Shiji

Author: Sima Qian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: The Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), originally titled The Works of the Grand Historian, is a monumental historical record in China's Annals and Biographies style. The book comprises 130 chapters, including 12 chronicles, 8 treatises, 10 tables, 30 family histories, and 70 biographies, totaling 520,000 words. It chronicles 3,000 years of political, economic, and cultural history from the Yellow Emperor to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, providing a comprehensive and profound reflection of ancient Chinese society.
Sima Qian, styled Zichang, was a native of Xiayang in the commandery of Zuo Fengyi. At the age of 20, he embarked on extensive travels, exploring famous mountains and rivers, examining historical sites, and collecting legends, which laid a solid foundation for writing Shiji. He finally completed the book in the second year of the Zhenghe era (B.C. 91).
Shiji is marked by a strong critical spirit and a clear focus on the people. It boldly exposes the darkness and corruption of the feudal ruling class, such as in The Biographies of the Cruel Officials, which reflects the brutality of officials. Even the vices of emperors, such as the opportunism of Emperor Gaozu of Han and Emperor Wu of Han's obsession with grandeur and superstition, are harshly condemned by Sima Qian without hesitation.
The book offers vivid and extensive portrayals of figures from all social strata. The Family History of Chen She, for instance, dedicates a biography to the peasant uprising leader Chen She, highly praising his role as the "pioneer" in overthrowing the Qin Dynasty. The Biographies of Assassins celebrates the rebellious spirit of assassins like Jing Ke and Nie Zheng. The Biography of Lord Wei highlights the wisdom and chivalry of commoners like Hou Ying and Zhu Hai. The Biographies of Merchants preserves invaluable economic records of ancient times through its depiction of commercial activities.
In Shiji, portraits of politicians, military strategists, scholars, writers, wandering knights, entertainers, doctors, and diviners are brought to life, collectively forming a rich and colorful tapestry of social life. Sima Qian adopted an attitude of "objective recording," ensuring that his accounts were "neither embellished nor concealed," elevating Shiji to a higher intellectual value than any official histories that followed.
Shiji is also an outstanding literary work, hailed by Lu Xun as "the peerless chronicles of a historian, an unrhymed Li Sao." Sima Qian created a series of vivid characters, such as Xiang Yu, Liu Bang, Fan Kui, Li Guang, Jing Ke, Lin Zhaorong, and Xinglingjun, whose compelling portrayals resonate deeply with readers. He skillfully used sharp conflicts and typical details to reveal the personalities of his characters. In narrative technique, he excelled at balancing brevity and detail, making the text highly engaging and dramatic. Additionally, Shiji incorporates a wealth of folk language, giving the characters' speech a lifelike and authentic touch.
These achievements cemented Shiji as a cornerstone of ancient Chinese literature, offering endless inspiration and profound influence to later generations.
After its completion, Shiji was not immediately published. It remained in circulation for many years after Sima Qian's death, when his grandson Yang Yun made it available for copying. Subsequently, Shiji became a must-read for historians and ensured Sima Qian's legacy would endure through the ages.