The Qin Dynasty and the First Emperor
FoundationThe First Emperor united six states, standardised writing, currency and measures, built the Great Wall — and the Terracotta Army is the eighth wonder of the world.
- The First Emperor united the six states — China's first emperor.
- He standardised writing, currency and measures for the whole land.
- The Great Wall resisted northern invaders — a symbol of perseverance.
文體小知識：文化知識說明文把歷史和文化知識講得明明白白。這一篇帶你認識秦朝、秦始皇、萬里長城和兵馬俑。
§Text Passage
1Over two thousand two hundred years ago, the land of China was split among seven great states that fought constantly — the Warring States period. Then the King of Qin, Ying Zheng, united the six other states one by one and founded the Qin dynasty with its capital at Xianyang. Believing his achievements greater than all rulers before, he created the title Huangdi, emperor, becoming the first emperor in Chinese history — Qin Shi Huang.
2Before unification, every state had its own writing, coins and measures, making trade and letters very inconvenient. The First Emperor ordered writing, currency and weights and measures standardised: everyone wrote the same characters and used the same copper coins; lengths and weights followed one standard; axle widths were unified too, roads ran smooth and travel became easy. From then on, unity became the great direction of Chinese history.
3To resist the raids of nomadic peoples from the north, the First Emperor ordered the old walls of the states joined into the Great Wall. It ran from the sea in the east to high mountains in the west, coiling like a giant dragon over the ranges. The wall we see today was rebuilt mostly in brick and stone by the later Ming dynasty, yet from the Qin onward the Great Wall has stood for the perseverance of the Chinese nation.
4In 1974, farmers digging a well in Xi'an, Shaanxi, uncovered thousands of clay soldiers — the astonishing Terracotta Army of the First Emperor's tomb. In the pits, soldiers, horses and chariots stand in neat ranks, every face different, armour and hair done to the last detail, guarding the imperial tomb — hailed as the eighth wonder of the world.
5The First Emperor's merits were great: he united the land and standardised writing and measures. But he burned books and drove the people to hard labour; the people suffered, and the Qin dynasty lasted only fifteen years. History teaches: to govern is to cherish the people. The Great Wall and the Terracotta Army bear witness to the wisdom and strength of two thousand years ago and still amaze the world — we must protect these relics well.
1Summary 重點摘要
The First Emperor united six states, standardised writing, currency and measures, built the Great Wall — and the Terracotta Army is the eighth wonder of the world.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
To join separate parts into one, such as uniting the six states.
China's first unified dynasty, founded by the First Emperor.
The first emperor in Chinese history, named Ying Zheng.
Money for buying things; the Qin standardised it as round copper coins.
The standard units for length, weight and volume.
The wall against northern invaders, coiling like a dragon over the mountains.
The clay army guarding the First Emperor's tomb — the eighth wonder of the world.
The city in Shaanxi where the Terracotta Army was found.
Precious objects left by history, which we must protect.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: How the Qin dynasty was foundedOver two thousand two hundred years ago the central plains were split among seven great states — Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei and Qin — fighting one another in the Warring States period. Qin grew stronger through reforms. King Ying Zheng then destroyed the six states one after another in ten years, united the land in 221 BC, founded the Qin dynasty and made Xianyang his capital. Judging his deeds greater than the legendary Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, he invented the title Huangdi — emperor — calling himself the First Emperor, the first in Chinese history.
- Step 2: The merit of standardisationBefore unification, the seven states each wrote differently and used different money: the same character had different forms; coins were knife-shaped or spade-shaped, and trade was clumsy. The First Emperor ordered the writing standardised as small seal script; the currency as round banliang coins; and weights and measures — lengths, weights, volumes — set on one standard. Axle widths were unified and speedways built to link the land. Exchange became easy and trade flowed. For the next two thousand years, unity remained the great direction of the Chinese nation.
- Step 3: Meet the Great WallNomadic horsemen from the northern grasslands raided south like the wind. To resist them, the First Emperor ordered the old walls of Qin, Zhao and Yan joined and extended, building the Great Wall from Lintao in the west to Liaodong in the east. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians carried stones and rammed earth across high ridges — a colossal work. The wall we visit today at Badaling near Beijing was rebuilt in brick and stone by the later Ming dynasty, yet from Qin times onward the Great Wall has stood for the perseverance of the Chinese nation.
- Step 4: Meet the Terracotta ArmyIn 1974, farmers digging a well at Lintong near Xi'an in Shaanxi unexpectedly uncovered a clay head — and the world was astonished as the Terracotta Army of the First Emperor's tomb came to light. In the pits stand thousands of life-size figures: generals, soldiers, archers, war horses and chariots, each face different, armour and hairstyles done to the finest detail, guarding the imperial tomb. Hailed as the eighth wonder of the world, the army, together with the Great Wall, is listed as World Heritage and draws visitors from every land each year.
- Step 5: Weigh up the First EmperorHistorical figures often hold both merit and fault, and the First Emperor is the classic case. His merits: he united the six states and ended the wars, standardised writing, currency and measures, and laid the base of two thousand years of unity. His faults: he burned books and persecuted scholars, and drove the people into exhausting labour, so they suffered and the Qin dynasty fell after only fifteen years. In history we learn to see the whole picture: admire his achievements, and remember the truth that those who win the people's hearts win the world.
- Step 6: Learning history from relicsThe Great Wall and the Terracotta Army are precious heritage, the crystallisation of artisans' wisdom and sweat two thousand years ago, and real object-textbooks left by history: the armour and formations tell us about Qin warfare, the wall's line tells us about ancient defence. So when we visit ancient sites we do not touch or scribble, and we drop no litter; if we see anyone damaging relics, we tell an adult. To protect relics is to protect the shared memory of the Chinese nation.
5Worked example Example
Example: Your cousin is back from Xi'an and gives you a little terracotta warrior model. How will you introduce the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army to your classmates?
- Introduce the wall: the First Emperor joined the states' old walls into the Great Wall to resist northern invaders — a dragon over the mountains.
- Introduce the army: found at Xi'an in 1974, thousands of clay figures with different faces guard the First Emperor's tomb — the eighth wonder of the world.
- Tell the emperor's merits: he united the six states and standardised writing, currency and measures, making exchange across the land easy.
- Share your feelings: artisans two thousand years ago built such grand works — a pride of Chinese wisdom, and we must protect the relics.
- Answer: The Great Wall is the defence work the First Emperor built by joining the states' walls, like a dragon over the mountains; the Terracotta Army is the clay army guarding his tomb, found at Xi'an in 1974 and hailed as the eighth wonder of the world. They witness his unification of the states and of writing and measures, and display the wisdom of the Chinese nation.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Who was China's first emperor?
Q2What did the First Emperor standardise?
Q3What was the Great Wall for?
Q4In which city was the Terracotta Army found?
Q5What is the Terracotta Army hailed as?
8Recap Recap
- The First Emperor united the six states — China's first emperor.
- He standardised writing, currency and measures for the whole land.
- The Great Wall resisted northern invaders — a symbol of perseverance.
- The Terracotta Army guards his tomb — the eighth wonder of the world.
- Weigh rulers by merit and fault; protect relics, everyone's duty.