#203 The Conquerer: Qin Shihuangdi

“Pop quiz” review. Is the following statement likely to be true of a Legalist approach to rules at Hotchkiss? (Mark true or false):

1. Shelly is white and from a wealthy, well-regarded family and Kelly is a student of color and is from an economically disadvantaged family. Shelly and Kelly both cheat on a math test under essentially identical circumstances. Shelly is given a verbal warning; Kelly is expelled.
2. Hernando and Sarah are caught engaging in “illegal” interdorming at 1:30am. The next day at Auditorium, they are brought on stage. The Dean of Students then reads a passage from the Almanac prohibiting such behavior and prescribing a week of hard labor at the farm. Hernando and Sarah are then sent to the farm for a week of hard labor.
3. All grading practices are standardized and courses end with a strictly-controlled final examinations. All privileges for students (the comfort of their dormitory assignment, their seating in the Dining Hall, etc.) are determined based on average performance on final examinations.
4. The Head of School enjoys exercising arbitrary authority to instill fear in students and faculty alike. This morning he spotted Mr. Drake out of dress code and demanded he do 50 push ups. When it seemed too easy, he changed the last 10 to one-handed push ups.
5. The Board of Trustees approves a plan to refocus the Athletics department on high-profile and potentially revenue-generating teams, tripling the budget for Varsity Hockey and Varsity Squash while eliminating Swimming, Ultimate Frisbee, all environmental and Arts-themed co-curriculars, and all thirds and club teams.

Background:

Qin Shihuangdi

• Born Ying Zheng (嬴政)
• Reigned as King of Qin, 247–220 BCE and then as “First Emperor” (the meaning of Qin Shihuangdi 秦始皇帝), 220–210 BCE.
• Utilized Legalism but neither motivated by same goals of Shang Yang or Han Fezi, nor bound by constraints of passive rulership.
• Motivated by desire for immortality, and ironically, in search of elixir.
• How do we know what we know?
  • Basis is mainly Sima Qian (司馬遷, 145–87 BCE), a court historian of the Han dynasty.
    ​The Qin is among subjects of active archeological research. Some aspects of Sima’s work have been confirmed (e.g. obsession with elixir). Others have raised questions: was Qin Shihuangdi really as tyrannical as he is presented?
    

​Debate: “Looking back from the twenty-first century, did Qin Shihuangdi help make China great again?”

• Select sides.

• Define the terms: What do we mean by the question? Anything we need to agree upon before we proceed?
• Lay out 2-3 supporting arguments with evidence grouped into each argument. (One student, up to 2 minutes for each side).
• Respond to the claims of the other side. (One student, up to 2 minutes for each side).
• Alternate sides. (One student, up to 1 minute for each side).
• Conclude. (One student, up to 2 minutes for each side).