The Historical Records or Shiji is a vast history of the Chinese world from its beginnings up to the late second century BC. Its author, the Grand Historiographer Sima Qian (c. 145-86 BC), is the most famous Chinese historian and a great writer whose work has powerfully influenced Chinese and other Far Eastern literatures. The Historical Records is an immense and complex work. This translation concentrates on the vital but short-lived Qin dynasty, which unified China in 221 BC and created the vast empire that lasted until 1911. The introduction is aimed at bringing the history to a general audience, offering a lucid examination of Sima Qian in the tradition of history writing and placing the Qin dynasty in its wider historical context. This accessible new translation by one of the foremost scholars of Classical Chinese is supplemented by an index, map, and clear notes.

Written by Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072), an intellectual giant of the Song dynasty, Historical Records of the Five Dynasties offers a compelling interpretation of the Five Dynasties period (907-979). In overhauling the existing official history, Ouyang Xiu made several notable decisions. He recast the entire narrative in the popular "ancient" style to make for a rare fluency. He adopted rigorous moral categories to evaluate historical figures, reflecting the new regimen of his day. He also annotated portions of the text to establish a methodology for future writers. The Historical Records thereby became the official version-the last of China's dynastic histories to be written by an individual in a private capacity. In addition to its provocative commentary and lucid presentation, Historical Records is an eloquent statement on the art and craft of historical writing in the eleventh century.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1865. Its organization, marches, raids, scouts, engagements and general services, during the rebellion of 1861 to 1865, with observations of the author by the way, giving sketches of the Armies of the Potomac and of the Shenandoah. Also, interesting accounts of prison life and of the secret service.

People who have studied acupuncture and Chinese medicine recognize Zhang Zhongjing as the author of two seminal texts that are among the most influential in Chinese medical history: the Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders (Shāng Hán Lùn, 伤寒论) and Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet (Jīn Guì Yào Lüè, 金匮要略). However, what is less well-known is that Zhang Zhongjing authored several other texts, all of which were lost over time, with the sole exception of the Five Viscera Theory (Wǔ Záng Lùn, 五藏论). This was discovered in 1900 in a hidden library of China’s Mogao Caves of Dunhuang by a Taoist priest named Wang Yuanlu. The History and Compilation of Zhang Zhongjing’s Wu Zang Lun stands as the first comprehensive work in English detailing the history and compilation of Zhongjing’s Five Viscera Theory (Wǔ Záng Lùn, 五藏论). It uses storytelling to illuminate the historical context of the eight versions of this book that were discovered: five versions found in Dunhuang and three versions from Zhejiang China, Korea, and Japan respectively. By exploring the origin and development of these versions, this book not only delves into Traditional Chinese Medicine but also intertwines fascinating elements of humanities, history, and geography. The reader is offered insight into the Dunhuang manuscripts’ background and the significance of Zhongjing’s contributions to medical literature.