Sima Qian, Author at The Imaginative Conservative

About Sima Qian

Sima Qian (c. 145 – c. 86 BC) was a Chinese historian of the early Han dynasty (206 BC – AD 220). He is considered the father of Chinese historiography for his "Records of the Grand Historian," a general history of China in the Jizhuanti style, covering more than two thousand years beginning from the rise of the legendary Yellow Emperor and the formation of the first Chinese polity to the reigning sovereign of Sima Qian's time, Emperor Wu of Han.

Principles of Excellence

By Sima Qian|2021-09-07T14:11:19-05:00September 7th, 2021|Categories: Eastern Thought, Quotation|

When one sets to work, one should be liberal but strict, gentle but firm, frank but reverent, orderly but alert, compliant but courageous, forthright but warm, easy going but unyielding, resolute but sincere, forceful but righteous. If one can manifest these principles, it is excellent indeed! If one can show three of these nine virtues [...]