The Study on the Relations between Differences in Texts Interpreting the Same Event, the Nature of Literature and Narrator’s Purposes—With a Case Study of “Shang Tang’s Destruction of Xia Dynasty”

Concerning differences in texts interpreting the same event, researchers pay more attention on records with wide discrepancies or contradictions while neglecting nuances. From the perspective of narratology, the paper analyzes records about“Shang Tang’s Destruction of Xia Dynasty” in Shangshu, Zhushujinian, Diwangshiji, Lvshichunqiu, Qinghuajian. By looking into these variances, this research discovers that different natures of literature and narrator’s desired effects would cause discrepancies. At the same time, it calculates proportions for each part in different texts, and conjecturs the narrator’s purposes, viewpoints and characteristics of literature. The research concludes that Qinghua Jian, Yinzhi is a work of posterity that celebrated the achievements of Yinyi. Therefore, it can be summed up that historical texts stress on the causes of historical events, emphasizing implications and lessons for the future, political texts put emphasis on general surveys and comments but lack details, while texts that recorded the deeds and sayings of historical figures focus on personal accomplishments and neglect researches of other aspects.