The First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdis Leadership Skills - Research Paper Example

The First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdis leadership skills, main achievements and main accomplishments Introduction Qin Shi Huangdi (259BC - 210BC) is the First Emperor of joined China. At the beginning he was a king of state of Qin and it partially stipulated his successful attainment of political power. Due to concurrence of different circumstances and personal qualities Qin Shi Huang quickly conquered power and suppressed rebellions in the separated provinces and kingdoms. State of Qin became one of the strongest kingdoms in the territory of China several centuries before his advent to power. The realm had a favorable geographical location on the fertile territory with a large variety of natural resources (iron ore, bituminous coal, timber). It was protected from adjacent states and barbarian tribes with natural barriers. Therefore this region became one of the earliest centers of iron metallurgy in ancient China. Trade with northern neighbors and states of Central Asia and agriculture were basic branches of economy. 1. Shang Yang as Huangdi’s Historical Predecessor Before 500BC state of Qin did not take an active part in an internecine struggle of Chinese kingdoms and was considered relatively weak. Strong, persistent leaders and gifted commanders were required to use current potential in full scope. Shang Yang (390BC - 338BC) and Han Fei (280BC – 233BC), who had been statesmen at the end of the Warring States period, strengthened position of Qin among its competitors. Both of them were “credited with fostering Qin’s growth and categorized somewhat loosely as ‘Legalists’. They both had visited other kingdoms; and both met a violent death thanks to animosities.” (Loewe 12 - 18) As a leader and reformer Shang Yang could be compared with Qin Shi Huangdi, because they strived for building military-bureaucratic state. Both of them rejected principles of Confucianism such as hierarchy, patriarchal concept of power, family clans etc. According to Shang Yang, idleness and lack of discipline are the main reasons of state decline. Lack of governmental control over them causes economic and agricultural recession. Reforms of Yang and Huangdi weakened positions of patrimonial aristocracy as the ruling class, because preliminary they had exclusively comprised officialdom. “The situation changed when Shi Huang Di successfully unified China under Qin in 221 B.C. with Li Si as his chancellor, by using effective military forces formed by Shang Yang’s reforms. After unification, the emperor decided to abolish feudalism and adopt Junxianzhi, a centralized system in which all the regions are governed by aristocrats appointed by the emperor, rather than as an individual kingdom.” (Kun) Thus, both leaders relied on support of the newly established aristocracy, officials and prosperous classes. Besides, both of them revealed themselves as skillful military leaders. They fully ignored old-fashioned social traditions and restructured Chinese army in accordance with innovative standards. The army became the main source of power in state of Qin. 2. Initial Stage of Ruling Childhood and family surrounding of Qin Shi Huangdi significantly affected formation of his character and leadership skills. Although Qin was flourishing, the majority of its kings did not rule for long due to numerous palace revolutions and intrigues. Major part of information about Qin Shi Huangdi’s life was known from the Records of the Historian of Sima Tan and Sima Qian (109BC – 91AC). “They were officials of Qin’s successor the Han dynasty, and were obliged to show that Han had been justified in eliminating Qin with what they claimed were its evil ways, so they are necessarily biased.” (Loewe 12 - 18) That’s why such information could have been altered to soil the Emperor’s reputation in opinion of the following generations. His first name was Ying Zheng and his mother Zhao Ji was a concubine of high ranking. Ying Zheng was the eldest son of king Zhuangxiang. Zheng was born in a hostile state of Zhao, where his father was a kingly hostage. From early childhood he was in the power of hostile surrounding and his father could not realize independent political ambitions owing to pressure of mighty favorites and enemies. After death of Zheng’s father in 246BC Lu Buwei and Lao Ai officially became tutors and defenders of the young heir. They seized the throne and committed excesses on behalf of Ying Zheng. National treasury of the kingdom was plundered. Within the Warring States period (475BC – 221BC) absence of a full-fledged ruler made Qin vulnerable. As regent Lu Buwei (291BC – 235BC) followed Confucianism-oriented policy and tried to gain maximum support among Qin courtiers, nobility and military men. The heir got proper education and accumulated life experience. He was clever, versatile, and brave and developed a huge leadership potential. Zheng was detached from his family and mother’s support. As a result, he became artful and reticent, because for self-protection he had to hide his real intentions from the whole court. The queen broke existing legislation, secretly married with Lao Ai and gave birth for two step-brothers of King Zheng. Thus, they could be considered as rivals in struggle for the throne of Qin. In spite of his enemies’ attempts to hide their plot, growing up Ying Zheng noticed outrages and injustice around him and, thus, got ready to conquer the throne. In 238BC Lao Ai attempted to organize a revolution and stole state seal, which was a symbol of the king’s power. Discords among the plotters suited King Zheng well and he easily brought power back, relying on support of regular army. To retain unity of the state and to prevent further plots, he ordered to execute his step-brothers and imprison his mother. Thus, Ying Zheng became a full-fledged king and cleared arena for subsequent conquests. 3. Army and Joined Chinese Empire Shang Yang laid the foundation of military-bureaucratic state. He was follower of “fazsya” school and regarded legislation as superior source of power. Following his predecessor’s example, Ying Zheng attained for elimination of economic and political fragmentation and it resulted into unity and economic growth of the state. Patrimonial aristocracy was weakened and removed from ruling the country. Military reforms were intended for long-duration conquest and mobilization. Preliminary strategies of soldiers’/officers’ training became old-fashioned. The same referred to military ammunition and weapon such as armors, shields, swords. Ying Zheng monopolized weapons manufacturing and ordered to withdraw all kinds of bronze weapon from civilian population. Collected bronze was applied for smelting of new coins, bells, sculptures and adornments. “Of Hao State origin bordering Qin state, it shows the Qin knew iron melting in late Zhou; i.e., they may have learned the technique from the Hao, but developed it for agriculture.” (Zhimin 97 - 101) All military troops obtained new iron weapon, including small arms, shank-like and bladed weapon. Leather armors were also replaced by chain armors, hauberks. Soldiers of Terracotta Army, which had been found in the Emperor’s tomb, allowed scientists to get acquainted and estimate the innovative weapon and ammunition. The figures were life-sized and their exterior represented weapon and costumes of Qin dynasty in details. Terracotta Army was made for guarding of the Emperor and further conquest, that’s why such details and verisimilitude were of primary importance. “The exquisite terracotta army of the first Qin Dynasty ruler Shihuangdi represents the emperor’s ability to control the resources of the newly unified China, and his attempt to recreate and maintain that empire in the afterlife.” (Hirst 2 - 4) This army is a visual proof of Qin Shi Huangdi’s intentions and leadership potential. Even after death he was going to rule the world. Life size, decoration, appearance and weapon of terracotta soldiers reflected severity of the Emperor and his impact on culture and funeral ceremony. In afterlife world they were going to turn into real invincible army. Far-sighted Ying Zheng believed in his own divinity and tried to predict all possible outcomes. This army would symbolize his invincibility and realize his ambitions. In this case, he would remain an indisputable leader and would be surrounded by fully devoted warriors and officials. In spite of any collisions, the Emperor would like to preserve his high social status and kingly regalia in afterlife. As an experienced military man, he understood importance of performance data of cavalry and chariots. Undersized Przewalski’s horses could not move heavy chariots quickly any more and high mobility was primary advantage of mounted troops. Except the neighboring kingdoms, the Huns and nations of Central Asia prevented his conquest in the North and West of the Empire. Enduring and quick cavalry became their main advantage before Huangdi’s army, that’s why he declared to reequip his chariots. As for military training, Confucianism-oriented model proved to be out-of-date. Previous Qin and Zhou kings did not have a large regular army and aristocrats and soldiers were not sufficiently supplied with proper weapon and armors. According to Confucius, the army should be a monolithic organism consisting of “one hundred of philosophical schools” and three social classes. Soldiers of different classes and from different provinces had their own training methods and vision of war. Within the Warring States period it significantly affected forming of military units and level of soldiers’ training. Qin Shi Huangdi liquidated such a variety and introduced a new obligatory training for all soldiers and officers. They had to master new kinds of weapon, chariots, camp building etc. Traditional kinds of wrestling were widespread and promoted among local population even in peaceful times. 4. Leadership and Conquest Highly ranked military men comprised new elite of Qin society. “He proved to be a tyrannical leader, conquering the nine warring feudal states of the region and declaring himself the first emperor of a new nation in 221BC.” (Wilson, 38 - 44) Within the period of 238BC – 221BC the king conducted seventeen military campaigns against the neighboring kingdoms. For example, due to successful modernization of the army Qin Shi could smash numerous leagues of his neighbors, including states of Zhao, Yan, Han. To demonstrate his superiority and cruelty, the new king ordered to destroy capitals of his former enemies. In 221BC he conquered the last kingdom of Qi and accepted a new title - Qin Shi Huangdi. The name “Huangdi” was a combination of two words “Huang” (Imperial) and “di” (ruler). This title revealed scale of his domain and his own gratitude. It was the next evidence of aspiration for absolute power and leadership. Qin Shi Huangdi strived for personal leadership and ruling in the existing world. That’s why the Emperor had not limited his campaigns with conquest of Chinese kingdoms, but continued expansion to the North and South. Leitmotif of his foreign policy became conquest and colonization of the neighboring territories. Strategic and technical innovations promoted his achievements. For instance, Huangdi successfully defended his empire from invasion of large army of the Huns. Their hordes were pressed back to the Huang He. Simultaneously the Emperor kept on the campaign in South China and north-eastern Vietnam, where his army suffered large losses. As a result, large Qin Empire comprised of regions with different ethnic groups, agricultural priorities and levels of economic development. This fact significantly impacted nature of Qin Shi Huangdi’s reforms in all spheres. It provoked migrations and transformations in rural areas. Mass repressions and building of the Great Wall of China made many people change their places of living and occupations. Thus, the Emperor impacted all spheres of life of his subjects. 5. Great Wall of China To protect northern borders of the empire Qin Shi Huangdi ordered to build a giant fortification – Great Wall of China (220BC – 206BC). Architectures used previously existing defensive installations and natural landscape as basis of the future wall. At the same time, all fortifications and walls between the kingdoms were destroyed. (Yick) This ambitious and costly building again proved the Emperor’s aspiration for personal leadership and ruling. Any of his predecessors had not realized such a large-scale project and, thus, Huangdi tried to spread control to the periphery of the Empire. The Great Wall would frighten his enemies, neighboring tribes and states, but remind his subjects about an unlimited imperial power. It was a presence of his divine power even in the further concerns of the Empire. “Those found guilty of lesser ‘crimes’ were put to work on building the Great Wall of China. More than a million people were enslaved to erect this barrier to seal the empire. A quarter of them died in the process.” (Smith) To satisfy his ambitions the Emperor draw thousands of peasants, slaves, prisoners of war and state criminals to its building. Thus, a vast migration of population to northern provinces of the country took place. They lived along the Great Wall of China and were participated in its building, guarding and servicing of fortresses. The wall was built up on bones of thousands of the dead workers. As a leader Qin Shi Huangdi considered that the Great Wall would be an eternal symbol of his power and greatness. It was a real and conditional barrier for Chinese culture and socio-economic lifestyle. Within the following centuries the above building project proved to be cost-inefficient, because nomadic invasions shortened. The situation worsened only in the first and eighth centuries due to Chang-an invasions (720BC – 790BC) (Deng). Thus, Huangdi’s ambitious project significantly improved stability of the Chinese Empire. “The Great Wall did make China safer but not invasion-free. This was arguably the main factor to hold China together most of time as during the imperial period, China remained unifies 70 per cent of the time.” (Deng 1 – 27) Remains of the walls have preserved till present and remind contemporaries of the First Emperor. Subsequent ruling dynasties used and rebuilt the wall for defense from nomadic people. 6. Qin Shi Huangdi as a Leader In 221BC Qin Shi Huangdi created the first centralized state in the history of China and founded Qin dynasty. All subsequent Chinese dynasties inherited his feudal system of centralized power (Junxianzhi). His leadership skills can be analyzed on basis of the results of his activity as statesman. Huangdi’s large-scale agrarian, financial and military reforms are described in historical documents and chronicles. The First Emperor has been significantly criticized by historians, politicians and scientists of different epochs as tyrannical, excessively cruel and firm ruler. Some scientists even disputed his rights to the throne as legitimacy of his origin was dubious. Implementing reforms, Qin Shi Huangdi did not take into account negative consequences upon lives of his subjects. Thousands of the Chinese died during the Warring States period and building of the Great Wall of China. He acted as a strong personal leader, because he strived for full control and subjection of his citizens. According to him, military campaign and intimidation were the only efficient measures of joined state development. Junxianzhi was based on Shang Yang’s reforms and conditioned stability of centralized military-bureaucratic empire headed by sole monarch. Military elite and high-ranked officials from state of Qin comprised an absolute majority of the privileged. Thus, the Emperor tried to secure himself from potential enemies and strengthen his administration. “With no remaining challengers, in 221 BC he adopted the majestic title of emperor (Huangdi), signifying that he claimed authority and wielded power over all lands and all peoples below the skies.” (Loewe 12 - 18) Qin Shi Huangdi legitimated his divine origin and used appropriate official titles and ceremonial in order to convict his subjects of firmness of the Empire. He proclaimed that his dynasty would rule for ten thousands years and that Chinese Empire would flourish forever. New legislation stipulated strict punishments for criminal acts. Following Shang Yang’s example, the Emperor introduced a punitive system and mass enslavement. For instance, three generations of a state criminal’s family were enslaved. System of mutual social responsibility significantly broadened range of criminals. As a result, many rural districts and villages became deserted. Qin Shi Huangdi considered that such punitive measures would quickly break down resistance inside and outside Empire. According to our contemporaries, above measures are merciless and unwarranted, because thousands of innocent people have been killed. Nevertheless, it is not necessary to forget about difference between modern and ancient customs, philosophy, and way of life. During the Warring States period mass murders, slavery and unlawful actions were widespread. The Emperor exceeded his predecessors due to his cruelty and ignorance of traditional Confucian philosophy. It allowed uniting a separated country and laying the basis of Chinese statehood. Within the following two thousands years different dynasties held the Emperor’s throne. In spite of their socio-ethnic origin, political ambitions and strategic goals, they regarded Qin Shi Huangdi as an example of an absolute leader and ruler. Within a short period of time he united the country and carried out reforms on strengthening of national economy, army and international position. Trying to remain in the history of mankind forever, Qin Shi Huangdi ordered to build a magnificent tomb for himself. It had any analogs as to its scale and splendor all over the world. In such a way the Emperor attempted to equate with God and provide himself a correspondent status in afterlife. While he had been conquering and joining new lands to Chinese Empire, the building and construction works (243BC – 207BC) over the tomb gradually broadened. According to the chronicles, perimeter of the tomb made circa 6 kilometers and it was filled up with treasuries, adornments of precious metals and stones, geographical map of the existing world. Although the Emperor’s tomb had been hidden from the outer world, it was well remembered among the ordinary Chinese. “It lies beneath a huge burial mound near the northwestern city of Xian, but the Chinese have always refused to excavate it for fear of angering the spirit of one of the most powerful and feared men who ever lived.” (Smith) 7. Qin Shi Huangdi as a Reformer Using cruel measures and repressions, Qin Shi Huangdi effected overall modernization of the Chinese Empire. His most important achievements included an integrated legislation, system of roads, unification of system of measures and weights, financial reforms (new monetary unit). New net of roads and channels improved communication within the large state. Being a farsighted commander, Huangdi understood importance of communications for military campaigns. High-quality roads, which had been built by peasants, slaves and prisoners of war, increased mobility of the army and cavalry. “Able-bodied males were obliged to serve for periods in the armed forces and also in the labor corps, being set to build a palace or a city wall, to construct a canal or perhaps pump water from one level to another; to maintain roads and bridges; and to hump grain from the fields to the designated granaries.” (Loewe 12 - 18) For example, ability of quick building of roads, bridges and related communications provided a high fighting capacity of the Roman Empire. (Faulkner) Roman soldiers could quickly reach remote provinces of the Empire and press any rebellions. The main purpose of the roads system was full control over the newly created state. Qin Shi Huangdi was afraid of rivals and tried to eliminate any opposition within China. New communication positively impacted national economic development. Artificial canals simplified transportation of heavy loads and military troops throughout the Empire. Conventional trade routes also changed and Chinese provinces located along the canals flourished. Such accomplishments promoted stable successive economic development and strengthened international position of the Chinese Empire. In 213BC Qin Shi Huangdi started a literary inquisition, because he considered that books and other written sources negatively influence joining of the country. It was a large-scale ideological campaign directed upon his rivals and followers of the previous dynasties. Thousands of books, except chronicles, medical and agricultural literature, had been burnt. Confucian philosophers and Chinese intellectual elite also subjected to repressions. In Huangdi’s opinion, they were dangerous and hampered development and union of the Empire. Conclusion Qin Shi Huangdi’s state activity and leadership skills served for joining of the scattered country. To achieve goals put by the Emperor broke existing balance of power, national legislation, philosophy and traditions. His leadership strategy fully ignored Confucianism and appreciated learning of “fazsya” school. Severe measures allowed him to subdue resistance of his inner and outer enemies and reach stability in China. He introduced common legislation, built roads, unified measurement system, carried out agrarian and financial reforms and, thus, fully changed lifestyle in various regions of the country. His policy strengthened position of landowners and peasants. Grandiose building projects and plans mixed up dwellers of different provinces and caused large-scale migrations. Consequently, Huangdi’s transformations establish basis of Chinese unity and statehood. Annotated Bibliography In his book “The Men Who Governed Han China” Michael Loewe makes a historical overview of Qin, Han and Xin periods. Special attention is paid to Huangdi’s campaign. “Following the conquest of Chu in 223BC, the kingdom of Qin formed its south-eastern territory into the commandery of Donghai.” (Loewe 38) Loewe uses biographies and memories of courtiers, military men and high-ranked officials as the main source of information. These people had witnessed many events of state importance and to some extent impact them. The author focuses on the intrigues, hierarchy, domestic life to reconstruct atmosphere of Qin Shi Huangdi’s court. The article by Kris Hirst is dedicated to discovery of the Terracotta Army. Special attention is paid to excavations and scientific research of terracotta warriors and other treasures. These findings have become an integral part of Chinese tourism infrastructure. Christopher Worth estimates cultural value and tourist potential of Huagdi’s tomb. According to him, this is one of the most attractive laces for tourists. Thus, it should be properly investigated and protected. Using the results of excavations, Yick Joseph has reconstructed life of builders of the Great Wall of China. Their way of life, remains of houses, ammunition, burial places revealed real scale of the building project and hardships they had endured. Dallas Mccurley paid attention to national kinds of wrestling, viz Juedixi. Thus, the majority of Qin soldiers were physically strong and well-trained. Military elite consisting of brave and gifted officers dominated in all spheres of life. It proves that Qin Shi Huangdi has been a cruel ruler, farseeing leader and commander. Kent Deng analyzes financial activity of the First Emperor and his successors and its influence on unity of China. “With the rise of agricultural productivity and thus agricultural surplus, the rural sector began to attract the attention of state-builders as both an important source of revenue, young soldiers and an important resource of legitimacy to rule.” (Deng 1 - 27) The author focuses on cost-efficiency of the Great Wall of China and agrarian reforms of Qin dynasty. The results are strengthened by statistics, databases and comparative analysis. Clay Smith discovers process of building the Great Wall as a professional military man. For instance, the Great Wall is considered an advantageous defensive installation, because it provided economic stability in Northern provinces in the first millennium. The article “Mortal Combat: China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi” contains a detailed description of the First Emperor’s tomb and its role in the history of China. “Elsewhere on the 50-square-kilometre archaeological site that surrounds the central tomb mound, a further 56 man-made pits have been discovered, each containing more terracotta and bronze relics to furnish an empire of the afterlife.” (Wilson, 38 - 44) Target audience can get acquainted with standpoint of Huangdi’s enemy and successor Sima Qian as to his ruling and funeral ceremony. The author states that such information is especially important for modern readers in order to perceive atmosphere of the Emperor’s ruling. The paper “Discussion of the Vital Role of Zhou Dynasty Survivors in Early Qin Agricultural Growth” is dedicated to research of agriculture and metallurgy development at the end of Zhou and beginning of Qin periods. “Agriculture is crucial to the state through divine offerings, more supply of goods and social harmony, allowing higher population, and that the King should make it a priority, a popular view that became classical theory.” (Zhimin 97 - 101) The Emperor regarded flourishing agriculture as basis for his campaigns. Spreading of iron and improvement of its treatment allowed Qin Shi Huangdi to provide the army with new weapon and armors. Thus, its fighting capacity increased and he could carry out long-duration campaigns. On the contrary form other authors, Neil Faulkner compares activity of Hadrian and Qin Shi Huangdi. Hadrian is regarded as a head of Roman Empire in its splendor and Huangdi just lays foundation of his own empire. Both of them are full-fledged leaders, statesmen and gifted commanders. In the paper “Mortal Combat: China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi” the author focuses upon military achievements of the First Emperor. He analyzes mechanisms and consequences of joining of the Chinese Empire. Qin Shi Huangdi’s merciless measures laid foundation of Chinese statehood. Bibliography 1. Deng, Kent. “Origin of a Fiscal State, its Continuation, and Changes in China.” Premodern Chinese Economy. Ed. Edward Johnson. Westport, CT: Greenwood. 2008. p. 1- 27. Print. 2. Hirst, K. Kris. “Emperor Qin’s Terracotta Army an Army of Terracotta for the Afterlife”. About.com Guide: Archeology, 2009. Web. October 29, 2010. http://archaeology.about.com/od/china/a/terracotta.htm 3. Faulkner, Neil. “Hadrian and the Limits of Empire: The Emperor Hadrian Presided over the Roman Empire at Its Height, Defined Its Borders and Was One of the Most Cultured Rulers of the Ancient World.” History Today 58.8. (2008): 14 - 18. 4. Kun, Young. “The Changing View of Confucius in Chinese History From Ancient China to Communist China.” Korean Minjok Leadership Academy. 2009. Web. October 29, 2010. http://www.zum.de/whkmla/sp/0910/kyk/kyk2.html 5. Loewe, Michael. The Men Who Governed Han China: Companion to a Biographical Dictionary of the Qin, Former Han and Xin Periods. Boston: Brill, 2004. 6. Loewe, Michael. “China’s First Empire: Michael Loewe Looks at the Dynastic, Administrative and Intellectual Background of the Qin Empire, Which Defined How China Would Be Run for More Than 2,000 Years.” History Today 57.9 (2007): 12 - 18. 7. Mccurley, Dallas. “Juedixi: An Entertainment of War in Early China.” Asian Theatre Journal 22.1 (2005): 87 - 92. 8. Smith, Clay. “EMPEROR OF BLOOD; He Built the Great Wall and Created the Worlds Greatest Empire.” The Daily Mail 11 Febr. 2006: 58. Print. 9. Yick, K.S. Joseph. “The Great Wall of Confinement: The Chinese Prison Camp through Contemporary Fiction and Reportage.” Canadian Journal of History 41.2 (2006): 430 – 436. 10. Wilson, John. “Mortal Combat: China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, Searched Obsessively for the Secret of Eternal Life.” New Statesman 136. 4861 (2007): 38 - 44. 11. Worth, Christopher. “China’s True Wonder of the World.” World and I 22.3 (2007): 8 – 16. 12. Zhimin, Fan. “Discussion of the Vital Role of Zhou Dynasty Survivors in Early Qin Agricultural Growth.” Humanities 15.5 (1995): 97 - 101. Read More