. After the fall of the
. He was a scholar from Haining Zao Lin (southwest of modern-day Haining) in Hangzhou Prefecture, Zhejiang Province. He is the author of
.
Biography
Tan Qian was born on October 12, 1594 (Wanli 21st year), with his ancestral home in Bianliang (modern-day Kaifeng). During the Jingkang Incident, his ancestors moved south with the Song court and settled in Zao Lin Village southwest of Yandu, later relocating to Machiao Majinggang West.
From a young age, he was fond of learning. He entered school as a student, but did not enjoy the eight-part essay. "His family was poor, yet he had an insatiable love for books and enjoyed writing." In 1621 (the first year of Tianqi), he began writing The National Annals, completing the initial draft by 1627 (Tianqi 6th year). He continued to revise it thereafter. In 1645 (Shunzhi 2nd year), he added historical events from the reigns of the Chongzhen and Hongguang emperors. In 1647 (Shunzhi 4th year), the entire manuscript was stolen by a thief. At the age of 53, he rededicated himself to rewriting it. The new version of The National Annals comprised 104 volumes and over five million words, with even more detailed content than the original.
In 1645 (Southern Ming Hongguang 1st year), he served as a secretary to the cabinet minister Gao Hongtu, who recommended him for the position of imperial scribe. However, Tan Qian declined due to his belief that "the times were deteriorating and there was no hope for improvement."
After the Qing Dynasty established its rule, he refused to serve in government, calling himself a remnant from the Jiang Left (Jiangzuo). He supported himself by working as a copyist and secretary. In 1653 (Shunzhi 10th year), Zhu Zhixi of Yiwu, Zhejiang, was appointed as an editor in the Hongwen Academy in Beijing and hired Tan Qian as his secretary. They traveled north via the canal from Jiaxing to Beijing. Over the next two years, he extensively interviewed former Ming officials, royal relatives, eunuchs, and courtiers to revise The National Annals. In 1656 (Shunzhi 13th year), at the invitation of Shen Zhenheng, he traveled with Qian Chaowei to Pingyang, Shanxi (modern-day Linfen) to serve as a secretary. In 1657 (Shunzhi 14th year), he intended to visit the tomb of Zhang Shenyan but was unsuccessful. He died on December 11, 1657 (January 14, 1658) at his secretary post due to illness.
Zhu Zhixi praised Tan Qian in the preface of Northern Tour Records (北游錄): "Whether through hearsay or secret observation, stray anecdotes and fragmented records, he left nothing out that came to his ears and eyes. His diligence was truly remarkable." Other works by Tan Qian include Zao Lin Miscellaneous Selections (棗林雜俎), Northern Tour Records, Western Tour Records (西遊錄), Zao Lin Collection (棗林集), Historical Essays (史論), and Haichang Outer Annals (海昌外志).
Notes
Further Reading
Bibliography
• Luo Zhonghui, "Correcting the Birth and Death Years of Tan Qian," Zhejiang Journal, Issue 04, 1982.
• Luo Zhongh ui, "Tan Qian and His National Annals (國榷)," Research on Historiography, Issue 03, 1983.
• Yang Yongkang, "A Study of Tan Qian's Life and Deeds," Research on Historiography, Issue 04, 2006.
References
• 談遷 (Chinese)
The text above incorporates content created automatically using artifical intelligence.
Tan Qian (November 23, 1594 - 1658), a historian at the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, was originally named Yixun, with the courtesy name Guanruo. After the fall of the Ming Dynasty, he changed his name to Qian and adopted the courtesy name Rumu. He was a scholar from Haining Zao Lin (southwest of modern-day Haining) in Hangzhou Prefecture, Zhejiang Province. He is the author of The National Annals (國榷).