Emperor of the Ch'in dynasty and founder of the first Chinese empire that unified the entire country, b. c. 259 BC (Ch'in, north western China), d. 210/209 BC.
Shi huang-ti, whose personal name was Chao Cheng, was born as the son of Chuang Hsiang (the later king of the state of Ch'in) and of the former concubine of Lü Pu-wei, a rich merchant. He ascended the throne of Ch'in in 246 at the age of 13, with Lü Pu-wei heading the government until Cheng turned 21. Cheng then concentrated on eliminating opposition forces and conquering all other Chinese states. By 221 he had managed to unite the country under his rule and assumed the title of Shih huang-ti ("First Sovereign Emperor").
Following the country's unification Shi huang-ti abolished regional feudal power and introduced a central administration with parallel civilian and military structure. He issued orders for universal standardization of weights, measures, axle lengths on carts, the writing of the Chinese language, the law and much more. To assist in the country's administration he embarked on a road and canal building programme and completed the Great Wall. He regularly went on inspection tours of his country, during which he carefully observed religious customs.
Shih huang-ti's search for immortality through whatever means lead to a growing interest in alchemy and magic and to increasing confrontation with Confucian scholars, who used their opposition to such "charlatanry" to promote a return to the feudal system. According to reports Shih huang-ti at one time executed 460 of them for their opposition. In 213 all books not dealing with agriculture, medicine or prognostication were burned on his orders.
Isolated during his last years from the general populace, Shih huang-ti was regarded a semidivine being. He died in 210 or 209 during an inspection tour. His empire collapsed four years later. His grandiose tomb, for which 70,000 people had to labour for 36 years, was covered up with earth by his successor.