Qin Shi Huang  China’s First Emperor

Qin Shi Huang was the First Emperor of a unified China, who ruled from 246 B.C. to 210 B.C. In his 35-year reign, he managed to create magnificent and enormous construction projects. He also caused both incredible cultural and intellectual growth …and much destruction within China

Whether he should be remembered more for his creations or his tyranny is a matter of dispute, but everyone agrees that Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, was one of the most important rulers in Chinese history.

Ying Zheng became king of the Qin state in 246 B. C Ying Zheng became king of the Qin state in 246 B.C., upon the death of his supposed father. He ruled as Qin Shi Huang, and unified China for the first time. The young king was only 13 years old when he took the throne, so his prime minister (and probable real father) Lu Buwei acted as regent for the first eight years

This was a difficult time for any ruler in China, with seven warring states vying for control of the land. The leaders of the Qi, Yan, Zhao, Han, Wei, Chu and Qin states were former dukes under the Zhou Dynasty, but had each proclaimed themselves king as the Zhou fell apart.

The Han kingdom fell in 230 B.C. In 229, a devastating earthquake rocked another powerful state, Zhao, leaving it weakened. Qin Shi Huang took advantage of the disaster, and invaded the region. Wei fell in 225, followed by the powerful Chu in 223. The Qin army conquered Yan and Zhao in 222 The final independent kingdom, Qi, fell to the Qin in 221 B.C.

With the defeat of the other six warring states, Qin Shi Huang had unified northern China. His army would continue to expand the Qin Empire's southern boundaries throughout his lifetime, driving as far south as what is now Vietnam. The king of Qin became the Emperor of Qin China.

Qin Shi Huang's Quest for Immortality As he entered middle age, the First Emperor grew more and more afraid of death. He became obsessed with finding the elixir of life, which would allow him to live forever. The court doctors and alchemists concocted a number of potions, many of them containing "quicksilver" (mercury), which probably had the ironic effect of hastening the emperor's death rather than preventing it. The Emperor died while touring eastern China in 210 B.C. The cause of death most likely was mercury poisoning, due to his immortality treatments.

The Controversy Modern historians all agree that Qin Shi Huang is probably China’s most famous emperor however they disagree on whether he was… A great leader and reformer who tried to make China great or… A brutal tyrant who was only concerned with making himself more powerful no matter who or what he destroyed.

A Great Reformer – His Achievements Though Qin Shi Huang expected his empire to last forever, Qin Dynasty survived 15 years with two reigns only. However, Qin Shi Huang had the greatest and longest-lasting influence among all rulers in Chinese history. He ordered the unification of Chinese characters, currency, weights and measures, not only benefited economic development and cultural exchanges, but have had a strong and long-lasting influence on China. He was the pioneer in implying legal system in Chinese history. He ordered the construction of road system which eventually played an extremely important role in ancient transportation and economic exchanges. He standardized the length of the axles of carts, so every cart could run smoothly in the ruts of the new roads. He ordered the building and restoration of the Great Wall of China.

A Tyrant Ruler – His Brutal Ruling Extremely severe penal codes. For example, if one person was guilty, he would be killed along with his family, his extended families as well as his fellow classmates, villagers, teachers, friends and acquaintances. Burden people with endless demands in wars, building of the Great Wall and building of his Mausoleum, Terra Cotta Army, palaces and roads. Burnt almost all classic books, excluding those of medicine, divination and agriculture. Ordered to bury 460 scholars alive. Confiscated all weapons from the general public. Forced people (especially rich people) to migrate to the newly built capital Xianyang (next to Xian).