Original text and detailed explanation of Sima Qian's "Bao Ren An Shu"

When Sima Qian was thirty-eight, his stepfather was Taishiling. He went to prison at the age of 47 and went to prison for Li Ling. After he got out of prison, he was ordered by a China book reviewer. Biography of Sima Qian in Han Dynasty: According to legend, "after being sentenced, he was ordered to be a minister and respected." It is a secret position of the imperial court to command ministers to go in and out and play things. Letter to Ren was written when he was appointed as the secretariat.

Ren was born in Xingyang. He used to be the secretariat of Yizhou and the guardian of the northern army. One hundred and forty biographies in Historical Records are all accompanied by Biography of Ren 'an and supplemented by Mr. Chu. Ren 'an, a friend of Sima Qian's, wrote to Sima Qian, asking him to take advantage of the position of secretariat to "promote the sage to be a scholar". After a long time, Sima Qian answered this letter to him. This letter was written in November of the fourth year of Liang Wudi's reign (in 93 BC, Sima Qian was 53 years old). At that time, Ren An was imprisoned for something, and the situation was dangerous. The letter considered Ren An's death. However, Ren An was pardoned by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Mr. Chu's statement to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty: "I try my best to live for Amdo's death" probably refers to this matter. A few years later, Ren An was killed by Emperor Wu because of his unclear attitude towards the prince.

In this article, Sima Qian expressed his misfortune with great anger, expressed his infinite inner pain, boldly exposed the moody and headstrong of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, put forward a relatively progressive view of life and death, and showed his indomitable fighting spirit to realize his precious ideals. Sincere feelings, fluent language and strong artistic appeal. It is of great value to understand the author's life and thoughts.

Original text:

Tai Shigong, Niu Ma and Sima Qian, thank you again.

Shao Qing's first step: those who refuse to give books insult others, teach them to be careful with what they receive, and admire sages and scholars and be diligent. If you expect your servants, you should use vulgar people. Servants must dare to do so. Although I stopped talking, I also tasted the legacy of the old man. Gu thinks that he is physically disabled and filthy, especially when he moves, and he wants to gain benefits, so he is depressed and has nothing to say. As the saying goes, "Who did it? What makes you listen? " Guy Zhong Ziqi died, and Boya never played the piano again. What is this? Scholars are bosom friends, and women are self-respecting. If the servant lacks quality, although he is easy-going and easy-going, he can't be proud of it in the end, just enough to laugh and nod.

Answer the words in the book. Huidong came from above and forced the base. When you meet someone who hates you, you are never tired. Today, Shao Qing is in trouble, involved in October, forcing winter, and his servants are in harmony, so he is afraid of death. It is the servant who can't let go of his anger at dawn, but the long-dead soul has endless personal hatred. Please remain humble in Chen Gu. Don't row without reporting.

The servant hears it, the self-cultivation is wise, the love is benevolent, the righteous is brave, and the famous is extremely good. Scholars have these five things, and then they can be entrusted to the world and listed among gentlemen. Therefore, misfortune is not good, sorrow is not sorrow, ugliness is humiliation, and shame is greater than castration. There are countless people at large, and they are never far away. Yesterday and Yong Qu Zai, Confucius adapted to Chen; Shang Yang was chilling because of his fine sword; Riding with the same son, silk discoloration: shame since ancient times. A very talented person, concerned about the official position, but not angry, is a very generous person! Although there are fewer Koreans now, how can we make the knife and saw recommend the world? Servants rely on their ancestors' career and have to be punished for more than 20 years. Therefore, self-reliance: on top of it, you can't be faithful, and you have a reputation for being resourceful and self-aware; Secondly, we can't fill vacancies, we can't recruit talents, and we can't show the people in the rock; In addition, you can't prepare martial arts, attack the city and fight the field, and have the right to cut the flag; Next, you can't work hard for years, be respectful and generous to officials, and think that the clan makes friends with them. None of the four works, and there is no short-term effect, as you can see here. The township doctor and the servant doctor also tasted the toilet and finally discussed it with the foreign hospital. I don't think about it at this time, but I have lost the shape of a servant to sweep it. In it, I want to hold my head high, believe it as an eyebrow, and talk about right and wrong, not only to despise the court, but also to humiliate the wicked in the world! Ha ha! Ha ha! If you are a servant, what can you say? What are you talking about?

And the end of the story is not clear. A servant with few unruly talents has no reputation as a country song. Fortunately, their ancestors let them in and out of Zhou Wei. The servant thinks that wearing a basin is the reason for looking up at the sky, so he knows nothing about the guests, forgets the things at home, and thinks about exhausting his unscrupulous talents day and night, trying to please his relatives and flatter his master. This is a big fallacy, otherwise. Both the husband and wife and Li Ling live under the door, but they are not in love with each other and have different interests. They have never had a glass of wine to welcome this kind of hospitality. But the servant thinks he is a strange man, filial, trustworthy with scholars, honest financially and upright. He had to give in, be humble and frugal, and always think about the urgency of benefiting the country. Its stock has also accumulated, and I think it has the wind of a national scholar. Strangely, my wife and I ignored my life plan and went to public office. Today is a bad move, but ministers who spend their lives protecting their wives will be short-lived and their servants will be heartbroken. Moreover, Li Ling's foot soldiers are less than 5,000, and they are deeply trained in the land of military strategists. He lives in Wang Ting, the bait is in the jaws of death, and he is a teacher of billions. Killed by Khan Lien Chan for more than ten days. Saving lives is not given by Lu, but by the ruler who is afraid of salt shock. He was told that a country * * * would attack the wise king and the man who led the bow. Thousands of miles, the vector is exhausted, the reinforcements are insufficient, and the foot soldiers are killed and injured. However, when Li Ling called the army, all the soldiers could not afford it. They bowed and wept, drew blood and wept, lost their breath and killed each other in the north. Before the grave robbery was over, there was a report that Han Gongqing's vassals had been given a life. A few days later, the mausoleum was defeated by the book, and the king refused to eat it, so he listened. The minister was afraid and didn't know what to say. I didn't expect to be humble, but when I saw the master's grief, I really wanted to work for his folly, thinking that Li Lingshu and the scholar-officials were extremely generous and could get people's right to die, although they were only ancient stars. Although the defeat is glorious, we should pay attention to its intentions and get what we want. There's nothing we can do. It has destroyed enough to make the world full of violence. Servants want to be honest, but they can't. When you are comfortable, you will be asked to ask questions, that is, you will use this to refer to Gong Ling, and you will want to fill in the words with Zhu Guang's meaning. Failing to make it clear, the wise master didn't know much, thinking that the servant was in the second division, but he was lobbying for Li Ling, so he went on to reason. The loyalty of boxing itself is incalculable. Because of false accusation, the death will be discussed with the official. If the family is poor, there is not enough money to redeem themselves, and it is impossible to save friends. Near left, near right is not a word. I am not a wooden stone, and I am deeply embarrassed to be alone with the judges. Who can tell me! Shao Qing saw this with his own eyes. Is the servant's behavior evil? Li ling was born and descended, and the sound of his family descended, and his servant's silkworm room was full of velvet, which made him laugh at the world. Sad husband! Sad husband!

It is not easy. This is a layman's word. Fu Dan's book, literary and historical ephemeris are almost between divination and blessing, which strengthens the teasing of the Lord, advocates the superiority of livestock and despises vulgarity. If the servant is punished, what is the difference between nine cows and ants? However, this world is not compared with people who can die. They think that lack of wisdom is a heinous crime and cannot be exempted from customs, so they will die. What is this? It is the result of self-establishment. People are inherently mortal, and death is heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather, so it is different. Don't insult your body first, then you don't insult your body, then you don't insult your color, then you don't insult your words, then you don't insult your body, then you don't insult your clothes, then you don't insult Guan Musuo, then you don't insult your hair, young gold and iron, then you don't insult your skin and branches, and finally you don't insult corruption. It is said that "punishment is not a doctor", and this statement cannot be ignored. When the tiger was in the mountains, all the animals were surprised, caught in a trap, wagging its tail for food, and gradually gained power. Therefore, it is wrong for scholars to seek for prisons, and it is also wrong to log for officials. Today, making friends with brothers, suffering from wooden ropes, attacking flesh and blood, suffering from lists, living in the wall. When I see the jailer at this time, I will be worried. who is it? So is the trend of accumulating prestige. At this point, the so-called strong face is strong and expensive! And Xibo, Bo also, detained; Li Si, Xiang Ye, five punishments; Huaiyin, forced by Chen; Peng Yue, Zhang Ao and Nan Xiang are called orphans. They are all guilty and imprisoned. Crimson Hou Zhu Lu, right pour five bo, imprisoned in the room; General Stephy, also, took off his clothes; Ji Bu is a slave of Zhujiajian; Irrigate the husband's humiliating room. This person is all among the princes and princes, and he has heard about neighboring countries. His crimes are too numerous to mention, and he cannot attract his own wealth. In the dust, the ancient and the modern are integrated, and it does not disgrace the mission! From this point of view, courage and fear, potential also; Force, shape also. It's strange to judge! Besides, people can't get rid of money and ink, but it's just to attract festivals, so it's not far away! Almost for this reason, ancient people severely punished doctors. My wife loves life and hates death. She misses her relatives and cares about her wife. If she dares to do what is right, she must do it. Unfortunately, this servant has lost two relatives, no brothers' relatives, and he is single and isolated. How can Shao Qing take his servant as his wife? And the brave don't have to die, and you're afraid of your husband's bravery. Where is it? Although servants are afraid of living, they are quite aware of the difference between going and not going. How can he be ashamed of himself? What's more, the husband and wife can make decisions, if the servant has to! Therefore, those people who linger on, believe in pollution, hate endless selfishness, are despicable, and have poor literary talent.

Ancient people were rich and famous, but they couldn't remember. Only extraordinary people say nothing. Gaspar was arrested and played in Zhouyi; Zhong You wrote Spring and Autumn Annals; Qu Yuan's exile is a tribute to Li Sao. Zuo Qiu is blind and has "Mandarin"; The ruler of the revised version of Sun Tzu's Art of War; It's not Shu, but Lu Lan. Han Fei imprisoned Qin, expressing embarrassment, loneliness and anger. There are 300 poems, which is also an angry move of great sages. This person has a sense of stagnation and can't understand it, so he tells the past and thinks about new people. And if Zuo Qiuming loses his eyes and his grandson breaks his foot, then he will never be able to play. He will retire from the book and think about it. Servants are not inferior to thieves, but rely on incompetence to collect old news in the world, test it and test its success or failure. Every 130 articles also want to learn from the changes of ancient and modern times and become a family statement. If grass is not made, it will be a disaster, if it is not made, it will die, and if it is not democratic, it will be punished. I wrote this book, a famous mountain in Tibet, and it spread to people all over the city, so I paid the responsibility for my previous humiliation. Although he was killed, do you have any regrets? However, this can be said to the wise, but not to outsiders.

The negative is hard, dirty and slanderous. When a servant encounters this kind of disaster in spoken language, he smiles for his hardworking hometown and insults his ancestors. How can he go back to his parents' grave? Although it has been a hundred years, it is very dirty! It is because the intestines are nine times a day that you will suddenly die if you live in them, but when you go out, you don't know where to go. Every time I think about my shame, I sweat profusely. I would rather be a boudoir minister than lead myself to the evil hidden in the cave! Therefore, we must float from the vulgar and keep pace with the times in order to get rid of its madness. Nowadays, Shao Qing is taught to push the sage to the scholar, and there is nothing wrong with the servant's private finger. Today, although I want to carve my own story, it is useless to explain it to myself. It will only insult vulgar people. I want to die and then decide right or wrong. This book can't be the best, so it is a bit rough in Chen Gu. Goodbye.

Translation:

Master Tai, Sima Qian, who is willing to help you, pays tribute to you again. Shao Qing's first step: In the past, it was very kind of you to write to me, teach me to be careful with others and recommend talents. Feelings are sincere, as if complaining that I didn't do what you said, and also echoing the layman's point of view. I didn't. Please allow me to talk about my stubborn and humble ideas. I hope you don't blame me for not replying to you for a long time.

My ancestors, who didn't get the extraordinary feats like Dan Shu and Iron Voucher, were engaged in drafting documents, compiling historical materials, recording astronomical phenomena and making legal calendars. (Their position) is close to the position between divination officials and Taizu. They were originally teased by the emperor, raised as musicians and actresses, and despised by customs. If I am punished by law and sentenced to death, it will be like losing a hair on nine cows. What's the difference with ants? And the world will not treat me as a mortal, but will only think that I am exhausted and sinful. I couldn't get rid of myself and finally died. Why? This is due to the position he usually holds. People are always going to die. Some people are heavier than Mount Tai, while others are lighter than a feather. This is because the dead knot is applied in different places. The first category is not humiliating our ancestors, the second category is not humiliating ourselves, the second category is not humiliating face, the second category is not humiliating words, the second category is being humiliated by prisoners, the second category is putting on prison clothes, the second category is being beaten with instruments of torture, the second category is shaving hair, strangling with iron ropes, the second category is losing skin and limbs, and the last category is corruption and humiliation to the extreme. The Book of Rites says, "Doctors should not punish." This means that scholars must maintain their moral integrity. When the tiger is in the deep mountains, all the wild animals are very afraid of it. When you are locked in a cage or fall into a trap, you wag your tail and beg for food, which is the result of gradually subduing it with strength. So for scholars, drawing a prison on the ground (even) makes people afraid to go in; Even a wooden warder dared not confront him, and he had to commit suicide to be punished (to avoid humiliation). Now his hands and feet are tied with instruments of torture, he takes off his clothes, is beaten with a stick, and is locked in four walls. At this time, I hit my head on the ground when I saw the jailer, and I was scared when I saw the jailer. Why? This is (also) the result of the gradual development of power restriction. At this stage, we still say that we are not ashamed, but we are just so-called "thick-skinned". Where can we be distinguished? Besides, Xibo is the leader of a vassal, but he is imprisoned in prison; Reese was the prime minister and received five sentences. Han Xin, king of Huaiyin, was king, but he put instruments of torture on Chen. Peng Yue and Zhang Ao were lonely when they sat on the throne, and later they were both arrested and imprisoned. Zhou bo, Jiang Hou, killed Lu's henchmen with greater power than the five tyrants in the Spring and Autumn Period, and was imprisoned in a special prison to "ask for a room"; Dou Ying, Marquis of Wei Qi, was a general, and later put on the clothes of sinners, wearing instruments of torture on his hands, feet and neck. Ji Bu, the general of Xiang Yu, later shaved his head, strangled his neck with a hoop and became a slave of Zhu Jiajun. The irrigator was insulted in the holding cell. These people are in the position of princes and princes, and their reputation is known to neighboring countries. Once you are guilty, you will be punished by law and you can't commit suicide. How can you not be insulted when you fall into the dust? It has always been like this. It can be seen that courage or cowardice, strength or weakness are all determined by the situation. What's strange about understanding this truth? It is impossible for a person to commit suicide long before being punished, so his ambition gradually declines. When he was punished with a stick, he thought he would die with honor. Is it too far from honor? This is probably why the ancients punished doctors cautiously.

As far as human nature is concerned, there is no one who is not greedy for life and hates death and misses his parents, wife and children. As for those who are excited by justice and axioms, this is not the case, because they have to. Unfortunately, I lost my parents in my early years, and I have no brothers and am alone. As for how I treat my wife and children, can Shao Qing see it? Moreover, the brave may not die of honor, but the cowardly who advocate morality can encourage themselves not to be humiliated anytime and anywhere. Although I am timid and want to live my own life, I know how to sacrifice my life for righteousness, so why not accept the insult of being tied by a rope! Besides, people like handmaids and concubines can commit suicide (without being humiliated). What do I have to do? The reason why I drag out an ignoble existence is that I would rather be imprisoned in prison like dirt, because my wish has not been fully realized, I am ashamed to die in obscurity, and my literary talent cannot be revealed to future generations.

In ancient times, there were countless people with wealth and status, but their names were all buried. Only outstanding people are praised by future generations. King Wen interpreted the Book of Changes when he was in prison. Confucius wrote the Spring and Autumn Period in poverty. Qu Yuan wrote Li Sao after he was exiled. Zuo Qiuming wrote Mandarin after he became blind. Sun Bin's kneecap was cut off and Sun Tzu's Art of War was compiled. Lv Buwei was demoted to Shu, and Lv Chunqiu was spread all over the world. Han Fei was imprisoned in the State of Qin and wrote Difficult Talks and Lonely Anger. As for the Book of Songs, there are 300 articles, most of which were written by sages to express their feelings. These writers felt depressed and uncomfortable in their hearts, and their ideas were not accepted by people at that time, so they described their experiences and let future generations know themselves. For example, Zuo Qiuming is blind and Sun Bin has a broken leg. After all, he cannot be used by the world. So he went home and wrote a book to express his resentment, hoping to leave words to express his thoughts.

I'm overreaching. Recently, I pinned my wish on useless words, collected the lost literature in the world, roughly researched the actions of historical figures, observed their process from beginning to end, and investigated the laws of their success, failure and rise and fall. From Xuanyuan Huangdi to now, I have written ten tables, twelve biographies, eight chapters, thirty aristocratic families and seventy biographies. I also want to use it to explore the law of heaven and personnel, understand the historical development process from ancient times to the present, and achieve the theory of one family. It's been drafted, but it's not finished yet, so it's a disaster. I'm sorry I didn't write it. I'd rather be castrated than look angry. I really want to finish this book, (temporarily) hide it in a famous mountain, (later) pass it on to like-minded people, and make it popular in metropolis, so that I can make up for the humiliation I suffered in prison before, even if I was killed 10 thousand times, I will regret where I went! However, these words can only be said to knowledgeable people, and it is hard to say to outsiders.

Moreover, it is not easy to live in a guilty situation. Being humble, there are many criticisms and accusations. I suffered this disaster because I spoke to the emperor (carelessly), and I was laughed at by my neighbors, so that my ancestors were humiliated. How can I have the face to sweep my parents' graves again? Even after another hundred generations, it will only be more humiliating! So my mind is full of pain, and I am always in a trance at home, as if I have lost something and I don't know where to go when I go out. Every time I think about this great shame, I don't sweat or get wet! As a junior minister in the palace, how can you leave the palace and live in seclusion in the cave? So I had to go with the flow and conform to the ethos of the times to express my inner grief and indignation. Now Shao Qing teaches me to recommend talented people. Isn't this against my private wishes? Although I (also) want to dress myself up and whitewash myself with beautiful words, it's not good for the world and I can't win people's trust. This can only lead to insult. In short, on the day of death, there will be a conclusion about right and wrong. This letter can't express my meaning in detail, just talk about some solid and simple ideas. Greetings to you again.

Comments of Famous Scholars on Historical Records

Sun Zhisheng: Shi Qian was depressed and published Historical Records; I was depressed when I wrote Historical Records, so I published this book. If you know this book, you will know a Historical Records, which will cover up all your troubles and vent them here. This is a great article. (Comment on Selected Works of Zhaoming)

Sun Yuefeng: Rough and bitter, easy to write, but vigorous and straight, the pen is really like a dragon, carrying wind and rain; And there are often many dangerous words in dangerous sentences. I think they are strange when I look at them, but I can't exercise their structure. Ancient sages and sages are the standard words. So far, they have changed a lot and have been excellent for hundreds of generations.

He also said: Anyone whose words are expensive and refined, this article is not practiced and unclean; The Doctrine of the Mean is called "surplus" and "dare not exhaust", but it is both "surplus" and "surplus". It is difficult to use words, but it is full of charm. Readers are more convinced of its ups and downs, and those who practice it are insignificant. (Comment on Selected Works of Zhaoming)

Husband moved the idea of saving Li Ling's attack, but wanted to protect Ling's ears, so he had to be a teacher. The emperor was angry and wanted to start his career, lobbying for Ling, and the crime of moving was even more unbearable. With the strict usage of Emperor Wu and the intention of Emperor Li Fudi to move the law, can the death of moving be avoided? ..... Depending on the failure recorded in the history books, please reduce your capital crime to a first-class punishment and tell your stepfather about your history; The emperor also cherished his talents and could not bear to be punished, but moved to the silkworm house, out of his own initiative. (Ming "Qin Heshan House Manuscript" Volume 5)

The biggest purpose of moving books is to publish Sima Jia's words, which is the same as Xunzi written by Xunzi and Chunqiu Fan Lu written by Dong Sheng. But their family's words were published in the form of history, so it is impossible for people who look at historical records with modern history and concepts to know them. (Liang Qichao, "Solving Problems with Necessary Books and Reading Methods")

Lu Xun: the swan song of historians, Li Sao has no rhyme

The highest evaluation is Sun Yuefeng.

The most famous evaluation is Lu Xun.