1
馬懷素馬懷素，潤州丹徒人也。 寓居江都，少師事李善。 家貧無燈燭，晝采薪蘇，夜燃讀書，遂博覽經史，善屬文。 舉進士，又應制舉，登文學優贍科，拜郿尉，四遷左臺監察御史。
Ma HuaiSu was a native of Dantu in Run Prefecture. He lived in Jiangdu and in his youth studied under Li Shan. His family was too poor to afford lamps or candles; by day he gathered firewood and brush, and by night he burned them to read by their light. In this way he came to be widely versed in the classics and histories and skilled at writing. He passed the jinshi examination and also took the special imperial literary examination, placing in the Literary Excellence and Abundant Talent category. He was appointed magistrate of Mei district and was promoted four times to investigating censor of the Left Censorate.
2
長安中，御史大夫魏元忠為張易之所構，配徙嶺表，太子仆崔貞慎、東宮率獨孤祎之餞於郊外。 易之怒，使人誣告貞慎等與元忠同謀，則天令懷素按鞫，遣中使促迫，諷令構成其事，懷素執正不受命。 則天怒，召懷素親加詰問，懷素奏曰：「元忠犯罪配流，貞慎等以親故相送，誠為可責，若以為謀反，臣豈誣罔神明？ 昔彭越以反伏誅，欒布奏事於其屍下，漢朝不坐，況元忠罪非彭越，陛下豈加追送之罪。 陛下當生殺之柄，欲加之罪，取決聖衷可矣。 若付臣推鞫，臣敢不守陛下之法？」 則天意解，貞慎等由是獲免。 時夏官侍郎李迥秀恃張易之之勢，受納貨賄，懷素奏劾之，迥秀遂罷知政事。 懷素累轉禮部員外郎，與源乾曜、盧懷慎、李傑等充十道黜陟使。 懷素處事平恕，當時稱之。 使還，遷考功員外郎。 時貴戚縱恣，請托公行，懷素無所阿順，典舉平允，擢拜中書舍人。 開元初，為戶部侍郎，加銀青光祿大夫，累封常山縣公，三遷秘書監，兼昭文館學士。
During the Chang'an era, Censor-in-Chief Wei Yuanzhong was framed by Zhang Yizhi and banished to the far south. Grand Master of the Household for the Heir Apparent Cui Zhenshen and Eastern Palace Commandant Dugu Yizhi gave him a farewell feast outside the city. Yizhi was furious and had men accuse Zhenshen and the others of conspiring with Yuanzhong. Empress Wu ordered HuaiSu to investigate the case and sent palace envoys to hurry him along, hinting that he should frame them. HuaiSu stood firm and refused to comply. The empress was angry and summoned HuaiSu to question him personally. HuaiSu replied, "Yuanzhong had committed a crime and was sent into exile; Zhenshen and the others saw him off out of personal regard. That is indeed culpable, but if this is called treason, how could I deceive Heaven itself? In former times Peng Yue was executed for treason, yet Luan Bu presented a memorial before his corpse, and the Han court did not punish him. Yuanzhong's offense is nothing like Peng Yue's. Surely Your Majesty would not punish those who merely saw him off. Your Majesty holds the power of life and death. If you wish to punish them, that is for your sacred judgment alone. But if you entrust the investigation to me, how could I dare not uphold your laws?" The empress's anger subsided, and Zhenshen and the others were spared. At that time Vice Minister of the Summer Office Li Huixiu, relying on Zhang Yizhi's influence, accepted bribes. HuaiSu impeached him, and Huixiu was removed from office. HuaiSu rose through several posts to vice director of the Ministry of Rites and, together with Yuan Ganyao, Lu Huaishen, Li Jie, and others, served as commissioners for promotion and demotion in the ten circuits. HuaiSu handled affairs with fairness and forbearance, and was widely praised. When the commission returned, he was promoted to vice director of the Bureau of Evaluations. At that time the imperial kin were unrestrained and patronage was openly traded. HuaiSu would not curry favor with anyone, conducted the examinations fairly, and was promoted to Secretariat drafter. Early in the Kaiyuan era he became vice minister of revenue, was granted the silver-blue glory grand master title, was enfeoffed as Duke of Changshan county, was promoted three times to director of the Secretariat, and concurrently served as an academician of the Zhaowen Hall.
3
懷素雖居吏職，而篤學，手不釋卷，謙恭謹慎，深為玄宗所禮，令與左散騎常侍褚無量同為侍讀。 每次閣門，則令乘肩輿以進。 上居別館，以路遠，則命宮中乘馬，或親自送迎，以申師資之禮。 是時秘書省典籍散落，條疏無敘，懷素上疏曰：「南齊已前墳籍，舊編王儉《七志》。 已後著述，其數盈多，《隋志》所書，亦未詳悉。 或古書近出，前誌闕而未編； 或近人相傳，浮詞鄙而猶記。 若無編錄，難辯淄、澠。 望括檢近書篇目，並前誌所遺者，續王儉《七志》，藏之秘府。」 上於是召學涉之士國子博士尹知章等，分部撰錄，並刊正經史，粗創首尾。 會懷素病卒，年六十，上特為之舉哀，廢朝一日，贈潤州刺史，謚曰文。 褚無量褚無量，字弘度，杭州鹽官人也。 幼孤貧，勵誌好學。 家近臨平湖，時湖中有龍鬥，傾裏闬就觀之，無量時年十二，讀書晏然不動。 及長，尤精《三禮》及《史記》，舉明經，累除國子博士。 景龍三年，遷國子司業，兼修文館學士。 是歲，中宗將親祀南郊，詔禮官學士修定儀註。 國子祭酒祝欽明、司業郭山惲皆希旨，請以皇后為亞獻，無量獨與太常博士唐紹、蔣欽緒固爭，以為不可。 無量建議曰：
Though he held an administrative post, HuaiSu was devoted to learning and never put down his books. Humble and careful, he was deeply honored by Emperor Xuanzong, who appointed him and Left Regular Attendant Chu Wuliang as joint imperial readers. Each time he came to the palace gate, he was allowed to enter in a sedan chair borne on men's shoulders. When the emperor was staying at a separate lodge and the distance was great, he had HuaiSu ride within the palace grounds, or would personally escort him there and back, thereby honoring him as his teacher. At that time the books in the Secretariat were scattered and their catalogues were in disorder. HuaiSu submitted a memorial saying, "For works before the Southern Qi, the old catalogue was Wang Jian's Seven Records. Writings since then are exceedingly numerous, and even the Sui Bibliography does not record them fully. Some ancient books have only recently come to light, and earlier catalogues left them unrecorded; some works handed down among recent authors are frivolous and vulgar, yet are still listed. Without a proper catalogue, it is hard to tell the turbid from the clear. I ask that the titles of recent books be gathered and checked, together with those omitted by earlier catalogues, to continue Wang Jian's Seven Records and store the result in the imperial library." The emperor then summoned learned scholars including National University erudite Yin Zhizhang, assigned them by section to compile and catalogue the collection, and also to collate the classics and histories, thus establishing the project in outline. HuaiSu then died of illness at the age of sixty. The emperor mourned him in person, suspended court for a day, posthumously appointed him governor of Run Prefecture, and gave him the posthumous title Wen. Chu Wuliang, styled Hongdu, was a native of Yanguan in Hang Prefecture. Orphaned and poor in his youth, he nevertheless resolved to study diligently. His home lay near Linping Lake. Once when dragons were said to be fighting in the lake, the whole neighborhood rushed out to watch, but Wuliang, then twelve, sat reading calmly and did not stir. When he grew up he became especially expert in the Three Rites and the Records of the Grand Historian. He passed the mingjing examination and was repeatedly appointed erudite of the National University. In the third year of the Jinglong era he was promoted to vice director of the National University and concurrently served as an academician of the Xiūwen Hall. That year Emperor Zhongzong was to perform the southern suburban sacrifice in person and ordered ritual officials and scholars to revise the ceremonial regulations. National University chancellor Zhu Qinming and vice director Guo Shanyun both sought to please the throne and proposed that the empress serve as secondary offerer. Wuliang alone, with Court of Imperial Sacrifices erudites Tang Shao and Jiang Qinxu, argued firmly that this was impermissible. Wuliang submitted a memorial, saying:
4
時左僕射韋巨源等阿旨，葉同欽明之議，竟不從無量所奏。
At that time Left Vice Director Wei Juyuan and others curried favor with the court and sided with Qinming's proposal, and in the end Wuliang's memorial was not accepted.
5
尋以母老請停官歸侍。 景雲初，玄宗在春宮，召拜國子司業，兼皇太子侍讀，嘗撰《翼善記》以進之，皇太子降書嘉勞，賫絹四十匹。 太極元年，皇太子國學親釋奠，令無量講《老經》、《禮記》，各隨端立義，博而且辯，觀者嘆服焉。 既畢，進授銀青光祿大夫，兼賜以章服，並彩絹百段。 玄宗即位，遷郯王傅，兼國子祭酒。 尋以師傅恩遷左散騎常侍，仍兼國子祭酒，封舒國公，實封二百戶。 未幾，丁憂解職，廬於墓側。 其所植松柏，時有鹿犯之，無量泣而言曰：「山中眾草不少，何忍犯吾先塋樹哉！」 因通夕守護。 俄有群鹿馴狎，不復侵害，無量因此終身不食鹿肉。 服闋，召拜左散騎常侍，復為侍讀。 以其年老，每隨仗出入，特許緩行，又為造腰輿，令內給使輿於內殿。 無量頻上書陳時政得失，多見納用。 又嘗手敕褒美，賜物二百段。
Soon afterward, because his mother was elderly, he asked to leave office and return home to care for her. Early in the Jingyun era, when Xuanzong was crown prince, Wuliang was summoned as vice director of the National University and concurrently as the crown prince's reader. He once compiled the Record of Assisting in Goodness and presented it to the prince, who replied with a letter of praise and rewarded him with forty bolts of silk. In the first year of the Taiji era the crown prince personally performed the libation sacrifice at the National University and had Wuliang lecture on the Laozi and the Book of Rites. In each section he developed the meaning as the text required, with breadth and eloquence, and the audience marveled. When the lectures were finished, he was promoted to silver-blue glory grand master and was also granted official robes and insignia, together with one hundred bolts of colored silk. When Xuanzong ascended the throne, Wuliang was appointed tutor to the Prince of Tan and concurrently chancellor of the National University. Soon afterward, in recognition of his service as tutor, he was promoted to Left Regular Attendant while retaining the chancellorship of the National University, enfeoffed as Duke of Shu, with a substantive fief of two hundred households. Before long he entered mourning, resigned his post, and built a hut beside his parent's tomb. The pines and cypresses he had planted were sometimes damaged by deer. Wuliang wept and said, "There is no lack of grass in the mountains—how can you bear to harm the trees at my ancestors' grave?" He then kept watch through the night. Before long a herd of deer became tame and did no further harm, and from that time Wuliang never ate deer meat for the rest of his life. When his mourning ended he was summoned back as Left Regular Attendant and again appointed imperial reader. Because of his age, whenever he attended court he was specially permitted to walk slowly. A waist sedan was made for him, and palace attendants were ordered to carry him within the inner halls. Wuliang frequently submitted memorials on the strengths and failings of current policy, and many of his recommendations were adopted. The emperor also once praised him in a personal edict and rewarded him with two hundred bolts of goods.
6
無量以內庫舊書，自高宗代即藏在宮中，漸致遺逸，奏請繕寫刊校，以弘經籍之道。 玄宗令於東都乾元殿前施架排次，大加搜寫，廣采天下異本。 數年間，四部充備，仍引公卿已下入殿前，令縱觀焉。 開元六年駕還，又敕無量於麗正殿以續前功。 皇太子及郯王嗣直等五人，年近十歲，尚未就學，無量繕寫《論語》、《孝經》各五本以獻。 上覽之曰：「吾知無量意無量。」 遽令選經明篤行之士國子博士郤恆通郭謙光、左拾遺潘元祚等，為太子及郯王已下侍讀。 七年，詔太子就國子監行齒胄之禮，無量登座說經，百僚集觀，禮畢，賞賜甚厚。 明年，無量病卒，年七十五。 臨終遺言以麗正寫書未畢為恨。 上為舉哀，廢朝兩日，贈禮部尚書，謚曰文。
Wuliang observed that old books in the inner storehouse, kept in the palace since the time of Emperor Gaozong, had gradually been lost. He memorialized requesting that they be copied and collated in order to advance the cause of the classics. Emperor Xuanzong ordered shelves set up before the Qianyuan Hall in the eastern capital, books arranged in order, and a major effort made to search out and copy texts, widely gathering unusual editions from across the realm. Within a few years the four bibliographic sections were fully stocked, and the emperor led ministers and officials down before the hall to view the collection freely. In the sixth year of Kaiyuan, when the emperor returned to the capital, he again ordered Wuliang to continue the project at the Lizheng Hall. The crown prince, the Prince of Tan Sizhi, and four others were nearly ten and had not yet begun formal study. Wuliang copied five each of the Analects and the Classic of Filial Piety and presented them. The emperor, on reading them, said, "I know what Wuliang means—and his meaning is boundless." He immediately ordered scholars learned in the classics and of steadfast conduct to be selected—National University erudites Xi Hengtong and Guo Qianguang, Left Reminder Pan Yuanzuo, and others—to serve as readers to the crown prince and the younger princes. In the seventh year the crown prince was ordered to the National University to perform the cap-and-armor ceremony. Wuliang ascended the lectern to expound the classics while the officials gathered to watch. When the ceremony was finished, the rewards were very generous. The following year Wuliang died of illness at the age of seventy-five. On his deathbed his last words were that he regretted the copying of books at Lizheng was not yet finished. The emperor mourned him, suspended court for two days, posthumously appointed him minister of rites, and gave him the posthumous title Wen.
7
初，無量與馬懷素俱為侍讀，顧待甚厚； 及無量等卒後，秘書少監康子原、國子博士侯行果等又入侍講，雖屢加賞賜，而禮遇不逮褚焉。 劉子玄劉子玄，本名知幾，楚州刺史胤之族孫也。 少與兄知柔俱以詞學知名，弱冠舉進士，授獲嘉主簿。 證聖年，有制文武九品已上各言時政得失，知幾上表陳四事，詞甚切直。 是時官爵僭濫而法網嚴密，士類競為趨進而多陷刑戮，知幾乃著《思慎賦》以刺時，且以見意。 鳳閣侍郎蘇味道、李嶠見而嘆曰：「陸機《豪士》所不及也。」
Earlier, when Wuliang and Ma HuaiSu had both served as imperial readers, they had been favored and treated with great generosity; after Wuliang and the others died, Secretariat vice director Kang Ziyuan, National University erudite Hou Xingguo, and others again served as lecturers. Although they were repeatedly rewarded, the courtesy shown them did not equal what had been accorded Chu. Liu Zixuan, whose original name was Zhiji, was a clansman of Chu Prefecture governor Liu Yinzhi. In his youth he and his elder brother Zhirou were both famed for literary learning. At twenty he passed the jinshi examination and was appointed chief clerk of Huojia. In the Zhengsheng year an edict required civil and military officials of the ninth rank and above to comment on current policy. Zhiji submitted a memorial on four matters in very blunt and direct language. At that time offices and titles were lavished without restraint while the law was harsh; scholars scrambled for advancement and many fell victim to punishment. Zhiji therefore wrote Reflections on Caution to satirize the age and make his views known. Phoenix Pavilion Vice Ministers Su Weidao and Li Jiao, on reading it, exclaimed, "Even Lu Ji's Bold Heroes does not equal this."
8
知幾長安中累遷左史，兼修國史。 擢拜鳳閣舍人，修史如故。 景龍初，再轉太子中允，依舊修國史。 時侍中韋巨源紀處訥、中書令楊再思、兵部尚書宗楚客、中書侍郎蕭至忠並監修國史，知幾以監修者多，甚為國史之弊。 蕭至忠又嘗責知幾著述無課，知幾於是求罷史任，奏記於至忠曰：
During the Chang'an era Zhiji was repeatedly promoted to Left Historian and concurrently compiled the national history. He was promoted to Phoenix Pavilion drafter and continued compiling history as before. Early in the Jinglong era he was again transferred to crown prince palace aide and continued compiling the national history. At that time Palace Attendant Wei Juyuan, Ji Chune, Chief Minister Yang Zaisi, Minister of War Zong Chuke, and Secretariat Vice Minister Xiao Zhizhong all supervised compilation of the national history. Zhiji regarded the great number of supervisors as a serious flaw in the work. Xiao Zhizhong also once reproached Zhiji for producing little despite his post. Zhiji thereupon sought to resign his historiographical duties and submitted a note to Zhizhong, saying:
9
僕自策名士伍，待罪朝列，三為史臣，再入東觀，竟不能勒成國典，貽彼後來者，何哉？ 靜言思之，其不可者五也。 何者？ 古之國史，皆出自一家，如魯、漢之丘明、子長，晉、齊之董狐、南史，鹹能立言不朽，藏諸名山，未聞藉以眾功，方雲絕筆。 唯後漢東觀，大集群儒，而著述無主，條章靡立。 由是伯度譏其不實，公理以為可焚，張、蔡二子紀之於當代，傅、范兩家嗤之於後葉。 今史司取士，有倍東京，人自以為荀、袁，家自稱為政、駿。 每欲記一事，載一言，皆閣筆相視，含毫不斷。 故首白可期，而汗青無日。 其不可一也。
I have been among the eminent scholars and have served in the court ranks, three times a historiographer and twice in the Eastern Pavilion, yet in the end I could not complete the national chronicle. What shall I leave to those who come after? On quiet reflection, there are five reasons why it cannot be done. What are they? The national histories of antiquity all came from a single author, such as Qiuming and Sima Qian of Lu and Han, or Dong Hu and the Southern Historian of Jin and Qi. All were able to compose words that endure and store them in the storied mountains. One never hears that a history was finished only by pooling many men's work. Only at the Eastern Pavilion of Later Han were many scholars gathered together, yet there was no chief author and no established regulations. Because of this, Bodu mocked its lack of truth, Gongli thought it ought to be burned, Zhang and Cai recorded the fact in their own day, and the families of Fu and Fan sneered at it in later ages. Today the historiographical office recruits scholars at more than twice the number used at the Eastern Capital. Each man fancies himself a Xun or a Yuan, each household styles itself Zheng or Jun. Whenever they wish to record an event or set down a sentence, they all lay down their brushes and look at one another, nib in mouth, unable to decide. Thus one may expect to grow old, yet the day when the chronicle is written in green never comes. This is the first reason why it cannot be done.
10
前漢郡國計書，先上太史，副上丞相； 後漢公卿所撰，始集公府，乃上蘭臺。 由是史官所修，載事為博。 原自近古，此道不行，史臣編錄，唯自詢采。 而左右二史，闕註起居； 衣冠百家，罕通行狀。 求風俗於州郡，視聽不該； 討沿革於臺閣，簿籍難見。 雖使尼父再出，猶且成其管窺，況限以中才，安能遂其博物。 其不可二也。
In Former Han, the commandery and kingdom statistical reports were first submitted to the Grand Historian and a copy to the chancellor; in Later Han what the ministers composed was first gathered in the public offices and only then sent up to the Orchid Terrace. Because of this, what the historiographers compiled was very full in its coverage of events. Tracing back from recent antiquity, this practice has lapsed; historiographers compile records only by making inquiries on their own. Yet the Left and Right Historians keep no notes on daily conduct; among the families of officials and gentry, biographical summaries are rarely circulated. When seeking local customs in the prefectures and commanderies, what one sees and hears does not cover the whole; when investigating institutional continuities in the ministries, registers and documents are hard to obtain. Even if Confucius were to appear again, he could achieve only a narrow view through a bamboo tube. How much less, constrained by middling talent, could one achieve comprehensive learning? This is the second reason why it cannot be done.
11
昔董狐之書法也，以示於朝； 南史之書弒也，執簡以往。 而近代史局，皆通籍禁門，幽居九重，欲人不見。 尋其義者，由杜彼顏面，防諸請謁故也。 然今館中作者，多士如林，皆願長喙，無聞舌。 倘有五始初成，一字加貶，言未絕口而朝野具知，筆未棲毫而搢紳鹹誦。 夫孫盛實錄，取嫉權門； 王韶直書，見讎貴族。 人之情也，能無畏乎！ 其不可三也。
Formerly, when Dong Hu recorded the execution of the law, he displayed it in court; when the Southern Historian recorded regicide, he carried his bamboo slip and went forward. But in recent times the historiographical bureau, all having access to the forbidden gates, dwell secluded within the inner palace, wishing that no one see them. The reason, on reflection, is to shut others out and guard against requests and visits. Yet today's authors in the bureau are as numerous as trees in a forest; all wish to speak at length, and none are heard to speak frankly. If the Five Beginnings were just completed and a single word of censure added, before the words left one's mouth court and commoners alike would know, and before the brush touched the page the gentry would all be reciting it. Sun Sheng's True Record incurred the jealousy of powerful families; Wang Shao's straightforward writing made him hated by the nobility. Such is human nature—how could one not fear! This is the third reason why it cannot be done.
12
古者刊定一史，纂成一家，體統各殊，指歸鹹別。 夫《尚書》之教也，以疏通知遠為主； 《春秋》之義也，以懲惡勸善為先。 《史記》則退處士而進奸雄，《漢書》則抑忠臣而飾主闕。 斯並曩賢得失之例，良史是非之準，作者言之詳矣。 頃史官註記，多取稟監修，楊令公則雲「必須直詞」，宗尚書則雲「宜多隱惡」。 十羊九牧，其事難行； 一國三公，適從焉在？ 其不可四也。
In antiquity, when a history was revised and fixed, it was compiled by a single author; each had its own form and system, and its aims were all distinct. The teaching of the Documents takes making the distant known through the near as its main point; the meaning of the Spring and Autumn takes punishing evil and encouraging good as its first priority. The Records of the Grand Historian demotes recluses and advances villainous heroes; the Book of Han suppresses loyal ministers and glosses over the ruler's faults. These are all examples of how former worthies succeeded or failed, standards of right and wrong for good historians; the authors have spoken of them in detail. Recently historiographers' annotations mostly follow instructions from the supervising compilers; Lord Yang said "straight words are required," while Minister Zong said "evil should mostly be concealed." Ten sheep and nine herdsmen—the task is hard to carry out; one state with three dukes—whom is one to follow? This is the fourth reason why it cannot be done.
13
竊以史置監修，雖無古式，尋其名號，可得而言。 夫言監者，蓋總領之義耳。 如創紀編年，則年有斷限； 草傳敘事，則事有豐約。 或可略而不略，或應書而不書，此失刊削之例也。 屬詞比事，勞逸宜均； 揮鉛奮墨，勤惰須等。 某帙某篇，付之此職； 某紀某傳，歸之此官。 此銓配之理也。 斯並宜明立科條，審定區域，倘人思自勉，則書可立成。 今監之者既不指授，修之者又無遵奉。 用使爭學茍且，務相推避，坐變炎涼，徒延歲月。 其不可五也。
I venture to think that placing supervising compilers over history, though without an ancient model, may be understood by considering the meaning of the title. To speak of supervision is roughly the sense of overall command. If creating annals by year, then years should have clear limits; if drafting biographies and narrating events, then events should have due fullness or brevity. What may be abbreviated may not be abbreviated, or what ought to be recorded may not be recorded—this is a failure of editorial discipline. In arranging words and comparing events, labor and ease should be balanced; in wielding brush and ink, diligence and idleness must be equal. Such-and-such a fascicle and chapter should be entrusted to this office; such-and-such an annal or biography should be assigned to this official. This is the principle of weighing and assigning duties. All of these ought to have regulations clearly established and domains carefully fixed; if men are moved to exert themselves, then the book can be quickly completed. Today the supervisors give no directions, and the compilers have nothing to follow. This causes men to compete in being slipshod, striving to push tasks onto one another, sitting idle while seasons pass, and merely prolonging the months and years. This is the fifth reason why it cannot be done.
14
凡此不可，其流實多，一言以蔽，三隅自反。 而時談物議，焉得笑仆編次無聞者哉！ 比者伏見明公每汲汲於勸誘，勤勤於課績。 或云墳籍事重，努力用心； 或云歲序已淹，何時輟手？ 竊以綱維不舉，而督課徒勤，雖威以次骨之刑，勖以懸金之賞，終不可得也。 語曰：「陳力就列，不能則止。」 仆所以比者布懷知己，歷詆群公，屢辭載筆之官，願罷記言之職者，正為此耳。 當今朝號得人，國稱多士。 蓬山之下，良直差肩； 蕓閣之中，英奇接武。 仆既功虧刻鵠，筆未獲麟，徒殫太官之膳，虛索長安之米，乞以本職，還其舊居，多謝簡書，請避賢路。 惟明公足下哀而許之。
Of all these impossibilities the ramifications are truly many; one word covers them, and from three corners one returns to oneself. Yet the talk of the age and public opinion—how can they laugh at me for compiling without renown! Recently I have observed that you, sir, are ever urgently encouraging and diligently pressing for results. Some say the matter of tomes and records is weighty and one must strive with all one's heart; others say the year has already dragged on—when will you lay down the brush? I venture to think that if the framework is not established and supervision is vainly diligent, even if one threatens with the harshest punishments and encourages with the richest rewards, in the end nothing can be achieved. The saying goes, "Display your strength and take your place; if you cannot, then stop." The reason I have recently laid open my thoughts to one who knows me, repeatedly criticized the lords, often declined the office of bearing the brush, and wished to resign the post of recording words is precisely this. The present court is said to have obtained men; the state is said to have many scholars. Beneath Mount Peng, the upright stand shoulder to shoulder; Within the Tallow-Tree Pavilion, the extraordinary follow one after another. I have already failed in carving the swan, and my brush has not obtained the unicorn; I merely exhaust the Grand Steward's meals and vainly draw Chang'an's rice. I beg to keep my original post, return to my old position, decline further appointments, and ask to yield the path of worthies. May you, sir, pity me and grant this.
15
至忠惜其才，不許解史任。 宗楚客嫉其正直，謂諸史官曰：「此人作書如是，欲置我何地！」
Zhizhong valued his talent and did not permit him to resign his historiographical post. Zong Chuke resented his uprightness and said to the historiographers, "When this man writes books like this, where does he mean to place me!"
16
時知幾又著《史通子》二十卷，備論史策之體。 太子右庶子徐堅深重其書，嘗云：「居史職者，宜置此書於座右。」 知幾自負史才，常慨時無知己，乃委國史於著作郎吳兢，別撰《劉氏家史》十五卷、《譜考》三卷。 推漢氏為陸終苗裔，非堯之後。 彭城叢亭裏諸劉，出自宣帝子楚孝王囂曾孫司徒居巢侯劉愷之後，不承楚元王交。 皆按據明白，正前代所誤，雖為流俗所譏，學者服其該博。 初，知幾每雲若得受封，必以居巢為名，以紹司徒舊邑； 後以修《則天實錄》功，果封居巢縣子。 又鄉人以知幾兄弟六人進士及第，文學知名，改其鄉里為高陽鄉居巢里。
At that time Zhiji also composed Generalities on Historiography in twenty scrolls, fully discussing the forms of historical writing. Crown Prince Right Vice Director Xu Jian deeply valued the book and once said, "Those who hold historiographical office ought to place this book at their right hand." Zhiji prided himself on historiographical talent and often lamented that the age had no one who understood him. He therefore entrusted the national history to composition director Wu Jing and separately compiled the Liu Clan Family History in fifteen scrolls and Genealogical Inquiry in three scrolls. He traced the Han clan as descendants of Lu Zhong, not descendants of Yao. The various Liu of Congting Lane in Pengcheng came from the line of Emperor Xuan's son King Xiao of Chu Biao, through his great-great-grandson Minister of Works Marquis of Juchao Liu Kai, and did not descend from King Yuan of Chu Jiao. All were based on clear evidence and corrected errors of former ages. Although mocked by common opinion, scholars acknowledged his comprehensive learning. Earlier Zhiji often said that if he received a fief, he would certainly take Juchao as its name, to continue the old domain of the Minister of Works; later, because of his merit in compiling the Veritable Record of Empress Zetian, he was indeed enfeoffed as Viscount of Juchao county. Moreover, because the people of his district, seeing that Zhiji and his five brothers all passed the jinshi examination and were famed for literary learning, changed his native district to Gaoyang township, Juchao lane.
17
景雲中，累遷太子左庶子，兼崇文館學士，仍依舊修國史，加銀青光祿大夫。 時玄宗在東宮，知幾以名音類上名，乃改子玄。 二年，皇太子將親釋奠於國學，有司草儀註，令從塵皆乘馬著衣冠。 子玄進議曰：
During the Jingyun era he was repeatedly promoted to crown prince left vice director and concurrently academician of the Chongwen Hall, continuing to compile the national history and granted the silver-blue glory grand master title. At that time Xuanzong was crown prince. Because Zhiji's name sounded like the emperor's taboo name, he changed it to Zixuan. In the second year the crown prince was to perform the libation sacrifice in person at the National University. The relevant offices drafted ceremonial regulations ordering all followers to ride horses and wear caps and robes. Zixuan submitted a proposal, saying:
18
皇太子手令付外宣行，仍編入令，以為常式。
The crown prince issued a personal order to have it promulgated and also incorporated it into regulations as a permanent form.
19
開元初，遷左散騎常侍，修史如故。 九年，長子貺為太樂令，犯事配流。 子玄詣執政訴理，上聞而怒之，由是貶授安州都督府別駕。 子玄掌知國史，首尾二十餘年，多所撰述，甚為當時所稱。 禮部尚書鄭惟忠嘗問子玄曰：「自古已來，文士多而史才少，何也？」 對曰：「史才須有三長，世無其人，故史才少也。 三長：謂才也，學也，識也。 夫有學而無才，亦猶有良田百頃，黃金滿籝，而使愚者營生，終不能致於貨殖者矣。 如有才而無學，亦猶思兼匠石，巧若公輸，而家無楩楠斧斤，終不果成其宮室者矣。 猶須好是正直，善惡必書，使驕主賊臣，所以知懼，此則為虎傅翼，善無可知，所向無敵者矣。 脫茍非其才，不可叨居史任。 自夐古已來，能應斯目者，罕見其人。」 時人以為知言。 子玄至安州，無幾而卒，年六十一。 自幼及長，述作不倦，朝有論著，必居其職。 預修《三教珠英》、《文館詞林》、《姓族系錄》，論《孝經》非鄭玄註、《老子》河上公註，修《唐書實錄》，皆行於代，有集三十卷。 後數年，玄宗敕河南府就家寫《史通》以進，讀而善之，追贈汲郡太守； 尋又贈工部尚書，謚曰文。
Early in the Kaiyuan era he was promoted to Left Regular Attendant and continued compiling history as before. In the ninth year his eldest son Bian, Director of the Imperial Music Office, committed an offense and was banished. Zixuan went to the chief ministers to plead his case. When the emperor heard of it he was angry, and Zixuan was demoted to vice prefect of Anzhou. Zixuan was in charge of the national history for more than twenty years, composed many works, and was greatly praised in his time. Minister of Rites Zheng Weizhong once asked Zixuan, "From antiquity until now, literary men have been many but historiographical talents few. Why is this?" He replied, "Historiographical talent requires three excellences. The age has no such men, and therefore historiographical talent is few. The three excellences are talent, learning, and discernment. To have learning without talent is like having a hundred qing of good fields and a coffer full of gold, yet putting a fool in charge of business—in the end one cannot achieve wealth. To have talent without learning is like wishing to combine the skills of Master Stone and be as clever as Gongshu Ban, yet having no hardwood, axes, or adzes at home—in the end one cannot build a palace. One still needs to love what is upright and record good and evil without fail, so that arrogant rulers and treacherous ministers know fear. This is to give wings to a tiger; with goodness that cannot be concealed, one goes where none can resist. If one lacks such talent, one must not presumptuously occupy a historiographical post. From remote antiquity until now, those who could meet this standard have rarely been seen." People of the time regarded this as wise speech. Zixuan reached Anzhou and before long died at the age of sixty-one. From youth to old age he composed without weariness. Whenever the court had a work to discuss, he was sure to hold the post. He took part in compiling Pearl Splendor of the Three Teachings, Forest of Literary Phrases of the Literature Hall, and Genealogical Records of Clans and Surnames; he argued that the Classic of Filial Piety was not annotated by Zheng Xuan and that the Laozi was not annotated by Duke Riverbank; he compiled the Tang Veritable Record—all circulated in his age—and he had collected works in thirty scrolls. Several years later Emperor Xuanzong ordered Henan prefecture to copy Generalities on Historiography at his home and present it. On reading it he approved it and posthumously appointed him governor of Ji commandery; soon afterward he was also posthumously appointed minister of works and given the posthumous title Wen.
20
兄知柔，少以文學政事，歷荊揚曹益宋海唐等州長史刺史、戶部侍郎、國子司業、鴻臚卿、尚書右丞、工部尚書、東都留守。 卒，贈太子少保，謚曰文。 代傳儒學之業，時人以述作名其家。
His elder brother Zhirou, famed from youth for literary learning and administrative affairs, served successively as chief administrator and governor of Jing, Yang, Cao, Yi, Song, Hai, Tang, and other prefectures, vice minister of revenue, National University vice director, director of the Court for Diplomatic Reception, right vice director of the Secretariat, minister of works, and eastern capital regent. On his death he was posthumously appointed Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent and given the posthumous title Wen. For generations they transmitted the work of Confucian learning, and people of the time named their household for literary composition.
21
子玄子貺、餗、匯、秩、迅、迥，皆知名於時。 子玄子貺貺，博通經史，明天文、律歷、音樂、醫算之術，終於起居郎、修國史。 撰《六經外傳》三十七卷、《續說苑》十卷、《太樂令壁記》三卷、《真人肘後方》三卷、《天宮舊事》一卷。 子玄子餗餗，右補闕、集賢殿學士、修國史。 著《史例》三卷、《傳記》三卷、《樂府古題解》一卷。 子玄子匯匯，給事中、尚書右丞、左散騎常侍、荊南長沙節度，有集三卷。 子玄子秩秩，給事中、尚書右丞、國子祭酒。 撰《政典》三十五卷、《止戈記》七卷、《至德新議》十二卷、《指要》三卷。 論喪紀制度加籩豆，許私鑄錢，改制國學，事各在本志。 子玄子迅迅，右補闕，撰《六說》五卷。 子玄子迥迥，諫議大夫、給事中，有集五卷。 子玄諸孫貺子浹、滋，匯子贊。 滋，貞元中位至宰輔。 贊，觀察使，自有傳。 徐堅徐堅，西臺舍人齊聃子也。 少好學，遍覽經史，性寬厚長者。 進士舉，累授太學。 聖歷中，車駕在三陽宮，御史大夫楊再思、太子左庶子王方慶為東都留守，引堅為判官，表奏專以委之。 方慶善《三禮》之學，每有疑滯，常就堅質問，堅必能征舊說，訓釋詳明，方慶深善之。 又賞其文章典實，常稱曰：「掌綸誥之選也。」 再思亦曰：「此鳳閣舍人樣，如此才識，走避不得。」 堅又與給事中徐彥伯、定王府倉曹劉知幾、右補闕張說同修《三教珠英》。 時麟臺監張昌宗及成均祭酒李嶠總領其事，廣引文詞之士，日夕談論，賦詩聚會，歷年未能下筆。 堅獨與說構意撰錄，以《文思博要》為本，更加《姓氏》、《親族》二部，漸有條匯。 諸人依堅等規制，俄而書成，遷司封員外郎。 則天又令堅刪改《唐史》，會則天遜位而止。
Zixuan's sons Bian, Su, Hui, Zhi, Xun, and Jiong were all famed in their time. Zixuan's son Bian was broadly versed in the classics and histories and understood astronomy, calendrics, music, medicine, and calculation. He ended his career as Attendant of the Bedchamber and compiler of the national history. He composed Supplementary Traditions of the Six Classics in thirty-seven scrolls, Continuation of the Garden of Sayings in ten scrolls, Wall Record of the Director of Imperial Music in three scrolls, Elbow-Back Prescriptions of the Perfected Man in three scrolls, and Old Affairs of the Heavenly Palace in one scroll. Zixuan's son Su was Right Reminder, academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, and compiler of the national history. He wrote Precedents in Historiography in three scrolls, Biographies in three scrolls, and Explication of Ancient Titles in the Music Bureau in one scroll. Zixuan's son Hui was Attendant Within, right vice director of the Secretariat, Left Regular Attendant, and Jingnan Changsha military commissioner. He had collected works in three scrolls. Zixuan's son Zhi was Attendant Within, right vice director of the Secretariat, and National University chancellor. He composed Administrative Canon in thirty-five scrolls, Record of Ceasing Arms in seven scrolls, New Discussions of Supreme Virtue in twelve scrolls, and Essentials in three scrolls. His discussions of mourning regulations and adding ritual vessels, permitting private coining, and reforming the National University are each treated in the relevant monographs. Zixuan's son Xun was Right Reminder and composed Six Discourses in five scrolls. Zixuan's son Jiong was Remonstrance Grand Master and Attendant Within. He had collected works in five scrolls. Among Zixuan's grandsons were Bian's sons Jia and Zi, and Hui's son Zan. Zi rose to the position of chief minister during the Zhenyuan era. Zan was a surveillance commissioner and has his own biography. Xu Jian was the son of Western Terrace drafter Qi Dan. In youth he loved learning, read broadly in the classics and histories, and was by nature generous and steady. He passed the jinshi examination and was repeatedly appointed to the Grand Academy. During the Shenglü era, when the emperor was at the Sanyang Palace, Censor-in-Chief Yang Zaisi and crown prince left vice director Wang Fangqing served as eastern capital regents and brought in Jian as case judge, entrusting memorials and reports to him alone. Fangqing was skilled in the learning of the Three Rites. Whenever he had doubts he would go to Jian to question him, and Jian was always able to cite old explanations and interpret them clearly, which Fangqing deeply approved. He also prized his literary compositions as canonical and solid and often said, "The choice for drafting imperial edicts." Zaisi also said, "This is the model of a Phoenix Pavilion drafter. With such talent and insight, one cannot help but promote him." Jian also worked with Attendant Within Xu Yanbo, Prince of Ding's warehouse clerk Liu Zhiji, and Right Reminder Zhang Yue to compile Pearl Splendor of the Three Teachings. At that time Unicorn Terrace director Zhang Changzong and National University chancellor Li Jiao oversaw the project, widely recruiting literary men who talked day and night, composed poetry, and gathered for feasts, yet for years could not put brush to paper. Jian alone, with Yue, conceived the plan and compiled, taking Literary Reflections and Broad Essentials as the foundation and adding two sections on surnames and kinship, gradually bringing order to the work. The others followed Jian's regulations, and before long the book was completed. He was then promoted to vice director of the Bureau of Enfeoffments. Empress Wu also ordered Jian to revise the Tang History, but when she abdicated the work stopped.
22
神龍初，再遷給事中。 時雍州人韋月將上書告武三思不臣之跡，反為三思所陷，中宗即令殺之。 時方盛夏，堅上表曰：「月將誣構良善，故違制命，準其情狀，誠合嚴誅。 但今硃夏在辰，天道生長，即從明戮，有乖時令。 謹按《月令》：『夏行秋令，則丘隰水潦，禾稼不熟。』 陛下誕膺靈命，中興聖圖，將弘義、軒之風，以光史策之美，豈可非時行戮，致傷和氣哉！ 君舉必書，將何以訓？ 伏願詳依國典，許至秋分，則知恤刑之規，冠於千載； 哀矜之惠，洽乎四海。」 中宗納堅所奏，遂令決杖，配流嶺表。
Early in the Shenlong era he was again promoted to Attendant Within. At that time Wei Yuejiang of Yong Prefecture submitted a memorial reporting Wu Sansi's disloyalty, but was instead framed by San Si. Emperor Zhongzong immediately ordered him executed. It was then high summer. Jian submitted a memorial saying, "Yuejiang falsely framed the innocent and therefore violated the imperial command. Judging by the circumstances, he indeed deserves severe punishment. But now it is high summer, when the way of Heaven is growth. To carry out open execution immediately goes against the season. I respectfully cite the Monthly Ordinances: "If in summer one executes autumn's commands, then hills and lowlands flood and grain does not ripen." Your Majesty was born to receive the sacred mandate and restored the imperial design. You will spread the winds of Yao and Xuan to brighten the historical records. How could you carry out executions out of season and harm harmonious qi! The ruler's actions are always recorded—what lesson will this teach? I humbly wish that you carefully follow the state canon and permit delay until the autumn equinox. Then the regulation of compassionate punishment would crown a thousand years; the grace of pity and compassion would reach the four seas." Emperor Zhongzong accepted Jian's memorial and therefore ordered beating with the rod and banishment to the far south.
23
睿宗即位，堅自刑部侍郎加銀青光祿大夫，拜左散騎常侍，俄轉黃門侍郎。 時監察御史李知古請兵以擊姚州西貳河蠻，既降附，又請築城，重征稅之。 堅以蠻夷生梗，可以羈縻屬之，未得同華夏之制，勞師涉遠，所損不補所獲，獨建議以為不便。 睿宗不從，令知古發劍南兵往築城，將以列置州縣。 知古因是欲誅其豪傑，沒子女以為奴婢。 蠻眾恐懼，乃殺知古，相率反叛，役徒奔潰，姚、巂路由是歷年不通。
When Emperor Ruizong took the throne, Jian rose from vice minister of justice to silver-blue glory grand master, was appointed Left Regular Attendant, and soon transferred to Yellow Gate vice minister. At that time investigating censor Li Zhigu requested troops to attack the Xi'er River tribes west of Yao Prefecture. After they had submitted, he again requested to build a city and heavily levied taxes on them. Jian held that the tribes were naturally obstinate and could be kept subordinate through loose reins; they could not yet be governed by the same system as the Central States. To weary the army on distant expeditions would cost more than it gained, and he alone memorialized that the plan was inexpedient. Ruizong did not follow his advice and ordered Zhigu to dispatch Jiannan troops to build the city, intending to establish prefectures and districts there. Zhigu thereby wished to execute their leaders and seize sons and daughters to make them slaves. The tribes were terrified and killed Zhigu. They rose in rebellion together, laborers and soldiers fled in rout, and the routes through Yao and Xie were blocked for years.
24
堅妻即侍中岑羲之妹，堅以與羲近親，固辭機密，乃轉太子詹事，謂人曰：「非敢求高，蓋避難也。」 及羲誅，堅竟免坐累。 出為絳州刺史，五轉復入為秘書監。 開元十三年，再遷左散騎常侍。 其年，玄宗改麗正書院為集賢院，以堅為學士，副張說知院事，累封東海郡公。 以修東封儀註及從升太山之功，特加光祿大夫。 堅多識典故，前後修撰格式、氏族及國史等，凡七入書府，時論美之。 十七年卒，年七十餘。 上深悼惜之，遣中使就家吊，內出絹布以賻，贈太子少保，謚曰文。 堅長姑為太宗充容，次姑為高宗婕妤，並有文藻。 堅父子以詞學著聞，議者方之漢世班氏。 元行沖元行沖，河南人，後魏常山王素連之後也。 少孤，為外祖司農卿韋機所養。 博學多通，尤善音律及詁訓之書。 舉進士，累轉通事舍人，納言狄仁傑甚重之。 行沖性不阿順，多進規誡，嘗謂仁傑曰：「下之事上，亦猶蓄聚以自資也。 譬貴家儲積，則脯臘膎胰以供滋膳，參術芝桂以防屙疾。 伏想門下賓客，堪充旨味者多，願以小人備一藥物。」 仁傑笑而謂人曰：「此吾藥籠中物，何可一日無也！」 九遷至陜州刺史，兼隴右、關內兩道按察使，未行，拜太常少卿。
Jian's wife was the younger sister of Palace Attendant Cen Xi. Because Jian was a close kinsman of Xi, he firmly declined confidential posts and was transferred to crown prince household steward, saying, "It is not that I dare seek high rank—I am avoiding disaster." When Xi was executed, Jian escaped being implicated. He went out as governor of Jiang Prefecture. After five transfers he returned as director of the Secretariat. In the thirteenth year of Kaiyuan he was again promoted to Left Regular Attendant. That year Emperor Xuanzong changed the Lizheng Academy to the Hall of Assembled Worthies, appointed Jian as academician and deputy to Zhang Yue in managing the hall, and repeatedly enfeoffed him as Duke of Donghai commandery. Because of his merit in revising the eastern feng ceremonial regulations and accompanying the ascent of Mount Tai, he was specially granted the glory grand master title. Jian knew many canonical precedents. He compiled formats, genealogies, and the national history, entering the book repository seven times in all, and was widely praised. In the seventeenth year he died at the age of seventy-some. The emperor deeply mourned him, sent a palace envoy to offer condolences at his home, issued silk and cloth from the inner storehouse as funeral gifts, posthumously appointed him Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent, and gave him the posthumous title Wen. Jian's elder aunt was a filling concubine to Emperor Taizong; his next aunt was a talented lady to Emperor Gaozong. Both had literary grace. Jian and his father and son were famed for literary learning, and commentators compared them to the Ban clan of Han times. Yuan Xingchong was a man of Henan, a descendant of Northern Wei Prince of Changshan Sulian. Orphaned in youth, he was raised by his maternal grandfather, Minister of Agriculture Wei Ji. Broadly learned and widely versed, he was especially skilled in music theory and exegetical studies. He passed the jinshi examination and was repeatedly transferred to Master of Communications. Censor-in-Chief Di Renjie greatly valued him. Xingchong was not compliant by nature and often offered admonitions. He once said to Renjie, "The inferior serving the superior is like storing up supplies to support oneself. It is like a noble household's stores: cured meats, pickled meats, fat, and tripe to supply rich fare; ginseng, atractylodes, ganoderma, and cassia to guard against illness. I venture to think that among your guests many could serve as fine fare. I wish to have this petty man serve as one medicine." Renjie laughed and said to others, "This is an item in my medicine chest—how could I be without it for a single day!" After nine transfers he reached governor of Shan Prefecture and concurrently surveillance commissioner of Longyou and Guannei circuits. Before departing he was appointed vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
25
行沖以本族出於後魏，而未有編年之史，乃撰《魏典》三十卷，事詳文簡，為學者所稱。 初魏明帝時，河西柳谷瑞石有牛繼馬後之象，魏收舊史以為晉元帝是牛氏之子，冒姓司馬，以應石文。 行沖推尋事跡，以後魏昭成帝名犍，繼晉受命，考校謠讖，著論以明之。
Because his clan came from Later Wei yet had no annalistic history, he composed Wei Canon in thirty scrolls, detailed in events and concise in wording, and was praised by scholars. Earlier, in Emperor Ming of Wei's time, an auspicious stone at Willow Valley in Hexi had the image of an ox succeeded by a horse. Wei Shou's old history held that Emperor Yuan of Jin was a son of the Niu clan who falsely took the surname Sima to match the stone text. Xingchong traced the events and held that Later Wei's Emperor Zhaocheng, named Jian, succeeded Jin in receiving the mandate. He collated songs and prophecies and wrote a treatise to clarify this.
26
開元初，自太子詹事出為岐州刺史，又充關內道按察使。 行沖自以書生不堪博擊之任，固辭按察，乃以寧州刺史崔琬代焉。 俄復入為右散騎常侍、東都副留守。 時嗣彭王誌暕庶兄誌謙被人誣告謀反，考訊自誣，繫獄待報，連坐十數人，行沖察其冤濫，並奏原之。 四遷大理卿。 時揚州長史李傑為侍御史王旭所陷，詔下大理結罪，行沖以傑歷政清貞，不宜枉為讒邪所構，又奏請從輕條出之。 當時雖不見從，深為時論所美。 俄又固辭刑獄之官，求為散職。 七年，復轉左散騎常侍。 九遷國子祭酒，月餘，拜太子賓客、弘文館學士。 累封常山郡公。
Early in the Kaiyuan era he went out from crown prince household steward to governor of Qi Prefecture and again served as surveillance commissioner of Guannei circuit. Xingchong, considering himself a scholar unfit for the duty of broad investigation, firmly declined surveillance and had Ning Prefecture governor Cui Wan replace him. Soon he returned as Right Regular Attendant and eastern capital deputy regent. At that time Zhiqian, the elder half-brother of Heir Apparent Prince of Peng Zhisui, was falsely accused of plotting rebellion. Under interrogation he confessed falsely, was imprisoned awaiting sentence, and more than ten were implicated. Xingchong saw that the case was unjust and memorialized to pardon them all. He was promoted four times to director of the Court of Judicial Review. At that time Yang Prefecture chief administrator Li Jie was framed by attendant censor Wang Xu. An edict ordered the Court of Judicial Review to fix guilt. Xingchong held that Jie had been pure and upright through successive administrations and should not be wrongly framed, and again memorialized to release him under a lighter statute. Although at the time his advice was not followed, he was deeply praised in public opinion. Soon he again firmly declined judicial posts and sought a loose office. In the seventh year he was again promoted to Left Regular Attendant. After nine transfers he became National University chancellor. A month later he was appointed crown prince guest and academician of the Hongwen Hall. He was repeatedly enfeoffed as Duke of Changshan commandery.
27
先是，秘書監馬懷素集學者續王儉《今書七志》，左散騎常侍褚無量於麗正殿校寫四部書，事未就而懷素、無量卒，詔行沖總代其職。 於是行沖表請通撰古今書目，名為《群書四錄》，命學士鄠縣尉毋煚、櫟陽尉韋述、曹州司法參軍殷踐猷、太學助教余欽等分部修檢，歲餘書成，奏上，上嘉之。 又特令行沖撰禦所註《孝經》疏義，列於學官。 尋以衰老罷知麗正殿校寫書事。
Earlier, Secretariat director Ma HuaiSu had gathered scholars to continue Wang Jian's Present Books Seven Records, and Left Regular Attendant Chu Wuliang had collated the four bibliographic sections at the Lizheng Hall. The work was not finished when HuaiSu and Wuliang died, and an edict ordered Xingchong to take over their duties. Xingchong thereupon memorialized requesting a comprehensive catalogue of ancient and modern books, named Comprehensive Catalogue of All Books in Four Records, and assigned academicians Wu Jiong, Wei Shu, Yin Jianyou, Yu Qin, and others to revise and check by section. After more than a year the book was completed and presented, and the emperor praised it. He was also specially ordered to compose exegesis of the imperially annotated Classic of Filial Piety and have it listed among the official teachings. Soon, because of old age, he was removed from overseeing the Lizheng Hall's collation and copying of books.
28
初，有左衛率府長史魏光乘奏請行用魏征所註《類禮》，上遽令行沖集學者撰《義疏》，將立學官。 行沖於是引國子博士範行恭、四門助教施敬本檢討刊削，勒成五十卷，十四年八月奏上之。 尚書左丞相張說駁奏曰：「今之《禮記》，是前漢戴德、戴聖所編錄，歷代傳習，已向千年，著為經教，不可刊削。 至魏孫炎始改舊本，以類相比，有同抄書，先儒所非，竟不行用。 貞觀中，魏征因孫炎所修，更加整比，兼為之註，先朝雖厚加賞錫，其書竟亦不行。 今行沖等解征所註，勒成一家，然與先儒第乖，章句隔絕，若欲行用，竊恐未可。」 上然其奏，於是賜行沖等絹二百匹，留其書貯於內府，竟不得立於學官。 行沖恚諸儒排己，退而著論以自釋，名曰《釋疑》。 其詞曰：
Earlier, Left Guard rate-office chief administrator Wei Guangcheng memorialized requesting use of Wei Zheng's annotated Categorized Rites. The emperor immediately ordered Xingchong to gather scholars to compose Exegesis and Commentary, intending to establish it in the official curriculum. Xingchong thereupon brought in National University erudite Fan Xinggong and Four Gates assistant instructor Shi Jingben to examine, collate, and edit the text, completing fifty scrolls, which were presented in the eighth month of the fourteenth year. Left Chief Minister Zhang Yue submitted a rebuttal, saying, "The present Book of Rites was compiled by Former Han's Dai De and Dai Sheng. Transmitted and studied through generations for nearly a thousand years, it is established as canonical teaching and cannot be cut or revised. Only in Wei did Sun Yan first alter the old text, arranging it by categories in a manner like copying books. Former Confucians rejected it, and in the end it was not used. In the Zhenguan era Wei Zheng, building on Sun Yan's revision, further arranged it and also annotated it. Although the former court richly rewarded it, the book in the end was also not used. Now Xingchong and the others explain Zheng's annotation and force it into one school, yet it departs from former Confucians in sequence and severs the chapters and sentences. If one wishes to use it, I fear it may not yet be possible." The emperor approved his memorial. He bestowed two hundred bolts of silk on Xingchong and the others, kept the book stored in the inner repository, and in the end it could not be established in the official curriculum. Xingchong resented that the Confucians had excluded him, withdrew, and composed a treatise to explain himself, entitled Dispelling Doubts. It reads:
29
行沖俄又累表請致仕，制許之。 十七年卒，年七十七，贈禮部尚書，謚曰獻。 吳兢吳兢，汴州浚儀人也。 勵誌勤學，博通經史。 宋州人魏元忠、亳州人硃敬則深器重之，及居相輔，薦兢有史才，堪居近侍，因令直史館，修國史。 累月，拜右拾遺內供奉。 神龍中，遷右補闕，與韋承慶、崔融、劉子玄撰《則天實錄》成，轉起居郎。 俄遷水部郎中，丁憂還鄉里。 開元三年服闋，抗疏言曰：「臣修史已成數十卷，自停職還家，匪忘紙劄，乞終餘功。」 乃拜諫議大夫，依前修史。 俄兼修文館學士，歷衛少卿、右庶子。 居職殆三十年，敘事簡要，人用稱之。 末年傷於太簡。 《國史》未成，十七年，出為荊州司馬，制許以史稿自隨。 中書令蕭嵩監修國史，奏取兢所撰《國史》，得六十五卷。 累遷臺、洪、饒、蘄四州刺史，加銀青光祿大夫，遷相州長垣縣子。 天寶初改官名，為鄴郡太守，入為恆王傅。
Before long Xingchong repeatedly memorialized requesting retirement, and an edict permitted it. In the seventeenth year he died at the age of seventy-seven. He was posthumously appointed minister of rites and given the posthumous title Xian. Wu Jing was a native of Junyi in Bian Prefecture. He strengthened his will and studied diligently, broadly mastering the classics and histories. Wei Yuanzhong of Song Prefecture and Zhu Jingze of Bo Prefecture deeply valued him. When they served as chief ministers they recommended that Jing had historiographical talent fit for close attendance and ordered him to serve directly in the History Office and compile the national history. After several months he was appointed Right Reminder with inner attendance. During the Shenlong era he was transferred to Right Reminder and, with Wei Chengqing, Cui Rong, and Liu Zixuan, completed the Veritable Record of Empress Zetian, then was transferred to Attendant of the Bedchamber. Soon he was transferred to director of the Bureau of Waterways, entered mourning, and returned home. In the third year of Kaiyuan, when mourning ended, he submitted a forthright memorial saying, "I have already compiled several tens of scrolls of history. Since leaving office and returning home I have not forgotten paper and brush. I beg to finish the remaining work." He was then appointed Remonstrance Grand Master and continued compiling history as before. Soon he was concurrently academician of the Xiūwen Hall and served successively as vice director of the Guard and right vice director of the crown prince's palace. He held office for nearly thirty years. His narration was concise and essential, and people praised him. In his later years he was criticized for being too concise. The National History was not completed. In the seventeenth year he went out as military aide of Jing Prefecture. An edict permitted him to take his historical drafts with him. Chief Minister Xiao Song supervised compilation of the national history and memorialized to take Jing's compiled National History, obtaining sixty-five scrolls. He was repeatedly transferred as governor of Tai, Hong, Rao, and Qi prefectures, granted the silver-blue glory grand master title, and promoted to Viscount of Changyuan county in Xiang Prefecture. Early in the Tianbao era, when official titles were changed, he became governor of Ye commandery and entered service as tutor to the Prince of Heng.
30
兢嘗以梁、陳、齊、周、隋五代史繁雜，乃別撰《梁》、《齊》、《周史》各十卷、《陳史》五卷、《隋史》二十卷，又傷疏略。 兢雖衰耗，猶希史職，而行步傴僂，李林甫以其年老不用。 天寶八年，卒於家，時年八十餘。 兢卒後，其子進兢所撰《唐史》八十餘卷，事多紕繆，不逮於壯年。 兢家聚書頗多，嘗目錄其卷第，號《吳氏西齋書目》。 韋述韋述，司農卿弘機曾孫也。 父景駿，房州刺史。 述少聰敏，篤誌文學。 家有書二千卷，述為兒童時，記覽皆遍。 人駭異之。 景龍中，景駿為肥鄉令，述從父至任。 洺州刺史元行沖，景駿之姑子，為時大儒，常載書數車自隨。 述入其書齋，忘寢與食。 行沖異之，引與之談，貫穿經史，事如指掌，探賾奧旨，如遇師資。 又試以綴文，操牘便就。 行沖大悅，引之同榻曰：「此吾外家之寶也。」 舉進士，西入關，時述甚少，儀形眇小。 考功員外郎宋之問曰：「韋學士童年有何事業？」 述對曰：「性好著書。 述有所撰《唐春秋》三十卷，恨未終篇。 至如詞策，仰待明試。」 之問曰：「本求異才，果得遷、固。」 是歲登科。
Jing once found the histories of Liang, Chen, Qi, Zhou, and Sui too cumbersome and therefore separately composed Liang History, Qi History, and Zhou History in ten scrolls each, Chen History in five scrolls, and Sui History in twenty scrolls, yet was also faulted for being too sparse. Although Jing was worn out by age, he still hoped for a historiographical post, but his gait was stooped. Li Linfu, because he was old, did not employ him. In the eighth year of Tianbao he died at home at the age of eighty-some. After Jing died his son presented Jing's compiled Tang History in more than eighty scrolls. The events were often erroneous and did not reach the quality of his vigorous years. Jing's household gathered many books. He once catalogued their fascicles under the title Wu Clan Western Studio Bibliography. Wei Shu was the great-grandson of Minister of Agriculture Wei Hongji. His father Jingjun was governor of Fang Prefecture. Shu in youth was clever and keen and devoted himself to literary studies. The family had two thousand scrolls of books. When Shu was a child he had read them all. People were astonished. During the Jinglong era Jingjun was magistrate of Feixiang. Shu followed his father to the post. Ming Prefecture governor Yuan Xingchong, Jingjun's nephew by marriage, was a great Confucian of the age and often carried several cartloads of books with him. Shu entered his book studio and forgot sleep and food. Xingchong marveled at him and drew him into conversation. He penetrated the classics and histories as if matters lay in the palm of his hand, and in probing profound meanings he was like one meeting a teacher. He was also tested in literary composition and, taking up the document, completed it at once. Xingchong was greatly pleased and drew him to share his couch, saying, "This is a treasure of my wife's family." He passed the jinshi examination and entered the pass to the west. At that time Shu was very young and slight in stature. Vice director of the Bureau of Evaluations Song Zhiwen asked, "What work has Academician Wei accomplished in his childhood?" Shu replied, "My nature loves composing books. Shu has composed Tang Spring and Autumn in thirty scrolls and regrets that it is not yet finished. As for literary compositions and policy essays, I await the official examination." Zhiwen said, "I originally sought unusual talent and have indeed obtained a Ban or a Sima." That year he passed the examination.
31
開元五年，為櫟陽尉。 秘書監馬懷素受詔編次圖書，乃奏用左散騎常侍元行沖、左庶子齊澣、秘書少監王珣、衛尉少卿吳兢並述等二十六人，同於秘閣詳錄四部書。 懷素尋卒，行沖代掌其事，五年而成，其總目二百卷。 述好譜學，秘閣中見常侍柳沖先撰《姓族系錄》二百卷，述於分課之外手自抄錄，暮則懷歸。 如是周歲，寫錄皆畢，百氏源流，轉益詳悉。 乃於《柳錄》之中，別撰成《開元譜》二十卷。 其篤誌忘倦，皆此類也。
In the fifth year of Kaiyuan he became magistrate of Liyang. Secretariat director Ma HuaiSu received an edict to arrange the library and memorialized to employ Left Regular Attendant Yuan Xingchong, left vice director of the crown prince's palace Qi Huan, Secretariat vice director Wang Xun, Guard vice director Wu Jing, Shu, and twenty-six others to record the four bibliographic sections in detail at the Secret Repository. HuaiSu soon died. Xingchong took over the project, and in five years it was completed, its general catalogue running to two hundred scrolls. Shu loved genealogical studies. In the Secret Repository he saw Regular Attendant Liu Chong's Genealogical Records of Clans and Surnames in two hundred scrolls and, beyond his assigned duties, personally copied them by hand, carrying them home each evening. In this way for a full year he finished copying and recording, and the origins of the hundred clans became ever more detailed. He then, building on Liu's Records, separately composed Kaiyuan Genealogies in twenty scrolls. His steadfast devotion and tireless labor were all of this kind.
32
轉右補闕，中書令張說專集賢院事，引述為直學士，遷起居舍人。 說重詞學之士，述與張九齡、許景先、袁暉、趙冬曦、孫逖、王幹常遊其門。 趙冬曦兄冬日，弟知壁、居貞、安貞、頤貞等六人，述弟迪、逌、迥、起、巡亦六人，並詞學登科。 說曰：「趙、韋昆季，令之杞梓也。」 十八年，兼知史官事，轉屯田員外郎、職方吏部二郎中，學士、知史官事如故。 及張九齡為中書令，即集賢之同職，裴耀卿為侍中，即述之舅，皆相推重，語必移晷。 二十七年，轉國子司業，停知史事。 俄而復兼史職，充集賢學士。 天寶初，歷左右庶子，加銀青光祿大夫。 九載，兼充禮儀使。 其載遷尚書工部侍郎，封方城縣侯。
He was transferred to Right Reminder. Chief Minister Zhang Yue took sole charge of the Hall of Assembled Worthies and brought in Shu as direct academician, then transferred him to Attendant of the Bedchamber. Yue valued men of literary learning. Shu, together with Zhang Jiuling, Xu Jingxian, Yuan Hui, Zhao Dongxi, Sun Ti, and Wang Gan, often visited his household. Zhao Dongxi's elder brother Dongri and younger brothers Zhibi, Juzhen, Anzhen, Yizhen, and three others—six in all—and Shu's younger brothers Di, You, Jiong, Qi, and Xun, also six, all passed examinations in literary learning. Yue said, "The Zhao and Wei brothers are the finest timber of our age." In the eighteenth year he was concurrently put in charge of historiographical affairs, transferred to vice director of the Bureau of State Farms and director of the second rank in the Bureaus of Appointments and Personnel, and remained academician and in charge of historiographical affairs as before. When Zhang Jiuling became chief minister—he had been Shu's colleague at the Hall of Assembled Worthies—and Pei Yaoqing became palace attendant—he was Shu's uncle by marriage—all mutually esteemed one another, and their conversations always lasted for hours. In the twenty-seventh year he was transferred to National University vice director and ceased overseeing historiographical affairs. Soon he again concurrently held historiographical duties and served as academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies. Early in the Tianbao era he served successively as left and right vice director of the crown prince's palace and was granted the silver-blue glory grand master title. In the ninth year he was concurrently made commissioner of ritual. That year he was transferred to vice minister of works in the Secretariat and enfeoffed as Marquis of Fangcheng county.
33
述在書府四十年，居史職二十年，嗜學著書，手不釋卷。 國史自令狐德棻至於吳兢，雖累修撰，竟未成一家之言。 至述始定類例，補遺續闕，勒成《國史》一百一十二卷，並《史例》一卷，事簡而記詳，雅有良史之才，蘭陵蕭穎士以為譙周、陳壽之流。 述早以儒術進，當代宗仰，而純厚長者，淡於勢利，道之同者，無間貴賤，皆禮接之。 家聚書二萬卷，皆自校定鉛槧，雖禦府不逮也。 兼古今朝臣圖，歷代知名人畫，魏、晉已來草隸真跡數百卷，古碑、古器、藥方、格式、錢譜、璽譜之類，當代名公尺題，無不畢備。 及祿山之亂，兩京陷賊，玄宗幸蜀，述抱《國史》藏於南山，經籍資產，焚剽殆盡。 述亦陷於賊庭，授偽官。 至德二年，收兩京，三司議罪，流於渝州，為刺史薛舒困辱，不食而卒。 其甥蕭直為太尉李光弼判官，廣德二年，直因入奏言事稱旨，乃上疏理述於蒼黃之際，能存《國史》，致聖朝大典，得無遺逸，以功補過，合霑恩宥。 乃贈右散騎常侍。
Shu was in the book repository for forty years and held historiographical office for twenty years. He loved learning and composing books and never put down his scrolls. The national history, from Linghu Defen to Wu Jing, although repeatedly revised and compiled, in the end did not achieve a unified work. Only with Shu were categories and examples first fixed, omissions supplemented and gaps filled, and the National History completed in one hundred twelve scrolls, together with Precedents in Historiography in one scroll—events concise yet records detailed, elegantly possessing the talent of a good historian. Lanling's Xiao Yingshi regarded him as in the company of Qiao Zhou and Chen Shou. Shu early advanced through Confucian learning and was revered in his age. Pure, generous, and steady, he was indifferent to power and profit. Those who shared his way, without regard to rank, he all received with courtesy. His household gathered twenty thousand scrolls of books, all personally collated—even the imperial repository did not match this. He also had portraits of court ministers ancient and modern, paintings of famous men through the ages, several hundred scrolls of calligraphic autographs from Wei and Jin onward, ancient stelae, ancient vessels, medical formulas, formats, coin catalogues, seal catalogues, and short inscriptions by famous men of the age—all were fully provided. When the rebellion of Lushan broke out, the two capitals fell to the rebels, and Emperor Xuanzong went to Shu. Shu carried the National History and hid it in the southern mountains. His classics, records, and assets were burned and plundered almost entirely. Shu also fell into the rebel court and was given a false office. In the second year of Zhide the two capitals were recovered. The Three Offices deliberated guilt and banished him to Yu Prefecture, where he was humiliated by governor Xue Shu, stopped eating, and died. His nephew Xiao Zhi was case judge to Grand Marshal Li Guangbi. In the second year of Guangde, because Zhi, on entering to memorialize on affairs, pleased the emperor, he submitted a memorial arguing that Shu, in the moment of crisis, had preserved the National History and thereby ensured that the court's great canon was not lost—merit should offset fault, and he ought to receive imperial pardon. He was therefore posthumously appointed Right Regular Attendant.
34
議者云自唐已來，氏族之盛，無逾於韋氏。 其孝友詞學，承慶、嗣立為最； 明於音律，則萬石為最； 達於禮義，則叔夏為最； 史才博識，以述為最。 所撰《唐職儀》三十卷、《高宗實錄》三十卷、《御史臺記》十卷、《兩京新記》五卷，凡著書二百餘卷； 皆行於代。 述弟逌逌，學業亦亞於述，尤精《三禮》，與述對為學士。 述弟迪迪，同為禮官，時人榮之。 累遷考功員外郎、國子司業，以風疾卒。 蕭穎士蕭穎士者，聰儁過人，富詞學，有名於時，賈曾、席豫、張垍及述皆引為談客。 開元二十三年登進士第，考功員外郎孫逖稱之於朝。 褊躁無威儀，與時不偶，前後五授官，旋即駁落。 乾元初，終於揚府功曹。
Commentators said that since Tang times no clan had flourished more than the Wei clan. In filial piety, friendship, and literary learning, Chengqing and Silizhi were foremost; in understanding music and pitch, Wanshi was foremost; in mastery of ritual and righteousness, Shuxia was foremost; in historiographical talent and broad knowledge, Shu was foremost. What he composed included Tang Official Rituals in thirty scrolls, Veritable Record of Emperor Gaozong in thirty scrolls, Record of the Censorate in ten scrolls, and New Record of the Two Capitals in five scrolls—in all more than two hundred scrolls; all circulated in his age. Shu's younger brother You was second only to Shu in learning, especially expert in the Three Rites, and served as academician paired with Shu. Shu's younger brother Di likewise served as a ritual official, and people of the time regarded it as an honor. He was repeatedly transferred to vice director of the Bureau of Evaluations and National University vice director and died of wind illness. Xiao Yingshi was surpassingly clever and rich in literary learning, famed in his time. Jia Zeng, Xi Yu, Zhang Ya, and Shu all brought him in as a conversational guest. In the twenty-third year of Kaiyuan he passed the jinshi examination. Vice director of the Bureau of Evaluations Sun Ti praised him at court. Narrow and irritable, without dignified bearing, he did not suit the age. Five times he was given office and each time was soon dismissed. Early in the Qianyuan era he ended his career as merit officer of Yang Prefecture.
35
述在秘閣時，與鄠縣尉母煚、曹州司法殷踐猷並友善，二人相次卒。 踐猷，申州刺史仲容從子，明《班史》，通於族姓。 子寅，有至性，早孤，事母以孝聞。 應宏詞舉，為永寧尉。 史臣曰史臣曰：前代文學之士，氣壹矣，然以道義偶乖，遭遇斯難。 馬懷素、褚無量好古嗜學，博識多聞，遇好文之君，隆師資之禮，儒者之榮，可謂際會矣。 劉、徐等五公，學際天人，才兼文史，俾西垣、東觀，一代粲然，蓋諸公之用心也。 然而子玄郁結於當年，行沖仿徨於極筆，官不過俗吏，寵不逮常才，非過使然，蓋此道非趨時之具也，其窮也宜哉！ 贊贊曰：學者如市，博通甚難； 文士措翰，典麗惟艱。 馬、褚、兢、術，徐、元、子玄，文學之書，胡寧比焉！
When Shu was in the Secret Repository he was friendly with Huo county magistrate Wu Jiong and Cao Prefecture judicial aide Yin Jianyou. The two died in succession. Jianyou was the nephew of Shen Prefecture governor Zhongrong. He understood the Ban histories and was versed in clans and surnames. His son Yin had utmost nature. Orphaned early, he was famed for filial service to his mother. He responded to the broad phrases examination and became magistrate of Yongning. The historiographer says: The literary scholars of former ages had unified spirit, yet because the way and righteousness occasionally went awry, they encountered such hardship. Ma HuaiSu and Chu Wuliang loved antiquity and were devoted to learning, broadly knowledgeable and widely heard. Meeting a ruler who loved literature, they were honored with the rites due teachers—the glory of Confucians may be called a timely meeting. The five lords Liu, Xu, and the others reached learning to Heaven and man and combined talent in literature and history, making the western wall and Eastern Pavilion brilliant for a generation—this was surely the intent of those gentlemen. Yet Zixuan was pent up in his own day and Xingchong wandered at the final brush. Their offices did not surpass common clerks and their favor did not reach ordinary talent—not because of fault, but because this path is not an instrument for suiting the times. Their poverty was fitting! The eulogist says: Scholars are like a market; broad mastery is very hard; literary men set brush to paper—canonical elegance alone is difficult. Ma, Chu, Jing, and Shu, Xu, Yuan, and Zixuan—in books of literature, who could compare!