On Shiji Adopting And Applying Folk Literature Material

In this dissertation, based on the text of Shiji, the author tried to analyses systematically the reason, principle, representation and significance of Shiji adopting and applying folk literature material.There were some studies on the connection between Shiji and folk literature before. Based on the research of these studies and the further study space, the value of this study is demonstrated and the scope of folk literature in Shiji is defined in the introduction.There are two main reasons for Shiji to adopt folk literature material. First, Sima Qian tried to compile a great history which begin with Yellow Emperor times and end in the Han Dynasty, but the document is limited, which made him resort to folk literature. Second, folk literature material has important historical value, which was understood by Sima Qian through his reading and travel, so he adopted it consciously. Sima Qian adopted the folk literature with both clear sense of principle and certain flexibility: he adopted myths which had been historical transformed and became elegant, legends which reflected his historical conception, ballads and proverbs which reflected the people's history appraisal, but he liked adopting stories with rich legendary color as an exception to the above principles. The adopting of folk literature in Shiji is both extensive and profound. The extensiveness appeared in the quantity and diversity of folk literature in Shiji and the profoundness appeared in that Shiji was affected by folk literature in language and thinking. Folk literature materials adopted extensively and applied flexibly in Shiji increased the history value, the literature value and the thought value of Shiji obviously.