Shiben 世本

The Shiben 世本 "Generational records" is a collection of dynastic histories in antiquity, centering around the regional state of Jin 晉. It is transmitted in serval different versions of which the original texts were written during the Warring States period 戰國 (5th cent.-221 BCE). During the Tang period 唐 (618-907), the book was called Xiben 系本 or Daiben 代本, in order to avoid the character shi 世, which is part of the personal name of Emperor Taizong 唐太宗 (Li Shimin 李世民, r. 626-649).

The Shiben versions report the history from the mythological Yellow Emperor 黃帝 down to the late Spring and Autumn period 春秋 (770-5th cent. BCE), in originally 15 chapters (pian). Since the Han period 漢 (206 BCE-220 CE) there were different commentaries written to the Shiben, namely by Song Zhong 宋衷, Song Jun 宋均 (d. 76 CE), Sun Jian 孫檢, and a certain Mr. Wang 王氏. The versions extant during the Tang period can be listed as follows:

The Shiben was in its original form already lost at the beginning of the Song period 宋 (960-1279), but the cholar Gao Sisun 高似孫 (1158-1231) was in possession of a fragment collection. Qing-period 清 (1644-1911) scholars likewise started collecting fragments, which led to eight different versions:

The versions of Sun, Zhang, Lei and Mao have been reprinted in the series Congshu jicheng 叢書集成. All eight versions were published in 1957 by the Shangwu yinshuguan press 商務印書館 as Shiben bazhong 世本八種.

What is common to most of these versions is the existence of a chapters dealing with clan names (氏姓篇 Shixing pian), one dealing with the residences of the rulers (居篇 Ju pian), and one talking of the inventions the heroes of antiquity made (作篇 Zuo pian). How the rulers themselves are presented differs from version to version. Mostly they include the genealogies of the creators (the "Three Augusts" sanhuang 三皇) and the five mythological emperors (wudi 五帝), as well as that of what we understand as dynasties, namely the ruling houses of Xia 夏 (17th-15th cent. BCE), Shang 商 (17th-11th cent. BCE) and Zhou 周 (11th cent.-221 BCE).

Aprt from these sovereigns (wang 王 "king") most versions also list the genealogies of the regional rulers (hou 侯 "marquess" or "marquis"), some even their sidelines (qing dafu 卿大夫 "ministers and grand masters"). Which noble houses are listed differs from version to version.

Totally different in arrangement is Wang Zicai's version which is strictly arranged in chronological order. The genealogies are therefore interrupted with the beginning of a new age.