Wang Zao Historiography Achievement Explored

The literary works of Wang Zao, who is a writer and historian lived inbetween the BeiSong dynasty and Southern Song Dynasty,were deeplystudied by many scholars, while his historical works were slightlyresearched. This thesis aims to explore the achievement of Wang Zao’shistorical works. There are many his works such asJingKangYaoLu,YuanFuGengChengYilaiZhaoZhi,YiYiMouXiaLu andQingTangLu. This paper researches Wang Zao’s historical results throughthe analysis of his historical works. It is divided into5parts:The preface mainly presents the research goal, significance andthe current studies of this assignment.The first chapter mainly states three sections about the erabackground of Wang Zao’s time, his family life and historical activities.The first section mainly presents the era background of Wang Zao’s time,which is the period of a huge social change. Under this alternativecondition, the academic background of compiling historical books hasimproved a new stage. The second section devotes to give aexploration of Wang Zao’s life experience form North SongHuiZong,QinZong dynasty to Southern Song Dynasty Emperor. The thirdone aims to present his revision activities of historical works and hishistorical works. He has more historical works, and this section mainlystates other several historical works besides JingKangYaoLu.Chapter two is the critical part of this thesis. JingKangYaoLu is WangZao’s unique complete work with specific feature by now, so thischapter analyzes the compiling and revision of this book, the contentand value of this book. JingKangYaoLu is a Chronological HistoryBooks with the Manner of Calendar characteristic. In the process ofspread, there are12-volume division and16-volume division, and also12versions such as two of Ming copies and ten of Qing copies,etc. This chapter mainly analyzes the record of matters and characters forunderstanding the contern structure and imbalance. The authorcomparesSanChaoBeiMengHuiBian,JingKangJiWen,HuangSongShiChaoGangYao with this book for understanding the stress and neglect of this bookand the features of it. In the meantime, this book preserves a largeamount of historical materials in North Song JingKang period. Its valueof complementary history and the regulation can’t be neglected.Besides, the record event of this book if deficient, also it will be exploredin this thesis.Chapter three is the contribution of his works and his historical view.His historical view can be stated into four parts: the first one is theviewpoint of emphasizing and preserving history; the second one is hisadmiring of Annalistic Style historic books; the third one is his assertingOfficial repair historical books; the fourth one is his strong loyalty view.His contribution of historical literary is analyzed in the aspects of thehistorical value and his contribution to the historical literary of SouthSong for understanding the XiShi manner and the textual feature of thisbook and even the influence of the whole Nan Song and thesucceeding historical literary.Finally, this paper partly expresses ChangBianJiShiBenMo quotationsYuanFuGengChengYilaiZhaoZhi and YiYiMouXiaLu by the manner ofappendix for making a primary arrangement of the YiWen of both.