Sima Qian Themes of a Grand Historian
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Sima Qian's (ca. 145-ca. 90 B.C.) work had begun by his father Sima Tan (Schirokauer 64). When Sima Qian's father died who held the post of Tai-shi under the emperor Wu of Han, Sima Qian inherited both his post and his project. In his work, Sima Qian
"Includes annals of the imperial houses and of the royal houses of the feudal domains, chronological tables, and treatises on topics such as ceremony, the calendar, and music. But the greater pert of the work is composed of biographies, some of single individuals and some in comparative pairings" (Sima Qian 135).
As Sima Qian composed his work he would offer his own opinions and or comments at the end of each piece. This great historian echoed many themes throughout his work amongst them we see themes of revenge, failure, courage, and mainly honor...