How to treat Sima Qian and Han Taishiling?

To study the history of China, we must take Historical Records as a case. It's not that all the records in Historical Records are accurate and credible, which can't be done by any historical book, but because Sima Qian, the author of Historical Records, is not only more talented than the author of Spring and Autumn Annals and later historical book authors, but also more credible-because he is the last real official.

Taishiling, also known as Taishiling, is the official name. According to legend, this post was held at the end of Xia Dynasty. The Taishiling in ancient China has a special position: on the one hand, this official position has similar privileges as the priests in theistic countries-communicating with God's will and mastering theocracy. According to his complicated and unique knowledge of astronomical calendar, which is difficult for others to master, he provided a theocratic basis for the use of political power through stargazing, divination and sacrifice. On the other hand, Taishiling is also one of the important consuls in this country. He is often responsible for drafting important documents of the monarch and managing national classics.

But for the real regime and the inheritance of Chinese civilization, the most important thing is that Taishiling should also be fully responsible for truthfully recording historical events and compiling historical books. In ancient China, people believed that seeking truth from facts, independent of anyone's opinions or intentions, was the power, responsibility and supreme law entrusted by God to Taishi.

Therefore, Taishiling is a type of work with high technical content and high requirements for moral integrity. In ancient times when writing and education were underdeveloped, especially in the pre-Qin period, the inheritance of this position, like many aristocratic positions, was usually passed down from generation to generation within the family.

Sima Qian, the author of Historical Records, was born in Taishi family, and his ancestors were Taishi family of Zhou Dynasty for a long time. His father, Sima Tan, is also an ambitious Taishiling. Sima Qian's thought of "studying the relationship between heaven and man, connecting the changes of ancient and modern times and making a family statement" is actually the ideal of father and son.

As we all know, Sima Qian's Historical Records is very refined. But in Historical Records, Sima Qian used a lot of pen and ink to describe and shape a lot of stories of his model predecessors. It can be seen that Sima Qian has a very strong sense of professional pride in the post of Taishi (Order). The deep feelings and intentions contained in all kinds of stories of the Taishi told by him are quite interesting.

There are also many stories about Taishiling in pre-Qin classics such as Zuo Zhuan, Warring States Policy and Lv Chunqiu. Different from Taishiling in Historical Records, Taishiling in Warring States Policy and other books is full of fatuous people and useless words. They are all outstanding people, and they feel closer to the truth of history than Sima Qian's Taishiling.

In my opinion, when studying history, we can neither blindly worship the "height" of the ancients nor neglect to underestimate the hearts of the sages-the primary purpose is to treat the ancients as human beings. They have the same interests as secular desires and have the same interests. Knowing this is necessary for us to understand Sima Qian, Historical Records and the story behind Historical Records!

Therefore, in order to explore the real past of China history and truly understand Sima Qian's position and intention in writing Historical Records, we must first understand Tai Shigong in Historical Records. Because what these Taishigong represent is actually Sima Qian's own ideals and feelings.