Historical Records is the first biographical general history in the history of China. It was originally called Taishi Gongshu, or Taishi Gongji and Gong Ji. The author is Sima Qian of the Western Han Dynasty.
First, "Purple Tongzhi Sword"
Zi Tong Zhi Jian (often referred to as Tong Jian) is a multi-volume chronological history book edited by Sima Guang in the Northern Song Dynasty, with a total of 294 volumes, which took 19 years to complete. Mainly based on time and events, it began in the 23rd year of Zhou Weilie (403 BC) and ended in the 6th year of Xiande, Zhou Shizong after the Five Dynasties (959 AD), covering the history of 16 dynasties and 1362 years.
In this book, the editor summed up many experiences and lessons for the rulers to learn from. Song Shenzong thinks that this book is "in view of the past, it has the resources for governance", that is, to strengthen the rule by taking historical gains and losses as a warning, so it is named "Jane". Zitongzhijian has 294 volumes, about 3 million words, and Kaoyi and Catalogue have 30 volumes.
Zi Tong Zhi Jian is China's first chronological general history, which occupies a very important position in China's official history works.
Second, historical records.
Historical Records is a biographical history book written by Sima Qian, a historian of the Western Han Dynasty. It is the first biographical general history in the history of China, recording the history of four years and more than 3,000 years from the legendary Huangdi era to Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty. In the first year of Taichu (BC 104), Sima Qian began to create Taishi Gongshu, later called Shiji. It took 14 years before and after its completion.
Historical Records is listed as the first of the "twenty-four histories", and it is also called the "first four histories" with the later Hanshu, Houhanshu and the History of the Three Kingdoms, which has had a far-reaching impact on the development of later historiography and literature. His original biographical method of compiling history was passed down by the "official history" of later generations.
Historical Records is also an excellent literary work, which occupies an important position in the history of China literature. It is praised by Lu Xun as "a historian's swan song, and Li Sao has no rhyme", which has high literary value. Liu Xiang and others think that this book is "good in order and reason, argumentative but not flashy, qualitative but not vulgar".
References:
Purple Tongzhi Sword _ Baidu Encyclopedia
Historical Records _ Baidu Encyclopedia