Architecture of the Qin Dynasty

Qin architecture is characterized by defensive structures and elements that conveyed authority and power, as exemplified by the early beginnings of the Great Wall.

Learning Objective

Examine the characteristics of architecture created under the Qin Dynasty

Key Points

Architecture from the previous Warring States Period had several definitive aspects which carried into the Qin Dynasty.
City walls, used for defense, were made longer, and secondary walls were often built to separate the different districts.
Versatility in federal structures was emphasized to create a sense of authority and absolute power, conveyed by architectural elements such as high towers, pillar gates, terraces, and high buildings.
Qin Shihuang, the self-proclaimed first Emperor, is responsible for the initial construction of what later became the Great Wall of China, which he built along the northern border to protect his empire against the Mongols.

Terms

Great Wall of China
A series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China to protect the Chinese states and empires against the raids and invasions of the various nomadic groups of the Eurasian Steppe.
Qin Shihuang
The self-proclaimed first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty.

Full Text

Overview: Architecture of Qin Dynasty

The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 206 BCE. The Dynasty followed the Warring States Period and resulted in the unification of China, ending 15 years later at the introduction of the Han Dynasty.

Architecture from the previous Warring States Period had several definitive aspects which carried into the Qin Dynasty. City walls, used for defense, were made longer, and secondary walls were often built to separate the different districts. Versatility in federal structures was emphasized to create a sense of authority and absolute power. Architectural elements such as high towers, pillar gates, terraces, and high buildings amply conveyed this.

The Beginnings of the Great Wall

During its reign over China, the Qin sought to create an imperial state unified by highly structured political power and a stable economy able to support a large military. The Qin central government sought to minimize the role of aristocrats and landowners and have direct administrative control over the peasantry, who comprised the overwhelming majority of the population and granted the Qin access to a large labor force. This allowed for the construction of ambitious projects, such as a wall on the northern border, now known as the Great Wall of China.

Qin Shihuang, the first self-proclaimed emperor of the Qin Dynasty, developed plans to fortify his northern border in order to protect against the nomadic Mongols. The result was the initial construction of what later became the Great Wall of China, which was built by joining and strengthening the walls made by the feudal lords. These walls would be expanded and rebuilt multiple times by later dynasties, also in response to threats from the north.

The Great Wall of China at Jinshanling

The initial construction of what would become the Great Wall of China began under Qin Shihuang during the Qin Dynasty.

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