Shiji -- Basic Collection of Chinese Family Classics

Author: Cui Fanzhi (Editor and Compiler)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: This book selects and compiles 16 chapters from the Records of the Grand Historian, with longer chapters summarized. The selection and compilation follow two principles. , it ensures the inclusion of all five styles of the Records of the Grand Historian: the Annals (Bingshi), Tables (Biao), Treatises (Shu), Genealogies (Shijia), and Biographies (Liezhuan), to showcase the original structure of the work. Among these, the Biographies constitute a significant portion of the original text, reflecting a broad social scope and demonstrating the author's concern for the entire society. Therefore, the selected Biographies account for two-thirds of the book, aligning with the original arrangement. Additionally, to help readers better understand the Records of the Grand Historian and its author, Sima Qian, an annotated version of Sima Qian's "Letter to Ren An" from the Book of Han·Biography of Sima Qian is included in the appendix, along with an overview of the Records of the Grand Historian editions and a reference list of scholarly works on the Records of the Grand Historian since the 20th century, enabling readers to access more information about the work. Second, the annotations aim to be accessible to both scholars and general readers. Explanations of ancient institutions and customs are provided to facilitate understanding of ancient society. Difficult passages are clarified in plain language, with annotation numbers placed at the end of sentences to avoid disrupting the flow of the text.