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Tongzhi

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description Tongzhi Overview

Tongzhi is a universal history encyclopedia compiled by the Southern Song scholar Zheng Qiao, completed in 1161. Spanning 200 chapters, it covers subjects from genealogy and geography to institutions and literature, and is notable for its critical methodology and integration of textual and historical analysis. Together with Tongdian and Wenxian Tongkao, it forms the historical reference compendium known as the Three Tongs.

help Tongzhi FAQ

Who compiled the Tongzhi encyclopedia and when was it completed?

The Tongzhi was compiled by the Southern Song dynasty scholar Zheng Qiao and completed in 1161. Zheng Qiao was known for his critical historical methodology and his ambition to create a comprehensive universal history covering all major fields of knowledge.

How many chapters does the Tongzhi contain and what subjects does it cover?

The Tongzhi spans 200 chapters, covering subjects ranging from genealogy and geography to political institutions, bibliography, and literature. Its broad scope and systematic organization made it one of the most ambitious historical encyclopedias of imperial China.

How does the Tongzhi relate to other Chinese comprehensive histories like the Tongdian?

The Tongzhi is part of a tradition of comprehensive institutional encyclopedias that includes Du You's earlier Tongdian, completed in 801 CE. Together with Ma Duanlin's later Wenxian Tongkao, these works became known as the "Three Comprehensive Histories" (San Tong) of Chinese institutional scholarship.

What was innovative about Zheng Qiao's methodology in the Tongzhi?

The Tongzhi is notable for its critical approach to sources and its effort to integrate textual scholarship with institutional and cultural history. Unlike traditional dynastic histories that focused on political chronology and biography, Zheng Qiao organized material thematically, attempting to synthesize diverse fields into a unified analytical framework.

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