Yu Rang (traditional 豫讓; simplified 豫让, ?-453 BC) was a famous Chinese

assassin Assassination is the murder of a prominent or VIP, important person, such as a head of state, head of government, politician, world leader, member of a royal family or CEO. The murder of a celebrity, activist, or artist, though they may not ha ...

in the

Spring and Autumn period The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 770 to 476 BC (or according to some authorities until 403 BC) which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives fr ...

Life according to the legend

Yu Rang was an assassin in the early days of the

Warring States period The Warring States period () was an era in History of China#Ancient China, ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded ...

. He lived in the State of Jin (晉) around 450 BC. He was a grandson of Bi Yang.

Background

Yu was the family-minister of Fan Jishe and Zhonghang Yin who were two of six influential ministers of the Jin State. But Jishe and Zhonghang Yin did not appreciate his services properly, so he left those families and served Zhi Yao (智伯瑶) (also known as Zhi Bo). Zhi Yao appreciated Yu Rang very much. In a cruel conflict, the Fan Family and Zhonghang Family were defeated by the four families Zhi, Zhao, Wei, Han. But Zhi Yao was too greedy, and the other three families allied to eliminate the Zhi clan in the aftermath of

Battle of Jinyang The Battle of Jinyang () was fought in modern-day Taiyuan between the elite families of the State of Jin, the house of Zhao and the house of Zhi (智), in the Spring and Autumn period of China. The other houses of Wei and Han first participate ...

and killed Zhi Yao in 453 BC. Because Viscount

Zhao Xiangzi Zhao Wuxu ( zh, 趙毋卹, reigned 458 BCE – 425 BCE), also known by the posthumous name Xiangzi (襄子), was the head of the state of Zhao, house of Zhao in the Jin (Chinese state), Jin state in late Spring and Autumn period. Early life Wuxu w ...

, brother of the

Marquess Xian of Zhao Marquess Xian of Zhao (died 409 BC) () or Zhao Xianzi was a leader of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period (475-220 BC) of ancient China. Born Zhào Huàn (), he was the son of Zhao Zhou (), grandson of Zhao Bolu () and the eldest b ...

, had hated Zhi Yao deeply, he actually used the skull of Zhi Yao as a drinking cup.

Lavatory assassination plot

Yu Rang cuts the robe, ascribed Nobukazu

Yu Rang fled to the mountains and swore revenge for the Zhi Family, changed his name and became a servant in the palace of Jin's monarch. He was hiding in a lavatory to murder Zhao Xiangzi. But Zhao Xiangzi got worried and had his warriors search the lavatory. The warriors brought out Yu Rang and found he had a dagger. Zhao Xiangzi pointed him by a sword and asked what he had planned to do. Yu Rang answered that he wanted to avenge his former lord, Zhi Bo. The warriors were ready to kill him, but Zhao Xiangzi showed respect for Yu Rang's moral righteousness and ordered Yu Rang to be released.

Disguising as a beggar

Yu Rang knew Zhao Xiangzi could recognize him again, so he disfigured himself having his skin covered with lacquer to create scars and sores. He became a beggar in a market, and even his wife only identified him by his voice. To change his voice, Yu Rang swallowed charcoal. A friend of him was worried and tried to persuade him to choose other methods, "You have many abilities and you can serve Zhao Family. They will trust you. Then, you can easily do what you plan to do." Yu Rang answered, "Because I am the family-minister of Zhi Bo, I want to revenge him. It shows faithfulness. But if I serve Zhao Xiangzi and kill him then, I am not a faithful person any longer."

Assassination plot at a bridge

Armed with a sword, one day, Yu Rang lurked under a bridge. When Zhao Xiangzi made his way over the bridge, his horses were suddenly startled by Yu Rang approaching. Zhao Xiangzi recognized him despite the beggar appearance, and his warriors arrested Yu Rang. Xiangzi interrogated him, and Yu Rang explained that it still was his duty to avenge his former master Zhi Bo, even though he personally had nothing to gain from it. Zhao Xiangzi sighed with tears about Yu Rang still being loyal to Zhi Bo, but felt it was enough that he had already released him one time. So he decided to not release Yu Rang once more,cf. Sima Qian: ''War-Lords'', Southside, Edinburgh 1974. p.137 and ordered his warriors to surround him. Yu Rang replied, "You once released me, and all people praise your virtue. Today I am ready to die. But I ask for cutting your robe and thus show my mind of revenge." Zhao Xiangzi deemed Yu Rang to be a faithful man, and gave his robe to Yu Rang. Yu Rang stabbed the robe three times, crying to heaven that now he was ready to report in front of Zhi Bo. He killed himself by his own sword. After his death, Yu Rang's story spread throughout China and Japan, and people were touched by his loyalty.

References

Literature

Sima Qian Sima Qian (; ; ) was a Chinese historian of the early Han dynasty (206AD220). He is considered the father of Chinese historiography for his ''Records of the Grand Historian'', a general history of China covering more than two thousand years b ...

: ''War-Lords'', Southside, Edinburgh 1974. p. 24, p. 136 et seq.
Google Books
* Mark Edward Lewis: ''Sanctioned Violence in Early China'', p. 77 et seq. in: Contemporary Studies in Philosophy and Literature. SUNY series in Chinese philosophy and culture. SUNY Press, New York 1990.
Google Books
* Chen Huaxin: ''Grand review of Chinese ancient dynasties'', Shenzhen: Haitian Press 1993 (陳華新(1993), <<中國歷代宦官大觀>>, 深圳:海天出版社)

External links

* The story of Yu Rang is recorded in the section ''Biographies of the Assassins'' of the ''Records of the Grand Historian'' (Shiji), the book by

, created during the

Han Dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...

.
private website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rang, Yu 453 BC Zhao (state) Year of birth unknown 5th-century BC Chinese people Chinese assassins Year of death unknown Suicides in China Ancient people who committed suicide