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Records of the Grand Historian: Qin Dynasty Paperback – April 15, 1995

by Qian Sima (Author), Burton Watson (Translator)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 35 ratings
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Sima Qian (145?-90? BCE) was the first major Chinese historian. His Shiji, or Records of the Grand Historian, documents the history of China and its neighboring countries from the ancient past to his own time. These three volumes cover the Qin and Han dynasties.
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  1. Print length
    224 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Columbia University Press
  4. Publication date
    April 15, 1995
  5. Dimensions
    8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0231081693
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0231081696
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Burton Watson is one of the world's best-known translators from the Chinese and Japanese. His translations include The Lotus Sutra, The Vimalakirti Sutra, Ryokan: Zen Monk-Poet of Japan, Saigyo: Poems of a Mountain Home, and The Columbia Book of Chinese Poetry: From Early Times to the Thirteenth Century, all published by Columbia.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Columbia University Press; 3rd edition (April 15, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0231081693
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0231081696
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 35 ratings

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Qian Sima

Qian Sima

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
35 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

nemo
5.0 out of 5 stars Even in the larger volumes one should know that the text has been edited.
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2020
Verified Purchase
The text gives the reader an incredible view into Ancient China. It helps to connect the writings of many Chinese historians to an image of their cultural history that is rarely seen.
2 people found this helpful
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Godog
5.0 out of 5 stars Planning to read the complete book this winter.
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2015
Verified Purchase
Very interesting read, exactly what I expected from description. So far have only scanned through but plan to read it all this winter.
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Elizabeth
4.0 out of 5 stars 4/5
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2014
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I gave this a 4/5 not because the book wasn't good or it was faulty, or anything like that. It's just really hard to read. If you don't know much about this dynasty, or China in general, this isn't the book for you. Concepts aren't really elaborated upon to refresh your memory, or give you an insight as to what the person did or who they were. Great material and compact if you know a lot about this topic.
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars ... will find this book interesting but I do not recommend it for the casual reader
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2016
Verified Purchase
I am sure the serious China scholar will find this book interesting but I do not recommend it for the casual reader.

I bought this book thinking it was the Asian equivalent of Suetonius's Twelve Caesars or Herodotus' Histories, but it reads more like an eastern version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles; pages of very dry entries along the lines of "...in the twelfth year, Lord Shu of Wu declared war on Lord Wu of Shu..." and the like (compare and contrast with "..in the twelfth year, King Engelbert of Essex declared war on King Dagobert of Sussex ..."). My initial impression was either Sima Qian wasn't as good of a writer as everyone said he was, or Burton murdered the translation. Then I read the appendix with the letter Sima Quan wrote from prison and I revised upward my opinion of both men. The problem must be Sima Quian was writing an official state history while Suetonius and Herodotus weren't. Considering what the Emperor did to Sima Qian just because he disagreed with him on a policy matter, I shudder to think what would happen if he wrote something that really offended the Emperor.

The only other problem I have with the book is it is over priced. Maybe I am spoiled by too many Penguin Classics, but I think $37 for the whole 3 book series would be more fair rather than for just on volume.
14 people found this helpful
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the big boi
5.0 out of 5 stars So great! Great!
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2012
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this was a book. it had pages and a cover and it did the job. i got it for a class
One person found this helpful
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Richard
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2015
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A masterly translated Chinese classic.
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edward gresser
5.0 out of 5 stars The classic work of Chinese history ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2000
I agree with everything the previous reviewer said, except that it is in print again as of 1999.
This is a five-star translation of a five-star book - China's first major work of history, dating from 90 BC. The Qin portion makes up only fifteen or so of the Shi Ji's 130 chapters, but tells the story central to the moral vision of the whole work. This is the rise and collapse of China's first imperial dynasty - Qin is in fact the name from which we derive "China."
The book is a remarkable commentary on human pride, intrigue, strategy and revenge; it also has an eye for detail and anecdote. To cite just one case, a minister is humiliated and driven from his kingdom; and ultimately takes revenge, as prime minister of a neighboring kingdom, by forgiving his persecutor, inviting him to a banquet, and then forcing him eat a meal of hay and water. There is also a detailed description of the tomb of China's First Emperor (the central figure of this book, whose career becomes exemplary of the folly of brutality and suppression of free thought); which has since been made famous by the discovery of the ceramic army of Xian.
39 people found this helpful
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Sown
4.0 out of 5 stars Great translation, but why does it only have excerpts ...
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2016
Verified Purchase
Great translation, but why does it only have excerpts not the whole chapter...Especially for Biographies of the Assassin-retainers, the stories of four assassins before Jing Ke was really important for the development on the entire plot, and they would also show how the roles of assassins have changed throughout many centuries before Qin united China which was really interesting...
13 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Linda Sanders
5.0 out of 5 stars Husband is enjoying it
Reviewed in Canada on January 16, 2021
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Husband wanted this book, he is happy with it
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Client d'Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Sérieux
Reviewed in France on August 1, 2018
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Promesses tenues en tout point: très satisfaite, merci!
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JV
3.0 out of 5 stars Edición rústica
Reviewed in Spain on December 13, 2017
Verified Purchase
El contenido es muy interesante pero si es por el material del que está hecho, parece demasiado caro.
Evidentemente si no sabes leer chino no queda otra, pero es muy caro.
HAy algunos ejemplares de segunda mano en ebay enviados de EEUU, pero a los europeos apenas nos supone 5 euros de ahorro contando gastos y aranceles... El que tenga paciencia que espere a que aparezca alguno en UK... suerte.
One person found this helpful
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DPrana95
5.0 out of 5 stars As Advertised
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2016
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Still good as new!
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