The first dynastic history of China was the Shiji 史記 "Records of the Grand Scribe", written by Sima Qian 司馬遷 (145-86 BC) during the Former Han Dynasty (206 BC-8 AD), ranging from the mythological emperors to the Xia 夏 (17th-15th cent. BC), Shang 商 (17th-11th cent.), Zhou 周 (11th cent.-221) and Qin 秦 (221-206) dynasties and ending with the contemporary ruler Han Wudi 漢武帝 (r. 141-87)in the year 93 BC. The pattern of Sima Qian's historiographic work was unique and should serve as model for the official standard histories (zhengshi 正史) of the imperial dynasties for the next two thousand years. The Hanshu 漢書, written by Ban Biao 班彪 and his son Ban Gu 班固, a historian who also took part in the compilation of the political compendium Baihutong 白虎通 and the history Dongguan hanji 東觀漢記, helped standardizing the style of the official dynastic histories that has been established with the Shiji. Like Sima Qian, Ban Gu used the biographical-thematical style with four different types of chapters (imperial biograhies, treatises, tables, and normal and collective biographies). In the Hanshu the imperial biographies are much more written in an annalistic year-by-year style and report only officially recorded events, while the Shiji, especially in its parts covering the pre-Qin era, is largely anecdotical and narrative. Source: Zhongguo da baike quanshu, Zhongguo lishi, vol. 1, p. 350 f. Chapters of the Hanshu 1.-12. 紀 Ji Imperial Biographies 1-12: 1. 高帝紀 Han Gaodi (Gaozu) 1-2 (r. 206/02-195 BCE) 2. 惠帝紀 Han Huidi (r. 195-188) 3. 高后紀 Han Gaohou (Empress Lü, r. 187-180) 4. 文帝紀 Han Wendi (r. 180-157) 5. 景帝紀 Han Jingdi (r. 157-141) 6. 武帝紀 Han Wudi (r. 141-87) 7. 昭帝紀 Han Zhaodi (r. 87-74) 8. 宣帝紀 Han Xuandi (r. 74-49) 9. 元帝紀 Han Yuandi (r. 49-33) 10. 成帝紀 Han Chengdi (r. 33-7) 11. 哀帝紀 Han Aidi (r. 7-1 BCE) 12. 平帝紀 Han Pingdi (r. 1 BCE-5 AD) 13.-20. 表 Biao Tables 1-8: 13. 異姓諸侯王表 Princes not related to the imperial house 14. 諸侯王表 Imperial princedoms 15. 王子侯表 Imperial marquisates 1-2 16. 高惠高后文功臣表 High officials from Han Gaozu to Empress Lü 17. 景武昭宣元成功臣表 High officials from Han Jingdi to Han Chengdi 18. 外戚恩澤侯表 Marquisates owned by relatives of imperial consorts 19. 上百官公卿表 The highest ministries 1-2 20. 古今人表 Important persons of past and present 21.-30 志 Zhi Treatises 1-10: 21. 律曆志 Lüli Music measurements and calendar 1-2 22. 禮樂志 Liyue Rites and music philosophy 23. 刑法志 Xingfa Penal law 24. 食貨志 Shihuo Food and commodities 1-2 25. 郊祀志 Jiaosi Sacrifices 1-2 26. 天文志 Tianwen Astronomy 27. 五行志 Wuxing Five processes 1,2 a-b,3 a-b 28. 地理志 Dili Regional administration 1-2 29. 溝洫志 Gouxu Rivers and canals 30. 藝文志 Yiwen Literature 31.-100. 傳 Zhuan Biographies 1-70: 31. 陳勝項籍傳 Chen Sheng and Xiang Ji 32. 張耳陳餘傳 Zhang Er and Chen Yu 33. 魏豹田儋韓王信傳 Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Xin, King of Hann 34. 韓彭英盧吳傳 Han [Xin 信], Peng [Yue 越], Jing [Bu 布], Lu [Wan 綰], and Wu [Rui 芮] 35. 荊燕吳傳 The Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu 36. 楚元王傳 Prince Yuanwang of Chu, [Liu Xiang 劉向, and Liu Xin 劉歆] 37. 季布欒布田叔傳 Ji Bu, Luan Bu, and Tian Shu 38. 高五王傳 The five sons of Emperor Gaozu 39. 蕭何曹參傳 Xiao He and Cao Can 40. 張陳王周傳 Zhang [Liang 良], Chen [Ping 平], Wang [Ling 陵], and Zhou [Bo 勃] 41. 樊酈滕灌傅靳周傳 Fan [Kuai 噲], Li [Shang 商], Teng [Xiahou Ying 夏侯嬰], Guan [Ying 嬰], Fu [Kuan 寬], Jin [She 歙], and Zhou [Xue ] 42. 張周趙任申屠傳 Zhang [Cang 蒼], Zhou [Chang 昌], Zhao [Yao 堯], Ren [Ao 敖], and Shentu [Jia 嘉] 43. 酈陸朱劉叔孫傳 Li [Yiji 食其], Lu [Jia 賈], Zhu [Jian 建], Liu (Lou 婁) [Jing 敬], and Shusun [Tong 通] 44. 淮南衡山濟北王傳 The princes of Huainan, Hengshan, and Jibei 45. 蒯伍江息夫傳 Kuai [Tong 通], Wu [Bei 被], Jiang [Chong 充], and Xifu [Gong 躬] 46. 萬石衛直周張傳 [Shi Fen 石奮], Lord of Wanshi, Wei [Wan 綰], Zhi [Buyi 不疑], Zhou [Ren 仁], and Zhang [Ou 歐] 47. 文三王傳 The three sons of Emperor Wendi 48. 賈誼傳 Jia Yi 49. 爰盎晁錯傳 Yuan Ang and Zhao Cuo 50. 張馮汲鄭傳 Zhang [Shizhi 釋之], Feng [Tang 唐], Ji [An 黯], and Zheng [Dangshi 當時] 51. 賈鄒枚路傳 Jia [Shan 山], Zou [Yang 陽], Mei [Cheng 乘], and Lu [Wenshu 溫舒] 52. 竇田灌韓傳 Dou [Ying 嬰], Tian [Fen 蚡], Guan [Fu 夫], and Han [Anguo 安國] 53. 景十三王傳 The thirteen sons of Emperor Jingdi 54. 李廣蘇建傳 Li Guang and Su Jian 55. 衛青霍去病傳 Wei Qing and Huo Qubing 56. 董仲舒傳 Dong Zhongshu 57. 司馬相如 Sima Xiangru 1-2 58. 公孫弘卜式兒寬傳 Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi, and Er (Ni) Kuan 59. 張湯傳 Zhang Tang 60. 杜周傳 Du Zhou 61. 張騫李廣利傳 Zhang Jian and Li Guangli 62. 司馬遷傳 Sima Qian 63. 武五子傳 The five sons of Emperor Wudi 64. 嚴朱吾丘主父徐嚴終王賈傳 Yan [Zhu 助], Zhu [Maichen 買臣], Wuqiu [Shouwang 壽王], Zhufu [Yan 偃], Xu [Yue 樂], Yan [An 安], Zhong [Jun 軍], Wang [Bao 褒], and Jia [Juanzhi 捐之] 65. 東方朔傳 Dongfang Shuo 66. 公孫劉田王楊蔡陳鄭傳 Gongsun [He 賀], Liu [Quli 屈氂], Tian (Ju 車) [Qiuqian 千秋], Wang [Xin 訢], Yang [Chang 敞], Cai [Yi 義], Chen [Wannian 萬年], and Zheng [Hong 弘] 67. 楊胡朱梅云傳 Yang [Wangsun 王孫], Hu [Jian 建], Zhu [Yun 雲], Mei [Fu 福], and Yun [Chang 敞] 68. 霍光金日磾傳 Huo Guang and Jin Midi 69. 趙充國辛慶忌傳 Zhao Chongguo and Xin Qingji 70. 傅常鄭甘陳段傳 Fu [Jiezi 介子], Chang [Hui 惠], Zheng [Ji 吉], Gan [Yannian 延壽], Chen [Tang 湯], and Duan [Huizong 會宗] 71. 雋疏于薛平彭傳 Jun [Buyi 不疑], Shu [Guang 廣 and Shou 受], Yu [Dingguo 定國], Xue [Guangde 廣德], Ping [Dang 當], and Peng [Xuan 宣] 72. 王貢兩龔鮑傳 Wang [Ji 吉], Gong [Yu 禹], Gong [Sheng 勝] and [She 舍], and Bao [Xuan 宣] 73. 韋賢傳 Wei Xian 74. 魏相丙吉傳 Wei Xiang and Bing Ji 75. 眭兩夏侯京翼李傳 Sui [Hong 弘], Xiahou [Shichang 始昌] and [Sheng 勝], Jing [Fang 房], Ji [Feng 奉], and Li [Xun 尋] 76. 趙尹韓張兩王傳 Zhao [Guanghan 廣漢], Yin [Wenggui 翁歸], Han [Yanshou 延壽], Zhang [Chang 敞], Wang [Zun 尊] and [Zhang 章] 77. 蓋諸葛劉鄭孫毋將何傳 Gai [Kuanrao 寬饒], Zhuge [Feng 豐], Liu [Fu 輔], Zheng [Chong 崇], Sun [Bao 寶], Wujiang [Long 隆], and He [Bing 並] 78. 蕭望之傳 Xiao Wangzhi 79. 馮奉世傳 Feng Fengshi 80. 宣元六王傳 The six sons of emperors Xuandi and Yuandi 81. 匡張孔馬傳 Kuang [Heng 衡], Zhang [Yu 禹], Kong [Guang 光], and Ma [Gong 宮] 82. 王商史丹傅喜傳 Wang Shang, Shi Dan, and Fu Xi 83. 薛宣朱博傳 Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo 84. 翟方進傳 Zhai Fangjin 85. 谷永杜鄴傳 Gu Yong and Du Ye 86. 何武王嘉師丹傳 He Wu, Wang Jia, and Shi Dan 87. 揚雄傳 Yang Xiong 1-2 88. 儒林傳 Rulin The forest of scholars 89. 循吏傳 Xunli Benevolent officials 90. 酷吏傳 Kuli Cruel officials 91. 貨殖傳 Huozhi Profiteers 92. 游俠傳 Youxia Wandering knights 93. 佞幸傳 Ningxing Flatterers 94. 匈奴傳 The Xiongnu [barbarians] 1-2 95. 西南夷兩粵朝鮮傳 Barbarians of the southeast, of [Southern] Yue and [Min-]Yue, and of Korea 96. 西域傳 The Western Territories 1-2 97. 外戚傳 Waiqi Empresses and their clans 1-2 98. 元后傳 The Empress of Yuandi 99. 王莽傳 Wang Mang 1-3 100. 敘傳 Xuzhuan Postface and biography of Ban Gu 1-2

Exemplarious translation: ＜漢書帝紀＞6.＜孝武帝紀第六＞ 行遂東巡海上。夏四月癸卯，上還，登封泰山。降坐明堂。 Hanshu, Imperial Biographies: No. 6, Biography of Emperor Wudi, translated by Homer Dubs The emperor traveled, and then went eastwards, where he passed along and inspected the sea-cost. In the summer, the fourth month, on the day guimao, the emperor returned, and ascended and performed the sacrifice feng upon Mount Tai. The emperor descended the mountain and seated himself in the Clear Hall. 五月，正歷以正月為歲首，色上黃，數用五。定官名，協音律。遣因杅將軍 公孫敖築塞外受降城。秋八月行幸安定，遣貳師將軍李廣利發天下?民西征大宛。蝗從東方飛至敦煌。 In the summer, the fifth month, the emperor corrected the calendar and took the first month as the beginning of the year; among the colors, he took yellow as the ruling color, and among the numbers, he used five. He fixed official titles and harmonized the sounds of the musical pipes. The emperor sent the General of Yinyu, Gongsun Ao, to buld the fortress Shouxiang outside of the barriers. In the autumn, the eight month, the emperor traveled and favored the commandery Anding. He sent the General of Sutrishna (Ershi), Li Guangli, to mobilize the reprobated common people of the empire, to go west and make an expedition against Ferghana (Dayuan). Locusts flew from the eastern quarter and reached Dunhuang commandery. Translated by Homer Dubs.