Lin Xiangru
Encyclopedia
Lin Xiangru was a politician of the Warring States Period
, who served the state of Zhao. He figures prominently in two stories of the period, namely the episode of "Returning the Jade to Zhao
", as well as the story of "Carrying Thorned Grass and Pleading Guilt".
Lin Xiangru was born sometime in the reign of King Wuling of Zhao
, and due to his intellect and superior skills he rose quickly through the ranks of the Zhao bureaucracy. So when emissaries from the King of Qin came over to the Zhao court, demanding the He Shi Bi
, a priceless jade artifact, for tribute, Lin was already established in the Zhao court. He understood that King Xiaowen of Zhao did not wish to have such a priceless artifact slip away from his hands; and so he volunteered to go to the Qin court in order to persuade the king not to do such a thing.
When at the Qin court, Lin was offered 15 cities in exchange for the He Shi Bi; however on closer inspection many of these cities were worthless and could easily be taken back by the Qin juggernaught. Therefore his resolve not to give the jade to Qin became even stronger. Stating that there was a tiny flaw in the jade, Lin Xiangru snatched it back and threatened to break both the jade and his bones if the Qin tried to take it back by force. The Qin king, unwilling to see such a thing ruined by his actions, relented and let Lin return to Zhao with the jade. However, Lin knew what the Qin king was intending to do and thus slipped secretly away while at a banquet and returned to Zhao quickly.
The incident made Lin Xiangru famous throughout the Warring States as the man who had shamed the Qin king. His status rose and soon he was chief minister of Zhao. However many people were jealous of his success, notably the old general Lian Po
; one of the most experienced commanders during that time. He was so jealous that he swore enmity between the two of them.
When Lin had caught wind of this, he decided that the best way to deal with the problem is not to confront Lian at all. When Lian's carriage was going down the street, Lin's carriage, although normally had the right of passage, turned and backed out of the street in order to let Lian Po pass.
Many saw it as a sign of weakness, not least Lian Po himself, who reckoned that Lin, an academic, was too scared to fight such a warrior as he. Lin's courtiers, too, grew dissatisfied by the subservient way Lin was behaving; many left. But when Lin's chief courtier demanded to know why he was behaving in such a manner, Lin Xiangru replied:"The feud between me and Lian Po is a personal one; but I am in charge of the nation's government, and he the nation's security: I cannot let my personal life ruin that of the kingdom!"
When Lian Po finally heard of this, all his hatred turned into shame. Deciding to apologize to Lin, he strapped brambles to his bare back and walked from his house to that of Lin Xiangru's, begging for his forgiveness. Lin Xiangru forgave him, and from then on, they became good friends.
When Lian Po was on the verge of being replaced as overall commander in the Battle of Changping
by the much younger and much more inexperienced Zhao Kuo
, Lin Xiangru begged King Xiaowen to reconsider the move. But his advice was not heeded, and disaster followed.
Lin Xiangru died probably in the years between Changping and the annexation of Zhao by Qin.
Sima Xiangru
, a poet during of the western Han Dynasty
, named himself after Lin Xiangru as a result of having fostered great admiration for the latter during his studies.
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
, who served the state of Zhao. He figures prominently in two stories of the period, namely the episode of "Returning the Jade to Zhao
He Shi Bi
The He Shi Bi is a piece of jade which plays an important part in many historical stories in Ancient China. Found in the State of Chu by a man named Bian He, it was first made into a jade disc, then into the Imperial Seal of China by Qinshihuang.-Discovery:...
", as well as the story of "Carrying Thorned Grass and Pleading Guilt".
Lin Xiangru was born sometime in the reign of King Wuling of Zhao
King Wuling of Zhao
King Wuling of Zhao reigned in the State of Zhao during the Warring States Period of Chinese history...
, and due to his intellect and superior skills he rose quickly through the ranks of the Zhao bureaucracy. So when emissaries from the King of Qin came over to the Zhao court, demanding the He Shi Bi
He Shi Bi
The He Shi Bi is a piece of jade which plays an important part in many historical stories in Ancient China. Found in the State of Chu by a man named Bian He, it was first made into a jade disc, then into the Imperial Seal of China by Qinshihuang.-Discovery:...
, a priceless jade artifact, for tribute, Lin was already established in the Zhao court. He understood that King Xiaowen of Zhao did not wish to have such a priceless artifact slip away from his hands; and so he volunteered to go to the Qin court in order to persuade the king not to do such a thing.
When at the Qin court, Lin was offered 15 cities in exchange for the He Shi Bi; however on closer inspection many of these cities were worthless and could easily be taken back by the Qin juggernaught. Therefore his resolve not to give the jade to Qin became even stronger. Stating that there was a tiny flaw in the jade, Lin Xiangru snatched it back and threatened to break both the jade and his bones if the Qin tried to take it back by force. The Qin king, unwilling to see such a thing ruined by his actions, relented and let Lin return to Zhao with the jade. However, Lin knew what the Qin king was intending to do and thus slipped secretly away while at a banquet and returned to Zhao quickly.
The incident made Lin Xiangru famous throughout the Warring States as the man who had shamed the Qin king. His status rose and soon he was chief minister of Zhao. However many people were jealous of his success, notably the old general Lian Po
Lian Po
Lian Po was a prominent military General of Zhao during the Warring States period of China. Bai Qi, Wang Jian, Li Mu and he were commonly known as the Four Greatest Generals in Warring States....
; one of the most experienced commanders during that time. He was so jealous that he swore enmity between the two of them.
When Lin had caught wind of this, he decided that the best way to deal with the problem is not to confront Lian at all. When Lian's carriage was going down the street, Lin's carriage, although normally had the right of passage, turned and backed out of the street in order to let Lian Po pass.
Many saw it as a sign of weakness, not least Lian Po himself, who reckoned that Lin, an academic, was too scared to fight such a warrior as he. Lin's courtiers, too, grew dissatisfied by the subservient way Lin was behaving; many left. But when Lin's chief courtier demanded to know why he was behaving in such a manner, Lin Xiangru replied:"The feud between me and Lian Po is a personal one; but I am in charge of the nation's government, and he the nation's security: I cannot let my personal life ruin that of the kingdom!"
When Lian Po finally heard of this, all his hatred turned into shame. Deciding to apologize to Lin, he strapped brambles to his bare back and walked from his house to that of Lin Xiangru's, begging for his forgiveness. Lin Xiangru forgave him, and from then on, they became good friends.
When Lian Po was on the verge of being replaced as overall commander in the Battle of Changping
Battle of Changping
The Battle of Changping was a military campaign that took place during the Warring States Period in China. It concluded in 260 BC with a decisive victory by the State of Qin over the State of Zhao, and ultimately allowed Qin to conquer and unify China decades later...
by the much younger and much more inexperienced Zhao Kuo
Zhao Kuo
Zhao Kuo was a general of the States of Zhao in Warring States Period , son of the famous general Zhao She, during the epic Battle of Changping between the States of Zhao and Qin in ancient China. ."...
, Lin Xiangru begged King Xiaowen to reconsider the move. But his advice was not heeded, and disaster followed.
Lin Xiangru died probably in the years between Changping and the annexation of Zhao by Qin.
Sima Xiangru
Sima Xiangru
Sima Xiangru, also known as Ssu-ma Hsiang-ju was a Chinese writer. He was a minor official of the Western Han Dynasty, but was better known for his poetic skills, jiu business, and controversial marriage to the widow Zhuo Wenjun after both eloped...
, a poet during of the western Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
, named himself after Lin Xiangru as a result of having fostered great admiration for the latter during his studies.