How Did Qin Shihuangdi Create A Unified China?

Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China, knew nothing of compromise, only of conflict. He managed to create a unified China by simply dominating the entire region, without the use of compromise. In this way, he built a nation of conflict, with nothing holding it together, nothing truly unifying its citizens. While it is not a stretch for one to assume that the unification of a feudal system into an Empire would require compromise, Qin Shihuangdi continued his conquest of China leaving everyone to do everything exactly as he wanted it done. Rarely, if ever, did he console with the previous government to arrange a smoother transition from their rule to his, but instead everyone was forced under the umbrella of his ideology and ruling system.

Because the Qin Empire rose from decades of conflict, it was incapable of using compromise to conquer the Warring States Period, apply legalistic governmental systems, or unite China under Qin rule.
While conquering China’s feudal system during what we now know as the Warring States period, Qin Shi Huangdi created even more conflict because he refused to use any sort of compromise.

In order to truly examine the situation surrounding the Qin victory, one must look back to the root causes of the Warring States Period. First, the previously dominant state, ruled with a Mandate of Heaven, and quickly lost political power as religious influence increased. Under the Zhou Dynasty, religion gained impact on rulers' choices, and political power disappeared with these choices. The independent courts of the smaller subsections of China greatly weakened the power of the central governing body. The weakening of the central governing body allowed for the other states to begin their attempts to conquer all of the other states to hold supreme power. Considering this, it becomes clear that the Qin Empire developed from a conflicted government, which imparted on the new Emperor that a strong central government holds a very important role in a strong society. The Zhou dynasty used an almost feudal system of governing, and therefore had a weak central government. This allowed kingdoms like the Qin kingdom to rise to the Qin Empire, as they used a county form. This means that even conquered or annexed lands were ruled by the same king

as the mainland, instead of an elected or selected official. The weakness of the Zhou allowed for the Qin to build a very conflicted nation on top of its ruins. This nation without compromise will fall soon after, but at the time, brute force appears to be the more successful alternative to creating a peaceful nation using compromise. When looking to the root causes of the Warring States Period one must take that extra step to examine the mindset of the time in regards to the feudal system. Cynics of the time realized that there was no reason to study peace if peace was not only unachievable but not a priority. The people soon realized that if they truly wanted peace, to begin to escape the cycle of war and peace and live in peace alone then they needed a unity the feudal system could not provide. So, the fight for power began. A few states dominated China as they were protected geographically, and were in prosperous, resource-rich locations. At this time, there was also a great threat from nomadic northern tribes. The Great Wall was constructed to defend several feudal states from these tribal peoples. There were many battles between states, conquerings, and annexations all striving to fill the growing gap left as the Zhou Dynasty weakened its hold over China. When analyzing the setting from which the Qin Dynasty arose, it is not difficult to see how the First Emperor would have created a nation founded on conflict, not compromise.

Next, it is important to analyze the successes of the Qin. Preceding Qin Shi Huangdi, Duke Qinxiao ruled the Qin state located in far western China. He aimed to create great reforms within the state to increase the state's power among other states. In order to this, he opened his doors to the public so that they might come strategize with him in strengthening the Qin. In walked Shang Yang, and he was there to shake things up in a way that would surely benefit the Qin. While this does indeed carry the wisp of compromise, one must remember that this was still during the Warring States Period, while the Qin was just a state, and therefore merely sets the tone for how the Qin Dynasty will rule. Soon, it will become clear that the Qin don’t rule for their people, but for success. Because with Shang Yang came harsh, legalistic principles that would hinder the Qin’s ability to rule over all of China for more than two decades. Dynasties like the Qin maintained order by appointing a tax collector as well as a general, so that the general could not become to powerful, or could not pool the people's money for rebellion. This solid, yet fear based, governmental structure that the states upheld going

into the Warring States Period was indicative of internal power struggles in addition to the obvious power struggle amongst the states, leading to further conflict, even after the states are unified. When Qin Shi Huangdi took the throne, the Warring States Period was still raging throughout China. But, there was trouble within his home as well. When his father had died, he was still too young to take the throne, so the prime minister ruled in his place. One of his earliest acts after replacing the prime minister was to murder his mother's lover and banish the prime minister, Lu Buwei, because he suspected they were plotting against him. Even excluding the battles of the Warring States Period, Qin Shi Huangdi’s rule began violently. These actions give historians a frame of reference for how the rest of his rule will continue; it becomes clear that he will not tolerate being undermined, nor insubordination or dishonor to his name of any kind.