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Historical Investigation — Evidence of the First Emperor's Reign
World History Content Standard
- Analyze how China became unified under the early imperial dynasties.
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Engage the Students
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Read the following paragraph that includes words by Sima Qian, the first historian of China. Print Version
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| The first historian from the Western Han Dynasty, Sima Qian, wrote the Historical Records or Shi Ji. It is here that the earliest known accounts of Qin Shi Huangdi's mausoleum are carefully recorded. Included are the details of his burial, his coffin being encased in a bronze sarcophagus floating on a river of mercury within the burial chamber. Sima Qian describes vaulted ceilings covered with constellations of the night sky representing the center of the earth. He further describes how the first emperor's death remained secret for as long as possible to avoid confusion and upheaval in the empire. |
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- How do we gather evidence about ancient civilizations?
- Based on what you know about the ancient Chinese and this source, was Qin Shi Huangdi an influential emperor?
Pre-assessment: Brainstorm the possible answers to these questions with your students.
Narrative: Read the narrative to the class stressing the focus question at the end. Print Version
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What we know about the early Chinese empires is drawn from two main sources, written records and archaeological discoveries. Unlike the early Egyptians and Romans the Chinese left very few imperial monuments above ground. Instead their energies went into building public works such as the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. The only stone buildings remaining are tombs, pagodas, and stone monuments that have limited memorial features. The lack of visible remains complicates the interpretation. However there is a great wealth of written records that cover a range of information such as dynastic histories, biographies, ritual ceremonies, and events of the court. The scholar of the court was responsible for recording selected events and this could be interpreted or reinterpreted to accommodate the rulers or the times. With all that is recorded, it is strange that to this date, no textual reference to the first emperor's great terra-cotta army has been found. This leads you to wonder what else has been omitted from the recorded texts regarding Emperor Qin's reign. Fortunately, the ancient Chinese tradition of burying the dead with whatever is needed in the next world means that the soil is rich with clues to the past.
Both historians and archaeologists have gathered as much information as possible about the first emperor and continue to gather more information through research. They know that in 221 BC, King Ying Zheng (259-210 BC) came from one of the mightiest states in China, Qin, and defeated the most powerful states one right after another before appointing himself the title of Qin Shi Huangdi which means in Chinese, the first sovereign emperor. There are several other recorded descriptions of the first emperor by his advisors. Wei Lao, one of his closest advisors, refers to him in an unflattering manner, "…his chest is like that of a bird of prey and his voice like that of a jackal. He is merciless, with the heart of a tiger or a wolf." A lot of mystery still surrounds his life and death, but merciless is a good word to describe an emperor who condemned more than seven hundred thousand men to the building of his palace and his tomb. Perhaps it was his great fear of dying that led him to obsession with construction of his mausoleum shortly after the start of his reign at age 13, or perhaps it was lack of faith in a dynasty that he created. The unification of China had not been successful before his reign.
Today you are going to be reading both secondary and primary documents to answer the focus question. You will have a chance to work with a group to generate some theories. Later you will use both your prior knowledge and what you have learned from this investigation to answer the focus question and support it with details from the documents used in this task.
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Focus Question: What evidence do we have that Qin Shi Huangdi did unite all of China? What social, cultural and economic characteristics were part of his empire?
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Conduct the Investigation
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In order to answer the question you will examine several documents independently. Analyze each document by answering the following questions on your graphic organizer:
- How do I know this is reliable information?
- When was this document written? Who wrote it? What was its purpose?
- Explain the author's point of view?
- How can this document help me answer the focus question?
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Discussion
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Now that the documents have been analyzed, you will have the opportunity to discuss the documents and the focus question with other students in your group. As you discuss your interpretations of the documents cite evidence for your views and opinions. Multiple interpretations can emerge and may or may not be accepted by all. Write your group responses in the appropriate section on your graphic organizer.
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Report the Findings
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Once historians have completed their research they present a written summary of their findings. You will do the same. Your written summary should answer the focus question and be supported with details from the primary documents you have read.
Focus Question: What evidence do we have that Qin Shi Huangdi did unite all of China? What social, cultural and economic characteristics were part of his empire?
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Additional Resources
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- Debaine-Francfort, Corinne. The Search for Ancient China, Discoveries by Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Publishers.
- Taylor-Thoma, Marcie. Legend or Rumor, Dig Magazine, Cobblestone Publishing Company, Inc., Petersborough, New Hampshire, January/February, 2002.
- Hoh, Erling, China's Great Enigma. Archaeology Magazine, Archaeological Institute of America, Long Island, NY, September/October, 2001.
- W. Zhang & W. Chang. The Qin Terracotta Army: Treasures of Lintong, Scala Books, London, 1998.
- B. Kelleher. Treasure from the Bronze Age of China: An Exhibition from the People's Republic of China, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1980.
- Journey into China, The National Geographic Society Publishers, Washington, DC, 1982.
- Ho, Yong. China: an Illustrated History. Hippocrene Books, Inc., 2000.
- Bluden, Caroline and Elvin, Mark. Cultural Atlas of China, Facts on File Publications: New York, 1983.
- Chang, Kwang-chih. The Archaeology of China, 4th edition, revised and enlarged, John Weatherhill Inc, New York, 1982
- Cottrell, Arthur. The First Emperor of China, Penguin Books: New York, 1988.
- Lazo Caroline. The Terracotta Army of Qin, New Discovery Books: New York, 1993.
- Mazzatenta, O. Louis. Chinese Emperor's Army for Eternity, National Geographic: Washington, DC, 1996, p. 68-85.
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Web Sites
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http://www.utexas.edu/courses/wilson/ant304/biography/arybios98/smithbio.html
The Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang summary and photos.
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/shaanxi/xian/terra_cotta_army/mausoleum_1.htm
Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang—The Greatest Archaeological Discovery
http://campus.northpark.edu/history/WebChron/China/TerraWar.html
Terra Cotta Warriors of the Qin Dynasty
http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~eemoise/ch02tca.html
The Terra Cotta Army of Qin Shihuang
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/9610/depart/c042.html
China's Warriors Rise From the Earth
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Primary Source Documents
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Note to teacher: Place the following secondary and primary documents into folders for the individual analysis and then group analysis. Be sure to include the analytical graphic organizer. Decide how many should be included in students' folders and whether each student gets a combination of several of these or everyone receives the same documents. Be sure to include at least one or two of the graphics. There are a collection of terra cotta army prints available on-line or at any museum store. Consider increasing the font to 16 or 18 and mounting each document on a separate piece of paper.
www.central.k12.ca.us/akers/terracotta_army.html.
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