Jing Ke (荆轲) | 24 Histories

Overview

Jing Ke was an Assassin sent by Yan.

PeriodAncient China

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 227 明年（始皇二十年）
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 121
BC 227 燕太子使荆轲劫始皇
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 126, passage 267
BC 227 荊卿
Directly stated · Book of Liang 14, passage 21
BC 227 荊軻
Directly stated · History of Jin 127, passage 137
BC 227 荊軻之說，而匕首竊發
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 227
BC 227 荊軻刺秦
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passages 157, 171

Show 1 more source-backed claim

BC 227 荊軻刺秦
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 49

Key source chapters

Places and affiliations

Qin 秦
Relation Active in
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 227
Yan 燕
Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 121
Polity Yan 燕 · Relation Associated
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 49

Events and relationships

Attempted seizure
Assassination · Attacker · With First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇) · At between the two pillars 两楹之间
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 126, passage 267
Attempted
BC 227 荊軻之說，而匕首竊發 · Assassination attempt · Attacker · With First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇) · Outcome Dagger secretly sprang out
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 227
Plotted
Assassination · Plotter · With King Xi of Yan (燕王喜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 49
Was sent by Yan to assassinate the Qin ruler
BC 227 明年（始皇二十年） · Person centered · Assassin · With First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 121
Relation Agent of · Person Crown Prince Dan of Yan (燕太子丹)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 157

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 227

References in the histories

Search passages

History

11 passages

Book of Later Han, Chapter 126Volume 115: Officials Part Two · 1 passage

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昔燕太子使荆轲劫始皇，变起两楹之间，其后谒者持匕首刺腋，高祖偃武行文，故易之以板。」 Formerly the crown prince of Yan sent Jing Ke to seize the First Emperor; the crisis arose between the two pillars, and afterward receptionists carried daggers at the armpit. Gaozu laid aside arms and promoted culture, and therefore replaced them with tablets."

History of Jin, Chapter 127Volume 127 Biographies 65: Xiao You, Wendihanwolubu, Chen Yan, Liu Yu, Meng Xing, Wang Zhen, Liu Zheng, Yin Yi, Chu Chengliang, Wang Qufei, Zhao Zhi, Du Shisheng, Hao Tianting, Xue Jiyuan, Gao Zhongzhen, Zhang Qian, Wang Rumei, Song Ke, Xin Yuan, Wang Yuke · 1 passage

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幼有志節，慕荊軻、聶政為人，年三十始折節讀書。 In youth he had resolve and integrity, admired Jing Ke and Nie Zheng, and only at thirty began to restrain himself and study books.

Book of Liang, Chapter 14Volume 14: Jiang Yan; Ren Fang · 2 passages

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實佩荊卿黃金之賜，竊感豫讓國士之分矣。 He truly bore the gift of Jing Ke's gold and felt in his bones the debt Yu Rang owed a lord of the land.

皆願摩頂至踵，隳膽抽腸，約同要離焚妻子，誓徇荊卿湛七族。 All would grind crown to heel, crush gall and draw gut, pledge with Yao Li to burn wife and children, vow with Jing Ke to drown seven clans.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 73Biographies of Bai Qi and Wang Jian · 1 passage

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明年，燕使荊軻為賊於秦，秦王使王翦攻燕。 The following year, Yan sent Jing Ke to assassinate Qin. The King of Qin sent Wang Jian to attack Yan.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 83Biographies of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang · 5 passages

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昔者荊軻慕燕丹之義，白虹貫日，太子畏之； In former times, Jing Ke so admired the righteousness of Crown Prince Dan of Yan that a white rainbow pierced the sun as an omen—yet the Crown Prince still harbored doubts about him.