I-ching Shu

The Book of Documents, also known as the Classic of History, stands as one of the foundational texts of ancient Chinese literature. It comprises a collection of rhetorical prose attributed to historical figures of ancient China and has profoundly influenced Chinese political philosophy for over two millennia. The text's history is marked by significant scholarly debate regarding the authenticity and preservation of its various versions.

Two primary textual traditions emerged: the "Modern Texts," preserved by Fu Sheng after the Qin dynasty's book burning, and the "Old Texts," purportedly discovered later in Confucius's family estate. These versions differed in script and content, leading to centuries of controversy. While the "Modern Texts" generally circulated, the "Old Texts" underwent periods of acceptance and doubt, with later scholars proposing they were fabrications. Modern discoveries of bamboo slips from the Warring States period have provided new perspectives on the text's early forms and transmission.

The Book of Documents has a convoluted textual lineage, becoming the subject of extensive literary and philosophical debate. Early traditions suggest Confucius compiled it from a larger body of documents. Over time, various versions circulated, with authors like Mencius and Xunzi expressing reservations about its completeness or authenticity. During the Han dynasty, the text was officially recognized, and two main versions, the "Modern Texts" (written in contemporary script) and "Old Texts" (purportedly in pre-Qin script), were prominent. The "Modern Texts" were reconstructed by Fu Sheng, while the "Old Texts" were allegedly found hidden in Confucius's former residence and transcribed by Kong Anguo. Doubts about the "Old Texts" arose early, with Qing dynasty scholar Yan Ruoqu famously arguing they were fabrications from the 3rd or 4th centuries AD.

The controversy surrounding the Book of Documents largely centers on the "Old Texts" and "Modern Texts." Fu Sheng preserved the "Modern Texts," initially comprising 29 chapters, which were later slightly altered or expanded. The "Old Texts," purportedly discovered later, were said to contain additional chapters. A version presented to the Eastern Jin court in the 4th century AD, attributed to Kong Anguo, included these "Old Texts" and became widely accepted, forming the basis for later official interpretations. However, scholars from the Song dynasty onwards, notably Mei Zhuo and Yan Ruoqu, presented compelling arguments that the "Old Text" chapters, along with associated prefaces and commentaries, were forgeries created in the 3rd or 4th centuries AD, likely by piecing together material from other historical sources.

The received edition of the Book of Documents is organized into four sections, representing different historical eras: the legendary reign of Yu the Great, and the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. The Zhou dynasty section constitutes the largest part of the text. While some "Modern Script" chapters, particularly those from the Zhou era, are considered among the earliest examples of Chinese prose, dating back to the late 11th century BC, most scholars believe that the content pertaining to earlier periods, even within the "Modern Script" chapters, was composed much later, possibly as late as the 4th or 3rd centuries BC. This chronological discrepancy further fuels the debate about the text's historical accuracy and transmission.