Table of Contents
Why is Sima Qian important?
Sima Qian is important not only as a historian but also as a master of racy, flexible Chinese prose. He exerted a potent influence on later writers, particularly upon the early writers of narrative prose and fiction.
Why is Shiji important?
Shiji, (Chinese: “Historical Records”) Wade-Giles romanization Shih-chi, early history of China written about 85 bce by Sima Qian. The Shiji not only was the first general history of its kind attempted in China, but it also set a pattern in organization for dynastic histories of subsequent ages.
What did Sima Tan do?
Sima Tan studied astronomy with Tang Du, the I Ching under Yang He, and Daoism under Master Huang. He was appointed to the office of Court Astrologer (Chinese: 太史令; pinyin: tài shǐ lìng) at age 25 in 140 BCE, a position which he held until his death. Daoism (道家 Dào jiā) Legalism (法家 Fǎ jiā)
What is the subject of Sima Qian’s Shiji quizlet?
also known by its Chinese name Shiji (Chinese: 史記; pinyin: Shǐjì; literally “Historical Records”), written from 109 to 91 BC, was the magnum opus of Sima Qian, in which he recounted Chinese history from the time of the Yellow Emperor until his own time.
What makes Sima Qian a good scholar bureaucrat for the Han empire?
By his account, by the age of ten Sima was able to “read the old writings” and was considered to be a promising scholar. Sima grew up in a Confucian environment, and Sima always regarded his historical work as an act of Confucian filial piety to his father.
What did the Han rulers do to bring back respect for tradition?
How did Han rulers bring back respect for tradition during the Han dynasty? They encouraged people to return to the teachings of Confucius. This dynasty lasted only 15 years. This emperor expanded Chinese rule to its peak during the Han dynasty.
What did Sima Qian do for China quizlet?
What did Sima Qian do for China? Sima Qian spent his life writing the history of China which was passed down through stories from generation to generation. The Chinese people used his writings called Historical Records as their major source of information.
What was Sima Qian’s work called?
If only he could have seen the future as well as he saw the past. In today’s China, Sima Qian’s book, The Records of the Grand Historian, is regarded as the grandest history of them all.
How did Sima Qian change history in China?
Sima Qian took up his father’s work and finished the monumental work Records of the Grand Historian c. 94 BCE, enduring great personal suffering to do so. Records of the Grand Historian changed the way history in China was written as well as how it was understood.
What did Sima Qian do to Li Guangli?
When Sima Qian defended Li Ling, the emperor took it as an insult to Li Guangli, who was also defeated but not referenced in Sima Qian’s defense of Li Ling, and an insult to himself that a court astrologer should contradict the Chinese emperor ‘s decree.
Why was Sima Qian considered a promising scholar?
By his account, by the age of ten Sima was able to “read the old writings” and was considered to be a promising scholar. Sima grew up in a Confucian environment, and Sima always regarded his historical work as an act of Confucian filial piety to his father.
Why was Sima Qian sentenced to three years in prison?
Sima Qian chose humiliation, dishonor, castration, & three years in prison in order to finish the work because he believed in its importance. Emperor Wu ordered Sima Qian arrested and sentenced to death unless he could pay a large fine to have the sentence commuted.