Chinese History: A New Manual

In the course of updating old sections and inserting new ones over 2,000 databases, monographs, and scholarly articles have been added to the sixth edition and the coverage extended to the first 30 years of the PRC (1949-1978). The number of tables and in-text boxes has been increased to 468 (there were 277 in the fifth edition). Boxes are shaded in yellow and tables in blue. Terminological boxes and tables are both shaded in green. The sixth edition of the Manual is not only updated but has an entirely new look. All previous editions were published in one volume. But as the content expanded over the years from 70 thousand to 1.7 million words it became more and more difficult to squeeze everything in. One solution was to increase the size of the book and to use a smaller typeface set in two columns instead of one. But by 2021, it became clear that a more radical change was needed. Given that the Manual has been continuously updated and in print for 50 years, it seemed a good occasion to make a complete change and publish the new edition in two volumes instead of one, thus enabling the use of a larger typeface. As a result, it now reads more like a book and less like a telephone directory.

The author has been selective in choosing resources to include in the sixth edition. As a result, no more than 14,000 primary and secondary sources are cited (compare the fifth edition [2017] which referenced 12,000 resources; the fourth edition [2015] with 9,800; the third edition [2012] with 8,800; the second edition [2000] with 4,000; and the first edition [1998] with 2,900. Very roughly, the breakdown of the 14,000 resources in the sixth edition is one quarter primary sources (almost all Chinese); one half secondary sources (mainly monographs in Chinese and English, about equally divided between the two, and over 1,500 works in Japanese and other languages); and one quarter databases (about 300) and articles or book chapters from scholarly journals or monographs (about 3,000). Most are in English, but there are also some in Chinese, Japanese, and other languages. A few hundred book reviews that make a substantial contribution are noted.[2]

Even while updating the content and layout of the sixth edition of the Manual, Wilkinson retained the same basic framework as the third and later editions in order to facilitate navigation for readers familiar with these earlier editions. As before, the sixth edition of the Manual is divided into 14 book-length parts containing a total of 76 chapters. However, in many of the chapters the author has added new sections to include new insights and data and has also rewritten and reorganized previous chapters and sections to achieve a more logical presentation. Books I–VIII present the sources by subject: (I) The Chinese Language; (II) Family & Kin; (III) Geography; (IV) Governing; (V) Ideas, Beliefs, and the Arts; (VI) Agriculture & Food; (VII) Technology & Science; and (VIII) Trade. Books IX–XIV: Chs. 45 and 68 are on historiography, both traditional and modern, with a section on historical reference works for all or most of Chinese history. Books X to XII present the sources chronologically starting with prehistory and on through all the major dynasties. As far as possible, these period-specific chapters are arranged under five headings: (1) main historical sources; (2) other textual sources; (3) archeology; (4) foreign relations/foreign sources, and (5) research tools. The arrangement of (2) “other textual sources” follows the subject order of Books I–VIII (starting with language, biography, geography, etc., and ending with wars and uprisings). The headings may vary slightly, depending on the nature of the particular sources and topics in each period. Book XIII is on the 20th century, and its arrangement follows a different logic.

Digital tools are cited throughout the sixth edition of the Manual and some of the main ones grouped at §45.5. Print reference works such as general histories, guides, readers, and historical encyclopedias are also introduced at §45.1–§45.4. For keeping up to date with new scholarship, see Ch. 76. Those not familiar with the terminology and conventions of Chinese manuscripts, printing, and book culture should turn to Book XIV (on the history of the Chinese book and Chinese historical bibliography).

Sixth edition: “Although originally intended for use by graduate students, it’s an essential reference for even the most casual sinologist, with its pithy explanations of key historical and cultural issues, and extensive bibliographies for those who want to delve deeper.” Peter Neville-Hadley. “The man who can answer any question on China you might have, and why ‘Have you looked in Wilkinson?’ will remain the common response to a Chinese historical query.” South China Morning Post, July 3, 2022.

Fifth edition: "The Fifth Edition of Wilkinson’s Manual is the indispensable guide for Sinologists of all stripes. A monumental achievement!" Victor H. Mair (Professor of Chinese Language and Literature, University of Pennsylvania) quoted on the back cover of the Fifth edition (2018).

"A magnificent achievement; the most valuable English-language reference book on China anywhere." Richard H. Smith (Professor Emeritus of History, Rice University) quoted on the back cover of the Fifth edition (2018)

Fourth edition: "For any student of China (and at every level), Chinese History: A New Manual is not only a masterful scholarly endeavor, it is also (happily) a real page turner indeed, with captivating insights on every page."[3]

Third edition: Professor Nappi judged the New Manual (2012), “in every way, absolutely indispensable to work in Chinese history”[1] and journalist and China scholar, Jonathan Mirsky reviewing it in the New York Review of Books judged it to be "A mighty book...magnificent."[4]