Qin Shi Huang (Ying Zheng)

Also known as Ying Zheng · Zhao Zheng · Shihuang Di · Zu Long

Qin Shi Huang, personal name Zheng, was the son of King Zhuangxiang of Qin, born at Handan; the *Records of the Grand Historian* (*Shiji*) gives his clan name as Zhao. King at thirteen in 247 BC, he took personal power in 238 BC, crushed the revolt of Lao Ai and dismissed Lu Buwei the next year. Starting with Han in 230 BC, he conquered all six rival states within ten years and in 221 BC took the title First Emperor. On Li Si's advice he abolished fiefs in favor of thirty-six commanderies, standardized the script, weights and measures and axle widths, built highways and extended walls in the north. In 213 BC he ordered private copies of the *Odes*, the *Documents* and the philosophers burned; the next year over 460 scholars were buried alive. He died at Shaqiu on a tour in 210 BC; Zhao Gao and Li Si hid his death and forged an edict for Huhai. The terracotta army pits east of his tomb were found in 1974.