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Manzhou zizhi tongjian gangmu 滿洲資治通鑒綱目

Sep 28, 2011 © Ulrich Theobald

Manzhou zizhi tongjian gangmu 滿洲資治通鑒綱目 "Outlines and Details of the Comprehensive Mirror in Manchu" is a joint version of several Tongjian gangmu 通鑒綱目-style books translated into the Manchu language. The 59-juan long collection includes a Manchu translation of the Tongjian gangmu qianbian 通鑒綱目前編 by Nan Xuan 南軒 in 18 juan and the Tongjian gangmu xubian 通鑒綱目續編 in 27 juan. It is an official translation made on order of the Kangxi Emperor 康熙 (r. 1661-1722).

The Chinese version upon which the Manchu translation is based had been compiled by Chen Renxi 陳仁錫. It included the books Tongjian gangmu 通鑒綱目 by Zhu Xi 朱熹 (59 juan), Tongjian gangmu qianbian by Jin Lüxiang (18 juan, with a Waiji 外紀 "Outer records" in 1 juan and a juyao 舉要 "Synthesis" in 3 juan, and Shang Lu's 商輅 Xubian 續編. Chen's compound version was printed in the early Qing decades, with a preface written by the Kangxi Emperor.

In 1687 the emperor ordered to translate this version into Manchu, which took three years to be made. The book was issued in 1691 in an unprinted palace version which is today owned by the Ethnic Library of China (Zhongguo Minzu Tushuguan 中國民族圖書館).

Source:
Li Xueqin 李學勤, Lü Wenyu 呂文鬰, eds. (1996). Siku da cidian 四庫大辭典 (Changchun: Jilin daxue chubanshe), Vol. 1, 904.