歐陽脩 ≪新五代史≫의 서사 기획 - ≪舊五代史≫와의 비교를 중심으로

Abstract

Though history is a record of facts, how to record them is up to the author. This paper seeks to study with what kinds of intention Ouyang Xiu’s New History of the Five Dynasties was published and how his intention was reflected on the inclusion, exclusion, placement, and editing of materials. He compiled New History of the Five Dynasties as he was dissatisfied with his previous book Old History of the Five Dynasties. Accordingly, his new book featured quite a different organization, literary style, and view from Old History of the Five Dynasties. First, his new book, unlike his previous book with chronological formats, consisted of ten biographies containing praise and blame about historical characters classified according to ten criteria. Second, he recorded the history strictly observing methodology grounded in the Spring and Autumn Annals. Third, he enlarged and expanded the roles and importance of historical comments. The narration of New History of the Five Dynasties selectively recorded the contents consistent with the subject of distinct praise and blame about good and evil appearing in Old History of the Five Dynasties. According to the materials, good men have negative aspects and bad men have positive aspects. However, history based upon facts may be realistic but doesn’t give a strong moral implication. Accordingly, he carefully selected materials demonstrating evil aspects for evil characters and good aspects for good characters. In other words, he maximized the effects of educational narration by a technique of deletion. It is believed that his distinct planning on narration was the most critical factor to successful replacement of Old History of the Five Dynasties with New History of the Five Dynasties.