Examining the Reign of Qin Shi Huang Di
Examining the Reign of Qin
Shi Huang Di
Assignments to hand in: Completed Notes About Qin Shi Huang Di & Focus Questions Paragraph Answers
Step 1: Introduction - Look at the portrait below and read the text below:
China's first emperor, Zheng (pronounced JUNG),
was born in 259 B.C.E. in northwest China in the
state of Qin (pronounced
CHIN). Most scholars believe his father was an
ambitious
merchant and his mother a
concubine to the king of Qin. The king, though, believed Zhen was his
biological son, and made him the heir to the throne. When Zheng turned 13 years
old, he became king of Qin. At the age of 38, he conquered the warring states of
Central East Asia and created China's first united empire. After his conquest,
Zheng declared himself First Emperor and adopted the name Qin Shi Huang Di
(pronounced CHIN-SHIH-HWONG-DEE): "Qin" to indicate his state of origin, and
"Shi Huang Di," which means "First August (awe-inspiring) Emperor." By most
accounts, Emperor Qin - sometimes referred to as the Tiger of Qin - was a strict
and enormously powerful leader with a commanding presence. One advisor described
the emperor as having "[all-seeing] 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
tiger or a wolf."
Emperor Qin had a profound influence on Chinese society. Despite the country's vast size and widespread regional differences, Qin Shi Huang Di managed to unify many aspects of Chinese culture, such as laws, currency, and the writing system. His numerous achievements include building a large network of roads and canals, and beginning construction of the Great Wall of China. In addition, the line of emperors started by Qin Shi Huang Di endured until the early part of the twentieth century. China eventually got its name from the Qin dynasty, which collapsed several years after Qin Shi Huang Di's death in 210 B.C.E.
The story of Emperor Qin's life has often been distorted by biased historical writings. The accounts written during Qin Shi Huang Di's lifetime were often uncritical odes to the emperor's greatness. Other, better-known accounts of his life were written by ancient Chinese scholars who violently disagreed with the emperor's strict, Legalist form of government. A famous essay entitled "The Sins of Qin" declared that the emperor "placed deceit and violence above kindness and justice, making tyranny the foundation of his empire." However, current scholarship has portrayed Qin Shi Huang Di in a more balanced way. In the words of one recent biographer, "Qin Shi Huang Di was a conqueror, a unifier, a centralizer, a standardizer, a builder, and a destroyer."
Step 2: Download and print the student handout: Notes About Qin Shi Huang Di
Step 3: On the student handout "Notes About Qin Shi Huang Di," write at least 4 main facts/accomplishments about Qin Shi Huang Di for each of the FIVE "Events" below. Print out the "Event" picture and the corresponding "Information About..." student handout. (You may use bullet note-taking format and use the backside of the note sheet.)
Event A: The Unification of China & Information sheet
Event B: The Standardization of Chinese Culture & Information sheet
Event C: The Book Burnings and Information sheet
Event D: The Building of the Great Wall and Information sheet
Event E: The Emperor's Death and Burial and Information sheet
Step 4: On a separate piece of paper and in paragraph form, answer the five "Focus Questions" on each of the "Event" student handouts.
PowerPoint: Great Wall at Juyongguan (My trip to China 2006)
Supplemental Videos
(To View - Right click, then "Save Target As...):
Behind the Great Wall
China's Great Wall
Civilizations: Fall of Power - Behind the Great Wall
Qin Dynasty: The
First Emperor & Great Wall
The Great Wall (China Revealed Video)