Forging the First Empire: Qin's Materiality of Control and the Architecture of Eternal Order

The Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE) established an unprecedented imperial order through systematic material culture and monumental architecture, challenging traditional narratives of military conquest. Standardization policies, vast construction projects like the Great Wall, and symbolic structures such as the Terracotta Army and mausoleum complex were strategically designed to manifest and perpetuate an empire intended for 'ten thousand generations.' This study reveals that Qin's materiality was a fundamental architecture of control, blending political authority with cosmological sanction. Through interdisciplinary analysis of archaeological findings, historical texts, and art history, the research demonstrates how these elements facilitated centralized governance, resource mobilization, and enduring imperial identity, setting foundational patterns for subsequent Chinese dynasties.

Revista, Z., & BIOLOGY, 10. (2025). Forging the First Empire: Qin's Materiality of Control and the Architecture of Eternal Order. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.17741206