Su Qin ( Chinese trad. 蘇秦 , ex. 苏秦 , pinyin : Sū Qín , pall .: Su Qin , 380 - 284 BC) - an outstanding strategist and diplomat of the period of the Battle of the Kingdoms (Zhangguo) in ancient China . Born in Chengyuan Village, currently subordinate to the city of Luoyang , Henan Province, studied with the semi-legendary Gui Gu-tzu , the founder of the School of Diplomacy, together with Zhang Yi . He was the inspirer and organizer of the “vertical union” of the kingdoms against Qin and served as xiang Minister) in six kingdoms ( Qi , Chu , Han , Wei , Zhao , Yan ). His political opponent would be l Zhang Yi , who was able to upset the “vertical union” by creating a “horizontal union” around the central kingdom of Qin .
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Biography
Biographies of Zhang Yi are devoted to a separate chapter 69 of “ Historical Notes ” by Sima Qian , information about Su Qing is also available in the biography of Zhang Yi (chapter 70). At the same time, studies show chronological inconsistencies and inaccuracies in the narration of Syma Qian [1] . Additional information about Su Qing was found in one of the writings in the Mawanda texts, which, in particular, change the chronology and clarify the facts of the biography.
According to Sima Qian, he was born in the capital of the central kingdom of Zhou - in Luoyang . He studied under Gui Gu-tzu . He had a great capacity for work, read many books and prepared himself for the service of an adviser at Van. In the realm of Zhou himself, he was unable to make his way to the reception for the van, and he went to look for an adviser position in other kingdoms [2] .
Coordination of the Six Kingdoms against Qin
Bad visit to Qin
First, Su Qin went to the kingdom of Qin , where he met with Hui-wan , who had just ascended the throne. Su Qin described to him the power of the kingdom and the prospects of conquering all the kingdoms around and the foundation of the Empire. Hui-wang executed Shang Yang shortly before, and was now wary of visiting advisers. He replied to Su Qin that Qin was not yet ready for expansive wars and refused to appoint him. [2]
Negotiations with Yan
After that, Su Qin went to Zhao , but the new Xiang (chief minister) Fengyang-jun was angry, and he went further north to the kingdom of Yan .
The Yan ruler Wen-gong could receive him only after a year. He found the kingdom in a state of prosperity and power and explained to the prince that the reason for this was that Yan was covered by the Zhao kingdom from bloody wars. However, in the event of a conflict with Zhao, the Zhao troops are quite capable of reaching the capital in two weeks. Therefore, he recommended that the prince make friends with the ruler Zhao in order to protect himself from threats. Prince Wen-gun agreed and supported the idea of uniting many kingdoms vertically against Qin. He equipped Su Qin with a chariot and gifts to go to Zhao. [2]
Negotiations with Zhao
When Su Qin arrived at the Zhaos court, Minister Fengyang-jun, who was hostile to him, had already died, and he received a reception from Prince Su-hou .
In his speech to the prince, he described the situation as extremely unstable and advised relying on the neighboring kingdoms of Chu, Han, Wei and Qi, the union and peaceful exchange with which would give Zhao many advantages. On the contrary, an attempt to conclude an alliance with Qin will weaken the neighboring principalities, which will make Zhao weaken and lose the benefits of a peaceful exchange of resources. In addition, the strengthening of Qin will put Zhao in direct danger of invasion after the gradual defeat or subjugation of other principalities. Then Su Qin presented to the Zhaos prince a detailed plan for the union of the six principalities (Han, Wei, Qi, Chu, Yan and Zhao) to contain Qin. The implementation of such a union will give the zhaoski ruler the position of a hegemon. [2]
The Zhao prince accepted the plan and gave Su Qin powers, supplying him with jewelry, regalia and chariots to implement the proposed plan. [2]
Negotiations with the Han
Having received an audience with the Han Xuan-Wang , Su Qin described to him the power and strength of the Han Army and the disadvantage and humiliation of serving the kingdom of Qin, which would require ever new concessions. The report convinced the Han Wang to join the union vertically with Zhao.
Negotiations with Wei
In the kingdom of Wei, Su Qin appeared before Xiang-wang and described to him how a powerful Wei kingdom could be subordinate to Qin. The only way out could be only the union of the six kingdoms against Qin. Wei Wang also accepted Zhao’s proposal to join the union vertically. [2]
Negotiations with Qi
Then Su Qin proceeded east to Qi and appeared before Xuan-wan . He again described the power of the Qi kingdom and the shame that they would overtake from the union and submission of Qin. After analyzing the prospects of local wars against Qin from the principalities of Han and Wei, Su Qin concludes that the best solution is to conclude an alliance with the six kingdoms. Tsisky van considered the arguments convincing and joined the union. [2]
Negotiations with Chu
Then Su Qin proceeded to the southwest and appeared in front of Chusky Wei-Wang. He repeated the same argument, outlining the power and greatness of the kingdom of Chu and the shame of submission to Qin. He noted that these kingdoms cannot coexist, and strengthening Chu means weakening Qin, and vice versa, strengthening Qin means weakening Chu. But at the same time, he described the advantages of the union of the six kingdoms and the benefits of interchange when the Chus van will be hegemonic. An alliance with Qin is possible only with concessions. Chuski van agreed, admitting that he alone could not defeat Qin.
After uniting the six kingdoms into a vertical union, Su Qin became the head of the union, becoming a xiang under six kings. He then returned to Zhao to report on the results of his mission, solemnly following through all the lands. [2]
Sima Qian mentions 15 years of a stable alliance, which seems unlikely to historians. [2]
Vertical Union Failure and Su Qin's Death
Nevertheless, the vertical union was unstable for a number of reasons - largely due to the diplomatic activity of Zhang Yi [3] , supported by a demonstration of the power of Qin. Zhang Yi forced the six kingdoms to successively conclude agreements with Qin to the detriment of the union and undermined confidence in Su Qin. As a result, the six kingdoms began to be guided only by their own interests.
The collapse of the anti-Qing coalition came when the kingdom of Qi in alliance with Wei decided to attack Zhao , incited by Qin. Zhao Wang blamed the incident on Su Qin, who asked him to be sent to Yan for help. After a short time, the Yang Wen-hou died and I-wan took the throne. Taking advantage of the situation, the kingdom of Qi attacked Yan and occupied ten cities. The Yan van began to blame Su Qin, who went to Qi, trying to return the city, hoping that the Yang van is the son-in-law of the Qin van. Tsiskiy van agreed and returned the city to strengthen relations with Yan and Qin.
In the kingdom of Yan, he fell into complex intrigues, aggravated by his love affair with the mother of Yang Yang-wang, and fled back to Qi. Tsisky Xuan-wang then died, and the new Tsar Ming-wang reacted favorably to Su Qin, however, Su Qin in Qi again fell into palace intrigues and was stabbed to death by intruders. According to Sima Qian, being mortally wounded, Su Qin asked Wang to declare him an attacker and execute him, tearing the body apart with chariots. Upon learning of the execution of Su Qin, the attackers, counting on a reward from the ruler, themselves came to the court. They were captured and executed by the van. [2]
Clarification of the personality of Su Qin and the facts of his biography on the Mawanda texts
Among the Mavanduy texts found in 1973, there is a document called "The book on the strategies of unions in horizontal and vertical" (《戰國 縱橫 家書》). In the first part of 14 chapters, there is correspondence and statements by Su Qin, which make it possible to clarify his biography and correct mistakes and inconsistencies with Sima Qian. In particular, the death year of Su Qin is set to 284 BC. e., which does not fit with the data of Sima Qian, when Su Qin dies during the life of Zhang Yi (about 314 BC) and this event turns out to be significant in the biography of Zhang I.
According to these chapters, Su Qin’s activities took place after Zhang Yi during the reign of Zhao-wan (312 - 279 BC) in the kingdom of Yan . Su Qin was not in confrontation with Zhang Yi, but with Xi Shou, a later horizontal supporter of the alliance. Su Qin studied with Yu Qi and worked on a lot of books on strategy before going out with offers in the face of Wang.
After the capture of ten cities in the kingdom of Yan by the tsisky Xuan-Wang , Su Qin was able to resolve the conflict, the cities were returned, but the Yang prince was sent hostage to Qi. Su Qin became a messenger under the Yang Prince. Su Qin was in good relations with the rulers of Qi.
In 292 BC e. a conflict arose over the territory of the Song kingdom, in which the kingdoms of Qin, Zhao and Qi participated. Su Qin offered King Zhao a special plan that led to friction between Zhao and Qi, and the other five kingdoms of the alliance vertically attacked Qi. Tsiskiy Ming-wan accused Su Qin of treason and publicly executed. [four]
Reflection in Culture
Su Qin is one of the characters in the historical television series "The Great Qin Empire" (second edition of 2011) [5] .
Notes
- ↑ L.C. Vasiliev / Ancient China. Volume 3. The period of Zhangguo (V — III centuries BC). Zhang Yi and political and diplomatic activities in favor of Qin
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Syma Qian, t. 69
- ↑ Sima Qian, t. 70
- ↑ 馬王堆 漢墓 帛書． 戰國 縱橫 家書 (Mawangdui Han Books on Silk, Book on Horizontal and Vertical Union Strategies)
- ↑ http://ent.sina.com.cn/f/v/daqindg2/大 秦帝国 2 (Da qin di guo) - the television series "The Great Qin Empire"
Literature
- Sima Qian . Historical notes . Translation by R.V. Vyatkin. T. VII. Chapter 69 (Su Qin le Zhuang) .p. 95 - 119.
- Sima Qian . Historical notes . Translation by R.V. Vyatkin. T. VII. Chapter 70 (Zhang Yi le Zhuang) .p. 120 - 142.
- L.C. Vasiliev / Ancient China. Volume 3. The period of Zhangguo (V — III centuries BC). Zhang Yi and political and diplomatic activities in favor of Qin