Translation of excerpts from the text of the letter to Ren An.

1. Translation

Tai Shigong, Sima Qian, who is willing to help you, would like to pay tribute to you again. Shaoqing's first step: In the past, it was very kind of you to write to me, teaching me to treat people carefully and recommending talented people. Affection is very sincere, as if complaining that I didn't do what you said, and echoing the views of the laity. I'm not. Please allow me to talk about my stubborn and humble ideas.

I hope you don't blame me for not answering you for a long time. My ancestors, who didn't get the extraordinary feats like Dan Shu and Iron Voucher, were engaged in drafting documents, compiling historical materials, recording astronomical phenomena, and making legal calendars. (Their positions) were close to those between divination officials and Taizhu. They were originally teased by the emperor and raised as musicians and actresses, which were despised by the customs.

If I am punished by law and sentenced to death, it will be like losing a hair on nine cows. What's the difference with ants? And the world will not treat me like a person who can die, but only think that I am exhausted in intelligence and have a great sin. I can't get rid of myself and finally die.

why? This is due to the position of the position he is usually engaged in. People always die, some people (die) are heavier than Mount Tai, and some people (die) are lighter than a feather, which is due to the different places where death knots are applied.

the first class is not to humiliate ancestors, the second is not to humiliate oneself, the second is not to be humiliated in face, the second is not to be humiliated in words, the second is to be humiliated in prison, the second is to be humiliated in prison clothes, the second is to wear torture devices and be beaten, the second is to shave off your hair and tie your neck with iron ropes, the second is to be humiliated in skin and broken limbs, and the last is to be rotted. The Book of Rites says: "Doctors cannot be punished."

This means that scholars have to keep their moral integrity. When the tiger was in the deep mountains, all the wild animals were very afraid of it. When you are put in a cage or fall into a trap, you wag your tail and beg for food, which is the result of gradually subduing it with power.

So, for scholars, drawing a prison on the ground (even) makes people afraid to go in. Even a wooden warder dare not confront him, and must commit suicide before being punished (to avoid being humiliated).

Now hands and feet are bound by instruments of torture. Take off your clothes, accept the rod, and shut up in four walls. At this time, I hit my head on the ground when I saw the jailer, and I was frightened when I saw the jailer. Why? This (also) is the result of the gradual development of power restriction.

when we have reached this stage, we still say that we are not humiliated, but we are just so-called "thick-skinned". How can we be distinguished? Besides, Xibo is the leader of a vassal, but he was imprisoned in the prison; Reese was the prime minister, and was punished by five punishments. Han Xin, the prince of Huaiyin, was king, but he was put on instruments of torture in Chen.

both Peng Yue and Zhang ao once sat on the throne and called themselves lonely, and later they were both arrested and imprisoned. Zhou Bo, the marquis of Jiang, killed Lu's henchmen with more power than the five overlords in the Spring and Autumn Period, and was later imprisoned in a special prison "please room"; Dou Ying, the marquis of Wei Qi, served as a general, and later put on the clothes of sinners, with instruments of torture on his hands, feet and neck.

Ji Bu, the general of Xiang Yu, later shaved his head and tied his neck with an iron ring as a slave of the Zhu family; The irrigation man was insulted in the detention room.

These people are all in the position of princes and princes, and their reputation is well known in neighboring countries. Once they are guilty, they are punished by law and cannot commit suicide.

how can you not be insulted when you fall into the position of being as contemptible as dust, which has always been the case? From this, courage or cowardice, strength or weakness are all determined by the situation.

after understanding this truth, what is surprising? A person can't commit suicide as early as before he is punished, so his ambition gradually declines. When he is punished by the rod, he thinks that he will die of honor. Isn't it too far away from honor? This is probably the reason why the ancients were cautious in punishing doctors.

As far as human nature is concerned, there is no one who is not greedy for life and hates death, and misses his parents, wife and children. As for those who are excited by justice and axioms, this is not the case, because they have to.

unfortunately, I lost my parents in my early years, and (again) I have no brothers, and I am alone. As for how I treat my wife and children, Shao Qing can see it, right? Besides, a brave man may not die of honor, but a cowardly man who admires morality can encourage himself not to be humiliated anytime and anywhere.

Although I am timid and want to live my life, I know how to sacrifice my life for righteousness, so why not accept the insult of being tied up with ropes! Besides, people like handmaids and concubines can commit suicide (without being humiliated), and I have to? The reason why I drag out an ignoble existence is that I would rather be imprisoned in a prison like dirt, because my wish has not been fully realized, and I am ashamed to die in obscurity, and my literary talent cannot be revealed to future generations.

In ancient times, there were countless people who had wealth and status, but their names were buried. Only outstanding people were praised by future generations.

King Wen deduced the Book of Changes when he was detained in the prison; Confucius wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals in poverty. Qu Yuan wrote Li Sao after he was exiled.

Zuo Qiuming wrote Mandarin after he became blind. Sun Bin was cut off his kneecap and compiled The Art of War. Lv Buwei was demoted to Shu, and "Lu Chunqiu" was circulated in the world; Han Fei was imprisoned in the state of Qin, and wrote "Difficult Talk" and "Lonely Anger". (As for) The Book of Songs has 3 articles, and most of them were written by sages to express their grievances.

All these authors were depressed and uncomfortable, and their ideas were not accepted by people at that time, so they described what they had experienced and let future generations know themselves.

For example, Zuo Qiuming was blind, and Sun Bin's leg was broken. After all, he couldn't be used by the world, so he went home to write a book and express his resentment, and wanted to leave words to express his thoughts.

I have overreached myself. Recently, I have pinned my wish on useless words, collected lost documents in the world, roughly researched the actions of historical figures, observed their process from beginning to end, and examined the laws of their success, failure, rise and decline. Up to now, I have written ten tables, twelve biographies, thirty aristocratic families and seventy biographies.

I also want to explore the laws of heaven and personnel, understand the historical development process from ancient times to the present, and achieve the theory of one family.

(This book) has been drafted, but it hasn't been finished yet, so it's a disaster. I regret that it hasn't been written, so I'd rather accept castration than look angry.

I really want to finish this book, hide it (temporarily) in a famous mountain, and (later) pass it on to like-minded people and make it popular in metropolis, so that I can make up for the humiliation I suffered in my previous imprisonment. Even if I was killed 1, times, where would I regret it? However, these words can only be said to knowledgeable people, but it is hard to say to laymen.

Besides, it is not easy to live in a guilty situation, and being in a humble position leads to a lot of criticism and accusations.

I suffered this disaster because I spoke (carelessly) to the emperor, and I was deeply laughed at by my neighbors, so that my ancestors were insulted. How can I have the face to sweep my parents' graves again? Even after another hundred generations, it will only be more humiliating! Therefore, my mind is full of pain, and I am always in a trance at home, as if I have lost something, and I don't know where to go when I go out.

every time I think about this great shame, I always sweat and get wet! As a junior minister in the palace, how can I leave the palace and live as a hermit in a mountain cave? Therefore, I had to go with the flow and act according to the ethos of the times to express my inner grief and indignation.

Now Shao Qing teaches me to recommend talented people. Isn't this contrary to my private wish? Although I (also) want to dress myself up and whitewash myself with beautiful words, it is not good for the secular, and I can't win the trust of others. It can only lead to insults.

in a word, the day of death, and then right and wrong will come to a conclusion. This letter can't express my meaning in detail, only briefly talk about some solid and humble ideas. Once again, my compliments.

Second, the original text

Tai Shi Gong's cattle and horses left Sima Qian to say goodbye.

Shao Qing, the first step is: those who wait for the book will be humiliated, and it is our duty to teach them to be careful in receiving things, and to promote the sages to become scholars. If you are diligent and diligent, you should use the words of vulgar people instead of looking at your servants. Servants must dare to do so. Please be humble in Chen Gu. I'm glad I haven't reported it for a long time.

The ancestors of servants have not only made contributions to the calligraphy of Fu Dan, but also the ephemeris of literature and history, which is close to that of divination and blessing. They have strengthened the teasing of the Lord, advocated superior animals, and despised the customs.

If a servant is punished, how is it different from a worm? However, the world is not compared with those who can die, and they think that being poor in wisdom is extremely sinful, and they can't be exempted from it, so they will die.

why? It's the result of self-establishment. People are inherently mortal, either heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather, and they use it differently.

If you are too high, you will not be humiliated first, then you will not be humiliated physically, then you will not be humiliated in words, then you will be humiliated physically, then you will be humiliated easily, then you will be humiliated by closing the wooden rope, then you will be humiliated by your baby, then you will be humiliated by your hair, then you will be humiliated by your baby's gold and iron, then you will be humiliated by your skin and broken limbs, and finally you will be punished with extreme corruption! Chuan said: "The punishment is not on the doctor." This statement is not without encouragement.

The tiger is in the deep mountains, and all the animals are frightened. In the cage, the tiger wags its tail for food, and the threat is gradually increasing. Therefore, scholars have a picture of the land as a prison, and they are unable to enter; Cutting wood for officials, discussing wrong, is determined by fresh. Today, I make friends, suffer from wooden ropes, violently skin, suffer from the list, and live in the wall.

at this time, when you see the jailer, you will be at ease, and when you see the prisoner, you will be at ease.

which one? The trend of accumulating prestige is also. What's more, those who don't insult their words, the so-called strong face and ears, are expensive! And Xibo, Bo also, was detained in prison; Reese, Xiang also, has five punishments; Huaiyin, Wang Ye, was forced by Chen; Peng Yue and Zhang Ao, who are called orphans to the south, are guilty of prison; Crimson Hou Zhu Lu, the right to pour five bo, imprisoned in the room; Wei Qi, a general, is clothed in clothes, and Guan Sanmu; Ji Bu is a slave of Zhujiajian; Irrigation husband humiliated room.

this man is a prince and a general, and he has heard about his neighbors, and his crimes are too heavy. He can't condemn himself. In the dust, the ancient and the modern are integrated, and he is not humiliated! This statement is brave and timid, and it is also potential; Strength, shape also.

what's so strange about the trial? Besides, people can't cut themselves out of the rope and ink as early as possible, but it's a little late. As for the whip and pestle, it's a way to lead the festival, so it's not far away! It was almost for this reason that the ancients severely punished doctors.

Madam loves life and hates death, misses relatives and cares for her wife. Otherwise, those who are motivated by righteousness are forced to do so.

unfortunately, my servant lost his parents, no brothers and relatives, and was single and isolated. How can Shao Qing treat his servant as his wife? And the brave don't have to die, and you are afraid of your husband's desire for righteousness. Where is it? Although the servant is timid and wants to live, he also knows the difference between going and going. Why should he indulge in the humiliation of being tired? Moreover, if the husband has captured the male and female concubines, he can still make a decision. What if the servant has to? Therefore, those who live in seclusion in the dirt without leaving, hate selfishness, are humble and have no world, and their literary talent is not behind.

The ancient people are rich and famous, and they can't be remembered, but they are very charming.

Gaisibo was arrested and acted in Zhouyi; Zhong Nieu wrote Spring and Autumn Annals; Qu Yuan's exile was a tribute to Li Sao; Zuo Qiu is blind and has "Mandarin"; Sun Tzu's feet, the Art of War revised; Not Wei Qian Shu, the world biography "Lu Lan"; Han Fei imprisoned Qin, "Difficult" and "Lonely Anger"; There are 3 poems, and the sages at the bottom of the earth are angry.

this person has a sense of restraint, so he tells the past and thinks about the newcomers.

For example, Zuo Qiu has no eyes, and his grandson has broken his foot, so he can't use it at last. So he retired to discuss book strategies to relieve his anger and think about empty words to see for himself.

Servants are not inferior in stealing, and they rely on incompetent words to trap the old news in the world, to test their behavior slightly, to sum up their success and failure, and to record the history of prosperity and decline.

from Xuanyuan, there are ten tables, twelve biographies, eight books, thirty aristocratic families and seventy biographies, with a total of 13 articles.

I also want to understand the changes in ancient and modern times and become a family statement by studying the relationship between heaven and man.

this disaster will happen to the grass before it is created. I regret that it will not work, so I will be punished to death.

I have written this book, a famous mountain in Tibet, and it has been passed down to its people, and it is widely known in the city.

then the servant will pay for the humiliation before. Even if he is slaughtered, how can he regret it! However, this can be said for the wise, but not for the layman.

and it's not easy to live, and it's obscene and slanderous.

when a servant encounters this misfortune in spoken English, he is laughed at by the hard-working townships to insult his ancestors. How can he return to his parents' graves? Although tired forever, the dirt is very ear-catching! It is because the intestines return nine times a day, and if you live in it, you will suddenly die, but if you go out, you will not know where it is going.

every time I think about my shame, I feel sweaty and my back is stained with clothes.

I'm a courtier, so I'd rather lead myself to the evil hidden in the cave. Therefore, from the vulgar ups and downs, with the pitch, through its madness.

nowadays, young Qing is teaching to promote the sages and scholars, and it's nothing wrong with the servant's selfishness. Although I want to carve it myself, it is not conducive to vulgarity, and it is enough to insult my ears if I don't believe it.

the day of death is important, and then right and wrong are certain. The book can't understand the meaning, and it's a bit rough in Chen Gu.

goodbye.

Third, the source

The original text is long, and the text "Bao Ren An Shu" is excerpted from the expanded materials of Hanshu

First, the creative background

Because Historical Records was only written in the early years of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, many people wrote sequels for it at that time. According to Shi Tong Zheng Yi, there are more than ten people who have written the sequel to Historical Records, such as Liu Xiang, Liu Xin, Feng Shang and Yang Xiong, whose title is still called Historical Records. Ban Gu's father, Ban Biao (AD 3 ~ AD 54), was very dissatisfied with these sequels, so he chose "old stories and different stories" as "Historical Records" and "Sixty-five Postscripts".

After Ban Biao's death, Ban Gu, who was only 22 years old, began to sort out his father's legacy and was determined to carry on his father's work and complete this masterpiece.

The Letter to Ren An is a reply from Sima Qian, a historian and writer of Han Dynasty, to his friend Ren An. In the letter, the author stated his unfortunate experience with anger, and expressed his painful mood of having to live with shame for the book Historical Records.

Second, appreciation of works

Narratively, Hanshu is characterized by paying attention to the systematicness and completeness of historical events, striving for the beginning and the end of everything, and making a clear account. This provides great convenience for us to understand and study the history of the Western Han Dynasty. Up to now, anyone who studies the history of the Western Han Dynasty takes Hanshu as the basic historical material.

Bao Ren An Shu, with its bitter words and full of feelings, is a rare and wonderful article with extremely important historical value. The full text is well-structured and orderly, and takes care of it before and after; Reasoning and narrative are integrated, clear and thorough; The language is rich and vivid, and the sentences are long or short, interspersed with parallelism and antithesis, which makes the article more emotional.

III. Author Brief Introduction

Ban Gu (AD 32 ~ AD 92), son of Ban Biao, the historian of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and brother of Ban Chao, was born in Fufeng Anling (now Xianyang, Shaanxi). Born in the eighth year of Jianwu, Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, he died in the fourth year of the Eastern Han Dynasty and Emperor Yongyuan at the age of 61. Since childhood, Ban Gu has been smart. "At the age of nine, he can be a writer and recite poetry and fu." When he is an adult, he reads widely. "There are nine schools of thought that are all poor." He is the author of six volumes of White Tiger Tongde Theory, one hundred and twenty volumes of Hanshu and seventeen volumes of Collection.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Report to Ren Anshu