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The *New Book of Tang* is an unofficial historical account of the Tang dynasty, compiled by independent scholars.
Answer: False
Explanation: The *New Book of Tang* is an official historical work, not an unofficial account, and was compiled by a team of scholars under imperial commission during the Song dynasty.
Before the 18th century, the *New Book of Tang* was commonly known by its full title, *New History of the Tang*.
Answer: False
Explanation: Prior to the 18th century, the *New Book of Tang* was known simply as the *Tangshu*, which translates to 'Book of Tang'.
The compilation of dynastic histories in China, such as the *New Book of Tang*, was a tradition used by new dynasties to legitimize their rule.
Answer: True
Explanation: The compilation of dynastic histories was a customary practice for new Chinese dynasties to legitimize their rule by documenting the past of their predecessors.
The *Old Book of Tang* was compiled during the Northern Song dynasty, immediately preceding the *New Book of Tang*.
Answer: False
Explanation: The *Old Book of Tang* was compiled during the Later Jin dynasty of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, not the Northern Song dynasty.
What is the primary nature of the *New Book of Tang*?
Answer: An official historical work chronicling the Tang dynasty.
What was the original name of the *New Book of Tang* before the 18th century?
Answer: Tangshu.
What historical practice motivated the compilation of dynastic histories like the *New Book of Tang*?
Answer: To solidify the legitimacy of the current ruling dynasty.
Which earlier historical work covered the Tang dynasty before the *New Book of Tang* was compiled?
Answer: The *Old Book of Tang*.
Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi were the principal compilers who led the creation of the *New Book of Tang* during the Song dynasty.
Answer: True
Explanation: Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi are explicitly identified as the principal compilers who led the creation of the *New Book of Tang* during the Song dynasty.
Emperor Renzong of Song commissioned the *New Book of Tang* in 1044 because the *Old Book of Tang* was considered too brief and lacked sufficient detail.
Answer: False
Explanation: Emperor Renzong commissioned the *New Book of Tang* because he believed the *Old Book of Tang* lacked adequate organization and clarity, not because it was too brief or lacked detail.
The compilation of the *New Book of Tang* was completed in a relatively short period of five years, from 1044 to 1049.
Answer: False
Explanation: The compilation of the *New Book of Tang* was a lengthy process, taking 17 years from 1044 to 1060.
The *New Book of Tang* adopted a more rational and practical approach to history, significantly differing from its predecessor in organization and content.
Answer: True
Explanation: The *New Book of Tang* indeed aimed for a more rational and practical approach to history, distinguishing itself from the *Old Book of Tang* in its organization and content.
Ouyang Xiu's principle of reason led him to include more mythical and superstitious accounts to provide a comprehensive cultural history.
Answer: False
Explanation: Ouyang Xiu's principle of reason led him to systematically *purge* mythical and superstitious accounts from the *New Book of Tang*, aiming for a more rational historical narrative.
As a result of Ouyang Xiu's editorial decisions, biographies of major figures in the *New Book of Tang* were often expanded to include more anecdotal and legendary details.
Answer: False
Explanation: Ouyang Xiu's rational approach led to many biographies of major figures being dramatically *shortened* by removing mythical or superstitious elements, not expanded with anecdotal details.
Who were the two principal compilers leading the creation of the *New Book of Tang*?
Answer: Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi.
Why did Emperor Renzong of Song commission a new compilation of Tang history in 1044?
Answer: He believed the *Old Book of Tang* lacked adequate organization and clarity.
How long did the compilation process for the *New Book of Tang* take?
Answer: 17 years.
What was a fundamental difference in approach between the *New Book of Tang* and the *Old Book of Tang*?
Answer: The *New Book of Tang* aimed for a more rational and practical approach to history.
What type of content did Ouyang Xiu systematically remove from the *New Book of Tang*?
Answer: Accounts containing elements of myth or superstition.
What was a consequence of Ouyang Xiu's rational approach on the biographies within the *New Book of Tang*?
Answer: Many biographies of emperors and major figures were dramatically shortened.
The *New Book of Tang* is composed of 225 volumes and 10 chapters, offering a concise overview of the Tang dynasty.
Answer: False
Explanation: The *New Book of Tang* consists of ten volumes and 225 chapters, not the reverse, and provides an extensive, rather than concise, account of the Tang dynasty.
The *New Book of Tang* introduced new sections such as a detailed table of the bureaucratic hierarchy and expanded treatises on topics like the horse trade with Tibet.
Answer: True
Explanation: The *New Book of Tang* indeed introduced new sections of practical interest, including a detailed table of the bureaucratic hierarchy and expanded treatises on topics such as the horse trade with Tibet.
The *New Book of Tang* revived the use of 'tables' to record events and successions, including only emperors and their immediate heirs.
Answer: False
Explanation: While the *New Book of Tang* revived the use of 'tables,' these records included not only emperors but also chancellors and jiedushi, providing a broader view of political power.
Volumes 11 through 60 of the *New Book of Tang* are dedicated to the annals of the Tang emperors.
Answer: False
Explanation: Volumes 11 through 60 of the *New Book of Tang* are dedicated to the treatises, while the annals of the Tang emperors are found in volumes 1 through 10.
Wilkinson noted that the annals in the *New Book of Tang* are significantly longer than those in the *Old Book of Tang*.
Answer: False
Explanation: Wilkinson observed that the annals in the *New Book of Tang* are considerably *shorter* than those in the *Old Book of Tang*, reflecting the compilers' editorial decisions.
The largest section within the treatises of the *New Book of Tang* is the one on military affairs.
Answer: False
Explanation: The largest section within the treatises of the *New Book of Tang* is Rites and Music (禮樂), which spans 12 volumes.
The *New Book of Tang* was the first standard history to include a treatise specifically on selecting and appointing officials.
Answer: True
Explanation: The *New Book of Tang* indeed pioneered the inclusion of a treatise specifically on selecting and appointing officials (選擧志) among standard histories.
The treatise on selecting and appointing officials in the *New Book of Tang* detailed the examination system, which gained importance after 780.
Answer: True
Explanation: The treatise on selecting and appointing officials in the *New Book of Tang* specifically described the examination system, which became increasingly significant in Tang administration after 780.
Volumes 61 through 75 of the *New Book of Tang* contain the biographies of prominent Tang dynasty women.
Answer: False
Explanation: Volumes 61 through 75 of the *New Book of Tang* are dedicated to the tables, which provide annalistic records and successions, not biographies of women.
The *New Book of Tang* included four new biographies of women that were not present in the *Old Book of Tang*.
Answer: True
Explanation: The *New Book of Tang* indeed introduced four new biographies of women that were not featured in the *Old Book of Tang*.
Biographies of women who engaged in extreme self-harm were included in the *New Book of Tang* to celebrate their unwavering loyalty and devotion.
Answer: False
Explanation: Biographies of women who engaged in extreme self-harm were included in the *New Book of Tang* to serve as cautionary examples for contemporary readers, not to celebrate their actions.
Woman Lu, who gouged out her own eye, is an example of a male figure whose extreme loyalty was highlighted in the *New Book of Tang*.
Answer: False
Explanation: Woman Lu is presented as an example of a *female* figure who demonstrated extreme loyalty through self-harm, not a male figure.
The *New Book of Tang* also featured biographies of 35 men who demonstrated overly filial and fraternal virtues, without engaging in self-mutilation.
Answer: True
Explanation: In addition to women's biographies, the *New Book of Tang* included biographies of 35 men who exemplified filial and fraternal virtues, distinguishing their actions from the extreme self-harm depicted in some female biographies.
How many volumes and chapters does the *New Book of Tang* contain?
Answer: 10 volumes and 225 chapters.
Which of the following new sections was included in the *New Book of Tang* but was missing from the *Old Book of Tang*?
Answer: An expanded series of Treatises covering topics like the horse trade with Tibet.
What feature was revived in the *New Book of Tang* to provide annalistic records of events and successions for emperors, chancellors, and jiedushi?
Answer: Tables.
Which volumes of the *New Book of Tang* contain the annals of the Tang emperors?
Answer: Volumes 1 through 10.
According to Wilkinson, how do the annals in the *New Book of Tang* compare in length to those in the *Old Book of Tang*?
Answer: They are considerably shorter.
What is the largest section within the treatises of the *New Book of Tang*?
Answer: Rites and Music.
What significant new treatise, the first among standard histories, was included in the *New Book of Tang*?
Answer: A treatise on selecting and appointing officials.
What important aspect of Tang administration, which grew in importance after 780, was described in the treatise on selecting and appointing officials?
Answer: The examination system.
Which volumes of the *New Book of Tang* are dedicated to the tables, providing annalistic records and successions?
Answer: Volumes 61-75.
How many new biographies of women were included in the *New Book of Tang* that were absent from the *Old Book of Tang*?
Answer: Four.
What was the intended purpose of including biographies of women who engaged in extreme self-harm in the *New Book of Tang*?
Answer: To serve as cautionary examples for contemporary readers.
Woman Lu, who gouged out her own eye, is cited as an example of what in the *New Book of Tang*?
Answer: An extreme display of loyalty by a woman.
Besides biographies of women, the *New Book of Tang* also included biographies of how many men depicted as overly filial and fraternal?
Answer: 35.
The prose style of the *New Book of Tang* closely mirrored the ornate and flowery style found in official Tang documents.
Answer: False
Explanation: The compilers of the *New Book of Tang* admired and adopted a simplified, 'ancient' prose style, which differed significantly from the ornate and flowery style prevalent in official Tang documents.
The compilers' efforts to change the prose style in the *New Book of Tang* sometimes resulted in the loss of original Tang court records and the introduction of errors.
Answer: True
Explanation: The attempt to adopt an 'ancient' prose style led to the alteration of original Tang documents, resulting in the loss of direct use of court records and the introduction of errors.
How did the prose style of the *New Book of Tang* differ from official Tang documents?
Answer: It used a simplified, 'ancient' prose style admired by its compilers.
What was a negative consequence of the compilers' efforts to change the prose style in the *New Book of Tang*?
Answer: It resulted in the loss of direct use of Tang court records and introduced errors.
The Southern Song edition of the *Book of Tang* was edited and annotated by Sima Qian.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Southern Song edition of the *Book of Tang* was edited and annotated by Chen Jian, not Sima Qian.
Ban Gu is credited with compiling the *Book of the Later Han*.
Answer: False
Explanation: Ban Gu is credited with writing the *Book of Han*, while Fan Ye compiled the *Book of the Later Han*.
Chen Shou authored the *Records of the Three Kingdoms*.
Answer: True
Explanation: Chen Shou is indeed the author of the *Records of the Three Kingdoms*, a pivotal historical text.
Yao Silian compiled both the *Book of Liang* and the *Book of Chen*.
Answer: True
Explanation: Yao Silian is credited with compiling both the *Book of Liang* and the *Book of Chen*, covering two Southern Dynasties.
Wei Shou is the author of the *Book of Northern Qi*.
Answer: False
Explanation: Wei Shou authored the *Book of Wei*, while Li Baiyao is identified as the author of the *Book of Northern Qi*.
Linghu Defen and others were the compilers of the *Book of Sui*.
Answer: False
Explanation: Linghu Defen and others compiled the *Book of Zhou*, whereas Wei Zheng and others were the compilers of the *Book of Sui*.
Li Yanshou authored both the *History of the Southern Dynasties* and the *History of the Northern Dynasties*.
Answer: True
Explanation: Li Yanshou is indeed credited with authoring both the *History of the Southern Dynasties* and the *History of the Northern Dynasties*.
Liu Xu and others compiled the *Old Book of Tang*.
Answer: True
Explanation: Liu Xu and others are recognized as the compilers of the *Old Book of Tang*, the initial official history of the Tang dynasty.
Toqto'a and others compiled the *History of Ming*.
Answer: False
Explanation: Toqto'a and others compiled the *History of Song*, *History of Liao*, and *History of Jin*, while Zhang Tingyu and others compiled the *History of Ming*.
Who edited and annotated the Southern Song edition of the *Book of Tang* mentioned in the source?
Answer: Chen Jian.
Who authored the *Shiji* according to the list of 'Twenty-Four Histories'?
Answer: Sima Qian.
Which historian compiled both the *Book of Liang* and the *Book of Chen*?
Answer: Yao Silian.
Who authored both the *History of the Southern Dynasties* and the *History of the Northern Dynasties*?
Answer: Li Yanshou.
Toqto'a and others were responsible for compiling which of the following historical works?
Answer: *History of Song*, *History of Liao*, and *History of Jin*.
Ouyang Xiu authored the *Historical Records of the Five Dynasties* in addition to the *New Book of Tang*.
Answer: True
Explanation: Ouyang Xiu made significant contributions to Chinese historiography, including authoring both the *New Book of Tang* and the *Historical Records of the Five Dynasties*.
Ouyang Xiu is associated with the 'Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song'.
Answer: True
Explanation: Ouyang Xiu is indeed recognized as one of the 'Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song', a group celebrated for their mastery of classical Chinese prose.
In addition to the *New Book of Tang*, what other historical work among the 'Twenty-Four Histories' was authored by Ouyang Xiu?
Answer: *Historical Records of the Five Dynasties*.
What group is Ouyang Xiu associated with, known for their mastery of classical Chinese prose?
Answer: The Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song.