Post on 22-Jun-2015
description
A Bit of the Amazing Qin Empire
Francesca Chu 5th Grade
Foothill Elementary, Saratoga CA
This ancient state in China made these famous achievements …
The Great Wall of China
The Terra-‐CoCa Army
A MulEplicaEon Table
Circa 221-‐206 BC InsEtute of Archeology, Hunan China
A County – where the King can rule directly
A Nuclear Family
An Environmental Law
Qin Agriculture Law Dated 306 BC Discovered in 1975
“In February, it is unlawful to log in the forest, unlawful to block streams. Before summer, it is unlawful to burn grass for ferElizer, or collect newly budding plants, or hunEng young animals, or collecEng animal eggs, or poisoning fish or turtles… This ban is in force unEl July.”
My story begins a long long Eme ago, in a place far far away …
Where?
Qin circa 360 BC
Qin was Small, Remote, & Backward.
How was life like?
This painEng shows the King si`ng on a mat, and a nobleman showing him a map on a table
A Chariot with four horses
Ox Drawn Iron Plow
Everything Changesd when the Duke Hired Lord Shang
Yang
Lord Shang Yang’s Reforms
The lords and commoners must follow the same laws.
Lord Shang Yang’s Reforms
The laws are wriCen and applied strictly.
Lord Shang Yang’s Reforms
Created Prefectures and CounEes for the Duke to rule the state directly.
Lord Shang Yang’s Reforms
Standardized Measurements & Money for Tax and Commerce.
Lord Shang Yang’s Reforms
Farms are standardized. Adult children must have their own fields and pay their own taxes.
But How Do We Know All This?
Here is How
History
My own study Archeology
History
The Grand Historian Sima Qian was born in 145 BC. His “Records of History” has 130 volumes, and was wriCen from 109 – 91 BC.
History
“Records of History” Volume 68, Chapter 8 is “History of Lord Shang Yang”
Archeology
Discovered in 1980, these plates are dated 309 BC. They record Lord Shang Yang’s Law of Agriculture.
Archeology
Harvest scene set on a grid of irrigaEon channels. Mulberry trees were planted on the field’s edge.
And I thought I could invesEgate this a bit on my own …
See, in this arEfact
Archeologists translated: -‐ 1 yard = 6 foot -‐ 1 acre = 1 yard x 240 yard -‐ 1 hectare = 100 acre = 1 family lot -‐ North-‐south roads are called Qian -‐ East-‐west roads are called Mo -‐ 1 foot = 23.1 cm = 0.758 English foot
My ReconstrucEon of a Family Lot
If Qin Laws were so strictly followed, would you expect some of these fields sEll be seen today?
Here is How I Am Going to Find Out
Step 1: Locate the area in Google Earth Step 2: Randomly choose 10 regions Step 3: From each region choose 10 lots Step 4: Calibrate Google Earth Ruler Step 5: Using the ruler, measure horizontal and
verEcal length of each chosen lot Step 6: Convert to Qin measurement units Step 7: StaEsEcal analysis
Step 1: Locate the Area Yellow River
Qin Capital
Future Imperial Capital Wei River
Step 2: Select 10 Regions
Step 3: Select 10 Lots per Region
Step 4: Calibrate the Ruler
Step 5, 6: Measuring & ConverEng
Step 7: StaEsEcal Analysis
Mean = 241.18, Margin of Error = 3.89 Confidence level = 95%
Step 7: StaEsEcal Analysis
Mean = 95.6, Margin of Error = 1.49 Confidence level = 95%
Can these fields 2,300 years later just by accident match so well with the archeological and historical
records?
NO WAY!
The Rest is History
QuesEon: What is Qin?
In 2010 AD, according to the World Bank,
1,338,299,512 people call themselves Chinese
(Qin-‐>Chin-‐>China-‐>Chinese).
QuesEons ?