China in Classics new season to premiere on CCTV-1

The new season of the large-scale cultural program ‘China in Classics’ is set to premiere on CCTV-1 at 8:00 PM on October 4. The series aims to bring ancient texts to life by exploring 11 classic works, including ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’, ‘Journey to the West’, ‘Water Margin’, and ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’.

The inaugural episode focuses on ‘Zizhi Tongjian’ (Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance), the first comprehensive chronological history of China compiled by Northern Song Dynasty historian Sima Guang over nineteen years. The program explores the governance philosophy and life lessons contained within the work, which spans 1,362 years of history across 16 dynasties.

As part of the broadcast, a replica of the only surviving manuscript of ‘Zizhi Tongjian’ from the National Library of China will be showcased, highlighting the scholarly depth of Sima Guang’s historical compilation.