Selections from Records of the historian

by Chʻien Ssu-ma

Bilingual books are a great way to compliment your Chinese studies, and this one includes 10 famous stories from the classic texts of "Shi Ji Quan - Records of the Historian, by Si Ma Qian (BC 145-86)." The book covers the Zhou, Qin, Qian, Han, and Wu Di dynasties (B.C. 1134- 101). It's a great book for learning about Chinese history and language. Written in English and simplified Chinese characters.

Genres: China, History

461 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Matthew]

Started reading this the other day and I am still trying to get a handle on this. Even mid-20th century China was extraordinarily different from the places in which I've spent my life. it''s going to be a minute on this one. My earliest impression is that the writings euro-mediterranean authors of antiquity typically come to us revised and reinterpreted so as to minimize their superstitious or long outmoded ideas. Such a process likely took place in the translation and editing of this work but with different concerns in mind. I am reading this book as part of a process of gaining an understanding those differences.

I will say this author reminds me more of some of the "compilers" of the Roman era than Greeks of an earlier era. I haven't, though read Herodotus for comparison and my knowledge of Roman writers is either through quotes or second-hand.