Dubious Facts: The Evidence of Early Chinese Historiography

Dubious Facts: The Evidence of Early Chinese Historiography (SUNY series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture)

An innovative approach to historical records assesses how evidence claims and policy arguments were put forth in the royal courts of early China.

What were the intentions of early Chinaâ€™s historians? Modern readers must contend with the tension between the narratorsâ€™ moralizing commentary and their description of events. Although these historians had notions of evidence, it is not clear to what extent they valued what contemporary scholars would deem â€œhardâ€ facts. Offering an innovative approach to premodern historical documents, Garret P. S. Olberding argues that the speeches of court advisors reveal subtle strategies of information management in the early monarchic context. Olberding focuses on those addresses concerning military campaigns where evidence would be important in guiding immediate social and political policy. His analysis reveals the sophisticated conventions that governed the imperial advisorâ€™s logic and suasion in critical state discussions, which were specifically intended to counter anticipated doubts. Dubious Facts illuminates both the decision-making processes that informed early Chinese military campaigns and the historical records that represent them.
Country USA
Brand State University of New York Press
Manufacturer State University of New York Press
Binding Paperback
UnitCount 1
EANs 9781438443904
ReleaseDate 0000-00-00

Country	USA
Brand	State University of New York Press
Manufacturer	State University of New York Press
Binding	Paperback
UnitCount	1
EANs	9781438443904
ReleaseDate	0000-00-00

Dubious Facts: The Evidence of Early Chinese Historiography (SUNY series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture)

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