First emperor, a strict Oriental (7)
I believe the answer is:
eastern
'oriental' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'first emperor a strict' is the wordplay.
'first emperor' becomes 'e' (1st letter of 'emperor').
'strict' becomes 'stern' (synonyms).
'e'+'a'+'stern'='EASTERN'
(Other definitions for eastern that I've seen before include "Indian perhaps" , "China?" , "Maybe Chinese" , "towards the sun" , "From Japan, say" .)