Sima Qian, born in Longmen (now Lintong District, Xi, Shaanxi Province), is a famous historian and historian in ancient China. He is known as "the historian never sings, and Li Sao has no rhyme". He lived in the period of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, and served as an official in charge of sorting out and compiling national history. Sima Qian inherited his family studies and his father's business, and devoted his life to creating the great historical work Historical Records.
Historical Records is the first biographical general history of China in ancient times, with a book 130 volumes, which is divided into four parts: biography, books, family and biography. It records the history from the legendary Huangdi era to the Western Han Dynasty Wudi period, with a history of more than 3,000 years. When Sima Qian wrote Historical Records, he insisted on the principle of objectivity and truth and tried to restore the original appearance of history. He extensively collected information, interviewed folk customs, consulted ancient books and documents, described historical events in detail, and made historical records with great historical and literary value.
Sima Qian not only made outstanding achievements in the field of historical research, but also was an outstanding writer. He used rich literary techniques in Historical Records, such as lyricism, description and dialogue, which made boring historical events vivid and readable. In addition, Historical Records also shows Sima Qian's profound philosophical thoughts, and deeply discusses historical laws, life values, social ethics and other issues.
In a word, Sima Qian was an outstanding historian and writer in ancient China. With a rigorous historical attitude, unique literary style and profound philosophical thoughts, he created the historical masterpiece Historical Records handed down from generation to generation. Sima Qian's life and contribution to history made him a brilliant figure in the history of Chinese historiography, which will go down in history forever.
Sima Qian's Early Experience
Sima Qian was born in a well-off family in Longmen, Yellow River during the period of Emperor Wu of Jin Dynasty (the year of birth and death is controversial, see Debate on Characters). Sima Qian's grandfather Sima Xi, under the policy that Emperor China had the title of chestnut rice, exchanged 4,000 chestnut rice for the title of nine and five people. As real minions, the whole family had to be forced to serve.
Young Sima Qian studied calligraphy under the guidance of his father Sima Tan. At the age of ten, he was able to read and recite China's ancient books such as Shangshu, Zuozhuan, Guoyu and Jieben. In the first year of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Sima Tan took Chang 'an, the capital of the Han Dynasty, as the official post, while Sima Qian stayed in Longmen, his hometown, studying hard and continuing his agriculture, reading and animal husbandry.
The above contents refer to Baidu Encyclopedia-Sima Qian.