Historians and writers of the Western Han Dynasty. Zichang, Zuo Fengyi, was born in xia yang (now southwest of Hancheng, Shaanxi). Born in the fifth year of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty (BC 145), born in the sixth year of Emperor Jian Yuan of the Han Dynasty (BC 135), the date of death is unknown. Sima Qian 10 years old began to study ancient literature biographies. During Yuan Guang and Yuan Shuo of Han Dynasty, he studied under the modern writer Dong Zhongshu's "The Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ram" and the ancient prose writer Kong Anguo. At the age of 20, he roamed south from Chang 'an, the capital, and traveled all over the Jianghuai Valley and the Central Plains, where he visited local customs and collected legends. Soon, he became a doctor, bodyguard and retinue of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and accompanied him to the Western Seas many times, and sent envoys to Bashu. In the third year of Yuanfeng (BC 108), Sima Tan, the stepfather of Sima Qian, was the official of Taishi, in charge of astronomical calendar and royal atlas, so it depends on the books collected by historians. In the first year of Taichu (before 104), he, Luo and others customized calendars to replace the Zhuan Xu calendar inherited by Qin, and the new calendar adapted to the needs of the society at that time. From then on, Sima Qian began to write historical records. Later, he was convicted, imprisoned and rotted for defending Li Ling who surrendered to Xiongnu.

After he was released from prison, he worked as a secretary, continued to write angrily, and finally finished the writing of Historical Records. People call his book Taishi Gongshu. It is the first biography of China, which has a far-reaching influence on later historiography. Historical Records is an excellent literary work with vivid language and vivid image. Sima Qian also wrote a book, Bao Ren 'an, describing his imprisonment and his ambition to write a book, which was praised by all previous dynasties.

Famous saying: people are inherently mortal, either heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather.

Sima Qian (BC 145-90) was a great historian and writer in the Western Han Dynasty in China. Historical Records is China's first biographical general history, and it is called "the historian's swan song, Li Sao has no rhyme" (Lu Xun, Republic of China). In the second year of Tianhan (the first 99 years), Li Ling went to the Xiongnu and was defeated and captured. Sima Qian said a few words of explanation for Li Ling, which angered Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and threw him into prison. The following year, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty killed Li Ling's family and sentenced Sima Qian to castration. Castration is a great shame and pollutes ancestors, so meet friends and relatives. Sima Qian was humiliated in prison. "Hand in hand, tied by a wooden rope, exposed skin, tied by a list, living in seclusion in the wall. At this time, when I saw the jailer, I grabbed the land. When I saw the apprentice, I was anxious. " (Sima Qian's Bao Ren An Shu) almost ruined his life. He wanted to die, but he thought of his long-cherished wish of collecting information and writing a history book for many years. Therefore, in order to complete the writing of Historical Records, he put up with humiliation and drag out an ignoble existence, hoping for a chance.

In the first year of Taishi (96 BC), Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty changed to the Yuan Dynasty and granted amnesty to the world. Sima Qian was 50 years old at this time. After he got out of prison, he became a secretary. In the eyes of others, he may be "pampered", but he still devotes himself to writing his book. Until the book was completed in Zheng He's second year (9 1 year ago), * * * got 130 articles, with more than 520,000 words.