The Story of Qin

The Story of our Logo and Emperor Qin

Our distinctive logo (秦) is actually a surname - the surname of our founder, QIN Lushan (Lushan Charles QIN). It was made famous in China by another founder - Qin Shihuangdi, China's first emperor. Although his dynasty, the Qin Dynasty, was one of the shortest dynasties in China's history (221BC to 207BC), he is arguably the best known of China's emperors in more than 3000 years of history.

Why is Emperor Qin so well known?

The Terracotta Warriors or Army were constructed over 2200 years ago to guard the Qin Emperor's tomb. In June 1998, President Bill Clinton's visit to China put the Warriors, the Eighth Wonder of the World near Xi'an in Central China, on front pages and television screens everywhere. The images of America's first family standing in the pit made the surrounding ancient clay figures appear very lifelike.

It was the custom at that time (2nd century BC) for wealthy people to commence building their tombs as soon as they achieved power. Confucius' teaching that a man should not plan or build for his own funeral was disregarded as emperors and other rich people made this task one of their first priorities. The Qin emperor certainly thought it was important, as he ordered work to commence on his tomb at the age of 13.

The army guarding the Qin Emperor's tomb was discovered in 1974 when peasants were digging a well. On-going excavations have revealed a number of chambers filled with life-like clay soldiers and horses, wooden chariots and metal weapons, all in battle formation. The burial of the figures on a grand scale was said to have replaced the practice of sacrificing humans and animals to protect leaders in their afterlives. However, many of the estimated 750,000 labourers who worked on the tomb for almost 40 years were buried alive so thay would not be able to reveal its secrets. The site covers over 56 square kilometres and there are models of 8000 warriors.

In a more recent discovery following the caving in of an orchard, archaeologists have unearthed a massive new burial site next to the terracotta warriors. Xinhua, the Chinese News Agency, reported that the pit is about the size of two football grounds and contains large numbers of suits of armour carved out of stone. Some of the armour is very fine, and archaelogists believe it was intended for high-ranking officers. Also revealed are bronze arrowheads and chariot ornaments.

The actual burial chamber of the Emperor himself has not yet been excavated. Its location on Mt Li can be visited, however, but apart from hawkers with their local handcrafts, there isn't much to see.

Over 2000 years ago, there were at least 12 kingdoms spread across what is now Eastern China. During the Warring States period they were constantly at war. The Qin Kingdom was relatively powerful and in offensives against rival kingdoms eventually conquered and united all of the kingdoms into what we in the west now know as China. The Qin emperor assumed the throne in 221BC. He created the title huangdi (meaning a combination of saintly sovereigns and ideal emperors) and prefixed this with Qin, the name of his native state, and shi, meaning the first.

The 1999 Chen Kaige movie, The Emperor and the Assassin, starring Gong Li, depicts the then King of Qin's attempts to unify China and become the first emperor of China, an aim he eventually fulfils.

To consolidate his power, the emperor commenced a vast program of reform. Feudalism was abolished and a non-hereditary bureaucracy of officials loyal to the Emperor was established. He also abolished the systems of primogeniture (where the eldest son inherits everything) and slavery. Land was privately owned.

It is obvious that China was very advanced at this time. The Emperor standardised weights and measures as well as currency and introduced a uniform writing system and legal code. This code continued throughout all the subsequent dynasties and gave the state an unprecedented degree of direct control over the lives of subjects. The Emperor embarked on major building works including construction and joining the northern frontier of the Great Wall, and building a network of roads and irrigation canals.

Our logo focuses on the positive aspects of the Qin Emperor's rule and his advanced achievements, in particular the Terracotta Army and the Great Wall. These two Wonders of the World will, without doubt, be amongst the most impressive things we will see in our lifetimes. We cannot overlook, in the Emperor's desire to cling to power, his brutality and burning of the books and burial alive of scholars. He also failed to discover the elixir of life despite several expeditions. Unfortunately, the Qin Emperor did not defy death and shortly after his passing, his Dynasty also fell. However, his mausoleum, guarded by the Terracotta Army, does invoke immortality and inspires all who visit.

Visit the official website of the Terracotta Warriors, based in Xi'an, China: Bing Ma Yong.

The calligraphy for our logo was created by a famous Chinese calligrapher, Yan Zhenqing, in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907AD).