Historical Records of the Five Dynasties

The Historical Records of the Five Dynasties is a Chinese history book on the Five Dynasties period, written by the Song dynasty official Ouyang Xiu in private. It was drafted during Ouyang's exile from 1036 to 1039 but not published until 1073, a year after his death. An abridged English translation by Richard L. Davis was published in 2004. The history book is a typical representative of the use of Spring and Autumn style. It has high literal value but its content may not be accurate enough.
One of the official Twenty-Four Histories of China, the book is frequently referred to as the New History of the Five Dynasties in order to distinguish it from the Old History of the Five Dynasties which was published in 974. Though both books follow a similar format, Ouyang's book is more concise and markedly more analytical.

New History of the Five Dynasties covers the [Later Later Liang (Five Dynasties)|Liang (Five Dynasties)|Later Liang], Later Tang, [Later Later Jin (Five Dynasties)|Jin (Five Dynasties)|Later Jin], [Later Later Han (Five Dynasties)|Han (Five Dynasties)|Later Han], and Later Zhou dynasties. The book consists of 74 chapters total. It includes biographies, annuals, case studies, family histories, genealogies, and coverage about Chinese tribes. The layout of the work was inspired by the style of Li Yanshou and it pulls content from Xue Juzheng's work. It has been described as being more important than the work that Xue Juzheng created and upon its discovery "Xue Juzheng's earlier history was largely forgotten and nearly lost to the world."

Chapters 1–3: Basic Annals of Liang
Chapters 4–7: Basic Annals of Tang
Chapters 8–9: Basic Annals of Jin
Chapter 10: Basic Annals of Han
Chapters 11–12: Basic Annals of Zhou
Chapter 13: Biographies of the Royal Families: Liang
Chapter 14: Biographies of the Royal Families: Taizu of Tang
Chapter 15: Biographies of the Royal Families: Mingzong of Tang
Chapter 16: Biographies of the Royal Families: Emperor Fei of Tang
Chapter 17: Biographies of the Royal Families: Jin
Chapter 18: Biographies of the Royal Families: Han
Chapter 19: Biographies of the Royal Families: Taizu of Zhou
Chapter 20: Biographies of the Royal Families: Shizong of Zhou
Chapters 21–23: Biographies of Liang Subjects
Chapters 24–28: Biographies of Tang Subjects
Chapter 29: Biographies of Jin Subjects
Chapter 30: Biographies of Han Subjects
Chapter 31: Biographies of Zhou Subjects
Chapter 32: Biographies of Martyrs to Virtue
Chapter 33: Biographies of Martyrs in Service
Chapter 34: Biographies of Consistent Conduct
Chapter 35: Biographies of Six Courtiers of Tang
Chapter 36: Biographies of Righteous Sons
Chapter 37: Biographies of Court Musicians and Actors
Chapter 38: Biographies of Eunuchs
Chapters 39–57: Miscellaneous Biographies
Chapters 58–59: Treatise on Astronomy
Chapter 60: Treatise on Administrative Geography
Chapter 61: Hereditary House of Wu
Chapter 62: Hereditary House of Southern Tang
Chapter 63: Hereditary House of Former Shu
Chapter 64: Hereditary House of Later Shu
Chapter 65: Hereditary House of Southern Han
Chapter 66: Hereditary House of Chu
Chapter 67: Hereditary House of Wuyue
Chapter 68: Hereditary House of Min
Chapter 69: Hereditary House of Nanping
Chapter 70: Hereditary House of Eastern Han
Chapter 71: Timeline for the Hereditary Houses of the Ten Kingdoms
Chapters 72–74: Appendixes on the Four Barbarians

The book has been partially translated into English:
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Derivative works

A couple decades later, Wu Zhen published a 3-chapter Wudai Shiji Zuanwu which was appended to the original. This new work was considered lost in 18th-century Qing dynasty, but partly recovered by compilers of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries from indications quoted in the 15th-century Yongle Encyclopedia. Thereafter, in 1778 Wu Lanting published a 4-chapter Wudai Shiji Zuanwu Bu, and in 1888 Wu Guangyao published a 6-chapter Wudai Shiji Zuanwu Xubu.

Historical Records of the Five Dynasties

Contents

Derivative works