First, the signature of Sima Qian's Historical Records.

When the ancients signed their names, they were wordy, and all official titles were listed in front of their names, which made people dizzy. In fact, this is also the case now. For example, an official is the director of a member with a certain name. Fortunately, modern official positions are basically unified, not as many as those of the ancients. Looking at the historical records, the author's full name is "Sima Qian, a big official in the Han Dynasty".

Cha Sima Qian was indeed an official of the Han Dynasty, 104 BC, but in 99 BC, Sima Qian was imprisoned because of the disaster of Liling, and the official position of Taishiling should be gone, so Sima Qian became an official in 10 BC. Sima Qian was punished for corruption in 98 BC, and was released from prison in 97 BC as a minister. Sima Qian died in an unknown year, about 90 BC, so Sima Qian became a minister for eight years. Sima Qian's Historical Records was finally completed in 93 BC, when he was in charge of secretariat.

In Han dynasty, the position of secretariat was higher than that of Taishi. Why isn't the signature of Historical Records "Sima Qian in Hanzhong" or "Sima Qian in Han Shi"? There is a bitter reason here. Sima Qian didn't sign his book. His signature was added by later generations. Although the position of secretariat is high, it is held by eunuchs. Later generations either felt humiliated or resentful, so they wrote the signature of Historical Records as "Taishi Emperor Sima Qian" to him.

Second, Sima Qian's resume.

Sima Qian lived an amateur life in his childhood. 19 years old, family moved to Chang 'an. In Chang 'an, Sima Qian learned History from Kong Anguo and Chunqiu from Dong Zhongshu. Sima Qian, a 22-year-old doctoral student, went to imperial academy to study. At the age of 23, Sima Qian did well in the exam and was admitted to the doctor and the emperor's bodyguard until he was 37. The 38-year-old stepfather was Taishiling until he was 47. When you are 49 years old, you are still a China book list. The exact information is a China book list at the age of 55. Sima Qian died at the age of 56. Sima Qian's cause of death is unknown, which may be related to the witchcraft case and died in prison.

Third, the change of the title of Historical Records.

Sima Qian didn't name his book. The preface once said, "Taishi Gong Shu, 526,500 words". Later generations thought that Taishi Gongshu was the title of Sima Qian.

When Ban Gu recorded this book, it was called 130 Articles of Taishi Gong. This title is usually called Taishi Gong Gong Ji, Taishi Gong Shu and Taishi Gong Chuan. Ban Gu once referred to 130 articles of Taishigong as Historical Records, but in Hanshu, Ban Gu also referred to other historical books in the Spring and Autumn Period as Historical Records. The word "Historical Records" has always been a general term for "historical books" in China.

Some people say that it is reasonable to call Sima Qian's Historical Records only once. Sui Shu, edited by Sun Chang Wuji and others, said: "There are 130 volumes of historical records, one volume of catalogue, and 115 volumes of Hanshu, written by Sima Qian in Hanzhong and written by Ban Gu in Han Imperial Army." This is an official and authoritative narrative, which really sets the title of Historical Records.

In this way, Sima Qian completed this history book in 93 BC, and it was not until 656 AD that the title of Historical Records was officially recognized by later generations, which actually lasted for 750 years.

Fourth, Sima Qian said who Tai Shigong was.

Sima Qian and his father both made Taishiling, which is the official name. Calling Taishiling "Taishiling" is a respectful title. Who does Sima Qian mean by "Taishiling"? Calling himself Sima Tan, his father, is a bit boastful. In fact, Sima Tan has done a lot of material preparation for the book Historical Records. Writing this book is Sima Tan's long-cherished wish. When he died, he solemnly gave it to his son Sima Qian. It was because of his father's last wish that Sima Qian chose to live in corruption and continued to write this book.

So Taishi Gong in the book should refer to Sima Tan. But in the preface, it is clear that Taishi Gong refers to Sima Tan and Sima Qian. Some people think that Sima Qian's doing this has the taste of official repair, which is also reasonable. Private research on national history was not allowed at that time.

5. Why was Sima Qian punished?

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty is a generation of heroes, who know people well and make good use of them. He understood and attached great importance to the knowledge and talents of Sima Qian and his son. However, Sima Qian was sentenced to death and imprisoned for a reason. It cannot be said that the emperor is cruel and selfish. Simply put. First of all, Sima Qian's writing of history was too popular, and he made no secret of his denial of Liu Bang, Lv Hou and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, which naturally aroused the dissatisfaction of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. The data prove that Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty deleted this writing written by Sima Qian many times. Second, Li Ling's surrender is not a good thing. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty asked, Sima Qian can express his views euphemistically, but it is obviously irrational for you to involve Li Furen's brother. Li Furen is the favorite woman of Emperor Wu. Can Emperor Wu not be angry? So Sima Qian was put in prison.

It's also unlucky to say that Sima Qian, if it weren't for something big, would have been released after a period of time. Who knows that when I heard that Li Ling led troops to attack the Han State, Emperor Wudi was furious and put Li Ling's family to death, and sentenced Sima Qian to death by the way. At that time, if you were sentenced to death and didn't want to die, there were two ways. One is to make up for it with money, and the other is to punish it with corruption. Sima Qian's family doesn't have that much money, so Sima Qian can only rot to survive. Sima Qian considered inheriting his father's wishes and chose corruption to survive. This was a difficult choice, and Sima Qian chose it. After receiving the execution order, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty cherished his talent, immediately released him from prison, and appointed Sima Qian as a greater official-the secretariat.

"Nine times a day, live in a hurry and die. I don't know where to go when I go out. Every time I think about my shame, I sweat. " Now reading these words of Sima Qian is very impressive.

6. How was Historical Records published?

When Sima Qian died, he did not dedicate this book to the court. Looking at the contents of historical records now, I have a lot of dissatisfaction with Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. If you hand it in, the book may sink to the bottom of the sea. If it is not done well, it will bring accidents to his family. Sima Qian should be familiar with the tyrannical character of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty. So Sima Qian gave this book to later generations.

Sima Qian probably copied two books, one is Famous Mountain in Tibet, and the other is Biography. "Pass it on to others" was passed on to her daughter, who was born with outstanding literary talent and understood the value of Sima Qian's book, and let her son Yang Yun watch and study from time to time. It is said that every time Yang Yun reads it, he always has tears in his eyes and sighs.

Twenty years after Sima Qian's death, Emperor Gaozu Xuan Di came to power. The once civilian emperor made great efforts to govern and his politics was clear. When time allowed, Yang Yun presented this book. Sure enough, Emperor Xuan Di allowed it to be published in the world, and this masterpiece in the history of Chinese historiography was handed down.

However, although Yang Yun is also very talented and has his grandfather's style, he is too conceited and stingy. His words and deeds mocked the emperor, and he was not only beheaded by Emperor Xuan Di, but also exiled by his family.

Seven, Sima Qian served as an official.

1, doctor. This office was inherited from the Warring States period. During the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, doctors were the attendants of the emperor, managing cars, riding and portals.

2. Taishiling. When Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was appointed, Taishiling was appointed to be in charge of ephemeris. This official position is not high, and the salary is 600 stone, which is equivalent to a county magistrate. And Taishiling had many opportunities to contact the emperor, which was unmatched by the county magistrate. Taishiling's official position is not hereditary. Sima Tan and Sima Qian are both Tarshish Orders, and there is only one case, which is related to their talents. Compiling history books is not within the scope of Taishi Order, and Sima Qian dare not publicly say that he is compiling national history. Taishiling can read all kinds of national archives and books conveniently, but it is limited. BC 104, when Sima Qian was 42 years old, Sima Qian and others formulated the taichu calendar, and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty announced the abolition of the Zhuan Xu calendar and the use of taichu calendar. Taichu calendar is an influential calendar in the history of China. This is Sima Qian's work and his contribution to science. Sima Qian wanted to write history because before the Qin Dynasty, Taishigong was an official. Sima Tan himself believed that Taishi Order should also inherit the tradition of compiling ancient Taishi Order, and passed this idea on to his son Sima Qian. Both father and son should study history, which is purely personal behavior.

3, the book order. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, an official was appointed as the official position, and he handed over the imperial edict, which was similar to the secretary of the emperor. As the official position of the emperor's senior aide, Zhong Shuling can go in and out of the palace and participate in state affairs, so she is one of the so-called "officials of the Inner Korea". Such "imperial court" officials can only be trusted cronies of the emperor. I don't know why Emperor Wu appointed Sima Qian as the secretariat, which may be the reason of his personal character.

It is precisely because the secretariat can be close to the emperor that Ren Ancai, the ambassador of the northern army, accepted the order of the prince of punishment to send troops in the chaos. Although he didn't move, after the matter was settled, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty thought that Ren An was "watching the success or failure", "cheating and cheating", so Ren An wrote to Sima Qian asking him to rescue him. Until Ren An was executed, Sima Qian didn't reply to a letter. This is the famous Letter to Ren An. The witchcraft case is much more serious than the Liling case. Ren An corresponds to Sima Qian, so later generations speculated that Sima Qian might also have died in a witchcraft case.