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| Book of Qi | |||||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 齊書 | ||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 齐书 | ||||||||||||||
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| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 南齊書 | ||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 南齐书 | ||||||||||||||
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TheBook of Qi (Qí Shū) orBook of Southern Qi (Nán Qí Shū) is a history of the Chinese dynastySouthern Qi covering the period from 479 to 502, and is one of theTwenty-Four Histories of Chinese history. It was written byXiao Zixian during the succeedingLiang Dynasty. This book was the only one of theTwenty-Four Histories to be authored by a member of thechronicled dynasty's ruling house – Xiao Zixian was a grandson ofEmperor Gao, founder of Southern Qi,
When first submitted toEmperor Wu of Liang, the book was known simply as theBook of Qi. After theBook of Northern Qi (the history of the laterNorthern Qi dynasty) was written, this book became known as theBook of Southern Qi so that the two could be distinguished. The book contained 60 volumes when written, but one preface was later lost.
The format of the text is similar to previous standard histories, with volumes that include annals, treatises, and biographies.[1] Volumes 1 to 8 are annals covering the emperors of the dynasty starting withEmperor Gao in volumes 1 and 2. Some short lived rulers that were not given the posthumous title of emperor are covered, including Volume 4Prince of Yulin, Volume 5Prince of Hailing, and Volume 7Marquess of Donghun. Volumes 9 to 19 are treatises covering rituals in volumes 9 and 10, music in volume 11, astronomy in volumes 12 and 13, administrative districts in 14 and 15, official posts in volume 16, carriages and dress in volume 17, auspicious signs in volume 18, and the five elements in volume 19.
Volumes 20 to 59 are biographies beginning with Volume 20 Biographies of Empresses and Consorts. Xiao Zixian devotes Volume 22 Prince Wenxian of Yuzhang豫章文獻王 to his father, also known by his personal nameXiao Ni. Volume 52 Biographies of Men of Letters includes an analysis of literary style. Xiao Zixian was a well known poet and his description in this volume is considered a valuable source of historic literary criticism.[2] Xiao Zixian was open about his Buddhist background. In Volume 54 he described a debate between Taoist Gu Huan顧歡 (c. 425–488) and BuddhistYuan Can袁粲 (420–477). Xiao Zixian favored the Buddhist side of the debate.[3]
Tian contains a partial translation of Volume 52 'Biographies of Men of Letters'.[4]
"Book of Southern Qi"《南齊書》. Chinese text with matching English vocabulary
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