Evaluating the First Emperor

The Grand Historian

Sima Qian lived a century after Qin Shi Huang. His father, Sima Tan, started writing a history of China. On his death, Sima Qian inherited this job.

An incident occurred in 99 BC that changed Sima Qian forever. Not only did it threaten the history he was writing, the incident nearly cost him his life.

Portrait of Sima Qian

Sima Qian, Public domain

As punishment, Sima Qian chose the ‘lesser’ penalty of castration so he could finish his father’s work.

Sima Qian’s Shiji (history of China) drew on many sources. While many historians praise the reliability of his mammoth 130-volume work, there are some that suggest he had a hidden motive.

Read some extracts from Sima Qian’s history of China. Do they praise Qin Shi Huang or are they critical of him? Or do they simply record facts?

Other views

A lot of what we know about Ancient China comes from Sima Qian’s writing in the Shi Ji. But this text also includes the statements of other people who lived around the time of the Qin Shi Huang. Again, consider whether these views are positive or negative and if there might be reasons for this.

Modern views

Recent historians and writers have given a variety of impressions of Qin Shi Huang.

Here, the author argues that the Emperor’s actions were justified. This writer asks whether modern opinions are influenced by modern circumstances, and here the question is posed: was the Emperor a despicable despot or Founding Father (scroll to the bottom of the page)?

Marble statue of Qin Shi Huang

Statue of the First Emperor near the Terracotta Warriors, Public domain

Design a tour of modern China visiting sites that showcase the life and achievements of Qin Shi Huang. This sample brochure (.jpg 156kB) might give you some ideas on design and layout.

Was Qin Shi Huang good or bad for China? Argue one side or the other in the trial of the First Emperor.