史记 - 简体中文版

The *Records of the Grand Historian* (Shiji) is China's first comprehensive history written in biographical style, penned by Sima Qian. It records over 3,000 years of history (philosophy, politics, economics, military affairs, etc.) from the legendary Yellow Emperor era to the first year of Emperor Wu of Han's Yuanshou reign. Initially, the *Records of the Grand Historian* did not have a fixed title; it was sometimes called "The Book of the Grand Historian," "The Biography of the Grand Historian," or simply "The Grand Historian." "Shiji" was originally a general term for ancient historical works, but from the Three Kingdoms period onwards, it gradually became the specific term for "The Book of the Grand Historian." The *Records of the Grand Historian*, along with the *Book of Han* (Ban Gu), the *Book of the Later Han* (Fan Ye and Sima Biao), and the *Records of the Three Kingdoms* (Chen Shou), are collectively known as the "Four Histories of the Former Period." Liu Xiang and others believed that this book "clearly narrates events and principles, is eloquent without being flowery, and simple without being vulgar." It is considered one of the "Twin Jewels of Historiography," alongside Sima Guang's *Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government*.