Qin Shi Huang is arguably one of the most significant figures in all of Chinese history. His impact is two-sided, a duality that is central to how he is remembered today. On one hand, he is revered as the great unifier. He ended over 250 years of brutal warfare by creating a single, centralized empire. His key reforms created the foundation of a cohesive Chinese culture:
On the other hand, he is condemned as a cruel tyrant (暴君 bàojūn). His achievements came at an immense human cost. He is infamous for the “burning of books and burying of scholars” (焚书坑儒 fénshū kēngrú) to eliminate intellectual dissent. Millions of laborers died building his wall, canals, and his extravagant mausoleum, which is guarded by the world-famous Terracotta Army. Comparison to Western Culture: A figure like Augustus Caesar offers a useful comparison. Augustus ended a long period of Roman civil war and ushered in the Pax Romana, an era of peace and stability, creating the Roman Empire. Similarly, Qin Shi Huang ended the Warring States period and created Imperial China. However, the Chinese perception of Qin Shi Huang's methods is often seen as far more brutal and his legacy more controversial. While Augustus is largely celebrated, Qin Shi Huang is both admired for his vision and vilified for his cruelty. Understanding this dual legacy is key to understanding the Chinese perspective on power, unity, and the sacrifices made for them.
In modern China, Qin Shi Huang is a household name everyone learns about in school.