Sima Qian(司馬遷)(145 BC -
86 BC)
His surname is (Sima), his parents called
him (Qian), his friends called him (Zichang) when he was growing up, and he was
born in Shanxi Province, China.
|
司 |
It means to be in charge. It is also one
of the Chinese surnames. |
|
馬 |
It means horse. It is also a Chinese
surname. |
|
遷 |
It means to change. It means to transfer. |
|
子 |
It means baby and is also one of the
Chinese surnames. |
|
長 |
It means length. It is also one of the
Chinese surnames. |
He was China's most outstanding astronomer
and historian, and his story is recorded in history books.
He began reading ancient Chinese classics
at the age of 10 and left home when he was 20. He spent several years
travelling throughout China.
During his travels, he visited many
historical sites and learned about the customs and culture of different places.
His father was the chief astronomer and
historian of the Han Dynasty, and he succeeded his father after his father's
death.
His father told him this before he died.
China has a very long history, about 2,000
years since ancient times and more than 100 years since the founding of the Han
Dynasty.
Over the past 100 years, our country has
become more powerful, our economy has become more prosperous, and the central
government has attached more importance to preserving culture.
The central government has collected a lot
of ancient books and classical materials. My dream is to write a history book
of China from ancient times to the present, but I can't fulfil my dream. I am
dying. I hope that after I die, you can fulfil my dream and complete this book
of Chinese history from ancient times to modern times.
With tears in his eyes, he agreed to his
father's last wish. Only after hearing his promise did his father die
peacefully.
After his father's death, he began to
compile the history book very carefully.
A few years later, he came across something
that hit him hard.
There was a general who was very loyal to
the Han dynasty and was suspected of rebellion. He was a good friend of the
general, so he stood up for him. His behaviour angered the king at the time.
The king was very angry and sentenced him to death.
If he wants to avoid the death penalty, he
has two other options. The first is to pay a huge fine, and the second is to
have his male genitals castrated.
He was a middle-ranking official, his life
was simple, he had no money to pay the fine, so it was impossible for him to
choose the first option.
He was in great pain and didn't know what
to do.
He said to himself.
I would rather die than suffer the
humiliation of having my male genitals cut.
But at the same time, there was a voice in
his heart.
I made a promise to my father. If I do not
fulfil my promise to my father, how will I face my father when I die and go to
the underworld?
Later he made a decision and decided to go
the way of castration of male genitals.
He wrote this in his book.
There have been some very great people in
Chinese history. These people have noble morals and outstanding talents, and
are respected by future generations.
The founder of the Zhou Dynasty (Ji Chang)
wrote the book (I Ching) during his imprisonment.
The founder of Confucianism (Confucius)
wrote the Book of Spring and Autumn when he was at the lowest point in his
life.
The first Chinese poet (Qu Yuan) wrote the
poem Li Sao when he was at his most frustrated. (Sun Bin) wrote The Art of War
after having both his feet cut off.
The Prime Minister of Qin (Lü Buwei)
compiled the book (Lüshi Chunqiu) after he was exiled.
The famous Legalist scholar (Han Fei) wrote
some of his most important works while in prison in Qin.
I can choose the death penalty now, but
after I die, people will soon forget me, and I think such a death is worthless.
I should choose to endure the humiliation
and live on. I want to finish this history book. I want future generations to
understand China's history through this history book and draw inspiration and
wisdom from it. I am doing this. I want life to be meaningful.
He completed this masterpiece before he
died, and the book has influenced every Chinese person in later generations.
Dear friends, what inspiration or thoughts
do you get after listening to this story?
Do you think your life has meaning? Are the
things you are doing now worthy of respect and learning by your descendants?
I hope this story can give you some new
insights.
.jpg/800px-Sima_Qian_(painted_portrait).jpg)
司馬遷(Sima Qian)(西元前145年-西元前86年)
他的姓是(司馬)，他的父母給他取的名字是(遷)，長大後朋友稱呼他的名字是(子長)，他出生地位於在中國的山西省。
|
司 |
意思是掌管的意思。也是中國人的姓氏之一。 |
|
馬 |
意思是馬的意思。也是中國人的姓氏之一。 |
|
遷 |
意思是改變的意思。意思是轉移的意思。 |
|
子 |
意思是嬰兒的意思，也是中國人的姓氏之一。 |
|
長 |
意思是長度的意思。也是中國人的姓氏之一。 |
他是中國最傑出的天文學家與歷史學家，歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
他10歲開始讀中國古代的經典書籍，他20歲那一年離開他的家，他花了好幾年時間遊歷了中國的各個地方。
他在這段遊歷時，他看了很多歷史古蹟與了解各地的風俗與文化。
他的父親是漢王朝的首席天文學家與歷史學者，他的父親死後，他接替了他的父親的職位。
他的父親在死前對他說。
中國的歷史非常的悠久，從上古時代到現在已經大約2000年了，漢王朝從建立到現在超過100年了。
這100年來我們國家愈來愈強大，而且經濟愈來愈繁榮，中央政府對於文化的保存也愈來愈重視。
中央政府內目前已經蒐集了很多古代的書籍與經典的資料，我的夢想就是要寫一本中國從古代到現在的歷史書，但是我無法完成我的夢想了，我已經要死了，我希望在我死後，你可以完成我的夢想，你可以完成這本中國從古代到現代的歷史書。
他流著淚答應他的父親的遺願，他的父親聽到他的承諾後，他的父親才安心地離世。
他在他的父親死後，他就開始非常用心地編撰這本歷史書。
幾年後，他遇到了一件事情，這件事情令他大受打擊。
有一個對於漢王朝很忠誠的將軍涉嫌反叛，他跟這個將軍是好朋友，所以他幫這個將軍說話，他的行為觸怒了當時的國王，國王很生氣，所以判處他死刑。
如果他要避免死刑，他有另外兩條路可以走，第一條就是他要繳納一筆天價的罰金，另外一條路就是他要被閹割掉男性的生殖器。
他是一個中階的官員，他的生活很簡單，他沒有錢繳納這筆罰金，因此他不可能選擇第一條路。
他非常的痛苦，他不知道自己該做何種選擇。
他對自己說。
我寧願死，我也不願意接受被閹割掉男性的生殖器的這種恥辱。
但是他的內心同時又出現了一個聲音。
我已經答應我的父親，我如果沒有完成我對我的父親的承諾，那麼我死後到了陰間，我怎麼面對我的父親。
他後來做出了決定，他決定用被閹割掉男性的生殖器的這條路。
他在他的書中寫下這段話。
中國歷史上有好幾個非常偉大的人。這些人都有著高尚的道德與卓越的才能被後代的人們所尊敬。
周王朝的創始者(姬昌)在他被囚禁的期間整理彙整出了(易經)這本書。
儒家的創始者(孔子)在他的人生最低潮的時候寫出了(春秋)這本書。
中國第一個詩人(屈原)在他最失意的時候寫出了離騷這首詩。(孫臏)在他的兩隻腳被砍斷後寫出了孫子兵法。
秦王國的宰相(呂不韋)在他被流放之後編出了(呂氏春秋)這套書。
法家的著名學者(韓非)在他被關在秦王國的監獄內時寫出了他最重要的幾篇論文。
我現在可以選擇死刑，但是我死了之後，我很快就會被人們所遺忘，我認為這樣的死亡是沒有價值的。
我應該選擇忍受恥辱並且活下去，我要完成這本歷史書，我要讓後代的人們都可以藉由這本歷史書去了解中國的歷史與從這本書中得到啟發與智慧，我要我的人生有意義。
他在他死前完成了這本巨著，這本書影響也了後代的每一個中國人。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你覺得你的人生有意義嗎?你現在做的事情值得被你的後代尊敬與學習嗎?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為史記-太史公自序
https://ctext.org/shiji/tai-shi-gong-zi-xu/zh
2025/01/10新寫本篇內文 原本內文改成一飯千金