HOW CHINESE HISTORY IS WRITTEN.

Bush Advocate, Volume I, Issue 44, 16 August 1888, Page 3

HOW CHINESE HISTORY IS WRITTEN.

A writer in a recent issue of the . North China Herald of Shanghai says that Chinese history; is compiled by a permanent . Commission of accomplished literary men, who are always at woirkupon it. In 1737 an Imperial edict stated that history ought not to be *writtan for the Emperbivs use only, and remain shut up in' golden caskets and marble chambers ; it ought to be made accessible to all officials, that theymay know, the mind of the Emperors and the laws of the land. From the Chinese standpoint, history is divided into two parts, one an exact narrative of events, the other a record of what the Emperor has said and done. .This- division originates two sets of publications^— one in which the officers speak, the; other in which the Emperor is the spokesman. In the first^the industry of the Bureau of History is rim m the collection of facts, but there is always a danger that the recorder may be under a strong. Court influence. Historical candour can scarcely find a place in reference to nations or persons who have been. in conflict with the Court., Witfrthis exception, the irray of facts thus recordedis most valuable. The edicts published in the second series express the mirid^of the Emperor. He is always a man who has the advantage of good training, and if his style is tolerable and he happens to beiond of writing his edicts himself they will all be transmitted to future times in full. The scribes, who stand writing when he speaks, translate his spoken words into official phrases, and his opinions and decisions will then pass intb;6fficial History, partly written by himself an<s partly by the scribes of the' Cabinet.