Records of the Grand Historian(史記 in Chinese) compiled by Sima Qian(司馬遷) is one of the most widely read history books today as well as in the past. It starts with a story about Baekyi (伯夷) and his brother Sukjae(叔齊). The two brothers, princes of the small vassal state of Yin(殷), were men of high morality and virtue. They gave up even the throne to others. And as Zhou(周), having destroyed Yin, came to a hegemonic power, they chose to starve to death in a deep mountain rather than to obey the new suzerain. Their miserable life, according to Sima Qian, contrasts sharply with that of Dochuk(盜), who, as a ruthless criminal, enjoyed a ‘long and well-off life’. These stories show that, in this world, righteousness does not always pay off and viciousness does not always get punished inevitably. Accordingly, Sima Qian could not but ask if there is a Heaven’s Way(天道) at all. If Heavenly Way were at work in this world, such unfairness would not take place. Many people might regret this fact today too.

Is there no choice but to accept this reality? In order to find a solution to this question, Sima Qian first of all turns to Confucius(孔子), one of the greatest philosophers in ancient China. In his Analects(論語), Confucius says that different people pursue different values, and that he would appreciate a good reputation after death more highly than success in this world. His emphasis on reputation is certainly very remarkable, especially compared with the basic ideas of so-called universal religions like Buddhism or Christianity. In another place in the same book, he suggests that man should not get close to the gods, even though he should respect them.

In the views of religions like Buddhism and Christianity, life in this world, whether fortunate or miserable, has no essential value. The ultimate goal of human beings can be said to be none other than the eternal life after death. Furthermore, these religions suggest that wrongdoers will be inevitably punished in the other world. In fact, the concept of Confucius does not differ greatly from these religious views. In both cases, there seems to be little possibility for human beings to do anything against this mismatch of morality and fortune. Besides, in the eyes of Sima Qian, human beings are not just looking for noble ideals, contrary to the wishes of Confucius.

Nowadays our behavioral norms are mostly defined and evaluated in terms of success in this world, at least to a greater extent than in Sima Qian’s era. Such concepts as morality and virtue are increasingly losing their importance as criteria of individual behaviors and social relations. Forgetfulness of the public is often abused politically, for instance. The result is that there is less and less room for the Heavenly Way to work in this world, at least in Sima Qian’s meaning of the word.

What can be done? Sima Qian’s answer can be summarized as follows: uncovering and evaluating true facts and not forgetting them. This might be why he made lifelong passionate efforts to compile the Records of the Grand Historian. He tried to uncover true facts about individuals and events that otherwise could have been concealed or gone. Additionally he did not forget to attach his own critical evaluations to each of them. In this way, the unfairness of life for some people might be somewhat diminished, even if not totally nullified. Thanks to these written records, persons like Baekyi and Sukjae are praised and thereby somewhat compensated for their misfortune in life, even if a posteriori. Likewise, Dochuk’s fortune pales against his notoriety revealed in historical records. In this regard, pursuit of truth is man’s last means to guarantee the working of Heavenly Way and hence to enhance the fairness of life in this world.

- THE KOOKMIN REVIEW No.215 - March 22, 2010
- Prof. Kim Young Jin (Dept. of International Area Studies) kimyj@kookmin.ac.kr