Essay Sample on Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi

Are the actions of a ruler that protects the future of the country, but goes against the country justified? During 259-210 BCE, the first Chinese Emperor ruled Qin Shi Huangdi. He united China under his rule, and brought it to a place of great power, but did this through fear and blood. He went against his people to progress the state of the country. A ruler’s main goals should be too, protect the future of the state, secure prosperity, and ensure the safety and protection of the lives of the people. Qin Shi Huangdi was wrong to go against his people, even if it was to ensure a better future for China. Through harsh Legalist policies, millions of Chinese were killed. Huangdi burned many books that contained dangerous information like Confucius's teachings and killed many scholars. He destroyed valuable history and killed innocent lives to ensure the safety of his throne. Thirdly, the Emperor murdered many people to find a way to immortality, or to keep him safe in the afterlife. Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi killed millions, destroyed history, and ruined the lives of others to ensure the scientific and economic prosperity of China. 

The Emperor was a strong supporter of legalism; he believed that it was the way he could control all of China with an iron fist. Legalism involved harsh punishments to govern the people and to give the ruler absolute power. In using this philosophy, Huangdi killed millions of Chinese during his rule. Li Su, Huangdi’s Chancellor, wrote, “Those who have not destroyed their books are to be branded and sent to build the Great Wall'' (Doc 15). Many who defied the rule of the Emperor were either killed or sent to work on the infamous Great Wall of China. It was very dangerous work that most likely ended with death. The Chancellor also says, “[T]hose who use old precedents to oppose the new order should have their families wiped out, and those officers who know of such cases by [failing] to report them should be punished in the same way.” (Doc 3). People who broke the harsh law were either executed publicly or sent to a work camp. This way, they would use them as slave labor or teach the people what happens to criminals. The Emperor gaining power and control over the people via Legalism and death outweighs the good that he did for China. 

Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi was very paranoid about losing his throne. He saw the threat of knowledge, Confucius's teachings, different government ideas, and dangerous topics that could bring people to rebellious thoughts. Prime minister Li Su said, “I humbly propose that all historical records but those of Qin be burned. If anyone who is not a court scholar dares to keep [these texts]...should be confiscated and burned…” (Doc 16). They burned many of the books to ensure the power of the Qin Dynasty. The knowledge lost from the destruction of the Chinese texts is a horrible historical loss. The Emperor decreed that the only books that would not be burned were those of agriculture, medicine, and magic. Farming and medicine were kept for practical uses, and magic was continued because Shi Huangdi was obsessed with the idea. Li Su also decreed,  “Those who dare to quote the old songs and records should be publicly executed…”(Doc 16). The paranoia of the Emperor was excessive. He killed and enslaved many people for even quoting history in songs or tunes. The technological improvements in agriculture and medicine did not justify the knowledge lost because of Qin Shi Huangdi’s paranoid actions. 

During the last years of Shi Huangdi’s life, he wanted not only to be an absolute ruler but to become an immortal emperor and rule forever. He looked into magic and legend. Huangdi began to take Mercury pills, causing him to go mad. The Chinese ruler became so obsessed with the idea of immortality, he sent a small army to find a way for immortality. When the emperor saw that the prescription of toxic metal was not giving him eternal life, he looked to prepare for his death. Spending copious wealth, he built a series of tombs and memorials. The terracotta army was built for him to protect him in the afterlife. The Emperor thought that his murdered enemies will attack him when he died. He commanded that when he died, his favorite concubines and the people who built and designed the tombs would be sealed in with him. He made sure that no one would know the secret of his tomb. Because of his eccentric actions and absolute power, he killed many people for his obsessions. These murders do not justify his good actions of improving trade and agriculture in China. 

In conclusion, the actions of Qin Shi Huangdi to progress the state of the country did not justify the means of doing so. Killing millions of Chinese during his rule. A ruler’s main goals should be too, protect the future of the state, secure prosperity, and ensure the safety and protection of the lives of the people. Emperor Shi Huangdi protected the future of China, improving trade, farming, and developing money. But, he failed to protect his people from himself and his harsh legalistic rule. Many Chinese were killed, enslaved, and imprisoned through severe legalist policies. Many books and writings were destroyed by his fear of dangerous political ideas. Knowledge lost during his rule creates a hole in Chinese history that upsets the improvements made by the Emperor. Finally, the murders caused by the maddened actions of the Emperor at the end of his life are inexcusable. The promotion of trade and agriculture for the betterment of China did progress the state of China, but the Emperor’s actions against the people are not justified by these means.