A person's generous death may be more straightforward for a while, but Sima Qian has a clear understanding of his life and the impact of his death: if a servant is punished, if nine cows die, what is the difference with ants? However, this world is not compared with people who can die. They think that lack of wisdom is a heinous crime and cannot be exempted from customs, so they will die. If you are not castrated and humiliated, you will die like an ant, your honor will not be recognized, but you will still be laughed at by everyone. More importantly, I still have unfinished wishes for myself and my parents, and I haven't finished reading the history books. The unfinished business of two generations will eventually leave regrets.
Sima Qian was torn between humiliation and death without hesitation. He divided a person's humiliation into several grades in turn, and castration was the lowest. However, strength is determined by the situation, and courage and cowardice are also caused by the situation. Some celebrities who have experienced twists and turns in history have proved this point. Choosing to live does not mean you are timid, and choosing to die does not mean you are brave.
Sima Qian chose "fate" and endured great pain physically and mentally-"nine times a day". His loneliness can't be told to others, especially to people who can't understand it. There is no need to talk nonsense. He only spoke with facts, and finally finished the writing of Historical Records. His desire to drag out an ignoble existence is over, and his friend Ren An is on the verge of life and death. That's why this letter confided to friends, and between the lines, it showed Sima Qian's great personality.
Sima Qian's letter, with great anger, told his friends and the world the great shame he suffered because of Li Ling's disaster, poured out the long-suppressed pain and resentment in his heart, boldly exposed the selfishness of court ministers, and even revealed his dissatisfaction with Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty's ignorance of right and wrong, inhumanity and injustice. Euphemistically described the hardships of "enduring life" after being sentenced.
He drew a conclusion from history. The ancients worked hard for their cause and derived a famous saying: Gaspar was arrested and performed Zhouyi; Zhong You wrote Spring and Autumn Annals; Qu Yuan's exile is a tribute to Li Sao. Zuo Qiu is blind and has "Mandarin"; The ruler of the revised version of Sun Tzu's Art of War; It's not Shu, but Lu Lan. Han Fei imprisoned Qin, Difficult and Lonely Anger; Three hundred poems are also an act of great sage's anger. None of their lives and actions come naturally in a safe and smooth environment, and they all have to be angry in adversity. Rough is the touchstone of tempering will.
A person's great wisdom is flexibility, not courage. If you want to go further, take a step back first, don't say anything, and prove that you have chosen correctly with actions and achievements, and have no regrets.
Sima Qian's view of life and death is a circuitous strategy of "sacrificing life for justice" The death of Mount Tai is just an idea forced by the situation. Sima Qian's tenacity is that he can choose and persist without hesitation.
This letter is the masterpiece of Sima Qian, and his words will not be seen in the future history. The year of his death became a mystery, which was influenced by the Ren 'an case and this suicide note. After all, he attacked the society and the court at that time.
Thankfully, at the time of writing this letter, this great book Historical Records has been completed. Sima Qian can die without shaking, and his death is heavier than Mount Tai.