What are the merits and demerits of Qin Shihuang?

Talk about the merits and demerits of Qin Shihuang

The first is to unify the world. Although the prosperity of the Qin Dynasty is the result of the efforts of past generations, the Qin Dynasty has not destroyed a big country before Qin Shihuang. The country was destroyed at the hands of Qin Shihuang, which ended the hundreds of years of separatist warfare that China had experienced.

The second step is to unify the national culture by taking measures such as writing with the same text and cars with the same track. This impact is the most profound. Both Chinese and Western scholars have commented that although there are different dialects and customs in various parts of China, they have the same culture, especially writing, which plays a key role in the integrity of the Chinese nation and the inheritance of civilization, while the West does not have it until now. Finally complete this fusion.

The above achievements are certainly not the result of Qin Shihuang alone, but he is the decision-maker, so he has the greatest credit.

Finally, let’s talk about his faults. Here we will mainly talk about burning books and humiliating Confucians.

The so-called book burning does not mean the extinction of books, but the eradication of folk books. Only people like "doctors" can collect them. What can be blamed is ignorance of the people and the lack of historical materials other than Qin history. ; The so-called trapping of Confucians is also the result of slander and criticism by Confucian scholars. The trapping of them is also due to the harshness of Qin's laws. As for cruelty, it seems that there are many people who have killed many more people than Qin Shihuang in history. Qin Shihuang is probably so concerned because He must have killed Confucian scholars. Qin Shihuang's biggest fault was that he failed to stabilize and inherit the Qin system that had been tempered by the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.

We should look at the problem historically, that is, put Qin Shihuang under the historical conditions at that time, analyze his merits and demerits, and study his contributions and crimes. When studying the historical environment in which Qin Shihuang lived, we should not only pay attention to the general trend of historical development at the end of the Warring States Period, but also pay special attention to the historical characteristics of Qin since its founding and their impact on Qin Shihuang. This latter point is an issue that has been ignored by most people in their evaluation of Qin Shihuang so far. When we systematically study the history of Qin and then evaluate Qin Shihuang, we can hope to avoid the one-sidedness of the past and draw conclusions that are more in line with historical reality.

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Qin Shihuang’s merits and demerits]

Qin Shihuang’s merits

Unification The whole country established the first centralized state

In the late Warring States Period, Qin became the most powerful country among the seven kingdoms. King Qin Yingzheng continued to annex the lands of the other six kingdoms through wars, and finally in BC In 221, the six eastern kingdoms were destroyed and my country's first unified centralized state was established.

After the Qin Dynasty, centralized politics lasted for two years in Chinese history.

Qin Shihuang’s achievements

Building the Great Wall and determining the border of northern China

Qin Shihuang connected the old Great Walls built by Yan, Zhao and Qin in the north during the Warring States Period to form a great "ten thousand miles" "The Great Wall". This military project protected the security of China's northern territory.

Qin Shihuang's achievements

Unifying the written language promoted the integration of Chinese culture

Qin Shihuang ordered Li Si to simplify the original large seal script of the Qin Dynasty into small seal script, which was popular throughout the country. Later, Cheng Miao simplified the small seal script into official script, which was also popular throughout the country during the Qin Dynasty.

The achievements of Qin Shihuang

Unify weights, measures and currency to facilitate economic exchanges

Qin Shihuang used the measurement and weighing instruments of the Qin State during the Shang Yang period as the standard for national calculations of length, size, and weight, and inscribed on them an edict to unify weights and measures.

Qin Shihuang prohibited the use of turtle, shell, jade and other coins from each of the six countries. He stipulated that the whole country should use two types of round currencies, gold and copper, in units of half a tael.

Qin Shihuang Achievements

Unified the car tracks, built roads, and connected waterways, which greatly facilitated transportation.

First, unify the car tracks: The Qin Dynasty unified the carriage width to six feet, which achieved "Cars are on the same track", so that one car can travel across the country.

Second, build Chidao: Qin built broad and uniform Chidao based on the original chariot and horse roads of the Six Kingdoms.

3. Communicating waterways: Qin dredged Honggou as a waterway hub. He also supervised the construction of the more than 60-mile Ling Canal.