Editing Sima Qian (section)

== Early life and education ==
Sima Qian was born at Xiayang in [[Zuopingyi]] (near present-day [[Hancheng]], Shaanxi). He was probably born around 145&nbsp;BC, although some sources say he was born about 135&nbsp;BC.{{sfnp|Knechtges|2014|p=959}} Around 136&nbsp;BC, his father Sima Tan was appointed to the position of "grand historian" ({{tlit|zh|tàishǐ}} {{lang|zh|太史}},  alternatively "grand scribe" or "grand astrologer") at the imperial court.{{sfnmp|de Crespigny|2007|1p=1222|Knechtges|2014|2p=960}} The grand historian was a relatively low-ranking official whose main duty was to formulate the yearly calendar, identifying which days were ritually auspicious or inauspicious, and present it to the emperor prior to the [[Chinese New Year|new year]].{{sfnp|Knechtges|2014|p=960}} His other duties included traveling with the emperor for important rituals and recording daily events both at the court and around the country.{{sfnp|Hughes-Warrington|2000|p=291}} By his account, by the age of ten Sima was able to "read the old writings" and was considered to be a promising scholar. Sima grew up in a [[Confucian]] environment, and Sima always regarded his historical work as an act of Confucian [[filial piety]].{{sfnp|Hughes-Warrington|2000|p=291}}

In 126&nbsp;BC, around the age of 20, Sima Qian began an extensive tour around China as it existed in the Han dynasty.{{sfnp|Knechtges|2014|p=960}} He started his journey from the imperial capital, [[Chang'an]] (modern [[Xi'an]]), then went south across the [[Yangtze]] to [[Changsha Kingdom]] (modern [[Hunan]]), where he visited the [[Miluo River]] site where the [[Warring States]]–era poet [[Qu Yuan]] was traditionally said to have drowned himself.{{sfnp|Knechtges|2014|p=960}} He then went to seek the burial place of the legendary rulers [[Yu the Great]] on [[Mount Xianglu]] and [[Emperor Shun|Shun]] in the [[Jiuyi Mountains]] (modern [[Ningyuan County]], Hunan).{{sfnp|Knechtges|2014|p=960}}{{sfnp|Watson|1958|p=47}} He then went north to Huaiyin (modern [[Huai'an]], Jiangsu) to see the grave of Han dynasty general [[Han Xin]], then continued north to [[Qufu]], the hometown of [[Confucius]], where he studied ritual and other traditional subjects.{{sfnp|Knechtges|2014|p=960}}