The Study Of The Figures’ Dying Testaments In Shi Ji

Shi Ji by Sima Qian is a great monumental work in the history of Chinese historiography. It is an imperishable work by Sima Qian who had taken great pains and efforts to finish it, which is permeated with his thoughts, values and his attitudes towards life. All the historical events and characters recorded in Shi Ji communicate Sima Qian’s outlook on life and his values without exception. Inquiring into Sima Qian’s outlook on life and values can help have a better understanding of Shi Ji and facilitate further interpretation of this historiographic masterpiece which is aimed at analyzing relationship between natural phenomena and human affairs, revealing the rules of the evolution from the ancient times to the present and establishing a theory of his own. Shi Ji is the first book of general history presented in a series of biographies, focused on recording figures, many of who left the last testaments. There are ninety testaments in all throughout this book. These dying testaments provide important data for us to study Shi Ji and the social historical styles and features presented in it. As the words from the bottom of one’s heart on his or her deathbed, the dying testaments truly reflect the social morals and people’s state of mind in ancient society. We can learn ancient scholars’ belief about life, mental outlook and value orientation from these testaments, which facilitates further understanding and interpretation of ancient society and the social morals of different people.