Qin Shi Huang (Ying Zheng)

Life and times

1. 259 BCEBornZhouQin
2. 246 BCEMausoleum ConstructionTook partage 13Qin Shihuang built his subterranean mausoleum at Mount Li, where life-size terracotta armies preserve the formations and equipment of Qin forces.
   1. Imperial Construction of Qin Necropolisc. 246 BCEThirty-eight-year construction of the colossal mausoleum at Mount Li, mobilizing hundreds of thousands to build an underground imperial realm.
   2. Qin Shi Huang Builds Epang Palace212 BCEage 47Qin Shi Huang began a court palace south of the Wei, starting with the Epang front hall; its convict labour was shared with the tomb at Mount Li, and the palace was never finished.
   3. Qin Shihuang Buried at Lishan210 BCEage 49After Qin Shi Huang died in 210 BCE, he was buried in the mausoleum complex guarded symbolically by terracotta infantry, chariots, cavalry, and crossbow formations.
3. 221 BCEUnification of ChinaTook partage 38Qin conquered the six rival kingdoms between 230 and 221 BCE, after which Ying Zheng proclaimed himself First Emperor.
   1. Qin Expels Aliens, Li Si Protests237 BCEage 22After the canal builder Zheng Guo was exposed as a Han agent, Ying Zheng ordered all foreign officials out of Qin, and Li Si's memorial persuaded him to revoke the order.
   2. Jing Ke Attacks the Qin King227 BCEage 32Sent by Crown Prince Dan of Yan under cover of presenting a map, Jing Ke drew a hidden dagger on the King of Qin in the Xianyang Palace, missed, and was killed.
   3. Qin Shihuang Fengshan and Li Si219 BCEage 40Qin Shihuang performed the Fengshan rites atop Mount Tai, where Chancellor Li Si inscribed the monumental imperial stele.
   4. 1 more

      1. Zhang Liang's Ambush at Bolangsha218 BCEage 41Seeking revenge for the fall of Han, Zhang Liang had a strongman ambush Qin Shi Huang's eastern tour at Bolangsha, but the iron mace hit an escort carriage and he fled under a new name.
4. 221 BCEStandardization of SystemsTook partage 38Qin standardized script, currency, weights, measures, and axle widths so administration, trade, and transport operated through common systems.
   1. Li Si Standardizing Seal ScriptChancellor Li Si standardized Chinese script with Small Seal characters and unified imperial weights and measures.
5. 221 BCEInstitution of County SystemTook partage 38Abolishing feudal fiefs to establish 36 commanderies, constructing the centralized bureaucratic state.
   1. Qin Establishing Thirty-Six CommanderiesQin Shihuang replaced feudal fiefs with thirty-six commanderies under centralized bureaucratic administration.
6. 215 BCEBuilding the Great WallTook partage 44Qin linked and expanded earlier Yan, Zhao, and Qin fortifications into a northern network of walls, passes, and beacons.
7. 213 BCEQin Book-Scholar PurgeTook partage 46The Qin court ordered private histories and rival teachings burned and punished dissenting scholars, sharply narrowing sanctioned learning.
   1. Qin Shihuang Executes Scholars and Magicians212 BCEage 47The clandestine flight of court alchemists triggered imperial investigations, resulting in the execution of over 460 scholars in Xianyang.
8. 210 BCEDied