1. Introduction

Since the 19th century, Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji) has garnered attention in the German-speaking world, becoming an important gateway for the West to understand Chinese history, culture, and thought. Its German translations began with the Austrian sinologist August Pfizmaier, while the French sinologist Édouard Chavannes’ French translation further elevated Shiji’s influence in Europe. In the 20th century, several German-American and German sinologists undertook translations and research on Shiji. By the 21st century, German sinologists introduced even more chapters to German readers. The study of Shiji in the German-speaking world can be divided into three stages: its inception in the 19th century, diverse interpretations in the 20th century, and cross-cultural research in the 21st century, yielding substantial achievements. However, domestic academia has paid insufficient attention to the dissemination and research of Shiji in the German-speaking world. This article systematically reviews its translation and research trajectory, analyzes its content, summarizes its successes and shortcomings, and provides new materials for scholarly reference.

2. The 19th Century: The Beginnings of German Translation

Against the backdrop of the development of European sinology in the 19th century, August Pfizmaier began translating 34 chapters of Shiji, publishing them in the Proceedings of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, Philosophical-Historical Class. He relied primarily on the collections of the Austrian National Library for his translations, breaking the original narrative structure, integrating related chapters, and summarizing them with subheadings. Pfizmaier’s translations included Chinese characters for names and places, with prefaces to each chapter providing background information, summaries, and biographical notes. He placed Sima Qian’s commentaries in the prefaces, expressing historical reflections in the third person to emphasize neutrality. His translations also noted discrepancies between Shiji and Book of Han, with detailed annotations on different versions. Despite some inaccuracies, Pfizmaier’s translations were unparalleled in quantity among European Shiji translations at the time. The German sinologist Friedrich Hirth published articles discussing the origins of Chinese history through figures like the Yellow Emperor, Yao, Shun, and Yu, highly affirming Shiji’s historical value. In the 19th century, Shiji’s German translations were dominated by Pfizmaier’s work, and research was sporadic and limited. Nevertheless, they heightened interest in Shiji in the German-speaking world and laid the groundwork for subsequent translations and studies.

3. The 20th Century: Diverse Textual Interpretations

In the 20th century, the translation and research of Shiji in the German-speaking world diversified. Chavannes’ French translation facilitated Shiji’s dissemination in Europe, and German-speaking sinologists actively participated in its translation and study. Friedrich Hirth published articles on the Xiongnu and translated the "Account of Dayuan" into English. His translation featured a clear structure, rich content, and included the original Chinese text and an index for easy reference. Erich Haenisch, a leading figure in German sinology, produced German translations of several Shiji chapters, praised for their unique perspectives, detailed background introductions, and vivid language. Fritz Jäger dedicated considerable effort to translating Shiji chapters, meticulously refining details to stay close to the original text. The 20th-century German-speaking sinologists made significant strides in both the breadth of research and the depth of translation, expanding themes to explore Shiji’s historical context and Sima Qian’s writing style, while translations grew increasingly refined and comprehensive.

4. The 21st Century: From Textual Research to Cross-Cultural Studies

In the 21st century, Shiji research in the German-speaking world has shown renewed vitality and broad influence, with scholars focusing on its historical, cultural, and philosophical significance. Dorothee Schaab-Hanke explored Sima Qian’s role and influence in early Chinese historiography, as well as later interpretations and evaluations of Shiji, in her collected papers. She conducted in-depth research on the question of Shiji’s true authorship, arguing that it was a collaborative work by Sima Tan and Sima Qian. Schaab-Hanke also examined Sima Qian’s intentions in writing specific chapters and later historians’ interpretations of Shiji. Hans van Ess delved into the intellectual and cultural values embedded in Shiji, promoting its study on the international academic stage. His research focused on in-depth explorations of Daoist and Confucian thought, as well as insights into traditional Chinese culture. The Library of Chinese Classics: Selected Records of the Grand Historian (Chinese-German Bilingual Edition) included 27 classic chapters, achieving two "firsts" in the German translation of Shiji and enhancing its narrative appeal and readability, thereby boosting its overseas influence.

5. Conclusion

The translation and research of Shiji in the German-speaking world have yielded remarkable results, with 75 translated chapters and 80 research papers collected. From Pfizmaier’s selective translations to Haenisch and Jäger’s combined translations and research, and further to the personalized translations and in-depth studies by scholars like Schaab-Hanke and van Ess, the research has evolved from fragmentation to systematic integration. Shiji’s philosophical ideas, humanistic spirit, and values hold significant meaning for addressing human issues, and its study has transcended national boundaries, becoming a cultural bridge connecting China and the world. In the future, the translation and research of Shiji will emphasize extensive collaboration, with scholars worldwide jointly interpreting and disseminating Chinese stories and classics, contributing to the construction of a shared human cultural community.