CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Su Qin苏秦
Disciple of Guiguzi, a strategist of the School of Diplomacy, advocated the Vertical Alliance to resist Qin, held the seals of six states, later acted as a spy for Yan in Qi, and was assassinated.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 20
- RELATION RECORDS
- 38
- SOURCE WORKS
- 3
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Su Qin, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01MENTORSHIPMentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
1 figure · 2 records+
Mentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
Zhang Yi—Su Qinfellow disciple
02KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
4 figures · 5 records+
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Su Qin—Su Daibrothers
Su Qin—Zi Zhibefriend
Su Qin—Zhang Yisworn brothers
03ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
15 figures · 18 records+
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
King of ZhaoisSu Qin’s ruler
Su Qin→King Xuan of Qilobby
Su Qin→King Wei of Chulobby
04CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
10 figures · 11 records+
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Su Qin→Zhang Yiprovoke
Su Qin→King Min of Qiassassinated
Su Qin→King of Zhaolobby
05THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
2 figures · 2 records+
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Li Dui→Su Qingive gift
Su Qin→King Zhao of Yanlobby
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Grand Historian
He studied under Guiguzi together with Zhang Yi, and used schemes to provoke Zhang Yi to go to Qin.
In fiction · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms · Strategies of the Warring States
Disciple of Guiguzi, wanted to persuade the King of Qin with the strategy of annexation, advocated the Vertical Alliance, held the seals of six states, later acted as a spy for Yan in Qi, and was assassinated.
Across source works
How this figure changes across texts
Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.
- Literature / legend5 profile notes
Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms
16 relations17 verified quotations- Zhang Yi→ fellow disciple →Su Qin
- Su Qin→ provoke →Zhang Yi
- Su Qin→ sworn brothers →Zhang Yi
- Su Qin→ classmate →Zhang Yi
Verified original text · 17
意不欲伐赵,以负苏秦之德。
fellow disciple · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 91
故意怠慢,激怒君
provoke · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 90
15 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history8 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
11 relations11 verified quotations- Zhang Yi→ fellow disciple →Su Qin
- Su Qin→ provoke →Zhang Yi
- Zhang Yi→ slander →Su Qin
- Su Qin→ brothers →Su Dai
Verified original text · 11
始尝与苏秦俱事鬼谷先生
fellow disciple · Records of the Grand Historian, 张仪列传
乃激怒张仪
provoked anger · Records of the Grand Historian, 苏秦列传
9 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history30 profile notes
Strategies of the Warring States
23 relations29 verified quotations- Su Qin→ lobby →King of Chu
- Su Qin→ go on mission →King of Zhao
- King of Zhao→ ruler-subject →Su Qin
- Su Qin→ lobby →King of Zhao
Verified original text · 29
齐欲奉太子而立之
lobby · Strategies of the Warring States, 齐/三
因封苏秦为武贞君
reward · Strategies of the Warring States, 齐/三
27 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
Whether Su Qin and Zhang Yi were classmates and their chronological order
- novel inventionSu Qin and Zhang Yi were both disciples of Guiguzi, and Su Qin once used a scheme to provoke Zhang Yi into going to Qin.
The Records of the Grand Historian, Biography of Su Qin, records that the two studied under the same master, Guiguzi; however, the Mawangdui silk manuscript Strategies of the Warring States, unearthed in 1973, and the Intrigues of the Warring States, upon examination, show that Su Qin was actually active several decades later than Zhang Yi, and his main rival was Gongsun Yan, not Zhang Yi. Sima Qian adopted the fictional tales of the Warring States strategists. The original text states: 「苏秦恐秦兵之至赵也,乃激怒张仪,入之于秦。」Records of the Grand Historian, Biography of Su Qin.
Relationship network
- fellow disciple← Zhang Yi → Su Qinhist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 91Records of the Grand Historian, 张仪列传
Original text (2)
意不欲伐赵,以负苏秦之德。
始尝与苏秦俱事鬼谷先生
- provokeSu Qin → Zhang Yihist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 90Records of the Grand Historian, 苏秦列传
Original text (2)
故意怠慢,激怒君
乃激怒张仪
Original relation: provoked anger · Records of the Grand Historian, 苏秦列传
Original text (2)
齐欲奉太子而立之
因封苏秦为武贞君
Original relation: reward · Strategies of the Warring States, 齐/三
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
- go on missionSu Qin → King of ZhaolitStrategies of the Warring States, 秦/一Strategies of the Warring States, 赵Strategies of the Warring States, 赵/一Strategies of the Warring States, 赵/二
Original text (4)
赵王大悦,封为武安君。
Original relation: enfeoff lord · Strategies of the Warring States, 秦/一
苏秦为赵王使于秦
苏秦为赵王使于秦…………反,三日不得见
苏秦从燕之赵…………始合从,说赵王曰
Original relation: lobby · Strategies of the Warring States, 赵/二
- ruler-subject← King of Zhao → Su QinlitChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 91Strategies of the Warring States, 赵/二
Original text (2)
赵王闻之,召苏秦责之曰
乃封苏秦为武安君
Original relation: enfeoff lord · Strategies of the Warring States, 赵/二
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
人事者,吾已尽知之矣
Original text (1)
- brothersSu Qin → Su Daihist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 90Records of the Grand Historian, 苏秦列传
Original text (2)
Original text (1)
- assassinatedSu Qin → King Min of Qihist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 91Records of the Grand Historian, 苏秦列传
Original text (2)
刺苏秦于朝
车裂臣以徇于市
Original relation: dismember · Records of the Grand Historian, 苏秦列传
- offer planSu Qin → King Min of Qihist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 91Records of the Grand Historian, 苏秦列传
Original text (2)
苏秦曰:“臣死之后,愿大王斩臣之头
说湣王厚葬以明孝
Original relation: persuade · Records of the Grand Historian, 苏秦列传
Original text (1)
齐王大怒,车裂苏秦于市
Original text (1)
- lobbySu Qin → King Xuan of Qihist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 90Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 91Records of the Grand Historian, 苏秦列传Strategies of the Warring States, 燕/一Strategies of the Warring States, 齐/一
Original text (7)
说齐宣王曰
苏秦见齐宣王曰
齐宣王重其名,以为客卿。
Original relation: guest minister · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 91
因东说齐宣王曰
苏秦见齐王,再拜
Original relation: persuade · Records of the Grand Historian, 苏秦列传
武安君苏秦为燕说齐王
Original relation: 说齐归城 · Strategies of the Warring States, 燕/一
苏秦为赵合从…………说齐宣王曰
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
苏秦使人请薛公曰…………夫劝留太子者苏秦也
Original text (1)
君何不留楚太子,以市其下东国
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
苏秦为楚合…………从说韩王曰
Original text (1)
苏秦自齐使人谓燕昭王曰
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
- befriendSu Qin → Zi Zhihist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 91Records of the Grand Historian, 燕召公世家Strategies of the Warring States, 燕/一
Original text (3)
乃结好于燕相国子之,与联儿女之姻。
苏秦之在燕,与其相子之为婚
Original relation: in-law · Records of the Grand Historian, 燕召公世家
与其相子之为婚
Original relation: marriage alliance · Strategies of the Warring States, 燕/一
- give gift← Li Dui → Su QinlitStrategies of the Warring States, 赵Strategies of the Warring States, 赵/一
Original text (2)
李兑送苏秦明月之珠
李兑送苏秦明月之珠
Original text (2)
- lobbySu Qin → King Wei of Chuhist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 90Records of the Grand Historian, 苏秦列传
Original text (2)
- brothersSu Qin → Su Lihist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 90Records of the Grand Historian, 苏秦列传
Original text (2)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
苏秦既“合从”六国,遂将从约写一通,投于秦关。
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)