THE CYCLIC VIEWS OF THE HUMAN CONDITON IN THUCYDIDES’ ARCHAEOLOGY AND SIMA QIAN’S PREFACE TO HISTORICAL RECORDS BAI Chun Xiao

Historical writings with the cyclic views appeared in Greece and China first Many ancient cultures had some sort of idea that the natural and human worlds moved in cycles of origin, growth, prosperity, decline and fall with various patterns. However, historical writings with the cyclic views appeared in Greece and China first . In Greece, Thucydides most typically embodies this insight into human history.

“Things happen in such and such-like ways” “If my work is judged useful by any who shall wish to have a clear view both of the events which have happened and of those which will some day, according to the human condition, happen again in such and such-like ways, it will suffice for me.” (Thucydides, 1.22.4)

“Many cruelties occur and will always occur” “During the civil wars the cities suffered many cruelties that occur and will always occur as long as men have the same nature, sometimes more terribly and sometimes less, varying in their forms as each change of fortune dictates. ” (Thucydides, 3.82.2)

J. R. Ellis, The Structure and Argument of Thucydides’ Archaeology (1991)

Thucydides’ innovative idea of history Thucydides uses both ring structure and linear structure in the Archaeology to frame three historical processes: 1. the distant past (1.2-11), 2. the period preceding this war (1.12-18.2), 3. the latest period (1.18.2-23.3) For Thucydides, the Greek history shapes like a modified circle (or a spiral) and the Trojan War stands at the center of the annular structure (J. R. Ellis, 1991).

The Duke of Zhou-- Confucius--Sima Qian “There had been five hundred years after the death of the Duke of Zhou (11th century BC) when Confucius was born. So far it has been five hundred years after the death of Confucius (551-479 BC); someone, who is able to succeed the great career in this flourishing age, should modify the Commentary on the Book of Changes , continue to write the Spring and Autumn Annals , and discover the nature of the Classic of Poetry 、the Book of Documents 、the Three Rites and the Classic of Music.” (Preface to Historical Records )

The idea of Yin-Yang permeates traditional Chinese culture

Lao Zi: the movement of the Way (Dao) is reversion

Confucius: historical changes and replacement of dynasties Zi Zhang (503 BC - ?, a student of Confucius) asked whether ten generations hence could be known about. Confucius said: “The Yin (the other name of Shang) based itself on the Xia ritual and what they subtracted or added may be known. The Zhou based itself on the Yin ritual and what they subtracted or added may be known. The Zhou’s possible successors even in a hundred generations may be known about.” (The Analects, 2.23)

Thucydides’ Archaeology and Sima Qian’s Preface to Historical Records Thucydides’ Archaeology, his subject (1.1, 23.1-3) , methods (1.20-22) and the events in three periods (1.2-11, 12-18.2, 18.2-19) comprise the introduction to his book. Sima Qian’s Preface to Historical Records (actually the last chapter of his book) performs a function similar to the opening part of the Peloponnesian War.

Their identical opinions on the beginning of history Thucydides supposed that there was a long period of “proto-Hellas” in Greece (Thucydides, 1.2.1-2). Sima Qian’s opinion on the beginning of history is nearly identical to Thucydides’: without sufficient wealth and necessary communications, it was not a Golden Age, but just the poor phase of a historical process (Sima Qian, “The Biographies of the Money-makers”).

Historical process is the movements of power As Adam M. Parry observes, the historical process actually is the movements of power from the perspective of Thucydides. “Long for profit causes the weaker to submit to the stronger and the more powerful people with surplus wealth to make the smaller cities subject to them.” (Thucydides, 1.8.3)

The relationships between rulers and their people “The highest type of ruler accepts the nature of the people, the next best leads the people to what is beneficial, the next gives them moral instruction, the next forces them to be orderly, and the very worst kind enters into competition with them.” (Sima Qian, “The Biographies of the Money-makers” )

Suffering : a main topic in their history writings Both Thucydides and Sima Qian focus on wars, revolutions, coups, slaughters, natural disasters and human torture. Suffering and destruction, as a main topic in their historical writings, always draw their attention. In Thucydides’ view, although every historical process unavoidably leads to destruction, the efforts are not in vain, and the glory and suffering should be recorded in a serious way.

The punishment of Sisyphus vs. Thucydides’ cyclic view of history

Sima Qian inquires into the dynastic cycles with moral concern Sima Qian inquires into the causes of collapse of the states, not from the providence of God, but from human deeds and words. This is notable similarity between him and Thucydides (See “The Basic Annals of Qin Shi Huang”). Sima Qian is very familiar with the processes of dynastic cycles, however, he still pursues some moral principles in history (See “The Biography of Bo Yi” ).

One distinction between Thucydides’ and Sima Qian’s cyclic views Unlike Thucydides, Sima Qian may not necessarily think that the peak of a booming age must be closely followed by a great destruction. Thucydides lived in a turning epoch when the Greek world was changing from prosperity to decline, and he witnessed the Athenians losing the war and their hegemony.

Sima Qian thinks his own age is a splendid time By contrast, Sima Qian’s perspective covers the whole early Chinese history from tribal confederations to kingdoms and then to empires. Sima Qian really thinks that the reign of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty (141-87 BC) is a powerful and splendid time, and not an era of total destruction.