Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor in Chinese history and the founding monarch of the Qin Dynasty. His life was full of legendary stories.

📜 Major Events in His Life
‌Early Years‌: Ying Zheng was born in Handan, Zhao State, in 259 BC. He inherited the title of King of Qin at the age of 13. Due to his youth, the state affairs were temporarily controlled by Lü Buwei.
‌Ascension to Power‌: At 22, he quelled the rebellion of Lao Ai, then dismissed Lü Buwei, promoted officials like Li Si, and began to hold real power, planning to unify the Six States.
‌Unification of China‌: From age 30 to 38, in less than ten years, he eliminated the Han, Zhao, Yan, Wei, Chu, and Qi states, establishing the first centralized imperial dynasty in Chinese history.
‌Founding the Imperial System‌: At 39, he proclaimed himself “First Emperor,” establishing the imperial system, implementing the Three Lords and Nine Ministers system at the central level, and promoting the commandery and county system locally, thoroughly abolishing the feudal system.
‌Implementing Reforms‌: To consolidate his rule, he carried out a series of far-reaching policies such as standardizing the writing system, unifying axle lengths, currency, and weights and measures.
‌Major Projects‌: During his reign, he oversaw the construction of the Great Wall, the Chidao (Imperial Road), the Straight Road, and the Lingqu Canal, among other large-scale projects.
‌Later Years and Death‌: In his later years, he traveled extensively and sought immortality. He ultimately died at age 49 (210 BC) in Shaqiu.
⚖️ Historical Evaluation and Controversies
Qin Shi Huang is praised by later generations as “The First Emperor of Eternity.” He ended the Warring States period, laid the foundation for China’s political system for over two thousand years, and achieved great accomplishments. However, his rule was also marked by harsh measures, such as the “Burning of Books and Burying of Confucian Scholars” (which was actually a severe punishment for the deception of officials, but involved many), leading to debates about his reputation as a “tyrant.”