📖 Meaning
Refers to unofficial historical writings and folk tales compiled by minor officials or private individuals, as opposed to official court histories. The term originally described minor officials tasked with collecting street gossip and rumors for the emperor's perusal. It now broadly denotes unofficial, informal, or fictionalized accounts of history.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Book of Han (汉书), compiled in the Eastern Han dynasty by Ban Gu. In the chapter on literature and arts (艺文志), Ban Gu wrote that writers of fiction descended from minor officials called 'baiguan,' who gathered street gossip and overheard rumors to present to the throne. Over time, 'baiguan' became synonymous with vernacular fiction, while 'yeshi' referred to privately compiled histories outside the official court record.
💡 Example Usage
这些稗官野史虽然未必可信，却也能反映当时民间的风俗与心态。
Though these unofficial histories may not be entirely reliable, they still reflect the customs and mindset of ordinary people at the time.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 稗官野史
- Pinyin: bài guān yě shǐ
- Literal Translation: grain-official, unofficial, history
- Category: Knowledge
- Characters: 4