Shiji and the Gongyang School of Thought
Date Issued
2008
Date
2008
Author(s)
McKay, Trever
Abstract
Shiji is a monumental book of history from the early Han dynasty that covers more than 2,500 years of history. Sima Qian’s reasons for writing it find their beginnings in his dying father’s last wishes. In addition to this, Sima Tan’s views of Confucius and of a cyclical history also played a large role. At the time, the Gongyang school of thought arrived at a level of primary importance in the political arena, due to the research and use of it by such scholars as Huwu Sheng, Dong Zhongshu, and Gongsun Hong.n Shiji, Sima Qian repeatedly discusses and lauds Chunqiu. A look into his comments on it recorded in Shiji reveal that his understanding of Chunqiu is had through the Gongyang Commentary. That is to say, the Chunqiu discussed in Shiji is really Gongyang Chunqiu. Furthermore, it reveals that Sima Qian’s understanding of Gongyang Chunqiu bears many resemblances to that of Dong Zhongshu’s explanations of the Gongyang Commentary. Therefore, the paper is directed at addressing the Gongyang thought that is contained in Shiji, and exploring and analyzing the relationship between Shiji and the Gongyang Commentary. The aim is to give a conclusive explanation of why and how Sima Qian used Gongyang thought in his writing of Shiji.
Subjects
Sima Qian
Shiji
the Gongyang Commentary
Confucius
Chunqiu
Type
thesis
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