Qin Shihuangdi - Revision history

Christopher W at 08:06, 17 April 2013

2013-04-17T08:06:58Z

Christopher W at 08:05, 17 April 2013

2013-04-17T08:05:34Z

Dekeo: /* The Qin Military */

2013-03-02T06:58:50Z

The Qin Military

Emmanuel R: /* My Tomb */

2013-03-01T07:01:20Z

My Tomb

Emmanuel R: /* My Death */

2013-03-01T06:57:48Z

My Death

Emmanuel R at 06:39, 1 March 2013

2013-03-01T06:39:27Z

Show changes

Emmanuel R: /* Qin Shihuangdi */

2013-03-01T06:37:37Z

Qin Shihuangdi

Emmanuel R: /* Qin Shihuangdi */

2013-03-01T06:29:44Z

Qin Shihuangdi

Emmanuel R: /* The Qin military */

2013-03-01T05:46:21Z

The Qin military

Emmanuel R: /* The State of Qin */

2013-03-01T05:23:40Z

The State of Qin

@@ Line 107: / Line 107: @@
 === Standardization ===
 In an effort to unify my empire I standardized the weights and measures, the gauge of wagon wheels, and developed a uniform system of writing. I ordered new coins for my reign as well. They were round, with a square hole in the middle. The shape was suggestive of eternity, round which represented heaven, and a square hole which represented the world. The hole also made it easy smooth out the edges. Many coins could be stacked on a square rod and the edges filed smooth at one time.
-[[File:Qin weight.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Qin standardized weight]]
 In 220 BC I took a tour of inspection of my empire. In honor of my great accomplishments, I erected stone tablets carved with everything I achieved. The quote at the beginning of this page is from a tablet I erected at Mt. Langya.
 If you examine the quote, you will notice a common theme- all my accomplishments brought peace and/or order to my troubled realm.
-[[File:Qin tours.png|200px|thumb|left|The tours of my empire]]
 Under my rule, for the first time the entire country was ruled by one powerful centralized administration. My government wielded more power than any before. In might and magnificence, I was greater than all prior governments. My people were awed, and yes, afraid of my magnificence. For the next two thousand years (more or less) my pattern of centralized control would be the government of choice for China. If the country was not ruled by  descendents of my body, it was at least ruled by descendents of my style of rule, descendents of spirit. (De Bary & Bloom, pp 227)
@@ Line 117: / Line 117: @@
 I established an Empire meant to last forever. But it was not to be. I died before my work was done in 210 BC. from illness. Only eight years after my death, the Qin dynasty was no more.
 === My Tomb ===
-[[File:Qin Statue.png|200px|thumb|right|Statue of Qin Shihuangdi]]
 When I first ascended to the throne, I started work on my tomb at Mt. Li. After I became emperor I moved 700,000 men from all over the empire and ordered them to finish it. Replicas of palaces, scenic towers and the hundred officials were brought from around the empire to fill the tomb. Mercury was used to build imitations the hundred rivers, and the Yellow and Yangtze rivers, and the oceans and were built in a way that it seem to flow(Qian 63) I was buried with a full sized army of terra cotta warriors to protect me in the afterlife. These warriors were equipped with real weapons and real chariots. No two of these magnificent warriors was identical, they were all unique. (Ebrey 63) See also: [[ Terra Cotta Army]]
 === My Legacy ===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:Qinshihuang.jpg|3000px|thumb|right|The "First" Emperor Qin Shihuangdi]]
 They call me brutal, a Tyrant, a mass murderer. Some men have cursed my name for more than two thousand years; others have blessed it. I was the First, and the greatest, Emperor of Qin. Without me, there would be no China as you know it today. Brutal? Tyrant? I think NOT!
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 == The State of Qin ==
 My nation, Qin, was one of many states in existence at the end of the Zhou Dynasty. In 361 BC, following the advice of Shang Yang, or Lord Shang as he was widely known, my nation began to be ruled according to the tenants of Legalism. At the time I ascended to the throne, Qin was strong, peaceful and prosperous. The people were law-abiding citizens and paid taxes to the state. In 264 BC, shortly before I was born, our nation was visited by a follower of the man called Confucius. His name was Xunzi. He reported that our people "stood in deep awe" of the officials. The officials he described as "serious and sincere". Where, I ask, is the evidence of tyranny later ascribed to my state? Our people were well cared for; what other nation, at that same time, could say as much? (Ebrey 49-52,60)
-[[File:state of qin map.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The State of Qin in 260 BC]]
 === The Teachings of Lord Shang ===
 Lord Shang arrived in Qin state in 361 BC. As Chief Minister he instituted many reforms that transformed Qin into a more efficient and powerful state congruent with Legalism. He rejected the Confucian virtues of humanity and rightness saying they have no practical use in political life. Rather he advocated strengthening the power of the ruler. War was seen as a necessary means to achieve territorial expansion and to make the people strong, disciplined, and submissive. He advocated the destruction of the old feudal order replacing it instead with a strong central government headed by an absolute ruler. Shang saw the rule of law as an important tool of promoting discipline administered by an impartial bureaucracy. Severe punishments would discourage the breaking of these laws while people were generously rewarded for reporting those that did. Agriculture was the basis of the economy. Shang said that the state depended on the agriculture and war for its peace. The officials must be consistent in their conduct, if the officials are consistent then the state is well governed. Single-mindedness is something that should be strived for. The people were to live frugal and obedient lives devoted to the interests of the state in peace and war. (Bary and Bloom 191-195)
@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 === The Qin Military ===
-[[File:Qin armor.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Qin stone armor]]
 As a result of Lord Shang's legalists policies, we, in Qin, developed an aggressive military. Scholars estimate that Qin's population was about 5 or 6 million. Of this population anywhere between 8 percent to 20 percent of the population is estimated to have served in the army. This gave me a grand army that varied anywhere from 500,000 to 1 million strong. My army was very strong and very capable. The army was capable of equipping 1 million armored infantry, 1000 chariots, and 10,000 horses. My army had access to the best weapons available. Iron swords, crossbows, chariots and the best armors. As a result of the strong central government and institutions in Qin, my army was well trained and disciplined. The strong agriculture society in Qin made sure my army was well fed and supplied. With these military capabilities I would be able to wage war effectively against the other states. Since my army was capable of a massive amount of armored infantry, they did the majority of the fighting. Light infantry was used as shock troops and were sent in first followed by the main force of armored infantry. The calvary and chariots would bring up the rear attack the enemy's flanks and charging the weakened lines. This strategy enabled my troops to overwhelm the enemy. (Kiser and Cai 521-522)
-[[File:Qin crossbow trigger.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Qin crossbow]]
 == My Campaign of Unification ==
 === Initial Campaigns ===
 After the removal of Lu Buwei as prime minister, I appointed Li Si as my chief minister. Li Si urged me to take over Han to strike fear in the other states.because in doing so I would terrify the other states.With my kingdom firmly under my control, I could turn my attentions toward...pacification... of my warring neighbors. For over two hundred years they fought with each other. Countless lives were lost.
-[[File:Pattern_of_Qin_conquests.JPG‎|200px|thumb|right|Patterns of conquest]]
 On Li Si's urging I moved on Han first. Han fell relatively quickly. My army seized the King of Han and took over all of his territory in 230 BC. The following year my army prepared to move on Zhao. By the year 228 BC my army had captured Handan and the king of Zhao and had control over Zhao territory. I traveled to Handan where I had all the enemies of my mother's family killed. In the year 226 BC my army attacked the Yan capital of Ji. My forces succeeded in capturing Ji and defeating the army of Crown Prince Dan of Yan. I had the Crown Prince beheaded for his attempt on my life. The King of Yan escaped to the region of Laiodong where he seized control and made himself king of that region. (Qian 38-41)
 === Assassination Attempt ===
@@ Line 81: / Line 81: @@
 === The Final Campaigns ===
 Following the fall of the capital of Yan, my army moved on the capital of Wei, Daliang in 225 BC. My forces diverted water from the Yellow river and flooded the capital causing the walls to collapse. The king of Wei capitulated and I took over his territory. This was a largely uneventful campaign. I then conquered Chu (Jing) in 223 BC. The Chu army was crushed and the king killed. The following year I called up large amounts of troops and moved to attack the Yan region of Liaodong. I finally succeeded in capturing the king of Yan, King Xi. In 221 BC I marched my army south from Yan into Qi where I seized King Jian of Qi. With this victory I acheived unification of China and I brought the states under my rule. (Qian 41-42)
-[[File:Qin_conquest-.JPG |300px|thumb|left|Qin expansion, at 300 BC (yellow) and 220 BC (peach)]]
 Here is the order in which the major states fell:
 *Han in 230 BC

@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 === The Qin Military ===
 [[File:Qin armor.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Qin stone armor]]
-As a result of Lord Shang's legalists policies, Qin developed an agressive military. Scholars estimate that Qin's population was about 5 or 6 million. Of this population anywhere between 8 percent to 20 percent of the population is estimated to have served in the army. This would give us a grand army that varied anywhere from 500,000 to 1 million strong. My army was very strong and very capable. The army was capable of equipping 1 million armored infantry, 1000 chariots, and 10,000 horses. My army had access to the best weapons available. Iron swords, crossbows, chariots and the best armors. As a result of the strong central government and institutions in Qin, my army was well trained and disciplined. The strong agriculture society in Qin made sure my army was well fed and supplied. With these military capabilities I would be able to wage war effectively against the other states. Since my army was capable of a massive amount of armored infantry, they did the majority of the fighting. Light infantry was used as shock troops and were sent in first followed by the main force of armored infantry. The calvary and chariots would bring up the rear attack the enemy's flanks and charging the weakened lines. This strategy enabled my troops to overwhelm the enemy. (Kiser and Cai 521-522)
+As a result of Lord Shang's legalists policies, we, in Qin, developed an aggressive military. Scholars estimate that Qin's population was about 5 or 6 million. Of this population anywhere between 8 percent to 20 percent of the population is estimated to have served in the army. This gave me a grand army that varied anywhere from 500,000 to 1 million strong. My army was very strong and very capable. The army was capable of equipping 1 million armored infantry, 1000 chariots, and 10,000 horses. My army had access to the best weapons available. Iron swords, crossbows, chariots and the best armors. As a result of the strong central government and institutions in Qin, my army was well trained and disciplined. The strong agriculture society in Qin made sure my army was well fed and supplied. With these military capabilities I would be able to wage war effectively against the other states. Since my army was capable of a massive amount of armored infantry, they did the majority of the fighting. Light infantry was used as shock troops and were sent in first followed by the main force of armored infantry. The calvary and chariots would bring up the rear attack the enemy's flanks and charging the weakened lines. This strategy enabled my troops to overwhelm the enemy. (Kiser and Cai 521-522)
 [[File:Qin crossbow trigger.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Qin crossbow]]

@@ Line 119: / Line 119: @@
 [[File:Qin Statue.png|200px|thumb|right|Statue of Qin Shihuangdi]]
 When I first ascended to the throne, I started work on my tomb at Mt. Li. After I became emperor I moved 700,000 men from all over the empire and ordered them to finish it. Replicas of palaces, scenic towers and the hundred officials were brought from around the empire to fill the tomb. Mercury was used to build imitations the hundred rivers, and the Yellow and Yangtze rivers, and the oceans and were built in a way that it seem to flow(Qian 63) I was buried with a full sized army of terra cotta warriors to protect me in the afterlife. These warriors were equipped with real weapons and real chariots. No two of these magnificent warriors was identical, they were all unique. (Ebrey 63) See also: [[ Terra Cotta Army]]
+=== My Legacy ===
-I reigned as Emperor for only 11 years. My "dynasty" didn't even last 10 years past my death. And yet, the land I unified still bears the name of my state. The unity '''I''' forged, the Empire '''I''' created, this has endured throughout the ages. In time the Han would fall and so too the dynasty that replaced them and the one that would replace them and so down to your day. True, my dynasty did not endure but my legacy, '''MY''' legacy remains.
+The Qin Dynasty was marked by aggressive rule and legalist ideals. But the institutions I created such as a centralized government, the standardization of weights and measures, and the unified writing sustem endure to this day. I reigned as Emperor for only 11 years. My "dynasty" didn't even last 10 years past my death. And yet, the land I unified still bears the name of my state. The unity '''I''' forged, the Empire '''I''' created, this has endured throughout the ages. In time the Han would fall and so too the dynasty that replaced them and the one that would replace them and so down to your day. True, my dynasty did not endure but my legacy, '''MY''' legacy remains.
 == References ==

@@ Line 114: / Line 114: @@
 == My Death ==
-I established an Empire meant to last forever. But it was not to be so. I died before my work was done in 210 BC. My ministers conspired to replace the son I had chosen to be my successor with one they thought they could control better. They showed my heir a paper, supposedly written by me, telling him that he should die with me. He believed it and killed himself.
+After many assassination attempts I became obsessed with reaching immortality. I became obsessed with locating the mythical land of Peng Lai. Herbs brought from this place could grant me immortality. I spent large sums of money sending magicians to locate this mythical land. I dreamed of an ocean God in the shape of a giant fish that was blocking my efforts to locate Peng Lai. I ordered all my ships to carry equipment to seize a giant fish. I myself carried a crossbow just in case I happened across this giant fish. (Qian 61-62)
+I established an Empire meant to last forever. But it was not to be. I died before my work was done in 210 BC. from illness. Only eight years after my death, the Qin dynasty was no more.
-The son they crowned as my replacement was weak. Fighting between the ministers resulted in death and disunity. In 208 BC, my son killed his chief minister. In 207 BC the new minister assassinated my son and so on. As the "leaders" of my empire fought for power, the peasants, and others, rebelled. By 202 BC, just 8 years after my death, my great dynasty was over and the one you know as the Han dynasty began.
+=== My Tomb ===
 I reigned as Emperor for only 11 years. My "dynasty" didn't even last 10 years past my death. And yet, the land I unified still bears the name of my state. The unity '''I''' forged, the Empire '''I''' created, this has endured throughout the ages. In time the Han would fall and so too the dynasty that replaced them and the one that would replace them and so down to your day. True, my dynasty did not endure but my legacy, '''MY''' legacy remains.

@@ Line 104: / Line 104: @@
 One of the first things I did as Emperor was carry out sweeping changes in order to unify and stabilize the Empire. With the help of my prime minister Li Si and my ministers I divided the empire into 36 commanderies that answered to the central court. Each province was administered by a governor and a military commander. I abolished all feudal ranks and privileges. In an effort to protect against armed insurrection I disarmed the population and made it illegal to possess any weapon of any kind. The rich and powerful families of the empire, 120,000 in all, were moved to the capital so I could better monitor them. I made the legalist ideas of Lord Shang, Han Fei, and Li Si state philosophy. Justice for people who dared break the law was swift and fierce. Punishments were severe and often resulted in execution or forced labor on the many projects in my empire. I used forced labor to connect the many parts of the Great Wall, and to build my magnificent palace and tomb. I also improved the roads in the empire.(Ebrey 60-63)
 === The burning of books ===
-Criticism was not tolerated in my empire. In an effort to control knowledge I had to act. The records of the past could be used to criticize myself and the government. In 213 BC I ordered any books and records of historians other than the state of Qin burned. The Classic of Documents and the Classic of Odes were to be burned as well. Anyone caught in the marketplace discussing either the Documents or the Odes would be put to death. I ordered 460 scholars put to death to eliminate any and all opposition to my rule.
+Criticism was not tolerated in my empire. In an effort to control knowledge I had to act. The records of the past could be used to criticize myself and the government. In 213 BC I ordered any books and records of historians other than the state of Qin burned. The Classic of Documents and the Classic of Odes were to be burned as well. Anyone caught in the marketplace discussing either the Documents or the Odes would be put to death. I ordered 460 scholars put to death to eliminate any and all opposition to my rule. See also: [[Book burning in Qin Dynasty]]
 === Standardization ===
 In an effort to unify my empire I standardized the weights and measures, the gauge of wagon wheels, and developed a uniform system of writing. I ordered new coins for my reign as well. They were round, with a square hole in the middle. The shape was suggestive of eternity, round which represented heaven, and a square hole which represented the world. The hole also made it easy smooth out the edges. Many coins could be stacked on a square rod and the edges filed smooth at one time.

@@ Line 93: / Line 93: @@
 == Qin Shihuangdi ==
 This is what my new name meant.
 *‘First’ because I fully expected my Empire to last for 10,000 years, if not forever. This was a name each of my descendants would share. I was Shi haungdi, my son would be Ershi huangdi, his son Sanshi huangdi and so forth.
@@ Line 98: / Line 99: @@
 Together, they meant ‘Emperor’. I was fully the equal of the mythical emperors of our past.
 [[File:Qin Shihuangdi.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Qin Shihuangdi  photo by Tonynetone]]
-In 221 BC, I became the first Emperor of Qin.
+=== Naming debate ===
 Perhaps there are some of you who wonder why I am sometimes called Qin Shihuangdi and sometimes Qin Shihuang. Originally, I chose the name Shihuangdi, for the reasons I just explained. In later years, the historians felt a need to connect me with my kingdom and they added the "Qin" to the front of my name, where the family name would usually go. This made me Qin Shihuangdi. Even later, it was decided that my name should only have the same number of syllables that any average, ordinary person had- 3. So, they dropped the last syllable "di" (the one that meant "divine") and I became known as Qin Shihuang. (If your name is still known two thousand years from now, perhaps you will find it changed as well.)
+=== My rule as Emperor ===
-In honor of my great accomplishments, I erected stone tablets at sacred places, tablets upon which were carved my many accomplishments. The quote at the beginning of this page is from a tablet I erected at Mt. Langya.
+One of the first things I did as Emperor was carry out sweeping changes in order to unify and stabilize the Empire. With the help of my prime minister Li Si and my ministers I divided the empire into 36 commanderies that answered to the central court. Each province was administered by a governor and a military commander. I abolished all feudal ranks and privileges. In an effort to protect against armed insurrection I disarmed the population and made it illegal to possess any weapon of any kind. The rich and powerful families of the empire, 120,000 in all, were moved to the capital so I could better monitor them. I made the legalist ideas of Lord Shang, Han Fei, and Li Si state philosophy. Justice for people who dared break the law was swift and fierce. Punishments were severe and often resulted in execution or forced labor on the many projects in my empire. I used forced labor to connect the many parts of the Great Wall, and to build my magnificent palace and tomb. I also improved the roads in the empire.(Ebrey 60-63)
+=== The burning of books ===
 If you examine the quote, you will notice a common theme- all my accomplishments brought peace and/or order to my troubled realm.
+[[File:Qin tours.png|200px|thumb|left|The tours of my empire]]
-Under my rule, for the first time the entire country was ruled by one, powerful, centralized administration- mine. My government wielded more power than any before. In might and magnificence, I was greater than all prior governments. My people were awed, and yes, afraid of my magnificence. For the next two thousand years (more or less) my pattern of centralized control would be the government of choice for China. If the country was not ruled by  descendents of my body, it was at least ruled by descendents of my style of rule- descendents of spirit, so to speak. (De Bary & Bloom, pp 227)
+Under my rule, for the first time the entire country was ruled by one powerful centralized administration. My government wielded more power than any before. In might and magnificence, I was greater than all prior governments. My people were awed, and yes, afraid of my magnificence. For the next two thousand years (more or less) my pattern of centralized control would be the government of choice for China. If the country was not ruled by  descendents of my body, it was at least ruled by descendents of my style of rule, descendents of spirit. (De Bary & Bloom, pp 227)
 == My death ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:46, 1 March 2013
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	=== The Qin military ===		=== The Qin military ===
		+	[[File:Qin armor.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|left\|Qin stone armor]]
		+	As a result of Lord Shang's legalists policies, Qin developed an agressive military. Scholars estimate that Qin's population was about 5 or 6 million. Of this population anywhere between 8 percent to 20 percent of the population is estimated to have served in the army. This would give us a grand army that varied anywhere from 500,000 to 1 million strong. My army was very strong and very capable. The army was capable of equipping 1 million armored infantry, 1000 chariots, and 10,000 horses. My army had access to the best weapons available. Iron swords, crossbows, chariots and the best armors. As a result of the strong central government and institutions in Qin, my army was well trained and disciplined. The strong agriculture society in Qin made sure my army was well fed and supplied. With these military capabilities I would be able to wage war effectively against the other states. Since my army was capable of a massive amount of armored infantry, they did the majority of the fighting. Light infantry was used as shock troops and were sent in first followed by the main force of armored infantry. The calvary and chariots would bring up the rear attack the enemy's flanks and charging the weakened lines. This strategy enabled my troops to overwhelm the enemy. (Kiser and Cai 521-522)
		+	[[File:Qin crossbow trigger.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Qin crossbow]]

	== My campaign of unification ==		== My campaign of unification ==

@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 In the same year I turned twenty-one there was a revolt in my Kingdom by a "eunuch" in my household, Lao Ai. Lao Ai was not really a eunuch. He was part of a bigger plot to instigate a revolt and overthrow me.
 In the years since my father King Zhuangxiang died, my mother continued a secret relationship with my prime minister Lu Buwei. Lu Buwei realized that if he continued this relationship, he would risk the chance of a scandal. So he set out to find a replacement. He found a suitable replacement in Lao Ai. The queen dowager requested he be smuggled into her chambers. Lu Buwei suggested Lao Ai be subjected to a mock castration. If Lao Ai was seen as a eunuch, he would have closer access to the queen dowager. The queen dowager bribed an official into pretending to carry out the castration. Lao Ai and the queen dowager then began a relationship that bore two sons. Lao Ai and the queen dowager suggested that if I died, one of these sons would succeed me on the throne. Through his connection with the queen dowager, Lao Ai built up a following of ambitious men looking for government office. In the year 238 BC Lao Ai planned a revolt, he forged my seal and the seal of the queen dowager and called out district troops and prepared to move on the palace. I sent out my army and crushed his rebellion. I seized Lao Ai and his supporters and made an example of them. I beheaded his followers and I had Lao Ai torn in half by two carriages. I had his whole family killed along with his two sons. I found out Lu Buwei was involved in this plot so I had him removed from his post. He later committed suicide in shame. ( Qian 37-38, 163-165)
 == My campaign of unification ==