Rise of Xianyang City: Qin Shi Huang's Governance Strategy

Author: Yan Wusen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-02-01
Features: Qin Shi Huang (also known as Zhao Zheng) was the first feudal emperor in Chinese history and the first founder of a unified feudal state in China. In 221 BC—when he was 39 years old—he followed the historical trend, ending the five and a half centuries of turmoil since the late Western Zhou Dynasty, unifying China, and adopting the most advanced political system of his time—the autocratic centralized system—to govern this unprecedented feudal empire, which was at the forefront of the world at that time, until he left the mortal world at the age of half a century and entered the "heavenly realm."
From the age of 22 when Qin Shi Huang officially came to power until his death, he ruled for a total of 29 years, having previously served as a puppet king for several years. Among the ancient Chinese emperors, Qin Shi Huang's political strategy and leadership capabilities were undoubtedly superior. He not only accurately grasped the pulse of history and successfully fulfilled the mission assigned to him by history but also firmly ruled his empire. As the first feudal emperor in Chinese history, he elevated the power of the monarch and the dignity of the individual to an unprecedented level. During his lifetime, no one could threaten his power and status. Under his strong leadership, the Qin Dynasty implemented a series of measures beneficial to social progress and laid the basic foundations for future systems.
Qin Shi Huang was an indispensable political figure in Chinese history. He was an outstanding and great figure who made significant contributions to Chinese history, and worldwide, he is a remarkable historical figure that Chinese people can be proud of. His name will undoubtedly endure in both Chinese and world history. However, although he pioneered an era, he was ultimately discarded by that era. Greatness and cruelty coexisted in Qin Shi Huang. While, in a sense, this was the result of that era and the demands of history, if it were not so, the unification of China might have come later, and the suffering of the people might have been deeper. But Qin Shi Huang's cruelty remains a mirror for later generations to learn from. His governance ideas, policies, and the lessons from his downfall are worth serious study and summary by posterity.