The founding of the Qin Dynasty was the result of many complex historical events that began long before the establishment of the dynasty in 221 BCE. These events included the rise of Confucianism and Legalism, civil war amongst nobles, peasant uprisings, and the assassination of the Qin First Emperor. The emergence of the Qin dynasty marked the end of the Warring States Period and the beginning of a new era of Chinese history.
Following the collapse of the Zhou dynasty (1046-256 BCE) in the late sixth century BCE, China was left in disarray and divided into several independent states. This period of political fragmentation and warfare between the various states is known as The Warring States Period (475-221 BCE). During this period, two competing schools of thought emerged – the Confucianism and Legalism – which were to dominate Chinese thought and politics until the modern era.
Confucianism was a philosophy based on social harmony and moral principles developed by the ancient philosopher Confucius. It taught that in order for society to prosper, people must behave in accordance with the teachings of filial piety, respect for elders, and a strict adherence to the roles prescribed by traditional Chinese society. Confucianism would become the political philosophy of the majority of Chinese rulers for thousands of years.
Legalism, on the other hand, was an authoritarian system of government that resurrected some of the harsher aspects of earlier Chinese dynasties. It sought to replace Confucian ideals of morality and justice with absolute obedience to the state and harsh penalties for any transgression. Many Chinese states adopted Legalism as their official political system, most famously the Qin State.
The Qin State was founded in the present-day Sichuan Province during the Warring States Period (476-221 BCE), by the ambitious and ruthless Qin nobility. The Qin people were fierce warriors who quickly carved out their own kingdom by conquering their weaker rivals. By 221 BCE, they had gained control of all the other Chinese states, unifying the whole of China under the Qin Dynasty.
The Qin rulers were strong proponents of Legalism and imposed its harsh laws upon the conquered states. They also built a massive network of fortifications and walls to protect the borders of the Qin Empire, giving rise to the Great Wall of China.
The Qin First Emperor, Ying Zheng, is credited with bringing together the various parts of China and creating the first unified Chinese Empire. He institutionalized the bureaucracy of Legalism and created a standing army using conscriptions from conquered vassal states. He also standardized weights and measures, currency, writing, and even legal codes throughout the empire. However, he is perhaps best remembered for the ruthless tactics he employed to solidify his power.
Ying Zheng ordered massive campaigns of public works, including the construction of roads and canals, as well as his famous tomb, which occupied tens of thousands of workers. He also employed a system of harsh punishments to ensure total obedience from the population, including mutilation and burning at the stake. This extreme form of oppression would ultimately lead to his downfall.
The Qin Dynasty faced numerous internal challenges throughout its brief reign. These included rebellion by nobles, peasant uprisings, and a growing dissatisfaction with its oppressive nature. In 210 BCE, the court eunuch Zhao Gao assassinated the Qin First Emperor and usurped the throne. This sparked a civil war which led to the collapse of the dynasty in 207 BCE.
The fall of the Qin marked the end of the Warring States Period and the beginning of the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). Although its tenure was brief, the Qin Dynasty had a monumental impact on the development of Chinese culture and society. Its unification of the various Chinese states laid the groundwork for the formation of a unified Chinese Empire and the spread of cultural and technological advances throughout Asia. Its Legalist policies provided the foundation for a powerful bureaucratic state which endured until the last imperial dynasty fell in 1911.