Lu Xun evaluated "Historical Records" as "the swansong of historians, a rhymeless lissao". Mr. Lu Xun probably evaluated it from two aspects: its historical value and literary value. The "historian's swan song" refers to its historical value, and the "unrhymeless lisao" refers to the literary value of "Historical Records".
The evaluation of "History's Final Song" is already quite high. The word "swan song" means the one that has never been released before, that is, the only one. Not only because "Historical Records" pioneered the theme of biographical general history. Anyone who reads history will have a similar experience: history cannot be studied, and therefore it is unrecognizable due to the passage of time. Although there are many documents that write about history, it is difficult to avoid that most of the historical records are either obscure or boring.
Sima Qian's "Historical Records" is easier to understand than the "Five Classics", and it clarifies the difficulties in the "Five Classics". If the "Five Classics" are not understood, there will be relevant parts in the "Historical Records" Help sorting and understanding. This is because Sima Qian read a lot of books before writing the book and personally researched the characters or events. Therefore, a "Historical Records" can not only be read as history, but also a summary of complicated ancient books. Among them, "Historical Records" uses the right words when describing a period of history or characters, so that readers will not feel that history is just an event. Therefore, when Sima Qian wrote "Historical Records", he did something that his predecessors failed to do when writing history, and records are more important than truth.
Liang Qichao also said: "The biographies of later generations mostly borrowed history to pass on people; the biographies of "Historical Records" only borrowed people to make history clear. Therefore, people who have little relationship with society are not limited to politics. All undertakings related to various parts of society are represented by legends. In terms of writing, each person described can bring his face to life. "There is a basis for calling "Historical Records" the "song of historians". "Historical Records" has been translated into English, French, Japanese, Russian and other languages ??and widely disseminated. In 1955, the Soviet scientific community honored Sima Qian as a "world cultural great" and solemnly commemorated the 2100th anniversary of his birth. Soviet historians compared Sima Qian to Herodotus, known as the "Father of History" in Europe. Its immortality has passed the test of time and has the inheritance of civilization.
The "Historical Records" is called "Li Sao without rhyme", and its literary value is even more worthy of consideration.
"Chu Ci" is the work of Qu Yuan and other writers from Chu during the Warring States Period. "Li Sao" is the representative of Chu Ci. Regarding the title, Sima Qian explained it as "Li You" in "Historical Records: Biography of Qu Yuan". "Li Sao" has a strong lyricism in literature and is mostly written in the Chu dialect. The same is true for Sima Qian's "Historical Records". He uses the language of the times to depict the characters and characteristics of historical figures vividly and concisely. The biographies in "Historical Records" include characters and storylines, which are concise, vivid, and lifelike. Some characters and stories have been passed down to this day. Sima Qian pushed ancient Chinese prose to a new and unattainable peak. Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan, Ouyang Xiu, Su Shi, Gui Youguang, etc., they took "Historical Records" as a model, opposed writing styles with various bad tendencies, and promoted the ancient literary innovation movement they advocated. As for Tai Shigong's "writing style", the momentum and charm of his articles, etc., they are the focus of future generations of authors to figure out and imitate. Many writers since the Han Dynasty have received useful inspiration from "Historical Records", and biographical literature and even novels have been directly or indirectly influenced by "Historical Records". It has played a huge role in the formation of the traditional style of Chinese classical novels.
In addition, I think that the temperaments of Sima Qian and Qu Yuan are also similar. They are all loyal to their true nature, persistent in their ideals, and believe in justice. Sima Qian can argue for General Li Ling, whom he has never met, while Qu Yuan also disdains being associated with villains. The personal charm they display is also an important reason why their writings are so vivid.
Sima Qian quoted Liu An's "Li Sao Biography" in "Historical Records: Biography of Qu Yuan" and said: "Qu Pingji, the king of Ji, is not wise when he hears it, and the frame-up obscures the light, and the evil song harms the public, and the founder is upright. It was unacceptable, so he wrote "Li Sao" out of sorrow and meditation." He also said: "Qu Yuan followed the right path, devoted his loyalty and wisdom to serving his king, and slandered the world. No regrets? Qu Ping's "Li Sao" is based on self-pity." Therefore, Sima Qian's understanding of Qu Yuan is also consistent with his own personal feelings.
Sima Qian's "Historical Records" has the author's spirit of recording history and his true emotions of "expressing emotions with anger". It must be worthy of the title of "historian's swan song and rhymeless lisao"!