The "Records of the Grand Historian" is a monumental work of ancient Chinese historiography, with Sima Qian recording the history from ancient times to the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty with his unique brushwork. Among this great historical work, Sima Qian's evaluation of two important historical figures - Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, has always been a focal point of discussion among later scholars. There is a view that Sima Qian depreciated Liu Bang while elevating Xiang Yu in the "Records of the Grand Historian". Is this claim valid? This article will explore Sima Qian's evaluation of these two heroes and the reasons behind it.

Firstly, regarding Sima Qian's description of Liu Bang in the "Records of the Grand Historian," there are indeed some criticisms and negative portrayals. Liu Bang, as the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty, some of his behaviors during his reign, such as his attitude towards old friends, his handling of Han Xin, Peng Yue, and others, as well as certain indulgent behaviors in his later years, have become negative materials in Sima Qian's writing. These descriptions may give people the impression that Sima Qian depreciated Liu Bang.

However, Sima Qian's evaluation of Xiang Yu is more complex. Although Xiang Yu ultimately lost to Liu Bang, Sima Qian's evaluation of Xiang Yu in the "Records of the Grand Historian" is not entirely without admiration. Xiang Yu's bravery, heroism, and indomitable spirit were affirmed by Sima Qian. Especially in the "Biography of Xiang Yu," Sima Qian gave a high evaluation of Xiang Yu's personal charm and military talent, and this depiction appears to be more positive than the description of Liu Bang to a certain extent.

So, why does this phenomenon occur? On one hand, as a historian, Sima Qian strives to restore the original face of history. In his writing, both Liu Bang and Xiang Yu are figures with both human glory and shadow, and their behaviors and personalities are truthfully recorded. On the other hand, Sima Qian mentioned his own encounters and the motivation for creating the "Records of the Grand Historian" in the "Letter to Ren An." After suffering the palace punishment, he gained a deeper understanding of fate, which may have influenced his sympathy and understanding of historical figures.

In summary, Sima Qian's evaluation of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu in the "Records of the Grand Historian" is complex and multidimensional. He did not simply depreciate Liu Bang or elevate Xiang Yu, but rather recorded the stories of these two heroes as objectively as possible based on his own understanding of history and knowledge of the characters. This narrative style of Sima Qian not only provides us with a more three-dimensional historical perspective, but also demonstrates his profound insight into history and humanistic care.

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