Wu Guo Gushi ("Stories of the Five States") is a 10th-century Song dynasty history book, which in 2 chapters describes 5 of the southern states during the chaotic Five Dynasties period (907–960): the Wu, Southern Tang, Later Shu (including information on Former Shu[1]), Southern Han and Min Kingdom, especially their rulers. The author is unknown, but the book is considered unofficial (unlike the imperial court-sanctioned Old History of the Five Dynasties, with which it disagrees at some points). Emphasized in the book are court life, supernatural events and anecdotes.[2]

Wu Guo Gushi
LanguageClassical Chinese
Subjecthistory of the Five Dynasties period
Publication placeSong dynasty
Wu Guo Gushi
Traditional Chinese故事
Simplified Chinese故事
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinWǔ Guó Gùshì
Wade–GilesWu Kuo ku-shih

Despite its unofficial status, the book uses the word "illegitimate" (偽) to describe all 5 states, which fit Song dynasty's official rhetoric that considered only the 5 northern dynasties (Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou) legitimate during this period.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Theobald, Ulrich (2011-05-21). "Wuguo gushi". Chinaknowledge.
  2. ^ Schafer, Edward H. (1978). "Wu-kuo ku-shih". In Balazs, Etienne; Hervouet, Yves (eds.). A Sung Bibliography. The Chinese University Press. pp. 114–115. ISBN 962-201-158-6.
  3. ^ Wang, Hongjie (2011). Power and Politics in Tenth-Century China: The Former Shu Regime. Cambria Press. ISBN 978-1-60497-764-6.