Yan (state)

Yan (Chinese燕) was a Chinese state during the time of the Zhou dynasty, the time of the Spring and Autumn Annals and the time of the Warring States Period. Its capital was Ji (Chinese蓟/蓟, Pinyin Ji, today Beijing, also known as Yanjing, Chinese燕京, Pinyin Yanjing, capital of Yan ').

The state was in the area of ​​what is now northern Hebei and Beijing.

Because he was the most northern Chinese state, he had to endure numerous invasions from the north. The states of Qin and Zhao were his main opponents, especially Zhao tried several times to invade his territory. Nevertheless, he preserved his independence during most of the period of the Warring States Period.

In the year 227 BC Prince Dan of Yan sent an assassin named Jing Ke (荆轲) to kill King of Qin Shi Huangdi, but without success. This well-known in traditional Chinese historiography incident is the subject of the film The Emperor and the Assassin (荆轲刺秦王), which was filmed in China by Chen Kaige in 1999, the film has inspired Hero ( where the assassin is a fictitious person ).

222 BC Yan was annexed by Qin.

Cai蔡· Cao曹· Chen陈/陈· · Chu楚Han韩/韩· · Jin Hua滑晋/晋· Lu鲁/鲁· Qi齐/齐· Qin秦· Shu ·蜀Song宋· Wey卫/卫 · Wu吴/吴· Yan Yue越燕· · Zheng郑/郑· Zhou周