Global EditionASIA 中文双语Français
Culture
Home / Culture / Books

Notorious emperor was vilified, series claims

China Daily | Updated: 2018-06-15 07:14
Share
Share - WeChat
Archaeologist Duan Qingbo [Photo provided to China Daily]

Was emperor Qin Shihuang a villain or a hero? Or something-or someone-in between?

The man who united China under centralized rule and was interred with the Terracotta Warriors is largely known for his brutality, autocracy, opulence and lust for power.

But archaeologist Duan Qingbo, who led the excavation of his mausoleum, says there's much more to the Qin Dynasty's (221-206 BC) founder in his new book and upcoming TV series.

"Qin Shihuang is a great emperor in Chinese history. He had extraordinary ideals and passion," the professor said at the recent launch of his new book, Qin Mausoleum: A Dust-Laden Empire, in Beijing.

The book uses historical research to elaborate on Qin Shihuang's legacy. It explores some of the discoveries from his mausoleum to reveal a more complex side to his character.

Duan led the excavation team for a decade.

This, in turn, led him to believe the emperor has largely been "demonized".

The mausoleum's opulence resembles the palace of the Qin's imperial capital of Xianyang, which lies outside today's Xi'an in Shaanxi province.

Duan believes this indicates the emperor hoped to continue his ambitions to build the nation in the afterlife.

"The tomb suggests more than posthumous lavishness. It embodies his aspirations to unify China after his passing," he says.

Qin Shihuang was known for large-scale constructions, such as the Epang Palace.

"Epang was never finished. Only a rammed-soil foundation was completed. So, it's a myth that the palace was luxuriant," Duan says.

1 2 Next   >>|
Most Popular
Top
BACK TO THE TOP
English
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349
FOLLOW US