Mr. Su Qin's Comments on Six Kingdoms

Su Qin was a renowned politician during the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C). His political strategy was called the Vertical Alliance, which was designed to unite six relatively weak states against the State of Qin, the most powerful state of the period. The most outstanding time in Su Qin's career occurred in 331 B.C., when he successfully persuaded the monarchs of all six states to form a union. He then became Prime Minister of the six states, and became an important advisor in the union's armed activities against the State of Qin. Due to the loose nature of the union and various problems between the six states, they were eventually defeated by the State of Qin and, in 221 B.C., the Qin King destroyed the union and established the Qin Dynasty, proclaiming himself the first Emperor of China.

Su Qin's travels and representations to leaders could be called the best debating tour in Chinese history. His words were appropriate and the language splendid. Sections of these debates can be found in documents, in history books and in many other forms of art in China. Su Qin's comments on the six kingdoms have been made into a play in Cantonese opera, in which audiences watch vivid debate scenes and enjoy the wisdom of the talented Su Qin. He employs various strategies to persuade the six states to unite, based on each one's geographical, political and economical situation. Following the successful union of the six kingdoms, the powerful State of Qin is unable to extend farther than the Hanguguan frontier pass for approximately fifteen years.

Su Qin has a colourful personal life as well. In the State of Yan, where he successfully helps to reclaim ten cities from its allied state, he has an affair with the monarch's wife. He leaves Yan, but is later assassinated in another state.

(For a similar story about Su Qin, please see the entry for A Prime Minister Who Carries Seals of Six Hostile Kingdoms in this collection.)