First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇)

Overview

First Emperor of Qin was the founder of the Qin imperial dynasty and first emperor of unified China.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Posthumous name	First Emperor	始皇帝	Shǐ Huángdì
Regnal name	First Emperor	秦皇帝
Alternate name	Qin emperor
Epithet	Qin Zheng	秦政

Life and dates

Death

BC 210 始皇三十七年冬
At Shaqiu 沙丘 · died 崩
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 33
BC 210 及秦皇帝崩
Unspecified
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 183
died 崩
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 35

Attested activity

BC 221 to BC 210 BC 221-210
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 32, passage 123
BC 259 to BC 210 First Emperor of Qin
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 48, passage 102
BC 243 to BC 240 剛成君蔡澤事燕三年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 188
BC 210 及秦皇帝崩
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 183
BC 221 to BC 210 及至始皇
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 14
BC 246 to BC 210 及至秦王
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 75, passage 24

Show 40 more source-backed claims

BC 210 始皇三十七年冬
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 33
BC 244 始皇三年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 5
BC 210 始皇之末
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 117, passage 7
BC 221 始皇二十六年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 169
BC 227 始皇二十年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 121
BC 236 始皇十一年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 119
BC 229 始皇十八年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 119
BC 221 始皇有天下
Directly stated · History of Liao 54, passage 187
BC 221 to BC 210 始皇本紀
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 143, passage 144
BC 221 to BC 210 昔秦皇帝任戰勝之威
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 99
BC 227 燕太子使荆轲劫始皇
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 126, passage 267
BC 241 to BC 240 甘羅說趙、張唐相燕
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passages 211, 214
BC 221 to BC 210 秦始皇
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 31, passage 106
BC 221 to BC 210 秦始皇
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passage 97
BC 210 秦始皇上會稽山
Directly stated · Book of Chen 27, passage 259
BC 221 to BC 210 秦始皇令蠃比封君
Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passage 58
BC 221 to BC 210 秦始皇作
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 57, passage 4
BC 221 to BC 210 秦始皇兼吞戰國
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 25, passage 155
BC 221 to BC 210 秦始皇在位
Strongly inferred · History of Song 2, passage 264
BC 221 秦始皇帝令倮比封君
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 99
BC 238 秦始皇帝立九年矣
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 168
BC 221 to BC 210 秦始皇徙黔首
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 122, passage 196
BC 221 to BC 210 秦始皇時
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 126, passage 93
BC 221 to BC 210 秦始皇碑
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 122, passage 189
BC 219 to BC 210 秦始皇遣方士徐福
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 267
BC 221 to BC 210 秦政
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 10, passage 70
BC 210 秦氏東游
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 2, passage 166
BC 221 to BC 210 秦滅六國
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 38
BC 230 秦滅韓
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 5
BC 247 to BC 210 秦王時至始皇帝
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 93, passage 108
BC 221 to BC 210 秦皇
Directly stated · History of Liao 58, passage 12
BC 221 to BC 210 秦皇之阿房
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passage 241
BC 221 to BC 210 秦皇帝
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 89; Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 88
BC 210 秦皇帝
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 88
BC 227 秦皇帝任中庶子蒙嘉之言，以信荊軻之說
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 227
BC 210 秦皇帝崩
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 35
BC 218 秦皇帝東游
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 11
BC 221 稱號曰皇帝
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 172
BC 221 to BC 210 至於始皇，遂并天下
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 111
BC 215 to BC 210 遂使蒙恬將兵攻胡
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 107, 110

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Lü Buwei (呂不韋)
biological father in the reported account 有身 · Claimed parentage
Uncertain · Book of Han 93, passage 108
Child of Presented Wife of Lü Buwei (呂不韋所獻妻)
bore 產
Directly stated · Book of Han 93, passage 108
Parent of Qin Ershi (秦二世)
prince 公子
younger son 少子
Sources vary in certainty · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passages 25, 36; Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 13
Parent of Fusu (扶蘇)
prince 公子
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 37
Parent of Prince Fusu (公子扶蘇)
son
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 13-14

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Emperor 皇帝
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 172
King of Qin 秦王
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 118
emperor of Qin 秦皇帝
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passages 13, 63
First Emperor of Qin 秦皇帝
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 227
BC 221 稱號曰皇帝
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 172
Emperor 皇帝
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 24

Places and affiliations

Qin 秦
Directly stated · Book of Han 74, passage 236
Qin 秦
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passages 13, 63; Book of Han 74, passage 250
Qin 秦
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passage 102; Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 88; Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 118; Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 227
Polity Qin · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 38
Polity Qin 秦 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Chen 27, passage 259; Book of Han 26, passage 111; Book of Han 75, passage 24; Book of Han 117, passage 7; Book of Later Han 96, passage 267; History of Liao 57, passage 4; History of Liao 58, passage 12; Draft History of Qing 143, passage 144; Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passage 241; Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 89; Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 5, 11; Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 188; Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 5; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 99, 115, 172, 187; Records of the Grand Historian 126, passage 93; Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 99
Polity Qin 秦 · Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · History of Song 2, passage 264

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Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 89
At Mount Kuaiji 會稽山 · Relation Visited
Directly stated · Book of Chen 27, passage 259
At Xijing, Fengxiang, Xiong, Yao and other prefectures 西京、鳳翔、雄、耀等州 · Relation Tomb
Directly stated · History of Song 2, passage 264

Learning and skills

Belief water virtue 水德 · Relation Claimed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 39

Works and attributed material

Basic Annals of the First Emperor 始皇本紀
Relation Subject of
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 143, passage 144
Action · Actor · silent subject continuing Qin ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passages 38-40
Narrative · Subject
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passages 112-114
Speech · Speaker · Topic acceptance of Wang Jian's plan · Mode direct-quotation Speaker First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 142
Speech · Speaker · Topic apology and request that Wang Jian return to command · Mode direct-quotation Speaker First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 137-138
Speech · Speaker · Topic insistence that Wang Jian cease refusing · Mode direct-quotation Speaker First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 140

Show 3 more source-backed claims

Speech · Speaker · Topic preference for Li Xin's smaller force estimate · Mode direct-quotation Speaker First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 130-131
Speech · Speaker · Topic question about Wang Jian's concern for poverty · Mode direct-quotation Speaker First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 145
Speech · Speaker · Topic question to Li Xin about troop requirements · Mode direct-quotation Speaker First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 127

Events and relationships

Adopted tenth month beginning and black color
Calendrical · Reformer
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 39
Annexed all under heaven
Military · Conqueror
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 111
Annexed warring states
Military · Conqueror
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 24
Ascended Mount Kuaiji erected inscription
BC 210 秦始皇上會稽山 · Ritual · Actor · At Mount Kuaiji 會稽山
Directly stated · Book of Chen 27, passage 259
Attacked
Assassination · Target · With Jing Ke (荆轲)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 126, passage 267
Built terrace for
Ritual · Ruler · With Widow Qing (清) · Item Terrace of Woman Huai Qing 女懷清台
Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passage 61

Show 43 more source-backed claims

Completed the unification of the realm
BC 221 始皇二十六年 · Person centered · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 169
Conscripted garrisons and grain transport to northern Yellow River
BC 215 to BC 210 遂使蒙恬將兵攻胡 · Military · Sovereign
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 109-110, 113
Destroyed feudal walls
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 24
Destroyed six states
Military · Conqueror
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 38
Dispatched Gan Luo to Zhao
BC 241 to BC 240 甘羅說趙、張唐相燕 · Diplomatic · Sovereign · With Gan Luo (甘羅)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 214
Dispatched Meng Tian against the Hu
BC 215 to BC 210 遂使蒙恬將兵攻胡 · Military · Sovereign · With Meng Tian (蒙恬)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 107
Dispatched northern campaign
Military · Principal · With Meng Tian (蒙恬)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 177
Dispatched southern campaign
Military · Principal · With Tu Sui (屠睢)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 178
Fashioned transmission seal
Craft · Maker
Directly stated · History of Liao 57, passage 4
Furious empire wide search for the assassins
Legal · Authority
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 12
Held a banquet while rain soaked the step guards
Ritual · Host
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 126, passage 93
Honored Luo and Widow Qing
Court · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passages 99, 102
Honored
Political · Ruler · With Luo (蠃)
Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passage 58
Melted weapons into bells
Military · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 25
Moved 30000 households below Langye Terrace
Administrative · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 122, passage 196
Ordered the step guards to take turns, half on duty and half resting
Administrative · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 126, passage 102
Qin destroyed Han
Military · Conqueror
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 5
Renamed Yellow River Virtue Water
Ritual · Actor
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 39
Returned Yan crown prince
BC 241 to BC 240 甘羅說趙、張唐相燕 · Diplomatic · Sovereign · With Crown Prince Dan (太子丹)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 226
Sent Cai Ze to Yan
BC 243 to BC 240 剛成君蔡澤事燕三年 · Diplomatic · Sovereign · With Cai Ze (蔡澤) · At Yan 燕
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 188
Sent garrison to yue
Military · Principal · With Zhao Tuo (趙佗)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 180
Sent meng tian north
Military · Ruler · With Meng Tian (蒙恬)
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 29
Sent to sea
BC 219 to BC 210 秦始皇遣方士徐福 · Diplomatic · Dispatcher · With Xu Fu (徐福) · Mode tradition
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 267
Sent tu sui against yue
Military · Ruler · With Tu Sui (屠睢)
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 30
Sent zhao tuo to garrison yue
Military · Ruler · With Zhao Tuo (趙佗)
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 32
Tomb robbed then reburied and sacrificed
AD 970 甲辰 · Ritual · Deceased · Posthumous true
Dated from the passage context · History of Song 2, passage 264
Took more than half in tax and drafted left register households
Fiscal · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 111
Traveled east and was ambushed at Bolangsha
Travel · Principal · At Bolangsha 博浪沙
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 11
Trusted inner circle and nearly perished
BC 227 秦信左右而殺 · Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 229
Trusted then attacked
BC 227 秦皇帝任中庶子蒙嘉之言，以信荊軻之說 · Assassination attempt · Target · With Jing Ke (荆轲) · Participants Person Id: Meng Jia (蒙嘉) · Role: Intermediary recommender, Person Id: Jing Ke (荆轲) · Role: Attacker · Outcome Hidden dagger sprang out
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 227
Unified the realm, conquered the Hundred Yue, and imposed defenses and disarmament
Imperial conquest · Emperor
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 177-185
Unified the Warring States, abolished ritual offices, and governed through penal administration
Imperial governance · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passages 155-156
Unified warring states
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 172
United the realm
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · History of Liao 54, passage 187
United the Warring States
BC 221 to BC 210 昔秦皇帝任戰勝之威 · Military · Conqueror
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 99
Wished to attack Xiongnu and rejected Li Si
BC 215 李斯諫曰 · Military · Planner · With Li Si (李斯)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 100, 107
Relation Superior of · Person Zhao Tuo (趙佗)
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 32
Relation Ruler of · Person Li Si (李斯)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 100
Relation Commander of · Person Meng Tian (蒙恬)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 107
Relation Superior of · Person Meng Tian (蒙恬)
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 29
Relation Superior of · Person Tu Sui (屠睢)
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 30
Relation Patron of · Person Xu Fu (徐福)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 267
Relation Superior of · Person Lu (祿)
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 30

Assessments and attributes

Assessment achievements rivaled the Three Dynasties, then exhausted the heartland · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Zhufu Yan (主父偃)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 99, 115
Assessment did not grasp true calendrical measures · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 40
Assessment exhausted realm's resources yet desires unsatisfied; realm rebelled · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passages 113-114
Assessment heard only praise; ambitions swelled beyond bounds · Mode quoted-source Speaker Yan An (嚴安)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 176
Assessment line extinguished through exhausting warfare · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Yan An (嚴安)
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 38
BC 221 to BC 210 秦始皇作
Item imperial jade seal of dynastic transmission 傳國寶 · Relation Fashioned
Directly stated · History of Liao 57, passage 4

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Item Epang Palace 阿房 · Relation Built
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passage 241
Item stele of Qin Shi Huang 秦始皇碑 · Relation Associated with · At Ganyu sea 贛榆
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 122, passage 189

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Chen 27, passage 259; Book of Han 26, passage 111; Book of Later Han 96, passage 267; Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passage 241; Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 227; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 172, 183
Value historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 99

References in the histories

Search passages

History

107 passages

Book of Chen, Chapter 27Volume 27: Jiang Zong; Yao Cha · 1 passage

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按此用秦始皇上會稽山，立石刻頌秦德事，「在」當作「石」，形近而訛。 This refers to the First Emperor's ascent of Mount Kuaiji and a stone inscription praising Qin; "at" should be "stone," a form-similar error.

Book of Han, Chapter 1Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 1 · 3 passages

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高祖常繇咸陽，縱觀秦皇帝，喟然大息，曰：「嗟乎，大丈夫當如此矣！」 Emperor Gaozu often passed through Xianyang and gazed upon the Qin emperor. He would sigh deeply and say: "Ah, this is how a true man should live!"

秦始皇帝嘗曰「東南有天子氣」，於是東游以猒當之。 Qin Shihuang once said: "There is imperial aura in the southeast." So he traveled east to suppress it.

懷王約入秦無暴掠，羽燒秦宮室，掘始皇帝冢，收私其財，罪四也。 King Huai's agreement was that whoever entered Qin should commit no violence or plunder, yet Xiang Yu burned the Qin palaces, dug up the First Emperor's tomb, and took the wealth for himself. This is the fourth crime.

Book of Han, Chapter 2Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 2 · 2 passages

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十二月，詔曰：「秦皇帝、楚隱王、魏安釐王、齊愍王、趙悼襄王皆絕亡後。 In the twelfth month, the edict said: "The First Emperor of Qin, King Yin of Chu, King Anli of Wei, King Min of Qi, and King Daoxiang of Zhao all have lineages without descendants.

其與秦始皇帝守冢二十家，楚、魏、齊各十家，趙及魏公子亡忌各五家，令視其冢，復亡與它事。」 Assign twenty households to the tomb of the First Emperor of Qin, ten households each to Chu, Wei, and Qi, and five households each to Zhao and Prince Wuji of Wei, to oversee their tombs and be exempt from other service."

Book of Han, Chapter 25Volume 23: Treatise on Punishment and Law · 1 passage

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至於秦始皇，兼吞戰國，遂毀先王之法，滅禮誼之官，專任刑罰，躬操文墨，晝斷獄，夜理書，自程決事，日縣石之一。 After unification, Qin centralized legal bureaucracy under the emperor, suppressing ritual institutions and ruling through document-intensive penal administration.

Book of Han, Chapter 26Volume 24a: Treatise on Trade 1 · 1 passage

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至於始皇，遂并天下，內興功作，外攘夷狄，收泰半之賦，發閭左之戍。 Under the First Emperor, who annexed the realm, Qin paired massive extraction and labor mobilization with frontier militarization and megaprojects.

Book of Han, Chapter 47Volume 38: The Five Sons of Emperor Gao · 1 passage

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勃父以善鼓琴見秦皇帝。 Wei Bo's father had won an audience with the First Emperor of Qin by his skill on the zither.

Book of Han, Chapter 48Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen · 1 passage

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上曰：「吾聞李斯相秦皇帝，有善歸主，有惡自予。 The Sovereign said, “They say Li Si, as Qin’s chancellor, credited the throne with every success and himself with every failure;

Book of Han, Chapter 74Volume 64a: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 1 · 3 passages

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昔秦始皇親出鼎於彭城而不能得，天祚有德而寶鼎自出，此天之所以與漢，乃漢寶，非周寶也。」 The First Emperor hunted that cauldron at Pengcheng in vain; Heaven gives the bronze only to the throne that owns true virtue. This vessel belongs to Han, not to the long-dead house of Zhou."

昔秦皇帝任戰勝之威，蠶食天下，併吞戰國，海內為一，功齊三代。 The First Emperor rode his victories until he swallowed every warring state and rivaled the three sage dynasties in fame.

秦皇帝不聽，遂使蒙恬將兵而攻胡，卻地千里，以河為境。 The emperor refused to hear; he sent Meng Tian north, drove the line a thousand li, and planted the frontier on the Yellow River.

Book of Han, Chapter 75Volume 64b: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 2 · 4 passages

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及至秦王，蠶食天下，并吞戰國，稱號皇帝，一海內之政，壞諸侯之城。 Then came the First Emperor of Qin, who gnawed away the states one by one, swallowed the warring kingdoms, took the title of emperor, centralized all authority, and razed the walls of the old feudatories.

元元黎民得免於戰國，逢明天子，人人自以為更生。 The common people, delivered at last from endless war, believed they had met an enlightened sovereign; every household felt as though it had been given a new life.

及秦皇帝崩，天下大畔。 When the First Emperor died, the empire erupted in revolt.

秦貴為天子，富有天下，滅世絕祀，窮兵之禍也。 Though Qin had worn the imperial crown and owned the wealth of the world, its line was extinguished and its ancestral rites cut short—this is what endless war buys a dynasty.

Book of Han, Chapter 93Volume 82: Wang Shang, Shi Dan and Fu Xi · 1 passage

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臣聞秦丞相呂不韋見王無子，意欲有秦國，即求好女以爲妻，陰知其有身而獻之王，產始皇帝。 I have heard that Qin's chancellor Lü Buwei, seeing that the king had no heir, plotted to seize Qin: he found a beautiful woman, knew she was pregnant, and presented her to the king, and she bore the First Emperor.

Book of Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Gu Yong and Du Ye · 1 passage

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今陛下輕奪民財，不愛民力，聽邪臣之計，去高敞初陵，捐十年功緒，改作昌陵，反天地之性，因下為高，積土為山，發徒起邑，並治宮館，大興繇役，重增賦斂，征發如雨，役百乾溪，費疑驪山，靡敝天下，五年不成而後反故。 You heed evil counsel, abandon the first mausoleum site, waste a decade of labor to raise Changling against nature—piling hills, dragging conscripts from town to town, throwing up palaces, doubling taxes, drafting men like rain until the burden recalls King Chu's Qianxi or the First Emperor's Lishan—exhausting the empire, and after five fruitless years you fell back to the old plan.

Book of Han, Chapter 103Volume 91: Usurers · 2 passages

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秦始皇令蠃比封君，以時與列臣朝請。 The First Emperor ranked Luo with titled nobles and summoned him to court on the same roster as great officials.

始皇以為貞婦而客之，為築女懷清台。 The First Emperor honored her virtue, received her as an honored guest, and raised the Nü Huai Qing terrace in her name.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 1 passage

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始皇之末，班壹避墬於樓煩，致馬牛羊數千群。 Near the close of the Qin First Emperor's reign, Ban Yi escaped unrest by settling in Loufan, where he built up herds counted in the thousands.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 31Volume 28a: Biographies of Huan Tan; Feng Yan · 1 passage

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張良以五世相韓，椎秦始皇博浪之中，勇冠乎賁、育，名高乎太山。 Zhang Liang, whose forebears had served the state of Han for five generations as ministers, struck at the First Emperor in the surf at Bolang—courage beyond warriors Ben and Yu, fame higher than Taishan.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 32Volume 28b: Biography of Feng Yan · 1 passage

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誚始皇之跋扈兮，投李斯於四裔； I deride the First Emperor's tyranny and banish Li Si to the farthest frontier;

Book of Later Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Treatise on the Dongyi · 1 passage

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傳言秦始皇遣方士徐福將童男女數千人入海，求蓬莱神仙不得，徐福畏誅不敢還，遂止此洲，世世相承，有數萬家。 Tradition says Qin Shi Huang sent the fangshi Xu Fu with several thousand boys and girls to sea in search of the Penglai immortals; failing, Xu Fu feared execution, dared not return, and settled on this island, where successive generations came to number tens of thousands of households.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 110Volume 99: Rituals and Worship Part Three · 1 passage

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自秦始皇、孝武帝封泰山，本由好仙、信方士之言，造为石检印封之事也。 Qin Shihuang and Han Wudi climbed Tai out of quest for immortals and occultists’ tales, hence stone caskets and sealed credentials.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 122Volume 111: Commanderies and States Part Three · 2 passages

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〖赣榆〗本属琅邪，建初五年复。左傳「齊伐莒，莒子奔紀鄣」，杜預曰縣東北有紀城。地道記曰：「海中去岸百五十歩，有秦始皇碑，長一丈八尺，廣五尺，厚八尺三寸；一行十二字。潮水至加其上三丈，去則三尺見也。」 Ganyu had belonged to Langye until it was restored in Jianchu 5. The Zuo Tradition says, “Qi attacked Ju, and the Viscount of Ju fled to Jizhang,” which Du Yu identifies with Ji city northeast of the county. The Didiao ji says, “In the sea, one hundred fifty paces from the shore, there is a stele of Qin Shi Huang, one zhang eight chi long, five chi wide, and eight chi three cun thick; each line has twelve characters. When the tide comes in, it rises three zhang above it; when the tide withdraws, three chi of it can be seen.”

〖琅邪〗山海經雲有琅邪臺，在勃海閒，琅邪之東。郭璞曰：「琅邪臨海邊，有山嶕嶢特起，狀如髙臺。此卽琅邪臺。」齊景公曰：「吾循海而南，放乎琅邪。」越絶曰：「句踐徙琅邪，起觀臺，臺周七里，以望東海。」史記曰秦始皇徙黔首三萬戸琅邪臺下。傳有勞山。 For Langye, the Shanhai jing says that Langye Terrace stood between the Bohai and east of Langye. Guo Pu says, “Langye faces the seashore, where a mountain rises steep and high like a tall terrace. This is Langye Terrace.” Duke Jing of Qi said, “I follow the sea south and wander at Langye.” The Yuejue says, “Goujian moved to Langye and built a viewing terrace; the terrace was seven li around, from which he looked out over the Eastern Sea.” The Shiji adds that Qin Shi Huang moved thirty thousand households of commoners below Langye Terrace; tradition also notes Mount Lao.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 126Volume 115: Officials Part Two · 1 passage

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昔燕太子使荆轲劫始皇，变起两楹之间，其后谒者持匕首刺腋，高祖偃武行文，故易之以板。」 Formerly the crown prince of Yan sent Jing Ke to seize the First Emperor; the crisis arose between the two pillars, and afterward receptionists carried daggers at the armpit. Gaozu laid aside arms and promoted culture, and therefore replaced them with tablets."

History of Liao, Chapter 54Volume 54 Treatises 24: Music · 1 passage

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始皇有天下，鄭、衛、秦、燕、趙、楚之聲叠進，而雅聲亡矣。 When the First Emperor united the realm, the sounds of Zheng, Wei, Qin, Yan, Zhao, and Chu crowded in one after another, and ritual music was lost.

History of Liao, Chapter 57Volume 57 Treatises 27: Ceremonial Guards 3 · 1 passage

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傳國寶，秦始皇作，用藍玉，螭紐，六面，其正面文「受命於天，既壽永昌」，魚鳥篆，子嬰以上漢高祖。 The imperial jade seal of dynastic transmission was fashioned by the First Emperor of Qin from blue jade, with a chilong knob and six faces. On its front was inscribed, "Having received the mandate from Heaven, may you enjoy long life and enduring prosperity," in fish-and-bird seal script. Ziying of Qin surrendered it to Emperor Gaozu of Han.

History of Liao, Chapter 58Volume 58 Treatises 28: Ceremonial Guards 4 · 1 passage

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太宗兼制中國，秦皇、漢武之儀文日至，後嗣因之。 Emperor Taizong also ruled China, and each day brought more of the ceremonial protocol of the First Emperor of Qin and Emperor Wu of Han; his successors followed suit.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 2Volume 2 Annals 2: Emperor Gao of Southern Qi 2 · 1 passage

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漢高神武駿聖，觀秦氏東游，蓋是雅多大言，非始自知天命； Han Gaozu was fierce and far-seeing; when he saw the First Emperor of Qin parade east, it was mostly swaggering talk—he did not yet know his mandate for himself;

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 143Volume 143 Treatises 118: Penal Law 2 · 1 passage

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戮屍一事，惟秦時成蟜軍反，其軍吏皆斬戮屍，見於始皇本紀。 Corpse dismemberment appears only once in early records: when Prince Cheng Jiao's army rebelled in Qin, his officers were decapitated and their corpses dismembered, as recorded in the First Emperor's annals.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 61Volume 61: Book of Wu 16: Biographies of Pan Jun and Lu Kai · 1 passage

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陛下不务脩德，而务筑宫室，若德之不脩，行之不贵，虽殷辛之瑶台，秦皇之阿房，何止而不丧身覆国，宗庙作墟乎？ You labor at brick and mortar instead of virtue; without moral rule, not even King Zhou's jade towers or Qin Shihuang's Epang could save you from death, ruin, and a temple in ashes.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 48House of Chen She · 8 passages

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陳涉少時，嘗與人傭耕，輟耕之壟上，悵恨久之，曰：「茍富貴，無相忘。」 In his youth, Chen She once worked as a hired laborer plowing fields alongside others. He stopped his plowing and climbed to the top of a ridge, where he stood brooding for a long while before saying, 'If any of us should ever become wealthy and noble, let us not forget one another.'

扶蘇以數諫故，上使外將兵。 Because Fusu remonstrated with his father on many occasions, the emperor sent him away to command troops on the frontier.

陳王徵國之豪傑與計，以上蔡人房君蔡賜為上柱國。 The King of Chen summoned the outstanding men of the realm to consult on strategy and appointed Cai Ci, Lord of Fang from Shangcai, as Supreme Pillar of State.

趙王以為然，因不西兵，而遣故上谷卒史韓廣將兵北徇燕地。 The King of Zhao agreed. Rather than sending his forces west, he dispatched Han Guang, formerly a minor official in Shanggu, to lead an army north and subdue the Yan territories.

陳王使使賜田臧楚令尹印，使為上將。 The King of Chen sent an envoy to bestow upon Tian Zang the seal of the Chu Prime Minister and appointed him Supreme General.

及至始皇，奮六世之餘烈，振長策而御宇內，吞二周而亡諸侯，履至尊而制六合，執敲樸以鞭笞天下，威振四海。 Then came the First Emperor. He took up the accumulated might of six generations, cracked his long whip and drove the whole world before him. He swallowed the Two Zhous and extinguished the feudal lords, ascended to the supreme position and imposed his will upon all within the six directions, wielding his rod to flog the empire into submission. His power shook the four seas.

天下已定，始皇之心，自以為關中之固，金城千里，子孫帝王萬世之業也。 With the empire settled, the First Emperor believed in his heart that the stronghold within the passes, that impregnable fortress stretching a thousand li, would be the foundation of an imperial dynasty lasting ten thousand generations.

始皇既沒，餘威振於殊俗。 After the First Emperor died, his lingering authority still overawed distant peoples.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 52House of Prince Daohui of Qi · 1 passage

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魏勃父以善鼓琴見秦皇帝。 Wei Bo's father had once been granted an audience with the First Emperor of Qin on account of his skill at playing the zither.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 53House of Chancellor Xiao · 1 passage

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上曰：「吾聞李斯相秦皇帝，有善歸主，有惡自與。 The emperor replied, 'I have heard that when Li Si served as chancellor under the First Emperor of Qin, he credited every good deed to his ruler and took every failing upon himself.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 55House of Marquis of Liu · 3 passages

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韓破，良家僮三百人，弟死不葬，悉以家財求客刺秦王，為韓報仇，以大父、父五世相韓故。 When Han fell, Liang's household still numbered three hundred servants. Though his younger brother died, he did not pause even to arrange a burial, instead spending the entire family fortune to recruit an assassin to strike down the King of Qin—all to avenge Han, for his grandfather and father had served the state as chancellors for five generations.

秦皇帝東游，良與客狙擊秦皇帝博浪沙中，誤中副車。 When the First Emperor of Qin traveled east, Liang and his hired strongman ambushed him at Bolangsha, but struck the wrong carriage—the escort vehicle instead.

秦皇帝大怒，大索天下，求賊甚急，為張良故也。 The First Emperor was furious and ordered a great search throughout the empire, hunting the would-be assassins with utmost urgency—all on account of Zhang Liang.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 71Biographies of Shu Lizi and Gan Mao · 3 passages

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秦始皇帝使剛成君蔡澤於燕，三年而燕王喜使太子丹入質於秦。 Qin Shi Huang sent Gangcheng Jun Cai Ze to Yan. After three years, King Xi of Yan sent Crown Prince Dan as hostage to Qin.

文信侯乃入言之於始皇曰：「昔甘茂之孫甘羅，年少耳，然名家之子孫，諸侯皆聞之。 Wenxin Hou then entered and spoke to Qin Shi Huang: 'Gan Mao's grandson Gan Luo is young indeed, yet he is the descendant of a famous family, and all the feudal lords have heard of him.

始皇召見，使甘羅於趙。 Qin Shi Huang summoned him for an audience and dispatched Gan Luo to Zhao.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 73Biographies of Bai Qi and Wang Jian · 20 passages

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少而好兵，事秦始皇。 From youth, he delighted in military matters and served Qin Shihuang.

始皇十一年，翦將攻趙閼與，破之，拔九城，十八年，翦將攻趙。 In the eleventh year of Shihuang, Jian commanded the attack on Zhao's Yanyu and broke it, conquering nine cities. In the eighteenth year, Jian commanded the attack on Zhao.

明年，燕使荊軻為賊於秦，秦王使王翦攻燕。 The following year, Yan sent Jing Ke to assassinate Qin. The King of Qin sent Wang Jian to attack Yan.

秦始皇既滅三晉，走燕王，而數破荊師。 Qin Shihuang had already extinguished the Three Jin, driven away the King of Yan, and repeatedly defeated Chu forces.

秦將李信者，年少壯勇，嘗以兵數千逐燕太子丹至於衍水中，卒破得丹，始皇以為賢勇。 Among Qin's generals was Li Xin, young and vigorous. He once with several thousand soldiers pursued Yan's crown prince Dan to the middle of Yan River, finally breaking through and capturing Dan. Shihuang considered him worthy and brave.

於是始皇問李信：「吾欲攻取荊，於將軍度用幾何人而足？」 Shihuang then asked Li Xin: 'I wish to attack and conquer Chu. In your estimation, General, how many men will suffice?'

始皇問王翦，王翦曰：「非六十萬人不可。」 Shihuang asked Wang Jian. Wang Jian replied: 'Without six hundred thousand men it cannot be accomplished.'

始皇曰：「王將軍老矣，何怯也！ Shihuang said: 'General Wang has grown old. Why so timid?

始皇聞之，大怒，自馳如頻陽，見謝王翦曰：「寡人以不用將軍計，李信果辱秦軍。 Shihuang heard of it and grew greatly angry. He raced personally to Pinyang and apologized to Wang Jian: 'I did not use your plan. Li Xin has indeed disgraced our Qin forces.

王翦謝曰：「老臣罷病悖亂，唯大王更擇賢將。」 Wang Jian declined, saying: 'Old minister is exhausted and ill, addled in mind. I ask only that Your Majesty select another worthy general.'

始皇謝曰：「已矣，將軍勿復言！」 Shihuang apologized, saying: 'Enough. General, speak no more!'

王翦曰：「大王必不得已用臣，非六十萬人不可。」 Wang Jian said: 'If Your Majesty must needs employ me, six hundred thousand men are indispensable.'

始皇曰：「為聽將軍計耳。」 Shihuang said: 'I will heed your counsel.'

於是王翦將兵六十萬人，始皇自送至灞上。 Wang Jian led 600,000 soldiers. Shihuang personally saw him off to Bashang.

始皇曰：「將軍行矣，何憂貧乎？」 Shihuang said: 'General is departing. Why concern yourself with poverty?'

王翦曰：「為大王將，有功終不得封侯，故及大王之向臣，臣亦及時以請園池為子孫業耳。」 Wang Jian said: 'Serving as Your Majesty's general, even with merit I will never be enfeoffed as marquess. So while Your Majesty looks favorably upon me, I also take this timely opportunity to request gardens and ponds as property for my descendants.'

始皇大笑。 Shihuang burst into great laughter.

夫秦王怚而不信人。 The King of Qin is mistrustful and does not trust others.

今空秦國甲士而專委於我，我不多請田宅為子孫業以自堅，顧令秦王坐而疑我邪？」 Now he empties Qin's armored soldiers and entrusts them exclusively to me. If I don't request numerous fields and residences as property for my descendants to fortify myself, won't the King of Qin sit idly by and suspect me?'

秦始皇二十六年，盡并天下，王氏、蒙氏功為多，名施於後世。 In the twenty-sixth year of Qin Shihuang, they completely unified the realm. The Wang and Meng clans had the greatest merit, their renown extending to posterity.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 78Biography of Lord Chunshen · 1 passage

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是歲也，秦始皇帝立九年矣。 In this year, Qin Shihuang had reigned for nine years.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 83Biographies of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang · 1 passage

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故秦皇帝任中庶子蒙嘉之言，以信荊軻之說，而匕首竊發； Thus, the First Emperor of Qin relied on the words of his palace attendant Meng Jia, and on that basis trusted the claims of Jing Ke—only to have the hidden dagger spring out.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 88Biography of Meng Tian · 23 passages

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始皇三年，蒙驁攻韓，取十三城。 In the third year of the First Emperor's reign, Meng Ao attacked Han and captured thirteen cities.

始皇七年，蒙驁卒。 In the seventh year of the First Emperor's reign, Meng Ao died.

始皇二十三年，蒙武為秦裨將軍，與王翦攻楚，大破之，殺項燕。 In the twenty-third year of the First Emperor's reign, Meng Wu served as a deputy general of Qin and joined Wang Jian in an attack on the state of Chu, inflicting a devastating defeat and killing the Chu general Xiang Yan.

始皇二十六年，蒙恬因家世得為秦將，攻齊，大破之，拜為內史。 In the twenty-sixth year of the First Emperor's reign, Meng Tian secured a generalship in Qin on the strength of his family's reputation, led the campaign against the state of Qi, crushed its forces, and was appointed Interior Minister.

秦已并天下，乃使蒙恬將三十萬眾北逐戎狄，收河南。 After Qin had unified the realm, the Emperor dispatched Meng Tian at the head of three hundred thousand troops to drive the Rong and Di northward and reclaim the lands south of the Yellow River.

始皇甚尊寵蒙氏，信任賢之。 The First Emperor held the Meng clan in the highest esteem, trusting them implicitly and regarding them as worthy.

而親近蒙毅，位至上卿，出則參乘，入則御前。 He was particularly close to Meng Yi, who rose to the rank of High Minister. When the Emperor traveled abroad, Yi rode beside him in the imperial chariot; at court, he attended at the Emperor's side.

恬任外事而毅常為內謀，名為忠信，故雖諸將相莫敢與之爭焉。 Tian oversaw military affairs abroad while Yi served as the Emperor's confidential adviser at court. The brothers were renowned for their loyalty, and not a single general or minister dared challenge their position.

秦王聞高彊力，通於獄法，舉以為中車府令。 When the King of Qin learned of Gao's physical prowess and his mastery of the legal codes, he appointed him Commander of the Central Chariot Bureau.

高有大罪，秦王令蒙毅法治之。 When Gao committed a serious offense, the King of Qin ordered Meng Yi to try him according to the law.

帝以高之敦於事也，赦之，復其官爵。 But the Emperor, appreciating Gao's diligence in his duties, pardoned him and restored his rank and office.

始皇欲游天下，道九原，直抵甘泉，乃使蒙恬通道，自九原抵甘泉，塹山堙谷，千八百里。 The First Emperor wished to tour his realm by way of Jiuyuan, proceeding directly to the Ganquan Palace. He therefore ordered Meng Tian to build a highway from Jiuyuan to Ganquan, cutting through mountains and filling in valleys over a distance of eighteen hundred li.

始皇三十七年冬，行出游會稽，并海上，北走瑯邪。 In the winter of the thirty-seventh year of his reign, the First Emperor set out on a tour to Kuaiji, traveled northward along the coast, and made for Langye.

道病，使蒙毅還禱山川，未反。 Along the way the Emperor fell ill and dispatched Meng Yi to offer prayers at the sacred mountains and rivers. Yi had not yet returned.

始皇至沙丘崩，祕之，群臣莫知。 When the First Emperor reached Shaqiu, he died. His death was kept secret, and none of the ministers were informed.

毅還至，趙高因為胡亥忠計，欲以滅蒙氏，乃言曰：「臣聞先帝欲舉賢立太子久矣，而毅諫曰『不可』。 When Meng Yi returned from his mission, Zhao Gao, under the pretense of offering loyal counsel to Hu Hai while seeking to destroy the Meng clan, addressed the new Emperor: "Your servant has heard that the late Emperor long wished to choose a worthy heir and install a Crown Prince, but Yi remonstrated against it, saying, 'It must not be done.'

而遣御史曲宮乘傳之代，令蒙毅曰：「先主欲立太子而卿難之。 Instead, he dispatched the Imperial Secretary Qu Gong by relay post to Dai with a message for Meng Yi: "The late sovereign wished to install a Crown Prince, but you opposed it.

毅對曰：「以臣不能得先主之意，則臣少宦，順幸沒世。 Meng Yi replied: "If you claim that your servant failed to discern the late sovereign's intentions, consider that I entered the imperial service as a young man and was honored to serve faithfully throughout his entire reign.

以臣不知太子之能，則太子獨從，周旋天下，去諸公子絕遠，臣無所疑矣。 If you claim your servant failed to recognize the Crown Prince's abilities, consider that the Crown Prince alone accompanied the late sovereign on his tours throughout the realm and stood far above all the other princes. Your servant had no cause for doubt.

夫先主之舉用太子，數年之積也，臣乃何言之敢諫，何慮之敢謀！ The late sovereign's choice of heir was the fruit of years of deliberation. What words would your servant have dared speak in remonstrance? What counsel would he have presumed to offer?

非敢飾辭以避死也，為羞累先主之名，願大夫為慮焉，使臣得死情實。 I do not embellish my words to escape death, for I would be ashamed to tarnish the late sovereign's name. I only ask that you, sir, consider the matter carefully, so that your servant may die with the truth made clear.

今臣將兵三十餘萬，身雖囚系，其勢足以倍畔，然自知必死而守義者，不敢辱先人之教，以不忘先主也。 I now command more than three hundred thousand soldiers. Though I am imprisoned, my forces are more than sufficient to rebel. Yet I know I must die, and I choose to hold fast to righteousness. I would not dare disgrace the teachings of my forefathers, nor forget the trust the late sovereign placed in me.

夫秦之初滅諸侯，天下之心未定，痍傷者未瘳，而恬為名將，不以此時彊諫，振百姓之急，養老存孤，務修眾庶之和，而阿意興功，此其兄弟遇誅，不亦宜乎！ When Qin first conquered the feudal lords, the hearts of the people were not yet at ease, and the wounds of war had not yet healed. Meng Tian was a renowned general, yet he did not use his position to remonstrate forcefully with the Emperor, to relieve the people's suffering, to care for the aged, or to shelter the orphaned. He did not strive to restore harmony among the common people. Instead, he catered to the Emperor's ambitions and pursued grand construction projects. That both brothers met their deaths by execution — was this not fitting!

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 112Biographies of the Marquis of Pingjin and Zhufu · 5 passages

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昔秦皇帝任戰勝之威，蠶食天下，并吞戰國，海內為一，功齊三代。 The First Emperor of Qin rode the momentum of military conquest, devouring the realm like a silkworm through a leaf, swallowing up the Warring States, and uniting all within the seas. His achievements rivaled those of the Three Dynasties.

秦皇帝不聽，遂使蒙恬將兵攻胡，辟地千里，以河為境。 The First Emperor would not listen. He dispatched Meng Tian to lead an army against the northern tribes, carving out a thousand li of territory and establishing the Yellow River as the frontier.

及至秦王，蠶食天下，并吞戰國，稱號曰皇帝，主海內之政，壞諸侯之城，銷其兵，鑄以為鐘虡，示不復用。 Then came the King of Qin, who devoured the realm like a silkworm through a leaf, swallowed up the Warring States, assumed the title of Emperor, and took command of all governance within the seas. He tore down the walls of the feudal lords, melted their weapons, and cast them into bells and bell stands as a sign they would never be needed again.

元元黎民得免於戰國，逢明天子，人人自以為更生。 The common people were delivered from the chaos of the Warring States and met what they believed to be an illustrious ruler. Every person felt as though they had been granted a new life.

及秦皇帝崩，天下大叛。 When the First Emperor died, the entire empire erupted in revolt.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 126Biographies of Jesters · 2 passages

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善為笑言，然合於大道，秦始皇時，置酒而天雨，陛楯者皆沾寒。 He was a master of witty remarks, yet his jests always struck at the greater truth. During the reign of the First Emperor, a banquet was being held when rain began to fall, and the guards standing watch on the palace steps were soaked through and shivering.

於是始皇使陛楯者得半相代。 At this, the First Emperor ordered that the guards be allowed to take turns, half on duty and half resting.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 129Biographies of Money-Makers · 2 passages

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秦始皇帝令倮比封君，以時與列臣朝請。 The First Emperor of Qin decreed that Luo be accorded the status of an enfeoffed lord, attending court audiences alongside the ranked ministers at the proper times.

秦皇帝以為貞婦而客之，為筑女懷清臺。 The First Emperor deemed her a virtuous woman and received her as a guest of honor, building the Terrace of Lady Huaiqing in her name.

History of Song, Chapter 2Volume 2 Annals 2: Taizu 2 · 1 passage

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甲辰，詔︰西京、鳳翔、雄、耀等州，周文、成、康三王，秦始皇，漢高、文、景、武、元、成、哀七帝，後魏孝文，西魏文帝，後周太祖，唐高祖、太宗、中宗、肅宗、代宗、德、順、文、武、宣、懿、僖、昭諸帝凡二十七陵嘗被盜發者，有司備法服、常服各一襲，具棺槨重葬，所在長吏致祭。 He decreed reburial for twenty-seven violated imperial tombs in the west—ranging from the Zhou kings Wen, Cheng, and Kang and Qin Shihuang through seven Han emperors, Northern Wei Xiaowen, Western Wei Wendi, Later Zhou Taizu, and the thirteen Tang emperors Gaozu, Taizong, Zhongzong, Suzong, Daizong, Dezong, Shunzong, Wenzong, Wuzong, Xuanzong, Yizong, Xizong, and Zhaozong. Each site was to receive fresh ceremonial and everyday robes, new coffins, and sacrifices from the local magistrate.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 10Volume 10 Biographies 2: Duke Hao of Shaohui; Duke Lian of Qijian; Duke Luosheng of Juzhuang; Duke Zhong of Yuguo · 1 passage

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非秦政而褒吳禮，譏石椁而美厚薪。 He condemned the First Emperor of Qin's extravagance and praised the frugal burial rites of Wu, scoffing at stone vaults and admiring the ancient practice of covering the dead with thick firewood.