First, Sima Qian will write historical records with reference to the legend of unofficial history.
In other words, if Sima Qian wants to write a biography of Wang Wan, he will try his best to collect information. Even if unofficial history is legendary, historians are too irresponsible. Let's look at an example first. Sima Qian recorded the murder of Han Xin in Biography of Hou Huaiyin and Xiao Jiashi, respectively, but these two statements are contradictory.
Biography records that Liu Bangping came back from rebellion and learned of Han Xin's death. Lv Hou killed Han Xin without consulting Liu Bang beforehand, nor did he report to Liu Bang afterwards. But there are different records in Home. After Lv Hou besieged and killed Han Xin, Liu Bang received Lv Hou's report when he was at the front. Although later generations believed that Liu Bang was behind the murder of Han Xin by Lv Hou and Xiao He.
But in any case, this is inconsistent, which does not mean that Sima Qian is not responsible, but only shows that this is where Sima Qian is responsible. Sima Qian has always followed a principle, that is, he always records different statements about uncertain things for future generations to distinguish.
Contradiction? This place is not accidental; For example, Sima Qian's record of Qin Shihuang's life experience in Historical Records also followed this principle. The Biography of Qin Shihuang said that Ying Zheng was the son of Wang Xiang of Qin Zhuang. Is Historical Records OK? Lv Buwei Biography records that Ying Zheng is the son of Lv Buwei.
I think this is not Sima Qian's negligence, but intentional, which just reflects Sima Qian's rigor. Therefore, I think that if Sima Qian wants to write a biography of Wang Wan, he must collect information and record what he saw and heard.
Second, Sima Qian didn't write a biography of Wang Wan on purpose.
But Sima Qian will not separate Wang Wan's biography. Wang Wan was the first prime minister and the second person in the Qin Dynasty, and his historical contribution to the unification of currency and the establishment of county system could not be ignored. Not only did Wang Wan have no biographies, but he was like Mozi, the founder of the school four hundred years ago, and Fan Zeng, a strategist at the end of Qin Dynasty.
It can be seen that biographies of historical records are not written according to contribution or importance, and historians write historical books mostly for politics.
Third, Sima Qian has his own standards for writing biographies.
There are three situations that can be written into a biography:
1, historical figures
Biography? It is a biography that has promoted history, and it records all the people in history. In history, Wang Wan's achievements were not many, and the enfeoffment system he advocated was not implemented in the end. He intended to seal Qin Shihuang's sons, clans and heroes to the remote places of Yan, Qi and Chu, so that they could guard all the places to maintain the stability of the country, but in the end his proposal was not adopted.
2. Important political figures
Sima Qian's Historical Records is based on biographies and biographies. Bangui. Taking dynasty change as the main line, writing emperors; ? Biography? It mainly records the life stories of the representatives of various countries, and explores Sima Zhen's Historical Records;
The deeds of biographers, that is, officials and ministers, can be passed down to future generations. ?
Sima Qian is just a piece of waste paper to Wang Wan in Historical Records, just to highlight the names of Qin Shihuang and Li Si.
3, consistent with the thoughts of the rulers.
Regarding the system of enfeoffment and the system of counties and counties, Reese confused the concepts, saying that Zhou Shi enfeoffed the vassals and that the country would be as chaotic as the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. And advocate local counties and counties, centralized; That is, the central government directly appoints and dismisses local officials. Therefore, Qin Shihuang adopted the opinion of Li Si, who was younger than Wang Wan, and implemented the county system.
Li Si, the prime minister after Wang Wan, is more famous than Wang Wan in history. It is very likely that Wang Wanguang was covered up by Li Si.
Besides, Wang Wan is cautious, perhaps because he is too cautious. Sima Qian may despise it or post it. A spineless scholar? The label is naturally out of Sima Qian's eye. Sima Qian's writing of history books also has a strong personal color and subjective consciousness.