Qin

Qin (秦) refers to an ancient Chinese state that rose to prominence in the western part of the Zhou-era feudal system and later became the first imperial dynasty of China. The Qin heartland was centered in what is now Shaanxi Province. In Wade-Giles and other early sources, the name is rendered as Ch’in; in modern pinyin it is Qin.

Origins and rise: The Qin state expanded during the Warring States period (roughly 475–221 BCE) through military conquest, strategic administration, and centralized power. A key moment was the reforms attributed to Shang Yang in the 4th century BCE, which strengthened the state’s legal and military backbone and laid the groundwork for centralized rule. By leveraging a strong bureaucracy and efficient mobilization of resources, Qin gradually eclipsed rival states.

Unification and dynasty: In 221 BCE, the Qin ruler Ying Zheng completed the conquest of the other Warring States and proclaimed himself Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China. He established a centralized, bureaucratic administration that extended across the newly created Qin Empire. The dynasty pursued standardization of writing, coinage, weights and measures, and construction projects intended to integrate the realm. It also initiated monumental works such as parts of the early Great Wall and the mausoleum complex near Xi’an, which houses the famous Terracotta Army created to accompany the emperor in the afterlife.

Legacy and decline: The Qin Dynasty was short-lived, lasting from 221 to 206 BCE. Its centralized, legalist governance and intensive labor demands sparked uprisings and resistance, ultimately giving way to the Han Dynasty. The Qin era remains notable for introducing centralized imperial rule and for its enduring influence on Chinese political philosophy and statecraft.