Characteristics and Significance of Ethnic Policies in Qin Dynasty

The pre-Qin, Qin and Han dynasties were the period of the emergence and formation of China's ancient Central Plains dynasty's special policy towards the four foreigners. During this period, with the development of Han nationality, the main ethnic group in China, the contact with surrounding ethnic minorities is increasing day by day, so it is more and more important to handle ethnic relations well. Ethnic policy has increasingly become an important part of the ruling policy.

In 22 1 BC, the Qin Dynasty destroyed six countries, ending the disputes during the Warring States Period and establishing the first unified centralized feudal dynasty in the history of China, which laid the foundation for China's unified multi-ethnic country.

After the reunification of the Qin Dynasty, the country's territory was unprecedented, and the integration of the Chinese nation in the Central Plains with the surrounding ethnic minorities was very difficult. The Qin Dynasty initiated the emperor system. Ying Zheng, the king of Qin, claimed to be the "first emperor", monopolized power and established a political organization system centered on imperial power. The central government has set up three highest posts: Prime Minister, Qiu Wei and the top scholar in the imperial examination. There are Fengchang, Langzhongling, Weiwei, Taifu, Tingwei, Dianke, Zong Zheng, Su Zhi Civil History and Shaofu, who are in charge of various state affairs. "Emperor" became the title of the supreme ruler in ancient China, which was used by feudal dynasties. Qin Shihuang adopted Lisi's suggestion and promoted the county system throughout the country. The country was divided into 36 counties under the direct jurisdiction of the central government, and each county was divided into several counties. Qin Shihuang adopted a series of policies to safeguard national unity. Qin dynasty promulgated Qin law to unify the whole country; Unified measurement, currency and track; Unified writing; Built Chidao from Xianyang, the imperial capital, to all parts of the country; Open the Lingqu connecting the Yangtze River and the Pearl River; Build the Great Wall, conduct large-scale immigration and so on. These measures played an important role in the economic and cultural development of feudal dynasties, the consolidation of national unity and the formation of the Chinese nation.

Facing the management of frontier minorities, the Qin Dynasty gradually formed a set of effective management systems, and most of the ethnic policies of the feudal dynasties later borrowed and continued the system of the Qin Dynasty.

1, set up "Dao" in ethnic settlements.

After the Qin Dynasty conquered the border ethnic minorities and completed the great cause of reunification, it implemented the county system throughout the country and made special settings according to the specific conditions of the border ethnic minorities. "Dao" is the setting of Qin Shihuang for minority areas, and Dao is a special form of county. The setting of Tao was the beginning of the feudal dynasty's policy of imprisoning ethnic minorities in the history of China, and it was a precedent for later emperors to set up ethnic minority areas.

2. Conquer ethnic minorities by force.

After Qin Shihuang ruled the Central Plains, he pursued the policy of conquering ethnic minorities by force, the most prominent of which were "attacking Xiongnu in the north" and "crossing the country in Nanping". Qin Shihuang's conquest and rule by force played an important role in the formation of China's multi-ethnic country, but this kind of war brought disaster and pain to the conquered, and also deepened and intensified the internal contradictions of the Qin Dynasty, which was an important reason for the short life and quick death of the Qin Dynasty.

3. Formulate a law on the administration of ethnic minorities.

In the process of ruling ethnic minorities, Qin Shihuang formulated a national law to specifically manage ethnic minority affairs, involving all aspects of ethnic minority life and covering a wide range. This is the first written law in the history of China that specifically governs ethnic minorities.

4, a small collection, contribution.

In the face of ethnic minorities close to the mainland, Qin Shihuang had preferential tax policies for them, and only had to pay a small amount of tax every year. In the face of remote ethnic areas, Qin's rule over them is actually not enough, and it relies more on prestige to intimidate them, and they only need to contribute some rare treasures every year.

5. Build roads leading to minority areas.

Wherever the road is built, the army can reach, and the scope of military rule can reach. Qin Shihuang successively built five roads leading to Lingqu and other ethnic minorities, which provided conditions for military rule and objectively promoted the economic development of ethnic areas.

6. Organize large-scale migration.

In order to consolidate his rule in the border areas, Qin Shihuang carried out large-scale immigration. The immigration pioneering policy implemented by the imperial dynasty has certain positive significance. It not only solved the supply of garrison troops and officials sent to the frontier at that time, but also made the frontier ethnic areas stable, the frontier was consolidated and the territory was complete, and brought advanced production tools and technologies and advanced planting experience, which will certainly accelerate the pace of social and economic development in the frontier ethnic areas. At the same time, millions of immigrants have lived with local ethnic groups for a long time, which will naturally lead to ethnic integration, which will inevitably strengthen the centripetal force and cohesion of frontier ethnic groups.