9 moments

1. Birth at Xiayang

   0145-01-01 BC · Xiayang, Zuopingyi (near modern Hancheng, Shaanxi, China)

   

   Sima Qian was born at Xiayang in the Han administrative region of Zuopingyi, near modern Hancheng in Shaanxi. This is the earliest documented physical presence in his life. The year is approximate and the article notes an alternative estimate of about 135 BC. Coordinates represent modern Hancheng because the ancient Xiayang site is not precisely fixed in the cited text.

2. Departure from Chang'an on research tour

   0126-01-01 BC · Chang'an, Han dynasty (modern Xi'an, Shaanxi, China)

   

   Around age twenty, Sima Qian began the extensive journey through Han China that informed his later historical work, departing from the imperial capital of Chang'an. Coordinates represent Chang'an's historical urban area.

3. Search for Shun's burial place in the Jiuyi Mountains

   0126-01-01 BC · Jiuyi Mountains, Hunan, China

   Sima Qian visited the Jiuyi Mountains in the Ningyuan area while seeking the traditional burial place of the legendary ruler Shun. Coordinates identify the Jiuyi Range; the precise traditional burial-site location is not specified in the cited biography.

4. Search for Yu's burial place at Mount Xianglu

   0126-01-01 BC · Mount Xianglu, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China

   

   Sima Qian traveled to Mount Xianglu, historically Mount Kuaiji near Shaoxing, to seek the traditional burial place of Yu the Great.

5. Study in Qufu

   0126-01-01 BC · Qufu, Shandong, China

   

   Sima Qian continued to Qufu, Confucius's hometown, where he studied ritual and other traditional subjects—an important formative stop in his intellectual development.

6. Visit to Han Xin's grave at Huaiyin

   0126-01-01 BC · Huaiyin (modern Huai'an, Jiangsu, China)

   On the northward stage of his tour, Sima Qian went to Huaiyin to see the grave of the Han general Han Xin. Coordinates represent modern Huai'an, the modern place identification supplied by the source, rather than a precisely located ancient grave.

7. Visit to the Miluo River

   0126-01-01 BC · Miluo River, Hunan, China

   

   During his southward journey through Changsha Kingdom, Sima Qian visited the Miluo River site traditionally associated with the death of the poet Qu Yuan. Coordinates are the cited river's representative mapped point; the precise point of Sima Qian's visit is not specified.

8. Journey to Luoyang to join Emperor Wu

   0110-01-01 BC · Luoyang, Henan, China

   Sima Qian traveled eastward to Luoyang to join Emperor Wu during preparations for the Feng sacrifice. En route, he saw his dying father, who asked him to continue the historical project that became the Shiji. Coordinates represent the historic city of Luoyang; the exact site where Sima Qian joined the emperor is not specified.

9. Report to authorities at Chang'an

   0110-01-01 BC · Chang'an, Han dynasty (modern Xi'an, Shaanxi, China)

   

   After a recent mission, Sima Qian reported to the authorities in Chang'an as Emperor Wu prepared for the Feng sacrifice. This movement preceded his journey east to Luoyang and his meeting with his dying father. Coordinates represent Chang'an's historical urban area.