First Emperor - Qian, Sima a Brashier, K. E. (Associate Professor of Religion (Chinese) and Humanities (Chinese), Reed College)

Sima Qian tells the story of the First Emperor, founder of the Qin dynasty, in whose reign the Great Wall was built and whose tomb was guarded by the famous terracotta warriors excavated in 1974. His account details the ruthless exercise of power but also the creation of an empire that endured until 1911.