The collapse of Qin rule after just 18 years provided an object lesson for the first sovereigns of the Han dynasty, who anxiously recognized that while military force was sufficient for conquering other states, the maintenance of power depended on a rule of virtue.
秦帝國在短短十八年間滅亡，殷鑑不遠，漢朝開國君王因此充滿憂患意識，戒慎恐懼的心情讓他們意識到：可以武力征服他國，保國卻需依靠德治。