Dìwáng Yàolüè 帝王要略
Essentials of Emperors and Kings anonymous
About the work
Dìwáng Yàolüè 帝王要略 is a jíyìběn reconstruction of a lost historical compendium summarizing the essential facts about the emperors and kings of antiquity through the early medieval period. The title yàolüè 要略 (“essential summary”) places it in the tradition of concise historical handbooks intended for quick reference and moral instruction.
Tiyao
No tiyao found in source. This is a jíyìběn reconstruction.
Abstract
The dìwáng 帝王 (“emperors and kings”) genre was a standard form of historical writing that traced the succession of rulers from the legendary sage-kings through the reigning dynasty, typically including reign dates, major events, and moral assessments. This particular compilation, at over 400 lines, covers rulers from high antiquity through at least the Jin period (and possibly beyond). The Suí Shū 隋書 bibliography records several works with dìwáng titles in various formats. The surviving fragments were preserved in Táng and Sòng encyclopedic sources.
Translations and research
No substantial secondary literature located.