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Introduction

Toward a Dynamic Historiography of the Song Dynasty

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 September 2020

Charles Hartman
Affiliation:
University at Albany, State University of New York
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Summary

Chapter 1 introduces the notion of “living historiography,” a corollary to “living institutional history,” to describe the dynamic interaction between the writing of official state historiography in the Song dynasty and ongoing political developments. An examination of the theoretical operation of state historiography against the composition of the surviving sources reveals that conflicts between Confucian literati and the monarchy, and between factions within the bureaucracy, often thwarted and shaped the routine (and supposedly neutral) processing of official documents into official history. At the same time, a subgenre of exemplary historiography intended for imperial reading and reference selected preferred “precedents” (gushi) from his material as guides for future political action. Over time, these compilations grew into an exemplary history of the dynasty. This chapter, and the ensuing Chapter 8, generate an analytical framework that explains how this process led to the present, received narrative of Song history. Notions of metanarrative and allegorical interpretation, akin to ideas from postmodern deconstruction, help to examine the rhetorical and literary manipulation of these sources.

Type
Chapter
Information
The Making of Song Dynasty History
Sources and Narratives, 960–1279 CE
, pp. 1 - 20
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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  • Introduction
  • Charles Hartman, University at Albany, State University of New York
  • Book: The Making of Song Dynasty History
  • Online publication: 24 September 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108877176.002
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  • Introduction
  • Charles Hartman, University at Albany, State University of New York
  • Book: The Making of Song Dynasty History
  • Online publication: 24 September 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108877176.002
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Introduction
  • Charles Hartman, University at Albany, State University of New York
  • Book: The Making of Song Dynasty History
  • Online publication: 24 September 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108877176.002
Available formats
×