Qin Shi Huang 秦始皇

Chinese friends remind me China boasts over 5,000 years of continuous civilization. That explains why Chinese culture is almost unfathomable to the Western mind. Let’s introduce a fascinating Chinese leader who is worth studying. Who was Qin Shi Huang 秦始皇 and why should we care? Long before Alexander the Great took out his wrath on Persia, Chinese warlords had been battling for centuries. Beginning around 2100 BCE, the Chinese people endured 500 years of the Xia Dynasty. The Shang Dynasty followed for another 500 years. The Zhou - pronounced Joe, as it should be - Dynasty began around 1050 BCE. It maintained stability until around 475 BCE. The Zhou leaders’ grip on power slipped and hegemons began the Warring States period.

As the Zhou Dynasty crumbled, the states of Qi, Qin, Yan, Zhao, Wei, Han, and Chu plotted with and against each other. They carved up the weaker sections of Zhou. By 250 BCE, the Warring States had exhausted themselves. The Qin - pronounced chin - stood unbowed. Qin grew stronger, and the other states could not come together to stop Qin’s rise. Court intrigue ensured only the strongest ruler would survive. In 235 BCE, King Zheng of Qin took control. He turned on Han, Wei, and Zhao picking them off in succession. Yan, Qi, and Chu could see their destiny, but they were too spread out to protect themselves. By 221 BCE, King Zheng had reunited all the lands of the former Zhou Dynasty. To emphasize a new beginning, he called himself Qin Shi Huang Di. He emphasized that he was not a petty king. He was China’s first emperor. The name China comes from the Qin.

Qin Shi Huang unified the Warring States and named himself emperor. Historians have split on his legacy, but they all agree he had vision. He believed effective government would make life better for the people. He abolished feudalism. He reformed the tax code. He held a census to register all the households. He made local government posts meritocratic. Those measures neutered the nobility. To improve trade and administration, he standardized weights, measures, and currency. He merged the many defensive wall and canal projects to ensure efficient use of capital.

The Great Wall project began during his rule. Everything so far sounds progressive. There was also a downside to his complete control. He brooked no disagreement. Scholars, noble officials, and even books that did not tow the party line suffered. Many assassination attempts followed, and the emperor became more and more paranoid. For a simplified view of this period, check out Jet Li and Zhang Yi Mou’s 2002 movie “Hero.” It is one of the most beautiful films ever made and the cast is a Who's Who of Chinese Martial Arts actors.

Convinced of his destiny, Qin Shi Huang searched for elixirs and potions to extend his life. He built a huge mausoleum and filled it with the 兵马俑 Terra Cotta Army. In 210 BCE, Qin Shi Huang China’s first emperor died. Four years later his dynasty also succumbed to the Han. We can appreciate his vision and legacy without condoning how he spread that vision. Destroying feudalism benefited the Chinese people, but his zeal and methods ensured he was not mourned. The lesson for us is clear. The best leaders can enact a beneficial vision without trampling all alternative views.