Qian Sima and the Shiji – the Devotion of a True Historian

Active during the Han Dynasty period in China’s history, Sima Qian is widely considered to be the father of Chinese historiography. A celebrated historian, he is best known for his seminal work, the Shiji, or “Records of the Grand Historian”. Written during the late 2nd century BC, this monumental work stands out as one of the first compiled histories of ancient China, reaching all the way back in time to the mythical “Yellow Emperor”, who reportedly reigned for a hundred years, starting in 2698 BC. Qian Sima was, however, very devoted to his work, and produced one of the foremost historical works from the period. What made his approach to writing history so successful? And what was his legacy for the Chinese people?

Shiji and the Foundation of Chinese Historiography

Sima Qian was born roughly around 145 BC, during the early years of the Han Dynasty, while it was ruled by Emperor Wu. He was the son of the noted astronomer, scholar, and historian, Sima Tan, and this meant that he too was deeply immersed in these subjects, even from an early age. And the fact that his father became the official Court Astronomer for the Emperor, allowed him to access many ancient texts and historical records from the royal libraries. Because of this, it was Sima Qian’s father that deeply influenced his early learning and lit up inside him an incredible passion for history.

Portrait of Sima Qian. (Public Domain)

However, Sima Tan died in 110 BC. He left behind an unfinished literary work, which his son would eagerly pick up and begin working on it. This would later become his seminal achievement – the “Records of the Grand Historian”, or Shiji. From the get-go, this work was envisioned to be the most expansive historical record. It chronicled Chinese history from its murky, fabled and legendary beginnings, all the way to the time in which Sima Qian lived. And what is more, it would focus on both the common people of China, as well as its royalty. This, in itself, was a major task for a writer of that time.

A Monumental Chapter of History

Shiji was a grand achievement. It differed immensely from all the previous records of Chinese history – it was the first true book that was detailed and written with meticulous precision. It covered the philosophies, the economy, the politics, culture, and history of the Chinese people. And even its structure was truly groundbreaking. The whole of the book was composed from 130 chapters, which were further split into five distinct categories. These were: Benji (Basic Annals), Shijia (Hereditary Houses), Biao (Tables), Shu (Treatises), and Liezhuan (Biographies). Each of these represented a distinct aspect of Chinese history.

Pages from a Ming dynasty (1457-1464) printed edition of the Shiji, volume eleven. (Public Domain)

The basic annals focused on the major rulers and emperors in Chinese history and tracked all their reign times and significant events that transpired during that time. In the “hereditary houses” section, Sima Qian chronicled the histories of important aristocratic families and regional leaders, some of whom were prominent figures in Chinese folklore. On the other hand, in the “tables” section, he records the chronological reigns, important events, and royal lineages in table form – making it so much easier to grasp the content of his book.

The chapters that fall under the “treatises” section cover specialized subjects, such as rites, music, astronomy, and economics, while “biographies” contain the lives and deeds of many notable people from Chinese history.

The Scholar Devoted to Immortal Legacy

Sima Qian was extremely dedicated to completing the “Shiji”, which he considered to be his life’s work. However, one event almost prevented him from finishing it. In 99 BC, he was caught up in an affair for supporting General Li Ling, who was blamed for a military defeat by the Emperor himself. The Emperor saw Sima Qian’s support as treachery and had him imprisoned for three years. To save his life and to complete his seminal work, Sima Qian accepted to be castrated as punishment and thus be freed.

Living the rest of his days as a eunuch and the official court archivist, he was able to devote his efforts to finish the Shiji. In poignant letters he wrote about his fate as a eunuch, and the great embarrassment and pain that he endured during his days in prison. However, he emphasized that he chose this path only because that would allow him to complete his book and leave a lasting legacy to the people of China. Only in this way, he wrote, would he be remembered forever. And that is exactly what happened. Because today, centuries after his death, Sima Qian remains one of the most important figures in Chinese history.

Top image: Portrait of Sima Qian and the Shiji. Source: National Palace Museum./CC BY 4.0

By Aleksa Vučković