爱读二十四史 1.4

The "Twenty-Four Histories" refers to a collection of twenty-four historical texts compiled by various dynasties in ancient China, recognized as the authoritative records of Chinese history. Commonly referred to as "zhengshi" or "orthodox histories," these texts cover over four thousand years of history, beginning with the legendary Yellow Emperor and concluding with the final year of the Ming Dynasty in 1644. The collection totals 3,213 volumes and approximately 40 million words, consistently employing the biographical and annalistic structure of "jizhuan" (紀傳). The term "zhengshi" first appeared in the "Sui Shu" (隋书) under the section on classics: "Existing writings are modeled after Ban and Ma, regarded as orthodox histories." Following the proclamation by Emperor Qianlong that designated the "Twenty-Four Histories" as definitive, this term became exclusively associated with this significant historical compilation.

The complete list of the Twenty-Four Histories includes: Shiji (史记), Han Shu (汉书), Hou Han Shu (后汉书), Sanguozhi (三国志), Jin Shu (晋书), Song Shu (宋书), Nan Qi Shu (南齐书), Liang Shu (梁书), Chen Shu (陈书), Wei Shu (魏书), Bei Qi Shu (北齐书), Zhou Shu (周书), Sui Shu (隋书), Nan Shi (南史), Bei Shi (北史), Jiu Tang Shu (旧唐书), Xīn Táng Shū (新唐书), Jiu Wǔdài Shǐ (旧五代史), Xīn Wǔdài Shǐ (新五代史), Sòng Shǐ (宋史), Liao Shǐ (辽史), Jīn Shǐ (金史), Yuán Shǐ (元史), and Míng Shǐ (明史). Additionally, works such as "New Yuan History" and "Draft History of the Qing" are also frequently categorized as zhengshi.