Three Kingdoms period (220-280) in Chinese history / several Three Kingdoms periods in Korean history, esp. from 1st century AD to unification under Silla 新羅|新罗[Xin1 luo2] in 658
History of the Three Kingdoms, fourth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], composed by Chen Shou 陳壽|陈寿[Chen2 Shou4] in 289 during Jin Dynasty 晉朝|晋朝[Jin4 chao2], 65 scrolls
Five Dynasties, period of history between the fall of the Tang dynasty (907) and the founding of the Song dynasty (960), when five would-be dynasties were established in quick succession in North China
评书
píng shū
pingshu, a folk art where a single performer narrates stories from history or fiction
dramatic form consisting of historical narration / history as jocular narrative / to stretch history for a joking story / amusing story with strained interpretations of history / to make an unreasonable comparison in jest
先秦
xiān Qín
pre-Qin, Chinese history up to the foundation of the Qin imperial dynasty in 221 BC
the Book of Songs 詩經|诗经[Shi1 jing1] and the Book of History 書經|书经[Shu1 jing1]
近代史
jìn dài shǐ
modern history (for China, from the Opium Wars until the fall of the Qing Dynasty, i.e. mid-19th to early 20th century)
汉书
Hàn shū
History of the Former Han Dynasty, second of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], composed by Ban Gu 班固[Ban1 Gu4] in 82 during Eastern Han (later Han), 100 scrolls
Zuo Zhuan or Tsochuan, Mr Zuo's Annals or Mr Zuo's commentary on 春秋[Chun1 qiu1], early history c. 400 BC attributed to famous blind historian Zuo Qiuming 左丘明[Zuo3 Qiu1 ming2]
A Mirror for the Wise Ruler (or Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government), a vast chronological general history, written by 司馬光|司马光[Si1 ma3 Guang1] Sima Guang (1019-1089) and collaborators during the Northern Song in 1084, covering the period 403 BC-959 AD, 294 scrolls
History of Eastern Han (later Han), third of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], composed by Fan Ye 范曄|范晔[Fan4 Ye4] in 445 during Song of the Southern Dynasties 南朝宋[Nan2 chao2 Song4], 120 scrolls
五经
Wǔ jīng
the Five Classics of Confucianism, namely: the Book of Songs 詩經|诗经[Shi1 jing1], the Book of History 書經|书经[Shu1 jing1], the Classic of Rites 禮記|礼记[Li3 ji4], the Book of Changes 易經|易经[Yi4 jing1], and the Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋[Chun1 qiu1]
明史
Míng shǐ
History of the Ming Dynasty, twenty fourth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Zhang Tingyu 張廷玉|张廷玉[Zhang1 Ting2 yu4] in 1739 during the Qing Dynasty, 332 scrolls
History of the Song Dynasty, twentieth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], composed under Toktoghan 脫脫|脱脱[Tuo1 tuo1] in 1345 during the Yuan Dynasty 元[Yuan2], 496 scrolls / (not to be confused with 宋書|宋书[Song4 shu1])
魏征
Wèi Zhēng
Wei Zheng (580-643), Tang politician and historian, notorious as a critic, editor of History of the Sui Dynasty 隋書|隋书
晋书
Jìn shū
History of the Jin Dynasty, fifth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Fang Xuanling 房玄齡|房玄龄[Fang2 Xuan2 ling2] in 648 during Tang Dynasty 唐朝[Tang2 chao2], 130 scrolls
二十四史
Er4 shí sì Shǐ
the Twenty-Four Histories (25 or 26 in modern editions), collection of books on Chinese dynastic history from 3000 BC till 17th century / fig. a long and complicated story
六经
Liù jīng
Six Classics, namely: Book of Songs 詩經|诗经[Shi1 jing1], Book of History 尚書|尚书[Shang4 shu1], Book of Rites 儀禮|仪礼[Yi2 li3], the lost Book of Music 樂經|乐经[Yue4 jing1], Book of Changes 易經|易经[Yi4 jing1], Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋[Chun1 qiu1]
班固
Bān Gù
Ban Gu (32-92), Eastern Han dynasty historian, wrote the Dynastic History of Western Han 漢書|汉书
to go against the tide (idiom) / to do things all wrong / to try to turn back history / a perverse way of doing things
元史
Yuán shǐ
History of the Yuan Dynasty, twenty third of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Song Lian 宋濂[Song4 Lian2] in 1370 during the Ming Dynasty, 210 scrolls
旧唐书
Jiù Táng shū
History of the Early Tang Dynasty, sixteenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Liu Xu 劉昫|刘昫[Liu2 Xu4] in 945 during Later Jin 後晉|后晋[Hou4 Jin4] of the Five Dynasties, 200 scrolls
新唐书
Xīn Táng shū
History of the Later Tang Dynasty, seventeenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Ouyang Xiu 歐陽修|欧阳修[Ou1 yang2 Xiu1] and Song Qi 宋祁[Song4 Qi2] in 1060 during Northern Song 北宋[Bei3 Song4], 225 scrolls
魏书
Wèi shū
History of Wei of the Northern Dynasties, tenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled by Wei Shou 魏收[Wei4 Shou1] in 554 during Northern Qi Dynasty 北齊|北齐[Bei3 Qi2], 114 scrolls
书经
Shū jīng
the Book of History, one of the Five Classics of Confucianism 五經|五经[Wu3 jing1], a compendium of documents which make up the oldest extant texts of Chinese history, from legendary times down to the time of Confucius, also known as 尚書經|尚书经[Shang4 shu1 jing1], 尚書|尚书[Shang4 shu1], 書|书[Shu1]
隋书
Suí shū
History of the Sui Dynasty, thirteenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Wei Zheng 魏徵|魏征[Wei4 Zheng1] in 636 during Tang Dynasty, 85 scrolls
清史稿
Qīng shǐ gǎo
Draft History of the Qing Dynasty, sometimes listed as number 25 or 26 of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Zhao Erxun 趙爾巽|赵尔巽[Zhao4 Er3 xun4] in 1927 during the Northern Warlords period, 536 scrolls
陈寿
Chén Shòu
Chen Shou (233-297), Western Jin dynasty 西晉|西晋[Xi1 Jin4] historian, author of History of the Three Kingdoms 三國志|三国志[San1 guo2 zhi4]
周书
Zhōu shū
History of Zhou of the Northern Dynasties, twelfth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Linghu Defen 令狐德棻[Ling2 hu2 De2 fen1] in 636 during Tang Dynasty, 50 scrolls
十三经
Shí sān jīng
the Thirteen Confucian Classics, namely: Book of Songs 詩經|诗经[Shi1 jing1], Book of History 尚書|尚书[Shang4 shu1], Rites of Zhou 周禮|周礼[Zhou1 li3], Rites and Ceremonies 儀禮|仪礼[Yi2 li3], Classic of Rites 禮記|礼记[Li3 ji4], Book of Changes 易經|易经[Yi4 jing1], Mr Zuo's Annals 左傳|左传[Zuo3 Zhuan4], Mr Gongyang's Annals 公羊傳|公羊传[Gong1 yang2 Zhuan4], Mr Guliang's Annals 穀梁傳|谷梁传[Gu3 liang2 Zhuan4], The Analects 論語|论语[Lun2 yu3], Erya 爾雅|尔雅[Er3 ya3], Classic of Filial Piety 孝經|孝经[Xiao4 jing1], Mencius 孟子[Meng4 zi3]
宋书
Sòng shū
History of Song of the Southern Dynasties 南朝宋[Nan2 chao2 Song4] or Liu Song 劉宋|刘宋[Liu2 Song4], sixth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled by Shen Yue 沈約|沈约[Shen3 Yue1] in 488 during Liang of the Southern Dynasties 南朝梁[Nan2 chao2 Liang2], 100 scrolls / (not to be confused with 宋史[Song4 shi3])
唐书
Táng shū
same as 舊唐書|旧唐书[Jiu4 Tang2 shu1], History of the Early Tang Dynasty, sixteenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Liu Xu 劉昫|刘昫[Liu2 Xu4] in 945 during Later Jin 後晉|后晋[Hou4 Jin4] of the Five Dynasties, 200 scrolls
沈约
Shěn Yuē
Shen Yue (441-513), writer and historian during Liang of Southern dynasties 南朝梁, compiler of History of Song of the Southern dynasties 宋書|宋书
梁书
Liáng shū
History of Liang of the Southern Dynasties, eighth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled by Yao Silian 姚思廉[Yao2 Si1 lian2] in 636 during Tang dynasty, 56 scrolls
纪传体
jì zhuàn tǐ
history genre based on biography, such as Sima Qian's Record of the Historian
编年体
biān nián tǐ
in the style of annals / chronological history, the regular form of the Chinese dynastic histories
五代史
Wǔ dài shǐ
History of the Five Dynasties, eighteenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Xue Juzheng 薛居正[Xue1 Ju1 zheng4] in 974 during Northern Song 北宋[Bei3 Song4], 150 scrolls
新五代史
Xīn Wǔ dài shǐ
Later History of the Five Dynasties (between Tang and Song), nineteenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Ouyang Xiu 歐陽修|欧阳修[Ou1 yang2 Xiu1] in 1053 during Northern Song Dynasty, 74 scrolls
History of Qi of the Northern Dynasties, eleventh of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled by Li Baiyao 李百藥|李百药[Li3 Bai3 yao4] in 636 during Tang Dynasty, 50 scrolls
旧五代史
Jiù Wǔ dài shǐ
History of the Five Dynasties (between Tang and Song), eighteenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Xue Juzheng 薛居正[Xue1 Ju1 zheng4] in 974 during Northern Song 北宋[Bei3 Song4], 150 scrolls
赵国
Zhào Guó
Zhao, one of the seven states during the Warring States Period of Chinese history (475-220 BC)
four horse military chariot (archaic) / four (archaic) / generic term for history books
名垂青史
míng chuí qīng shǐ
lit. reputation will go down in history (idiom) / fig. achievements will earn eternal glory
断袖之癖
duàn xiù zhī pǐ
lit. cut sleeve (idiom) / fig. euphemism for homosexuality, originating from History of Western Han 漢書|汉书: emperor Han Aidi (real name Liu Xin) was in bed with his lover Dong Xian, and had to attend a court audience that morning. Not wishing to awaken Dong Xian, who was sleeping with his head resting on the emperor's long robe sleeve, Aidi used a knife to cut off the lower half of his sleeve.
千古罪人
qiān gǔ zuì rén
sb condemned by history (idiom)
数典忘祖
shǔ diǎn wàng zǔ
to recount history but omit one's ancestors (idiom) / to forget one's roots
旷古未有
kuàng gǔ wèi yǒu
never before in the whole of history (idiom) / unprecedented
旷古未闻
kuàng gǔ wèi wén
never before in the whole of history (idiom) / unprecedented / also written 曠古未有|旷古未有
逆行倒施
nì xíng dǎo shī
to go against the tide (idiom) / to do things all wrong / to try to turn back history / a perverse way of doing things
lì shǐ
