First, don't blame Sima Qian for not recording the Xia and Shang Dynasties in detail. Historical Records was written around 100 BC, and 2000 years have passed since the establishment of the Xia Dynasty around 2070 BC. The Shang Dynasty, which started around 1600 BC, has been 1500 years now. Moreover, it was in that era when civilization was not very developed. After Qin Shihuang's "burning books to bury Confucianism", the life of the old Sima was quite difficult.
Second, don't take a contemptuous attitude towards historical records, which can only disprove your shallowness. Almost all serious ancient historians and today's scholars have given extremely high evaluation to Historical Records-including Xia Benji and Yin Benji.
Space is limited, and the history of Shang Dynasty is clearer. Let's focus on Yin Benji in Historical Records to see what historical materials Sima Qian relied on.
Yin Benji is of great value for studying the history of Shang Dynasty.
20 1 1, as an important achievement of the Library of China Academy of Social Sciences. Historical Archaeological Research Series ",the volume 1 1 edited by Mr. Song Zhenhao was officially published. This 7 million-word dynastic history fills the gap in the ancient history of China and is a very important pioneering work.
The second volume of this book, edited by Han Jiangsu and Jiang, is a revision and supplement to Yin Benji and Shang Historical Figures. Two authors, there is a very important passage at the beginning, which is quoted as follows-
"From the perspective of historical materials, we have very rich materials to study the history of the Shang Dynasty today, not only the handed down documents supplemented and accumulated by historians of past dynasties, but also a large number of underground materials discovered by archaeologists in the 20th century. Among all these materials, the most fundamental and important is Sima Qian's Historical Records Yin Benji. This is not only because Yin Benji was produced around 100 BC, reflecting its early time; It is not only because Yin Benji takes the lineage as the time coordinate, and takes the princes of Yin Dynasty as the narrative center, and traces the history of merchants from the pre-Shang period to the whole Shang Dynasty about 1000 years, which reflects the integrity of its system; More importantly, when Sima Qian wrote Yin Benji, the originality of the materials used and the fairness of historical events made it have a considerable degree of objective reliability. The systematic integrity of Yin Benji provides a framework for us to construct the history of Shang Dynasty, and its objective reliability makes it possible for us to restore a true history of Shang Dynasty. Yin Benji, like the Five Emperors Benji, Xia Benji and Zhou Benji, has such an important historical value, which is related to the subjective and objective factors when Sima Qian wrote Historical Records. "
This is the accurate evaluation of top professional scholars.
On Sima Qian's family studies and teacher studies.
Sima Qian's ancestor was Zhuan Xu, one of the five emperors in charge of astronomy and geography. After four generations of Tang, Yu, Xia and Shang dynasties, Li Zhong was a celestial official and a historian. In the Zhou Dynasty, a member of the Li family was appointed Sima and given the surname Sima. When Sima Shi was in Zhou Xuanwang, he inherited the tradition of his ancestors and became a historian. Sima Qian's father, Sima Tan, was an official of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Sima Tan's teachers were Tang Dou, a famous astronomer in the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Yang He, a famous Yi-ology scholar at that time, and Huang Sheng, a Taoist. Thus, Sima Tan formed his own systematic understanding of pre-Qin scholarship and wrote Six Essentials.
Sima Qian's later achievements are closely related to Sima Tan's history tutor.
Sima Qian began to learn classical Chinese at the age of ten. The so-called "ancient prose" refers not only to reading ancient prose, but also to reading pre-Qin classics written in ancient prose. Learn from China's classic master Kong Anguo. Learn "Ram Spring and Autumn" from Dong Zhongshu, a master of Confucian classics. Dong Zhongshu's Spring and Autumn Annals of Yang Gong advocated the idea of unification, which had a great influence on Sima Qian's writing Historical Records.
Such family learning and learning from teachers have enabled Sima Qian to accumulate rich historical literacy and knowledge since childhood, which has laid a solid academic foundation for his compilation of Historical Records in the future.
On the original reliability of the historical materials of Yin Benji.
Sima Qian read through the pre-Qin classics and integrated the pre-Qin ancient books and documents, which ensured the original reliability of the historical materials of the Yin Dynasty.
In the third year (BC 108), Yuan Feng took the post of stepfather and served as Taishiling, which gave him more opportunities to visit the Royal Atlas. After the efforts of the early Western Han Dynasty, by the time of Sima Qian, the royal books and materials were already very rich. In the fourth year of filial piety, the court ordered the lifting of calligraphy, and wall officials appeared one after another. When he was Emperor Wen, he opened up the road of offering books and established the status of a doctor. When I arrived at Jingdi and Wudi, it was already Baiyue; Hejian Wang and Duke Lu are famous all over the world for their good books and seeking talents.
Sima Qian said in the preface to Historical Records. Taishigong: "Han Xing, Xiao He's second law, Han Xin's application for military law, Zhang Cang's articles of association, uncle Sun Li, literature slightly advanced, poetry and books often appear." Self-recommendation, Jia Sheng, Chao Cuo, Shang, and publicity of Confucianism, for a hundred years, the world heritage has not been completed, and Taishigong "-all gathered in Sima Qian. He said, "Move to Taishiling? Historical Records of the Golden Chamber. As a result, "the ancient things left by the world will never be completed." Tai Shigong continued to be a father and son. "
This unique condition enabled Sima Qian to read more books in the world and master the ancient books handed down from the pre-Qin dynasty. It is on this basis that Sima Qian was able to collect, integrate and classify the ancient books handed down from the pre-Qin period when compiling Historical Records, thus comprehensively reflecting the history of ancient civilization around 2500 years since the Five Emperors. Sima Qian himself mentioned the main classics he wrote in Historical Records-
1, Classic of Six Classics.
Preface to Taishi Gong said: Historical records are Taishi Gong Shu, with 130 articles and 516,500 words. Preface, supplemented by art, has become a family story. The "Six Classics" are different and there are hundreds of miscellaneous words. "-Generally speaking, Historical Records is based on the Six Classics and other ancient books.
"Ode to Confucius" said: "It is the most sacred for China to compromise with Confucius." -that is to say, the similarities and differences between classics should be handled according to Confucius' compromise method.
"Biography of Five Emperors" said: "Scholars call it the Five Emperors, which is still acceptable. However, because Shangshu was published separately; However, a hundred schools of thought contend about the Yellow Emperor, and it is hard to recommend Mr. Jian Shen because of his indecent writing and gentle manner. Confucius' Biography of Zaiyu asks about the virtues of the five emperors and the surname of the royal family, but Confucianism may not pass it on. ..... Guan Yu's "Spring and Autumn Annals" and "Mandarin", their inventions are five emperors' virtues and royal surnames, both of which are true. The book is limited in space, and I always see their anecdotes in what he says. ..... I will discuss the times and choose the one with elegant words, so it is the first book in this chronicle. " -This is the documentary basis of Biography of Five Emperors.
Xia Benji praised: "When Confucius was in the summer, scholars passed on the cloud of Xia Zhengxiao." -He thinks Xia is a reference document.
Yin Benji praised: "I take Fu as the second deed, make my own soup, take books and write poems." -that is to say, the ancestor of the merchant is the contract, which is credible.
"The Preface of Three Generations in the World" said: "I have read the secret agent, and it has been years since the Yellow Emperor. The history of espionage began with the spread of five virtues, and the ancient prose is different and different. " -He thinks that some chronologies of the Five Emperors and Three Generations in many ancient books are not credible, so they are not included in his historical records.
2. A book in which a hundred schools of thought contend.
The Biography of Yan Guan said: "I have read Guan's Herdsmen, Mountain Heights, Riding Horses, Light and Heavy, Nine Rooms, and Spring and Autumn Annals of Yan Zi. Seeing that he wrote a book and wanted to see his actions, he passed it on. "
The Biography of Sun Tzu's Art of War and Wuqi said: "All the teachers and brigades mentioned in the world are based on Thirteen Articles of Sun Tzu's Art of War and Wuqi, so there are countless people in the world, so it is necessary to discuss them and who did them."
Biography of Sima Yi said: "Since there are many Art of War in the world, I will write a biography of Sima Yi for whatever reason."
Preface to Taishi Gong says, "Sima Fa still exists, but Taishi Gong, Sun, Wu and Prince can explain it."
Biography and praise Shang Jun said: "I have read Shang Jun's books Kaiser and Ploughing War."
The Biography of Mencius and Xunqing said: "(Mencius) retired his disciples from Zhang Wan, prefaced his poems and narrated Zhong Ni's meaning, and wrote seven pieces of Mencius. ... Xun Qing, Zhao Ren ... So his actions to promote Confucianism and Mohism rose and fell, and tens of thousands of words died. "
This refers to the books on which a hundred schools of thought contend, and means that he will no longer introduce or quote common books in the world.
3, history, geography and other books.
"Preface to the Chronicle of Twelve Governors" says: "Taishi Gong reads the Spring and Autumn Period."
"Ode to the Great Wan Biography" said: "According to this discipline, the river flows out of Kunlun. ..... I dare not say anything about the monsters in Yu Benji and Shan Hai Jing. "
The Preface to the Chronicle of Twelve Governors said: "Duojiao is a biography of Chu Weiwang. Because Wang couldn't read the Spring and Autumn Annals, he died of success or failure for 40 chapters, which is called" much trouble ". When Zhao became king, his colleague Yu Qing adopted Spring and Autumn Annals. He also wrote eight articles according to the situation, namely Yu's Spring and Autumn Annals. "
"Preface to the Chronology of Six Countries" said: "Taishi Gong read Ji Qin." Preface to the Scholars says, "I must read Gong Ling."
This is part of the historical and geographical classics he relies on.
About Sima Qian's writing Historical Records and drawing lessons from pre-Qin classics, the explanations of Hanshu and Houhanshu are roughly the same.
Hanshu? Sima Qian said, "Therefore, Sima Qian described the Spring and Autumn Period of Chu and Han Dynasties with Zuo's Family and the National Danger, Shi Ben and the Warring States Policy ... He learned the classics, galloped through the ancient and modern times, and worked hard for thousands of years."
"Once"? "Biography of Ban Biao" said: "In the filial piety era, Taishi ordered Sima Qian to adopt Zuo's family, the country's land, and delete the family history and the Warring States policy. According to the current events of Chu and Han, from the Yellow Emperor to the next one, he made stone foundations, Shi Jia, biographies, books and watches.
The duty of a historian is to "record" and "seek faith". Sima Qian wrote historical records, boasting "truthfulness" and "neatness". The fundamental reason why Historical Records became a masterpiece in China's history is that he adopted the classics of the Six Classics and the pre-Qin philosophers in the spirit of "recording". There are more than 100 kinds of pre-Qin ancient books quoted in Historical Records, including more than 20 kinds of books about Six Classics and Legends, more than 50 kinds of books about a hundred schools of thought contend, more than 20 kinds of books about history and geography, and nearly 10 kinds of books about literature and art. ..
Specifically, when Sima Qian wrote Historical Records, the materials mainly came from Biography of Six Arts. The Chronicle of the Five Emperors almost completely adopted the Yao and Shun Dian in Shangshu, as well as the virtues of the five Emperors and the royal family name in Li Ji in the Great Generation. Xia Benji completely adopted Xia from Shangshu, Mo, Yiji, Shi Gan and Dai Ji. Yin Benji and Song both include Shangshi, Hong Fan, Pan Geng, Gaozong, and Ode to Wei Zi and Shang Dynasty in the Book of Songs. Zhou Benji and Lu Shijia adopt the whole articles of Elegance, Xiaoya, Zhou Song and Truffle in The Book of Songs, and the pastoral vows and Jin Huan in Shangshu. Part or part of the effects of Wuyi, Luxing, Feishi, Tofu and Gu Ming.
On the authenticity of the narrative in Yin Benji.
In order to compile Historical Records, Sima Qian not only made full use of the convenience of Taishigong's position, but also traveled around the world, made on-the-spot investigations, and confirmed the living materials obtained from the investigations with handed down documents, which enhanced the authenticity of the historical events described in Historical Records.
He used to "go to meetings, explore caves, spy on nine doubts" and "float in yuan and Xiang"; And traveled around the world with Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty many times; He was also invited to travel to the southwest.
There are many specific records about field trips in Historical Records-
The Chronicle of the Five Emperors said: "The west tasted Kongtong, the north crossed Zhuolu, the east gradually entered the sea, and the south drifted into Jianghuai. For this reason, the elders are often called Huangdi and Yaoshun, and the wind is solid. "
"Zhou Benji" said: "Scholars all say that Zhou cut Zhou and lived in Luoyi, but this is not the case in general. In the camp of King Wu, the successful king made Zhao Gong live in Jiuding, while Zhou Fu was rich and pickaxe. The dog defeated the king, and Zhou Naidong moved to Luoyi. The so-called' Duke Zhou's burial' is in Du Zhong, southeast Fujian. "
"Biography and Zan" said: "I have tasted Xue, and its vulgarity rate is better than Zou and Lu Shu. Asked why, he said,' Meng Changjun attracted Ren Xia all over the world, and traitors built more than 60 thousand houses in the snow.' The legend of Meng Changjun's hospitality is self-satisfied and worthy of the name. "
"Wei Jiasong" said: "I was in the girder market, and people in the market said,' Qin broke the girder and led it to irrigate. In March, the city was broken, the king asked for surrender, and Wei was destroyed. "All the speakers said that Wei doesn't have to believe that the country is weakened and dead, but I don't think so."
"Confucius' Family Expenses" says: "When you are in Shandong, when you look at the cars, clothes and ritual vessels of the temple, all the students will pay tribute to their homes, and the rest will stay there, and you can't go to the clouds. "
"Huai Yin Hou Chuan Zan" said: "I am like Huaiyin, and Huaiyin is a myth. Although Han Xin is dressed in cloth, he has different ambitions. His mother died, and he was poor and had no place to be buried. However, he ran a high camp so that he could buy thousands of houses nearby. I see my mother's grave, which is quite good. "
Through these on-the-spot investigations, Sima Qian "coordinated" and "arranged" with handed down documents and hearsay materials, and finally wrote Historical Records. Therefore, Jiangsu and Jiang said in the Han Dynasty-"Therefore, the historical authenticity and reliability of the book Historical Records are not comparable to the historical books formed by ordinary book cities." Professor Sun, deputy director of Peking University Institute of Archaeology, also spoke highly of Xia Benji. Limited to space, I won't go into details. You can refer to his book The Story of Fu Zhai Yu.
Of course, it can't be said that Historical Records has no shortcomings-one is that Qin Shihuang "burned books", which made countless classics disappear, and the old Sima "a clever woman can't cook without rice"; Secondly, influenced by Confucianism, he tends to abandon some historical materials that are not "elegant", which leads to a deviation from historical facts, such as Wang Hailu of Shang Dynasty. But this is, after all, a flaw in white jade.