Who was the first emperor of China?
Quick answer
Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor of a unified China. Born Ying Zheng in 259 BC, he was king of the state of Qin and conquered the rival Warring States, unifying China in 221 BC. He’s famous for standardizing the country and for the Terracotta Army buried near his tomb.
Key facts
- Born
- 259 BC
- Unified China
- 221 BC
- Died
- 210 BC
- Dynasty
- Qin (221–206 BC)
Where the word “China” comes from
Many historians think the name “China” comes from Qin (pronounced “chin”), the dynasty he founded. His title, Shi Huangdi, means “First Emperor.”
His big reforms
| Reform | What changed |
|---|---|
| Writing | One standard script across the empire |
| Money | A single round coin with a square hole |
| Weights and measures | Standardized for trade and taxes |
| Roads and canals | A national network, even axle widths for carts were fixed |
| Government | Feudal states replaced by provinces run by officials he appointed |
| The Great Wall | Earlier walls connected and extended to defend against northern nomads |
The dark side
Qin Shi Huang ruled harshly. He is accused of burning books that challenged his rule and executing scholars. Forced labor on his huge projects cost many lives. Obsessed with immortality, he sent expeditions to find an elixir of life and reportedly took mercury pills, which may have contributed to his death in 210 BC. His dynasty collapsed only four years later.
The Terracotta Army
In 1974, farmers digging a well near Xi’an discovered an underground army of more than 8,000 life-size clay soldiers, plus horses and chariots, built to guard the emperor in the afterlife. Each soldier has a unique face. His actual tomb mound has still not been opened, partly to protect it and partly because ancient records describe rivers of mercury inside.
Writing systems were key to his rule; see what the first writing system was. For another ancient empire’s great road network, read about the Inca road system.
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