The Reign of Qin The Reign of Qin Shi Huang DiShi Huang Di

Qin Shi Huang DiQin Shi Huang Di Qin Shi Huang Di is Qin Shi Huang Di is

giving an order to an giving an order to an attendantattendant

DetailsDetails Qin Shi Huang Di, the Qin Shi Huang Di, the

11stst emperor of China, emperor of China, is seated on a throneis seated on a throne

The Emperor is giving The Emperor is giving an order; one of his an order; one of his first was to end first was to end feudalismfeudalism throughout throughout ChinaChina

The Unification of ChinaThe Unification of China Qin Shi Huang Di declared himself emperor of Qin Shi Huang Di declared himself emperor of

China in 221 BCE, after conquering and united the China in 221 BCE, after conquering and united the independent rival states of the regionindependent rival states of the region

He He ended feudalism ended feudalism and replaced it with a and replaced it with a central central government bureaucracygovernment bureaucracy

The Unification of ChinaThe Unification of China The empire of China was divided into 36 districts, The empire of China was divided into 36 districts,

each overseen by three officials and a judge, who each overseen by three officials and a judge, who enforced the laws of the emperorenforced the laws of the emperor..

Under the emperor’s legislation, all weapons from Under the emperor’s legislation, all weapons from rival regions were confiscated and melted downrival regions were confiscated and melted down

Ex-feudal lords and their families were forced to Ex-feudal lords and their families were forced to move to the capital city of Xianyang, where the move to the capital city of Xianyang, where the emperor could keep watch over their activities and emperor could keep watch over their activities and prevent rebellion.prevent rebellion.

The The StandardizationStandardization of of Chinese CultureChinese Culture Qin Shi Huang Di Qin Shi Huang Di

touring the countrysidetouring the countryside DetailsDetails

Qin Shi Huang Di Qin Shi Huang Di traveled the roads of traveled the roads of China on inspection China on inspection tours to make sure his tours to make sure his laws were being laws were being followed.followed.

The Standardization of The Standardization of Chinese CultureChinese Culture

Prior to the reign of Qin Shi Huang Di, each region of Prior to the reign of Qin Shi Huang Di, each region of China had its own customs, money, measures and China had its own customs, money, measures and weights, and writing systems.weights, and writing systems.

He standardized the Chinese He standardized the Chinese writing systemwriting system, which , which improved communication.improved communication.

The emperor standardized all The emperor standardized all weightsweights

He made one unit of He made one unit of currencycurrency for the empire. for the empire.

He created a He created a unified system of laws unified system of laws to regulate behavior to regulate behavior in the empire; everyone (rich, poor, noble, peasant) was in the empire; everyone (rich, poor, noble, peasant) was punished equally under the law. Punishments included punished equally under the law. Punishments included forced labor, whippings, amputations, and beheadings.forced labor, whippings, amputations, and beheadings.

The Book BurningsThe Book Burnings

Qin Shi Huang Di’s soldiers are Qin Shi Huang Di’s soldiers are executingexecuting Confucian Confucian scholarsscholars. The scholars are being thrown into a pit, and their . The scholars are being thrown into a pit, and their texts are burning in a pile at the left.texts are burning in a pile at the left.

According to legend, some scholars were buried alive, According to legend, some scholars were buried alive, while others were buried up to their necks and then while others were buried up to their necks and then decapitated.decapitated.

The Book BurningsThe Book Burnings Qin Shi Huang Di’s Legalist views were in direct Qin Shi Huang Di’s Legalist views were in direct

conflict with the views of Confucian scholars, who conflict with the views of Confucian scholars, who believed that virtuous rulers could encourage believed that virtuous rulers could encourage morality among their subjects morality among their subjects without enforcing without enforcing harsh laws.harsh laws.

Li Si, a trusted court official, advised burning the Li Si, a trusted court official, advised burning the Confucian books and executing the scholarsConfucian books and executing the scholars

He executed 460 scholars in 214 BCE, and forced He executed 460 scholars in 214 BCE, and forced others (including his eldest son) to work on the others (including his eldest son) to work on the building of the Great Wall.building of the Great Wall.

The Building of the Great WallThe Building of the Great Wall Workers were forced to Workers were forced to

build the Great Wall under build the Great Wall under harsh supervision.harsh supervision.

The Great Wall was The Great Wall was constructed over mountain constructed over mountain peaks and other rough peaks and other rough terrain.terrain.

The Great Wall was about The Great Wall was about 25 feet high and its base 25 feet high and its base was 15 to 30 feet thick.was 15 to 30 feet thick.

The Building of the Great The Building of the Great WallWall

At least 300,000 workers—including soldiers, peasants, At least 300,000 workers—including soldiers, peasants, disgraced government officials, and convicted criminals—disgraced government officials, and convicted criminals—labored for over 10 years to build the Great Wall.labored for over 10 years to build the Great Wall.

Workers were forced to labor through the winter and Workers were forced to labor through the winter and summer, and many became ill and died from the extreme summer, and many became ill and died from the extreme heat and cold.heat and cold.

Scholars estimate that tens of thousands of people died Scholars estimate that tens of thousands of people died while building the 1500-mile-long Great Wall.while building the 1500-mile-long Great Wall.

Despite its size, the Great Wall did not keep invaders out of Despite its size, the Great Wall did not keep invaders out of China; the Huns invaded in the 3China; the Huns invaded in the 3rdrd century CE, and ruled century CE, and ruled the north of China for more than 200 years.the north of China for more than 200 years.

The Emperor’s Death & BurialThe Emperor’s Death & Burial

The tomb of Qin Shi Huang DiThe tomb of Qin Shi Huang Di

Many workers built the extensive tomb site, and artists Many workers built the extensive tomb site, and artists crafted an army of life-size crafted an army of life-size terra cotta soldiersterra cotta soldiers, including , including archers, foot soldiers, chariot drivers, and horses facing archers, foot soldiers, chariot drivers, and horses facing forward to lead the emperor to the next world.forward to lead the emperor to the next world.

The Emperor’s Death & BurialThe Emperor’s Death & Burial Qin Shi Huang Di was terrified of death and desired to be Qin Shi Huang Di was terrified of death and desired to be

immortal so he consulted with magicians, who advised him immortal so he consulted with magicians, who advised him to hide from evil spirits and drink potionsto hide from evil spirits and drink potions

Qin Shi Huang Di died unexpectedly at the age of 49, but Qin Shi Huang Di died unexpectedly at the age of 49, but work began on his tomb when he inherited the throne at work began on his tomb when he inherited the throne at age 13.age 13.

Approximately 700,000 workers built the tomb, which Approximately 700,000 workers built the tomb, which covered 8 square miles. They worked for almost 40 years.covered 8 square miles. They worked for almost 40 years.

Many tomb workers were buried alive with the emperor Many tomb workers were buried alive with the emperor because the emperor’s son did not want robbers to learn of because the emperor’s son did not want robbers to learn of the tomb’s vast riches.the tomb’s vast riches.

By most accounts, Emperor Qin—sometimes referred to as By most accounts, Emperor Qin—sometimes referred to as the Tiger of Qin—was a strict and enormously powerful the Tiger of Qin—was a strict and enormously powerful leader with a commanding presence. leader with a commanding presence.

One advisor described the emperor as having “[all-seeing] One advisor described the emperor as having “[all-seeing] eyes. His chest is like that of a bird of prey and his voice eyes. His chest is like that of a bird of prey and his voice like that of a jackal. He is merciless, with the heart of a like that of a jackal. He is merciless, with the heart of a tiger or a wolf.”tiger or a wolf.”

Shi Huang Di managed to unify many aspects of Chinese Shi Huang Di managed to unify many aspects of Chinese cultureculture LawsLaws CurrencyCurrency writing systemwriting system Great WallGreat Wall Terra Cotta ArmyTerra Cotta Army

Legacy of the EmperorLegacy of the Emperor . A famous essay entitled, “The Sins of Qin” . A famous essay entitled, “The Sins of Qin”

declared that the emperor “placed deceit declared that the emperor “placed deceit and violence above kindness and justice, and violence above kindness and justice, making tyranny the foundation of his making tyranny the foundation of his empire.” However, current scholarship has empire.” However, current scholarship has portrayed Qin Shi Huang Di in a more portrayed Qin Shi Huang Di in a more balanced way. In the words of one recent balanced way. In the words of one recent biographer, “Qin Shi Huang Di was a biographer, “Qin Shi Huang Di was a conquerer, a unifier, a centralizer, a conquerer, a unifier, a centralizer, a standardizer, a builder, and a destroyer.”standardizer, a builder, and a destroyer.”