Title

A study on Li Xuanxi’s Mingshi Gangmu： Its Compilation, Sources, Publicationand Evaluation

Author

Wei-guo Sun

Genre

Article  

Pages

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Language

Key words

Li Xuanxi, Mingshi Gangmu, Yi Dynasty, The History of Ming

Abstract

     As one of the most important histories on Ming during Yi Dynasty, Mingshi Gangmu was misunderstood for a long time as regards its motive, sources, value and its author. With scrupulous analysis, this paper deals with the followings：firstly, Mingshi Gangmu originated in Li Xuansi’s intent to commemorate Ming Dynasty under the circumstance of the whole country falling into the memory of Ming. Secondly, nost historical data of this book came from the writings of Ming-Qing historians and those direct quotations, mostly argumentative, were cited from writings of 22 historians. For lack of using the historical data of Yi Korea, the book had no breakthrough in content and its compilation formation was comparatively confused. Thirdly, even though LiXuanxi died just after he finished the first draft,he was still the only author. Fourthly, Mingshi Gangmu was almost forbidden and destroyed because it cited materials from a banned book－Mingji jiliu. After all it was reprinted in 1771 with he quotations from Mingji jiliu being excised.