How to Evaluate Sima Qian's Historical Records

Historical Records had a far-reaching influence on the development of later historiography and literature. His original biographical method of compiling history was passed down by the "official history" of later generations. At the same time, Historical Records, as an excellent literary work, has an important position in the history of China literature. It is praised by Lu Xun as "the swan song of historians", which has no rhyme with Li Sao and has high literary value. Liu Xiang and others think that this book is "good in order and reason, argumentative but not flashy, qualitative but not vulgar".

Historical Records was praised by Mr. Lu Xun as "a historian's swan song, leaving Sao without rhyme", ranking first among the "four histories" and being called "a double gem of history" together with "Zi Tong Zhi Jian". Therefore, Sima Qian was called "Shi Qian" and "Shi Sheng" by later buddhas. Together with Sima Guang, they are called "Two Sima in History" and together with Sima Xiangru, they are called "Two Sima in Western Han Dynasty".

Ban Gu, a historian of the Eastern Han Dynasty, said: "The reason why Sima Qian is a true record is because his writing is straight, has a core, is not empty and beautiful, and does not hide evil."

Han Yu in the Tang Dynasty: "People in the Han Dynasty couldn't write, but Sima Xiangru, Tai Shigong, Liu Xiang and Yang Zui were great." He believes that the style of Sima Qian's works is "majestic and elegant", and Historical Records has become a sample of Han Yu's composition.

Jane Bozan, a modern historian, thinks that Sima Qian is the founder of the history of Chinese historiography, and Historical Records is a society-centered history. He said: "The history of China has become an independent science since the Western Han Dynasty, and the founder of this science is the great historian Sima Qian. Historical Records is an immortal monument at the starting point of China's history. " He also said: "Although historical records are biographies, they are social-centered history." Sima Qian "almost noticed the dynamics of every stratum, every corner and every aspect of society in history, and gave a concrete and vivid description." So I think Historical Records is the first large-scale social history in China.