The '''Book of Tang''' () or the '''Old Book of Tang''' (旧唐書/舊唐书) is the first classic work about the
Tang Dynasty. The book began when
Gaozu of Later Jin ordered its commencement in
941. Its lead editor, Liu Xu (刘昫), the chief minister and director of the National History redacted it during the last years of his life, and presented it to the Emperor Chidi in
945.
It is a compilation of earlier annals, now lost; it further incorporates other monographs and biographies, using as sources (for instance) the ''
Tongdian'' of
Du You.
[1]
After this was revised during the
Song Dynasty into the ''
New Book of Tang'', Liu Xu's work continued to be preserved as the ''Old Book of Tang''. It has been canonised in the ''
Twenty-Four Histories''.
Notes
1. Chronicles of the Chinese Dynasties, Twitchett, ''Official History under the T'ang'', 191-236.
See also
★
Twenty-Four Histories