The first source is books. Sima Qian adopted various ancient books before the Han Dynasty. Confucian classics, mandarin, national policy, Chu and Han dynasties, philosophers and Sao Fu are all important sources of his history writing. He made a clear explanation in many chapters of Historical Records. For example, the "Three Generations World Table" said, "I have read the biography of spies, and it has been several years since the Yellow Emperor's time ... so the five emperors are spies and the ministers are the best in the world"; The Chronology of Six Kingdoms says that "Tai Shigong read Ji Qin until the dog defeated the king"; The Biography of Yan Guan says, "I have read Herdsmen, Mountain Heights, Riding Horses, Light and Heavy, Jiu Fu and Yan Zi Chun Qiu". The Biography of Si Mazhao said, "I have read the Art of War of Sima, which has far-reaching influence. Although it has conquered three generations, it has failed to achieve its meaning "; The Chronicle of Twelve Governors says that "Tai Shigong went to Zhou Liwang to study the Spring and Autumn Period"; In the biography of the five emperors, it is said that "the Spring and Autumn Annals and Mandarin"; The Biography of Qu Yuan and Jia Sheng says that we should read Li Sao, Tian Wen, Evocation, Mourning for the Past and so on. All these show that Sima Qian collected and made full use of the books and materials available at that time to write.
The second source is archives. Sima Shi is a historian, and Sima Tan is a Taishi Gong. Later Sima Qian succeeded to the throne. Therefore, the archives of the early Han Dynasty, such as imperial edicts and merit books, can be seen and can be used as materials for writing history. This can also be proved in historical records. For example, in the Chronology of Hui Jing, it is said that "Taishi Gong reads the column and seals it until it is convenient to wait"; Chronology of Heroes of the Great Emperor says, "Reading heroes of the Great Emperor, testing their first letters, so they are lost"; "The Scholars" said, "I want to study hard, as for the road to learning officials" and so on.
The third source is knowledge. Historical events in Qin and Han dynasties are modern history for Sima Qian. There was a lack of records at that time, so it all depended on experience. For example, in the praise of "Biography of Xiang Yu", "I heard that Zhou Sheng said that' the eyes are covered with heavy pupils', and I also heard that Xiang Yu is also heavy pupils"; "Zhao Shijia praised," I heard from Feng Wangsun:' Wang Zhaoqian, his mother advocated ...' " Biography of the Assassin praised "Gong Sunji, Dong Sheng and Xia Innocent for traveling, knowing what happened is the only way for the rest"; The Biography of General Wei Biao Qi said "Su Yue" ... "It will be like this" and "Preface to Taishi Gong" said, "I heard from Dong Sheng; When Zhou Dao declined, Confucius said ...' ".This is what I heard. "Biography of General Lee said," I think General Lee is too modest to say anything "; "Biography of the Ranger" said, "I think Guo Jie is not as good-looking as people and lacks words." This is based on what you see. "Biography of Zhang Shizhi and Feng Tang" said that Tang Zifeng hence "the word Wang Sun, also a strange man, and Yushan" and "Biography of Li Sheng Lu Jia" said that "a gentleman is on the plain and on the mountain because of his merits"; "Shu Tian Chuan" said that Shu Tian's youngest son "is kind and kind, and the rest are the same. "This is because of making friends. These materials obtained from experiences and friends not only increase the sources of historical materials, but also enhance the authenticity of the contents of Historical Records.
The fourth source is travel. In order to write historical records, Sima Qian once traveled all over famous mountains and rivers, looking for historical sites. For example, the Chronicle of the Five Emperors says, "Taste the west to Kongtong, the north to Zhuolu, the east to the sea, and the south to Jianghuai"; In the book Hequ, I said "Yu Shan" and "Biography of Wei Gongzi" said "I passed the market of girders"; The Biography of Qu Yuan and Jia Sheng says that "Yu ... is suitable for Changsha" and the Biography of Tortoise says that "I went to the south of the Yangtze River"; "Huaiyin Houzhuan" said "I am like Huaiyin"; "Biography of Boyi" said "Jishan Mountain in Deng Yu" and "Biography of Meng Tian" said, "I live in the north, ... and see Mengtian build the Great Wall for Qin" and so on. These reflect that he almost traveled all over the country, and also show the close relationship between his traveling around the world and writing historical records.
Historical materials in Historical Records are very rich, but in terms of various historical periods, the amount of historical materials is very uneven. There were omissions before the Spring and Autumn Period; Spring and Autumn Period, Warring States Period and Qin Dynasty are more detailed; It records the history of about 100 years after the establishment of the Han Dynasty in detail, with the most space. In other words, the closer the times are, the more material there is. Sima Qian lamented the lack of ancient historical documents at that time. Liu Zhiji said in the article "Shi Tong Narrative": "The narrative of Guan Zichang has passed at the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty, so it is inappropriate to say it. Its text is wide and short, without complex system; Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, it has been coherent, impressive and well-deserved. " This comment is correct, but this situation is caused by Sima Qian's lack of materials to write history, so we naturally can't make things difficult for him.
Historical materials of Historical Records are very rich, and their sources can be divided into four aspects:
The first source is books. Sima Qian adopted various ancient books before the Han Dynasty. Confucian classics, mandarin, national policy, Chu and Han dynasties, philosophers and Sao Fu are all important sources of his history writing. He made a clear explanation in many chapters of Historical Records. For example, the "Three Generations World Table" said, "I have read the biography of spies, and it has been several years since the Yellow Emperor's time ... so the five emperors are spies and the ministers are the best in the world"; The Chronicle of Six Kingdoms says that "Tai Shigong read Ji Qin until the dog was defeated by the king"; The Biography of Yan Guan says, "I have read Herdsmen, Mountain Heights, Riding Horses, Light and Heavy, Jiu Fu and Yan Zi Chun Qiu". The Biography of Si Mazhao said, "I have read the Art of War of Sima, which has far-reaching influence. Although it has conquered three generations, it has failed to achieve its meaning "; The Chronicle of Twelve Governors says that "Tai Shigong went to Zhou Liwang to study the Spring and Autumn Period"; In the biography of the five emperors, it is said that "the Spring and Autumn Annals and Mandarin"; The Biography of Qu Yuan and Jia Sheng says that we should read Li Sao, Tian Wen, Evocation, Mourning for the Past and so on. All these show that Sima Qian collected and made full use of the books and materials available at that time to write.
The second source is archives. Sima Shi is a historian, and Sima Tan is a Taishi Gong. Later Sima Qian succeeded to the throne. Therefore, the archives of the early Han Dynasty, such as imperial edicts and merit books, can be seen and can be used as materials for writing history. This can also be proved in historical records. For example, in the Chronology of Hui Jing, it is said that "Taishi Gong reads the column and seals it until it is convenient to wait"; Chronology of Heroes of the Great Emperor says, "Reading heroes of the Great Emperor, testing their first letters, so they are lost"; "The Scholars" said, "I want to study hard, as for the road to learning officials" and so on.
The third source is knowledge. Historical events in Qin and Han dynasties are modern history for Sima Qian. There was a lack of records at that time, so it all depended on experience. For example, in the praise of "Biography of Xiang Yu", "I heard that Zhou Sheng said that' the eyes are covered with heavy pupils', and I also heard that Xiang Yu is also heavy pupils"; "Zhao Shijia praised," I heard from Feng Wangsun:' Wang Zhaoqian, his mother advocated ...' " Biography of the Assassin praised "Gong Sunji, Dong Sheng and Xia Innocent for traveling, knowing what happened is the only way for the rest"; The Biography of General Wei Biao Qi said "Su Yue" ... "It will be like this" and "Preface to Taishi Gong" said, "I heard from Dong Sheng; When Zhou Dao declined, Confucius said ...' ".This is what I heard. "Biography of General Lee said," I think General Lee is too modest to say anything "; "Biography of the Ranger" said, "I think Guo Jie is not as good-looking as people and lacks words." This is based on what you see. "Biography of Zhang Shizhi and Feng Tang" said that Tang Zifeng hence "the word Wang Sun, also a strange man, and Yushan" and "Biography of Li Sheng Lu Jia" said that "a gentleman is on the plain and on the mountain because of his merits"; "Shu Tian Chuan" said that Shu Tian's youngest son "is kind and kind, and the rest are the same. "This is because of making friends. These materials obtained from experiences and friends not only increase the sources of historical materials, but also enhance the authenticity of the contents of Historical Records.
The fourth source is travel. In order to write historical records, Sima Qian once traveled all over famous mountains and rivers, looking for historical sites. For example, the Chronicle of the Five Emperors says, "Taste the west to Kongtong, the north to Zhuolu, the east to the sea, and the south to Jianghuai"; In the book Hequ, I said "Yu Shan" and "Biography of Wei Gongzi" said "I passed the market of girders"; The Biography of Qu Yuan and Jia Sheng says that "Yu ... is suitable for Changsha" and the Biography of Tortoise says that "I went to the south of the Yangtze River"; "Huaiyin Houzhuan" said "I am like Huaiyin"; "Biography of Boyi" said "Jishan Mountain in Deng Yu" and "Biography of Meng Tian" said, "I live in the north, ... and see Mengtian build the Great Wall for Qin" and so on. These reflect that he almost traveled all over the country, and also show the close relationship between his traveling around the world and writing historical records.
Historical materials in Historical Records are very rich, but in terms of various historical periods, the amount of historical materials is very uneven. There were omissions before the Spring and Autumn Period; Spring and Autumn Period, Warring States Period and Qin Dynasty are more detailed; It records the history of about 100 years after the establishment of the Han Dynasty in detail, with the most space. In other words, the closer the times are, the more material there is. Sima Qian lamented the lack of ancient historical documents at that time. Liu Zhiji said in the article "Shi Tong Narrative": "The narrative of Guan Zichang has passed at the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty, so it is inappropriate to say it. Its text is wide and short, without complex system; Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, it has been coherent, impressive and well-deserved. " This comment is correct, but this situation is caused by Sima Qian's lack of materials to write history, so we naturally can't make things difficult for him.
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