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If you have general knowledge of Chinese history, you are sure to know Sima Qian (145-86 B.C. ?) by name. The reason why his name is handed down through ages in history is that he wrote the Historical Records and became the greatest Chinese historian. In fact, Sima Qian is not only a great historian, but also an outstanding man of letters. His work the Historical Records is of very high value to Chinese history and a masterpiece of biographical literature too. www.1155815.com
Sima Qian, polite name Zichang, was born in Longmen, Xiayang (present-day Hancheng, Shanxi Province) in the year 145 B.C. His father Sima Tan was a court historian in Emperor Wu’s time. At ten Sima Qian began to study ancient classical works. At twenty he traveled extensively all over the reaches of the Changjiang and Huange Rivers, and broadened his horizon by visiting famous mountains and rivers, sites of historical interest and gathering historical materials. He inherited the post of court historian from his dead father and devoted his lifetime to the writing of historical works. In 99 B.C. (the second year of Tianhan during the reign of Emperor Wu) when General Li Ling, together with his army, was defeated and surrendered to the Huns, Sima Qian pleaded for him to Emperor Wu and was castrated in prison. Being severely tortured, he thought of ending his life. But he lived on through injustice and humiliation in order to finish writing the Historical Records. Released from prison, he doubled his efforts to complete the writing of the Historical Records within a decade. 1155815.com
The Historical Records consists of 130 chapters, which are divided into five sections: (1) Twelve Principal Annals of Dynasties and Emperors; (2) Ten Chronological Tables; (3) Eight Treatises on the Various Aspects of Chinese Government and Institutions; (4) Thirty Histories of Hereditary Families; (5) Seventy Biographies of Celebrities. It covers a Chinese history of over 2,000 years from the most ancient legendary Emperor Huang to the Taichu reign of Emperor Wu of Han. 民俗节庆门户网站
A model of Chinese biographical literature, the Historical Records distinguishes itself mainly in characterization. By narrating the history through the descriptions of historical characters Sima Qian made his remarks and judgments about history. Centered round he descriptions of the high-ranking officials like emperors, generals and ministers, the Historical Records widens the scope of its characters’ descriptions to those from all walks of life, including gallants, merchants, doctors, fishermen, hunters, actors and women. In terms of writing methods and organization its characters’ biographies are also very distinctive. By a separate biography it means one biography for a single person – the Principal Annal of Xiang Yu for Xiang Yu’s life story from victory to failure; and the Biography of Prince Wei for the virtues of the Lord of Xinling who showed courtesy to the wise and condescension to the scholarly and lent a helping hand to those in dire need. By a unified biography it means one biography for several persons of the same type – the Biography of Qu Yuan and Jia Yi for Qu Yuan of the Warring States Period and Jia Yi of the Western Han dynasty; the Biography of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru for the four loyal ministers and generals like Lian Po, Lin Xiangru, Zhao She and Li Mu of the Zhao State during the Warring States Period; and the Biography of the Roving Gallants for the stories of gallants like Zhu Jia, Guo Jie and Ju Meng. These writing methods, which are conditioned by different categories of biography, are a very clear embodiment of the unity of history and logic.
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