The ''Zizhi Tongjian Gangmu'' (資治通鑑綱目, "Outline and Details of the '' Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Government''"), also known as the ''Tongjian Gangmu'' or ''Gangmu'', is an 1172 Chinese history book based on

Sima Guang Sima Guang (17 November 1019 – 11 October 1086), courtesy name Junshi, was a Chinese historian, politician, and writer. He was a high-ranking Song dynasty scholar-official who authored the monumental history book ''Zizhi Tongjian''. Sima was ...

's 1084 book ''

Zizhi Tongjian ''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song (960–1127), Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959&n ...

''. The credited author is the

neo-Confucian Neo-Confucianism (, often shortened to ''lǐxué'' 理學, literally "School of Principle") is a moral, ethical, and metaphysical Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianism, and originated with Han Yu (768–824) and Li Ao (772–841) in t ...

philosopher

Zhu Xi Zhu Xi (; ; October 18, 1130 – April 23, 1200), formerly romanized Chu Hsi, was a Chinese calligrapher, historian, philosopher, poet, and politician during the Song dynasty. Zhu was influential in the development of Neo-Confucianism. He con ...

, but its compilation was in fact by Zhu's students. In the words of J. W. Haeger, the ''Zizhi Tongjian Gangmu'' "is doubtless the most influential piece of historical writing in the later Imperial age". The book is sometimes described as a condensed version of ''Zizhi Tongjian'', but it's in fact historical criticism containing copious didactic and ideological rhetoric. The book was later translated into Manchu as the ''Tung Giyan G'ang Mu'' () upon the request of the

Kangxi Emperor The Kangxi Emperor (4 May 1654– 20 December 1722), also known by his temple name Emperor Shengzu of Qing, born Xuanye, was the third emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigning from 1661 to ...

of the Qing. This Manchu version was itself translated into French by the

Jesuit missionary , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders = ...

Joseph-Anna-Marie de Moyriac de Mailla. His twelve-volume translation, the ''Histoire générale de la Chine...'', was published posthumously from 1777 to1783.Chinese Literature: Tongjian gangmu 通鑑綱目

References

1170s books 12th-century history books Song dynasty literature Chinese history texts Neo-Confucianism 12th-century Chinese books Zhu Xi {{China-lit-stub

See also

References