Sima Qian published 1 novel, beginning with Records of the Grand Historian (90 BC).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Sima Qian
Start here
Records of the Grand Historian
Sima Qian's most-read book.
Sima Qian books in order of publication
Records of the Grand Historian (90 BC)
About Sima Qian
Sima Qian was a Chinese historian during the early Han dynasty. He is considered the father of Chinese historiography for the Shiji, a general history of China covering more than two thousand years from the rise of the legendary Yellow Emperor and formation of the first Chinese polity to the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, during which Sima wrote. As the first universal history of the world as it was known to the ancient Chinese, the Shiji served as a model for official histories for subsequent dynasties across the Sinosphere until the 20th century.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Sima Qian FAQ
- How many books has Sima Qian written?
- Sima Qian published 1 novel that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Sima Qian's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Records of the Grand Historian.
- What is Sima Qian's last book?
- Records of the Grand Historian (90 BC).
- What is Sima Qian's most famous book?
- Records of the Grand Historian (90 BC) is Sima Qian's most widely read book.
Authors like Sima Qian
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.