Jing Ke
Encyclopedia
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 (reign from 221 BC to 210 BC). His story is told in the chapter entitled Biographies of the Assassins (刺客列傳) in Sima Qian
's Records of the Grand Historian
.
, Han
. Two years later Zhao
was also conquered.
In exchange for peace, King Xi of Yan
had earlier forced his son Crown Prince Dan of Yan
to be held hostage by the Qin, but Prince Dan returned knowing that Qin was far stronger than Yan and would attack it later.
Jing Ke was originally from Wei
(衞, not 魏). He was a scholar proficient in the art of the sword. His homeland of Wei was absorbed by Qin, and Jing Ke fled to Yan. A Youxia named Tian Guang (田光) first introduced him to Prince Dan. There Jing Ke accepted Prince Dan's hospitality, who as a last resort decided to send an assassin against the King of Qin. The plan was to either kidnap the king and force him to release the territories from his control; or failing this, to kill him. The expectation in either case was that Qin would be left disorganized, enabling the other six major states to unite against it.
capital, Handan
, and was waiting to approach the state of Yan. Jing Ke agreed to go to Qin state and pretend to be a nobleman begging for mercy. According to events at the time, Dukang (督亢) (in present day Hebei
) was the first part of the Yan state that the Qin wanted, by reason of its fertile farmland. The plan was to present a gift of the map of Dukang and the severed
head of the traitorous Qin general Fan Wuji to the king of Qin, in order to approach him.
At the time, General Fan Wuji had lost favor with Qin and wanted revenge against it ; whereas the Qin state put a bounty on capturing him of 1,000 gold pieces. Jing Ke went to Fan himself to discuss the assassination plan. Fan Wuji believed that the plan would work, and agreed to commit suicide, so that his head could be collected.
Prince Dan then obtained the sharpest possible bishou (匕首), refined it with poison, and gave it to Jing Ke. To accompany him, Prince Dan assigned Qin Wuyang
as assistant. Qin Wuyang was known to have successfully committed murder at age 13.
In 227 B.C.E., Prince Dan and other guests wore white clothing and white hats at Ji river (易水) to send the pair of assassins off. Jing Ke reportedly sang a song "Piercing wind, freezing river of Yi. The hero fords, and he never returns!" (風瀟瀟兮，易水寒，壮士一去不復返!). The King of Qin
received the message of visitors presenting a gift to him, and was willing to accept at the city.
represented the Yan and met with the king. Qin Wuyang reportedly became shocked when he entered the presence of the king; whereupon Jing Ke explained that his partner had never set eyes on the Son of Heaven
. Other sources suggest Jing Ke identified Qin Wuyang as a rural boy from the country side who had never seen the world.
When the king opened the map, revealing the bishou, Jing Ke seized it and attacked the king, who was briefly unable to draw his own sword. Of those present, none were armed to help.
A doctor named Xia Wuqie (夏無且) grabbed a medicine bag and attacked Jing Ke ; whereupon the King drew his sword and wounded Jing Ke. Both Jing Ke and Qin Wuyang were later killed for attempting assassination.
was sent against the Yan state. In 226 B.C. Prince Dan sent his army to fight at Ji
(薊).; but only to defeat. In an effort to try to appease the King of Qin, King Xi of Yan
put his son to death; but the Yan were annexed nonetheless .
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
attempt of Ying Zheng
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...
, King of Qin state
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
, who later became China's first emperor (reign from 221 BC to 210 BC). His story is told in the chapter entitled Biographies of the Assassins (刺客列傳) in Sima Qian
Sima Qian
Sima Qian was a Prefect of the Grand Scribes of the Han Dynasty. He is regarded as the father of Chinese historiography for his highly praised work, Records of the Grand Historian , a "Jizhuanti"-style general history of China, covering more than two thousand years from the Yellow Emperor to...
's Records of the Grand Historian
Records of the Grand Historian
The Records of the Grand Historian, also known in English by the Chinese name Shiji , written from 109 BC to 91 BC, was the Magnum opus of Sima Qian, in which he recounted Chinese history from the time of the Yellow Emperor until his own time...
.
Background
In 230 BCE, the Qin state began conquering other states as part of a unification plan. Qin's army successfully annihilated the weakest of the Seven Warring StatesSeven Warring States
The Seven Warring States or Seven Kingdoms refers to the seven warring states in China during the Warring States period of Chinese history...
, Han
Han (state)
Han was a kingdom during the Warring States Period in China, located in modern-day Shanxi and Henan. Not to be confused with South Korea which shares the same character....
. Two years later Zhao
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
was also conquered.
In exchange for peace, King Xi of Yan
King Xi of Yan
King Xi of Yan was the last sovereign of the state of Yan in the last days Warring States Period of Chinese history. He was the son of King Xiao of Yan . He was born as Ji Xi , the same name of King Lie of Zhou and Count Yi of Cao .In the 28th year of his reign, the State of Qin began its...
had earlier forced his son Crown Prince Dan of Yan
Crown Prince Dan of Yan
Crown Prince Dan of Yan was a crown prince of the state of Yan during the Warring States Period in China. Originally a hostage in the State of Qin, he was sent back to Yan in 232 BC. He sent Jing Ke to assassinate Qin Shi Huang, then Emperor of China, but he failed...
to be held hostage by the Qin, but Prince Dan returned knowing that Qin was far stronger than Yan and would attack it later.
Jing Ke was originally from Wei
Wei (Spring and Autumn Period)
This article is about the State of Wei founded during the Spring and Autumn Period. For the Warring States Period state whose name is pronounced identically, see Wei ....
(衞, not 魏). He was a scholar proficient in the art of the sword. His homeland of Wei was absorbed by Qin, and Jing Ke fled to Yan. A Youxia named Tian Guang (田光) first introduced him to Prince Dan. There Jing Ke accepted Prince Dan's hospitality, who as a last resort decided to send an assassin against the King of Qin. The plan was to either kidnap the king and force him to release the territories from his control; or failing this, to kill him. The expectation in either case was that Qin would be left disorganized, enabling the other six major states to unite against it.
Planning
In 228 B.C.E., the Qin army was already at the ZhaoZhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
capital, Handan
Handan
Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province of China.- History :Handan was the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period , after the capital moved from Zhongmu. The city was conquered by the State of Qin after the virtual annexation of...
, and was waiting to approach the state of Yan. Jing Ke agreed to go to Qin state and pretend to be a nobleman begging for mercy. According to events at the time, Dukang (督亢) (in present day Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
) was the first part of the Yan state that the Qin wanted, by reason of its fertile farmland. The plan was to present a gift of the map of Dukang and the severed
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
head of the traitorous Qin general Fan Wuji to the king of Qin, in order to approach him.
At the time, General Fan Wuji had lost favor with Qin and wanted revenge against it ; whereas the Qin state put a bounty on capturing him of 1,000 gold pieces. Jing Ke went to Fan himself to discuss the assassination plan. Fan Wuji believed that the plan would work, and agreed to commit suicide, so that his head could be collected.
Prince Dan then obtained the sharpest possible bishou (匕首), refined it with poison, and gave it to Jing Ke. To accompany him, Prince Dan assigned Qin Wuyang
Qin Wuyang
Qin Wuyang was a young man who followed Jing Ke when the latter went on the mission to assassinate Ying Zheng, the king of Qin. Both Jing and Qin were first disguised as envoys from Yan and were there to present the severed head of "Fan Yuqi", a Qin turncoat, and a map of Dukang...
as assistant. Qin Wuyang was known to have successfully committed murder at age 13.
In 227 B.C.E., Prince Dan and other guests wore white clothing and white hats at Ji river (易水) to send the pair of assassins off. Jing Ke reportedly sang a song "Piercing wind, freezing river of Yi. The hero fords, and he never returns!" (風瀟瀟兮，易水寒，壮士一去不復返!). The King of Qin
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...
received the message of visitors presenting a gift to him, and was willing to accept at the city.
Assassination
Concealing the bishou inside the map, Jing Ke and Qin WuyangQin Wuyang
Qin Wuyang was a young man who followed Jing Ke when the latter went on the mission to assassinate Ying Zheng, the king of Qin. Both Jing and Qin were first disguised as envoys from Yan and were there to present the severed head of "Fan Yuqi", a Qin turncoat, and a map of Dukang...
represented the Yan and met with the king. Qin Wuyang reportedly became shocked when he entered the presence of the king; whereupon Jing Ke explained that his partner had never set eyes on the Son of Heaven
Son of Heaven
Son of Heaven may refer to:* Emperor of China* Emperor of Japan* Emperors of Vietnam* Son of God* Son of Heaven , book on Guangxu Emperor by Princess Der Ling...
. Other sources suggest Jing Ke identified Qin Wuyang as a rural boy from the country side who had never seen the world.
When the king opened the map, revealing the bishou, Jing Ke seized it and attacked the king, who was briefly unable to draw his own sword. Of those present, none were armed to help.
A doctor named Xia Wuqie (夏無且) grabbed a medicine bag and attacked Jing Ke ; whereupon the King drew his sword and wounded Jing Ke. Both Jing Ke and Qin Wuyang were later killed for attempting assassination.
Yan annihilation
After Jing Ke's attempt, the Qin army general Wang JianWang Jian (Qin)
Wang Jian , a military leader of Qin in the Warring States Period. He was born in Guanzhong county, city of Pinyang, Dongxiang village .-Major Achievement:...
was sent against the Yan state. In 226 B.C. Prince Dan sent his army to fight at Ji
Yanjing
Yanjing can refer to:* Yanjing the ancient capital of the State of Yan, former name of Beijing* Yanjing Beer* A fictional analog of China in Tamora Pierce's Emelan universe....
(薊).; but only to defeat. In an effort to try to appease the King of Qin, King Xi of Yan
King Xi of Yan
King Xi of Yan was the last sovereign of the state of Yan in the last days Warring States Period of Chinese history. He was the son of King Xiao of Yan . He was born as Ji Xi , the same name of King Lie of Zhou and Count Yi of Cao .In the 28th year of his reign, the State of Qin began its...
put his son to death; but the Yan were annexed nonetheless .
Cultural references
- The Chinese filmCinema of ChinaThe Chinese-language cinema has three distinct historical threads: Cinema of Hong Kong, Cinema of China, and Cinema of Taiwan. Since 1949 the cinema of mainland China has operated under restrictions imposed by the Communist Party of China's State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television and...
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...
(1999), featuring Gong LiGong LiGong Li is a Chinese film actress. Gong first came into international prominence through close collaboration with Chinese director Zhang Yimou and is credited with helping to bring Chinese cinema to Europe and the United States....
and others, is based on the forementioned events. Jing Ke himself does not appear in the films 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:...
(1996), 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:...
, or Hero (2002) starring Jet LiJet LiThe fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce...
; but both films borrow elements from his story.
- A fictionalized version of Jing Ke appears in the film Highlander: EndgameHighlander: EndgameHighlander: Endgame is a 2000 fantasy film originally released on September 1, 2000. It is the fourth theatrical release in the Highlander film series, and it serves as both a continuation of the Highlander films and the Highlander television series...
(2000), played by actor and martial artist Donnie YenDonnie YenDonnie Yen is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film director and producer, action choreographer, and world wushu tournament medalist...
. In the film, Jing Ke is, like the other principal characters, an immortalImmortalityImmortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
warrior living in the story's present day. The film alters the spelling of Jing Ke's name to "Jin Ke" and makes (incorrect) reference to his historical association with Qin Shi Huang.
- The character Tsing Yi in John WooJohn WooJohn Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong-based film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard...
's Last Hurrah for ChivalryLast Hurrah for ChivalryLast Hurrah for Chivalry is a 1979 Hong Kong wuxia film directed and written by John Woo, starring Damian Lau and Wei Pai. The film is a precursor to Woo's heroic bloodshed films.-Plot:...
, according to its director, is inspired by Jing Ke.
- A ChineseChinaChinese 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...
TV series called 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:...
(荆轲传奇) was produced in 2004, depicting a fictionalized biography of Jing Ke, starring 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...
, Wang Yanan, and 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...
.
- Jing Ke is a spy in the computer game Civilization IV: Beyond the SwordCivilization IV: Beyond the SwordCivilization IV: Beyond the Sword is the second official expansion pack of the turn-based strategy video game Civilization IV. The expansion focuses on adding content to the in-game time periods following the invention of gunpowder, and includes more general content such as 11 new scenarios, 10 new...
.
- Jing Ke is one of the heroes in 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.
- Jing Ke's song as he left for his mission was played in the song, Episode 119 Medley, in an episode of the show, CommunityCommunity (TV series)Community is an American television comedy series created by Dan Harmon that airs on NBC. The series is about a group of students at a community college in the fictional locale of Greendale, Colorado. The series heavily uses meta-humor and pop culture references, often parodying film and television...
, when Señor Chang entered the library to kill off the two remaining students in the paintball fight.