r/ChineseHistory • u/JollyStatistician969 • 7d ago

Research Sources

Hello! I was wondering if anybody knew where I could find an English translation for the Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian? I have translated a volume or two myself just utilizing Google Translate, which can take a very long time and isn’t always totally accurate. I was also interested in knowing whether or not the Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian is more accurate than the Song Shi, or vice versa? I’ve read a majority of the first part of the Song Shi off the 24 Histories website, and have been using that as my primarily form of research along with the Apple Store version of the book (which is a much poorer English translation and just harder to read than the one on the website). I’ve cross referenced some facts with the translated years I’ve done from the Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian, but I’m worried that my translations may make some information I’ve gathered unsure or different between the two texts.

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u/Gao_Dan 7d ago

A full translation doesn't exist. Changbian is certainly more accurate than Songshi, in most part because it's much more detailed. However, as with aby source, it's not without errors.

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u/JollyStatistician969 7d ago

Okay. Thank you.

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u/stevapalooza 7d ago edited 7d ago

The Chinese Text project has the Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian available in Chinese. All you have to do is view it through a browser that has an auto-translation feature. I find that Google Chrome translations are the most readable. And it will just translate the whole page. No need to copy and paste lines of text and input them manually into a translator. Here's an example I pulled off the page:

When Wang Pu, the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, was promoted to Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince, he went to express his gratitude. The Emperor looked at him and said, "Pu served as Chancellor for ten years and was promoted three times to the highest rank. Such a great fortune and success is unprecedented in recent times."

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u/JollyStatistician969 7d ago

Ah. Okay. I had that feature disabled on google. That is very helpful. Thank you.