Ancient China · Political intermediary of the Warring States

Chen Zhen 陳軫

Attested BC 317 - c. BC 300

Passages: 4
Chapters: 2
Histories: 1

Overview

Chen Zhen was a Political intermediary of the Warring States.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 317 宣惠王十六年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 45, passage 84
c. BC 300 戰國時期
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 170

Key source chapters

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 48 House of Chen She 1 passage
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 45 House of Han 3 passages

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With King of Chu (楚王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 45, passages 85-91

Events and relationships

Communicated the intentions of the six states
Diplomacy · Intermediary
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 170
Relation Advisor of · Person King of Chu (楚王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 45, passage 84

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 45House of Han · 3 passages

楚王聞之大恐，召陳軫告之。 When the King of Chu learned of this, he was greatly alarmed. He summoned Chen Zhen and informed him.

陳軫曰：「秦之欲伐楚久矣，今又得韓之名都一而具甲，秦韓并兵而伐楚，此秦所禱祀而求也。 Chen Zhen said, "Qin has long desired to attack Chu. Now they have also obtained a great city from Han and armed their forces. If Qin and Han combine their armies to invade Chu, it will be the very thing Qin has prayed to the gods for.

已有伐形，因發兵言救韓，此必陳軫之謀也。 They already show every sign of military aggression, yet they send troops claiming to rescue Han. This must be a stratagem devised by Chen Zhen.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 48House of Chen She · 1 passage

於是六國之士有甯越、徐尚、蘇秦、杜赫之屬為之謀，齊明、周聚、陳軫、邵滑、樓緩、翟景、蘇厲、樂毅之徒通其意，吳起、孫臏、帶他、兒良、王廖、田忌、廉頗、趙奢之倫制其兵。 The six states thus had men like Ning Yue, Xu Shang, Su Qin, and Du He to devise their strategies; Qi Ming, Zhou Ju, Chen Zhen, Shao Hua, Lou Huan, Di Jing, Su Li, and Yue Yi to serve as their intermediaries; and Wu Qi, Sun Bin, Dai Tuo, Ni Liang, Wang Liao, Tian Ji, Lian Po, and Zhao She to command their armies.