THE FIRST EMPIRE

THE QIN

■ THE QIN (Ch´in) was the beginning of some 400 years of

imperial rule, even though the Qin itself barely survived the
death of its first emperor. Considering the importance of the
period, it is perhaps not appropriate that our English word
"China" is ultimately derived from the name of this dynasty. On
the other hand, the Chinese refer as themselves ethnically as
the Han people.
QIN INTEGRATION
■ Qin applied to all its territories the principles first implemented in its own state
■ Under the direction of the First Emperor and his advisor LI SI (Li Ssu) China was
DIVIDED INTO 36 COMMANDERIES (jun, chün) which SUBDIVIDED INTO COUNTIES
(Xian, hsien)
■ ADMINISTRATION WAS ENTRUSTED TO OFFICIALS whose promotion and such are
based on their performance
■ In order to prevent Feudalism and prevent rebellion (local opposition) many
families were forced to the Qin capital where the government can keep a close guard
to them.
THE QIN ECONOMICAL PROJECTS
■ THE GOVERNMENT BUILT ROADS TO STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC TIES in order to
facilitate travel on the dirt roads
■ Qin eventually ISSUED A SINGLE OFFICIAL COINAGE
■ WRITTEN COMMUNICATION WAS FACILITATED BY LI SI's STANDARDIZATION OF
CHINESE CHARACTERS: Eventhough the standardization of Chinese characters
were established, the government still control the usage of this to prevent
opposition, especially who like the Confucians "used the past to criticize the present"
■ Qin oppresses the Confucian teachings
■ the founders of the unified empire set out to establish an empire that would last
"ten thousand generation"
■ Eventhough there is an elected "king" by this time, there is hardly a unification due
to overuse reigns of the rulers of even small principalities
■ That's why, a new design was adopted by combining 2 characters previously used IN
ORDER TO CONVEY THE FULL MAJESTY THE RULER/EMPEROR (huang di, huang-ti)-
Emperors have no geographical limit
■ Qin's colonization occurred to South China, Vietnam and Inner Mongolia in which
they fought the Xiongnu Tribe
■ Qin emphasizes its rule all over China- The Qin built the Great Wall as the
demarcation between China and "barbarism"= the wall was constructed partly by
linkin segments that had previously been erected by individual states for defensive
purposes
■ The Great Wall was only one of a number large public works projects undertaken by
the Qin
■ Qin is also active in the construction of canals for transportation and irrigation
■ Did buildung of the imperial palace and of great, lavish tomb for the First Emperor
THE FIRST EMPEROR OF THE QIN

■ Fierce, suspicious and superstitious man-obsessed with the search for an elixir of
everlasting life.
■ he sent a mission of young men and women OUT TO SEE IN SEARCH OF THE
MYTHICAL ISLANDS OF IMMORTALITY
■ 1st Eastern Tour (220)- he visited Mt. Tai, most sacred mountain in Shandong where
HE PERFORMED SACRIFICES TO HEAVEN
■ he did several other journeys but in his 5th journey he became ill and died
THE FOUNDATION OF HAN

■ 2 rebel forces gradually narrowed:

■ Led by Xiang Yu- southern aristocrat of great courage and charisma
■ Under LIU BANG- village background was a shrewd judge of men
■ Eventually, LIU BANG PROVED MORE SIGNIFICANCE ON HANDLING MEN SO LIU
BANG EMERGED VICTORY
■ one of the the 2 commoners in all of Chinese history to succeed in founding a major
dynasty - and that was HAN, LIU BANG as its emperor
■ LIU BANG'S POSTHUMOUS IMPERIAL TITLE: Han Gaozi
■ Liu grants generals and allies by grouping them vassal states
■ Liu also established "kingdoms" to eastern China FOR MEMBERS OF HIS OWN FAMILY
■ He took care to forestall any ambitions of his former generals and allies might have
entertained
■ From time to time, Liu hE regained power of the land that was given to them
■ Then left these territories to be assigned to the family members
■ Although these kingdoms were managed by court-appointed officials, Gaozi’s successor
keep a close watch on them and followed a policy REDUCING AND ELIMINATING THEM
WHEN POSSIBLE.
■ The showdown came in 154 BC when seven of these states, goaded into revolt, werr
crushed by the dynasty with unexpected ease
THE PATTERN OF FORMER HAN HISTORY
■ After the death of Gaozi, his strong-willed widow, EMPRESS LÜ, took control of the
throne and promoted the careers of the members of her own family
■ Unfortunately, the Lü family did not gain the the throne
■ After the empress died, her clan was massacred
■ The ambitions and political manipulations of empresses on behalf of their families
reemerged during the first century BC as a source of dynastic weakness but under
Emperor Wen the dynasty gained stability
EMPEROR WU
■ Han’s most vigorous ruler
■ Initiated important changes in domestic and foreign policies
■ Notable flowering of culture during this period
■ Emperor Wu’s reign of over half a century WAS THE LONGEST OF THE DYNASTY,
more than TWICE THAT OF EMPEROR XUAN
GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY
■ Han political system eas vested by the eeemperor
■ Officials were graded by rank and salary are controlled in the capital, which were former
Han is located in Changan
■ Chancellor- head of the official court, helds over court conferences attendend by other
high ranking officials
■ Director of the Secretariat- determines which documents which receives emperor’s
personal attention
■ Great Commandant- Third great official, in charge of the military
■ Nine ministers- Under the 3 highest officials, supervised of business government, in
charge of palace administration, conduct of ritual observations
■ People owed their taxes and labor services directly to the state