Dìwáng Shìjì 帝王世紀
Chronicles of Emperors and Kings by 皇甫謐
About the work
Dìwáng Shìjì 帝王世紀 is a jíyìběn reconstruction in 10 juǎn of the lost cosmogonic-historical work by 皇甫謐 (Huángfǔ Mì, 215–282 CE). The original work traced Chinese history from the creation of the cosmos through the reign of Emperor Xiàn 獻帝 of Han — covering the legendary sage-kings, the Three Dynasties, the Qín and Hàn empires, and the state of Wèi. It was one of the most widely cited pre-Táng historical compendia, extensively quoted in Táng encyclopedias and Sòng commentaries.
Tiyao
No tiyao found in source. This is a jíyìběn reconstruction.
Abstract
Huángfǔ Mì (styled Shì’ān 士安; also known by the sobriquet Xuányàn Xiānshēng 玄晏先生) was a physician, scholar, and recluse of the Western Jin, most famous for his Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng 針灸甲乙經 (Systematic Canon of Acupuncture and Moxibustion). The Dìwáng Shìjì was his principal historical work, synthesizing cosmogony, legendary history, dynastic chronicles, and administrative geography into a single compendium.
The 10 juǎn of the reconstructed text cover: (1) “From High Antiquity to the Five Emperors” — the cosmogonic sequence from 太易 through 太初, 太始, and 太素, followed by the eras of the sage-kings; (2) the Xià 夏 dynasty; (3) the Yīn-Shāng 殷商; (4) the Zhōu 周 (Western and Eastern); (5) the Lieguo 列國 (Spring and Autumn states); (6) the Qín 秦; (7) the Hàn 漢; (8) the Wèi 魏; (9) astrological fields and historical demographic data; and (10) remaining fragments. The Suí Shū 隋書 bibliography records the text in 10 juǎn, though some sources give 20 juǎn. It was lost by the Sòng period; the reconstruction relies heavily on the Tàipíng Yùlǎn 太平御覽, which preserves the most extensive citations.
Translations and research
No substantial secondary literature located.
Other points of interest
The Dìwáng Shìjì is a primary source for the standard cosmogonic sequence (太易 → 太初 → 太始 → 太素) that prefaced many imperial histories. It also preserves population figures for historical dynasties — an early example of quantitative historical data in the Chinese tradition.