Xue Juzheng

Oversaw the compilation of the Old History of the Five Dynasties.

Life

Five Dynasties jinshi

Xue Juzheng was a native of Junyi in Kaifeng. He passed the jinshi exam at the end of the Later Tang, served in turn under the Later Jin, Later Han and Later Zhou, and after entering the Song rose to the post of chancellor.

Led the compilation of the Five Dynasties history

In 973, on the orders of Emperor Taizu of Song, he oversaw the compilation of a history of the Five Dynasties, completed the following year: the Old History of the Five Dynasties. It covers the more than fifty years from the Later Liang to the Later Zhou, draws on the veritable records of each dynasty, and is rich in historical material.

Reconstructed from scattered fragments

He was generous by nature and prudent in conduct. He died in 981. Ouyang Xiu later wrote a separate New History of the Five Dynasties, so Xue Juzheng's book came to be called the "Old History of the Five Dynasties"; in the Qing dynasty it was reconstructed from scattered fragments preserved in the Yongle Encyclopedia.

Legacy

The Old History of the Five Dynasties is one of the most primary official histories for studying the Five Dynasties; it was lost for a time after the Ming era, and only resurfaced after Qing scholars reconstructed it from the Yongle Encyclopedia.

Major works & achievements

• Old History of the Five Dynasties

Did you know? Most of the Old History of the Five Dynasties we read today was reconstructed from scattered fragments by Qing scholars such as Shao Jinhan.

Key dates

• 934Passed the jinshi exam (approx.)
• 973Commissioned to compile the history of the Five Dynasties
• 974Old History of the Five Dynasties completed
• 981Died