司馬遷《史記》首創紀傳體，十二本紀「罔羅天下放失舊聞，王迹所興，原始察終，見盛觀衰」。後世學者對於司馬遷〈秦本紀〉、〈項羽本紀〉與〈呂太后本紀〉的安排提出不同的見解，班固作《漢書》將項羽置於列傳，呂太后則置於〈惠帝紀〉之後；南朝宋人裴松之以「天子稱本紀」而有項羽、呂太后不當置於本紀之論，唐人司馬貞認為〈秦本紀〉、〈項羽本紀〉宜降為世家，〈呂太后本紀〉宜分為惠帝紀與高后紀兩篇。本文從《史記》本紀「見盛觀衰」之作意，探索司馬遷作〈秦本紀〉、〈項羽本紀〉與〈呂太后本紀〉的筆法，從而理解司馬遷以秦為主軸作為撰寫東周列國的興衰，以項羽的盛衰作為撰寫秦末漢興的發展，並以呂太后掌權始末作為撰寫漢高祖去世至文帝即位的大事；三篇皆展現司馬遷本紀體例欲「見盛觀衰」之意與宏觀的史識。
Sima Qian first created the history genre based on biography in Shiji, of which 12 chapters of the Benji recorded prosperity and decadence over dynasties. The scholars have different views about the category of Qinji (Annals of Qin), Xiang Yu Ji (Annals of Xiang Yu), and Empress Lu Ji (Annals of Empress Lu) in the Benji. This article discusses the writing style of Qinji, Xiang Yu Ji, and Empress Lu Ji to perceive Sima Qian chronicled the prosperity and decadence of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms by Qin Dynasty as a kernel; chronicled the development from Qin to Han Dynasty by Xiang Yu's success and failure; chronicled the development from Emperor Gaozu of Han to Emperor Wen of Han by the beginning and the end of Empress Lu's regime. These three chapters expressed Sima Qian's intention of ＂observing prosperity and decadence over dynasties＂ and his gigantic view of the history in the Benji.
