Fan Ye and the Hou Hanshu: Introduction to the Paris Workshop, 2017

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The Hou Hanshu narrates a period of unity for the first three or four Later Han emperors and then the decline of the dynasty.

“At least as far as the reign of the first three or four emperors of the Later Han period is concerned, it tells the story of a period of unity, but then it deals with the decline of a dynasty.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Fan Ye was most proud of his Introductions, Disquisitions, and Eulogies.

“Fan Ye was most proud of his Introductions ( xu 序 ), Disquisitions ( lun 論 ) and Eulogies ( zan 贊 ).”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

Although mainly a compilation of earlier sources, the Hou Hanshu was successful enough to almost entirely erase all predecessors.

“Although mainly a compilation of earlier sources, the Hou Hanshu was successful enough to almost entirely erase all predecessors.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The Hou Hanshu reflects how a medieval historiographer dealt with an era haunted by problems similar to those of his own age.

“Written during a long period of Chinese political division more than two hundred years after the fall of the Han dynasty, the Hou Hanshu also reflects how a medieval historiographer dealt with an era haunted by problems similar to those of his own age.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

Fan Ye paid close attention to his writing's accuracy and word choice.

“Moreover, despite the fact that his ' Preface on the Principles of History Writing ' ( ' Xuli ' 序 例 ) is largely lost, we know that Fan Ye paid close attention to his writing ' s accuracy and word choice, and it would be worthwhile to devote a more thorough study to his writing style.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The Hou Hanshu presents many original aspects, largely because it was written centuries after the events it reports.

“From a historiographical point of view, Fan Ye ' s work presents many original aspects -largely because it was written centuries after the events it reports took place.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The Hou Hanshu was written during a long period of Chinese political division more than two hundred years after the fall of the Han dynasty.

“Written during a long period of Chinese political division more than two hundred years after the fall of the Han dynasty, the Hou Hanshu also reflects how a medieval historiographer dealt with an era haunted by problems similar to those of his own age.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The Hou Hanshu offers an unprecedented development of the historiographical paratext.

“Moreover, it offers an unprecedented development of what we may call the ' historiographical paratext. '”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

Fan Ye developed further historiographical tools that his predecessors Sima Qian and Ban Gu had invented.

“Fan Ye obviously developed further historiographical tools that his predecessors Sima Qian and Ban Gu had invented.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The Hou Hanshu relies on previously existing histories rather than imperial archives.

“The Hou Hanshu relies on a number of previously existing histories, and apparently not on imperial archives.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The influence at court of the Empress Dowager and regents from her family, and at local level of land holders and local strong men, played a much more dominant role than imperial power during the Eastern Han.

“As previous scholarship has shown, the influence at court of the Empress Dowager and regents from her family, or at a more local level of the land holders and local strong men, played a much more dominant role than imperial power.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.

Despite historiographical distortion in the representation of women, their representation in the Hou Hanshu can still yield interesting conclusions about their role in society.

“While the representation of women has particularly been subject to historiographical distortion, by making use of their representation in the Hou Hanshu we may still be able to arrive at some interesting conclusions about the role they played in society.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

Fan Ye was eager to intertwine the words of sources, historical actors, writers, people in the streets, and himself in the Hou Hanshu.

“whose author was eager to intertwine the words of sources, historical actors, writers, people in the streets and himself.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

The decline of the dynasty is the main topic of the Hou Hanshu and preoccupied Fan Ye's mind.

“Hence, the dynasty ' s decline still seems to be the main topic, and it more particularly appears to be the subject that preoccupied the historiographer ' s mind.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Fan Ye's 'Preface on the Principles of History Writing' is largely lost.

“despite the fact that his ' Preface on the Principles of History Writing ' ( ' Xuli ' 序 例 ) is largely lost”