Zheng's Historical Research

Zheng Xiao, the word Shifu, and its short-Danquan, was born in Hongzhi 12th year (1499), died in Jiajing 45th year(1566). His book,"Wu xue bian"opened with a mass-century contemporary history written precedent. Meanwhile, He is the first scholar in Ming Dynasty who comprehensively and systematically recorded politics, economy, culture in the Ming Dynasty linked to the history in other nations.This paper focuses on Zheng Xiao's main works and contrasts his works with the historical material in middle and late Ming Dynasty. This paper systematically researches Zheng Xiao's writings on historical records of minority which highlighted the value of the nation's history works of Zheng Xiao. From this, people can understand Zheng Xiao's contribution to development of the history more comprehensively.The article briefly describes the life of Zheng Xiao and his writing. This makes us have a clearer understanding of his works. We know that he began to write "Wu Xue Bian" in Jiajing 20th year, and in Jiajing 35th year zheng xiao burnt some of his "wu xue Bian" for Lee Mo's incident. Luckily a part of his draft was rescued by his family. Later, he continued writing this article with the remained material and finished at last. He also wrote "Jin Yan" which is called "Jin Yan" or"Jin Yan Lei Bian" we can see today. Through detailed comparison, we can find that "Jin Yan Lei Bian" was written on the base of "Jin Yan". This paper then researches the source of Zheng Xiao's nation's historical records. From the source materials of "Huang Ming SiYi Kao" and "Huang Ming Beilu Kao", we find that one part of "Huang Ming SiYi Kao" was from "Ming Taizu Shilu", "Ming Taizong Shilu" and "Ming Xuanzong Shilu"; the records of the local customs and products was from "Xiyu Fanguo Zhi", "Xiyang Fanguo Zhi", " Da Ming Hui Dian " and " Dang Ming Yi Tong Zhi ". Finally, this article analyzes Zheng Xiao's historical thought, "keeping the difference between Han Nationality and the minority", but inside the Country Ming all the nationalities should be peaceful coexistence.