Answer:
Li Si (d. 208 BCE) was, along with the Legalist philosopher Han Fei (d. 233 BCE), a student of Xunzi (c. 310-c. 219 BCE)
and an official for the kingdom of Qin. When Qin conquered the remaining feudal states of the Zhou dynasty and
built a new, centralized empire, Li Si was prime minister to the first emperor, Qin Shihuang. As prime minister, Li Si
had the opportunity to bring Legalist political philosophy to bear on the task of uniting and ruling the patchwork of
now-conquered feudal states of the former Zhou kingdom. The memorials below are two examples of the policies
that Li Si successfully urged Qin Shihuang to follow. The memorials, in the form that we have them, are recorded by
the Han dynasty historian Sima Qian (145?-86? BCE). They may, therefore, reflect Han bias in either the choice made
or the accuracy of the record. However, we have no alternative sources from which to compare the record and
investigate the nature and extent of whatever bias may be present. These documents must, then, stand as some of
the best records we have as to the policies pursued by the Qin ruler in imposing unification on the fragmented Zhou
polity.
Document E xc erpts with Questions (Longer selection follows this section)
From Sources of Chinese Tradition, compiled by Wm. Theodore de Bary and Irene Bloom, 2nd ed., vol. 1 (New York: Columbia
University Press, 1999), 208-210. © 1999 Columbia University Press. Reproduced with the permission of the publishe
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