3rd century BCE, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, Qin dynasty, quotes, stories
Sima Qian’s 司馬遷 (c. 145-86 BCE) `Biographies of the Jesters’, written around 100 BCE, is a rich source of examples of jesters intervening in indirect ways to change the behaviour or plans of the king or emperor. Often using the reductio ad absurdum...
3rd century BCE, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, Qin dynasty, quotes, stories
One class of jester anecdotes concerns their intervening on behalf of others, cajoling or otherwise eliciting random acts of forebearance or thoughtfulness by people often in positions of absolute power.The First Emperor of the Qin (Qin Shi Huangdi, r. 246-210 BC),...
