Portrait: AI-generated imagined likeness

Sima Qian

historian · Writer

Years: c. 145 BC–c. 86 BC
Birthplace: China
Birth polity: Western Han dynasty
Era: Ancient
Field: Literature
Occupations: historian · Writer

He was a historian of the Western Han Dynasty and author of Shiji. He laid the foundation for the writing of Chinese history in the form of historical records. This is an important example of how writing history is linked to political criticism and character evaluation. This is an example of history books becoming literature.

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Historical context

Places

Longmen
Birth
Chang'an
Work

Works & achievements

Records of the Grand Historian
109 BC–91 BC
Book

Origins

Origins map

Birth country

Birth country: China

Map: Natural Earth (PD)

Biography

Early life

Born into a family of historians, he inherited his desire to compile history from his father, Sima Dan. He traveled all over the country researching folklore and historical sites, and as a court historian, he came into contact with a vast amount of material.

Achievements

In "Shiji", the period from the Yellow Emperor to the Han Wu Emperor period was organized into the original era, the imperial family, and the legends. It is unique in that it is not just a chronicle, but depicts history through the actions and fate of people.

Character & anecdotes

Even after he was sentenced to death for defending Li Ling, Sima Qian prioritized the completion of Shiji. This experience casts a deep shadow on his writings about honor, humiliation, and the mission of the historian.

Historical Impact

When we study Sima Qian, we understand that Chinese historical narratives were constructed not only through dynastic records but also through biographies and moral judgments. This will form the basis for understanding the history book culture of East Asia. A historian's perspective itself can also be considered.