Gao Jianli
Encyclopedia
Gao Jianli was a citizen of Yan
, a Chinese
state during the Warring States Period
, and a player of the zhu (a stringed musical instrument played with a thin stick). After Jing Ke
was killed in his assassination attempt on Qin Shi Huang
, Gao changed his name and became an assistant in a wine shop as Qin Shi Huang retaliated against all friends of Jing Ke . As the work is very hard, Gao would usually pace around the house of the owner of the wine shop listening to the guests playing the zhu in the owner's house. He would commend about the playing until one day when someone told the owner what Gao said about his guests' skills in playing the zhu.
So the owner asked Gao to play for him and his skillful play won him the heart of the owner. Qin Shi Huang heard about the event and decided to summon Gao to play for him. Someone recognised Gao and told Qin Shi Huang about his real identity. Qin Shi Huang loved music very much and decided to pardon Gao but not before making him blind.
The skill of Gao won him praises from Qin Shi Huang and after a few performances the emperor lost his guarding of Gao, who began to move nearer and nearer to him. Gao sensed the movement and secretly hid lead pieces in the instrument, when the emperor is within striking distance, Gao took a strike but missed. Gao was subsequently executed and Qin Shi Huang stopped being close to people from the other states.
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
, a Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
state during the Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
, and a player of the zhu (a stringed musical instrument played with a thin stick). After Jing Ke
Jing Ke
Jing Ke was a guest residing in the estates of Dan, crown prince of Yan and renowned for his failed assassination attempt of Ying Zheng, King of Qin state, who later became China's first emperor...
was killed in his assassination attempt on Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
, Gao changed his name and became an assistant in a wine shop as Qin Shi Huang retaliated against all friends of Jing Ke . As the work is very hard, Gao would usually pace around the house of the owner of the wine shop listening to the guests playing the zhu in the owner's house. He would commend about the playing until one day when someone told the owner what Gao said about his guests' skills in playing the zhu.
So the owner asked Gao to play for him and his skillful play won him the heart of the owner. Qin Shi Huang heard about the event and decided to summon Gao to play for him. Someone recognised Gao and told Qin Shi Huang about his real identity. Qin Shi Huang loved music very much and decided to pardon Gao but not before making him blind.
The skill of Gao won him praises from Qin Shi Huang and after a few performances the emperor lost his guarding of Gao, who began to move nearer and nearer to him. Gao sensed the movement and secretly hid lead pieces in the instrument, when the emperor is within striking distance, Gao took a strike but missed. Gao was subsequently executed and Qin Shi Huang stopped being close to people from the other states.
Depiction in films and TV series
- 1996 - The Emperor's ShadowThe Emperor's ShadowThe Emperor's Shadow is a 1996 Chinese historical film directed by Zhou Xiaowen and starring Jiang Wen, Ge You, Xu Qing and Ge Zhijun. It was the most expensive Chinese film produced at the time of its release.-Plot:...
(秦颂; literally "Ode of Qin" or "Anthem of Qin"). Directed by Zhou XiaowenZhou XiaowenZhou Xiaowen is a Chinese filmmaker. He graduated from the Cinematography Department of the Beijing Film Academy in 1975 and is part of the so-called Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers.-Selected filmography:-External links:...
, starring Ge YouGe YouGe You is an acclaimed Mainland Chinese actor. A native of Beijing, he is considered by many to be one of the most recognizable acting personalities in the Mainland...
as Gao Jianli. - 1999 - The Emperor and the AssassinThe Emperor and the AssassinThe Emperor and the Assassin, also known as The First Emperor, is a 1998 Chinese historical romance film based primarily on Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin, as described in Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian. The film was directed by Chen Kaige and stars Gong Li, Zhang...
(荊柯刺秦王). Directed by Chen KaigeChen KaigeChen Kaige is a Chinese film director and a leading figure of the fifth generation of Chinese cinema. His films are known for their visual flair and epic storytelling.-Early life:...
, starring Zhao BenshanZhao BenshanZhao Benshan is a Chinese skit and sitcom actor, and recently turned TV director. He appears regularly on the CCTV New Year's Gala.-Biography:...
as Gao Jianli. - 2004 - Assassinator Jing KeAssassinator Jing KeAssassinator Jing Ke is a Chinese television series released in 2004. The series is based on a semi-fictional story of the assassin Jing Ke, who attempted to kill Ying Zheng, the king of Qin, in 227 BC. Liu Ye stars as the titular protagonist.-Plot:...
(荊軻傳奇). Executive producer Han SanpingHan SanpingHan Sanping is a Chinese film producer. He is the chairman of China Film Group, which has been hailed as one of the largest distributors and exporters of Chinese films...
, starring Peter HoPeter HoPeter Ho Jun-tung is an American-Taiwanese singer and actor. Ho was born in Los Angeles, California, and raised in Taiwan and Canada...
as Gao Jianli, Liu YeLiu YeLiu Ye is a Chinese film and television actor.-Career:From the beginning of his acting career when he was a 20 year old student majoring in performing arts at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, Liu Ye's talent in acting was apparent very early on...
as Jing Ke. - 2007 - Qin's MoonQin's MoonQin's Moon , aka The Legend of Swordsman is a CG Chinese animated TV series. The story is based on a novel of the same name and is China's first 3D wuxia Animation. The title means "the bright moon of Qin", quoted from a famous poem. Here it also contains the names of the two heroes...
Animation