The ancient Chinese state that first unified China was Qin. In 221 BC, King Ying Zheng of Qin conquered the last of the rival Warring States and created the Qin dynasty, becoming Qin Shi Huang, or “First Emperor of Qin.”
Qin’s victory ended the Warring States period, when major powers such as Chu, Zhao, Wei, Han, Yan, and Qi competed for dominance. Qin benefited from military reforms, strict administration, agricultural policies, and the Legalist ideas promoted by advisers including Shang Yang and Li Si.
The Qin achievement was more than a military conquest. The new empire standardized weights, measures, coinage, and writing, while dividing conquered territory into centrally governed commanderies. These policies helped create a unified imperial system that later dynasties adapted.
A common mix-up is confusing the Qin state with the Qin dynasty. Qin was the conquering state; after unification in 221 BC, it became the Qin dynasty. The dynasty lasted only until 206 BC, but its political model shaped Chinese history for centuries.