Accumulate knowledge and experience before unleashing its full potential.

     When there are no points of reference in this world, we don't know our own size or length. Only when I wandered through the era of the sages through words did I realize my own ignorance, my lack of knowledge, and how erudition and talent are refined. Facing those awe-inspiring mountains, I didn't know from what angle, or with what mindset, to recount that past and the respectable person within it.

    "The supreme masterpiece of historians, a 'Li Sao' without rhyme." This is Lu Xun's evaluation of the *Records of the Grand Historian*. I know that, as someone of limited knowledge, I am not qualified to comment on Sima Qian or his *Records of the Grand Historian*, which he spent fourteen years writing. Yet, presumptuously, I neither explored the original *Records of the Grand Historian* nor searched through the vast historical materials for the life of the Grand Historian; I only encountered his life in the biographical text of *The Grand Historian Through the Ages* published by modern scholars. As a descendant of these sages, I feel proud, yet also ashamed, because I still cannot truly appreciate their original essence. I merely rely on biographies or commentaries by contemporary scholars to satisfy my desire to admire their culture.
    This deficiency, I often feel, stems from past neglect. At this moment, a poem suddenly comes to mind: "One only regrets the lack of knowledge when it's needed, and it's too late to mend a leak when the boat is in the middle of the river." After reviewing my casually written articles and receiving critiques from mentors and friends whose cultural understanding far surpasses mine, I suddenly realized how shallow my cultural accumulation truly is. "Learning leads to ignorance"—perhaps this is the essence of it. Therefore, for me in the future, "traveling ten thousand miles and reading ten thousand books" is essential. Only in this way can I accumulate cultural refinement through reading and embrace the world's wonders through travel, broadening my horizons. Such a deep accumulation, culminating in a powerful outpouring, may ultimately lead to the self I envision. Therefore, for a person lacking deep cultural cultivation, reading extensively without rote memorization might be a viable path. This allows for direct access to respected and admired masters from ancient and modern times, both Chinese and foreign, and the brilliant culture they produced, without needing a cultural guide. Only in this way can the accumulated cultural knowledge within one's mind be transformed into the seasonings of thought, constructing a cultural landscape that the audience anticipates.
    I believe reading is a pursuit of knowledge, a nourishment for self-cultivation, and even a strategy for governing the country and bringing peace to the world. It is not a means of showing off, a display of refined elegance, or a tool for those with ulterior motives to achieve their schemes.
    Sima Qian, a native of present-day Hancheng, Shaanxi (formerly known as Xiayang), courtesy name Zichang, lived during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. His father, Sima Tan, was the Grand Historian. As a child, he was hailed as a child prodigy of Xiayang. He was later transferred twice to the capital, Chang'an, where he clashed with Du Zhou and studied under Dong Zhongru and others. He was known for his righteousness and profound knowledge. Influenced by his father, he aspired to continue as Grand Historian, writing history and compiling books. He later married the talented Zhang, and after their marriage, he spent two years conducting on-site investigations at his own expense. He then went to the southwest to pacify ethnic minorities and accompanied Emperor Wu on his journeys to the northwest and Mount Tai for the Fengshan ceremony. During these trips, he collected numerous folk historical materials, intending to gather material for the *Records of the Grand Historian*, which spans over three thousand years of history. After returning to the capital, he passed the imperial examination and was appointed as a court official. At this time, he became close friends with Hu Sui and Ren An, though he later looked down on Hu Sui. Throughout his life, besides admiring the three generations of the Li family (Li Ling, Li Ling, and Li Ling), Ren An was also considered his closest friend. After his father's death, he succeeded him as Grand Historian, beginning to inherit the responsibilities his father had devoted his life to. He spoke frankly and remonstrated with the emperor, unafraid of powerful figures. At the same time, he diligently wrote history. During his writing process, Zhang helped him organize historical materials and transcribe copies of the *Records of the Grand Historian*. They were a perfect couple, working together seamlessly and contributing significantly to his success.
    However, a person of exceptional talent is easily envied by those with only modest talent; a person who dares to speak frankly and uphold justice is easily framed by treacherous villains; and a person who only knows how to offer honest advice without considering the emperor's intentions or accepting his mistakes is easily punished by a "suspicious" emperor. Sima Qian was precisely such a person. His "Biography of Xiang Yu" and some matters of the time touched upon Emperor Wu of Han. Although the emperor sent someone to subtly suggest that he revise history to comply with his wishes, Sima Qian prioritized historical integrity, and the Li Ling incident further complicated matters. Thus, he provided the emperor with the opportunity to punish him and for Du Zhou to frame him. Later, he was imprisoned for his crimes, and his wife, trying to save him, was raped by Du Zhou and later committed suicide.
    For the sake of his unfinished historical record, he willingly endured castration and regained his freedom. For his father's lifelong wish and for the historical record to which he had poured his heart and soul, after his punishment, he secluded himself, refusing visitors and neglecting political affairs, focusing solely on the historical record he was about to finish writing. The emperor, now in his twilight years, reflected on his lifelong penchant for war and ambition, and felt deep remorse for Sima Qian's fate. He thus reinstated Sima Qian. Sima Qian, after completing the *Records of the Grand Historian*, hid the original and copies among the common people, supporting the emperor in his rise to power. However, he no longer actively engaged in politics as he had in his youth, merely fulfilling his duties while in power. He also refrained from seeking revenge against the cruel official who had persecuted him and placed him under his control, peacefully assisting the emperor until his death. Years later, his grandson published the historical record, allowing his grandfather, who had dedicated his life to it, to rest in peace.
    "One true friend in life and death, two women in survival and demise." This was a phrase uttered by Han Xin, the Marquis of Huaiyin, before his death. For Sima Qian, Ren An was a true friend, and his wife Zhang Qianyu and daughter Sima Yun were his two women. I deeply admire this man, not only for his historical integrity in writing history without fear of powerful figures, not only for fulfilling his father's lifelong wish, not only for his spirit of traveling thousands of miles and reading thousands of books, but also for connecting the discontinuous history from the Yellow Emperor to the fourth year of Taiyuan, for his spirit of continuing to fulfill his wishes even after being subjected to castration, for not only fulfilling his father's last wish but also, to a large extent, surpassing the intellectual realm of his father and the literati of his time, and for his character that is both revered and feared. If he is a journalist of three thousand years, then he is the kind of renowned journalist who views the world with a developmental perspective and bases his work on historical facts. Others feared him because of his integrity, because his pen was enough to record their despised faces in history. Despite this, some people still persecuted him because of his talent, integrity, and the terrifying pen in his hand, but they all failed. Whether they had ulterior motives, were obsequious, or were subjected to torture under false pretenses, they could not change their true face in history. Whether it was Emperor Wu of Han, the supreme ruler, or powerful officials, they all lost. Despite the misfortunes they brought to their bodies and families, they were ultimately defeated by this man, defeated by history. He sympathized with Xiang Yu, admired Jing Ke and Guo Jie, and respected Qu Yuan, Jia Yi, and other virtuous scholars and officials. He was heartbroken by the fate of Li Ling and his family. All he could do was record this history in his notebook, hoping that future generations would give these loyal and righteous men justice and allow them to judge their merits and demerits.
    Mr. Guo Moruo called him "the Grand Historian of a Thousand Autumns," for his contributions to Chinese culture over thousands of years are unparalleled. His contributions are comparable to Yuan Longping's achievements in agriculture or the contributions of the *Compendium of Materia Medica* to medicine, only their directions of development differ. I know that I can only skim the surface of this cultural giant's work, or parrot his words, taking fragments out of context. This man, having read extensively, completed the *Records of the Grand Historian*, a work that "explores the relationship between heaven and man, understands the changes of ancient and modern times, and establishes his own school of thought." Therefore, books are a paradise for those aspiring to a literary career; they can cultivate their character and accumulate knowledge for future expression. When you feel your cultural foundation is weak, don't flaunt your flimsy and easily refuted writings. Even if you manage to reach a stage that isn't yours, you'll be easily defeated. Only writings that shine brightly even thousands of years later are your true capital. Therefore, "immersing oneself in reading and observing the world with a detached eye" has become my goal. Understanding the ways of the world is knowledge, and being adept at human relationships is the foundation of writing. If this man is a vast, rolling mountain, then I am a camera without optical zoom, unable to capture his entirety, only able to offer my best photograph with my best flash.
    He was China's first journalist to record three thousand years of history. Over fourteen years, he wrote 130 news articles, employing various literary styles such as "Annals," "Tables," "Treatises," "Hereditary Houses," and "Biographies" to comprehensively record figures from all walks of life, revealing the full picture of history through their actions. He connected the fragmented cultural history, linking together works like the *Shangshu*, *Chunqiu*, *Guoyu*, *Zhanguo Ce*, and *Zuozhuan*, just as the Yangtze River flows unimpeded eastward from its source in Qinghai into the sea!
    He was an "uncrowned king," a title bestowed upon him by no other ruler, for his talent and historical integrity made him an object of fear, someone whom historians dared not even approach. He was also a judge of the history of previous dynasties and beyond. The wealth he left to posterity is no less than that of Yu the Great's flood control efforts. The former dredged the three-thousand-year-long river of culture, allowing it to flow continuously from ancient times to the present; the latter guided the river eastward to the sea, transforming a scourge into a blessing. Perhaps because of my preference for culture, I value the former more. He showed us the tumultuous history of the past three thousand years, the unevenness of good and bad, and, more importantly, he summarized the cyclical patterns of history behind historical events, providing us with stories and legends that serve as cautionary tales. He also left us a beautiful and enduring cultural epic.
    Looking at history, he is a cultural giant unparalleled in a millennium, a role model for our lives, whether for his talent, his spirit of writing, or his inclusiveness… For contemporary culture, commerce breeds superficiality, reputation drives self-preservation, and we see vulgar express delivery culture, a bizarre blend of East and West, a fleeting, fashionable trend, and a culture of mutual insults and rehashing of ancient themes. Perhaps what we lack is precisely what this man is showing us.
    In my view, our culture needs further refinement, and we ourselves need further improvement. The ancients believed that learning has no end. This applies to us today as well. Whether you are a towering figure in the cultural sphere or an unknown blade of grass, we should all, in the peace of our hearts, use our pens to create a magnificent chapter over the long years, whether it be the ten-year journey of *Dream of the Red Chamber* or the fourteen years of gestation for *Records of the Grand Historian*. Then, perhaps our path to the Nobel Prize in Literature will be much easier. Because slow and steady wins the race, because jade is not made into a vessel without carving, because people do not know without learning, and because deep accumulation inevitably leads to a brilliant breakthrough.