this post was submitted on 18 Feb 2024
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Qin Shi Huang (Chinese: 秦始皇; 18 February 259 – 12 July 210 BC) was the founder of the Qin dynasty and the first emperor of a unified China.[9] Rather than maintain the title of "king" (王, wáng) borne by the previous Shang and Zhou rulers, he ruled China from 221 to 210 BC as the first "emperor" (皇帝, huáng dì) of the Qin dynasty. This title, which he invented for himself, would see continuous use by Chinese monarchs for the next two millennia.

He was born Ying Zheng of the State of Qin to a dancing girl named Zhao Ji and King Zhuangxiang of Qin. According to the historian Szuma Chien (Sima Qian, 145/35-86 BCE) he was not actually Zhuangxiang' s son as his mother was already pregnant by Lu Buwei, the wealthy merchant who brought Zhao Ji to the king. As Szuma Chien was hostile to Shi Huangdi this claim has been often disputed. Shi Huangdi is best remembered as the emperor who initiated the building of the Great Wall of China and an early version of the Grand Canal.

Rise to Power

The young prince grew up at the Qin court and assumed the throne at age 12 or 13 following his father's death. Lu Buwei had risen in the court to become a minister and was made regent until Ying Zheng came of age. Again according to Szuma Chien, Lu Buwei became concerned that his son would recognize him as father and so lose the throne and he therefore distanced himself from Zhao Ji and encouraged another of the court, Lao Ai, to keep her company in his place.

Lao Ai disguised himself as a palace eunuch and so came and went from the queen's chamber without suspicion. They had two sons together who were kept a secret from everyone at court except Lu Buwei. It occurred to Lu that one of these secret sons could better serve as King of Qin as he would then no longer have to worry about being exposed as the boy's father and so organized a coup.

In 238 BCE, when the young king was away from court on travels, Lao Ai used the signet ring of Zhao Ji to mobilize a segment of the army in revolt. The king sent his army against Lao Ai's forces, defeated them, and had Lao executed by being torn apart. He then had Lao's entire family executed and placed Zhao Ji in seclusion under virtual house arrest. Lu Buwei committed suicide by poison. King Ying Zheng then named his close associate Li Siu as Prime Minister and ruled fully over the state of Qin.

Victory over the Warring States

The Warring States Period in China (c. 481-221 BCE) was a time when the central government of the Zhou Dynasty, located at Luoyang, was no longer able to administrate effectively. The country had broken into seven separate states, Chu, Han, Qi, Qin, Wei, Yan, and Zhao who continuously fought each other for supremacy. None of these states felt confident enough to wrest the Mandate of Heaven (the principle by which a ruler was legitimized) from the Zhou Dynasty as none were able to gain advantage over any other.

Every state fought using the same tactics and strategies as the others and their aims were further hampered by the efforts of the pacifist philosopher Mo Ti, an able engineer, who seems to have provided each state with the same types of technology in order to neutralize any advantage. Although the state of Qin had a formidable army, iron weapons, and war chariots, King Zheng was unable to make any significant headway in victory over the other states.

At the Battle of Changping (260 BCE), the Qin employed Shang's ideology to defeat the state of Zhao but, afterwards, made little further progress. King Zheng, making full use of Shang Yang's philosophies, and leading an army of considerable size, swiftly defeated the six other states. Han fell in 230 BCE, Zhao in 228, Wei in 225, Chu, in 223, Yan in 222, and Qi in 221BCE. Zheng then united the states under his single rule, claimed the Mandate of Heaven from the Zhou Dynasty, and proclaimed himself First Emperor of China – `Shi Huangdi', founder of the Qin Dynasty.

The Qin Empire

Having consolidated his empire, he turned his attention to administration and, with the help of Li Siu, “resolved to base Chinese society not, as heretofore, upon custom and local autonomy, but upon explicit law and a powerful central government” (Durant, 695). Initially, this government served the people in that Shi Huangdi's policies allowed for substantial building projects and prosperity.

In all ways, the early Qin Dynasty worked to improve the lives of the people. The walls and fortifications which once enclosed the borders of the separate warring states were destroyed and the Great Wall was begun from their ruins, marking the northern boundary of the empire and protecting the land from marauding nomad tribes. In the south, the Lingqu Canal was built to aid in transport and in trade. Weapons of the defeated states were melted down and made into works of art.

This time of peace and prosperity, however, was short-lived. In 213 BCE Li Siu, having grown tired of hearing Confucian scholars criticize the regime by comparing it to the past dynasties of a `golden age', Although life during The Warring States Period had been difficult, it had given rise to The Hundred Schools of Thought which comprised writings such as those of Confucius, Mo Ti, Mencius, Teng Shih, and Yang Zhu, among many, many others.

Maintaining Shang Yang's strict philosophy of Legalism as the official policy of the government (which he had instituted at the start of his reign) Shi Huangti re-wrote the legal codes, suppressed writers, burned the books, and put to death all that refused to comply. This period of his reign is known as the `Burning of the Books and the Burying of Philosophers'.

Shi Huangti's Death & the Fall of the Qin

Shi Huangdi had been subject to assassination attempts in the past but now they increased. “He sat on his throne with a sword across his knees and let no man know in what room of his many palaces he would sleep” (Durant, 697). He became obsessed with death and sought elixirs of immortality. Failing in that, he set about to provide himself with as comfortable and secure an afterlife as the present one he was living.

In 210 BCE, Shi Huangdi died on a trip to find the elixir of life which would grant him immortality. Some sources indicate that he died by poisoning after drinking what he thought was the elixir. (probably mercury) Li Siu kept his death a secret until he could change the emperor's will to name his young, pliable son as heir, whom Li Siu thought he could manipulate. He had Shi Huangdi's body brought back to the capital concealed in a merchant caravan of dead fish in order to hide the smell of the decomposing corpse, changed the will, and then announced the passing of the First Emperor and the accession of his son, Hu-Hai, who took the name Qin Er Shi.

The new king reigned poorly for three years and was famous for killing messengers who brought him bad news (marking his only legacy, the origin of the saying, `Don't kill the messenger'). During this time Li Siu was executed and his co-conspirator in raising Qin Er Shi to power, Zhao Gao, forced the young emperor to commit suicide.

Following this coup, Qin Er Shi's nephew took the throne and had Zhao Gao executed. At this point, with the government in complete disarray and no competent heir to the throne, the country rose in rebellion and the Qin Dynasty collapsed.

The Complete Story Of Qin Shi Huang: China's First Emperor :some-controversy:

Qin Shi Huang - The Rise and Fall of the First Emperor of China :china-stars:

The First Emperor of China's Ridiculously Dramatic Life :china:

Quin Shi Huang vs Hades :lea-bounce:

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[–] [email protected] 26 points 6 months ago

IDF's not in cs anymore, gigachad gaben?

[–] [email protected] 26 points 6 months ago (2 children)

It's now edgy for the left to say far-right political figures shouldn't be eulogized.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 6 months ago

"I fell for the fascist jangling keys in front of me trick again, this is the left's fault somehow."

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[–] [email protected] 25 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Near-dead torrent update, day 8:

Even slower than yesterday. Progressed from 73,3% to 74,9%. We're 3/4ths of the way there, but something tells me the last 25% will take a while.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 6 months ago

god gives his slowest torrents to his strongest soldiers o7

[–] [email protected] 22 points 6 months ago (5 children)

Anyone else's para social relationship with this website so bad that you daydream about posting and venting on here?

[–] [email protected] 16 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Is it parasocial? We talk back. It is social just like, all us terrible nerds vaguely associating together.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 6 months ago
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[–] [email protected] 22 points 6 months ago (1 children)

qin-shi-huangdi-fireball its real unlimited genocide on the first world hours, who up?

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 6 months ago

Oh, you're a free thinker? Well I'm a paid thinker gigachad

[–] [email protected] 22 points 6 months ago (4 children)
[–] [email protected] 18 points 6 months ago (1 children)

They'll have to get their cum from somewhere else.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 6 months ago

Love it when workers finally put their foot down

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 6 months ago

Hexbear in 2060 when Latinos are considered white:

"You know Trump was bad but he had some points about those latino kkkrackas. "

"I used to be POC, until they changed what POC was. Now what I am isn't POC and what's POC seems weird and scary to me. It'll happen to YOU" - Italian Americans to Latinos.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 6 months ago

Two state solution is perfectly tenable

  • Palestine

  • New israel (formerly known as Switzerland)

[–] [email protected] 21 points 6 months ago (3 children)

taking a break. need to increase my grass touching. i will still see yall on hextube!

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

Me, age 13: taxes are stupid

Me, age 18: taxes are vital to the functioning of our country, and the benefits we recieve from paying them are far more valuable than what we contribute

Me, age 24: taxes are stupid

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 6 months ago

thinking about what the west did to korea and getting so mad i walk into a well

[–] [email protected] 20 points 6 months ago (1 children)

graffiti at the house show im at rn

  • free domme
  • free sub
  • free palestine
[–] [email protected] 20 points 6 months ago (2 children)

free sub

kiryu-slam

tfw i choose the free sub and all i get is a horny twink (i was really fucking hungry and wanted a sandwich)

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Saw a starling today che-poggers

I'm such an avianpilled birdcel

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 6 months ago (5 children)

New Megathread Nerds!!!

amerikkka qin-shi-huangdi-fireball

Glory to the JDPON

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No current struggle session discussion here on the new general megathread, i will ban you from the comm and remove your comment, have a good day/night :meow-coffee:

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I am feeling very lonely and heartbroken

My partner and I broke up a few months ago and it really hurts not to talk to them, even though I know talking to them would only make things worse. And I meet new people and try to be open to them but when it gets the slightest bit flirtatious I am acutely aware of how not ready I am for a new romantic connection and that pang just kinda makes me go quiet and disengage from social situations.

Just really feeling it rn kitty-cri

[–] [email protected] 18 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I spent about 19 hours laying in bed yesterday and today I couldn't get out of bed until like 1pm despite waking up at 7am

Something has like broken in my brain and I have no motivation to do literally anything anymore, even eat or drinking or anything fun

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Broke: "China is collapsing" videos

Woke:

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 6 months ago (5 children)

I always thought Benedryl was like a joke drug for stupid teenagers but naw. It’s like a dark creepy mirror image of a psychedelic. You hallucinate but instead of fun colors and shit looking like you’re in a cartoon you see what the Hell is that? Instead of aliens or your ancestors you meet the Hat Man, and instead of being imparted with trans-dimensional knowledge you destroy ALL your pens by taking them apart and forgetting where the parts went.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 6 months ago

If you see hatman again tell him he owes me a lighter.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Me? My startup is selling sea-level rise time shares on the blockchain to AI language models trained so heavily on Reddit chud data that they think this’ll still be around in 10 years.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

the fascist range safety officer won't let me fire my custom loaded poop slugs out of my "shitgun" at the range

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 6 months ago (3 children)

Making a conscious choice to reenter depression. Life is just easier when you don't give a shit or try.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 6 months ago

In over 10 years of using the birdsite on a daily basis, i never once got banned or otherwise penalized

In the last 2 months my account got restricted twice, both times because i told some zionist to off themselves. This isn't a point about censorship, it's more so that I don't think I've ever felt such hatred for any group of people as I currently feel for zionists.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 6 months ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 19 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Me at the end of my shift at the dick sucking factory

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 6 months ago (1 children)

funny-clown-hammer cw: kkkeffal$

We are getting kkkeffal$ downfall this month right after vaush

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 6 months ago (3 children)

CW: Liberalism, genocide, etc

spoilerI think "We have to support this genocide because if we don't there could be a theoretical worse genocide. Stop being so selfish and think of the theoretical children" is probably the most digusting thing I've heard from libs in my life. Like, I'm paraphrasing, but what the fuck do you do with this shit? I'm depressed so i can't really enjoy anything or pay attentiont o much right now, so I'm just ruminating on that.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 6 months ago (1 children)

jojo plothole: it-was-me rejects his humanity even though he was british and thus was never human to begin with

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago

When people get mad at me for assuming they're American but they're speaking American English language on the an anglophone website run by some uniquely evil WASPs or something. Like, man, I wasn't even actually assuming you were American, but you're really not supporting your argument yelling at me about it in American English.

It always strikes me as kind of silly to get mad about it then try to defend your national pride in the language of the tyrannical imperialist hegemon. "Oh you stupid Americans assuming everyone is American!" and it's like yeah, maybe, but you're speaking American at me, indistinguishable from an American, on a website that is all about stupid American shit. For me to injure your dignity you'd have to have enough not to be here in the first place.

Either way, my attempts to get my last reddit account banned continue to fail, even though I'm mostly just swearing and calling people fascists now.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago (2 children)

What was Ridley Scott on with his first three films being The Duelist, Alien, and Blade Runner?

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I am not having a baja blast

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago (4 children)

Saw a friend today who is doing well in life, high salary and stable tech job. After the last few years and with the way the world is spinning he stated to me that he now just hates other people. I told him I find that very sad and that I could never think that, never was able to hate even my bullies as a kid. He said that this is because of my values.

I don't know. Doesn't feel like a value thing to me, feels to me like this is what is happening to these alienated western workers in computer touching factories because they fully lack material understanding and class consciousness. The bad things happening in the world turns into hate, not solidarity. And this is the slippery slope to fascism.

I dunno, just needed to share this moment. It made me sad and worried. This person saying this lacks nothing materially, yet they hate other people. I am poor, I genuinely think people opt for solidarity if given the change. And that "bad" things or actions stem from this system we live in, it breeds nihilism and hate. It's not the people.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Playing Victoria 3 as Sokoto (basically Nigeria) and I've conquered all my neighbors and I just BARELY missed colonizing through the volta to reach Massina to turn them into a tributary before France cut me off

but woops, france wants to trade Sokotan Mauritania (tiny, isolated, pop 1000 and starving) for the French Volta (massive, cutting off my expansion, pop almost 1 million)

the franclos just kicked themselves out of west Africa lmao

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago

Posting neat Chinese phrases whenever I feel like #16

木已成舟

(mù yǐ chéng zhōu)

Literally: “wood already become boat”

Figuratively: “what’s done can’t be undone”

Even if you don’t know Chinese, take a look at the first and last characters and you might still be able to make out traces of a tree and a boat. (We don't talk about the middle 2 characters 💀)

@[email protected]

[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (5 children)

Guy whose fetish it is to be forced to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll back down every time it nears the top.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago (3 children)

Steam: Ubisoft Publisher Sale. 85% off!

You'd have to pay me.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I just saw the video of the cop mag dumping that handcuffed person because an acorn triggered him. What the fuck is wrong with police. That was the most delulu I've ever seen somebody

[–] [email protected] 14 points 6 months ago

fkhhffiufhoiufhoaieruf

I have an announcement to make: Starbuck painted a frakking tunnel on the wall of the Galactica, making it appear as an exit, and when I attempted to walk through it, I crashed and hurt myself. This caused Apollo and Gaeta and Baltar and Agathon and Tryol and Boomer and Athena and Tom Zarek and Laura Roslin and my wife Ellen to all laugh at me. This is frakking unacceptable.

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