Tomb of Shihuangdi

Tomb of Shihuangdi Professor Carney Hum 111 Joanna Davis January 23, 2012 Qin Shihuangdi, innate(p) Ying Zheng was one of the just about influential rulers of totally mainland China. It is believed that Shihuangdi was father by one of two men, Zichu a son of the king of Qin at the time. Zichu was displace as a surety to the state of Zhao during a dispute surrounded by the two kingdoms (Lindesay p. 4). Eventually Zichu was allowed to live freely in Zhao.There he became acquaint with a rich, but conniving merchant named Lu Buwei, who had a concubine. When Zichu became interested in the concubine, Lu Buwei stepped aside and eventually helped them break loose to Qin where Zichu shortly became king (Lindesay p. 4). Shortly later arriving in Qin, Ying Zheng (later to become Shihaungdi) was born. It was never revealed whether Zichu or Lu Buwei was his father. At only long dozen Shihuangdi took control of the Qin Dynasty, which was a start of a great rule for the young emperor. gal ore(postnominal) accomplishments were accredited to his rule, The Great Wall, a lane system throught the kingdom, a written script that unified all of China, and of course his thick tomb that contain life-sized soldiers of the Terra Cotta Army. legion(predicate) theories surround his tomb. Probably one of the most fascinating archaeological disc everywhereies was his tomb with over 6,000 life-size soldiers buried with the emperor. One supposition that could be believable was that he feared death, in that respectof he was always in look of immortality. In seeking immortality Shihaungdi make at least three pilgrimages to Zhifu Island seeking immortality.In one case of he direct Xu Fu, a Zhifu islander, with ships carrying hundreds of men and women in seem of the mystical Penglai mountain (Wintle p. 61, p. 71). Penglai mountain was utter to be the home for the Eight immortals and the 1,000 category old magician Anqi Sheng who Shihaungdi supposedly met musical composition t raveling, invited him to seek him there (Pregadio p. 199). The people that was sent on the voyage never returned with whatsoever prove of the immortal, or the magician, perhaps in fear of returning without any tidings they would be executed.Legend states they reached Japan and colonize it (Cavendish p. 17). Many of the Emperors scoop scholars were also executed for not macrocosm able to produce any evidence of supernatural powers. Since Shihaungdi was afraid of death he had workers build tunnels and passage ways to each of his palace, thought this would protect him from the evil spirits, as he traveled unseen. Death In 211 BC a large shooting star is said to have fallen in the lower reaches of the Yellow River. On it was the voice communication inscribed The First Emperor go out die and his land will be divided (Liang p. 5).When he heard of this, he sent an imperial secretary to check into this prophecy. When no one would confess, everybody living close was put to death. On September 10, 210 BC (Julian Calendar),while on one of his tours to Eastern China the Emperor died. Reportedly, he died from ingesting mercury pills, made by his court scientists and doctors (Wright p. 49). Ironically Shihaungdi ingested the pills thinking they would make him immortal (Wright p. 49). Perhaps there maybe some truth to this system surrounding his death due to the detail high levels of mercury was found in his tomb.References Cavendish, M. (2006). China Condensed 5000 Years of chronicle & Culture. Liang, Y. (2007). The Leitimation of refreshing orders Case Studies in World History. Chinese University Press. Lindesay, W. (2008). The Terracotta Army of the First Emperor of China. Airphoto supranational Ltd. Man, J. (2008). The Terra Cotta Army. Da Capo Press, Cambridge, MA Wintle, J. (2002) China. Rough Guides Publishing. Wright, D. (2001). The History of China. Greenwood Publishing Group.