A Study On Pre-Qin Thinkers By Sima Tan And Sima Qian

During Chinese traditional academic history, the study of Pre-Qin thinkers by Sima Tan and Sima Qian formed connecting link position, and contributed distinctively in the aspect of distinguishing the academy of the chapter and studying its origin and development. In consideration of that, and for the purpose of clarifying the academic contribution of Historical Records, this paper researches Simas'study on Pre-Qin thinkers mainly through Historical Records.There are three parts in this paper, which are as follows:The first part emphasizes the historical background of the formation of Simas'study on Pre-Qin thinkers. Society changed fiercely in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period, which was reflected in the field of thought and culture that various schools of thought emerged and contended subsequently. Meanwhile, the work of analyzing and commenting Pre-Qin thinkers began. Zhuangzi·Tianxia can be regarded as the initiation of Chinese traditional academic history. After that, similar writings came out in succession, such as Xunzi·Feishierzi, Xunzi·Tianlun, Xunzi·Jiebi, Hanfeizi·Xianxue, Lvshichunqiu·Buer, Huainanzi·Yaolue. Those works had a splendid achievement, Which laid a firm foundation for Simas'study.The second part comprehensively expounds Simas'achievement, and that is the main part and focal part of this paper. Sima Tan's study concentrated in the article of On the Essentials of Six Academic Schools. He made a breakthrough for creatively dividing these thinkers into six schools: Yin-Yang school, Confucianism, Mohism, the school of Names, Legalists and Taoism. He precisely grasped the substance of individual school, commented on all-roundly, and opened up a refreshing realm for the study of Pre-Qin thinkers. And Sima Qian's study was based on his father's fruit and made much more progress. He made many individual researches on Pre-Qin thinkers through writing their biographies. The most important point was that he interpreted the relations between different schools by combined biographies.As for Yin-Yang school, Sima Qian elaborated the content and origin of Zou Yan's thought. He held the view that there were three parts of Zou Yan's thought: methodology of analogism, history conception of Wude Consistency Theory, geography conception of nine large lands;it originated from the study of natural laws and Confucianism, and afterwards it developed into Doctrine Fangxian and the Theory of Wude Consistency.As for Confucianism, Sima Qian wrote the aristocratic family of Confucius, biographies of Confucius's pupils, biography of Mencius and Xun-zi. Through the articles, Sima Qian observed and studied their words, deeds, works, thought, masters and disciples. He also pioneered writing biographies for scholars. He summarized the development of Confucianism and dissemination of Confucian classics since Confucius, from which he told us what happened to Confucianism in Han dynasty.As for Taoism, Sima Qian investigated Lao-tzu, Zhuang-zi and the development of Taoism. Sima Qian considered Lao-tzu as originator of Taoism and put forward his own opinion in Lao-tzu and his works. He suggested for the first time that Lao-tzu had something to do with historiographers. He summarized the theme of Lao-tzu's thought, and deliberated relation between Confucianism and Taoism. With regard to Zhuang-zi, Sima Qian initially pointed out that he originated from Lao-tzu's thought, and discussed the kernel of his thought, view of life and academic characteristics. Furthermore, Sima Qian believed that Taoism developed into Zhuang-zi and Huang-lao, and he also researched the ideological features, impartment and development of the Huang-lao school.As for school of legalists, Sima Qian emphasized particularly on Shang Yang's law, Shen Buhai's tactics and Han Fei's law, tactics and power. He paid attention to the inner relationship between Legalists and study of punishment. Moreover, he revealed the relationship between Legalism and Taoism through combined biographies of Lao-tzu, Zhuang-zi, Shen Bu-hai and Han Fei, and professed that the thought of Shen and Han derived from Lao-tzu and Huang-lao. Besides that, Sima Qian studied the later development of Legalists: revered in Qin dynasty and became cruel officials in Han dynasty.As for school of Mohist, Sima Qian wrote biographies of knight errant in which he expressed Mohists'thought in a distinctive way and investigated carefully its development. He made us understand thoroughly that destiny were different between Confucianism and Mohism, and how was the conflicts among academic schools.As for school of Names, Sima Qian just referred to Gongsun Long's dialectics.As for school of Military Strategists, Sima Qian wrote biography of Sima Rang-ju and combined biographies of Sun-zi and Wu Qi, through which he clarified the history of the school from Spring and Autumn to Warring States period, traced back to the origin, and confirmed that Lv-shang was ancestor of Chinese Military Strategists School.The third part is conclusion, which summarizes the important influences of Simas'achievement in Chinese academic history and documentary bibliography.In all, this paper is to indicate that Sima Tan and Sima Qian paid special attention to Pre-Qin academic schools in historical works and they had high attainments. Their tremendous contribution to Chinese traditional academy is worthy of our further study and research.