture in Thirteenth Century China\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eCourt and Family in Sung China, 960-1279\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 736\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.38 x 9.23 x 6.19 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e January 01, 2008\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52611032285491,"sku":"9780231128278","price":97.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0300\/5595\/6612\/files\/dHJVbVRwaE1KNzJ4emxxYm4yUW5Edz09.webp?v=1761832360","url":"https:\/\/www.vysn.com\/products\/historical-records-of-the-five-dynasties-paperback","provider":"VYSN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}