 |
Tan Qian 談變, official in the bureau for historiography that compiled the "Veritable records of the Ming" (Mingshilu 明實錄), started writing more "objective" annals in 1621. These were several times rewritten and found their final shape in a publication in 1647. The book Guoque 國榷 "Discussions about the state" covers the time from the birth of emperor Ming Taizu 明太祖 (r. 1368-1396), the founder of the Ming dynasty 明 (1368-1644), until the end of the Ming and the conquest of Nanjing 南京 (modern Nanjing/Jiangsu) by the Qing 清 armies.
Unlike the official annals of the Ming, the Mingshilu, Tan Qian's Guoque does not only record imperial decisions upon questions of daily routine, but rather reflects upon events and investigates the background of many facts. His book is also important for the pre-history of the Qing dynasty, the Jurchen at the beginning of the 17th century, and the foundation of their empire in the northeast. The last years of the Ming dynasty during the Chongzhen period 崇禎 (1628-1644) are described on the base of the official capital gazette (dibao 邸報), local gazetteers (fangzhi 方志) and oral reports. The value of the Guoque is degraded by the fact that the books includes many contradictions and that many passages are too short. The book consists of 108 chapters (juan "scrolls"). The title "discussions" poins at the function of memorials that were written by many of the high officials included in the book.
Source: Zhongguo da baike quanshu, Zhongguo lishi, vol. 1, p. 290.
|
