RESEARCH TOPIC :QIN SHI HUANG – THE FIRST EMPEROR IN CHINA’S HISTORY

Name : Li Ming YangClass : P5 Resilient

• Research Question• Background Information on Qin Shi Huang• Objective• Significance• Hypothesis• Methodology• Findings• Conclusion• References• Acknowledgements

CONTENTS

What do P5 GEP pupils in Rosyth School think of the controversial actions done by Qin Shi Huang?

RESEARCH QUESTION

1. Reigned for 37 years.2. Became the King of Qin at 13 years

old.

Positive Side of Qin Shi Huang• Great Wall of China• He united China• Standardised unit of measurement

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON QIN SHI HUANG

Negative Side of Qin Shi HuangHe killed many innocent people.He buried a lot of scholars alive.He killed a lot of people through forced labour.He burnt all the books.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON QIN SHI HUANG (CONTINUED)

Great Wall of China Terracotta Army

Epang Palace

And…

He united CHINA!

The objective of this research is to reveal the value system of the P5 Rosyth GEP pupils by assessing their response to Qin Shi Huang’s controversial actions.

OBJECTIVE

If an intelligent person in a position of leadership has questionable ethics, society

would not be made better.

SIGNIFICANCE

GEP pupils will not approve Qin Shi Huang’s

controversial actions.

HYPOTHESIS

Survey of 15 questions.Respondents were asked to rate 15 controversial actions on a scale of justifiability.

Sample question:Qin Shi Huang built the Great Wall of China. The benefit is that it was one of the greatest wonders in the world and it also acts as a military fortress. However, the cost is that many people lost their lives building it. Rate the worth of building the Great Wall of China.1 2 3 4 5

METHODOLOGY

Categories of Questions1.Loss for progress

Question 1: Qin Shi Huang built the Great Wall of China. The benefit is that it was one of the greatest wonders in the world and it also acts as a military fortress. However, the cost is that many people lost their lives building it. Rate the worth of building the Great Wall of China. Boys Girls

FINDINGS

1.Loss for progress

Question 8: Qin Shi Huang unified the Chinese words after uniting China. Before he united China, every kingdom had different forms of writing Chinese words. The benefit is that it would unite the kingdoms through one common language. However, the loss is that the people from the other six kingdoms would not be happy if their form of writing is abolished. Rate the worth of unifying the Chinese words.

Boys Girls

FINDINGS

1.Loss for progress

Question 12: Qin Shi Huang travelled around the country five times to look at his citizens. The benefit is that he will know what the citizens’ lives are like. The cost is that he wasted a lot of money on this and the national treasury ran out of money after the five journeys. Rate the worth of travelling around the country.

Boys Girls

FINDINGS

1.Loss for progress

Question 13: Qin Shi Huang used harsh laws in governing his country. The benefit is that the laws prevented anyone from doing bad things. The cost is that it is very cruel. If a person did something wrong, his nose and ears may be cut off to be his punishment. Rate the worth of strong laws in his government.

Boys Girls

FINDINGS

2. Murder for power

Question 3: Qin Shi Huang buried 460 scholars alive. The benefit is that he can maintain his power and ensure no one will overthrow him. The cost is that everyone was very angry with him for killing. Rate the worth of burying the scholars alive. Boys Girls

FINDINGS

2. Murder for power

Question 15: Someone spread rumours about Qin Shi Huang saying bad things about his prime minister, Li Si. Qin Shi Huang asked which one of the servants beside him did that. However none of them admitted. Thus, Qin Shi Huang killed them all. The benefit is that it is better to make sure all of them are killed so that the guilty one would not do bad things again. The cost is the lives of the servants. Rate the worth of killing the servants. Boys Girls

FINDINGS

3. Trusting the young leaders under you

Question 5: Qin Shi Huang used a young knight to attack the Chu kingdom. This caused the whole army, which consisted of 200 thousand warriors, to be completely wiped out by the enemy forces. The benefit is that this shows Qin Shi Huang has courage to use young knights so that they can gain experience in fighting. However, the cost is that he used the wrong knight, causing 200 thousand warriors to die. Rate the worth of Qin Shi Huang using Li Xin to conquer the Chu kingdom. Boys Girls

FINDINGS

4. Compromising on rank for the greater good

Question 9: Once, Qin Shi Huang wanted to meet a wise man. However, the wise man insisted that he would not kneel down when he meets him but Qin Shi Huang still agreed to meet him. The benefit is that this shows that Qin Shi Huang is very kind, generous and forgiving. However, the loss is that this will decrease the power of Qin Shi Huang as it is a law that everyone must kneel down when they see the emperor. Rate the worth of Qin Shi Huang allowing the wise man to not kneel down. Boys Girls

FINDINGS

1. Loss for Progress• About 40% of the pupils supported this. • Unable to make difficult decisions on present loss for future

gain.

2. Death for Power • 5 boys and 1 girl supported this.• MOE should take actions.

3. Trusting the Young Leaders under You• Only 1 boy and 1 girl supported this.• Attributed to the fact that there was loss of lives.• Worrying sign MOE should take actions.

4. Compromising on Rank for the Greater Good• About 50% of the pupils supported this.• More boys supported this than girls Value potential gain

over enforcing authority.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

1.Qin Shi Huang’s actions were not supported.

2.5 boys and 1 girl supported killing for power.

3.GEP pupils valued knowledge.

CONCLUSION

•High Ability pupils •Mainstream pupils. •Difference between results•MOE will know how to change CME lessons

FUTURE RESEARCH

1. Cui, X. J. (2011) 一本书读懂中国历史 Ji Lin Publications Pte Ltd

2. Gong, Q. Z. (2005) 中国历史 Si Chuan Education Pte Ltd

3. Han, Z. (2012) 中国五千年未解之谜 Ji Lin Publications Pte Ltd

4. Ji, J. H. (2006) 史记经典故事 Beijing Publications Pte Ltd

5. Ji, J. H. 中国上下五千年 (1) Beijing Publications Pte Ltd

REFERENCES

6. Ji, J. H. (2007) 历史百科 Beijing Publications Pte Ltd

7. Ji, J. H. (2006) 100 位名人成才故事 Beijing Publications Pte Ltd

8. Ji, J. H. 资治通鉴经典故事 Beijing Publications Pte Ltd

9. Jiang, S. (2002) 秦始皇 Northern Publications Pte Ltd

10.John, K. (2008) China – A History Harper Press

11.Li, H. Z. (2012) 中国皇帝全传 Present World Publications Pte Ltd

12.Ruo, M. 牵手秦汉 Shan Xia Publications Pte Ltd

1. My mentor Mr Joshua

2. My friends Aaron and Kai En for helping me to collect some of the surveys

3. My IRS teachers Mrs Koh and Mrs Lam

4. My parents

5. The other 59 GEP pupils for doing my survey.

Thank You for helping me out with my

research!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY PRESENTATION!

EXTRA SLIDES

1.Loss for progress

Question 2: Qin Shi Huang unified the currency and abolished all the other six kingdoms’ system of currency and changed it to the round coins the Qin kingdom used. The benefit is that dealing with money would be much easier and more convenient. However, the cost is that the people from other six kingdoms would not be happy if Qin Shi Huang abolished their system of currency. Rate the worth of unifying the currency.

Boys Girls

FINDINGS

1.Loss for progress

Question 7: Qin Shi Huang found out that his mother’s trusted official, Lao Ai, actually revolted and tried to take away his power. He immediately beheaded that person. He also abandoned his mother and let her live in a very countryside place in China to prevent her from taking revenge as they were competing for the throne. The benefit is that he can prevent his mother from taking revenge. However, the loss is that he is not being filial to his mother. Rate the worth of letting his mother live in a very rural place.

Boys Girls

FINDINGS

1.Loss for progress

Question 11: Qin Shi Huang built many straight roads from the capital of his country to many rural places. The benefit is that it would be very convenient travelling between different cities in the country. The cost is that people died during the construction and it wasted money. Rate the worth of building these roads.

Boys Girls

FINDINGS

2. Murder for power

Question 4: Qin Shi Huang burnt books by forcing all the citizens in China to give all their books to the government. The benefit is that there will be no one smart enough to challenge him. The cost was knowledge lost. Rate the worth of burning books. Boys Girls

FINDINGS

2. Murder for power

Question 6: Qin Shi Huang built the Terracotta Army near his tomb. The Terracotta Army is a large group of artificial cavalries and warriors built using sand. The benefit is that it was a significant place to remember Qin Shi Huang. It also showed the military power of the Qin dynasty. However, the loss is that about ten thousand people died building the Terracotta Army. Rate the worth of building the Terracotta Army. Boys Girls

FINDINGS

5. Death for peace

Question 14: Qin Shi Huang attacked the six other kingdoms and united China in the end. The benefit is that China was finally united and there were no more wars between the seven kingdoms. The cost is that a total of 1 million people died throughout the 10 years of war. Rate the worth of uniting China. Boys Girls

FINDINGS

6. Beauty over efficiency

Question 10: Qin Shi Huang used a type of word called “Xiao Zhuan” to unify the words in China. The benefit is that this type of word is very beautiful, as though you are drawing. This type of word evolved to become the type of word we write now. However, the loss is that this type of word is very inconvenient and difficult to write. Rate the worth of using this type of words. Boys Girls

FINDINGS