Su Qin
Encyclopedia
Su Qin was an influential political strategist during the Warring States Period
of Chinese history (476-220 BCE). He was born in Chengxuan Village, Luoyang in present day Henan Province. According to legend Su Qin was a disciple of Gui Guzi
, the founder of the School of Diplomacy
. One theory of this school, Vertical Alliance, promoted an alliance of the other Chinese
states against the state of Qin
. The opposing theory, "Horizontal Alliance" supported an alliance with the State of Qin
.
After finishing his studies with Gui Guzi, Su Qin travelled for several years and on his return lamented that "My wife doesn't recognize me as her husband, my sister-in-law doesn't recognize me as her brother-in-law, and my parents don't recognize me as their son!". All these misfortunes he blamed on the state of Qin
and he thereafter shut himself in his room to study. To prevent form falling asleepy from long hours of study, he tied his hair to the house beam and if he felt sleepy, he would stab himself in the thigh with a sharp instrument. This practice gave rise to part of a Chinese idiom or "chengyu" which means "to study assiduously and tirelessly".
At his most brilliant Su Qin persuaded the leaders of the six kingdoms of Qi
, Chu
, Yan
, Han
, Zhao
and Wei
to unite against the Qin
state through the use of his splendid rhetoric and thereafter wore robes decorated with the insignia of the six states. The allies of the Vertical Alliance advanced on the State of Qin but were easily defeated due to internal discord between the former enemies.
One theory suggests that he and Zhang Yi
mutually reinforced each others viewpoints in order to achieve their personal goals.
and the Strategems of the Warring States
suggests that the content relating to Su Qin in the former work was actually forged by later authors.
A wasted visit to the Qin State
When Su Qin arrived in Qin, the state's ruler Duke Xiao of Qin had just died. His successor King Huiwen of Qin, destested the political reformer Shang Yang
of whom the former Duke had been an avid supporter and promptly had him executed. King Huiwen also hated talented foreigners such that Su Qin made no headway.
Negotiations with the Yan State
Su Qin told Marquis Wen, the ruler of the Yan State that the threat posed by the Zhao State
was greater than that from the Qin State
and that he should form an alliance with the State of Qi
. As a result Su Qin came to be highly regarded in the Yan State.
Negotiations with the Zhao State
Su Qin informed the Marquis of Zhao that his territory lay in a crucial position, slightly offset from the other warring states but ultimately disadvantageous. He suggested that because of this, in an alliance with the other powers, the Zhao State
would effectively hold the balance of power. Much impressed by the idea, the Zhao ruler rewarded Su Qin financially and invited him to venture forth and discuss an alliance with the other states.
Negotiations with the Han State
Su Qin angered King Xuan of Han
and made him focus on the Vertical Alliance.
Negotiations with the Wei State
Encouraging the selfishness of the Wei
officials, Su Qin persuaded King Xiang of Wei
to concentrate on the Vertical Alliance.
Negotiations with the Qi State
Su Qin made it clear that it was impossible for the Qin State
to cross Zhao
and Wei
and attack Qi
. As a result, to the great shame of Su Qin, the Qi State
pledged allegiance to the Qin
.
Negotiations with the Chu State
Su Qin told King Wei of the Chu
that the other six warring states had already formed an alliance. King Wei refused to join and was inevitably attacked by the State of Qin
.
At the end of this period of canvassing, Su Qin became chief administrator of the Vertical Alliance and wore the insignia of the six member nations. After he became famous, he returned to his hometown in a blaze of glory. His parents welcomed him thirty li from home, his sister-in-law crawled like a snake whilst the surprise showed on his wife but she dared not look at him, her former stubbornness having become respect. Once more Su Qin lamented "the parents are poor but not the son". Although already an official of the six nation alliance, Marquis Su of Zhao
appointed Su Qin ruler of Wu'an in modern day Henan Province. According to the records of the Vertical Alliance, the Qin State
went into decline and would not dare cross the strategic Hangu Pass
for a further fifteen years.
against the states of Qi
, Wei
and Zhao
brought the end of the Vertical Alliance; Su Qin left the Zhao State
and the alliance disintegrated.
The Qi State
took advantage of the Yan State
and installed a new monarch, King Yi, as well occupying ten cities which the King of Wei
asked Su Qin to get back. Su Qin petitioned the King of Qi
thus: "The King of Yan
is a kinsman of the Qi State
and you have snatched his territory. This is bound to draw the elite troops of the Qin State
so you must return these cities!"
After the Marquis Wen of Yan
died, King Yi ascended the throne. Su Qin had an affair with the late Marquis’ widow and when King Yi discovered, Su Qin fearing that he might be punished, subsequently left the Yan State
and went to Qi
where he obtained an important position from King Xuan. When Xuan died, King Min ascended the throne and Su Qin vied with the ministers of state for the monarch’s favor. The ministers tried to assassinate Su Qin and he was seriously injured; the Qi king
tried to arrest the culprits but failed to do so. On the point of death Su Qin asked the king of Qi
to rebel in his name. Su Qin’s body was torn limb from limb in the town square in a clever ruse by King Min to draw out Su Qin’s would-be assassins who were subsequently executed. Afterwards, Su Qin’s spies leaked information to the Qi State
provoking the further hatred and anger of the Yan State
.
a number of silk manuscripts were unearthed. Once they were collated these were dubbed the "Records of the Vertical and Horizontal Alliance Schools of Thought” during the Warring States Period
". The documents consist of a total of twenty-seven chapters divided into three parts. The first, consisting of fourteen chapters, contains Su Qin's correspondence and conversations and provides information from which the historical truth regarding the “Strategies of the Warring States”
may be discerned and errors in Su Qin’s biography in the "Records of the Grand Historian
" identified.
According to this written evidence, Su Qin’s era followed that of Zhang Yi
, during the reign of King Zhao of Yan
. In conjunction with Gong Sun Yan, Su Qin continued Zhang Yi
’s mutual confrontation with the Horizontal Alliance of Xi Shou. Su Qing had four older brothers: Su Dai, Su Li, Su Bi and Su Hu. Under his teacher Yu Qi, Su Qin studied all aspects of the operations of the Vertical Alliance and the Horizontal Alliance. He also pored over the books in Yu Qi’s collection and found one titled "Minister Yin Fu’s Plan", which Su Qin studied hard for many years, and accepted that its methods would be enough to gain the support of the reigning monarch.
After King Zhao of Yan
Yan (312 BC – 279 BC) ascended to the throne, the state suffered upheaval and bloodshed so the king, planning to strengthen his state and avenge former humiliation, summoned his sages. Su Qin immediately left Zhou and travelled to the State of Yan
.For King Zhao of Yan
, Su Qin carried out his first meritorious service by petitioning King Xuan of Qi
to return the ten cities he had previously snatched. The Yan State
sent a prince as hostage to the State of Qi
with Su Qin acting as envoy. This was in the seventh year of the reign of King Min of Qi
, 294 BCE when the government of the Qi State
was presided over by Lord Mengchang of Qi
. Su Qin was treated well in Qi
and was on friendly terms with Lord Mengchang of Qi
before his return to the Yan State
.
In 292 BCE, the tripartite forces of Qi
, Zhao
and Qin
were using all their efforts to fight over territory belonging to the Kingdom of Song
. Su Qin suggested a plan to King Zhao of Yan
whilst guaranteeing that he could be “trusted as much as Wei Sheng” and that details of his secret meetings would go with him to the grave.
Thereafter, Su Qin managed to drive a wedge between the State of Qi
and the State of Zhao’s
relations. Qi
wiped out the Kingdom of Song
which severely weakened Qi
such that the Vertical Alliance of the other five states attacked. When Yue Yi
defeated Qi
, King Min of Qi adjudged Su Qing guilty of dissention and had him torn limb from limb in public. Afterwards Zou Yang said “Su Qin trusted nothing under heaven but he kept his promises to the State of Yan
. Sima Qian
also commented, “Su Qin undertook a strategy of sowing dissention which led to his execution and all under heaven now mock him”.
In 1972, circumstantial evidence unearthed from the number one grave at Yinque Mountain, Linyi Prefecture, Shandong Province provided Han Dynasty
bamboo slips inscribed with "The Art of War
" by Sun Tzu
. The historian Li Ling mentions this in his simplified version "Sun Tzu
" in the "Espionage
" chapter, viz “When the Zhou flourished, Lu Ya was in Yin" followed by the sentence, “When the Yan State
flourished, Su Qin was in Qi”. Li Ling believes that this "Sun Tzu" is not the same as the one handed down to later generations and is clearly the history of the late 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...
of Chinese history (476-220 BCE). He was born in Chengxuan Village, Luoyang in present day Henan Province. According to legend Su Qin was a disciple of Gui Guzi
Guiguzi
Wang Xu , better known by his pseudonym Guiguzi , is an ancient Chinese philosopher from the Warring States Period of Chinese history. He was the founder of the School of Diplomacy of the Hundred Schools of Thought during that period...
, the founder of the School of Diplomacy
School of Diplomacy
The School of Diplomacy , or "School of Vertical and Horizontal" Alliances was a political and diplomatic clique during the Warring States Period of Chinese history...
. One theory of this school, Vertical Alliance, promoted an alliance of the other 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...
states against the state of Qin
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...
. The opposing theory, "Horizontal Alliance" supported an alliance with the State of Qin
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...
.
After finishing his studies with Gui Guzi, Su Qin travelled for several years and on his return lamented that "My wife doesn't recognize me as her husband, my sister-in-law doesn't recognize me as her brother-in-law, and my parents don't recognize me as their son!". All these misfortunes he blamed on the state of Qin
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...
and he thereafter shut himself in his room to study. To prevent form falling asleepy from long hours of study, he tied his hair to the house beam and if he felt sleepy, he would stab himself in the thigh with a sharp instrument. This practice gave rise to part of a Chinese idiom or "chengyu" which means "to study assiduously and tirelessly".
At his most brilliant Su Qin persuaded the leaders of the six kingdoms of Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
, Chu
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
, Yan
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
, 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....
, Zhao
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
and Wei
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
to unite against the Qin
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...
state through the use of his splendid rhetoric and thereafter wore robes decorated with the insignia of the six states. The allies of the Vertical Alliance advanced on the State of Qin but were easily defeated due to internal discord between the former enemies.
One theory suggests that he and Zhang Yi
Zhang Yi (strategist)
Zhang Yi was born in the Wei state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. He was an important strategist in helping Qin to dissolve the unity of the other states, and hence pave the way for Qin to unify China...
mutually reinforced each others viewpoints in order to achieve their personal goals.
Canvassing the Six States
This period of canvassing is one of the most debated issues in Chinese History. Modern day verification of Su Qin's biography in the Records of the Grand HistorianRecords 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...
and the Strategems of the Warring States
Zhan Guo Ce
The Zhan Guo Ce is a renowned ancient Chinese historical work and compilation of sporadic materials on the Warring States Period compiled between the 3rd to 1st centuries BCE...
suggests that the content relating to Su Qin in the former work was actually forged by later authors.
A wasted visit to the 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...
When Su Qin arrived in Qin, the state's ruler Duke Xiao of Qin had just died. His successor King Huiwen of Qin, destested the political reformer Shang Yang
Shang Yang
Shang Yang was an important statesman of the State of Qin during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Born Wei Yang in the State of Wei, with the support of Duke Xiao of Qin Yang enacted numerous reforms in Qin...
of whom the former Duke had been an avid supporter and promptly had him executed. King Huiwen also hated talented foreigners such that Su Qin made no headway.
Negotiations with the Yan State
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
Su Qin told Marquis Wen, the ruler of the Yan State that the threat posed by the Zhao State
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
was greater than that from the 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...
and that he should form an alliance with the State of Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
. As a result Su Qin came to be highly regarded in the Yan State.
Negotiations with the Zhao State
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
Su Qin informed the Marquis of Zhao that his territory lay in a crucial position, slightly offset from the other warring states but ultimately disadvantageous. He suggested that because of this, in an alliance with the other powers, the Zhao State
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
would effectively hold the balance of power. Much impressed by the idea, the Zhao ruler rewarded Su Qin financially and invited him to venture forth and discuss an alliance with the other states.
Negotiations with the Han State
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....
Su Qin angered King Xuan of 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....
and made him focus on the Vertical Alliance.
Negotiations with the Wei State
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
Encouraging the selfishness of the Wei
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
officials, Su Qin persuaded King Xiang of Wei
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
to concentrate on the Vertical Alliance.
Negotiations with the Qi State
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
Su Qin made it clear that it was impossible for the 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...
to cross Zhao
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
and Wei
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
and attack Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
. As a result, to the great shame of Su Qin, the Qi State
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
pledged allegiance to the Qin
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...
.
Negotiations with the Chu State
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
Su Qin told King Wei of the Chu
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
that the other six warring states had already formed an alliance. King Wei refused to join and was inevitably attacked by the State of Qin
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...
.
At the end of this period of canvassing, Su Qin became chief administrator of the Vertical Alliance and wore the insignia of the six member nations. After he became famous, he returned to his hometown in a blaze of glory. His parents welcomed him thirty li from home, his sister-in-law crawled like a snake whilst the surprise showed on his wife but she dared not look at him, her former stubbornness having become respect. Once more Su Qin lamented "the parents are poor but not the son". Although already an official of the six nation alliance, Marquis Su of Zhao
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
appointed Su Qin ruler of Wu'an in modern day Henan Province. According to the records of the Vertical Alliance, the 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...
went into decline and would not dare cross the strategic Hangu Pass
Hangu Pass
Hangu Pass was a strategic pass in ancient China just south of the great eastern bend of the Yellow River in today's Lingbao, Henan Province...
for a further fifteen years.
Defeat of the Vertical Alliance and the death of Su Qin
The six nation Vertical Alliance started out with each member state pursuing their own interests and as a result the foundations were shallow. A punitive expedition mounted by the State of QinQi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
against the states of Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
, Wei
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
and Zhao
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
brought the end of the Vertical Alliance; Su Qin left the Zhao State
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
and the alliance disintegrated.
The Qi State
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
took advantage of the Yan State
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
and installed a new monarch, King Yi, as well occupying ten cities which the King of Wei
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
asked Su Qin to get back. Su Qin petitioned the King of Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
thus: "The King of Yan
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
is a kinsman of the Qi State
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
and you have snatched his territory. This is bound to draw the elite troops of the 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...
so you must return these cities!"
After the Marquis Wen of Yan
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
died, King Yi ascended the throne. Su Qin had an affair with the late Marquis’ widow and when King Yi discovered, Su Qin fearing that he might be punished, subsequently left the Yan State
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
and went to Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
where he obtained an important position from King Xuan. When Xuan died, King Min ascended the throne and Su Qin vied with the ministers of state for the monarch’s favor. The ministers tried to assassinate Su Qin and he was seriously injured; the Qi king
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
tried to arrest the culprits but failed to do so. On the point of death Su Qin asked the king of Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
to rebel in his name. Su Qin’s body was torn limb from limb in the town square in a clever ruse by King Min to draw out Su Qin’s would-be assassins who were subsequently executed. Afterwards, Su Qin’s spies leaked information to the Qi State
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
provoking the further hatred and anger of the Yan State
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
.
Contemporary verification of Su Qin's real identity
In 1973, at the Mawangdui Han Tomb site in Changsha, Hunan ProvinceHunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
a number of silk manuscripts were unearthed. Once they were collated these were dubbed the "Records of the Vertical and Horizontal Alliance Schools of Thought” 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...
". The documents consist of a total of twenty-seven chapters divided into three parts. The first, consisting of fourteen chapters, contains Su Qin's correspondence and conversations and provides information from which the historical truth regarding the “Strategies of the Warring States”
Zhan Guo Ce
The Zhan Guo Ce is a renowned ancient Chinese historical work and compilation of sporadic materials on the Warring States Period compiled between the 3rd to 1st centuries BCE...
may be discerned and errors in Su Qin’s biography in the "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...
" identified.
According to this written evidence, Su Qin’s era followed that of Zhang Yi
Zhang Yi (strategist)
Zhang Yi was born in the Wei state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. He was an important strategist in helping Qin to dissolve the unity of the other states, and hence pave the way for Qin to unify China...
, during the reign of King Zhao of Yan
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
. In conjunction with Gong Sun Yan, Su Qin continued Zhang Yi
Zhang Yi (strategist)
Zhang Yi was born in the Wei state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. He was an important strategist in helping Qin to dissolve the unity of the other states, and hence pave the way for Qin to unify China...
’s mutual confrontation with the Horizontal Alliance of Xi Shou. Su Qing had four older brothers: Su Dai, Su Li, Su Bi and Su Hu. Under his teacher Yu Qi, Su Qin studied all aspects of the operations of the Vertical Alliance and the Horizontal Alliance. He also pored over the books in Yu Qi’s collection and found one titled "Minister Yin Fu’s Plan", which Su Qin studied hard for many years, and accepted that its methods would be enough to gain the support of the reigning monarch.
After King Zhao of Yan
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
Yan (312 BC – 279 BC) ascended to the throne, the state suffered upheaval and bloodshed so the king, planning to strengthen his state and avenge former humiliation, summoned his sages. Su Qin immediately left Zhou and travelled to the State of Yan
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
.For King Zhao of Yan
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
, Su Qin carried out his first meritorious service by petitioning King Xuan of Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
to return the ten cities he had previously snatched. The Yan State
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
sent a prince as hostage to the State of Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
with Su Qin acting as envoy. This was in the seventh year of the reign of King Min of Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
, 294 BCE when the government of the Qi State
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
was presided over by Lord Mengchang of Qi
Lord Mengchang of Qi
Lord Mengchang , born Tian Wen, was an aristocrat of the State of Qi during the Warring States Period of China. He was born as Tian Wen, son of Tian Ying and grandson of King Wei of Qi. He succeeded to his father's fief in Xue. Lord Mengchang is well known for the size of his entourage...
. Su Qin was treated well in Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
and was on friendly terms with Lord Mengchang of Qi
Lord Mengchang of Qi
Lord Mengchang , born Tian Wen, was an aristocrat of the State of Qi during the Warring States Period of China. He was born as Tian Wen, son of Tian Ying and grandson of King Wei of Qi. He succeeded to his father's fief in Xue. Lord Mengchang is well known for the size of his entourage...
before his return to the Yan State
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
.
In 292 BCE, the tripartite forces of Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
, Zhao
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
and Qin
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...
were using all their efforts to fight over territory belonging to the Kingdom of Song
Liu Song Dynasty
The Liu Song Dynasty , also known as Song Dynasty , Former Song , or Southern Song , was first of the four Southern Dynasties in China, succeeding the Eastern Jin Dynasty and followed by the Southern Qi Dynasty....
. Su Qin suggested a plan to King Zhao of Yan
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
whilst guaranteeing that he could be “trusted as much as Wei Sheng” and that details of his secret meetings would go with him to the grave.
Thereafter, Su Qin managed to drive a wedge between the State of Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
and the State of Zhao’s
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
relations. Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
wiped out the Kingdom of Song
Liu Song Dynasty
The Liu Song Dynasty , also known as Song Dynasty , Former Song , or Southern Song , was first of the four Southern Dynasties in China, succeeding the Eastern Jin Dynasty and followed by the Southern Qi Dynasty....
which severely weakened Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
such that the Vertical Alliance of the other five states attacked. When Yue Yi
Yue Yi
Yue Yi was an officer of the State of Yan during the Warring State period, also known as Lord Guojun. He was the son of the prime minister of the small nation of Zhongshan, but when Zhongshan was destroyed by Zhao's King Wuling, he was forced to wander from country to country...
defeated Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
, King Min of Qi adjudged Su Qing guilty of dissention and had him torn limb from limb in public. Afterwards Zou Yang said “Su Qin trusted nothing under heaven but he kept his promises to the State of Yan
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
. 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...
also commented, “Su Qin undertook a strategy of sowing dissention which led to his execution and all under heaven now mock him”.
In 1972, circumstantial evidence unearthed from the number one grave at Yinque Mountain, Linyi Prefecture, Shandong Province provided Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
bamboo slips inscribed with "The Art of War
The Art of War
The Art of War is an ancient Chinese military treatise that is attributed to Sun Tzu , a high ranking military general and strategist during the late Spring and Autumn period...
" by Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
Sun Wu , style name Changqing , better known as Sun Tzu or Sunzi , was an ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher who is traditionally believed, and who is most likely, to have authored The Art of War, an influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy...
. The historian Li Ling mentions this in his simplified version "Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
Sun Wu , style name Changqing , better known as Sun Tzu or Sunzi , was an ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher who is traditionally believed, and who is most likely, to have authored The Art of War, an influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy...
" in the "Espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
" chapter, viz “When the Zhou flourished, Lu Ya was in Yin" followed by the sentence, “When the Yan State
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
flourished, Su Qin was in Qi”. Li Ling believes that this "Sun Tzu" is not the same as the one handed down to later generations and is clearly the history of the late 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...
.