In the third year of Yuanfeng (BC 108), Sima Qian succeeded to the throne and gave a formal order. In the first year of Tai Chu (BC 104), he and astronomer Tang Dou and others produced taichu calendar. In the same year, I began to compile historical records.
In the second year of Tian Han (99 BC), Li Ling attacked the Xiongnu, defeated and surrendered, and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was furious. Sima Qian defended Li Ling and offended Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. He was arrested and sentenced to imprisonment. "People are inherently mortal, or they are heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather, so use them differently." (Bao Ren An Shu) In order to fulfill his father's last wish, he completed the historical records and left them to future generations, enduring corruption with humiliation.
In 96 BC (the first year of Taishi), he was pardoned and released from prison, issued a written order and mastered the confidential documents of the emperor. He wrote a book in anger, and finally completed the writing and revision of the whole book at the age of 55.
Extended data
Writing process
1, name source
At first, there was no fixed title for historical records, which were called "Taishi Gongshu" or "Taishi Gongshu", and also called "Taishi Gongshu" in the province. According to the textual research of known materials, Sima Qian's earliest historical book "Historical Records" is the East China Sea Temple Monument written by Emperor Huan of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Previously, Historical Records was a general term for ancient history books. Since the Three Kingdoms, Historical Records has gradually become the proper name of Taishi Gongshu.
2. Drawing materials
Historical Records has a wide range of materials. At that time, Shi Ben, Mandarin, Ji Qin, Chunqiu of Chu and Han Dynasties, a hundred schools of thought contend and other works, as well as national documents and archives, as well as materials obtained from field investigation, were all important sources of materials for Sima Qian to write Historical Records.
What is particularly valuable is that Sima Qian carefully analyzed and screened the collected materials and eliminated some nonsense. For example, Huang San, who had no evidence, was not listed. He took the Five Emperors as the beginning of his discipline, and either took a skeptical attitude or recorded various opinions on some unclear issues. Due to its extensive materials and serious attitude in compiling history, Historical Records is informative and rich in content.
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