Ancient China · General

Bai Qi 白起

Died BC 257

Passages: 52
Chapters: 8
Histories: 4

Overview

The translated histories identify Bai Qi as an aristocrat, general, official, and strategist. This record brings together 52 passages from 8 chapters across 4 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Bai Qi	白起	Bai Qi
Surname	Bai	白	Bai
Surname	Bai	白	Bái
Personal name	Bai Qi	白起	Bái Qǐ
Personal name	Bai Qi	白起	Bai Qi
Personal	Bai Qi	白起	Bái Qǐ
Title	Lord of Wu'an	武安君	Wǔ'ān Jūn
Title	Lord of Wu'an	武安君	Wu'an Jun
Title	Lord Wu'an	武安君	Wu'an Jun
Given	Qi	起	Qǐ

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Strongly inferred · houhanshu:032:s0118, shiji:073:s0181
Sex: male
Explicit · sanguozhi:062:s0172, shiji:072:s0025, shiji:076:s0049, shiji:078:s0004, shiji:088:s0068
Value: male
Explicit · shiji:073:s0001

Roles

Aristocrat
General
Official
Strategist

Life and dates

Death

Manner: executed / 殺 · Authority Person Id: King Zhao of Qin (昭王)
Explicit · shiji:088:s0068
Manner: suicide by sword under royal command · Place: Duyou / 杜郵 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昭王五十年十一月 · Western Year: BC 257 · Responsible Authority Person Id: King Zhao of Qin (昭王)
Explicit · shiji:073:s0107, shiji:073:s0108, shiji:073:s0109, shiji:073:s0110, shiji:073:s0111, shiji:073:s0112, shiji:073:s0113, shiji:073:s0114, shiji:073:s0115
Manner: executed
Explicit · hanshu:025:s0102

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: BC 294-257 · Western Interval: Start: BC 294 · End: BC 257
Strongly inferred · houhanshu:032:s0118
Source Date: Text: 不能救患於應侯 · Western Year: BC 257
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0181
Source Date: Text: 其明年（昭王二十九年） · Western Year: BC 278
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0013
Source Date: Text: 其明年（昭王十四年） · Western Year: BC 293
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0005
Source Date: Text: 四十七年 · Western Year: BC 260
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0049
Source Date: Text: 四十九年 · Western Year: BC 258
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0091
Source Date: Text: 四十五年 · Western Year: BC 262
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0022
Source Date: Text: 四十八年 · Western Year: BC 259
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0072
Source Date: Text: 四十四年 · Western Year: BC 263
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0021
Source Date: Text: 後七年（昭王二十八年） · Western Year: BC 279
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0012
Source Date: Text: 後五年（昭王二十一年） · Western Year: BC 286
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0011
Source Date: Text: 拔楚之郢 · Western Year: BC 278
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:072:s0036
Source Date: Text: 明年…破芒卯於華陽下 · Western Year: BC 273
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:072:s0081
Source Date: Text: 明年（昭王十五年） · Western Year: BC 292
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0008
Source Date: Text: 明年（昭王十六年） · Western Year: BC 291
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0010
Source Date: Text: 昭王三十四年 · Western Year: BC 273
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0018
Source Date: Text: 昭王五十年十一月 · Western Year: BC 257
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0115
Source Date: Text: 昭王十三年 · Western Year: BC 294
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0003
Source Date: Text: 昭王十四年 · Western Year: BC 293
Explicit · shiji:072:s0025
Source Date: Text: 昭王四十三年 · Western Year: BC 264
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0020
Source Date: Text: 昭襄王時 · Western Year: BC 257
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:088:s0068
Source Date: Text: 白起…與楚戰 · Western Year: c. BC 278
Derived · shiji:076:s0049
Source Date: Text: 白起 · Western Interval: Start: BC 280 · End: BC 257
Explicit event contextual date · sanguozhi:062:s0172
Source Date: Text: 白起攻楚，拔鄢郢 · Western Year: BC 278
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:078:s0006
Source Date: Text: 白起攻韓、魏，敗之於華陽 · Western Year: BC 273
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:078:s0004
Source Date: Text: 秦并天下前 · Western Interval: Start: BC 280 · End: BC 257
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:025:s0096

Career and standing

Label: supreme general / 上將軍 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 四十七年 · Western Year: BC 260
Explicit · shiji:073:s0049
Label: Left Senior Minister / 左庶長 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昭王十三年 · Western Year: BC 294
Explicit · shiji:073:s0003
Label: grand master craftsman / 大良造 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昭王十五年 · Western Year: BC 292
Explicit · shiji:073:s0008
Label: general / 將 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昭王十四年 · Western Year: BC 293
Explicit · shiji:072:s0025
Label: Left Minister of the Interior / 左更 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昭王十四年 · Western Year: BC 293
Explicit · shiji:073:s0005
Label: state defender / 國尉 · Action: promoted · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昭王十四年 · Western Year: BC 293
Explicit · shiji:073:s0006
Title: Lord of Wu'an / 武安君 · Action: enfeoffed
Explicit · shiji:072:s0037
Title: Lord Wu'an / 武安君 · Action: elevated · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昭王二十九年 · Western Year: BC 278
Explicit · shiji:073:s0016
Title: Lord of Wu'an / 武安君 · Action: enfeoffed
Explicit · shiji:072:s0037
Title: Lord of Wu'an / 武安君 · Action: held
Explicit · shiji:088:s0068
Status: common soldier · Action: demoted-to · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 四十九年 · Western Year: BC 258
Explicit · shiji:073:s0104
Status: illness · Action: suffered · Statement: too ill to march
Explicit · shiji:073:s0088, shiji:073:s0105
Action: banished · Place: Yinmi / 陰密 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 四十九年 · Western Year: BC 258 · Authority Person Id: King Zhao of Qin (昭王)
Explicit · shiji:073:s0104, shiji:073:s0107

Places and affiliations

Label: Qin / 秦 · Relation: served
Explicit · shiji:073:s0002
Polity: Qin · Relation: served
Explicit · shiji:076:s0049
Polity: Qin / 秦 · Relation: served
Explicit · hanshu:025:s0096, shiji:088:s0068
Polity: Qin / 秦 · Relation: served
Strongly inferred · shiji:073:s0181
Place: Mei / 郿 · Relation: native-of
Explicit · shiji:073:s0001

Learning and skills

Skill: warfare / 用兵 · Level: adept
Explicit · shiji:073:s0002
Skill: military strategy / 料敵合變，出奇無窮 · Level: renowned
Explicit · shiji:073:s0181

Works and attributed material

Kind: judgment · Role: subject · Speaker Person Id: Sima Qian (太史公)
Explicit · shiji:073:s0181, shiji:073:s0184
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Topic: deliberation before the massacre of surrendered Zhao troops · Provenance: Mode: direct-quotation · Speaker Person Id: Bai Qi (白起)
Explicit · shiji:073:s0063, shiji:073:s0064, shiji:073:s0065
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Topic: final reflection and confession · Provenance: Mode: direct-quotation · Speaker Person Id: Bai Qi (白起)
Explicit · shiji:073:s0111, shiji:073:s0112, shiji:073:s0113
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Topic: rebuke that Qin had ignored his counsel · Provenance: Mode: direct-quotation · Speaker Person Id: Bai Qi (白起)
Explicit · shiji:073:s0101
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Topic: strategic assessment of attacking Handan · Provenance: Mode: direct-quotation · Speaker Person Id: Bai Qi (白起)
Explicit · shiji:073:s0092, shiji:073:s0093, shiji:073:s0094, shiji:073:s0095, shiji:073:s0096

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Action: attacked Xincheng of Han · Role: commander · Place: Xincheng / 新城 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昭王十三年 · Western Year: BC 294
Explicit · shiji:073:s0003
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: attacked · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 破芒卯於華陽下 · Western Year: BC 273
Explicit · shiji:072:s0081
Kind: military · Action: captured five Han cities · Role: commander · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昭王四十三年 · Western Year: BC 264
Explicit · shiji:073:s0020
Kind: military · Action: captured Yuan City with Cuo · Role: commander · Other Person Id: Cuo (錯) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昭王十六年 · Western Year: BC 291
Explicit · shiji:073:s0010
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: captured-cities · Place: Ying / 郢 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 拔鄢郢 · Western Year: BC 278
Explicit · shiji:078:s0006
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: captured-Yan-and-Ying-burned-Yiling-humiliated-Chu · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 白起…與楚戰 · Western Year: c. BC 278
Explicit · shiji:076:s0049
Kind: military · Action: commanded Qin to victory at Changping · Role: supreme commander · Other Person Id: Zhao Kuo (趙括) · Place: Changping / 長平 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 四十七年 · Western Year: BC 260
Explicit · shiji:073:s0049, shiji:073:s0050, shiji:073:s0051, shiji:073:s0052, shiji:073:s0053, shiji:073:s0054, shiji:073:s0055, shiji:073:s0056, shiji:073:s0057, shiji:073:s0058, shiji:073:s0059, shiji:073:s0060, shiji:073:s0061, shiji:073:s0062
Kind: military · Action: conquered Chu cities and the Chu capital · Role: commander · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昭王二十八年至二十九年 · Western Interval: Start: BC 279 · End: BC 278
Explicit · shiji:073:s0012, shiji:073:s0013
Kind: military · Action: defeated Han and Wei at Yique and captured Gongsun Xi · Role: commander · Other Person Id: Gongsun Xi (公孫喜) · Place: Yique / 伊闕 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昭王十四年 · Western Year: BC 293
Explicit · shiji:073:s0005
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defeated · Place: Huayang / 華陽 · Other Person Id: Mang Mao (芒卯) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 敗之於華陽 · Western Year: BC 273
Explicit · shiji:078:s0004
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defeated · Place: Yique / 伊闕 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昭王十四年 · Western Year: BC 293
Explicit · shiji:072:s0025
Kind: military · Role: general · Action: employed in Qin’s conquest of the six states
Explicit · hanshu:025:s0096
Kind: military · Action: ordered the surrendered Zhao soldiers killed by deception · Role: responsible commander · Outcome: about 450,000 killed or captured · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 四十七年 · Western Year: BC 260
Explicit · shiji:073:s0063, shiji:073:s0064, shiji:073:s0065, shiji:073:s0066, shiji:073:s0067
Kind: military · Action: refused command of the Handan campaign after judging it unwinnable · Role: prospective commander · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 四十九年 · Western Year: BC 258
Explicit · shiji:073:s0091, shiji:073:s0092, shiji:073:s0093, shiji:073:s0094, shiji:073:s0095, shiji:073:s0096, shiji:073:s0097, shiji:073:s0098
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: seized · Place: Ying / 郢 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 拔楚之郢 · Western Year: BC 278
Explicit · shiji:072:s0036
Kind: political · Role: victim · Action: undone-by · Other Person Id: Lord Ying (應侯)
Explicit · shiji:073:s0181
Kind: military · Action: won the battle at Huayang, routing Mang Mao and defeating Jia Yan · Role: commander · Other Person Ids: Mang Mao (芒卯), Jia Yan (賈偃) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昭王三十四年 · Western Year: BC 273
Explicit · shiji:073:s0018, shiji:073:s0019
Relation: victim-of-machinations-of · Person Id: Lord Ying (應侯)
Explicit · shiji:073:s0181

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: concluded that the Changping massacre made him deserve death · Provenance: Mode: self-assessment · Speaker Person Id: Bai Qi (白起)
Explicit · shiji:073:s0111, shiji:073:s0112, shiji:073:s0113
Assessment: died without guilt for the charge against him and was pitied and worshiped by Qin communities · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · shiji:073:s0116
Assessment: gauged foes and adapted; stratagems without bound; reputation shook the world; yet could not save himself from Lord Ying · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment · Speaker Person Id: Sima Qian (太史公)
Explicit · shiji:073:s0181, shiji:073:s0184
Assessment: likened to a wolfish man · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · hanshu:025:s0096

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Book of Han, Chapter 25Volume 23: Treatise on Punishment and Law · 2 passages

若秦因四世之勝，據河山之阻，任用白起、王翦豺狼之徒，奮其爪牙，禽獵六國，以并天下。 Qin then pursued total conquest through accumulated advantage, strategic geography, and ruthless generals.

孫、吳、商、白之徒，皆身誅戮於前，而功滅亡於後。 The lineages of Sunzi, Wuzi, Shang Yang, and Bai Qi ended in violent ruin, and their victories did not endure.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 32Volume 28b: Biography of Feng Yan · 1 passage

沈孫武於五湖兮，斬白起於長平。 I would drown Sun Wu in the five lakes and strike down Bai Qi at Changping.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 62Volume 62: Book of Wu 17: Biographies of Shi Yi and Hu Zong · 1 passage

今日無罪，橫見譖毀，將有商鞅、白起之禍。 Today, innocent, I am suddenly defamed and face the fate of Shang Yang or Bai Qi.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 72Biography of the Marquis of Rang · 5 passages

昭王十四年，魏冉舉白起，使代向壽將而攻韓、魏，敗之伊闕，斬首二十四萬，虜魏將公孫喜。 In the fourteenth year of King Zhao, Wei Ran recommended Bai Qi to replace Xiang Shou as general and attack Han and Wei, defeating them at Yiguan, beheading two hundred and forty thousand, and capturing the Wei general Gongsun Xi.

四歲，而使白起拔楚之郢，秦置南郡。 After four years, he dispatched Bai Qi to seize Chu's Ying, and Qin established the Nangun commandery.

乃封白起為武安君。 Bai Qi was then enfeoffed as Lord of Wu'an.

白起者，穰侯之所任舉也，相善。 Bai Qi was one whom the Marquis of Rang had recommended and employed; they were on good terms.

明年，穰侯與白起客卿胡陽復攻趙、韓、魏，破芒卯於華陽下，斬首十萬，取魏之卷、蔡陽、長社，趙氏觀津。 The following year, the Marquis of Rang together with Bai Qi and guest minister Hu Yang again attacked Zhao, Han, and Wei, defeating Mang Mao below Huayang, beheading one hundred thousand, and seizing Wei's Juan, Caiyang, and Changshe, as well as Zhao's Guanjin.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 73Biographies of Bai Qi and Wang Jian · 37 passages

白起者，郿人也。 Bai Qi was a man of Mei.

昭王十三年，而白起為左庶長，將而擊韓之新城。 In King Zhao's thirteenth year, Bai Qi was appointed Left Senior Minister and led troops to attack Xincheng of Han.

其明年，白起為左更，攻韓、魏於伊闕，斬首二十四萬，又虜其將公孫喜，拔五城。 The next year, Bai Qi was appointed Left Minister of the Interior and attacked Han and Wei at Yique, beheading 240,000 men, capturing their general Gongsun Xi, and taking five cities.

起遷為國尉。 Qi was advanced to the position of state defender.

明年，白起為大良造。 The following year, Bai Qi was appointed grand master craftsman.

明年，起與客卿錯攻垣城，拔之。 The following year, Qi and guest minister Cuo attacked Yuan City and conquered it.

後五年，白起攻趙，拔光狼城。 Five years later, Bai Qi attacked Zhao and seized Guanglang City.

後七年，白起攻楚，拔鄢、鄧五城。 Seven years later, Bai Qi attacked Chu and conquered Yan and Deng—five cities in all.

白起遷為武安君。 Bai Qi was elevated to Lord Wu'an.

武安君因取楚，定巫、黔中郡。 Lord Wu'an then took territory from Chu and established Wu and Qianzhong as commanderies.

昭王三十四年，白起攻魏，拔華陽，走芒卯，而虜三晉將，斬首十三萬。 In King Zhao's thirty-fourth year, Bai Qi attacked Wei, conquered Huayang, routed Mang Mao, captured three Jin generals, and beheaded 130,000 men.

昭王四十三年，白起攻韓陘城，拔五城，斬首五萬。 In King Zhao's forty-third year, Bai Qi attacked Han's Xingcheng, conquered five cities, and beheaded 50,000 men.

四十四年，白起攻南陽太行道，絕之。 In the forty-fourth year, Bai Qi attacked the Nanyang-Taihang road and severed it.

秦聞馬服子將，乃陰使武安君白起為上將軍。 When Qin heard that Ma Fuzi was commanding, they secretly dispatched Lord Wu'an Bai Qi to serve as supreme general.

而王龁為尉裨將，令軍中有敢泄武安君將者斬。 Wang He became assistant general, and they ordered that anyone in the army who dared reveal that Lord Wu'an was commanding would be executed.

括軍敗，卒四十萬人降武安君。 Kuo's forces were defeated. 400,000 soldiers surrendered to Lord Wu'an.

武安君計曰：「前秦已拔上黨，上黨民不樂為秦而歸趙。 Lord Wu'an calculated: 'Previously Qin had captured Shangdang, but the Shangdang people were unhappy serving Qin and went to Zhao.

韓、趙恐，使蘇代厚幣說秦相應侯曰：「武安君禽馬服子乎？」 Han and Zhao, in fear, sent Su Dai with lavish gifts to persuade Qin's prime minister Lord Ying, asking: 'Has Lord Wu'an captured Ma Fuzi?'

「趙亡則秦王王矣，武安君為三公。 'If Zhao falls, the King of Qin will become hegemon. Lord Wu'an will become one of the Three Dukes.

武安君所為秦戰勝攻取者七十餘城，南定鄢、郢、漢中，北禽趙括之軍，雖周、召、呂望之功不益於此矣。 Lord Wu'an's victories for Qin—conquering over seventy cities, pacifying Yan and Ying in the south, taking Hanzhong, capturing Zhao Kuo's forces in the north—even the achievements of Zhou Gong, Shao Gong, and Lu Wang would not surpass this.

今趙亡，秦王王，則武安君必為三公，君能為之下乎？ Now if Zhao falls and the King of Qin becomes hegemon, Lord Wu'an will certainly become one of the Three Dukes. Can you serve beneath him?

故不如因而割之，無以為武安君功也。」 Therefore, it is better to take advantage of this and divide their territories without allowing Lord Wu'an to claim the merit.'

武安君聞之，由是與應侯有隙。 Lord Wu'an heard of this and thereafter bore enmity toward Lord Ying.

是時武安君病，不任行。 At this time Lord Wu'an was ill and could not undertake the march.

武安君病愈，秦王欲使武安君代陵將。 Lord Wu'an recovered from his illness. The King of Qin wished to send Lord Wu'an to replace Ling as commander.

武安君言曰：「邯鄲實未易攻也。 Lord Wu'an declared: 'Handan is truly not easy to attack.

乃使應侯請之，武安君終辭不肯行，遂稱病。 He then sent Lord Ying to request it. Lord Wu'an firmly declined and would not go, pleading illness.

武安君言曰：「秦不聽臣計，今如何矣！」 Lord Wu'an exclaimed: 'Qin did not heed my counsel. Now what is to be done!'

秦王聞之，怒，彊起武安君，武安君遂稱病甐。 The King of Qin heard this and flew into a rage. He compelled Lord Wu'an to rise, but Lord Wu'an pleaded illness and would not go.

於是免武安君為士伍，遷之陰密。 They then stripped Lord Wu'an of rank to common soldier and banished him to Yinmi.

武安君病，未能行。 Lord Wu'an was ill and could not undertake the journey.

秦王乃使人遣白起，不得留咸陽中。 The King of Qin thereupon sent men to banish Bai Qi, forbidding him to remain in Xianyang.

武安君既行，出咸陽西門十里，至杜郵。 Lord Wu'an departed, leaving Xianyang's west gate and traveling ten li to Duyou.

秦昭王與應侯群臣議曰：「白起之遷，其意尚怏怏不服，有餘言。」 King Zhao of Qin discussed the matter with Lord Ying and the assembled ministers, saying: 'Bai Qi remains resentful and unreconciled over his exile, with much left unsaid.'

武安君引劍將自剄，曰：「我何罪于天而至此哉？」 Lord Wu'an drew his sword to slit his own throat, exclaiming: 'What sin have I committed against Heaven to arrive at this?'

武安君之死也，以秦昭王五十年十一月。 Lord Wu'an's death occurred in the eleventh month of King Zhao of Qin's fiftieth year.

白起料敵合變，出奇無窮，聲震天下，然不能救患於應侯。 Bai Qi gauged foes and adapted to circumstances, deploying stratagems without bound, his reputation shook the world, yet he could not save himself from Lord Ying's machinations.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 76Biographies of Lord Pingyuan and Yu Qing · 1 passage

白起，小豎子耳，率數萬之眾，興師以與楚戰，一戰而舉鄢郢，再戰而燒夷陵，三戰而辱王之先人。 Yet Bai Qi, that mere upstart, led only a few tens of thousands to wage war against Chu. In his first battle, he took Yan and Ying; in his second, he burned Yiling; and in his third, he brought disgrace upon Your Majesty’s ancestors!

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 78Biography of Lord Chunshen · 4 passages

秦昭王使白起攻韓、魏，敗之於華陽，禽魏將芒卯，韓、魏服而事秦。 King Zhao of Qin sent Bai Qi to attack Han and Wei, defeating them at Huayang and capturing Wei's general Mang Mao. Han and Wei submitted and served Qin.

秦昭王方令白起與韓、魏共伐楚，未行，而楚使黃歇適至於秦，聞秦之計。 King Zhao of Qin was about to order Bai Qi to join forces with Han and Wei to attack Chu, but before the plan could be executed, Chu's envoy Huang Xie arrived in Qin and learned of Qin's strategy.

當是之時，秦已前使白起攻楚，取巫、黔中之郡，拔鄢郢，東至竟陵，楚頃襄王東徙治於陳縣。 At this time, Qin had already sent Bai Qi to attack Chu, taking the commanderies of Wu and Qianzhong, capturing Yan and Ying, and advancing east to Jingling. King Qingxiang of Chu moved his capital east to Chen county.

於是乃止白起而謝韓、魏。 So he halted Bai Qi and made apologies to Han and Wei.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 88Biography of Meng Tian · 1 passage

昭襄王殺武安君白起。 King Zhaoxiang put to death his own general, Bai Qi, the Lord of Wu'an.