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In 247 bc, the 13-year-old Ying Zheng became king of Qin after the sudden death of King Zhuangxiang. However, Ying Zheng did not wield state power fully in his hands until 238 bc, after eliminating his political rivals Lü Buwei and Lao Ai. Ying formulated a plan for conquering the other six states and unifying China with help from Li Si and Wei Liao. In 230 bc, Qin attacked Han, the weakest of the Seven Warring States, and succeeded in conquering Han within a year. Since 236 bc, Qin had been launching several assaults on Zhao, which had been devastated by its calamitous defeat at the Battle of Changping three decades ago. Although Qin faced strong resistance from the Zhao forces, led by general Li Mu, it still managed to defeat the Zhao army by using a ploy to sow discord between King Qian of Zhao and Li Mu, causing King Qian to order Li Mu's execution and replace Li with the less competent Zhao Cong. Zhao eventually fell to Qin in 228 bc after the capital city of Handan was taken. However, a Zhao noble managed to escape with remnant forces and proclaim himself king in Dai. Dai fell to Qin six years later. After the fall of Zhao, Qin turned its attention towards Yan. Crown Prince Dan of Yan sent Jing Ke to assassinate Ying Zheng but the assassination attempt failed and Qin used that as an excuse to attack Yan. Yan lost to Qin at a battle on the eastern bank of the Yi River in 226 bc and King Xi of Yan fled with remnant forces to Liaodong. Qin attacked Yan again in 222 bc and annexed Yan completely. In 225 bc, the Qin army led by Wang Ben invaded Wei and besieged Wei's capital city of Daliang for three months. Wang directed the waters from the Yellow River and the Hong Canal to flood Daliang and King Jia of Wei surrendered and Wei was conquered. In 224 bc, Qin prepared for an attack on Chu, its most powerful rival among the six states. During a discussion between Ying Zheng and his subjects, the veteran general Wang Jian claimed that the invasion force needed to be at least 600,000 strong, but the younger general Li Xin thought that 200,000 men would be sufficient. Ying Zheng put Li Xin in command of the Qin army to attack Chu. The Chu defenders, led by Xiang Yan, took Li Xin's army by surprise and defeated the Qin invaders. The defeat was deemed as the greatest setback for Qin in its wars to unify China. Ying Zheng put Wang Jian in command of the 600,000 strong army as he had requested and ordered Wang to lead another attack on Chu. Wang scored a major victory against the Chu forces in 224 bc and Xiang Yan was killed in action. The following year, Qin pushed on and captured Chu's capital city of Shouchun, bringing an end to Chu's existence. In 222 bc, the Qin army advanced southward and annexed the Wuyue region (covering present-day Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces). By 221 bc, Qi was the only rival state left. Qin advanced into the heartland of Qi via a southern detour, avoiding direct confrontation with the Qi forces on Qi's western border and arrived at Qi's capital city of Linzi swiftly. The Qi forces were taken by surprise and surrendered without putting up resistance. Following the fall of Qi in 221 bc, China was unified under the rule of Qin. Ying Zheng declared himself "Qin Shi Huang" (meaning "First Emperor of Qin") and founded the Qin Dynasty, becoming the first sovereign ruler of a united China. State of Qin (bronzeware script, c. 800 bc) Culture and society Before Qin unified China, each state had its own customs and culture. According to the Yu Gong or Tribute of Yu, composed in the 4th or 5th century bc and included in the Book of Documents, there were nine distinct cultural regions of China, which are described in detail in this book. The work focuses on the travels of the titular sage, Yu the Great, throughout each of the regions. Other texts, predominantly military, also discussed these cultural variations.[6] One of these texts was Master Wu, written in response to a query by Marquis Wu of Wei on how to cope with the other states. Wu Qi, the author of the work, declared that the government and nature of the people were reflective of the terrain they live in. Of Qin, he said: Qin's nature is strong. Its terrain is harsh. Its government is strict. Its rewards and punishments are reliable. Its people are unyielding and belligerent. Therefore, they scatter and fight as individuals. As the way to attack them, one must first entice them with profit and lead them away. Their officers are greedy for gain and will betray their generals. Take advantage of their separation to attack them when scattered, set traps and seize the key moment, then their generals can be captured. —Wuzi, Master Wu According to Wu, the nature of the people is a result of the government, which is in turn a result of the roughness of the terrain. Each of the states is expounded upon by Wu in this manner.[7] In his Petition against driving away foreigners (諫逐客書), Li Si mentioned that guzheng and percussion instruments made of pottery and tiles were characteristic of Qin music. Rulers List of Qin rulers based on the Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian, with corrections by Han Zhaoqi:[8] Title Name Period of reign Relationship Notes Feizi 非子 ?–858 bc son of Daluo, fifth generation descendant of Elai enfeoffed at Qin by King Xiao of Zhou Marquis of Qin 秦侯 857–848 bc son of Feizi noble title given by later generations Gongbo 公伯 847–845 bc son of Marquis of Qin Qin Zhong 秦仲 844–822 bc son of Gongbo Duke Zhuang 秦莊公 821–778 bc son of Qin Zhong noble title given by later generations Duke Xiang 秦襄公 777–766 bc son of Duke Zhuang first ruler to be granted nobility rank Duke Wen 秦文公 765–716 bc son of Duke Xiang Duke Xian 秦憲公 715–704 bc grandson of Duke Wen often mistakenly called Duke Ning (秦寧公) Chuzi I 出子 Man 曼 703–698 bc son of Duke Xian Duke Wu 秦武公 697–678 bc son of Duke Xian Duke De 秦德公 677–676 bc son of Duke Xian, younger brother of Duke Wu Duke Xuan 秦宣公 675–664 bc son of Duke De Duke Cheng 秦成公 663–660 bc son of Duke De, younger brother of Duke Xuan Duke Mu 秦穆公 Renhao 任好 659–621 bc son of Duke De, younger brother of Duke Cheng Duke Kang 秦康公 Ying 罃 620–609 bc son of Duke Mu Duke Gong 秦共公 Dao 稻 608–604 bc son of Duke Kang Duke Huan 秦桓公 Rong 榮 603–577 bc son of Duke Gong Duke Jing 秦景公 Shi 石 576–537 bc son of Duke Huan Duke Ai 秦哀公 536–501 bc son of Duke Jing Duke Hui I 秦惠公 500–492 bc grandson of Duke Ai Duke Dao 秦悼公 491–477 bc son of Duke Hui I Duke Ligong 秦厲龔公 476–443 bc son of Duke Dao Duke Zao 秦躁公 442–429 bc son of Duke Li Duke Huai 秦懷公 428–425 bc son of Duke Li, younger brother of Duke Zao Duke Ling 秦靈公 424–415 bc grandson of Duke Huai alternative title Duke Suling (秦肅靈公) Duke Jian 秦簡公 414–400 bc son of Duke Huai, uncle of Duke Ling Duke Hui II 秦惠公 399–387 bc son of Duke Jian Chuzi II 出子 386–385 bc son of Duke Hui II alternative titles Duke Chu (秦出公), Shaozhu (秦少主), and Xiaozhu (秦小主) Duke Xian 秦獻公 Shixi or Lian 師隰 or 連 384–362 bc son of Duke Ling alternative titles Duke Yuanxian (秦元獻公) and King Yuan (秦元王) Duke Xiao 秦孝公 Quliang 渠梁 361–338 bc son of Duke Xian alternative title King Ping (秦平王) King Huiwen 秦惠文王 Si 駟 337–311 bc son of Duke Xiao alternative title King Hui (惠王); first Qin ruler to adopt the title of "King" in 325 bc King Wu 秦武王 Dang 蕩 310–307 bc son of King Huiwen alternative titles King Daowu (秦悼武王) and King Wulie (秦武烈王) King Zhaoxiang 秦昭襄王 Ze or Ji 则 or 稷 306–251 bc son of King Huiwen, younger brother of King Wu alternative title King Zhao (昭王) King Xiaowen 秦孝文王 Zhu 柱 250 bc son of King Zhaoxiang known as Lord Anguo (安國君) before becoming king King Zhuangxiang 秦荘襄王 Zichu 子楚 250–247 bc son of King Xiaowen alternative title King Zhuang (秦荘王); original name Yiren (異人) First Emperor 秦始皇 Zheng 政 246–210 bc son of King Zhuangxiang King of Qin until 221 bc; First Emperor of Qin Dynasty from 221 bc Popular culture The events during Duke Xiao's reign, including Shang Yang's reforms, are chronicled into a historical novel by Sun Haohui. The novel, published in 2008, is adapted into a television series titled The Qin Empire. The Japanese manga,"Kingdom" by Hara Yasuhisa, tells the story of the life of Qin Shi Huang and the unification of China. Qin in astronomy Qin is represented by two stars, Theta Capricorni (pinyin: Qín yī; literally: "First Star of Qin") and 30 Capricorni (pinyin: Qín èr; literally: "Second Star of Qin"), in Twelve States asterism.[9] Qin is also represented by the star Delta Serpentis in asterism Right Wall, Heavenly Market enclosure (see Chinese constellation).[10] |
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