A Resource Guide for Students and Teachers - Bowers Museum

History
of China
Lead weight for measuring
bags of grain
16 TERRA COTTA WARRIORS
Is it any wonder that the First
Emporer conquered and united
much of China after seeing such
an impressive army? When Ying
Zheng (the First Emperor’s birth
name), ascended to the throne upon
the death of his father in 246 BCE, he
was only 13 years old. It is thought
construction of the warriors was
begun after he united China in 221.
The previous Eastern Zhou Period
laid the groundwork for the First
Emperor to unify China. Due to the
constant fighting during the Warring
States Period, military, economic,
social and political systems
were created which gave
him power and control to
defeat the other states.
In 230 BCE Ying
Zheng began
accomplishing
his dream
of unifying
and
bringing
under his
control
all the
Warring
States –
Han, Zhao,
Wei, Chu, Yan
and Qi. By 221 BCE he
had succeeded in creating the first
centralized empire in Chinese history
and declared himself Qin Shihuangdi
– the First Emperor of the Qin. He
had united lands from the Gobi Desert
to Vietnam to the Yellow Sea. It is
said that Qin Shi Huang conquered
China, “like a silkworm devouring
a mulberry leaf.” The Period of the
Warring States was over, yet he had
to keep his army battle ready in order
to deter rebellions by his conquered
subjects and to protect his newly
created empire from continued
invasions from the north.
In the period before Qin, the
concept of the Mandate of Heaven
developed. This meant that the ruler
was given authority by Heaven and
that if he ruled well, he would remain
in power. The First Emperor believed
he had received this power to rule the
entire world. He created the concept of
“emperor” and all subsequent rulers
of China had that title. A dynasty is
a succession of rulers who all came
from the same family. Although the
Qin dynasty lasted only 15 years, until
the death of the First Emperor’s son in
206 BCE, it set into motion much of
the groundwork that would maintain
China as a leading power throughout
world history. Some of his most long
lasting accomplishments include:
• Unified the seven Warring States
ending centuries of war
• Did away with much corruption
by abolishing the inheritance
Bronze ban liang coin
of titles and offices and
creating a strict hierarchy
based on merit and
achievement
• Built a 4,700 mile network of
roads throughout the empire with
regular stops to provide a place to
sleep
• Linked and added to the great
wall of China in order to protect
his citizens from barbarian
nomadic attacks
• Built a canal system for irrigation
and transportation
• Established a single width for
cart axles so goods could be
transported easily from province
to province
• Standardized weights and
measures making trade more
uniform
• Created a single currency
• Combined the Chinese characters
in writing which helped promote
cultural unity
• Pioneered the use of mass
production and interchangeable
parts (for the production of
weapons and agricultural
implements)
• Codified the legal system by
making all laws the same in all
parts of the empire, and although
harsh, was consistently applied
The First Emperor is well known
in Chinese history for his amazing
advancements yet he is also known for
his ruthlessness towards his people. As
he conquered the adjoining Warring
States, he forced the leading families
to move to his capital at Xianyang,
so he could keep them under the
watchful eye of his bureaucracy. He
rebuilt their palaces in Xianyang.
The First Emperor chose his own
assistants to go to their kingdoms
to be the governors and judges. He
set up a system of 36 commanderies
with governors and other officials
appointed by the capital. By doing
so he did away with a fragmented
country and established a central
government.
The Chinese philosopher,
Confucius, lived not long before the
Qin dynasty. Confucianism stresses
social harmony, justice, and devotion
to family ancestors. Change meant
going against one’s ancestors. The
First Emperor felt that the teachings
of Confucius conflicted with his
progressive programs and laws. He
burned any writings that did not have
to do with agriculture and what he
considered necessary occupations.