China's History Books

China's historical legacy is very huge.  As early as the time of the phisopher Confucius (551-479 BCE) people were already looking back to ancient tradition.  It is true that Confucius changed China in ways that he (as a person) would never know or be aware of.  However, Confucius never thought of himself as such an innovator.  Four hundred years later, Sima Qian (145-86 BCE) compiled his work "Records of the Historian."  This book tells Chinese history from the Three August Emperors of mythological times to the high point of the Han dynasty.  This very work was but the first in a series of dynastic histories that traced China's unique story up to the time of the modern age.

In fact, China's greatest historian have been able to draw upon extensive written tradition to do their work.  The scholars of China have always been attracted to the task of rewriting the existing historical texts.  This is because of the desire to see afresh the same history from a contemporary viewpoint.  So, for better or worse, the history books of China are the necessary starting point for that people today need to know about China's long history of antiquity. 

Best regards from the East,

Harlan Urwiler

For more information, feel free to visit my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.