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Qin Shi Huang. By Gabby Krieble. Introduction. Many names: Qin Shi Huang, Qin Shi Huangdi, Qin Shi Huang-di, Qin Shi Huangti, Qin Shi Huang-ti, Ying Zheng, and First Emperor Accomplished great feats and established himself in Chinese history
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Qin Shi Huang By Gabby Krieble
Introduction • Many names: Qin Shi Huang, Qin Shi Huangdi, Qin Shi Huang-di, Qin Shi Huangti, Qin Shi Huang-ti, Ying Zheng, and First Emperor • Accomplished great feats and established himself in Chinese history • Much good came of his reign, but also many deaths and violence
Early Life • Born to King Zhuangxiang of Qin and Zhao Ji • Inherited the Qin State at 13 with Lü Buwei acting as Prime Minister
Overthrow and Assassination Attempts • Lü Buwei, the Prime Minister, was afraid of Ying Zheng. He lined up Lao Ai to overthrow the king. Failed, caught, and executed violently. • State of Yan fearful of being conquered sent Jing Ke to present gifts then kill the king. Failed and executed. • Gao Jianli tried to avenge Jing Ke’s death by playing his lute for the king. The lute was fastened to a piece of lead and was thrust at the king. He missed and was executed.
China’s Unification • The state of Qin conquered the states of Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan (all independent states) • King Qin Shi Huang became Emperor Qin Shi Huang in 221 BCE
Major Accomplishments • No more states. 36 commanderies further divided into districts, counties, and hundred-family units • Standardized units of measurement and Chinese characters • Began construction of the Great Wall • Constructed the Ling Canal • Banned “Schools of Thought” and endorsed legalism
The Great Wall • After unifying China, Huang decided to connect walls created by the previous states and add new sections • Built in order to keep out the Huns and other nomadic tribes
Book Burning Period • The Emperor and his Prime Minister, Li Si, burned all books pertaining to the Hundred School of Thought and the time prior to his reign. Severe punishment for owning a banned book. • Over 460 scholars were buried alive in order to keep Confucius’s teachings out and also for revenge (a few scholars tricked him in his quest for eternal life).
Death • Sent many people on quests to find the Elixir of Life • None returned, although it is believed that some people on this quest might have settled in Japan. • Died of mercury poisoning from pills that were ironically supposed to make the emperor immortal • Li Si attempted to hide the death for 2 months until all affairs were in order.
Emperor’s Tomb • Began construction soon after gaining the Qin throne • Contains the Terracotta Army • No one living person has been inside, but legends say that there are building replicas, tools, and 100 rivers of mercury • Probes sent into tomb revealed high mercury levels
Terracotta Army • Life-sized warriors, chariots, and horses made of clay guard the tomb. Each are slightly different. • 7,000+ warriors, 130 chariots with horses, and 110 cavalry horses • Originally painted in “Chinese purple”
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