Su Cheyun: Taishi Gong traveled all over the world, so where did Sima Qian go?

When Sima Qian went on a trip, he was not simply touring the mountains and rivers, nor was it like the current domestic cadres who only choose scenic spots and travel in the name of attending meetings. He actually gained knowledge through his travels, tested the accuracy of the knowledge in books during field trips, and collected historical materials to write books. Therefore, his travel plan was approved and supported by his father Sima Tan. In this way, he began his nationwide tour in 126 BC (the third year of Yuanshuo, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty).

Where did he go during this trip? Sima Qian wrote in "Historical Records." "Tai Shi Gong's Preface" explains: The general route is "travel south to the Yangtze River, Huaihe River, go up to Kuaiji, explore the Yu Cave, Que Jiuyi, float in Yuanxiang, travel north to Wensi, lecture in the capital of Qilu, and observe the legacy of Confucius. Xiangshe Zou Feng, trapped Xue, Pengcheng, Guoliang, Chu Yigui. "If you compare it with the map, you will definitely think that Sima moved a lot of wrongfully. In fact, his travel routes have indeed been questioned by people. At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, there was a serious scholar named Wang Guowei, who raised this issue in his book "Taishi Gongxing Annual Examination". He said, "Trying what is recorded in the "Autograph" does not necessarily follow the order of travel. Secondly, we should first go to Fuyuan, Xiang, and Que Jiuyi, and then go to Kuaiji to explore the Yu cave; from the north, we should go to Wen, Si, and pass Chu and Liang returned. Otherwise, it would be unreasonable to return east to west and then turn northeast." It seems that Wang Guowei's analysis is quite pertinent.