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# Qin Shi Huang

## Overview
Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BCE) was the first emperor of a unified China, founding the Qin dynasty and establishing centralized imperial governance that would endure for over two millennia. @t[259 BCE..210 BCE]

## Key Facts
- Born: February 259 BCE, Handan (capital of Zhao) @t[=259 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Died: 12 July 210 BCE (age 49) @t[=210 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- King of Qin: 247–221 BCE @t[247 BCE..221 BCE] [^1]
- Reign as emperor: 221–210 BCE @t[221 BCE..210 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Original name: Ying Zheng (also known as Zhao Zheng) <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Dynasty: Qin <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Chief minister: Li Si [^1]

## Achievements
- Unified the Warring States into a single empire (221 BCE) @t[=221 BCE] [^1] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Standardized weights, measures, currency, and writing across China @t[221 BCE..210 BCE] [^1] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Began construction of the Great Wall by linking existing fortifications @t[~221 BCE..210 BCE] [^1] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Built an extensive road and canal network @t[221 BCE..210 BCE] [^1] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Expanded the empire south into Yue lands (modern Hunan and Guangdong) and conquered the Ordos Plateau from the Xiongnu @t[221 BCE..210 BCE] [^1]
- Terracotta Army: ~8,000 life-sized warrior figures, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses guarding his mausoleum; discovered 1974; main tomb mound remains unexcavated [^2] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->

## Controversies
- Burning of books and burying of scholars (~213–212 BCE) @t[213 BCE..212 BCE] [^1] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Harsh Legalist governance @t[221 BCE..210 BCE] [^1] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Massive forced labor for construction projects @t[221 BCE..210 BCE] [^1] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->

## Legacy
The Qin dynasty collapsed shortly after his death (206 BCE), but his unification model was adopted by the succeeding Han dynasty. @t[=206 BCE]

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[^1]: Sima Qian, *Records of the Grand Historian* (*Shiji*)
[^2]: Portal, J. *The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army* (British Museum, 2007)

## Review Queue

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- [x] `@q[stale]` Line 21: "Terracotta Army: ~8,000 life-sized warrior figures guarding his mausoleum, di..." - Portal source from 2007 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
> Established scholarship remains current.