The Records of the Grand Historian, commonly referred to as the Shiji (‘Historical annals’), is the work of Sima Qian begun by his father, Sima Tan, in their capacities as Grand Historians for the court of Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty. These records encompass the history of ancient China from the time of the Yellow Emperor, the legendary ancestor of all Chinese peoples and Chinese civilisation, until the time of Emperor Wu, a span of roughly two and a half millennia. The text itself is one of grand scope and vision, and the life of Sima Qian itself gives us some insight into the dynamics of Chinese court service in his time.
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References
Kechtges, David R. and Tai Ping Chang, editors. Ancient and Early Medieval Chinese Literature: A Reference Guide, Brill, 2014, 960-61.
- Kenchtges, David R.””Key Words,” Authorial Intent, and Interpretation: Sima Qian’s Letter to Ren An.” CLEAR, vol. 30, 2008, pp. 75-84.
- Eno, Robert. “History G380 – class text readings – Spring 2010.” Indiana University, 2010, www.indiana.edu/~g380/4.12-Sima-2010.pdf. Accessed 14 April 2017.