Chinese Biographical Database Investigates Tang Historical Records

November 30, 2015
_cbdb-square.

The CBDB continues to expand its collection of data on historical Chinese records with a project focused on one of China's most notable dynasties. With support from the Tang Research Foundation, the Chinese Biographical Database (CBDB) is conducting a project for a comprehensive prosopographical investigation of China's Tang Dynasty period (618-907 CE) based on excavated epitaphs, official documents, and private writings. The project will greatly enrich CBDB's coverage of information about biographical figures from Tang China.

Under the direction of IQSS affiliate Peter K. Bol, the China Biographical Database is a freely accessible relational database with biographical information, primarily from the 7th through 19th centuries in China. Currently approaching 400,000 men and women and continually expanding, it provides data meant to be useful for statistical, social network and spatial analysis. The CBDB's long-term goal is a database of all significant biographical material from China’s historical record, which would be freely available for academic use.

More information on the CBDB can be found at the project website.