The State of Qin 秦
Terra Cotta Soldiers
An interesting note here is that the etymology for the word Qin, 秦, is of two hands holding a pestle over the character for grain. Once again, there is the connection with grain and the heart.
The Qin Dynasty was in existence from 221-206 BC. It was founded by Qin Shihuang, whose ancestral lineage was traced back, through the Ying rulers, to Emperor ZhuanXu (the grandson of the Yellow Emperor). The Qin Dynasty marked the beginnings of an Imperial China that would last until 1912. It left a legacy of a centralized and bureaucratic state as well as continuing it’s non-hereditary aristocratic system.
Qin Shihuang instituted reforms that standardized characters, wheel axel dimensions, roads, and much more. This standardization helped with the unification of the empire.
His behavior became erratic later in life, most likely because he drank a lot of mercury solutions in his search for eternal life. He had not properly arranged his successor because he wanted to live forever. This eventually lead to the demise of the Qin state after his death. This relates to the theme of the heart’s ability to meet the darkness with a willingness and receptivity, rather than letting it sneak upon you with no idea of what it is bringing.
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