Stele Inscriptions
During his rule, Emperor Qin Si Huang visited many sacred
locations and often left inscriptions carved into slabs of stone (Ouellette, 2010). These inscriptions
described the Emperor, his numerous accomplishments and the momentous part he
played in unifying China (Ouellette, 2010). Seven stele
inscriptions still exist today, and this is the fourth:
It was in His twenty-ninth year,
According to the season of mid-spring,
The mildness of Yang had just arisen.
The August Emperor travelled to the east,
On His tour He ascended (Mt.) Zhifu,
Looked down on and illuminated (the lands by) the sea.
The attending officials gazed in admiration,
Traced back and contemplated (His) excellence and brilliant accomplishments,
Recalled and recited the fundamental beginning:
The great Sage created His order,
Established and fixed the rules and measures,
Made manifest and visible the line and net (of order).
Abroad He instructed the feudal lords;
Brilliantly He spread culture and grace,
Enlightening them through rightness and principle.
The six kingdoms had been restive and perverse,
Greedy and criminal, insatiable –
The August Emperor felt pity for the multitudes,
And consequently sent out His punitive troops,
Vehemently displaying His martial power.
Just was He in punishment, trustworthy was He in acting,
His awesome influence radiated to all directions,
And there was none who was not respectful and submissive.
He boiled alive and exterminated the violent and cruel,
Succored and saved the black-haired people,
And all around consolidated the four extremities.
He universally promulgated the shining laws,
Gave warp and woof to All-under-heaven –
Forever to serve as ritual norm and guideline.
Great, indeed, was […]
Within the universe and realm
One followed receptively His sage intent.
The multitude of officials recited His merits,
Asked to carve (this text) into stone,
To express and transmit the constant model.
Source: Ouellette, P. (2010, February 1). Power in the Qin Dynasty: Legalism and External Influence over the Decisions and Legacy of the First Emperor of China. Retrieved October 10, 2014, from Haverford College: http://thesis.haverford.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/10066/5251/2010OuelletteP.pdf?sequence=1
It is evident that the passage is very complimentary of the First Emperor, with the phrases including ‘gazed in admiration’, ‘brilliant accomplishments’ and ‘his awesome influence’. The text outlines some of the Emperor’s achievements in the line ‘established and fixed the rules and measures.’ It also portrays the Emperor as someone who only punished those who were deserving, and this is shown by stating that he only burned the ‘violent and cruel’ and by describing the other six kingdoms as ‘greedy and criminal’. In saying this, the passage justifies the Emperor’s actions of defeating and subduing all of the other states, and for the extreme displays of force that also occurred. Thus, this inscription also serves as a form of propaganda in convincing those who read it of the Emperor’s goodness and reliability. This source clearly shows a Legalist attitude in the punishment of those who had done wrong and the rewards for those who followed the law. However, there are some underlying Confucian ideals present. The Emperor is described as ‘enlightened’ and as showing care and concern for his subjects and this is the Confucian influence. However, the passage is predominantly a Legalist text, erected for the purpose of persuading the people of the benevolence of their ruler.
It was in His twenty-ninth year,
According to the season of mid-spring,
The mildness of Yang had just arisen.
The August Emperor travelled to the east,
On His tour He ascended (Mt.) Zhifu,
Looked down on and illuminated (the lands by) the sea.
The attending officials gazed in admiration,
Traced back and contemplated (His) excellence and brilliant accomplishments,
Recalled and recited the fundamental beginning:
The great Sage created His order,
Established and fixed the rules and measures,
Made manifest and visible the line and net (of order).
Abroad He instructed the feudal lords;
Brilliantly He spread culture and grace,
Enlightening them through rightness and principle.
The six kingdoms had been restive and perverse,
Greedy and criminal, insatiable –
The August Emperor felt pity for the multitudes,
And consequently sent out His punitive troops,
Vehemently displaying His martial power.
Just was He in punishment, trustworthy was He in acting,
His awesome influence radiated to all directions,
And there was none who was not respectful and submissive.
He boiled alive and exterminated the violent and cruel,
Succored and saved the black-haired people,
And all around consolidated the four extremities.
He universally promulgated the shining laws,
Gave warp and woof to All-under-heaven –
Forever to serve as ritual norm and guideline.
Great, indeed, was […]
Within the universe and realm
One followed receptively His sage intent.
The multitude of officials recited His merits,
Asked to carve (this text) into stone,
To express and transmit the constant model.
Source: Ouellette, P. (2010, February 1). Power in the Qin Dynasty: Legalism and External Influence over the Decisions and Legacy of the First Emperor of China. Retrieved October 10, 2014, from Haverford College: http://thesis.haverford.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/10066/5251/2010OuelletteP.pdf?sequence=1
It is evident that the passage is very complimentary of the First Emperor, with the phrases including ‘gazed in admiration’, ‘brilliant accomplishments’ and ‘his awesome influence’. The text outlines some of the Emperor’s achievements in the line ‘established and fixed the rules and measures.’ It also portrays the Emperor as someone who only punished those who were deserving, and this is shown by stating that he only burned the ‘violent and cruel’ and by describing the other six kingdoms as ‘greedy and criminal’. In saying this, the passage justifies the Emperor’s actions of defeating and subduing all of the other states, and for the extreme displays of force that also occurred. Thus, this inscription also serves as a form of propaganda in convincing those who read it of the Emperor’s goodness and reliability. This source clearly shows a Legalist attitude in the punishment of those who had done wrong and the rewards for those who followed the law. However, there are some underlying Confucian ideals present. The Emperor is described as ‘enlightened’ and as showing care and concern for his subjects and this is the Confucian influence. However, the passage is predominantly a Legalist text, erected for the purpose of persuading the people of the benevolence of their ruler.