What is Sima Qian?
[[File:Si maqian.jpg|right|140px|thumb|Sima Qian]] '''Sima Qian''' ({{lang-zh|司马迁}}) was the historian of the [[Han Dynasty]] under [[Emperor Wu]]. He was born at [[Xia Yang]] (present-day [[Shan Xi Province]], [[Han City]]) in either 145 or 135 [[Anno Domini|BC]]. His father, [[Sima Tan]], was also a historian. == Life == When Sima Qian was 10, he could read the articles which were written in [[Classical Chinese]]. He travelled around [[China]] and visited a plenty of scenic attractions and heritages when he was 20. In [[108 BC]], with the death of Sima Qian's father, he carried on the job of being a historian. In [[104 BC]], Sima Qian finished editing [[Taichu Calendar]] with the imperial officials, [[Tang Du]] and [[Luo Xiahong]]. In [[99 BC]], Sima Qian got involved in the [[Li Ling Affair]]. He was punished and sent to prison. Sima Qian would be sentenced to death if he could not pay a fine or accept the terrible punishment - [[castration]]. With the fact that Sima Qian did not have enough money to pay the fine and he hoped to finish writing the [[Records of the Grand Historian]], he accepted the [[castration]]. Sima Qian finally spent 19 years to write that book. Sima Qian died in 86 BC. [[Category:2nd-century BC births]] [[Category:1st-century BC deaths]] [[Category:Chinese historians]]