1. Historical Records:

"Historical Records" is a biographical history book written by the Western Han Dynasty historian Sima Qian. It is the first biographical general history in Chinese history, recording the legendary Yellow Emperor up to ancient times. era, down to the fourth year of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, a history of more than 3,000 years. In the first year of Taichu (104 BC), Sima Qian began the creation of "Tai Shi Gong Shu", which was later called "Historical Records". It took 14 years to complete.

The whole book of "Historical Records" includes twelve chronicles (recording the achievements of emperors of the past dynasties), thirty families (recording the rise and fall of vassal states and Han Dynasty princes, nobles and nobles), and seventy biographies (recording the words and deeds of important figures, mainly Narrating Ren Chen (the last one is a preface), Shi Biao (chronology of major events), Eight Books (recording various laws and regulations, etiquette, music, rhythm, calendar, astronomy, Zen, water conservancy, and financial use), *** One hundred and thirty articles, more than 526,500 words. ?

"Historical Records" is listed as the first of the "Twenty-Four Histories", and together with the later "Hanshu", "Later Hanshu" and "Three Kingdoms", they are collectively known as the "First Four Histories", which plays an important role in later historiography and literature. development has had a profound impact. His pioneering method of chronicling historiography was passed down by the "official histories" of subsequent dynasties.

"Historical Records" is also considered an excellent literary work, playing an important role in the history of Chinese literature. It was praised by Lu Xun as "the swan song of historians, the unrhymed "Li Sao"", and has a high reputation. literary value. Liu Xiang and others believe that this book is "good at explaining things, argumentative but not flashy, and quality but not slang".

2. Sima Qian:

Zichang, a native of Xia Yang (now south of Hancheng, Shaanxi). Historian and essayist of the Western Han Dynasty. Sima Tan's son was appointed Taishi Ling. He was castrated for defending Li Ling's defeat and surrender, and was later appointed Zhongshu Ling. He worked hard to complete the historical books he wrote, and was honored as Shi Qian, Tai Shi Gong and the Father of History by later generations.

Sima Qian studied under Kong Anguo and Dong Zhongshu in his early years. He traveled around various places, learned about customs and collected rumors. When he was first appointed as a doctor, he was envoy to the southwest. In the third year of Yuanfeng (108 BC), he was appointed Taishi Ling, inherited his father's business, and wrote history.

With his historical knowledge of "studying the relationship between heaven and man, understanding the changes of ancient and modern times, and forming a family's opinion", he created China's first biographical general history "Shi Ji" (originally known as "Tai Shi Gong Shu"). It is recognized as a model of Chinese history books. This book records a history of more than 3,000 years from the Huangdi period in ancient legends to the first year of Yuanshou, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. It is the first of the "Twenty-Five Histories" and was praised by Lu Xun. "The historian's swan song, the rhymeless Li Sao".

Extended information:

1. Sima Qian's famous sayings:

1. There were many people in the Three Jin Dynasties who were willing to change things, and they tried to force the Qin Dynasty.

2. A gentleman is ill and has no reputation.

3. The beautiful words are beautiful, but the holy words are true, the bitter words are medicine, and the sweet words are disease.

4. Looking up at the high mountains, the scenery is endless. Although you can't reach it, your heart yearns for it.

5. Gai Zhongzi died in Qi, and Boya stopped playing the piano for the rest of his life. Why? A man dies for a man who knows himself, and a woman looks good for a man who pleases her.

6. In ancient times, people were rich and famous, but their reputations were lost and cannot be remembered. Only those who were suave and suave were praised.

7. A person with a solid warehouse knows etiquette; a person with enough food and clothing knows honor and disgrace.

8. You don’t need rivers and seas to bathe, you need them to be cleansed; horses don’t need to ride, you need them to walk well.

9. Those who are good follow it, then guide it, teach it next, order it neatly, and compete with it at the bottom.

2. The historical influence of "Historical Records":

1. Establishing an outstanding general history genre

"Historical Records" is the first book in the history of Chinese historiography to connect ancient and modern times. A collection of famous general history books of EMI. Precisely because "Historical Records" could be compiled into one book through ancient and modern times, it set a precedent and set an example. History compilations imitating this genre began one after another. The family tradition of general history has always influenced modern historical research and writing.

2. Establishing the independent status of history

In ancient China, history was included in the scope of Confucian classics and had no independent status of its own. The Book of History is in Liu Xin's "Seven Strategies", appended to "Spring and Autumn".

After Sima Qian compiled the "Historical Records", later authors continued to produce more and more specialized historical works. In the primary school, Part B records the military skills of various scholars, Part B records historical records of Huang Lan, and Part D records poems, poems, and illustrations. As a result, history as a discipline gained an independent status in the Chinese academic field. Drinking water and remembering its source should be attributed to Sima Qian and his "Historical Records".

3. Established the literary tradition of historical biographies

Sima Qian had profound literary accomplishment and his artistic methods were particularly superb. He often handles extremely complex facts in a very appropriate and orderly manner. Coupled with his far-sighted vision, high knowledge, vivid writing, concise writing power, and full of emotion, he writes it by hand, all with bold words and bright images. People "exclaimed and beat the knot, not knowing why."

Among them, "The Biography of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru" was included in the 18th lesson "The Harmony of Generals and Prime Ministers" in the Chinese experimental textbook for primary school students.

Reference material: Baidu Encyclopedia-"Historical Records"

Reference material: Baidu Encyclopedia-Sima Qian