 The most famous section of the Xinshu is Jia Yi’s criticism of the Qin, the first imperial dynasty of China which unified the “Warring States” in 221 BCE. Jia’s criticism stresses the Qin state’s failure to treat the people (min 民) with sufficient consideration. The Qin’s harsh treatment of people led to the loss of the obedience required to maintain order in a state. Jia Yi stressed that successful rule was only possible with the consent and obedience of the people—a position referred to as “taking the people as root” (min ben 民本). Jia wrote about the Qin rulers: