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Qin dynasty

Dynasty that ruled in China from 221 to 206 BC

Entityhistorical Chinese state historical period Chinese dynastyQ7183

Also known as Qin China · Qin · Qin Empire

Instance of: historical Chinese state
, historical period
1
Sources
1.Stated in Art & Architecture ThesaurusRetrieved 2020-09-01
View statement on Wikidata ↗
, Chinese dynasty
+3 more
Part of: Qin Han
, Early Imperial China
Founded: 221 BCE

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

The Qin dynasty also known as the Qin Empire, was the first imperial dynasty of China. It is named for its progenitor state of Qin, a fief of the confederal Zhou dynasty. Beginning in 230 BC, the Qin under King Ying Zheng engaged in a series of wars conquering each of the rival states that had previously pledged fealty to the Zhou. This culminated in 221 BC with the successful unification of China. The Qin then assumed an imperial prerogative – with Ying Zheng declaring himself to be Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, and bringing an end to the Warring States period. This state of affairs lasted until 206 BC, when the dynasty collapsed in the years following Qin Shi Huang's death. The Qin dynasty's 14-year existence was the shortest of any major dynasty in Chinese history, with only two emperors. However, the succeeding Han dynasty largely continued the military and administrative practices instituted by the Qin; as a result, the Qin have been credited as the originators of the Chinese imperial system that would endure in some form until the Xinhai Revolution in 1911.

Overview

All data

59 statements · 10% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Dissolved: 206 BCE sourcing circumstances: circa
Follows: Warring States period
Followed by: Han dynasty
Continent: Asia
Capital: Xianyang
Government: absolute monarchy
Replaces: Qin
Chu
Wey(-0209)
Zhou dynasty
Replaced by: Yan (Zang Tu)(-0209)
Qi (209–203 BC)(-0209)
Han (208BC-200BC)(-0208)
Western Chu(-0206)
Jiujiang(-0206)
Yong(-0206)
Sai(-0206)
Zhai(-0206)
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Western Wei(-0206)
Kingdom of Henan(-0206)
Yin(-0206)
Changshan(-0206)
Dai(-0206)
Hengshan(-0206)
Linjiang(-0206)
Liaodong(-0206)
Jiaodong Kingdom(-0206)
Nanyue(-0204)
Han dynasty

On other databases

21 identifiers linking Qin dynasty across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

10%

externally sourced

Source last edited November 3, 2026. AIDb refreshes this page daily.

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AIDb. (2026). Qin dynasty (Q7183). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/qin-dynasty-Q7183