≪新唐書≫와 ≪舊唐書≫의 서사 비교 — 武則天 관련 내용을 중심으로

Abstract

The two official historical records of the Tang Dynasty are the Old Tang History and the New Tang History. The former contains factual information about the period, but lacks didactic value, in terms of advancing a specific, firm assessment of events and people. To address what was perceived as a weakness, the New Tang History prioritizes didactic value over other considerations. Due to this fundamental difference, the same events and historical figures are recorded in different ways in the two books. This study examines how Wu Zetian is described in both texts. The Old Tang History does not portray Wu Zetian and related figures as having solely negative characteristics. While she and her servants are negatively assessed in this text, their positive attributes are discussed as well. This facet of the text may be factual and objective, but it is not designed to persuade readers of a firm assessment of her. In contrast, Wu Zetian gained a reputation as a villainess after the publication of the New Tang History, as it recorded her tyranny and evil deeds in an exaggerated manner. Materials from xiaoshuo (小說, Miscellaneous Notes) were used to emphasize her wrong doings. Related gossip among commoners was also included as part of this history. xiaoshuo was useful in depicting the good in Wu Zetian in a very positive light, and the evil in her as highly negative. As a result, excerpts from xiaoshuo ensured that the New Tang History would be more didactic than the Old Tang History.