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Essay on The Work of Sima Qian
Sima Qian or was a Chinese historian. Court astrologer to Wudi of the Western (Earlier) Han dynasty, Sima Qian was the author of the classic Shih Ji (Records of the Historian), a compilation of previous histories and chronicles that was the first comprehensive history of China. Although he was criticized by his successors for placing insufficient emphasis on Confucianism, his work was appreciated for its stylistic excellence and had a major influence on later Chinese historiography (Wikipedia, 2003). Toward the end of his life, Sima Qian was accused of disloyalty by the emperor and was punished by castration. He lived his last years in retirement.
Shih Ji (Records of the Grand Historian) is a compilation of previous Histories and chronicles of the History of China. He was criticized by his successors, as he did not put enough importance to Confucianism (Bary, Chan, 1960). But his works were and still are appreciated for their excellence in style and class. His works have impacted the later Historiography of China. When he was very close to his death, Sima Qian was accused of disloyalty to Wudi, the Emperor. The Emperor gave him the punishment of Castration (Richard, 2002). Sima Qian lived his last years in retirement and away from what he truly deserved.
Records of the Grand Historian”, which he wrote, consists of five parts, 130 chapters, in half a million words. The five parts are: Basic Annals, Chronological Tables, Treatises, Hereditary Houses, and Biographies. The first, fourth and fifth parts deal with emperors, big feudal families and famous men respectively.......
