Skip to main content

Primary sourceArtifact221-207 BCE

Qin Bronze Weight, Xianyang Museum

221-207 BCE

A small bronze weight from Xianyang, the former capital of the Qin dynasty under Qin Shi Huang, showing standardized measures.

Found in Xianyang, the capital of Qin Shi Huang, this weight reflects the standardization carried out from his seat of power.

Ask Emperor Qin Shi Huang about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
A small dark green-grey bronze object resting on a pale pink surface. It is domed with vertical ribs or lobes, a small loop or knob on top, and faint raised characters or markings across its side.
Qin bronze weight, 221-207 BCE. Xianyang Museum, Shaanxi.

About this source

What it is

This small bronze weight was photographed at the Xianyang Museum in Shaanxi, the site of the former Qin capital. It has a domed, ribbed shape with a small loop on top and faint raised markings.

Why it matters

Xianyang was the capital from which Qin Shi Huang ruled his unified empire. A weight found there connects directly to the administrative heart of his government and the standardization policies he enforced across conquered territories.

Look closer

  • Why might objects like this have been kept close to the capital?
  • What do the ribs and markings on the weight suggest about how it was made?
  • How might this weight have differed in use from the larger weights found elsewhere?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Emperor Qin Shi Huang on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Emperor Qin Shi Huang sources

Meet the AI Emperor Qin Shi Huang →
Excavated pit of the Terracotta Army under a large covered hall. Rows of life-sized clay soldiers stand in long trenches separated by earthen walls, with some clay horses visible at right. Visitors watch from walkways at the edges.Sculpture

Primary source

Terracotta Army

c. 247–209 BCE

Wide view of a landscaped park on a sunny day: a paved plaza in front, a grass lawn, a rectangular hedge with a small white pavilion on a raised mound, tall cypress trees, a wooded hill behind, and groups of visitors.Artifact

Primary source

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

246–208 BCE

Aerial view of the Great Wall of China at Jinshanling. Stone wall with watchtowers winds along a green forested ridge through hilly terrain, with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.Artifact

Primary source

Great Wall of China

7th century BCE–present, Qin-era sections 3rd century BCE

A rough, brownish stone-like weight with a knob on top, displayed in a glass case on a white base. A green patina inscription plaque with carved characters is set into its front face.Artifact

Primary source

Qin Iron Weight with Imperial Edict

221 BCE

A single narrow wooden or bamboo slip, pale yellow-tan, with a dark blackened top end and a pointed bottom end, mounted behind glass on a fabric-covered backing. Several lines of brown-black ink characters are written vertically down its face.Document

Primary source

Liye Qin Slips

Qin dynasty, 3rd century BCE

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Emperor Qin Shi Huang now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions