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Rise of QinAfter the collapse of Zhou dynasty in 256BC, the land people called China

entered to the Spring-Autumn Warring States period that was lasted approximately for

500 years. In this period, six of the strongest kingdoms called Han, Wei, Zhao Chu,

Yan, and Qi had a particular form of culture and governmental system. Elites and

military commanders considered other states as enemies for further territorial

expansions, and fought to secure the position. Qin, on the other hand, was located in

rural western frontier, and was far behind in those civilized countries. Qin had been in

the seesaw struggle for supremacy, but could steadily expand their territories by

defeating different ethnic groups. In 335BC, with Shang Yangs legalistic philosophy,

state of Qin accelerated its prosperity and war potential. From this period, Qin

developed a superior talent to become a Chinas first unified sates. There will be

thousands of reasons why Qin was able unify such supercontinent. Thus, this essay

will focus on main factors of the unifying nation successfully, which are resources

and qualities.

Qin was the underdeveloped state located far west from the most civilized and

most competent states. Natural fortresses were surrounded around the state such as the

Loess Plateau in north, the Mt. Qinling in south, and the Yellow River in east. This

factor certainly limited the chance of the invasion for enemies. Instead of placing the

soldiers in borders to protect the Qin, they invested effort in business and domestic

affairs such as flood control, agricultural productions, and substantial weapons. Such

devoted domestic affairs led to expansion in population and domestic economic. State

of the Duke Xiao of Qin also actively had adopted different ethnic people as Qins

crucial officers. Shang Yang who brought the legalistic philosophy to Qin, as for an

example, he was a noble man in Wei who did not have much of presence. Duke Xiao

of Qin employed Shang Yang as an officer in charges of legal and political

modifications. Meanwhile, other states had engaged in a fierce battle: Jin fought

against the Chu, Han defeated Zheng, and Wei was fallen down by Qi. Obviously,

these states were making steady progress on the road of a victory. It was only a matter

of time to swallow the state of Qin for these developed states. Thus increasing the

state power by giving key positions to excellent foreigners was inevitable for the Qin.

The second and the most powerful driving force for Qin to unify thesupercontinent were Shang Yang and his law variants. The reforms had been done

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using merits and penalties under the policy of meritocracy, it confiscated the lives of

people, and consequently led to large-scale backlash from people. Finally, high-

ranked officers with resentment toward to Shang Yang revealed after the death of the

Qin Emperor. They burned the Shang Yangs house, caught him at a local

accommodation outside of the Qin, and executed him in the corpse-minute five horses

for his merciless behaviors.

Even though Shang Yang left outstanding achievement, the Qin Dynasty was

lasted 15 years only. Historical viewpoint of the collapse of the dynasty was a natural

result due to such heartless political and legal reformations. However, the

supercontinent had many other brutal emperors far beyond from Shang Yang and the

Qin emperor. In fact, Qins system of bureaucracy and legislation were inherited to

the next dynasty, Han, which lasted over 400 years. Although people were

manipulated by extreme performance, such as burning books and brutal punishment,

what people called China nowadays would not establish if there were no legalism in

Qin Dynasty.

All Resources came from ICSO 232 C ivilization in East Asia C lass