Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor in Chinese history to achieve great unification, and his life was full of legends and controversies, and his merits and demerits have always been a hot topic in the historical community and the public. How to evaluate Qin Shi Huang needs to be carried out from multiple angles and levels, neither blindly praise nor disparage, but objectively analyze his historical role and influence. This article will evaluate Qin Shi Huang from the following aspects:
1. Reunification of China.
Qin Shi Huang's greatest achievement was to end the more than 500-year-long division of princes during the Warring States Period, unify China, and establish a multi-ethnic state with the Han nationality as the main body.
Qin Shi Huang inherited the strong foundation of the Qin state, and used the advanced legal, military, and political systems to destroy the six kingdoms of Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan, and Qi, and achieved the first great unification in Chinese history.
This great historical event had a far-reaching impact on China's politics, economy, culture, and ethnicity, laid the foundation for the later unified dynasty, and also played an important role in the formation and development of the Chinese nation.
Qin Shi Huang's reunification cause conformed to the common aspirations of the people of all nationalities, was conducive to the stability of the people's livelihood and the development of social production, conformed to the trend of historical development, and was of progressive significance.
2. Establish a centralized authority.
Another important contribution of Qin Shi Huang was the establishment of the centralized system of feudalism, which had a profound impact on the history of our country. Qin Shi Huang abolished the feudal system and replaced it with the county system, which made the local government directly controlled by ** and strengthened the unity and management of the country.
Qin Shi Huang also implemented a series of institutional reforms, such as unifying the country's writing, weights and measures, currency, laws, etc., which promoted economic and cultural exchanges in various places and consolidated the unity of the country.
Qin Shi Huang also built national projects such as the Great Wall, the Ling Canal, and the Chi Road, which strengthened national defense, communicated the water system, and facilitated transportation. Qin Shi Huang also implemented strict laws to rule the country and maintain social order.
Qin Shi Huang's centralized system laid the basic pattern of China's political system for more than 2,000 years and had an important impact on later history.
3. Expand the territory.
Another notable achievement of Qin Shi Huang was the expansion of China's territory, making the Qin Dynasty the first unified multi-ethnic feudal state in China's history.
After the unification of China, Qin Shi Huang did not stop foreign wars, but continued to expand around, attacking the Xiongnu in the north, conquering Baiyue in the south, leveling Korea in the east, and opening up the Western Regions in the west, so that the territory of the Qin Dynasty reached an unprecedented vast, and laid the foundation for the establishment of the later Chinese territory.
Qin Shi Huang's war of expansion not only increased the country's territory, but also promoted the exchange and integration of various ethnic groups, creating favorable conditions for the formation and development of the Chinese nation. Qin Shi Huang's war of expansion also showed his vision and ambition, opening a new chapter in China's history.
Fourth, tyrannical government.
Qin Shi Huang's greatest sin was to implement harsh and tyrannical governance, stifle the wisdom of the people, and shake the foundation of Qin rule.
After the unification of China, Qin Shi Huang thought that he was the five emperors of high merit and the three kings of the vast land, and he was proud of his achievements, and he did not listen to any different voices, did not tolerate any different thoughts, and did not leave any different culture.
Qin Shi Huang burned books and forbade private learning, depriving the people of their freedom of thought and cultural inheritance. Qin Shi Huang requisitioned a large amount of manpower and material resources to build mausoleums, palaces, the Great Wall and other projects, so that the people suffered a lot and were overwhelmed.
Qin Shi Huang also imposed draconian laws to govern the country with heavy penalties, so that the people lived in fear and did not dare to resist in the slightest. Qin Shi Huang's harsh and tyrannical administration aroused strong dissatisfaction and resistance among the people, led to the rapid collapse of the Qin Dynasty, and left a painful lesson for Chinese history.
To sum up, Qin Shi Huang is a figure of great historical significance, and his merits and demerits cannot be divided by simple black and white, but must be evaluated from multiple angles and levels.
Qin Shi Huang's exploits have made great contributions and influences on Chinese history, and his sins have greatly harmed and taught Chinese history a lesson. The historical image of Qin Shi Huang is complex, contradictory, controversial, and worthy of in-depth study and excellence.