Historical Records (Volume 1)

Name: Historical Records (Volume 1)
ISBN: 9787545132458

Sima QianLiaohai Publishing House · ChinaApr 2025

4.9

Word count: 72 words
Chapters: 6
ISBN: 9787545132458

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Summary

The Records of the Grand Historian is a vital wellspring of Chinese literature. Sima Qian's highest aim in compiling it was to build an all-encompassing system of historical philosophy, which calls for deeper understanding and appreciation through close reading. Yet the work is vast, encyclopedic, and too complex for general reading and comprehension. We have therefore selected its finest chapters to suit the general reader. This volume is ideal for reading and collecting, and well suited to library collections and displays.

Editor's review

This is the first volume of a selected reader's edition of the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji). Because the original is vast and difficult for ordinary readers to read through, the editor has gathered notable chapters from the whole work into one volume, lowering the barrier to entry. Its value lies in letting readers encounter, at modest cost in time, the Shiji's narrative sweep and its portrayals of character, and feel Sima Qian's historical ambition to "inquire into the relationship between Heaven and humanity" as well as his literary craft. The selections balance storytelling with representativeness, and the main text is kept largely in the original classical Chinese, making it a suitable first step into classical historiography. There is no need to read everything quickly; treat it as a bridge to the complete work, first gaining an intuitive sense of the biographical (jizhuan) format, then gradually expanding. Suitable for family collections and library display, and as supplementary reading in history and literature for students.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers who want an initial grasp of the Shiji but are daunted by the original's length
Middle school students and Chinese teachers seeking historical and literary material
Those who wish to equip a home or classroom with a classic reader
Beginners interested in stories of figures from the pre-Qin to early Han periods

Not a good fit for

Shiji researchers who need the complete original text with detailed annotations
Specialist readers pursuing in-depth scholarly textual research and edition comparison
Readers who want only a full modern Chinese translation and are unwilling to engage with classical Chinese

Reading tips

Start with the table of contents, pick chapters on familiar figures to build interest, then read through in order
Keep pen and paper at hand to note relationships between figures and the sequence of events, so as to avoid confusion afterward
After each chapter, retell the main plot in your own words to test your understanding
Read alternately with Volume 2 to stay fresh and form an overall impression

About the publisher

Liaohai Publishing House China · Founded in 1996

Liaohai Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for textbooks and the collation of ancient works. Its publishing scope covers state-approved textbooks, local curriculum materials, supplementary educational books, and national and local ancient-text compilation projects, while also extending into humanities fields such as Eastern philosophy. Its catalog contains about 4,694 titles, with representative works including the multi-volume Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), and its author resources include classic writers and works such as Sima Qian and Confucius. Grounded in educational publishing and the transmission of traditional culture, the press maintains sustained investment in ancient-text collation, forming a publishing profile that balances textbooks and scholarship. Due to limited public information, its more specific publishing directions and features require further supplementation.

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FAQ

Is this set the complete Shiji?

No. According to the publisher's note, because the original is vast and inconvenient for general reading, the editor selected notable chapters and compiled them into this volume. It is a selected reader, not a complete collection of all chapters.

Can I read it without any grounding in classical Chinese?

You can try. The selections are mainly famous chapters with strong narrative appeal, but the main text remains in classical Chinese. Beginners should read slowly, using context and reference tools to understand, and need not wrestle with every character—grasping the general meaning first is enough.

What is the relationship between Volume 1 and Volume 2?

Both belong to the same selected reader, and each stands as an independent volume; the division of chapters is as given in each book's table of contents. Reading in volume order is recommended, though you may also start with chapters that interest you.

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About the author

Sima Qian Author · Chinese (Western Han)

Sima Qian was a historian, man of letters, and thinker of the Western Han dynasty. His courtesy name was Zichang, and he was a native of Xiayang in Zuo Fengyi (present-day Hancheng, Shaanxi). Succeeding his father Sima Tan as Grand Astrologer, he traveled widely to collect historical materials. Later, having suffered punishment in connection with the Li Ling affair, he endured humiliation and devoted himself to his work, ultimately completing the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji, originally titled Taishigong shu), China's first comprehensive history in the biographical (jizhuanti) style. The work covers events from the Yellow Emperor down to Emperor Wu of Han, organizing three thousand years of history through the five sections of annals, tables, treatises, hereditary houses, and biographies. Its narrative is concise and richly literary, its characters vividly drawn, and it has been praised as "the supreme swan song of historians." Later generations have often classified his writings under historical reading and Eastern philosophy, and his influence on Chinese historiography and literature has been profound.