What are the similarities and differences between Hanshu and Shiji in writing Sima Xiangru

The Book of Han, also known as the Book of the Former Han Dynasty, was compiled by the historian Ban Gu in the Eastern Han Dynasty of China, and annotated by Yan Shigu, which is the first chronicle of the Chinese dynasty.

The Records of the Historian is a biography written by the famous historian Sima Qian of the Western Han Dynasty, which is the first general history of the Chinese history, and is listed as the first of the "Twenty-four History", recording the history of more than 3,000 years from the time of the Yellow Emperor in ancient legends to the Yuan Hunt period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Together with the later "Book of Han", "Book of the Later Han", and "Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms", it is called the "First Four History".

The "Records of the Historians" is the first general history in the form of a biography in Chinese history, with a total of 130 chapters, which are divided into five forms: the book, the book, the table, the family, and the biography. A type of biography, which mainly records the affairs of the princes.

The birth of "Records of the Historian" is a major event in the history of Chinese culture. In his book "Outline of the History of Chinese Literature", Mr. Lu Xun praised "Historical Records" as "the swan song of historians, and the rhyme of separation". As far as the specific development of Chinese historiography is concerned, the contribution of the Records of the Historian is enormous.

First, to establish an outstanding genre of general history. The Records of the Historian is the first masterpiece of general history in the history of Chinese historiography that connects the ancient and the modern and covers hundreds of generations. It is no exaggeration to say that it is the most brilliant achievement in the history of ancient Chinese historiography or the most brilliant achievement in the history of ancient historiography in the world.

This is clear when compared with Herodotus' Histories. It is precisely because the "Records of the Historians" was able to compile a book from the past and the present, setting a precedent and setting an example, that those who imitated this genre and revised history began one after another. The family style of general history has always influenced the research and writing of modern historiography.

Second, the independent status of historiography has been established. In ancient China, historiography was included in the scope of classics and had no independent status of its own. Therefore, the book of history is attached to the back of "Spring and Autumn" in Liu Xin's "Seven Strategies" and Ban Gu's "Art and Literature Chronicles".

Since Sima Qian completed the "Historical Records", the author has continued to write more and more works on history. Therefore, Xun Xun of the Jin Dynasty adapted to the new requirements, and divided the classics of the past dynasties into four parts: Part A records the Six Arts Primary School, Part B records the military skills of the sons, Part C records the history of the emperor, and Part D records the poems and gives Tuzan.

As a result, the discipline of history has achieved an independent status in the field of Chinese academics. Drinking water and thinking about the source, this merit should be attributed to Sima Qian and his "Historical Records".

Third, the tradition of historical and biographical literature was established. Sima Qian's literary accomplishment is profound, and his artistic methods are particularly exquisite. Often some extremely complicated facts, he has been very appropriate, orderly, and then far away, knowledgeable, vivid, refined, full of feelings, handwritten, all the words are vertical and horizontal, the image is bright, so that people "exclaim and hit, do not know why it is".

Rong Zhai Essays, Historical Records Concise and Wonderful).

However, it must be pointed out that due to the limitations of the author's time and class, his view of history is idealistic, which also affects the historical authenticity and comprehensiveness of the content of his works to a certain extent.

The Chronicles warmly celebrates some of the characters from the lower middle classes; Many politicians, military strategists, thinkers, and patriots who have made great contributions are described, and their glorious achievements are praised. Some of the dark forces in history, such as tyrants, cool officials, and apostates, have been ruthlessly exposed and criticized. In particular, he dared to expose the founding kings of the present generation and the emperors of the current generation, showing the quality of uprightness and extraordinary courage.

In short, not to hide good and evil by the suspicion of being involved in high positions, not to judge heroes by success or failure, and not to obliterate achievements by high or low status, this is the uniqueness of the book "Historical Records", and it is also the great place of Sima Qian. The Records of the Historians is not only a great work of historiography, but also an excellent work of biographical literature. It pioneered a biographical genre centered on writing characters, vividly describing the characters, so that when people read these biographies, they feel as if they have entered a gallery of historical figures.

Its literary value is no less than its historiographical value. The vivid, concise, and fluent language of "Historical Records" is not only a model of prose works in later generations, but also a model for later generations of first-class artists and opera artists to learn from its skills in describing characters and organizing plots. Sima Qian.