When people put. Cao Wei occupied the sky, Sun Wu occupied the land and Liu Shu occupied the people. When this wonderful theme spread, many people praised The Romance of the Three Kingdoms for its profound ancient philosophy. When the reader passes? Empty city plan? (Zhuge Liang)? Hero? (Zhou Yu) Grass boat borrows arrows? (Zhuge Liang)? Burn the camp? (Lu Xun)? Sick Cao Shuang? (Sima Yi) When people appreciate strategic stories, they feel the classical wisdom contained in the meaning of the Three Kingdoms. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which integrates history, literature, strategy and art of war, has influenced readers from generation to generation in China.
But if you are interested in history books and have read Chen Shou's History of the Three Kingdoms, you will feel that Chen Shou's History of the Three Kingdoms is fully qualified to be called Shiji, Hanshu and Houhanshu among the twenty-four histories? The first four histories? It is not only a masterpiece of official history, but also has considerable literary value because of its biographical historical works. The History of the Three Kingdoms, like Historical Records, Hanshu and Houhanshu, is a privately compiled history book. Although there is no official tone, it is serious and credible.
In history, the evaluation of the Three Kingdoms is still relatively good. For example, after Chen Shou's death, Fan Qi, a scholar of Shanxi merchants, once said in the table: Chen Shouzuo's History of the Three Kingdoms is full of exhortations and beneficial to weathering. Although not so elegant, but through, I would like to record. ? (Book of Jin, Volume 82) Ye Shi said:? Chen Shoubi pressed Sima Qian from a height. The party's class is solid, but it lacks some literature and righteousness, so it is necessary to win solidity. ? Historians and scholars in past dynasties praised Chen Shou more than others. The History of the Three Kingdoms does have its wonderful points, and some advantages cannot be replaced by the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
First of all, Chen Shou's description of history is objective and straightforward, but he is insightful and has his attitude towards history. Chen Shou was forty-eight when he wrote The History of the Three Kingdoms, and thirty-one when he destroyed Shu in the State of Jin. Chen shou belongs to the three kingdoms, but he is a minister, and Jin inherits Wei and owns the world. Therefore, in the history of the Three Kingdoms, Chen Shou respected Wei as orthodox, which was completely different from Liu's position against Cao in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Chen Shou is a minister, and it is understandable that he stands in the position of respecting Wei. Wei Shu in the History of the Three Kingdoms wrote a biography of Cao Cao, while Shu Shu and Wu Shu are only biographies with no discipline. Liu Bei wrote a prequel and Sun Quan wrote a biography of Wu. This position of Chen Shou shows that it is difficult to avoid the influence of political stance in compiling history. Like most historians in history, Chen Shou could not avoid politics when compiling history. It was the political situation at that time that prevented him from writing history in another position.
However, in this general position, Chen Shou did not write history without his own attitude. Although he respected Wei as orthodox, he insisted on an objective attitude when describing history in detail. He wrote a book about Wei, Shu and Wu, which objectively and truly described the situation of the three countries and showed that they were independent and not subordinate to each other? Equality? Status, this attitude of respecting facts is very rare. For example, what is the writing method used by Chen Shou in Biography of the First Master and Biography of Wu? What is the annual course? The way of recording is no different from the way of describing Cao Cao's biography. Chen Shou only changed his name, which was probably just to cope with the review by the authorities at that time.
Obviously, Chen Shou's handling of Wei Shuwu's description in this way respects history, and his attitude is relatively objective, which shows that his understanding of history is excellent. Knowing the background of Chen Shou's compilation of the History of the Three Kingdoms, it is not difficult to find that it is not easy for him to write history like this. Because when Chen Shou wrote the history books, it was just after the Jin Dynasty destroyed Shu. You know, the reflection was written at that time? Modern history? . In the eyes of rulers of the Jin Dynasty, and in the horrible atmosphere of repression and arrest of dissidents by the Jin Dynasty, it takes great courage for Chen Shou to objectively describe the history of Wei, Shu and Wu. Therefore, it is not easy for Chen Shou to compile history, which is commendable.
Secondly, closely related to the objective narrative of history, Chen Shou used the political climate allowed at that time to wisely hint at profound insights in his narrative. Insist? Hide without losing the record, promote the good without hiding the shortcomings? Principles of compiling history books. The political and ideological atmosphere in Wei and Jin Dynasties was very tense. At that time, many scholars were arrested and killed because of political factional struggle or ideological confrontation. Like what? Seven sages of bamboo forest? Ji Kang, the spiritual leader, insisted on his own opinions, never compromised, lived in seclusion, repeatedly refused to be an official, offended Zhong Hui, a captain, was framed and later executed. And then what? Seven sages of bamboo forest? Ruan Ji, another representative figure, became an infantry captain because he was cautious and good at compromise, and lived a much more comfortable life than Ji Kang.
Chen shou was in a difficult situation at that time. He also has all kinds of complicated relationships. Just after the troubled times, the rulers have not been able to completely eliminate hostile military forces. Internally, the contradictions between political factions are extremely complicated, and the literati in the complex political whirlpool will be in great disaster if they are not careful. As a historian, Chen Shou is well aware of Sima Qian's experience in the Han Dynasty. So, when the issues of history and reality, politics and clan are very complicated, as a historian, what if he writes history books directly? Write directly? That's a death wish. Therefore, Chen Shou can only skillfully describe the real history in a tortuous way. He should not only respect the historical truth, but also make the rulers at that time feel harsh and dazzling. It takes real skill. It is not difficult to find that Chen Shou's description of the relationship between Han and Wei is quite secret, and his wording is light but not false. On the premise of respecting Wei, carefully reveal the historical truth.