Lord Wuan Bai Qi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname(s) | Ren Tu |
| Born | c. 332 BC Mei county |
| Died | 257 BC Duyou |
| Allegiance | Qin |
Bai Qi (Chinese: 白起; c. 332 BC – c.January 257 BC[1]), also known as Gongsun Qi (公孫起),[2] was a Chinese military general of the Qin state during the Warring States period. Born in Mei (present-day Mei County, Shaanxi), Bai Qi served as the commander of the Qin army for more than 30 years, being responsible for the deaths of over one million,[3] earning him the nickname Ren Tu (人屠; lit. 'human butcher'). According to the Shiji, he seized more than 73 cities from the other six hostile states, and to date no record has been found to show that he suffered a single defeat throughout his military career. He was instrumental in the rise of Qin as a military hegemon and the weakening of its rival states, thus enabling Qin's eventual conquest of them. He is regarded by Chinese folklore as one of the four Greatest Generals of the Late Warring States period, along with Li Mu, Wang Jian, and Lian Po;[4] he is also remembered as the most fearsome amongst the four.
- ^ Vol. 05 of Shiji indicated that Bai Qi died in the 12th month of the 50th year of the reign of King Zhaoxiang of Qin; this corresponds to 6 Jan to 3 Feb 257 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar. In the modified Zhuanxu calendar used in this era, the 50th year of King Zhaoxiang's reign began on 07 November 258 BCE and ended on 26 October 257 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar. However, Bai Qi's biography in vol. 73 of Shiji indicated that he died in the 11th month of the same year; this corresponds to 7 Dec 258 BCE to 5 Jan 257 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar.
- ^ Strategies of the Warring States.
- ^ "How many people had Bai Qi killed".
- ^ Thousand-Character Classic.