Xiang Yan (項燕) | 24 Histories

Overview

The translated histories identify Xiang Yan as a general. This record brings together 6 passages from 3 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Xiang Yan	項燕	Xiàng Yàn
Personal	Xiang Yan	項燕	Xiang Yan

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · shiji:048:s0017, shiji:088:s0010
Value: male
Explicit · shiji:073:s0164

Roles

General

Life and dates

Death

Manner: killed in battle / 殺 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 始皇二十三年 · Western Year: BC 224
Explicit · shiji:088:s0010
Manner: killed in battle by Wang Jian's forces · Place: south of Qian / 蘄南
Explicit · shiji:073:s0164

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 始皇二十三年 · Western Year: BC 224
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:088:s0010
Source Date: Text: 始皇二十年至二十六年間 · Western Interval: Start: BC 227 · End: BC 221
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0164
Source Date: Text: 項燕為楚將 · Western Year: c. BC 223
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:048:s0017

Career and standing

Label: general of Chu / 楚將 · Action: held
Explicit · shiji:048:s0017

Places and affiliations

Label: Chu / 荊 · Relation: served
Explicit · shiji:073:s0164
Polity: Chu / 楚 · Relation: served
Explicit · shiji:088:s0010

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Action: was killed when Wang Jian routed the Chu army south of Qian · Role: defeated general · Other Person Id: Wang Jian (王翦) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 始皇二十年至二十六年間 · Western Interval: Start: BC 227 · End: BC 221
Explicit · shiji:073:s0164

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: repeatedly achieved merit, cared for his soldiers, and was mourned by Chu · Provenance: Mode: narrative-reputation
Explicit · shiji:048:s0017

References in the histories

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

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 48House of Chen She · 4 passages

Open chapter

項燕為楚將，數有功，愛士卒，楚人憐之。 Xiang Yan served as a general of Chu, won many victories, and cared deeply for his soldiers. The people of Chu mourned him.

今誠以吾眾詐自稱公子扶蘇、項燕，為天下唱，宜多應者。」 If we now rally our men and raise a banner in the names of Prince Fusu and Xiang Yan, issuing a call to the empire, many will surely answer.'

乃詐稱公子扶蘇、項燕，從民欲也。 They then raised their banner in the names of Prince Fusu and Xiang Yan, following the will of the people.

周文，陳之賢人也，嘗為項燕軍視日，事春申君，自言習兵，陳王與之將軍印，西擊秦。 Zhou Wen was a man of ability from Chen who had once served as a diviner for Xiang Yan's army and had been in the retinue of Lord Chunshen. He claimed expertise in military affairs, so the King of Chen bestowed upon him a general's seal and sent him west to attack Qin.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 73Biographies of Bai Qi and Wang Jian · 1 passage

Open chapter

至蘄南，殺其將軍項燕，荊兵遂敗走。 Reaching south of Qian, he slew their general Xiang Yan. Chu soldiers thereupon fled in rout.

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

Open chapter

始皇二十三年，蒙武為秦裨將軍，與王翦攻楚，大破之，殺項燕。 In the twenty-third year of the First Emperor's reign, Meng Wu served as a deputy general of Qin and joined Wang Jian in an attack on the state of Chu, inflicting a devastating defeat and killing the Chu general Xiang Yan.