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Su Qin苏秦

Archaic / OtherHistory × Fiction

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.

01
MENTORSHIP

Mentorship

Teachers, disciples and transmission

1 figure · 2 records
02
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

4 figures · 5 records
1 more in the complete record
03
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

15 figures · 18 records
12 more in the complete record
04
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

10 figures · 11 records
7 more in the complete record
05
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

2 figures · 2 records

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.

  1. 5 profile notes
    16 relations17 verified quotations
    • Zhang Yifellow discipleSu Qin
    • Su QinprovokeZhang Yi
    • Su Qinsworn brothersZhang Yi
    • Su QinclassmateZhang Yi
    Verified original text · 17
    1. 意不欲伐赵,以负苏秦之德。

      fellow disciple · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 91

    2. 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.

    Open work page

  2. 8 profile notes
    11 relations11 verified quotations
    • Zhang Yifellow discipleSu Qin
    • Su QinprovokeZhang Yi
    • Zhang YislanderSu Qin
    • Su QinbrothersSu Dai
    Verified original text · 11
    1. 始尝与苏秦俱事鬼谷先生

      fellow disciple · Records of the Grand Historian, 张仪列传

    2. 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.

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  3. 30 profile notes
    23 relations29 verified quotations
    • Su QinlobbyKing of Chu
    • Su Qingo on missionKing of Zhao
    • King of Zhaoruler-subjectSu Qin
    • Su QinlobbyKing of Zhao
    Verified original text · 29
    1. 齐欲奉太子而立之

      lobby · Strategies of the Warring States, 齐/三

    2. 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.

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History vs. fiction

Whether Su Qin and Zhang Yi were classmates and their chronological order

  • 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

21 figures · 87 links
Su QinSu QinZhang YiZhang YiKing of ChuKing of ChuKing of ZhaoKing of ZhaoLord MengchangLord MengchangSu DaiSu DaiKing Min of QiKing Min of QiKing of QiKing of QiKing Xuan of QiKing Xuan of QiKing Hui of WeiKing Hui of WeiXue GongXue GongKing Zhao of YanKing HanKing Huiwen of QinGongsun YanLi DuiZi ZhiKing Wei of ChuKing Huiwen of QinSu LiKing Min of Qi
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 87; Records of the Grand Historian, 张仪列传; Strategies of the Warring States, 东周; Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 89; Records of the Grand Historian, 楚世家; Strategies of the Warring States, 书战国策后; Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 90; Records of the Grand Historian, 燕召公世家

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.