Jing Ke

Jing Ke was a famous figure from the late Warring States period of ancient China. He was a youxia, a term used for a person of high skill and honor. Jing Ke lived during a time of intense conflict between many different states. He is best known for his attempt to assassinate King Zheng of the Qin state. King Zheng would later become Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China. The story of his mission is recorded in the Biographies of Assassins by Sima Qian. This text is part of the famous Records of the Grand Historian.

During this era, the Qin state was rapidly expanding its power. In 230 BC, the Qin army destroyed the state of Han, which was the weakest of the Seven Warring States. By 228 BC, the formidable Zhao state had also been conquered. The Yan state was the next major territory threatened by this expansion. Jing Ke originally came from the minor Wei state, which Qin had annexed in 239 BC. After fleeing to Yan, he became a retainer for Crown Prince Dan. The Prince feared the Qin military supremacy that had existed since 260 BC.

Prince Dan and Jing Ke developed a high-stakes plan to stop the Qin expansion. They aimed to either kidnap King Zheng or kill him to cause disorganization in Qin. This chaos was meant to help the remaining states unite against conquest. The plan required Jing Ke to disguise himself as a nobleman ambassador. He would visit the Qin court to offer a map of the fertile Dukang region as a gift. The map was meant to represent a surrender of administrative rights to buy peace. However, the map scroll actually concealed a sharp, poisoned dagger.

To ensure the plan's success, the conspirators used a man named Fan Yuqi. Fan Yuqi was a general who had fled to Yan after losing favor with the Qin court. Because the Qin state wanted him for treason, they had offered a bounty of 1,000 gold pieces for him. Fan Yuqi agreed to commit suicide so his head could be sent to the King. This grim gift was intended to make the Yan embassy appear more sincere. This would allow Jing Ke to get closer to the King without suspicion. Prince Dan also provided a hitman named Qin Wuyang to assist Jing Ke.

In 227 BC, the time arrived for the mission at the Yi River. Prince Dan and his guests wore white clothing and white hats to send the assassins off. Jing Ke reportedly sang a song about a hero who never returns as he departed. When they reached the palace in Xianyang, the two men greeted King Zheng. Qin Wuyang became so nervous that he appeared paralyzed by the experience. Jing Ke remained calm and explained that his partner was simply overwhelmed by the King's presence. This excuse allowed Jing Ke to approach the throne alone to present the map.

As soon as King Zheng unrolled the map, Jing Ke struck. He seized the dagger and grabbed the King's sleeve to attack him. King Zheng managed to escape the first thrust by tearing his sleeve away. The King tried to draw a long ceremonial sword from his belt, but he could not do so while running. In the chaos, a royal physician named Xia Wuju threw a medicine bag at Jing Ke. This distraction gave the King enough time to recover his distance. The King then successfully unsheathed his longsword and struck Jing Ke in the thigh.

Jing Ke was unable to finish his attack and died from his wounds. The King stabbed him eight more times during the struggle. Even as he was dying, Jing Ke used his last strength to taunt the King. Following the failed attempt, the Qin general Wang Jian led an army against the Yan state. In 226 BC, the Yan army was defeated at Ji. Despite efforts by King Xi of Yan to appease the Qin, the state was destroyed. The Qin state eventually completed its conquest of the region, leading to the unification of China.

Jing Ke's story has had a lasting impact on Chinese culture and art. His mission has inspired many works of fiction, including several historical films. The 1996 film *The Emperor's Shadow* and the 1999 film *The Emperor and the Assassin* both focus on these events. In 2003, the Nobel laureate Mo Yan wrote a play titled *Our Jing Ke*. This play won a major drama award in China in 2012. The legacy of Jing Ke remains a significant part of how people study the transition from the Warring States to the Qin dynasty.