Unifying Qin

Name: Unifying Qin
ISBN: 9787506883023

姜若木China Book Publishing House · ChinaMay 2023

3.2

Word count: 126K words
Chapters: 71
ISBN: 9787506883023

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Summary

The main body of The Unification of Qin covers the period from 221 BC to 206 BC. For Chinese people today, the Qin dynasty seems very distant. A dynasty more than two thousand years ago feels as remote as a journey of a hundred and eight thousand li; it has dissolved into history, and who knows how many cycles of reincarnation have passed since! Yet when we see the Great Wall stretching across the mountains, the dynasty seems very close, as if it were only yesterday, and we think of Qin Shi Huang's feat of unifying China, and at the same time of his 'burning of books' and 'burying of scholars,' of his tyranny, and even of the poignant legend of Meng Jiangnü weeping at the Great Wall... This book will take you on a journey back through the Qin dynasty.

Editor's review

The Unification of Qin: Tracing the Rise and Fall of the Qin Dynasty Through the Mists of History is a work that deeply analyzes the history and culture of the Qin dynasty. With a rigorous historical approach, the author Jiang Ruomu breaks free from the constraints of traditional historiography, not only outlining the macro trajectory of Qin's rise, unification, and rapid fall but also working to uncover deeper structures such as institutional construction, social forms, and intellectual change. The book offers original and thoughtful views on key issues including the institutional innovations of Shang Yang's reforms, the practical dilemmas of Legalist thought, and the cultural integration of the unification process. Its narrative is neither a simple romance of emperors and generals nor a dry pile of historical sources; rather, it seeks a balance between grand narrative and micro-level detail, restoring a more three-dimensional and complex image of the Qin empire. For readers, the book's value is that it does not stop at 'what' but devotes itself to 'why'—why did the Qin system succeed and why did it perish so quickly? How did its legacy shape the two thousand years of China that followed? This sustained questioning turns the reading process into a speculative journey of dialogue with history. The writing is plain yet full of tension, the research solid yet not arduous, making the book suitable for readers who wish to go beyond popular works and gain an advanced understanding of Qin history.

Who it's for

A good fit for

History enthusiasts with a strong interest in Qin history who wish to go beyond literary works such as The Great Qin Empire
Students or researchers concerned with institutional change and the evolution of political civilization in ancient China
Readers who enjoy deep reflection and critical analysis while reading history
Readers curious about ancient Chinese Legalist thought and its real-world consequences in practice

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking only light, entertaining historical stories or palace intrigue and power struggles
Professional archaeologists expecting detailed archaeological findings or purely artifact-based research

Reading tips

Read alongside selected passages from primary sources such as the Basic Annals of Qin in the Records of the Grand Historian and The Book of Lord Shang to deepen understanding
While reading, pay attention to the author's framework for discussing the 'Zhou-Qin transition' as a historical turning point
Connect the book's analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Qin system with the institutional choices of the early Han and the governance of later dynasties

About the publisher

China Book Publishing House China · Founded in 1986

China Book Publishing House specializes in publishing cultural studies titles. Its 139 books in the database cover history, literary appreciation, culture, Eastern philosophy, military affairs, and world history. Representative titles include Chinese academic classics such as Xiang Da's Tang Dynasty Chang'an and the Civilization of the Western Regions, Lu Xun's A Brief History of Chinese Fiction, Liu Yizheng's History of Chinese Culture, and Wen Yiduo's New Interpretations of the Classics, as well as world history and military translations such as J. F. C. Fuller's The Decisive Battles of the Western World and Their Influence upon History. Its authors and translators range from Xiang Da, Lu Xun, Liu Yizheng, and Wen Yiduo to Wang Ziwu, Li Chenxi, and Xiaoxiao Bingren, giving the press a publishing profile that values both classic Chinese scholarship and contemporary translations of foreign studies.

版权信息
前言
第一章秦国的兴起
第二章秦穆公称霸春秋
第三章改革变法的商鞅
一、有志少年求明主
二、变法的前奏
三、第一次变法
四、第二次变法
五、作法自毙
第四章合纵连横
一、一对政敌的较量
二、张仪的骗局
三、苏秦的合纵
四、合纵的遗憾
五、秦在连横中称雄
第五章辩士与政客——范雎
一、辩士出生
二、秦王之国危如累卵
三、远交近攻
四、贬逐“四贵”
五、睚眦必报的政客
第六章商人政治家——吕不韦
一、商人世家
二、居“奇货”于邯郸城
三、掌握秦相大权
四、卓越的文治武功
五、兼百家之长的《吕氏春秋》
第七章嬴政独治天下
一、雍城加冠亲政
二、平定嫪毐之乱
三、清除吕不韦集团
四、独治天下的人性症结
第八章养士之风与客卿制度
一、吕不韦大开秦国养士之风
二、老鼠给李斯的启示
三、尊崇礼遇士客的制度
四、“逐客令”与《谏逐客书》
五、秦王政重新与士人携手
第九章帝王师——韩非
一、韩非生平
二、法家集大成之作——《韩非子》
三、君主专制帝国的政治学说
第十章从九鼎迁秦到天下归一
一、秦夺九鼎
二、兼并战争变为统一战争
三、荆轲刺秦王
四、六合一统
第十一章中华大一统帝国的诞生
一、“三代”国家形式的演变
二、春秋战国时国家形态的转型
三、大一统理念的由来
四、走向大一统的交通贸易网
五、走向大一统的民族融合
六、统一王朝的大一统举措
第十二章绝对皇权下的暴君
一、民本思想的凋敝
二、沉重的徭役
三、不堪忍受的赋税
四、焚书坑儒
五、残忍的苛法酷刑
第十三章秦帝国的崩溃
一、秦始皇之死
二、赵高密谋胡亥篡位
三、规模空前的陵墓
四、诛杀宗室大臣
五、李斯在勾心斗角中丧命
六、指鹿为马事件
七、子婴投降起义军
附录秦朝历代皇帝年表
丛书参考文献

FAQ

What are the main differences between this book and Sun Haohui's The Great Qin Empire?

The Great Qin Empire is a sweeping historical novel emphasizing literary dramatization and spiritual celebration; this book is a work of history focused on institutional analysis, intellectual exposition, and rational reflection based on historical facts, offering a more academic and multidimensional interpretation of history.

Is the book's evaluation of Qin Shi Huang more favorable or more critical?

The author takes a relatively balanced perspective, affirming the historical necessity of his unifying achievements and institutional innovations while also deeply analyzing the internal social tensions and ruling crises brought about by policies such as hasty governance, harsh punishments, and cultural suppression, avoiding simple stereotyped judgments.

Is this book suitable as an introductory read for understanding Qin history?

The book has some depth and touches on institutions and thought; readers who already have a basic outline of Qin history are advised to read it as an advanced choice after an introduction, in order to build a more systematic and profound historical understanding.

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About the author

姜若木 Author

Jiang Ruomu is an author who focuses on writing about Chinese history. Public information about him is limited, and reliable records of his life are not currently available. Seven of his works are held in the collection: Great Indeed Is Qianyuan, The Spring and Autumn of the Two Song Dynasties, Splendid Heavenly Tang, Reading the Elegance of Jin, The Stirring Three Kingdoms, Unifying the Qin Empire, and The Stormy Great Zhou. All are categorized as history books. Judging from their titles and subjects, his writing spans several historical periods, from the pre-Qin era to the Song and Yuan dynasties, and deals with dynastic change, political transitions, and the character of different eras. He tends to organize his books by dynasty or historical period, emphasizing readability and a clear overall thread, which makes them suitable for general readers who wish to gain a systematic understanding of Chinese history. In the absence of further background on the author, these works themselves are the main basis for understanding Jiang Ruomu's writing.