Yan (state)

Quick Facts: Who was Yan (state)?

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Yan (state)

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Ancient Chinese state during the Zhou dynasty, centered near modern Beijing.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Yan (Chinese: 燕; pinyin: Yān; Old Chinese pronunciation: *ʔˤe[n]) was an ancient Chinese state during the Zhou dynasty. Its capital was Ji (later known as Yanjing and now Beijing). During the Warring States period, the court was also moved to another capital at Xiadu at times. The history of Yan began in the Western Zhou in the early first millennium BC. After the authority of the Zhou king declined during the Spring and Autumn period in the 8th century BC, Yan survived and became one of the strongest states in China.

Career & Major Achievements

During the Warring States period from the 5th to 3rd centuries BC, Yan was one of the last states to be conquered by the armies of Qin Shihuang: Yan fell in 222 BC, the year before the declaration of the Qin Empire. Yan experienced a brief period of independence after the collapse of the Qin dynasty in 207 BC, but it was eventually absorbed by the victorious Han. During its height, Yan stretched from the Yellow River to the Yalu River and from the mountains of Shanxi to the Liaodong Peninsula. As the northernmost of all the Chinese states during this time period, Yan faced incursions from steppe nomads and as such, built great walls. According to Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian, King Wu of Zhou deposed Di Xin of Shang at the Battle of Muye (c. 1046 BC) and conferred titles to nobles within his domain, including the rulers of the Yan.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In the 11th century BC, Yan's capital was based in what is now Liulihe Township, Fangshan District, Beijing, where a large walled settlement and over 200 tombs of nobility have been unearthed. Shang oracle bones indicate the existence of an earlier Yan polity whose rulership may have been deposed. Among the most significant artifacts from the Liulihe Site is a bronze ding with inscriptions that recount the journey of the eldest son of the Duke of Yan, who delivered offerings to the King of Zhou in present-day Xi'an and was awarded a position in the king's court. Some time during the 7th century BC in the late Western Zhou or early Eastern Zhou, Yan absorbed the State of Ji, a smaller kingdom to the north, and moved its capital to Ji, in modern-day Xicheng District, Beijing. To the south, the bordering states of Zhao and Qi were Yan's main rivals.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1046: 1046 Milestone — 1046 BC) and conferred titles to nobles within his domain, including the rulers of the Yan.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Yan (state)

True or False: “Did Yan fall immediately after Qin conquered all of China in 221 BC?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Yan was the third to last state to fall; it fell in 222 BC, one year before Qin completed its conquest.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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Frequently Asked Questions about Yan (state)