Warring States Diplomat "Xi Shou" Gong Sun Yan: Leader of the Vertical Alliance in the Records of the Grand Historian

Brief Introduction

In the historical tapestry of the Warring States period, "Xi Shou" (犀首) was not a personal name, but rather a prestigious official title. Gong Sun Yan, a native of the State of Wei, was later known as "Xi Shou" because he once held this position. Although he briefly served as Prime Minister in the State of Qin, his historical positioning leans more towards that of a Diplomat-Strategist (Zonghengjia) rather than a mere Qin general. He was one of the core promoters of the "Vertical Alliance" strategy against Qin during the Warring States period, standing in stark opposition to Zhang Yi's "Horizontal Alliance" strategy.

Core Knowledge Points

1. Meaning of the Title: "Xi Shou" originally referred to the head of the Wei military officers, meaning "Head of the Rhinoceros Armor," symbolizing military command authority. It later evolved into a high-ranking title or official designation during the Warring States period, holding immense status.
2. Political Career: Gong Sun Yan began his career in Wei and later entered Qin as Prime Minister. However, deeply aware of the threat posed by Qin's expansion, he left Qin for Wei to organize a Vertical Alliance among the six states.
3. Achievements in Vertical Alliance: In 318 BC, Gong Sun Yan facilitated a joint attack on Qin by five states: Wei, Zhao, Han, Yan, and Chu. He promoted King Huai of Chu as the leader of the alliance. This was the largest anti-Qin alliance in Warring States history and once forced Qin to cede territory to seek peace.

Connection with the Content of Records of the Grand Historian

Sima Qian recorded Gong Sun Yan's deeds in multiple places within the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), primarily concentrated in the Biography of Zhang Yi and the Hereditary House of Wei.
* Biography of Zhang Yi: Sima Qian discussed Gong Sun Yan alongside Zhang Yi, recording their political rivalry. The text mentions that Gong Sun Yan left Qin due to Zhang Yi's exclusion while in Qin, and subsequently dedicated himself to the Vertical Alliance. The original text states: "Gong Sun Yan was a man of Wei, styled Xi Shou."
* Hereditary House of Wei: This section details Gong Sun Yan's military actions as a general of Wei, including how he planned the five-state attack on Qin, as well as his later interactions with figures like Lord Xinling in Wei, showcasing his military talents.

Historical Evaluation and Misconceptions

People often mistakenly regard Gong Sun Yan as a pure "Qin General." In reality, although he served in Qin, he dedicated his life to curbing Qin's eastward expansion. In the narrative logic of the Records of the Grand Historian, he is the main opponent of Zhang Yi's "Horizontal Alliance" strategy. By contrasting the two, Sima Qian demonstrates how Warring States diplomat-strategists influenced the course of the nation with their eloquence. Gong Sun Yan's title of "Xi Shou" not only represented power but also symbolized his leadership status within the Vertical Alliance camp.

In summary, Gong Sun Yan was a key political and military figure in the mid-Warring States period. Through the records in the Records of the Grand Historian, we can not only reconstruct his life but also understand the complex game of "Vertical and Horizontal" alliances during the Warring States period. For the study of Warring States political history, Gong Sun Yan is an indispensable link, and his deeds provide rich historical references for future generations.