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 China’s historians? Modern readers must contend with the tension between the narrators’ 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 “hard” 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 Offering an innovative approach to premodern historical documents, Garret P. S. Olberding argues that the speeches of court advisors reveal subtle strategies of information management in the early monarchic context.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 advisor’s logic and suasion in critical state discussions, which were specifically intended to counter anticipated doubts. illuminates both the decision-making processes that informed early Chinese military campaigns and the historical records that represent them Introduction -- The Subversive Power Of The Historian -- Politicized Truth And Doubt -- Interactive Constraints At Court -- Salient Formal Characteristics Of The Addresses -- Rhetoric In Opposition: Two Zhanguoce [characters Omitted] Addresses -- Commitment To The Facts -- Moral Norms As Facts: Arguing Before The Emperor -- How Did Ministers Err? -- A Diversity Of Evidence -- Appendices: A. Li Zuoche [characters Omitted] And Chen Yu's [characters Omitted] Exchange -- B. Liu Jing's [characters Omitted] Address To The High Emperor (liu Bang [characters Omitted]) -- C. Zhufu Yan's [characters Omitted] Address To Emperor Wu (liu Che [characters Omitted]) -- D. Chao Cuo's [characters Omitted] Address To Emperor Wen (liu Heng [characters Omitted]) -- E. Zou Yang's [characters Omitted] Address To The King Of Wu (liu Pi [characters Omitted]) -- F. Liu An's [characters Omitted] Address To Emperor Wu (liu Che [characters Omitted]) -- G. Zhao Chongguo's [characters Omitted] Exchange With Emperor Xuan (liu Bingyi [characters Omitted]) -- H. Wei Xiang's [characters Omitted] Address To Emperor Xuan (liu Bingyi [characters Omitted]) -- I. Hou Ying's [characters Omitted] Address To Emperor Yuan (liu Shi [characters Omitted]) -- J. Yan You's [characters Omitted] Address To Wang Mang [characters Omitted]. Garret P.s. Olberding. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Dubious Facts: The Evidence of Early Chinese Historiography 4 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Chapter 1: Introduction 12 Chapter 2: The Subversive Power of the Historian 24 Chapter 3: Politicized Truth and Doubt 32 Chapter 4: Interactive Constraints at Court 50 Chapter 5: Salient Formal Characteristics of the Addresses 58 Chapter 6: Rhetoric in Opposition: Two Zhanguoce 戰國策 Addresses 82 Chapter 7: Commitment to the Facts 110 Chapter 8: Moral Norms as Facts: Arguing before the Emperor 122 Chapter 9: How Did Ministers Err? 148 Chapter 10: A Diversity of Evidence 166 Appendices 188 A. Li Zuoche 李左車 and Chen Yu’s 陳餘 Exchange 188 B. Liu Jing’s 劉敬 Address to the High Emperor (Liu Bang 劉邦) 189 C. Zhufu Yan’s 主父偃 Address to Emperor Wu (Liu Che 劉徹) 190 D. Chao Cuo’s 晁錯 Address to Emperor Wen (Liu Heng 劉恆) 194 E. Zou Yang’s 鄒陽 Address to the King of Wu (Liu Pi 劉濞) 199 F. Liu An’s 劉安 Address to Emperor Wu (Liu Che 劉徹) 202 G. Zhao Chongguo’s 趙充國 Exchange with Emperor Xuan (Liu Bingyi 劉病已) 209 H. Wei Xiang’s 魏相 Address to Emperor Xuan (Liu Bingyi 劉病已) 218 I. Hou Ying’s 侯應 Address to Emperor Yuan (Liu Shi 劉奭) 220 J. Yan You’s 嚴尤 Address to Wang Mang 王莽 223 Notes 226 Bibliography 278 Index 286 What were the intentions of early China's historians? Modern readers must contend with the tension between the narrators' 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 "hard" 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 advisor'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.