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Fall of the Qin

Qin dynasty
秦朝
221 BCE–206 BCE
Qin dynasty, circa 210 BC.
Capital Xianyang
Languages Old Chinese
Religion Chinese folk religion
Legalism
Government Absolute monarchy
Emperor
 •  221 BC – 210 BCE Qin Shi Huang
 •  210 BC – 207 BCE Qin Er Shi
Chancellor
 •  221 BC – 208 BCE Li Si
 •  208 BC – 207 BCE Zhao Gao
Historical era Imperial
 •  Unification of China 221 BCE
 •  Death of Qin Shi Huang 210 BCE
 •  Surrender to Liu Bang 206 BCE
Population
 •  210 BCE est. 20,000,000 
Currency Ban liang coins
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Zhou dynasty
Qin (state)
Eighteen Kingdoms
Han dynasty
Nanyue
Qin dynasty
Qin dynasty (Chinese characters).svg
"Qin dynasty" in Qin-era seal script (top) and modern (bottom) Chinese characters
Chinese 秦朝

The Qin dynasty (Chinese: ; pinyin: Qín Cháo; Wade–Giles: Ch'in2 Ch'ao2) was the first dynasty of Imperial China, lasting from 221 to 206 BCE. Named for its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Gansu and Shaanxi, the dynasty was formed after the conquest of six other states by the Qin state, and its founding emperor named Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of Qin. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the "Legalist" reforms of Shang Yang in the fourth century BC, during the Warring States period. In the mid and late third century BC, the Qin accomplished a series of swift conquests, first ending the powerless Zhou dynasty, and eventually conquering the other six of the Seven Warring States to gain control over the whole of China. It is also the shortest dynasty in Chinese history, lasting only 15 years with two emperors.

Far from monolithic and demonstrating a sophisticated political outlook, excavated Qin texts show a more pragmatic and eclectic approach than a reading of traditional accounts of Shang Yang would suggest. Qin administration was by no means purely punitive, and was not harsher than was generally prevalent at the time. The Qin were not doctrinaire. Though often anathema to Legalist philosophy, Confucianism and its values too coexisted with "Legalism" during the reign of the First Emperor. Qin administrative documents considered such matters as filial piety, and one circulated letter reads that "The purpose of all standards (fa)... is to teach and lead the people, rid them of dissoluteness and depravity... and turn them toward goodness."


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