Qin Shi Huang is famous for being the ruler responsible for

Qin Shi Huang is famous for being the ruler responsible for the unification of China. He took the title of the first emperor of Qin dynasty and ruled China from 220 to 210 BC. Huang brought many ground breaking reforms and many famous structures were built during his reign. Here are 10 interesting facts about this great emperor of China.

QIN SHI HUANG

Shi Huangdi

Ying Zheng

In order to attack the Baiyue tribes in the south, Huang ordered the construction of the Lingqu Canal. Along with the Great Wall and the Sichuan Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Lingqu Canal is considered one of the three great feats of Ancient Chinese engineering. Designed by Shi Lu, it is the oldest contour canal in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Qin Shi Huang became the king of the State of Qin when he was only 13

Huang’s tomb is protected by the famous Terracotta Army

Soon after he ascended the throne Qin Shi Huang started the work of the famous mausoleum which was to enclose his burial chamber. It took 700,000 men and 38 years to construct this mausoleum which was larger than any city of the world at that time. Surrounding his tomb is the famous Terracotta Army of around 6,000 life sized Terracotta Warriors, whose purpose was to protect the Emperor in the afterlife from evil spirits. Also among the army are chariots and 40,000 real bronze weapons.

There is a theory, that Huang´s mother was already pregnant from Lu Buwei before she married Prince Yiren. Many people thought he was an Illegitimate child. That theory is confirmed by historians as fake

Huang was unpopular and considered inhumane through much of China’s history

During his reign he ordered most existing books to be burned. It is also said that he had some 460 scholars killed.

"Qin Shi Huang was born Ying Zheng in 259 BC.

His mother was Zhao Ji. Before she married Zheng’s father Prince Yiren, she was a concubine of the merchant Lu Buwei. Zheng’s father Yiren became King Zhuangxiang of Qin, which was one of the seven major states in the Warring States Period of Chinese history. He died only after three years of reign and Ying Zheng succeeded him as king when he was only 13 years old"

Qin Shi Huang was obsessed with acquiring immortality and in his later life he desperately sought the fabled elixir of life, a mythical potion which when drunk grants the drinker eternal life or youth.

Also his alchemists and court physicians made mercury pills which were supposed to make him immortal. Qin Shi Huang died on September 10, 210 BC, supposedly due to mercury poisoning after consuming these pills.

He unified the code of law and standardized the Chinese units of measurement and currency. Most significantly, Huang unified the Chinese script by bringing a new, simplified, standardized script.

In 230 BC, Zheng started his campaign to conquer the remaining six kingdoms in China.

In 221 BC, for the first time in history, China became a unified centralized state. It took Zheng less than 10 years to become the first emperor of a unified China.

After conquering the other six kingdoms, Zheng declared himself “Qin Shi Huang”.

Qin stands for “of Qin”

Shi means “first”

Huangdi was a new term which meant “emperor”.

Qin Shi Huangdi hence translates to “First Emperor of Qin”.

The Qin Dynasty was constantly involved in battle against the Xiongnu tribes in the north and north-west. To guard the northern border, Huang ordered the construction of an enormous defensive wall which connected various state walls built previously.