Shiji

Author: Cui Fanzhi (Editor and Compiler)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-02-01
Features: (Sima Qian) "To vent one's spleen in writing," "to be self-motivated," as stated in his letter to Ren An: [My ancestors did not have the merit of being enfeoffed with a red seal and written decree. In terms of literature, astronomy, and calendar, they were close to diviners and soothsayers, and were thus mocked and treated as entertainers by the emperor, despised by the common people. If I were to be executed under the law, it would be like the loss of one hair from a thousand oxen—what is the difference between me and an ant?] "To be a court favorite in regret, to pour my heart into ink and paper, moved by the humiliation of my life, to pass on the life of the eccentric to the (thousand autumns), although it goes against the principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals, it is still an unparalleled masterpiece of historians, an unrhymed Li Sao." — Lu Xun, Outline of the History of Chinese Literature
Reading the Record of the Outlaws, one feels inclined to commit suicide; reading the Biographies of Qu Yuan and Jia Yi, one is moved to tears; reading the Biographies of Zhuangzi and Lu Zhonglian, one wishes to withdraw from the world; reading the Biography of Li Guang, one wants to fight; reading the Biography of Shi Jian, one wants to bow; reading the Biographies of Xian Ling and Pingyuan Jun, one wants to nurture scholars. — Lu Xun, Outline of the History of Chinese Literature
A nation's culture has its sources and streams. At the very least, the broad masses of the people should know what the true source of traditional Chinese culture is and what its fundamental stream is. As publishers, we have no need to explore this issue, but we have the obligation to present publications that reflect the essence and mainstream of traditional Chinese culture to the people. Thus, we have created this Basic Collection of Chinese Family Classics. This is a nearly boundless publishing plan, but it reflects the sincere hearts of us as publishers. We know that the Chinese family is the fundamental unit of Chinese culture. If Chinese cultural families possess the fundamental classics and representative works of the Chinese nation, it will certainly help to promote our excellent national culture and forge our great national spirit. This is the original intention behind publishing this series. Therefore, this series is based on classic traditional cultural masterpieces and is divided into six volumes:
Volume 1: The Classics of the Hundred Schools of Thought
This includes 16 pre-Qin foundational works such as the Book of Songs, the Book of Changes, the Analects, the Mencius, and the Han Feizi. They are the lifeblood of the Chinese nation. Zhang Zhidong said, "Pre-Qin writings are worth a thousand gold for a single character," which accurately summarizes the works of the pre-Qin philosophers.
Volume 2: Selected Works of Famous Poets and Writers
This includes personal selected works of 21 renowned literary figures such as Tao Yuanming, Wang Wei, Li Bai, Du Fu, and Yuan Haowen. These selections center on Tang and Song Dynasty literary masters, representing the highest achievements of Chinese lyrical literature.
Volume 3: Masterpieces of Historiography
This includes the Zuo Zhuan, the Four Histories, and the Zizhi Tongjian. They are the essence of Chinese historiography. To understand history, one must start with these works.
Volume 4: Comprehensive Selections
This includes Tang Dynasty poems, Song Dynasty ci poems, Yuan Dynasty qu and sanqu, as well as the Thousand Poems and the Essentials of Classical Chinese. These are all tested and renowned selected works, intended to broadly supplement the shortcomings of the Selected Works of Famous Poets and Writers in capturing the essence of Chinese literature and poetry.
Volume 5: Notes and Miscellaneous Works
This includes 15 widely accepted miscellaneous works from the Three-Character Classic to the Household Letters of Zeng Guofan. In fact, they embody the deeper connotations of the excellent culture of the Chinese nation.
Volume 6: Dramas and Novels
This includes 18 dramas and novels from the Romance of the West Chamber to the four great classical novels. These represent the peak of Chinese literary creation. To some extent, they are like the Three-Character Classic in that they contain the fundamental spiritual nourishment that has nurtured the Chinese people.
To be responsible to readers, we do not seek immediate success in publishing but adopt a strategy of gradual expansion through serial publication. We do not aim for economic benefits from a single book or a single time but strive to broaden our readership. Our hearts are in harmony with the broad readership, so we are confident of having a wide market for our own works.
This book includes 16 selected and annotated chapters from the Records of the Grand Historian, with longer chapters summarized. The principles of selection and annotation are two. First, the five styles of Annals, Tables, Treatises, Hereditary Houses, and Biographies are all included to show the original structure of the Records of the Grand Historian. Among these, Biographies constitute a large proportion of the original text, reflecting a broad social scope and the author's concern for all of society. Therefore, the proportion of selected Biographies in this book accounts for two-thirds of the total, aligning with the original arrangement. Additionally, to help readers understand the Records of the Grand Historian and its author, Sima Qian, an annotated version of the Letter to Ren An from the Book of Han is included in the appendix, along with an overview of the versions of the Records of the Grand Historian and a reference bibliography of studies on the Records of the Grand Historian since the 20th century, allowing readers to access more information about the work.
Second, the annotations aim to be accessible to both the learned and the general public. Explanations of ancient institutions and customs are provided to facilitate understanding of ancient society. Difficult sentences are clarified in plain language, with annotations placed at the end of sentences to avoid interrupting the flow of the text.