Abstract:
WANG Chunhong thought that Records of the Grand Historian: Huainan Hengshan Biography was not written by SIMA Qian, but by Zongzheng LIU Shou and LIU De according to the case file, who participated in the administration of Huainan Prison, and then modified by LIU Xiang and LIU Xin. Because SIMA Qian had great admiration and sympathy for LIU An, and thought that his treachery was an unjust case. The author thinks that although there are some suspicions in Records of the Grand Historian: Huainan Hengshan Biography, it is not enough to deny that the author of this biography is Sima Qian. LIU An was the second generation who suffered a wrong in the royal family. On the one hand, his grandmother and father died of injustice which planted the seeds of revenge in his heart; On the other hand, he was monitored, suppressed and forced by the Han Dynasty, so he felt heavy pressure and had to rebel. Sometimes strong feelings of revenge could overshadow one's reason, so LIU An's behavior was irrational. Sima Qian basically concluded that LIU An had been sentenced to death for rebellion. He also pointed out that LIU An had the motive and purpose, and made some practical preparations for rebellion, but he did not openly rebel. The Han Dynasty judged the case of Huainan Prison according to Spring and Autumn Annals, carefully making framed-up arguments and punishing severely his henchmen. SIMA Qian was critical and thought that the death of LIU An for his rebellion had done him some injustice.