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Jing Ke (荊軻; died 227 BCE) was a retainer of Crown Prince Dan who made a failed assassination attempt on King Zheng of the Qin state, who later became known as Qin Shi Huang. For his deed, Jing Ke and numerous other individuals were recorded by historian Sima Qian as one of China's earliest Assassins.[1]
Biography[edit | edit source]
Early life[edit | edit source]
Details about Jing Ke's early life are sparse, and much of what is known comes from the Biographies of Assassins chapter in Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian. Jing Ke was believed to be born in the state of Wei during the Warring States period. He was well-educated and known for his intelligence and skill in swordsmanship. He later became a wandering scholar and assassin.[2]
Assassination attempt[edit | edit source]
In 227 BCE, Jing Ke, acting on behalf of Prince Dan of Yan, set out to assassinate King Zheng of Qin to prevent Qin's aggressive territorial expansion. The plan involved presenting the king with two gifts: a map of the Dukang territory and the head of a defector, General Huan Yi, who had previously fled from Qin to Yan. These gifts were intended to secure an audience with the king. Accompanied by his companion Qin Wuyang, Jing Ke traveled to the Qin court. While Qin Wuyang faltered in fear, Jing Ke remained composed and successfully approached King Zheng.[2]
Upon meeting the king, Jing Ke unfurled the map to reveal a concealed dagger and attempted to stab King Zheng. However, due to a momentary hesitation and the king's quick defensive maneuvers, the assassination attempt failed. Jing Ke was overpowered and killed by the king's guards. The incident heightened King Zheng's paranoia, leading to stricter security measures and solidifying his resolve to unify China, which he eventually achieved in 221 BCE, proclaiming himself the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, Qin Shi Huang.[2]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: Dynasty (mentioned only)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Dynasty – The Hidden Ones (Part 2)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sima Qian. (94 BCE). "Biographies of Assassins". In Records of the Grand Historian. Chinese Text Project. Accessed 21 May 2024. https://ctext.org/shiji/ci-ke-lie-zhuan.
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