Discussion on SIMA Qian’s Writing of the History of Qin Based on Such Unearthed Documents as A Book of ZHAO Zheng

Zhao Zhengshu does not conform to the characteristics of "novelists" before the Han Dynasty, such as "superficial phraseology, absurd content, writing in the name of ancient celebrities". However, whether or not it meets "novelist’s criteria" does not negate the fact that Zhao Zhengshu is taken as "precious new historical data". The "Seven Deadly Crimes" written by Li Si in prison in Zhao Zhengshu is regarded as the predominant material in comparison with the "Seven deadly Crimes" also written by Li Si in prison in Records of History: Biography of Li Si, by which how the "text control" goes can be seen in Sima Qian’s writing of the history of Qin. However, Sima Qian wrote about the same event on the basis of different materials, where "elegant speakers" may not be true and reliable, and therefore the resulting "text-out-of-control" state may cover up some historical truth.