To get a sense of the time period he lived, his reign roughly corresponds to the time of the Punic wars in the Roman Republic on the other side of the world.
Xiran also touched on the stories of other contemporary figures where they intersected with Qin Shi Huang: Bai Qi, Jing Ke, Gao Jianli, Li Si, Han Fei.
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The Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu team wrote two songs for Qin Shi Huang, and one other song with him as one of the great Chinese emperors.
The first is the aforementioned “Ancestor of Dragons” (《祖龙吟》). This song focuses on Qin Shi Huang as a human, dealing with the struggles of his time, which is more contemplative in nature.
The second song, celebrating his achievements and legacy, is titled "Beginning of Eternity" (《始见千秋》), where his prime minister Li Si also makes an appearance.
There's an excellent English translation by Conho with detailed explanations available, which I highly recommend and think it deserves more recognition.
In the third song, he is included in the ranks of great emperors,《数风流》. Again, Conho has a superb translation, titling it "The Distinguished and Remarkables".
Also known as “The Grand Historian” (太史公*) or “Saint of History” (“史圣”) for his accomplishment in giving us the “Records of the Grand Historian” or “Shiji” (《史记》).
*Taishi Gong is also the name of the official post that Sima Qian held in court.
Till this day, Sima Qian’s work is one of the most important references for historical records from the very early ages of Chinese civilization up till the early Han dynasty.
This feat is made even more respectable for what Sima Qian endured for its sake. He took upon himself the ultimate humiliation for a noble scholar of his time, in exchange for the completion of his life’s work.
Sima Qian’s father, Sima Tan (司马谈), harboured a great ambition to put together a record of historical events from the beginning of time as they knew it, up until their era. In fact, Sima Tan had already done much preparatory work, but was struck by illness before he could realise his dream. On his deathbed, Sima Tan held his son’s hands in tears and passed this mission onto Sima Qian.
Sima Qian pledged to his father’s cause with full conviction. He had been well versed in the classics in his teens, and had travelled around the realm in his twenties. He could therefore leverage his knowledge and experiences to gather information, survey historical sources, and meticulously vet them for inclusion in his book.
Yet, fate dealt Sima Qian an unexpected and devastating blow. It all started when a military general, Li Ling (李陵), grandson of the famous General Li Guang (李广), was defeated by the nomadic Xiongnu in the north, and was forced to surrender after a valiant retaliation. Emperor Wu of Han (汉武帝) was enraged by his surrender, but Sima Qian stood out and spoke on behalf of Li Ling. He asserted Li Ling’s innocence, and that this surrender was just a ploy out of desperation.
The emperor listened to Sima Qian at first, but intelligence came back claiming that Li Ling was training enemy soldiers. This was later proven to be untrue.
Blinded by rage, the Emperor Wu of Han (汉武帝) ordered the death of Li Ling’s entire household, and for Sima Qian’s imprisonment. The emperor then gave Sima Qian two choices: death, or castration.
As a scholar descended from a noble family, refined and well-educated, going through as shameful an ordeal as castration was unthinkable. The saying goes, “the nobleman can be killed, but cannot be humiliated”.
However, his life’s work has not been completed. Death at this point would close any possibility of doing so.
Sima Qian therefore made the difficult choice of castration so that he can fulfill his father’s wish to complete this, which he succeeded in every aspect.
Records of the Grand Historian, published 1982 by Zhonghua Book Company.
The way in which Sima Qian recorded history was accessible, engaging, and yet refrains from excessive subjectivity in its presentation of historical events.
Through both the natural attrition from the passing of time and from human interference (most notably the book burnings by Qin Shi Huang), Sima Qian’s organised records proved immensely valuable in understanding the early ages of Chinese civilisation. The learned people across the ages have sung praises for the discipline in the factual records and the precision in language demonstrated in Sima Qian’s work.
All in all, Sima Qian has set a towering precedence for Chinese historians in the ages to come, with "Records of the Grand Historian" ranking first in the series of twenty-four historical records deemed to be official history.
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On that note, the Youtube channel “Overly Sarcastic Production” has an excellent video briefly introducing the background of ancient China, and mentions Sima Qian’s story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ-yjGDrRM8
For a more in-depth exploration into early Chinese history, the “Fall of Civilizations” channel featuring the Han dynasty is another stellar production, which also references Sima Qian’s work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwEkp4I75OA
Stylised depiction of Sima Qian in the thumbnail for “Echoes of History”, by the Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu (WCFHL) production team.
Han Fei was a prince of the Kingdom of Han during the Warring States period.
He was perhaps better known as Han Feizi, one of the greatest Legalist philosophers.
Though Han Fei wasn’t a good orator, he was an exceptional writer, possessing a cutting brilliance, a militantly logical mind, and a canniness in combining them with artistic expression. Other than his writings on governance and philosophy, he also wrote short stories that were filled with paradoxes and revealed various logical fallacies.
There’s the man who, after retrieving a rabbit that died colliding into a tree, decides to wait under the tree everyday for another free lunch.
There’s the king who ignores his doctor’s warning and remains in denial of his ill health, just as one ignores sound advice to address one’s own weaknesses.
And of course, there’s the weapon’s salesman who makes those ludicrous claims on his spears and shields.
Han Fei had also been Li Si’s schoolmate, under the same teacher Xunzi. Han Fei was smarter, more perceptive, and more knowledgeable than Li Si, yet his kingdom was failing because the King of Han rarely took his advice, not until everything was too late.
The King of Qin was enamoured by Han Fei’s written works, so much so that he attacked the kingdom of Han and forced them to hand Han Fei over.
Han Fei was therefore brought to the Kingdom of Qin. However, Li Si, sensing a threat to his own position, persuaded the king to have Han Fei killed. The king later regretted his decision.
Nevertheless, Han Fei cast a long shadow in our cultural consciousness, especially with the thought-provoking fables and idioms that remains very much alive to this day.
Han Fei‘s character song in the Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu series, 《是非》, is roughly translated as “Rights or Wrongs”, which is also a wordplay on his name. The video above is a cover.
Li Si came from the Kingdom of Chu and had been educated in the legalist school of thought from the renowned philosopher Xunzi.
As an ambitious and learned young man, Li Si understood the importance of a conducive environment towards personal success in life. He refused to accept a life grovelling in poverty and social inferiority.
He therefore moved to the Kingdom of Qin to seek better prospects, for Qin had adopted an open policy towards foreign talents, no matter their background, to strengthen the country during the Warring States period.
About ten years after he settled in the Kingdom of Qin, suspicions towards foreign-born officials and advisors reached its height, spurred by incidences of political espionage. The court of Qin debated a notion to expel all foreign born advisors.
Li Si had not let this deter him. Instead, he wrote a cogent letter to the king, “Petition Against the Expulsion of Foreigners”. His eloquence and sound arguments changed the king’s mind. He was reappointed and later promoted, all the way till he became the king’s chief advisor, and till the King of Qin became the first emperor of the united China, Qin Shi Huangdi.
Li Si, as the Left Prime Minister, was heavily involved in the policies of the new united realm. This included the standardisation of writing, measurements, currency, and transportation, which laid important foundations towards a unified China today.
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Li Si does not have a dedicated song for himself in the Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu series so far, but instead makes an appearance in 《始见千秋》, roughly translated as “Beginning of Eternity”, which celebrates the achievements of Qin Shi Huang and the Qin empire.
Singing in the traditional Qin-styled opera technique, originating from the northwest of China, has been incorporated in the version with human vocals.
He was nicknamed “the human butcher” back then, and dubbed the “nuke of the Warring States period” today, believed to be directly responsible for an estimated one million deaths.
Bai Qi in the TV series “The Qin Empire”, played by actor Xing Jiadong.
Being one of the four most famous military generals, he was a scarily effective commander who won many impossible battles, never suffering a single defeat. Most notably, he often massacred entire enemy troops, decimating the core military strengths of enemy states. He was so feared that no one would fight against him if they knew he was the commander on the other side.
The battle of Changping was one of the most defining events of his life. The Kingdom of Qin, who Bai Qi served, was at war with the Kingdom of Zhao. He first tricked the Zhao ruler into distrusting his top commander, whose abilities was Bai Qi’s match, the legendary General Lian Po, and replaced him with an inexperienced youth, Zhao Kuo, better suited at theorising than actual combat. In the meantime he himself secretly took over command at the frontlines. With that, Bai Qi successfully goaded the Zhao army into open battle, where he dealt them a devastating blow and had the young general killed in battle.
The Zhao army conceded defeat on the promise that they would be spared. However, likely out of concerns about controlling the huge number of prisoners, Bai Qi alas had all four hundred thousand of the surrendered Zhao soldiers buried alive. It is said that for many years one hardly saw men over the age of fifteen in the Kingdom of Zhao.
He had wanted to follow it up and completely destroy the Kingdom of Zhao then, but his own superior, King Zhaoxiang of Qin (秦昭王/秦昭襄王), feared that Bai Qi’s success would threaten his position, and ordered his retreat.
Years later, King Zhaoxiang of Qin wanted to invade the kingdom of Zhao once more, but Bai Qi objected vehemently, citing that the kingdom of Zhao would have recovered with a deep vengeance, and the Qin army could not win. After a few failed expeditions, King Zhaoxiang forced Bai Qi to take up command on the threat of death.
However, not long upon Bai Qi’s leave from the capital, King Zhaoxiang of Qin heeded the words of Bai Qi’s rival, who said that Bai Qi deliberately delayed his travel out of dissatisfaction. The king thus ordered his death.
The irony for this God of Murder and War (as people used to worship him) is that he died for refusing to go to war.
From the “Records of the Grand Historian”:
“On the eleventh month of the fiftieth year under the reign of King Zhao of Qin, his Highness sent an emissary with a sword to Bai Qi, the Lord Wu’an, and ordered his death. Lord Wu’an placed the sword to his neck, and said, ‘What wrong have I done unto the heavens to deserve this fate?’ After a long while, he said, ‘I deserve to die. The Battle of Changping, some hundred thousands of Zhao soldiers surrendered, I deceived them and buried them all, it is deserving enough for me to die.’ He then killed himself.”
Trivia:
Bai Qi was so hated that to this day, a tofu dish around the ancient Changping region (now Gaoping) is still called “Bai Qi meat”.
On the other hand, after his death, people from the kingdom of Qin mourned him and worshiped him as their guardian deity.
Bai Qi's character song by Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu, 《起战令》, can be translated as "Order to War", which is also a wordplay on his name.
Goujian (King of Yue) & Fuchai (King of Wu) 越王勾践、吴王夫差
(Pre-Qin, Spring and Autumn period; 496 BC - 465 BC, 495 BC - 473 BC)
The Wu-Yue Contention
A cautionary tale against complacency and indulgence;
An affirmation of the power of will and perseverance.
During the Spring and Autumn period, the Kingdom of Wu and the Kingdom of Yue fought for dominance over the Gusu area, today named Suzhou.
In the year 494 BCE, Fuchai, King of Wu, successfully defeated the Yue army and surrounded their king, Goujian. Fuchai had thus fulfilled his vow and avenged his father, who died fighting Goujian’s army.
Goujian conceded defeat, swore loyalty to Fuchai, and annexed substantial lands to the Kingdom of Wu. He even agreed to be Fuchai’s menial servant, driving his carriage and caring for his horse.
Against the vehement advice of his chief advisor, Wu Zixu, Fuchai spared the lives of Goujian and his men. After three years of service, Fuchai became convinced by Goujian’s act and pledges of loyalty, and released him back to the land of Yue.
Upon his return, Goujian never gave himself a day’s rest. To reaffirm his will and remind himself of the humiliation he went through, Goujian would sleep on rough straws and taste gall from a gallbladder hung from the ceiling everyday. For ten long years, he schemed to topple the Kingdom of Wu while Fuchai indulged in his victories and the luxuries that followed.
Goujian played by actor Chen Daoming from the TV series “The Great Revival”.
To hasten his downfall, Goujian often sent gifts and beautiful women as offerings to Fuchai. Herein comes one of the famed four great beauties of ancient China - Xishi (西施).
Legend has it that one of Goujian’s chief advisors, Fan Li, discovered Xishi while she was washing clothes by the river. She was described to possess beauty that shamed the moon and flowers. Fan Li presented her to Goujian as an offering for Fuchai.
Fuchai of course took to this offer with delight. He neglected governance of his kingdom, to the chagrin of his advisor, Wu Zixu.
Wu Zixu pressed the importance of getting rid of Goujian, “Goujian eat no more than two dishes for his meals, and shares in the hardship of his people. If he stays, he will one day be a great threat to us.”
But Fuchai ignored his advice. After repeated clashes, the prideful Fuchai ordered Wu Zixu to take his own life.
Wu Zixu’s warnings were prophetic, as Fuchai realised, after misstep by misstep, he found himself surrounded by Goujian’s army. In despair, he said, “I am old, and can no longer serve the King of Yue. I regret not listening to Wu Zixu, which has led me to this!” Fuchai then ended his own life, so too the existence of the Kingdom of Wu.
Goujian emerged as the victor of this generational rivalry.
All of which are but brief flashes in the grand scheme of history, a prelude for countless tales to come.
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Other than stories, they also left us magnificent archeological findings - The Sword of Goujian and the Spear of Fuchai, both displayed in the Hubei Provincial Museum presently.
“Lying on straws and tasting gall” (卧薪尝胆）is an idiom still used to describe someone very committed to turn oneself around. It is also the original Chinese title of “The Great Revival”.
A swordsmith couple during the turbulent Spring and Autumn period, who forged a famous pair of swords. The “male” blade was named after Gan Jiang, and the “female” blade was named after Mo Ye.
Their stories come from a mix of history, legend, and fiction, varying wildly in different sources, with the forging of the paired swords a commonality in all.
One of the versions had Gan Jiang encountering trouble completing the forging of the swords, so Mo Ye threw herself (or her nails and hair in some of the tales) into the fire, and thus the swords were made.
In arguably the most exciting version, Gan Jiang and Mo Ye succeeded in forging the prized sword for the king in three years, but Gan Jiang presented only the female sword and hid the male sword. Knowing he was going to be killed, he told his pregnant wife that, should the baby be a boy, tell the boy to find the sword in a rock where a pine grew on it, on the Southern mountain near their house.
Gan Jiang was indeed executed by the furious king. Mo Ye gave birth to a boy called Chi, and after the boy was grown, did as Gan Jiang said when the boy asked for his father. Chi found the sword, then started off on his journey to avenge his father.
The king dreamt that a youth of extraordinary appearances was out to kill him. Frightened, he placed a great bounty to whoever could kill this youth. Chi then hid in the mountains, and was so overwhelmed that he sang with sorrow and wept bitterly. A nameless passerby asked the reason for the youth’s deep sorrow, so Chi told him. The nameless man said, “The king put a great bounty on your head. Give me your head and sword, and I will avenge your father on your behalf.” Chi cried, “What good fortune!”, then cut his own throat.
Moved by the youth’s conviction, the nameless man kept his promise and went to the king with the head and sword. The man advised the king to cook Chi’s head, for it is a head of a courageous man. The king heeded his advice, but the head did not disintegrate even after three days of cooking. When the king went to look into the cauldron, the man cut the kings head so that it fell in with Chi’s head. The two heads battled within the cauldron. The nameless man then also cut his own head and joined the fight with the other two.
In the end, all three heads within the cauldron were impossible to separate. The three heads were thus buried together in the “Grave of the Three Kings”.
The official character song for this couple by Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu, 《谓剑》, can be translated as "Of Swords", with one of the popular covers shown below.
