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ASIAN STUDIES

(Written report)
(M-T-TH-F 5:00- 7:00 pm)

Topics:
 A unified China
 Emperor Shi Huang Di

Submitted by:
Michelle Ann T. Garbin
HOW THE QIN DYNASTY UNIFIED ANCIENT CHINA
The Qin dynasty surfaced during China’s Warring States period. This era spanned 250 years—
475 B.C. to 221 B.C. During the Warring States period, the city-state kingdoms of ancient
China’s Spring and Autumn period consolidated into larger territories. The feudal states fought
each other for power during this era characterized by advances in military technology as well as
education, thanks to the influences of Confucian philosophers.
The Qin dynasty came to prominence as the new imperial dynasty (221-206/207 B.C.) after
conquering rival kingdoms and when its first emperor, the absolute monarch Qin Shi Huang (Shi
Huangdi or Shih Huang-ti) unified China. The Qin Empire, also known as Ch'in, is likely where
the name China originates.
The Qin dynasty’s government was Legalist, a doctrine developed by Han Fei (d. 233 B.C.)
[source: Chinese History (Mark Bender at Ohio State University)]. That held the power of the
state and its monarch's interests paramount. This policy led to a strain on the treasury and,
ultimately, the end of the Qin dynasty.
The Qin Empire has been described as creating a police state with the government holding
absolute power. Private weapons were confiscated. Nobles were transported to the capital. But
the Qin Dynasty also ushered in new ideas and inventions. It standardized weights, measures,
coinage—the bronze round coin with a square hole in the center—writing and chariot axle
widths.
Writing was standardized to permit bureaucrats throughout the land to read documents. It may
have been during the Qin Dynasty or late Han Dynasty that the zoetrope was invented. Using
conscripted farm labor, the Great Wall (868 km) was built to keep out northern invaders.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang sought immortality through a variety of elixirs.
Ironically, some of these elixirs may have contributed to his death in 210 B.C. Upon his death,
the emperor had ruled for 37 years. His tomb, close to the city of Xi’an, included an army of
more than 6,000 life-size terracotta soldiers (or servants) to protect (or serve) him. The first
Chinese emperor’s tomb remained undiscovered for 2,000 after years his death. Farmers
unearthed the soldiers as they dug a well near Xi’an in 1974.
“So far, archaeologists have uncovered a 20-square-mile compound, including some 8,000
terracotta soldiers, along with numerous horses and chariots, a pyramid mound marking the
emperor’s tomb, remains of a palace, offices, storehouses, and stables,” according to the History
Channel. “In addition to the large pit containing the 6,000 soldiers, a second pit was found with
cavalry and infantry units and a third containing high-ranking officers and chariots. A fourth pit
remained empty, suggesting that the burial pit was left unfinished at the time the emperor died.”
Qin Shi Huang’s son would replace him, but the Han Dynasty overthrew and replaced the new
emperor in 206 B.C
Emperor Qin Shi Huang – First Emperor of China
Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 BC - 210 BC) fascinates people when they talk about the Great
Wall and the Terracotta Warriors and Horses - his two greatest achievements. As the first
emperor of China, he indeed has a profound influence on Chinese history and culture.

How did he come to the throne?


Qin Shi Huang, born as Ying Zheng in 259 BC, was the son of the king of the Qin State. At the
age of thirteen, he succeeded his father's regality. Ying Zheng was very aggressive and ambitious
at an early age. He assumed full power at 22 by ridding himself of his premier, Lu Buwei, who
acted as regent while he was a minor. He wanted to unify and subjugate all the states like Han,
Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan and Qi by the powerful political, economic and military strength of the Qin
State. Ying Zheng realized his ambition and built the first feudal and centralized empire in
Chinese history in 221 BC. This was what we called - the Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 206 BC). Ying
Zheng was the first emperor of a united China, so he proclaimed himself Qin Shi Huang.

Qin Shi Huang


When Ying Zheng unified China, he considered his achievement surpassing the legendary "San
Huang (three emperors)" and "Wu Di (five sovereigns)". He created a new title for himself:
"Huangdi" together with "Shi (means the first)", hence get the name "Qin Shi Huang" or "Qin
Shi Huangdi", which means he was the first emperor of China. He hoped his descendants would
follow in his steps to rule the country for eternity.

Achievements and Defects


In order to consolidate the nascent empire, Qin Shi Huang reformed politics, economy and
culture. In politics, he abolished the hereditary vassal enfeoffment system and established
prefectures and counties, ruled directly by the emperor. Based on the original rules of the Qin
State, the emperor adopted some regulations of other rival states to form a workable law of the
Qin Dynasty. In economy, he claimed that both the agriculture and commerce were very
important. People should have them developed together. Besides, tax system began to function
and coinage and metrology were all standardized. In culture, the emperor unified the Chinese
characters in writing, which promoted the development of culture. However, he also suppressed
scholars who were not to his liking. Consequently, many scholars involved were killed in
Xianyang.
The symbol of the Chinese ancient civilization, the Great Wall bears witness to Qin Shi Huang's
centralism. He ordered conscript laborers to link together the defensive works against marauding
nomads already built by the former states. That was the forerunner of the modern Great Wall.
Another world-famous achievement is the Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Xian, which was
discovered nearby the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Both are the wonders of China.
But during their construction, countless conscripts lost their lives. It's really wasting manpower
and resources.
Decline of the First Emperor
Qin Shi Huang longed for longevity, so he sent his ministers to go on quests seeking for an elixir
of immortality. However, death claimed him before he could find success on that matter. He
departed from the world of the living in 210 BC while traveling. The Peasant Uprising led by
Chen Sheng and Wu Guang broke out soon after Hu Hai, the second generation, got onto the
throne. Accordingly, the Qin Dynasty came to an abrupt end in 206 BC. Qin Shi Huang is truly
an epoch-making historic emperor in history.

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