Historical Records

Author: Sima Qian
Publisher: China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Press
Publication Date: Not Available
Features: The Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji) is a monumental historical work in China's (jìzhuàntǐ - biographical and chronological narrative) style, comprising over 500,000 words. It records the history of China from the legendary Yellow Emperor in ancient times to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, covering approximately 3,000 years. It comprehensively details politics, military affairs, economy, society, culture, arts, astronomy, calendar systems, geography, customs, and more. Its historical narrative spans the breadth of time and covers all aspects of human experience. The work is characterized by its thoroughness in historical records, insightful commentary, vivid storytelling, and distinct portrayal of characters, making it a classic and profoundly influential masterpiece across both academia and literature.
Sima Qian, styled Zichang, was a native of Xiayang in the Commandery of Xianyang (present-day Hancheng, Shaanxi Province), during the reign of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty (born in the third year of the Zhongyuan era, 145 BCE). He passed away around the late years of Emperor Wu. Hailing from a family of historians, Sima Qian was a polymath who read extensively and traveled widely in his youth, studying the legacies of his predecessors. He served as the Grand Historian, inheriting his father's (yízhì - legacy) to compile The Records of the Grand Historian. After suffering persecution due to Li Ling's rebellion, he channeled his frustration into writing, demonstrating extraordinary perseverance to complete this monumental work.
The content of The Records of the Grand Historian is primarily divided into the following sections:
- Basic Annals (): Twelve chapters outline the major historical events and processes, aiming to trace origins and endings, observe the rise and fall of dynasties, and articulate the grand narrative of prosperity and decline.
- Tables (): Ten chapters organize historical events chronologically in genealogical tables.
- Treatises (): Eight chapters classify and record the development of various institutions and systems, serving as specialized histories of governance and traditions.
- Hereditary Houses (): Thirty chapters detail the histories of feudal lords and their relationships with imperial dynasties, as well as influential figures with unique historical status and contributions.
- Biographies (): Seventy chapters chronicle the lives of outstanding individuals across all social strata who upheld righteousness, seized opportunities, and achieved fame through their deeds.