先秦 Traditional form: 先秦 Pinyin (reading): xiān Qín Definitions: pre-Qin, Chinese history up to the foundation of the Qin imperial dynasty in 221 BC Characters: 先 - first, former, previous 秦 - the Qin dynasty (eponymous for China) Traditional characters: 先 - first, former, previous 秦 - the Qin dynasty (eponymous for China)