For the longest time, Qin Shi Huang was loathed as a ruthless emperor. He was seen as someone who feared death so much he was willing to have so many others died so he can find a way to prolong his life. Then when he saw he could not avoid death, he literally had all his wives and concubine and so many servants die along with him so they would continue to serve him in death.
You can see that perception on earlier films, movies, even in Holywood too.
But now, even the Chineses are having a movement to bleach out all those horrifying looks off Qin Shi Huang. Films, books, and tales about how he struggled, about how he meant well, about how he made the difficult choice for a greater good.
It's kind of funny, really.