When our group went to Xi An it made me think about the history of China and the importance that it still holds today. Before the Qin dynasty, China was quite divided almost as if several countries were occupying the same land. There was no centralized governing system and the social, political, and cultural connections between the many parts of China were few and far between. The goal of the Qin dynasty before it was a dynasty was to unify China.
The Qin army was able to overtake and control China, because they're soldiers fought so selflessly and valiantly. They felt that there was a higher purpose than their own existence as individuals, thus spawning a strong fervor that was greater than the likes of which any Chinese army had experienced before. The message of unification I believe brought many people in all areas initially a sense of hope. It brought them a sense that there were better days to come and that a better life was just beyond the horizon. Therefore the Qin army gained great support from many and had many people join their ranks.
As it is seen in many examples in history, whether it be the Revolutionary War in what is now the United States of America, The French Revolution,or in The Chinese Revolution with Mao Zedong as their leader, people flock to this idea of a new life and a new society and a new inclusion that they did not have before. The problem arises when the governing body itself comes into power. It is always easy to fight for an ideal. Living by it and properly carrying it out requires other methods and many sacrifices.
The downfall of the Qin dynasty came due to the fact that they wanted to unify China so much that they lost sight of individual states, provinces, and areas where the people's culture had great importance to them. To many of these people, losing their own culture was much more of a concern and a resentment than the promise that a unified China could entail. Because the Qin dynasty imposed a new culture and rejected the practicing of other customs, the dynasty lost the hope of the people.
I draw a comparison to the revolution that Mao waged. Mao started off very similarly. The idea of communism was very appealing to many. So many were disenfranchised and sought the promise of equality that they were willing to side with Mao. Although by the end of The Long March, Mao's ranks were very limited, he still had the support of the people. Because of this he was finally able to take control of China and start his new government. I believe that Mao unlike the Qin dynasty, very successfully kept a facade of false hope amongst the populous especially since his underlying message revolved around those who could have the greatest impact in overthrowing his government: I.E. The peasants. I think that it is also possible that Mao in going about his revolution, kept in mind the consequences of the Qin dynasty and through his actions and results demonstrated a true application of understanding the historical context that preceeded him long ago.
The trip to Xi An made me realize how people as a whole truly can learn from history and apply the lessons of the past as to accomplish their goals in the future. Part of the value of the rich history of China lies in the lessons that can be seen in so many different time periods and in so many different ways. When visiting these places that are so important to the history of China, it is ever so important to contemplate the possible ramifications that the lessons of the past can have on the present day.
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