Sima Guang is an important figure in Chinese history and Chinese historiography. Indeed, few students of Chinese history have not heard of the multi-volume Zizhi tongjian compiled by him. He is also well-known for being the opponent of Wang Anshi's New Policies in the Song government. This is the first book on Sima Guang's career and thought in the English language. Dr. Ji traces the development of Sima Guang's political career and analyzes the strength of his conservative ideas. Dr. Ji's investigation sheds new light on the intricate court politics and the ambitious reform movements of the Song dynasty. This book is written in a lively yet scholarly fashion. The carefully translated quotations and the colorful anecdotes not only help to illustrate the main analytical points of this study but also make it fascinating to read.
