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"'Surely, a man has but one death. That death may be as heavy as Mount Tai or as light as a goose feather. It is how he uses that death that makes all the difference!' So wrote Sima Qian (first century BCE), author of Record of the Historian (Shiji), the first comprehensive history of China's past, in his 'Letter to Ren An.' In this, the most famous letter in Chinese history, he explains his decision to finish his life's work, the first comprehensive history of the Chinese past, which was begun by his late father, rather than to honorably commit suicide following his castration for 'deceiving the emperor.' The authenticity of the letter, which is included in Sima Qian's biography in Ban Gu's (CE 32-92) History of the Han Dynasty, has been debated for millennia. Is it a genuine piece of writing by Sima Qian addressed to a fellow sufferer who was himself languishing in prison and would die in 91 BCE? Or is it a very early work of literary impersonation whereby Ban Gu or a still earlier author sought to elucidate Sima Qian's reasoning through an epistle? Conceived as a text for Chinese history courses, this compact volume provides a full translation of the letter (along with the original Chinese text) and uses different interpretations of this key document to explore issues in textual history, epistolary culture, Han politics, and Han thought. It shows how ideas about friendship, loyalty, factionalism, and authorship encoded in the letter have far-reaching implications for the study of China"--Provided by publisher.

Historians --- Chinese letters --- Friendship --- Affection --- Friendliness --- Conduct of life --- Interpersonal relations --- Love --- Chinese literature --- Historiographers --- Scholars --- History and criticism. --- History --- Sima, Qian, --- Chʼien, Szuma, --- Chihʹyin S̲uhʹmā, --- Sama, Chʻŏn, --- Se Ma Ciyan, --- Se-ma Tsʻien, --- Shi-ba, Sen, --- Shiba, Sen, --- Shiba, Shichō, --- Shima, Sen, --- Sima, Zichang, --- Simaqian, --- Sseu-ma Tsʻien, --- Ssï-ma Tsʼién, --- Ssu-ma, Chʻien, --- Ssuma Chʻien, --- S̲uhʹmā, Chihʹyin, --- Syma, T︠S︡i︠a︡nʹ, --- Szema Tsʻeen, --- Szuma, Chʼien, --- T︠S︡i︠a︡nʹ, Syma, --- Tư Mã Thiên, --- 司馬子長, --- 司馬遷, --- 司马子长, --- 司马迁, --- Criticism and interpretation. --- Authorship. --- Influence. --- China --- Politics and government --- Intellectual life --- S04/0500 --- China: History--Ancient (Pre-Han and Han, incl. Sima Qian) --- Sima, Qian --- Szuma, Chien --- Se-Ma Ts'ien --- Ssu-ma, Ch'ien --- 司马迁 --- Cina --- Kinë --- Cathay --- Chinese National Government --- Chung-kuo kuo min cheng fu --- Republic of China (1912-1949) --- Kuo min cheng fu (China : 1912-1949) --- Chung-hua min kuo (1912-1949) --- Kina (China) --- National Government (1912-1949) --- China (Republic : 1912-1949) --- People's Republic of China --- Chinese People's Republic --- Chung-hua jen min kung ho kuo --- Central People's Government of Communist China --- Chung yang jen min cheng fu --- Chung-hua chung yang jen min kung ho kuo --- Central Government of the People's Republic of China --- Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo --- Zhong hua ren min gong he guo --- Kitaĭskai︠a︡ Narodnai︠a︡ Respublika --- Činská lidová republika --- RRT --- Republik Rakjat Tiongkok --- KNR --- Kytaĭsʹka Narodna Respublika --- Jumhūriyat al-Ṣīn al-Shaʻbīyah --- RRC --- Kitaĭ --- Kínai Népköztársaság --- Chūka Jinmin Kyōwakoku --- Erets Sin --- Sin --- Sāthāranarat Prachāchon Čhīn --- P.R. China --- PR China --- PRC --- P.R.C. --- Chung-kuo --- Zhongguo --- Zhonghuaminguo (1912-1949) --- Zhong guo --- Chine --- République Populaire de Chine --- República Popular China --- Catay --- VR China --- VRChina --- 中國 --- 中国 --- 中华人民共和国 --- Jhongguó --- Bu̇gu̇de Nayiramdaxu Dundadu Arad Ulus --- Bu̇gu̇de Nayiramdaqu Dumdadu Arad Ulus --- Bu̇gd Naĭramdakh Dundad Ard Uls --- BNKhAU --- БНХАУ --- Khi︠a︡tad --- Kitad --- Dumdadu Ulus --- Dumdad Uls --- Думдад Улс --- Kitajska --- China (Republic : 1949- ) --- Han dynasty, 202 B.C.-220 A.D --- Sources --- 221 B.C.-960 A.D --- Criticism, interpretation, etc --- Records and correspondence --- 221 B.C.-220 A.D --- Sima, Qian approximately 145 B.C.-approximately 86 B.C --- Authorship --- Correspondence --- Criticism and interpretation --- Influence --- To 1500 --- History and criticism --- Han Dynasty (China) --- Influence (Literary, artistic, etc.)