Changes

==The Records of the Grand Historian==

==The Records of the Grand Historian==

Although the style and form of Chinese historical writings varied through the ages, ''Shiji'' (时机) has defined the quality and style from then onwards. In writing Shiji, Sima initiated a new writing style by presenting history in a series of biographies. Among the biographies are Emperors such as Qin Shi Huang, Han Gaozu and Han Xian, as well as biographies of court officials, scholars, and even common laborers who Qian considered important to the empire. His work extends over 130 chapters, not in historical sequence, but divided into particular subjects.

Although the style and form of Chinese historical writings varied through the ages, ''Shiji'' (时机) has defined the quality and style from then onwards. In writing ''Shiji'', Sima initiated a new writing style by presenting history in a series of biographies. Among the biographies are Emperors such as [[Qin Shi Huang]], [[Han Gaozu]] and [[Han Xian]], as well as biographies of court officials, scholars, and even common laborers who Qian considered important to the empire. His work extends over 130 chapters, not in historical sequence, but divided into particular subjects.<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=LojADWD7CUMC&dq=sima+qian&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=3FfFNncfms&sig=WuXXztFBX7-ZFBBZ8SKw3NX96vc&hl=en&ei=jMcdS4qqLsGwngez2JipCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=13&ved=0CEcQ6AEwDA#v=onepage&q=&f=false</ref>

==Sima Qian and Herodotus==

==Sima Qian and Herodotus==