Chapter 67 The swan song of historians, Li Sao without rhyme

"Historical Records" was born because of Ma Qian of Taishi Company, and Sima Qian has also been famous for thousands of years because of "Historical Records", and it has not declined to this day.Mr. Lu Xun, the most famous writer in China in the 20th century, praised it as: "The swan song of historians, the Li Sao without rhyme." Sima Qian inherited his father's order when he was young, and took it as his own responsibility to write a general history of ancient and modern times.His father worked hard to cultivate him from a young age, and made him live in the countryside before the age of ten, experiencing the sufferings of the people.After the age of ten, he recited "Shangshu" and other classical works with the great Confucian scholars of ancient literature and classics.Later, his father died, and Sima Qian followed his father's order and inherited the position of Taishiling, so he gained access to historical documents and important archives.All this indicates that a generation of historians is about to grow up.

However, if it only stops here, Sima Qian will not have the reputation he has today, nor will he be admired, revered, and sympathized by future generations.What makes him even greater is that he is a historian and at the same time a great lyric poet. He sees things sharply and thoroughly, but emotion is the basis of his excellent insights; he satirizes many characters, but there is still a lot of cuteness in his writing; if his history books do not add "" The word "romantic" lacks the breath of life and the cornerstone of immortality. In 99 AD, the most tragic event in Sima Qian's life happened.

Li Ling, a descendant of Li Guang, attacked the Xiongnu with less than 5,000 soldiers. He fought against more than 100,000 enemies.When the news came, Emperor Wu was furious, and all the officials rushed to slander Li Ling.Sima Qian thought that Li Ling was born and died, disregarding his own life and safety, and the officials were in the rear to protect his wife's property.With grief and indignation, he stood up to defend Li Ling, and finally offended Emperor Wu because of this, and was convicted and sent to prison. According to the law, Sima Qian was sentenced to death or corruption instead.Those sentenced to this punishment can redeem their lives with 500,000 yuan, but Sima Qian's family has no money left and is unable to make atonement.Should he bear the burden of humiliation in order to accomplish an unprecedented and unprecedented feat, or should he put all his eggs in one basket and prove his innocence with his death?Sima Qian was faced with a painful choice.

He didn't want to live in the world in a mediocre way, but his father and himself had not fulfilled their long-cherished wish, so they were willing to suffer corruption and wait for the future.After being released from prison, Sima Qian worked hard to write "Historical Records", hoping to "study the time between heaven and man, understand the changes of the past and the present, and form a family statement."Three hundred articles, most of which are written by sages and sages, and "Historical Records" is no different.Sima Qian endured the humiliation of corruption and finally completed this masterpiece.

"Historical Records" is a general history that runs through ancient and modern times. It begins with the legendary Yellow Emperor and continues to the first year of Yuanshou, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. It narrates the history of our country for about three thousand years.The whole book consists of twelve chapters in the annals, ten chapters in tables, eight chapters in books, thirty chapters in aristocratic families, and seventy chapters in biographies, making a total of 130 chapters.It created a precedent for biographical history books and was emulated by future generations of historians.