Overview
Sima Qian was a Western Han historian and author of the Records of the Grand Historian.
PeriodQin and Han
IdentityHistorical · Male
Other names
| Type | English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal name | Grand Historian | 太史公 | Taishigong |
| Courtesy name | Zi Chang | 子長 | Zi Chang |
| Alternate name | the Historian | 史遷 |
Life and dates
Attested activity
- 秦火之餘Western Bounds On Or Before: BC 104 · Event Sima Qian's early archival collection for his history was already under way by Taichu 1 (BC 104), according to supplementary Shiji 130 evidence. This upper bound dates an early working phase, not completion of the whole history or his birth.Dated from the passage context · Book of Southern Qi 60, passage 20
- 兩漢以來爲史者Western Bounds On Or After: BC 99 · Event Sima Qian's later continuation and completion of his historical exposition follows the Li Ling punishment narrative, hence on or after Tianhan 2 (BC 99). The final completion year remains unknown; this is not a death bound or a claim about later additions by other writers.Dated from the passage context · Book of Southern Qi 60, passages 19-20
- BC 108 元封三年Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 115, passage 59
- BC 109 to BC 91 《史記》Strongly inferred · History of Song 106, passage 47
- BC 100 to BC 90 BC 100-90Dated from the passage context · Book of Southern Qi 48, passage 18
- BC 145 to BC 86 undated authorial first-person narrativeDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passages 8, 10, 13, 47
Show 63 more source-backed claims
- BC 109 余從負薪塞宣房Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 95
- BC 100 余獨悲韓子Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 141
- BC 110 元封元年冬Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 114, passages 60, 79
- BC 127 元朔二年中Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 108, passages 143-144
- BC 109 to BC 91 史記·天官書Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 26, passage 1
- BC 99 史遷Directly stated · Book of Liang 14, passage 39
- BC 100 史遷因以為《書》Strongly inferred · History of Liao 54, passage 5
- c. BC 110 to c. BC 90 司馬寡識而輕信Strongly inferred · History of Song 497, passage 32
- BC 145 to BC 86 司馬遷Strongly inferred · History of Liao 104, passage 91
- BC 145 to BC 86 司馬遷《史記》Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 68, passage 30
- BC 145 to BC 86 司馬遷不言Strongly inferred · Book of Han 69, passage 193
- BC 100 司馬遷天官書Strongly inferred · History of Liao 44, passage 45
- BC 100 司馬遷時代Strongly inferred · History of Liao 116, passage 1
- BC 99 to BC 91 司馬遷為李陵遊說Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 65, passage 218
- BC 120 吾視郭解Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 124, passage 124
- BC 100 吾過大梁之墟Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passage 153
- BC 126 to BC 119 吾適楚Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 170
- BC 104 太初之元Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passages 1, 34, 117
- BC 104 太初元年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passages 13, 61
- BC 104 太初曆Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passages 244-245
- BC 145 to BC 86 太史公Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 244
- BC 145 to BC 86 太史公敘九流Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passage 48
- BC 145 to BC 86 太史公時代Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 69
- BC 100 to BC 90 太史公曰：文帝時Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 25, passage 35
- BC 104 to BC 87 太史公曰Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 1
- BC 100 to BC 90 太史公曰Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 25, passage 223; Records of the Grand Historian 65, passage 157
- BC 100 to BC 90 太史公曰Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 236
- BC 108 to BC 90 太史公曰Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 244
- BC 110 to BC 90 太史公曰Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 104, passage 71
- BC 141 to BC 90 太史公曰Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 102, passages 133-134
- BC 145 to BC 90 太史公曰Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 100, passage 105
- BC 99 to BC 90 太史公曰Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 109, passage 173
- BC 104 to BC 91 太史公曰Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 62, passage 64
- BC 104 to BC 91 太史公曰Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 168
- BC 104 to BC 91 太史公曰
- BC 108 to BC 91 太史公曰Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 99
- BC 109 to BC 91 太史公曰
- c. BC 100 太史公曰Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 278
- c. BC 100 太史公曰Uncertain · Records of the Grand Historian 51, passage 67
- c. BC 100 太史公曰Derived from the source · Records of the Grand Historian 76, passage 221
- c. BC 100 太史公曰Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 98, passage 70; Records of the Grand Historian 113, passage 136
- BC 100 太史公曰Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 234; Records of the Grand Historian 13, passage 1; Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 147; Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 227; Records of the Grand Historian 58, passage 138; Records of the Grand Historian 59, passage 164; Records of the Grand Historian 68, passage 189; Records of the Grand Historian 80, passage 119; Records of the Grand Historian 90, passage 104; Records of the Grand Historian 103, passage 153
- BC 100 太史公曰
- BC 100 太史公曰Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 206; Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 111; Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 142; Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 114; Records of the Grand Historian 82, passage 51; Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 93; Records of the Grand Historian 93, passage 157; Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 185; Records of the Grand Historian 124, passage 9; Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 3
- BC 91 太史公曰Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 45, passage 194
- BC 91 太史公曰Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 119, passages 1, 77
- BC 100 太史公曰（漢）Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 215
- BC 145 to BC 86 太史公著述時Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 197
- c. BC 100 太史公著述時代Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 49, passage 4
- BC 145 to BC 86 太史公記六國Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 99, passages 153, 216
- BC 100 太史公論贊Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 237
- BC 100 太史公述贊Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 120, passage 159
- BC 145 to BC 86 子長…列傳Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 54
- BC 145 to BC 86 子長亦云Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 92, passage 16
- BC 141 後三年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 11, passage 119
- BC 109 於是卒塞瓠子Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passages 80, 95
- BC 100 漢則馬遷Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 88, passage 142
- BC 100 漢史記傳時代Strongly inferred · History of Liao 110, passage 3
- BC 145 to BC 86 漢興Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 91, passages 144, 148
- BC 141 to BC 87 漢興六十餘載Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 68, passages 254, 258; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 277, 282
- BC 145 to BC 86 班馬Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 72, passage 236
- BC 91 秦炬之後Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 28, passage 25
- BC 100 to BC 90 贊曰：司馬遷稱Strongly inferred · Book of Han 67, passage 260
Key source chapters
- Book of Han, Chapter 67 Volume 57b: Sima Xiangru 1 passage
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 64 Biography of Sima Rangju 1 passage
- Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 60 Preface 4 passages
- Book of Han, Chapter 68 Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan 3 passages
- Book of Han, Chapter 76 Volume 65: Dongfang Shuo 2 passages
Career and standing
- Grand Historian 太史公Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 11, passage 119; Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 1; Records of the Grand Historian 45, passage 194; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passage 67; Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 8; Records of the Grand Historian 62, passage 64; Records of the Grand Historian 68, passage 189; Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 180; Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 1; Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 170; Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 236; Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 168; Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 244; Records of the Grand Historian 113, passage 136; Records of the Grand Historian 119, passages 1, 77; Records of the Grand Historian 124, passage 9; Records of the Grand Historian 125, passage 68
- literary achievement 文章Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 282
- Grand Astrologer 太史令HeldDirectly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 244
- Grand Historian 太史公Held
- missions and high office 奉使方外或為郡國守相至公卿Directly stated · Book of Han 76, passage 230
Places and affiliations
- Han 漢Relation Lived underStrongly inferred · Book of Han 69, passage 193
- Han 漢Relation ServedDirectly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 244
- Han 漢Relation Served
- Western Han 漢Relation ServedDirectly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 258
- Polity Han · Relation ServedStrongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passages 13, 49
- Polity Han 漢 · Relation ServedStrongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 25, passage 35; History of Song 106, passage 47
Show 16 more source-backed claims
- Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
- Polity Western Han 漢 · Relation ServedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 107
- Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Served
- Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation ServedDirectly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 65, passage 218
- Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Subject ofDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 206
- BC 126 to BC 119 吾適楚At Chu 楚 · Relation Traveled toDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 170
- At Gusu 姑蘇 · Relation Traveled toDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 90
- At Kongtong 空桐 · Relation Traveled toDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 282
- At Kuaiji 會稽 · Relation Traveled toDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 90
- At Lidui 離碓 · Relation Traveled toDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 92
- At Longmen 龍門 · Relation Traveled toDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 93
- At Lord Chunshen's ancient city 春申君故城 · Relation VisitedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 170
- At Mount Lu 廬山 · Relation Traveled toDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 90
- At Shuofang 朔方 · Relation Traveled toDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 93
- At Xuanfang 宣房 · Relation Worked atDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 95
- At Zhuolu 涿鹿 · Relation Traveled toDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 282
Learning and skills
- Skill literary composition 文章 · Level renowned · Mode quotation Speaker Ban Gu (班固)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 282
Works and attributed material
- account of Sima Jizhu 司馬季主Relation AuthorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 108
- Biographies of Guan and Yan 管晏列傳Relation AuthorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 62, passage 65
- Biography of Sima Rangju 司馬穰苴列傳Relation AuthorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 64, passage 51
- Book of Rivers and Canals 河渠書Relation AuthorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 95
- Records of the Grand Historian 史記Relation AuthorStrongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 26, passage 1
- Records of the Grand Historian 史記Relation AuthorDirectly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 68, passage 30
Show 71 more source-backed claims
- basic annals opening chapter 本紀書首Relation CompiledDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 286
- Records of the Grand Scribe 太史公書Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passages 144, 148
- Annals of the Five Emperors 五帝本紀Relation AuthorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 286
- Bian Que and Lord Cang 扁鵲倉公列傳Relation AuthorDirectly stated · History of Jin 131, passage 48
- Biographies of Bian Que and Lord Cang 扁鵲倉公傳Relation AuthorDirectly stated · Book of Northern Qi 49, passage 4
- biographies of flatterers and harsh officials 佞幸、酷吏傳Relation AuthorDirectly stated · History of Liao 110, passage 3
- Biographies of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang 魯仲連鄒陽列傳Relation AuthorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passages 236-237
- Biographies of the Day Diviners 日者Relation AuthorDirectly stated · History of Jin 131, passage 48
- Biography of King Wuzhu of Minyue 閩越王無諸傳Relation AuthorDirectly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 68, passage 30
- Biography of Tian Dan 田儋列傳Relation AuthorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 95
- Book of Rivers and Canals 河渠書Relation AuthorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 95
- Book 書Relation AuthorDirectly stated · History of Liao 54, passage 5
- historical writings 史Relation AuthorDirectly stated · History of Liao 116, passage 1
- Records of the Grand Historian (Annals, Hereditary Houses, Eight Treatises, Biographies) 本紀、世家、八書、列傳Relation AuthorDirectly stated · Book of Southern Qi 60, passage 20
- Records of the Grand Historian 史記Relation Author
- Records of the Grand Historian 太史公書Relation AuthorDirectly stated · Draft History of Qing 468, passage 106
- Records of the Grand Scribe 太史公書Relation AuthorDirectly stated · Book of Han 91, passages 144, 148
- Records of the Grand Scribe 太史公書Relation AuthorStrongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 69
- Records of the Historian 史記Relation AuthorStrongly inferred · Book of Han 99, passage 153
- The Day Diviners 日者Relation AuthorDirectly stated · Book of Northern Qi 49, passage 4
- the historical records he was writing 所撰Relation AuthorDirectly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 65, passage 218
- Tortoise and Yarrow 龜策Relation AuthorDirectly stated · History of Jin 131, passage 48
- treatise on rivers and canals 河渠Relation AuthorDirectly stated · History of Yuan 66, passage 18
- Treatise on the Calendar 歷書Relation AuthorStrongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 13
- Treatise on the Heavenly Offices 天官書Relation Author
- Treatises on Tortoises and Divination 龜策Relation AuthorDirectly stated · Book of Northern Qi 49, passage 4
- Treatise on Korea 朝鮮列傳Relation CommentatorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 115, passage 59
- Grand Inception calendar 太初曆Relation CompilerDirectly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 245
- Guan clan writings and Yanzi Chunqiu 管氏書及晏子春秋Relation ReaderDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 62, passage 64
- Sima Military Methods 司馬兵法Relation ReaderDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 64, passage 49
- Historian judgment · Author · About Person Id Cao Shen (曹參)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 54, passages 147-150
- Historian judgment · Speaker · Direct quotation · Extent s0189, s0190, s0191, s0192, s0193Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 68, passages 189-193
- Historian remark · Author · Extent s0278, s0279, s0280, s0281, s0282, s0283, s0284, s0285, s0286Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passages 278-286
- Historian judgment · Author · Extent Unit Ids s0104, s0105, s0106, s0107, s0108 · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passages 104-108
- Appraisal · Author · Direct quotationDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passages 244-250
- Commentary · Author · [object Object] · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 260
- Commentary · Author · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 25, passages 35-37, 223-226
- Commentary · Author · Direct quotation
- Commentary · SpeakerDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passages 141-146
- Historian appraisal · Author · With Ying Bu (英布)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passages 168-172
- Historian appraisal · Author · ParaphrasedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 170-174
- Historian appraisal · Author · Direct quotationDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passages 90-96
- Of all great feudal kingdoms none surpassed King Daohui of Qi... later division was inevitable.Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passages 206-208
- Historian comment · Author · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)
- Historian comment · Author · Direct quotation
- Historian comment · AuthorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 11, passages 119-121; Records of the Grand Historian 50, passages 47-52; Records of the Grand Historian 59, passages 164-168; Records of the Grand Historian 80, passages 119-122; Records of the Grand Historian 88, passages 99-101; Records of the Grand Historian 100, passages 105-111; Records of the Grand Historian 102, passages 134-141; Records of the Grand Historian 109, passages 173-180
- Historian comment · Speaker · Units s0064, s0065, s0066, s0067, s0068, s0069, s0070, s0071, s0072, s0073Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 62, passages 64-73
- Historian comment · SpeakerDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passages 153-157
- Historian judgment · Author · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)
- Historian judgment · Speaker · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passages 93-99
- Historian judgment · Author · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 103, passages 153-156
- Historian judgment · Speaker · ParaphrasedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 82, passages 51-55
- Historian judgment · Author · Direct quotationDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passages 227-232
- Historian judgment · Speaker · Direct quotation
- Historian judgment · Author
- Historian judgment · Speaker
- Historian remark · Author · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 119, passages 1-3, 77-81
- Historian remark · Author
- Historian remark · Speaker · Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passages 107-108
- Historian remark · Speaker
- does not mention shared ancestry of Zhang Tang with the Marquis of LiuHistorical silence · AuthorDirectly stated · Book of Han 69, passage 193
- Judgment · Author · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passages 1-5
- Judgment · Author · Mode historian-judgment
- appraisal of Bai Qi and Wang JianJudgment · AuthorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 180-184
- Judgment · AuthorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 98, passages 70-71
- Memorial · Speaker · Direct quotationDirectly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 244
- Quotation · Speaker · Direct quotationDirectly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 260-262; Book of Later Han 92, passage 16
- Speech · Speaker · Mode historian-narrationDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 13, passages 1, 7-8, 10
- Speech · Speaker · Paraphrased · chapter opening judgmentDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 13
- Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
- Speech · Speaker · Speech Act historian's appraisalDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 237-242
Events and relationships
- Carried firewood at XuanfangDisaster response · Participant · At Xuanfang 宣房Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 95
- ClimbedTravel · Visitor · At Mount Ji 箕山Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 8
- Compiled genealogical tableScholarly · AuthorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 13, passage 10
- Gathered broken classics and hundred schools traditions after the Qin book burning to record good and evil and rise and fallScholarly · CompilerDirectly stated · Book of Southern Qi 60, passage 20
- Inspected waterwaysTravel · ObserverDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passages 90-93
- Listed among Han talents of the eraDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 282
Show 11 more source-backed claims
- ObservedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 124, passage 124
- Recorded Sima JizhuDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 108
- Recorded the full roster of the three houses' star officialsScholarly · Author · Recorded star officialsDirectly stated · History of Liao 44, passage 45
- Suffered calamityDirectly stated · History of Liao 104, passage 91
- SurveyedBC 126 to BC 119 吾適楚 · Travel · Traveler · At Lord Chunshen's ancient city 春申君故城Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 170
- Traveled west north east south to sites of Huangdi Yao ShunTravel · TravelerDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 282
- Visited rites office and observed Three DynastiesScholarly · ObserverDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 3
- Relation Friend of · Person Feng Sui (馮遂)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 102, passage 133
- Relation Friend of · Person Tian Ren (田仁)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 104, passage 73
- Relation Colleague of · Person Hu Sui (壺遂)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 108, passage 144
- Relation Spoke in defense of · Person Li Ling (李陵)Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 65, passage 218
Assessments and attributes
- Assessment pursued mere reputation rather than true renown · About Person Id Lü Buwei (呂不韋) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 99
- Assessment master of extraordinary tactics · About Person Id Tian Dan (田單) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 82, passage 55
- Assessment cunning and strategy surpassed others; endured captivity hoping for another chance · About Person Ids Wei Bao (魏豹), Peng Yue (彭越) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passages 104-108
- Assessment guests multiply with power and vanish without it · Mode historian-judgment · About Person Ids Ji An (汲黯), Zheng Dangshi (鄭當時)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 120, passage 159
- Assessment Han Jue's restoration of Zhao Wu fulfilled Cheng Ying and Gongsun Chujiu's righteousness and was a hidden virtue under Heaven · About Person Ids Han Jue (韓厥), Zhao Wu (趙武), Cheng Ying (程嬰), Gongsun Chujiu (公孫杵臼) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 45, passage 194
- Assessment admires Yan Zi enough to hold the whip for him · Mode self-report Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 62, passage 73
Show 31 more source-backed claims
- Assessment all originated from Way and virtue, yet Laozi was profound and far-reaching · With Laozi (老子) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 146
- Assessment benefits and harms of water are immense · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 94
- Assessment enfeoffment-of-officials-caused-by-subtle-fate · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passages 244, 248
- Assessment favor and disfavor shift to extremes; Mi Zixia's conduct illustrates later flatterers · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 125, passages 68-70
- Assessment General Li's upright personal example moved others · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 109, passages 175, 177
- Assessment greatly confused whether so-called heaven's way is so or not · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 47
- Assessment grieves for Bo Yi's intent; finds the lost poem strange · With Bo Yi (伯夷) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 13
- Assessment Guo Jie ordinary in appearance and speech yet universally admired as the standard of knight-errantry · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷) · With Guo Xie (郭解)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 124, passages 124-125
- Assessment Han Xin and Lu Wan rose by cunning and force then perished after relying on barbarians · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 93, passages 157-158
- Assessment judged Lord Chunshen later muddled and controlled by Li Yuan, applying the proverb on failing to act when one should · With Lord Chunshen (春申君) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 172-174
- Assessment judged that Li Li's death helped Duke Wen of Jin uphold state law · With Li Li (李離) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 119, passage 81
- Assessment judged that Shi She's death established King Zhao of Chu's reputation · With Shi She (石奢) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 119, passage 80
- Assessment Laozi valued emptiness and non-action; subtle and hard to recognize · With Laozi (老子) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 142
- Assessment limited-knowledge-and-credulous · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · History of Song 497, passage 32
- Assessment literary composition (文章) · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 258
- Assessment noted Gongyi Xiu expelled his wife after seeing fine cloth · With Gongyi Xiu (公儀休) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 119, passage 79
- Assessment noted that Zheng's people wailed when Zi Chan died · With Zichan (子產) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 119, passage 78
- Assessment obscured sage laws, inverted right and wrong, and selected mistaken confused material; could not fully convey the sages' inner truth · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · Book of Southern Qi 60, passages 21-22, 24
- Assessment praised Lord Chunshen's early clarity of wisdom in persuading King Zhao of Qin and risking his life to return the Chu crown prince · With Lord Chunshen (春申君) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 171
- Assessment praised Sun Shuao for restoring the Ying market with a single word · With Sunshu Ao (孫叔敖) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 119, passage 77
- Assessment remarks on pre-Shennong ignorance · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 3
- Assessment Sima Military Methods are vast and profound, but their literary style merits little praise · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 64, passage 49
- Assessment skilled at applying ideas; benevolent; loved reputation · Target Person Id Yuan Ang (袁盎) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passages 197, 200
- Assessment sought private revenge rather than urgently saving the situation · Target Person Id Chao Cuo (晁錯) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 203
- Assessment Spring and Autumn, Changes, Greater Odes, and Lesser Odes differ in subject but share one moral thread · Mode quotation Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 260-261
- Assessment success and failure turn like intertwined strands of a twisted cord · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 113, passage 145
- Assessment talent for a good historian · Assessor Person Id Emperor Wu of Han (漢武帝) · Mode named-person-judgment Source Person Id Emperor Wu of Han (漢武帝)Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 65, passage 218
- Assessment The Han clan's accomplishments in Jin had not seemed especially great, yet with Zhao and Wei they rightly endured as feudal lords for more than ten generations · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 45, passages 195-196
- Assessment Tian Shu upheld righteousness and remedied the ruler's faults · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 104, passage 72
- Assessment towering talent and extraordinary man among historians after the Three Dynasties · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · Book of Southern Qi 60, passage 23
- Assessment Yue ancestors had great merit and virtue; line endured long · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 114, passage 79
Source notes
- Historicity historicalDirectly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 69; Book of Jin 72, passage 236; History of Liao 44, passage 45; Records of the Grand Historian 50, passage 47; Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 8; Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 170; Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 236; Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 244; New Book of Tang 194, passage 54
- Value historicalDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 282
References in the histories
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