Why was Qin Shihuang so autocratic?

I don't think so. Many literary works have always portrayed Qin Shihuang as a tyrannical emperor, which is really unfair. Since it is a literary work, subjective adaptation is bound to be the majority. However, in historical records, Qin Shihuang was not like this. Compared with many benevolent kings in later generations, the behavior of this ancient emperor is sometimes more wise, kind and wise!

One of the reasons why Qin Shihuang was tyrannical was that he "burned books to bury Confucianism" and burned Confucian classics, killing many scholars. However, this story is not true! Ordering the burning of Confucian classics is true, but Ying Zheng is not a "pit Confucian" but a "pit warlock". Sima Qian's Historical Records did not record the theory of "cheating Confucianism". Warlocks are people who specialize in fortune telling.

In Qin Shihuang's war to unify the six countries, the number of casualties was actually not much. More is to implement the policy of appeasement, and there is almost no military action where it can be resolved peacefully. Qi is the best example. In addition, Qin Shihuang also had a tolerant heart that ordinary people did not have, and he was open-minded. The most representative example of this is the Battle of Yan State.

The reason, I think, is due to the historical conditions at that time. In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, this split state has become a habit of people at that time. People are born with fixed thinking. The world should be divided, division is the norm, and unity is just abnormal.

Everyone has feelings for his own land, but there is no urgent desire for the unity of the world. On the contrary, "unification" has become synonymous with "aggression" to some extent.

As a result, people all over the world hated Qin Shihuang, who made a nation lose its home and become a conquered nation. Based on this mentality, Qin Shihuang is bound to be demonized. Under the historical background of becoming an eternal emperor, he also achieved his image as an "eternal tyrant".