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'''Qin Shi Huangdi''' was the first emperor of [[China]]. He ruled from 221 BC until his death in 210 BC at the age of 50.

'''Qin Shi Huang''' was the first emperor of [[China]]. He ruled from 221 BC until his death in 210 BC at the age of 50.

With extensive iron deposits and a totalitarian "legalist" governing structure, the State of Qin had advantages compared to China's other [[Warring States]]. In a nine-year war, Qin defeated the other states and forged an empire. The king of Qin took the imperial title "Qin Shi Huangdi" (Qin's first emperor).

With extensive iron deposits and a totalitarian "legalist" governing structure, the State of Qin had advantages compared to China's other [[Warring States]]. In a nine-year war, Qin defeated the other states and forged an empire. The king of Qin took the imperial title "Qin Shi Huangdi" (first emperor of Qin).

{{language box

{{language box

|c=秦始皇

|c=秦始皇

|p=Qín Shǐhuáng

|p=Qín Shǐhuáng

|w=Ch‘in Shih-huang

|w=Ch‘in Shih-huang

|l=first emperor of Qin

|l=Qin first emperor

}}

}}

Among the projects undertaken by Qin Shi Huang were the [[Terracotta Army]] and the first version of the [[Great Wall of China]].<ref>"[http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/38065.htm Qin Shi Huang (259-210 B.C.) and His Empire]", china.org.com</ref> He was a brutish tyrant who banned all books on philosophical and political topics. The story of Lady Meng, whose husband died building the Great Wall, is used to illustrate the emperor's cruelty.<ref>"[http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-8-2/44537.html Good Stories from China: Lady Meng-Jiang's Tears Made the Great Wall Collapse]", ''The Epoch Times'', Aug 02, 2006</ref> The emperor's early death is sometimes blamed on mercury, a poison he took believing it to be an elixir of immortality. He is condemned in traditional history, but admired by [[Mao Zedong]] and the Communists.

Among the projects undertaken by Qin Shi Huang were the [[Terracotta Army]] and the first version of the [[Great Wall of China]].<ref>"[http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/38065.htm Qin Shi Huang (259-210 B.C.) and His Empire]", china.org.com</ref> He was a brutish tyrant who banned all books on philosophical and political topics. The story of Lady Meng, whose husband died building the Great Wall, is used to illustrate the emperor's cruelty.<ref>"[http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-8-2/44537.html Good Stories from China: Lady Meng-Jiang's Tears Made the Great Wall Collapse]", ''The Epoch Times'', Aug 02, 2006</ref> The emperor's early death is sometimes blamed on mercury, a poison he took believing it to be an elixir of immortality. He is condemned in traditional history, but admired by [[Mao Zedong]] and the Communists.