Heqin

Heqin
Traditional Chinese和親
Simplified Chinese和亲
Literal meaningpeace marriage
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHéqīn
Wade–GilesHo-ch‘in

Heqin, also known as marriage alliance, refers to the historical practice of Chinese monarchs marrying princesses—usually members of minor branches of the ruling family—to rulers of neighboring states.[1] It was often adopted as an appeasement strategy with an enemy state that was too powerful to defeat on the battlefield. The policy was not always effective. It implied an equal diplomatic status between the two monarchs. As a result, it was controversial and had many critics.[1]

Lou Jing (Chinese: 娄敬, later granted the imperial surname Liu 劉), the architect of the policy, proposed granting the eldest daughter of Emperor Gaozu of Han to Modu Chanyu of the Xiongnu. His proposal was adopted and implemented with a treaty in 198 BC, following the Battle of Baideng two years prior.[2][3] Wang Zhaojun, of the Han dynasty, and Princess Wencheng, of the Tang dynasty, are among the most famous heqin princesses.

The 20th-century scholar Wang Tonglin praised heqin for facilitating the "melting of races" in China.[4]

  1. ^ a b Slobodník (2006), p. 268.
  2. ^ Di Cosmo (2004), p. 193.
  3. ^ Rui Chuanming (芮传明). 古代和亲利弊论 (PDF) (in Chinese). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  4. ^ Bulag (2002), p. 83.