Political Metaphors in the Representation of Strategists: Fan Li and Zhang Liang in Shiji and Zizhi Tongjian

Abstract

Against the backdrop of traditional Chinese historiography,figures such as Fan Li and Zhang Liang have long been regarded as emblematic strategists whose careers embody the tension between political authority,ethical judgment,and personal withdrawal. This paper focuses on their representations in Sima Qian’s Shiji and Sima Guang’s Zizhi Tongjian ,with the aim of revealing how two eminent historians constructed these characters to serve distinct historiographical purposes. Employing a comparative textual analysis,the study examines narrative strategies,thematic emphases,and contextual differences between the two works. The findings indicate that Sima Qian highlights the complexity of early Han political ecology,presenting Fan Li and Zhang Liang as figures negotiating between power,cunning,and moral ambiguity,whereas Sima Guang reshapes them within a didactic framework aligned with his moral and political agenda for governance. The study concludes that these divergent portrayals not only illuminate the contrasting historical consciousness and value orientations but also demonstrate the broader role of biographical writing in articulating historiographical intent within the Chinese intellectual tradition.