Song-era studies of history from the perspective of elite politics

The rich historiography of the Song period has long been analyzed in context of the “Tang-Song transition.” Outside of this framework, using “elite politics” as a structural ideology to evaluate the limitations of historiographical systems, the role of history books, and the influence of new historiographical styles helps illuminate how the expansion of the civil service examination system created a political community centered around scholar-official elites. From that time forward, history books were no longer mere symbols of dynastic legitimacy, but also a tool for the legitimization of scholar-official identity, the summary of experiences, and control of discourse. By constructing systems, editing historical records, and promoting literacy, history books reshaped the role and style of historiography, pushing traditionally politics-centered history toward writing methods with more social and intellectual variety. Within this context, the new historiographical formats of “narratives from beginning to end” style (ji shi benmo ti 記事本末體) and “outline and details” style (gangmu ti綱目體) emerged as historiography shifted in focus from political to social. Thus, following the Tang-Song transition, Song historiography became an important cultural symbol of the Song-Yuan period’s societal changes.