The Chinese officials promoted during the Northern Song Period in the 11th Century to the First Minister of the Central Government and a recognized historian. With his monumental work, “Zi Zhi Tong Jian” (1065-1084) laid before Sima Guang one of the most vital standard works of medieval historiography. Through his “mirror of history” was the Confucian emperors and ministers have to handbook policy …
Sima Guang was born in 1019 in Xiaxian (Shanxi, China).
As a boy, there was a diligent and curious Guang students with an exceptional acumen. He underwent training as a management official, with he became a civil servant in the central government. Under the Song period in the period 960-1279 was passed one Guang developed into a recognized historian and statesman. He was a follower of the teachings of Confucius. At the political level Guang was initially in competition with the statesman Wang Anshi (1021-1086).
With his occupancy, he rose to the Prime Minister himself. The historiography Guang focused around his monumental masterpiece “Zi Zhi Tong Jian”, in the form of an annual chronicle was the long period from the early Warring-rule until the end of the fifth period to the object (403 BC to 959 AD ). This “Comprehensive Mirror to help in the government” or “mirror of history” – the German paraphrase of the title – it was one of the greatest works of Chinese imperial history.
Guang wrote the 294 volumes of the work in the period 1065-1084, so in 19 years down. Guang took the first Chinese historian of the step from the pool of historical sources and evidence for its evaluation and chronological publication. He wrote his report for the purpose of this emperor and ministers could draw lessons from it a wise and sagacious policy. The Chronicle Guang influenced all subsequent historians of China and also its politicians and officials who had to study his work.
Sima Guang died in 1086 in China.
