Illustrated Shi Ji (Volumes 1-4)

Author: Sima Qian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-07-01
Features: The complete set consists of four volumes. Shiji, originally titled "Records of the Grand Historian," was written by Sima Qian of the Western Han Dynasty, comprising 130 chapters, making it China's first chronicle-style general history. It was completed approximately between the first year of the Taichu era of Emperor Wu of Han and the second year of the Zhenghe era (104 BC - 91 BC), covering events from the legendary Yellow Emperor to Emperor Wu of Han, with a total of about 3,000 years. It is particularly detailed about the Warring States period, the Qin Dynasty, and the Han Dynasty. The style divides biographies into Basic Annals, Family Histories, and Biographies, uses eight treatises to record the evolution of institutions, and establishes ten tables to outline the of historical events, which have been adopted by subsequent dynasties' histories.