Han Shu
The Han Shu ( Chinese 漢書 / 汉书 , Pinyin Hàn Shū ) is a Chinese historical work that depicts the time of the early or western Han dynasty and the usurper Wang Mang . It was started by Ban Biao at 36 , continued by his son Ban Gu and, after his execution in 92, was completed by his sister Ban Zhao at 110. It is the second of the 24 dynasty stories, dealing with Chinese history between 206 BC. BC to AD 24 and comprises 100 scrolls / volumes ( 捲 , juǎn ).
Based on the Shiji model , it is divided into imperial annals, tables, biographies (including descriptions of foreign peoples) and monographs. But it also contains works on literature and geography by Ban Gu and on astronomy by Ban Zhao.
The brother of the historians was General Ban Chao , who advanced as far as the Caspian Sea in his conquests . The information about the western regions contained in the Han Shu certainly came from him.
English translations (extracts)
- Pan Ku: The History of the Former Han Dynasty. A Crit. Translated with annotations by Homer H. Dubs . Vol. I-III. Kegan Paul et al., London et al. 1938–1955.
- Anthony François Paulus Hulsewé: China in Central Asia. The early stage. 125 BC - AD 23. An annotated translation of chapters 61 and 96 of the History of the Former Han Dynasty. With an introduction by MAN Loewe. EJ Brill, Leiden 1979, ISBN 90-04-05884-2 ( Sinica Leidensia 14).
- Pan Ku: Courtier and Commoner in Ancient China. Selections from the History of the Former Han. Translated by Burton Watson . Columbia University Press, New York NY et al. 1974, ISBN 0-231-03765-1 ( Translations from the Oriental Classics ), (A translation of chapters 54,63,65,67,68,71,74,78,92, and 97).
See also
- Hanshu literature catalog ( Hanshu yiwenzhi )
