What was Li Si’s purpose for writing this excerpt of the Memorial on Annexation of Feudal States?

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

Explanation:

c

explanation:

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b

explanation: