自司马迁的《史记》问世以来，一直就受到后人的关注与研究。尤其是史公所叙述的当代史部分，因其资料翔实、人物众多、表现独特，更是广受关注。然而，自古至今，学者对《史记》当代部分的研究，虽时有新论问世，但一直未能形成一个系统。本文力图通过对当代史写作的目的、当代史涉及到的内容、写作当代史时所使用的手法以及写作当代史给后人的启示等几个方面，进行系统的论述。虽然在论述时难免挂一漏万，但没有尝试就永远没有创新。鉴于此，文章从上述四个方面对司马迁写作当代史进行了较为系统的梳理。在揭示司马迁详写当代史的目的时，通过大量的材料，我们发现史公一方面想通过记述自汉朝建立到武帝时期国力的飞速发展，从而歌颂那些为国家繁荣奉献自己聪明才智的“风流人物”，为他们歌功颂德，树碑立传。另一方面，由于自身特殊的遭遇，他看到了常人难以发现的社会弊端，并予以揭示，同时希望通过自己的努力，给当时乃至后来的统治者提供有益的借鉴。当然，作者最终还希望通过对当时社会的综合考察与探究，在写出一部“信史”的同时，从而形成自己的“一家之言”。在探寻史公记述当代哪些史料时，我们惊讶地发现史公为我们记述了极为丰富的内容，几乎涉及到社会生活的方方面面。不仅描述了西汉政治一统局面的形成巩固与专制统治的弊端，也叙述了西汉经济飞速发展与繁荣及其背后隐藏的诸多危机，同时对西汉王朝军事实力的增强与不同时期外交政策的改变以及文化思想的转变与文人人格的沦落都有记述。在探究史公如何向后人记述历史时，我们看到他主要是通过选取自己所见、所闻、所感的相关材料来真正实现对当代史进行“实录”，选择那些扶义俶傥的人物来描绘当代历史，同时通过选择对上层人物进行讽刺来实现自己的理想。通过上述三方面的分析，我们还总结出了史公留给后人的几点启示，即立足于当代，但放眼于未来；注重客观真实，力求真实反映事件；在叙述时，注重理智叙述，而又以情感人等等。

Since the advent of Historical Records written by Sima Qian, the later generations have paid much attention on it. The contemporary history has been especially paid more attention to for its abundant historical data, many characters and unique representation.However, from the ancient to the present, the scholars’ study on the contemporary history of Historical Records has not formed a system in spite of the advent of new ideas. This paper attempts to systematically elaborates on it from the purpose, content, writing skills and enlightenment of the contemporary history. Although there will be some loss, there will be no innovation without attempt. When we reveal the purpose of the contemporary history, we find through abundant data that on one hand Sima Qian tired to sing the praises and build up the images of “the truly great men” who dedicated their intelligence to the country’s prosperity by recording the national strength’s rapid development from the found of Han Dynasty to the time of Emporor Wu. On the other hand, he saw and revealed the social abuses because of his special experience. At the same time, he tried to provide beneficial experience for the present and later rulers through his own efforts. Sure, eventually the author hoped to write a true history and form his own ideas by the synthetical exploration and study.When we seek for historical data that Sima Qian recorded, we surprisely find that Sima Qian recorded such abundant content which almost covers every aspect of social life. It not only described the abuses of the formation and consolidation and arbitrary rule of Western Han political unity, but also gave an account of crises hiden behind the rapid economic development and prosperity of Western Han Dynasty. It also recorded the growth of military strength of Western Han Dynasty, the change of foreign policy in different times, the transformation of culture and reduction of the dignity of scholars.When we explore how Sima Qian recorded the history for the later generations, we see that he mainly hoped to record the true contemporary history through what he saw, heard and felt. He described the history from the unconventional men and satirized the upper-class citizens to realize his own ideals.By analyzing the above three aspects, we summarize some enlightenments that Sima Qian gave us. That is to hold to the contemporary era, look to the future, pay attention to the objective truth, reflect the events, give reasonal narration and move the others by love, ect.