CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Crown Prince Dan of Yan燕太子丹
Crown Prince of the State of Yan, held hostage in Qin, escaped back to Yan.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 6
- RELATION RECORDS
- 7
- SOURCE WORKS
- 3
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Crown Prince Dan of Yan, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
2 figures · 2 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
King Huiwen of Qin—Crown Prince Dan of Yanmarry daughter
Crown Prince Dan of Yan—King Yanfather-son
Read the original source
燕太子丹为质于秦，见秦兵大举伐赵，知祸必及于燕，阴使人致书于燕王，使为战守之备。又教燕王诈称有疾，使人请太子归国。
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
2 figures · 3 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Crown Prince Dan of Yan→Jing Kedispatch
Crown Prince Dan of Yan→Fan Yuqitreat as guest
Source record
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
2 figures · 2 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Qin Shi Huang→Crown Prince Dan of Yandefeat
Wang Jian→Crown Prince Dan of Yanattack
6 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Grand Historian
Crown Prince of Yan, fled from hostage in Qin, plotted to assassinate the King of Qin.；Crown Prince of Yan, sent Jing Ke to assassinate the King of Qin.；Crown Prince of Yan, dispatched Jing Ke to assassinate Qin.
In fiction · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms · Strategies of the Warring States
Crown Prince of Yan, held hostage in Qin, escaped back to Yan.；Crown Prince of Yan, widely entertained guests, plotted to assassinate Qin for revenge.；Crown Prince of Yan, generously supported Jing Ke, sent him to assassinate Qin, later killed.
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 / legend3 profile notes
Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms
5 relations3 verified quotations- Wang Jian→ attack →Crown Prince Dan of Yan
- Crown Prince Dan of Yan→ dispatch →Jing Ke
- Jing Ke→ receive favor →Crown Prince Dan of Yan
- Crown Prince Dan of Yan→ father-son →King Yan
Verified original text · 3
王翦合兵围之，十月城破
attack · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 107
轲受燕太子丹厚恩
receive favor · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 107
1 more verified quotation in the relationship records below.
- Official history6 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
2 relations4 verified quotations- Qin Shi Huang→ defeat →Crown Prince Dan of Yan
- Crown Prince Dan of Yan→ dispatch →Jing Ke
Verified original text · 4
破燕太子军，取燕蓟城，得太子丹之首
defeat · Records of the Grand Historian, 秦始皇本纪
尊荆卿为上卿
revere · Records of the Grand Historian, 刺客列传
2 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history4 profile notes
Strategies of the Warring States
2 relations2 verified quotations- Jing Ke→ receive favor →Crown Prince Dan of Yan
- King Huiwen of Qin→ marry daughter →Crown Prince Dan of Yan
Verified original text · 2
于是尊荆轲为上卿
subordinate · Strategies of the Warring States, 燕／三
秦惠王以其女为燕太子妇
marry daughter · Strategies of the Warring States, 燕／一
History vs. fiction
There are obvious discrepancies between the Records of the Grand Historian and the Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms regarding the reason and specific manner of Crown Prince Dan of Yan's escape back to Yan.
The Records of the Grand Historian only records that the King of Qin treated Crown Prince Dan of Yan poorly, and Dan fled back due to resentment ("The King of Qin treated Crown Prince Dan of Yan poorly, so Dan resented and fled back" - from the Biography of Assassins). However, the Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms adds a series of fictional plots: Crown Prince Dan taught the King of Yan to feign illness and summon him back; the King of Qin deliberately made things difficult by saying, "If you want the Crown Prince to return, unless the heads of crows turn white and horses grow horns!" Then Crown Prince Dan shouted loudly, causing "all crow heads to turn white," but the King of Qin still would not let him go. Finally, Crown Prince Dan "changed his clothes, disfigured his face, became a servant, and sneaked out of Hangu Pass" (from Chapter 106).
Relationship network
Original text (1)
破燕太子军，取燕蓟城，得太子丹之首
Original text (1)
- dispatchCrown Prince Dan of Yan → Jing Kehist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 106Records of the Grand Historian, 刺客列传Records of the Grand Historian, 楚世家Records of the Grand Historian, 魏世家
Original text (3)
尊荆卿为上卿
Original relation: revere · Records of the Grand Historian, 刺客列传
燕太子丹使荆轲刺秦王
燕太子丹使荆轲刺秦王
- receive favor← Jing Ke → Crown Prince Dan of YanlitChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 107Strategies of the Warring States, 燕／三
Original text (2)
轲受燕太子丹厚恩
于是尊荆轲为上卿
Original relation: subordinate · Strategies of the Warring States, 燕／三
- marry daughter← King Huiwen of Qin → Crown Prince Dan of YanlitStrategies of the Warring States, 燕／一
Original text (1)
秦惠王以其女为燕太子妇
Original text (1)
燕太子丹为质于秦，见秦兵大举伐赵，知祸必及于燕，阴使人致书于燕王，使为战守之备。又教燕王诈称有疾，使人请太子归国。