Historical Records
Historical Records, with its original name of Autobiographic Notes of Tai Shi Gong, is the first general history presented in a series of biographies in Chinese history. It took Sima Qian, a historian in the West Han dynasty, about ten years to accomplish it. Totally 130 pieces, this book kept a record of events from the age of the legendary Yellow emperor to the earlier years of Emperor Hanwu in Han dynasty (104 B.C.-101 B.C.). By integrally describing the three thousand years’ development in terms of politics, economy and culture from China’s ancient times to the earlier years of Han Dynasty, it is an epic conclusion of ancient Chinese history and also a classic masterpiece for comprehending the ancient Chinese history.
The whole book comprises five parts. The first part is called as “Biographic Sketches” which is the general program of this book by chronologically recording the accomplishments of emperors or actual rulers throughout the ages; the second part “Table” lays out great events of each historic phase in a form of table, a narrative supplement in the whole book; and the third part is named as “Letter”, a record of specific events including astronomy, calendric system, irrigation works and economy; and the fourth part is called as “Aristocratic Family”, recording the history of hereditary sovereign lords and their princedoms; and the fifth part is called as “Biographies” which is a biography for various kinds of important figures and also records the history of each nation living in the boundary of China.
Historical Records, which has created a set of important character antitypes, is not only deemed as a significant historical works, but also an outstanding literary classic. Many diversified characters such as emperors, heroes, swordsmen and bureaucracies in later novels and dramas were evolved from the characters in Historical Records. Many well-known dramas and plays such as The Orphan of the Zhao Family and All-Conquering King Parts with His Favorite Concubine etc. in China are all originated from the Historical Records. Its significance has been deeply rooted in daily life among the ordinary Chinese people.
Historical Records was a forerunner of the writing of general history presented in a series of biographies and ancient Chinese “Twenty-five Histories” which are called as “Authentic History” were composed and mended by following this style.
