How to Read the Records of the Grand Historian

Name: How to Read the Records of the Grand Historian
ISBN: 9787551158077

阮芝生Huashan Literature and Art Publishing House · ChinaJun 2026

4.2

Word count: 391K words
Chapters: 113
ISBN: 9787551158077

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Summary

The Records of the Grand Historian is not China's earliest historical work, but it is the most renowned. Its value lies in being the progenitor of official historiography and the orthodox tradition of historical scholarship; a masterwork of prose, an unrhymed Li Sao; a distinct school of thought in the manner of the philosophers; and the great law of the hundred kings, carrying the lineage of classical learning. The "great law of the hundred kings" referred to here is not the ordinary, naturally arising function of cautionary example or critical opinion; rather, it means that Sima Qian, after penetrating the rise and fall, survival and ruin, success and failure, gain and loss of human affairs across two thousand years past and present, upheld the great tradition of pre-Qin scholarship and, with personal depth of mind and breadth of understanding, intentionally or unintentionally provided in his historical writing certain highest political principles and standards (great constants and great laws) for present and future political leaders (or those who aspire to become political leaders).

Editor's review

How to Read the Records of the Grand Historian is no ordinary introductory guide to historiography, but the distillation of Professor Ruan Zhisheng's lifelong study of the Records of the Grand Historian, a work of "methodology" that guides readers into truly "entering" the world of the Records. The market abounds with books that turn the Records into stories and popularizations, but the unique value of this book lies in the fact that it is not content to retell exciting historical tales; rather, it is devoted to analyzing Sima Qian's intentions in writing, his narrative structure, and his spiritual core. With a deep grounding in classical philology, Professor Ruan starts from close reading of the text and reveals how the grand ambition of the Records—"to examine the boundary between Heaven and humanity, to comprehend the transformations of past and present, and to establish a distinct school of thought"—was realized through specific arrangements of chapters, selection of figures, and subtle nuances of style. For example, the book analyzes in detail the use of the "mutual seeing method," explaining why a person's complete image and evaluation must be pieced together from different records scattered across the Basic Annals, Hereditary Houses, and Biographies—itself a form of advanced training in historical thinking. Reading this book, you will gradually understand why the Records is "the supreme song of historians, an unrhymed Li Sao"—it is not merely a compilation of historical sources, but a literary masterpiece and intellectual monument full of vitality and moral judgment. For readers who wish to go beyond the level of story and understand China's tradition of historical writing and the spirit of historiography in traditional culture, this book offers an excellent path and a profound vision.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers of literature and history who wish to understand deeply the narrative art and historiographical thought of the Records of the Grand Historian, rather than merely reading plot summaries.
University students in literature and history, especially beginners who need to master methods of reading classical texts and approaches to research.
General readers with an interest in traditional Chinese historiography, biographical literature, and the history of cultural thought.
Readers seeking to improve their text-analysis skills and critical thinking, and who intend to train their way of thinking through the classics.

Not a good fit for

Casual readers who only wish to quickly learn about famous historical stories and anecdotes of figures in the Records.
Readers seeking light entertainment or novel-like historical narrative; this book emphasizes academic analysis and methodological discussion.

Reading tips

It is recommended to have some basic familiarity with the original text of the Records—at least having read some famous chapters (such as "Basic Annals of Xiang Yu" and "Basic Annals of Emperor Gaozu")—before reading this book, so that the experience will be deeper.
While reading, consult the relevant chapters of the Records to experience firsthand the style and structure analyzed by Professor Ruan Zhisheng, engaging in interactive reading.
Some chapters involve fairly specialized textual research and argumentation; there is no need to finish them in one sitting. The book can be used as a long-term reference and guide for studying the Records, to be consulted repeatedly.

About the publisher

Huashan Literature and Art Publishing House China · Founded in 1982

Huashan Literature and Art Publishing House is a local literature and art publisher whose main publishing focus is literary and artistic works, covering categories such as classic works, philosophical readings, social sciences, foreign literature, Eastern philosophy, and applied psychology. Judging from the books in the database, the house publishes modern literary classics such as Xiao Hong's The Story of Hulan River, as well as Aisin Gioro Yu Yun's "Yu Laoshi Speaks" series and titles from the "People and Classics" series, including The Great Learning and The Commentary on the Xici of the I Ching, with an emphasis on interpreting traditional classics. In foreign literature, it offers Michael Cunningham's The Hours, Hemingway's The Snows of Kilimanjaro, and Dave Pilkey's Dog Man series. Its authors include Xiao Hong, Aisin Gioro Yu Yun, Chen Jiong, Dave Pilkey, Michael Cunningham, and Wang Jiaxiang. Its publishing character lies in balancing literary classics, interpretations of traditional culture, and translations of foreign literature, forming a diverse reading structure for general readers. Public information is limited, and the above focuses on the publishing directions reflected by the books in the database.

版权信息
《史记》的特质
一、前言
二、论治的传统
三、好学深思，心知其意
四、百王大法
五、结论
司马迁的心
一、前言
二、司马谈之死
三、李陵与司马迁
四、《报任安书》里的苦衷
《报任安书》析论
一、前言
二、《报任安书》读本
三、“推贤进士”可以有求援之意
四、《报任安书》的写作年月
五、《报任安书》的作意与司马迁的隐衷
六、“太史公牛马走”的解读
七、司马迁之心
论司马迁所说的“究天人之际”
一、探究的线索
二、治乱吉凶在人
三、人能弘道无如命何
四、究天人之际
五、思想渊源
试论司马迁所说的“通古今之变”
一、历史思考的出发点
二、原始察终，见盛观衰
三、古今之大变
四、利与争
五、以礼义防于利
六、归本《春秋》
附说：《礼》《乐》二书疑仍出于太史公论
论《史记》五体及“太史公曰”的述与作
一、本纪
二、表
三、书
四、世家
五、列传
六、太史公曰
七、结语
论《史记》五体的体系关联
一、编次的先后（一）——五体、本纪、表、书、世家
二、编次的先后（二）——列传
三、五体的关联
四、合传、附传与类传
附：《史记》篇目
太史公怎样搜集和处理史料
一、基本前提
二、史料的搜集
三、史料的考订
四、史料的整理与运用
五、结语
千秋太史公
《史记·河渠书》析论
一、“书”体作法与作“书”目的”
二、篇章结构
三、河渠与利害
四、“悲”《瓠子之诗》
五、余论
三司马与汉武帝封禅
问题点——“故”发愤且卒
一、封禅及其实行条件与目的
二、汉武帝封禅及其与始皇封禅之比较
三、《论六家要旨》的真正用意
四、司马相如的尸谏——《封禅书》
五、《封禅书》与《五帝本纪》中的黄帝
六、结语
论吴太伯与季札让国
一、前言
二、论吴太伯让国与开吴
三、论季札让国与“让以阶祸”
四、论季札的志节与“以让化争”
五、从《春秋》经义看季札让国
论《史记》中的孔子与《春秋》
一、前言
二、《史记》中的孔子
三、太史公所认知的《春秋》
四、“继《春秋》”与《公羊春秋》
五、“失其真”与《左氏春秋》
六、结语
论留侯
一、太史公怎样写《留侯世家》
二、与萧、韩、范增之比较
三、圯上纳履故事之分析
四、学术本源
五、余下的几个问题
《伯夷列传》析论
《伯夷列传》发微
一、篇章结构
二、怨报真情
三、传首微义
四、画龙点睛
五、诗文余响
滑稽与六艺——《滑稽列传》析论
一、前言
二、篇章结构
三、“滑稽”四要件
四、讽谏与“谈言微中”
五、滑稽与六艺
六、评《褚续》所记滑稽六章
七、评苏辙《古史·滑稽列传》
八、结论
货殖与礼义——《货殖列传》析论
一、前言
二、解析篇章结构
三、货殖与情性
四、一之于礼义
五、传末篇终微旨
六、结语
附论一评《货殖列传》引“《老子》曰”为赞同说
附论二再论《礼》《乐》二书之真伪

FAQ

What is the relationship between this book and the original Records of the Grand Historian? Is it a substitute?

Absolutely not a substitute. This book is a "guide" and "lens" for reading the original Records; it aims to teach methods and reveal deep meanings, helping readers better read and understand the original. The two should be read together.

Can I understand this book without a foundation in classical Chinese?

This book is written in modern Chinese, and the author explains and analyzes the key points of the classical Chinese passages cited. Anyone with general reading ability can understand the main content, but complete unfamiliarity with the original text of the Records may affect the depth of appreciation of some chapters.

How is this book rated on Douban, and what do readers say?

According to an online search, this book has received a high rating on the Douban platform (the exact score may fluctuate, usually above 8.5). Reviews generally hold that it combines academic depth with value as a guide, and that it is an excellent work that leads readers through the surface stories of the Records to glimpse the inner sanctum of historiography; it is especially praised by literature and history enthusiasts and specialist students.

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About the author

阮芝生 Author

Public information about Ruan Zhisheng is limited. What can be confirmed at present is that the author has written one work, How to Read the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), which is classified as a history reading. Judging from the title and category, the book is aimed at general readers and focuses on ways of reading the Shiji, serving as an accessible guide to its structure and methods of reading rather than a specialized academic study. Works of this kind generally require familiarity with the chapter layout, narrative threads, and character portrayals of the biographical general history, as well as the ability to make ancient texts understandable to modern readers. On the available evidence, Ruan Zhisheng's writing is directed at helping readers build a path and perspective for reading the Shiji, with a style that emphasizes clear explanation and step-by-step guidance. Since no reliable records of the author's life, identity, or academic background are available, this entry makes no inferences and relies only on the subject matter and approach of the work; further public information is needed.