Shiji zhaji 史記札記

There are several books titles Shiji zhaji 史記札記: One by Li Ciming 李慈銘 (1830-1894), a younger one by Guo Songtao 郭嵩燾 (1818-1891), and a further, less important, version by Zhang Wenhu 張文虎 (1808-1885). All three are commentaries on doubtful and wrong issues, or unsolved questions of the universal history book Shiji 史記 by Sima Qian 司馬遷 (b. 145 or 135 BCE). A similar title is Pan Yongji's 潘永季 (juren degree 1729) Du Shiji zhaji 讀史記札記.

Li Ciming is more known for his Yuemantang riji 越縵堂日記. His Shiji zhaji of 2 juan length is part of a collection of commentaries on the dynastic histories that was compiled by Wang Zhongmin 王重民 (1903-1975) long after Li's passing away. The collection, titled Yuemantang dushi zhaji 越縵堂讀史札記, included also a section on the Shiji, with a focus on the biographies of the First Emperor (6 Qin Shihuang benji 秦始皇本紀), Xiang Yu 項羽 (7 Xiang Yu benji 項羽本紀), and Emperor Gaozu 漢高祖 (8 Gaozu benji 高祖本紀). Li Ciming's Shiji zhaji was published separately in 1931 by the Beijing Library 北京圖書館.

Guo Songtao, who is known for his diaries describing his diplomatic travels to Europe (Lundun yu Bali riji 倫敦與巴黎日記, Shi Xi jicheng 使西紀程), made – during his stay in Great Britain – notes and corrections on the Shiji that were also published posthumously, in 1936 by Ren Kainan 任凱南 (1884-1949). A modern edition of the 5-juan-long book was published in 1957 by the Shangwu Yinshuguan 商務印書館. Guo's notes have a strong interpretive tendency in assuming that the Golden Age of the Zhou period 周 (11th cent.-221 BCE) was superior to the changed made in early imperial times. He particularly criticises the influence of legalism on the statecraft of the Qin 秦 (221-206 BCE) and Han 漢 (206 BCE-220 CE) periods. Guo assumed that there was an inherent contradiction between the aspirations of the state and the necessities of the people. He therefore advocated to first care for the benefits of the people, because this would in turn bring gains to the state (shi min xin qi li, guojia yin qu ying yan 使民歆其利，國家因取贏焉). Inspired by the Self-Strengthening Movement (ziqiang yundong 自強運動), Guo also believed that China's long-standing weakness and poverty stemmed from a historical disregard for practical interests. The neglecting of industries like salt and iron production by the state from the Han period on impeded the development of wealth and contributed to China's slide into poverty.

Wang Wenhu, courtesy name Mengbiao 孟彪 or Xiaoshan 嘯山, style Tianmu Shanqiao 天目山樵 or Huagu Limin 華谷里民, hailed from Nanhui 南匯, Jiangsu. He is the author of the essay collection Shuyishi suibi 舒藝室隨筆, and studies on the calendar (Chunqiu shuorun kao 春秋朔閏考) and music (Gujin yuelü kao 古今樂律考). He also compiled notes on the Shiji with a length of 5 juan. They were printed by the Jinling Shuju 金陵書局.

Pan Yongji, courtesy name Chunfu 純甫, from Yixing 宜興, Jiangsu, wrote one fascicle of notes on the Shiji, Du Shiji zhaji. He focuses on the ten tables (biao 表, ch. 13-22) and collective biographies like Huozhi liezhuan 貨殖列傳 "Profiteers". Pan stresses that the use of the tables is essential to understand the history of the Eastern Zhou and the early Han periods. He particularly discusses the Shi'er zhuhou nianbiao 十二諸侯年表 (ch. 14, Table 2). His book is included in the series Zhaodai congshu 昭代叢書.