Jin Shu Compiled in Tang Dynasty Drew Upon Shi Shuo : Its Merits & Demerits

That Jin Shu in Tang Dynasty drew upon Shi Shuo has always been the target of literary criticism. The criteria for its literary criticism are respectively based on two perspectives: collection of historical materials and compilation of historical biographies. As far as the former is concerned, that Jin Shu in Tang Dynasty drew upon Shi Shuo was something rather than something done wrong. But as far as the latter is concerned, it is something adequately , and not well done. The reasons lie in the following: too many old events were compiled , and too little significance was drawn; as a result, events are seen instead of people, history is written without biographies. While compiling a history, it is quite necessary to describe and narrate historical figures and their great spirit so as to render them alive from one generation to another. The merits and demerits of the event that Jin Shu in Tang Dynasty drew upon Shi Shuo has left a great deal for us to refer to.