Dazexiang uprising

Quick Facts: Who was Dazexiang uprising?

Subject:

Dazexiang uprising

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The 209 BCE revolt against the Qin dynasty, led by common soldiers.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Chen Sheng and Wu Guang uprising (simplified Chinese: 陈胜吴广起义; traditional Chinese: 陳勝吳廣起義; pinyin: Chén Shèng Wú Guǎng Qǐyì), August 209 B.C.– January 208 B.C., was the first uprising against the Qin dynasty following the death of Qin Shi Huang. Led by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, the uprising was unsuccessful. It is also called the Dazexiang uprising (simplified Chinese: 大泽乡起义; traditional Chinese: 大澤鄉起義; pinyin: Dàzéxiāng Qǐyì) as the uprising started in Dazexiang (大泽乡), which translates into "Big Swamp Village". Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were both army officers who were ordered to lead their bands of commoner soldiers north to participate in the defense of Yuyang (simplified Chinese: 渔阳; traditional Chinese: 漁陽). However, they were stopped halfway in present-day Anhui province by flooding from a severe rainstorm.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The harsh Qin laws mandated execution for those who showed up late for government jobs, regardless of the nature of the delay. Deciding that they would rather fight than accept execution, Chen and Wu organized a band of 900 villagers to rebel against the government. The current emperor, Huhai, had killed his brother Fusu, who was known for his benevolence, to take the throne, so they rose up in Fusu's name. There are two stories for this uprising. To convince people to support this uprising, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang wrote "King Chen Sheng" on a piece of silk, and placed it in the belly of a fish.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

A man in this army bought the fish and was surprised to find the message. They also imitated animal sounds to say "Da Chu flourishes, King Chen Sheng" to make people believe in them. With Chen's men declaring him king of the former Kingdom of Chu, he and Wu became the centre of armed uprisings all over China. Over the course of just a few months, their strength grew to around ten thousand men, a force composed mostly of discontented peasants. However, in less than a year, their uprising faced serious trouble; their force was no match for the highly skilled battlefield tactics of the professional Qin soldiers and both Chen and Wu were assassinated by their own men.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Dazexiang uprising

True or False: “The Dazexiang uprising was immediately successful in overthrowing the Qin dynasty.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Although it was a major revolt, the uprising was ultimately unsuccessful against the professional forces of the Qin army.

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