秦始皇英文详细简介.doc

Encyclopedia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaQin Shi HuangdiAncestral name (姓):Ying (嬴)Clan name (氏):Zhao (趙) or QinGiven name (名):Zheng (政)King of the Qin stateDates of reign:July 246 BCE221 BCEOfficial title:King of Qin (秦王)First Emperor of ChinaDates of reign:221 BCE210 BCEOfficial title:First Emperor (始皇帝)Temple name:None.Posthumous name:None.Dates are in the proleptic Julian calendar1. As appears in the Records of the Grand Historianby Sima Qian. Apparently, the First Emperor being bornin the State of Zhao where his father was a hostage, he lateradopted Zhao as his clan name (in ancient China clan namesoften changed from generation to generation), but this isnot completely certain.2. Based on ancient Chinese naming patterns, we can infer thatQin was the clan name of the royal house of the State of Qin,derived from the name of the state.Qin Shi Huangdi (Chinese: 秦始皇;pinyin: Qn Shhung;Wade-Giles: Chin Shih-huang; IPA:tin xu) (259 BC 210 BC),12 personal name Ying Zheng (Chinese: 嬴政;pinyin: Yng Zhng), was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period.3 He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC.3 He ruled until his death in 210 BC at the age of 50.4Qin Shi Huang is a pivotal figure in Chinese history. After unifying China, he and his chief advisor Li Si passed a series of major economic and political reforms.3 He undertook gigantic projects, including the first version of the Great Wall of China, the now famous city-sized mausoleum guarded by a life-sized Terracotta Army, and a massive national road system, all at the expense of numerous lives. To ensure stability, Qin Shi Huang outlawed and burned many books.4Name of Shi HuangdiTitle meaningDuring the preceding Zhou Dynasty (700 BC-221 BC), later rulers of the independent states of China by convention used the title “King” (Chinese: 王;pinyin: Wng). Following his defeat of the last of the Warring States in 221 BC, King Zheng of Qin became de facto ruler of all China. To celebrate this achievement and consolidate his power base, King Zheng created a new title calling himself the First Sovereign Qin Emperor (Chinese: 秦始皇帝;pinyin: Qn Sh Hungd;Wade-Giles: Qing Shih Huang-di), often shortened to Qin Shi Huang (Chinese: 秦始皇;pinyin: Qn Sh Hung;Wade-Giles: Qing Shih-Huang).The character (始) means “first”.5 The first emperors heirs would then be successively called Second Emperor, Third Emperor and so on down the generations.6The characters 皇帝 (pinyin: Hungd) come from the mythical Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors Era (Chinese: 三皇五帝;pinyin: Sn Hung W D) (3rd Century BC), from which the two characters (皇帝) are extracted.7 By adding such a title, Qn Sh Hungd hoped to appropriate some of the previous Yellow Emperors (黃帝) divine status and prestige.8UsageBoth names, Qin Shi Huangdi (秦始皇帝) and Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇), appear in the Records of the Grand Historian written by Sima Qian. The longer name Qin Shi Huangdi (秦始皇帝) appears first in chapter 5,9 though the shorter name Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇) was the name of chapter 6 (秦始皇本紀).1011 However, the name Qin Shi Huangdi is believed to be the correct one since Ying Zheng joined together the words Huang (Imperial) and Di (ruler), to create Huangdi (emperor).12YouthBirthA rich merchant in the state of Han, named L Buwei, met Master Yiren (公子異人). L Buweis manipulation helped Yiren become King Zhuangxiang of Qin.4 At the time, King Zhuangxiang of Qin was a prince of blood Qin, who took residence in the court of Zhao as a hostage to guarantee an armistice between the two states.13According to the Records of the Grand Historian, Zhao Zheng, first emperor, was born in 259 BC as the eldest son of King Zhuangxiang of Qin.214 King Zhaoxiang of Qin saw a concubine belonging to L Buwei, and she bore the first emperor.14 At birth, he was given the personal name Zheng (政).14 Because Zheng was born in Handan, capital of the enemy state of Zhao (趙), he had the name Zhao Zheng.14 Zhao Zhengs ancestors are said to have come from Gansu province.2Birth controversyAccording to the Records of the Grand Historian, written by Sima Qian during the next dynasty and avowedly hostile to Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor was not the actual son of King Zhaoxiang of Qin. By the time L Buwei introduced the dancing girl Zhao Ji (趙姬, or the Concubine from Zhao) to the future King Zhuangxiang of Qin, she was allegedly L Buweis concubine and already pregnant by him.13 According to translated texts of Annals of L Buwei the woman bore the future emperor in Handan 259 BC in the first month of the 48th year of King Zhaoxiang of Qin.15 There was some inconsistency between the date of birth and the theory that L Buwei was the real father of the first emperor.15 In the view of some scholars, the length of the pregnancy was irregular, lasting a full year, which is impossible, according to modern medicine.15 The idea that the emperor was an illegitimate child added to the negative view of him for most of the past 2000 years.5 However, today there is considerable skepticism among scholars about this claim by Sima Qian. Professors John Knoblock and Jeffrey Riegel, in their translation of L Buweis Spring and Autumn Annals, call the story patently false, meant both to libel L and to cast aspersions on the First Emperor.16King of the Qin stateTeenage yearsIn 246 BC, when King Zhuangxiang died after a short reign of just three years, he was succeeded to the throne by his 13-year-old son.17 At the time, Zhao Zheng was still young, so L Buwei acted as the regent prime minister of the Qin state, which was still waging war against the neighbouring six states.5Lao Ais attempted coupAs King Zheng grew older, L Buwei became fearful that the boy king would discover his liaison with his mother Zhao Ji (趙姬). He decided to distance himself and look for a replacement for the king. He found a man named Lao Ai (嫪毐).18 The Record of Grand historian said Lao Ai was disguised as a eunuch by plucking his beard. Later Lao Ai and queen Zhao Ji got along so well they secretly had two sons together.18 Lao Ai then became ennobled as Marquis Lao Ai, and was showered with riches. L Buweis plot was supposed to replace King Zheng with one of the hidden sons. But during a dinner party drunken Lao Ai was heard bragging about being the young kings step father.18 In 238 BC the king was traveling to the ancient capital of Yong (雍). Lao Ai seized the queen mothers Chinese seal and mobilized an army in an attempt to start a coup and rebel.18A price of 1 million copper coins was placed on Lao Ais head if he was taken alive or half a million if dead.18 Lao Ais supporters were captured and beheaded; then Lao Ai was tied up and torn to five pieces by horse carriages, while his entire family was executed to the third degree.18 The two hidden sons were also killed, while mother Zhao Ji was placed under house arrest until her death many years later. L Buwei drank a cup of poison wine and committed suicide in 235 BC.518 Ying Zheng then assumed full power as the King of the Qin state. Replacing L Buwei, Li Si was also now the new chancellor.Jing Kes assassination missionMain article: Jing KeKing Zheng and his troops continued to take over different states. The state of Yan was small, weak and frequently harassed by soldiers. It was no match for the Qin state.19 So Crown Prince Dan of Yan plotted an assassination attempt to get rid of King Zheng, begging Jing Ke to go on the mission in 227 BC.419 Jing Ke was accompanied by Qin Wuyang in the plot. Each was supposed to present a gift to King Zheng, a map of Dukang and the decapitated head of Fan Yuqi.19Qin Wuyang first tried to present the map case gift, but trembled in fear and moved no further towards the king. Jing Ke continued to advance toward the king, while explaining that his partner has never set eyes on the Son of Heaven, which is why he is trembling. Jing Ke had to present both gifts by himself.19 While unrolling the map, a dagger was revealed. The king drew back, stood on his feet, but struggled to draw the sword to defend himself.19 At the time other palace officials were not allowed to carry weapons. Jing Ke pursued the king, attempting to stab him, but missed. King Zheng then drew out his sword and cut Jing Kes thigh. Jing Ke then threw the dagger, but missed again. Suffering eight wounds from the kings sword, Jing Ke realised his attempt had failed. Both Jing Ke and Qin Wuyang would be killed afterwards.19 The Yan state was conquered by the Qin state five years later.19Gao Jianlis assassination missionMain article: Gao JianliGao Jianli was a close friend of Jing Ke, who tried to avenge his death.20 As a famous lute player, one day he was summoned by King Zheng to play the instrument. Someone in the palace who had known him in the past exclaimed, This is Gao Jianli.21 Unable to bring himself to kill such a skilled musician, the emperor ordered his eyes put out.21 But the king allowed Gao Jianli to play in his presence.21 He praised the playing and even allowed Gao Jianli to get closer. As part of the plot, the lute was fastened with a heavy piece of lead. He raised the lute and struck at the king. He missed and his assassination attempt failed. Gao Jianli was later executed.21First unification of ChinaImperial tours of Qin Shi HuangIn 230 BC, King Zheng unleashed the final campaigns of the Warring States Period, setting out to conquer the remaining independent kingdoms, one by one.The first state to fall was Han (韓; sometimes called Hann to distinguish it from the Han 漢 of Han dynasty), in 230 BC. Then Qin took advantage of a natural disaster, the 229 BC Zhao state earthquake, to invade and conquer Zhao where Qin Shi Huang had been born.2223 He now avenged his poor treatment as a child hostage there, seeking out and killing his enemies.Qin armies conquered the state of Zhao in 228 BC, the northern country of Yan in 226 BC, the small state of Wei in 225 BC, and the largest state and greatest challenge, Chu, in 223 BC.24In 222 BC, the last remnants of Yan and the royal family were captured in Liaodong in the northeast. The only independent country left was now state of Qi, in the far east, what is now the Shandong peninsula. Terrified, the young king of Qi sent 300,000 people to defend his western borders. In 221 BC, the Qin armies invaded from the north, captured the king, and annexed Qi.For the first time, all of China was unified under one powerful ruler. In that same year, King Zheng proclaimed himself the First Emperor (始皇帝).In the South, military expansion continued during his reign, with various regions being annexed to what is now Guangdong province and part of todays Vietnam.23First Emperor of the Qin dynastyDivision and politicsMain article: History of the administrative divisions of ChinaIn an attempt to avoid a recurrence of the political chaos of the Warring States Period, Qin Shi Huang and his prime minister Li Si completely abolished feudalism 23 and independent states (國)25; the conquered states were not allowed to be referred to as independent nations. The empire was then divided into 36 commanderies (郡), later more than 40 commanderies.23 The whole of China was now divided into administrative units: first commanderies, then districts (縣), counties (鄉) and hundred-family units (里).25 This system was different from the previous dynasties, which had loose alliances and federations.26 People could no longer be identified by their native region or former feudal state, as when a person from Chu was called Chu person (楚人).2527 Appointments were now based on merit instead of hereditary rights.25EconomyQin Shi Huang and Li Si unified China economically by standardizing the Chinese units of measurements such as weights and measures, the currency, the length of the axles of carts to facilitate transport on the road system.26 The emperor also developed an extensive network of roads and canals connecting the provinces to improve trade between them.26 The currency of the different states were also standardized to the Ban liang coin (半兩).25 Perhaps most importantly, the Chinese script was unified. Under Li Si, the seal script of the state of Qin was standardized through removal of variant forms within the Qin script itself. This newly standardized script was then made official throughout all the conquered regions, thus doing away with all the regional scripts to form one language, one communication system for all of China.25IdentificationQin Shi Huang also followed the school of the five elements, earth, wood, metal, fire and water. It was believed that the royal house of the previous dynasty Zhou had ruled by the power of fire, which was the color red. Thus the new Qin dynasty must be ruled by the next element on the list, which is water, represented by the color black. Thus black became the colour for garments, flags, pennants.28 Other associations include north as the cardinal direction, winter season and the number six.29 Tallies and official hats were six inches long, carriages six feet wide, one pace (步) was 6ft (1.8 m).28Zhang Liangs assassination attemptMain article: Zhang Liang (Western Han)In 230 BC, the state of Qin had defeated the state of Han. A Han aristocrat named Zhang Liang swore revenge on the Qin emperor. He sold all his valuables and in 218 BC, he hired a strongman assassin and built him a heavy metal cone weighing 120 jin (roughly 160lbs. or 97kg.).18 The two men hid among the bushes along the emperors route over a mountain. At a signal, the muscular assassin hurled the cone at the first carriage and shattered it. However, the emperor was actually in the second carriage, as he was traveling with two identical carriages for this very reason. Thus the attempt failed.30 Both men were able to escape in spite of a huge manhunt.18North: Great wallMain article: Great wall of ChinaThe Qin fought nomadic tribes to the north and northwest. The Xiongnu tribes were not defeated and subdued, thus the campaign was tiring and unsuccessful, and to prevent the Xiongnu from encroaching on the northern frontier any longer, the emperor ordered the construction of an immense defensive wall.2331 This wall, for whose construction hundreds of thousands of men were mobilized, and an unknown number died, is a precursor to the current Great Wall of China. Very little survives today of the great wall built by the first emperor as the original wall sections went to ruins centuries ago.32South: Lingqu canalMain article: Lingqu CanalA famous South China quotation was In the North there is the Great wall, in the South there is the Lingqu canal (北有長城、南有靈渠).33 In 214 BC the Emperor began the project of a major canal to transport supplies to the army.34 The canal allows water transport between north and south China.34 The canal, 34 kilometers in length, links the Xiang River which flows into the Yangtze and the Li Jiang, which flows into the Pearl River.34 The canal connected two of Chinas major waterways and aided Qins expansion into the southwest.34 The construction is considered one of the three great feats of Chinese engineering, the others being the Great Wall and the Sichuan Dujiangyan Irrigation System.34End of hundred schools of thoughtWhile the previous Warring States era was one of constant warfare, it was also considered the golden age of free thought.35 Qin Shi Huang eliminated the Hundred Schools of Thought which incorporated Confucianism and other philosophies.3536 After the unification of China, with all other schools of thought banned, legalism became the endorsed ideology of the Qin dynasty.25 Legalism was basically a system that required the people to follow the laws or be punished accordingly.Book burning periodMain article: Burning of books and burying of scholarsBeginning in 213 BC, at the instigation of Li Si and to avoid scholars comparisons of his reign with the past, Qin Shi Huang also ordered for most previously existing books to be burned, with the exception of books on astrology, agriculture, medicine, divination, and the history of the Qin state.37 Owning the Book of Songs or the Classic of History was to be punished especially severely. According to the later Records of the Grand Historian, the following year Qin Shi Huang had some 460 scholars buried alive for owning the forbidden books.37 .38 The emperors oldest son Fusu criticised him for this act.39 The emperors own library still had copies of the forbidden books, but most of these were destroyed later when Xiang Yu burned the palaces of Xianyang in 206 BCE.40Other achievementsAfter the unification, Qin Shi Huang moved out of Xianyang palace (咸陽宮), and began building the gigantic Epang palace (阿房宫) south of the Wei river, Epang is the most loved concubine of Qin Shi Huang.41 Other achievements such as the 12 bronze colossi were also made from the collected weapons.Death and aftermathElixir of lifeLater in his life, Qin Shi Huang feared death and desperately sought the fabled elixir of life, which would supposedly allow him to live forever. He was obsessed with acquiring immortality and fell prey to many who offered him supposed elixirs.42 He visited Zhifu Island three times in order to achieve immortality.43 In one case he sent Xu Fu, a Zhifu islander, with ships carrying hundreds of young men and women in search of the mystical Penglai mountain.30 They were sent to find Anqi Sheng, a 1,000-year-old magician whom Qin Shi Huang had supposedly met in his travels and who had invited him to