This week we discussed Chinese thinkers during the Warring States period and their thoughts on an ideal government, and followed that with a look at the Qin government (through the eyes of the Han) after they defeated the other warring states. One thing I am coming to realize now that I had not questioned during class is why we have direct documents of thinkers from the Warring States period, but we rely on the Han’s Records of the Grand Historian for knowledge about the Qin dynasty. I know that we are made to believe by the Records that the Qin suppressed knowledge and education, so is that the reason for a lack of documented thought such as existed in the Warring States?
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