For over two thousand years, Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian has stood as the definitive account of China's ancient past—a sweeping narrative of emperors, warriors, sages, and rebels that shaped the world's oldest continuous civilization. This modern-English edition brings together the most celebrated selections from the Shiji, rendered in clear, inviting prose that preserves the power and nuance of the original. From the mythical Five Emperors to the rise of the Han dynasty, from the philosophical depth of Confucius to the dramatic lives of assassins and merchants, these pages offer a window into the ideas, values, and conflicts that still resonate today. Faithful to Sima Qian's meaning and spirit, this edition makes a timeless classic accessible to contemporary readers. Part of The Founding Texts Library.