Overview
Bai Qi was a Qin general and Lord Wu'an.
PeriodAncient China
IdentityUncertain · Male
Life and dates
Death
- executed 殺 · Authority King Zhaoxiang of Qin (秦昭王)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 68
- BC 257 昭王五十年十一月Suicide by sword under royal command · At Duyou 杜郵 · Responsible Authority Person Id King Zhaoxiang of Qin (秦昭王)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 107-115
- ExecutedDirectly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 102
Attested activity
- legendary antiquityDirectly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 62, passage 64
- BC 294 to BC 257 BC 294-257Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 32, passage 118
- BC 257 不能救患於應侯Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 181
- BC 278 其明年（昭王二十九年）Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 13
- BC 293 其明年（昭王十四年）Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 5
- BC 260 四十七年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 49
Show 24 more source-backed claims
- BC 258 四十九年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 91
- BC 262 四十五年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 22
- BC 259 四十八年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 72
- BC 263 四十四年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 21
- BC 279 後七年（昭王二十八年）Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 12
- BC 286 後五年（昭王二十一年）Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 11
- BC 278 拔楚之郢Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 36
- BC 273 明年…破芒卯於華陽下Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 81
- BC 292 明年（昭王十五年）Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 8
- BC 291 明年（昭王十六年）Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 10
- BC 273 昭王三十四年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 18
- BC 257 昭王五十年十一月Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 115
- BC 294 昭王十三年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 3
- BC 293 昭王十四年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 25
- BC 264 昭王四十三年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 20
- BC 257 昭襄王時Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 68
- c. BC 278 白起…與楚戰Derived from the source · Records of the Grand Historian 76, passage 49
- BC 280 to BC 257 白起Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 62, passage 172
- BC 278 白起攻楚，拔鄢郢Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 6
- BC 273 白起攻韓、魏，敗之於華陽Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 4
- BC 260 秦將白起聞之Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 81, passage 165
- BC 280 to BC 257 秦并天下前Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 25, passage 96
- BC 260 長平Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 4
- BC 294 to BC 257 韓、白Strongly inferred · Book of Zhou 12, passage 296
Key source chapters
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 73 Biographies of Bai Qi and Wang Jian 37 passages
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 72 Biography of the Marquis of Rang 5 passages
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 78 Biography of Lord Chunshen 4 passages
- Book of Han, Chapter 25 Volume 23: Treatise on Punishment and Law 2 passages
- Book of Later Han, Chapter 32 Volume 28b: Biography of Feng Yan 1 passage
Career and standing
- Qin general 秦將Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 81, passage 165
- supreme general 上將軍BC 260 四十七年 · AppointedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 49
- Left Senior Minister 左庶長BC 294 昭王十三年 · AppointedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 3
- grand master craftsman 大良造BC 292 昭王十五年 · AppointedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 8
- general 將BC 293 昭王十四年 · AppointedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 25
- Left Minister of the Interior 左更BC 293 昭王十四年 · AppointedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 5
Show 8 more source-backed claims
- state defender 國尉BC 293 昭王十四年 · PromotedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 6
- Lord of Wu'an 武安君EnfeoffedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 37
- Lord Wu'an 武安君BC 278 昭王二十九年 · ElevatedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 16
- Lord of Wu'an 武安君EnfeoffedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 37
- Lord of Wu'an 武安君HeldDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 68
- Demoted toBC 258 四十九年 · Common soldierDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 104
- too ill to marchIllness · SufferedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 88, 105
- BanishedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 104, 107
Places and affiliations
- Qin 秦Relation ServedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 2
- Polity Qin · Relation ServedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 76, passage 49
- Polity Qin 秦 · Relation Served
- Polity Qin 秦 · Relation ServedStrongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 181; Book of Zhou 12, passage 296
- At Mei 郿 · Relation Native ofDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 1
Learning and skills
- Skill warfare 用兵 · Level adeptDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 2
- Skill military strategy 料敵合變，出奇無窮 · Level renownedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 181
Works and attributed material
- Judgment · Subject · Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 181, 184
- Speech · Speaker · Topic deliberation before the massacre of surrendered Zhao troops · Mode direct-quotation Speaker Bai Qi (白起)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 63-65
- Speech · Speaker · Topic final reflection and confession · Mode direct-quotation Speaker Bai Qi (白起)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 111-113
- Speech · Speaker · Topic rebuke that Qin had ignored his counsel · Mode direct-quotation Speaker Bai Qi (白起)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 101
- Speech · Speaker · Topic strategic assessment of attacking Handan · Mode direct-quotation Speaker Bai Qi (白起)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 92-96
Events and relationships
- Attacked Xincheng of HanBC 294 昭王十三年 · Military · Commander · At Xincheng 新城Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 3
- AttackedBC 273 破芒卯於華陽下 · Military · CommanderDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 81
- Captured five Han citiesBC 264 昭王四十三年 · Military · CommanderDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 20
- Captured Yuan City with CuoDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 10
- Captured citiesBC 278 拔鄢郢 · Military · Commander · At Ying 郢Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 6
- Captured Yan and Ying burned Yiling humiliated Chuc. BC 278 白起…與楚戰 · Military · CommanderDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 76, passage 49
Show 15 more source-backed claims
- Commanded Qin to victory at ChangpingDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 49-62
- Conquered Chu cities and the Chu capitalBC 279 to BC 278 昭王二十八年至二十九年 · Military · CommanderDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 12-13
- Defeated Han and Wei at Yique and captured Gongsun XiDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 5
- DefeatedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 4
- DefeatedBC 293 昭王十四年 · Military · Commander · At Yique 伊闕Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 25
- Destroyed Zhao army at ChangpingBC 260 長平 · Military · CommanderDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 4
- Employed in Qin’s conquest of the six statesMilitary · GeneralDirectly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 96
- Feigned defeat cut supply divided armyDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 81, passage 165
- Invoked as a man of other surname compared with Yuwen XianDirectly stated · Book of Zhou 12, passage 296
- Ordered the surrendered Zhao soldiers killed by deceptionBC 260 四十七年 · Military · Responsible commander · Outcome About 450,000 killed or capturedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 63-67
- Refused command of the Handan campaign after judging it unwinnableBC 258 四十九年 · Military · Prospective commanderDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 91-98
- SeizedBC 278 拔楚之郢 · Military · Commander · At Ying 郢Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 36
- Undone byDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 181
- Won the battle at Huayang, routing Mang Mao and defeating Jia YanDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 18-19
- Relation Victim of machinations of · Person Lord Ying (應侯)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 181
Assessments and attributes
- Assessment concluded that the Changping massacre made him deserve death · Mode self-assessment Speaker Bai Qi (白起)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 111-113
- Assessment died without guilt for the charge against him and was pitied and worshiped by Qin communities · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 116
- Assessment gauged foes and adapted; stratagems without bound; reputation shook the world; yet could not save himself from Lord Ying · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 181, 184
- Assessment likened to a wolfish man · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 96
Source notes
- Historicity historicalDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 81, passage 165; Book of Zhou 12, passage 296
References in the histories
56 passages
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