Character Profile from Records of the Grand Historian: Gao Jianli — The Assassin's Confidant Who Sang Sad Songs While Playing the Zhu

Brief Introduction

Gao Jianli was a famous musician from the State of Yan in the late Warring States period and a life-and-death friend of Jing Ke, the hero who attempted to assassinate the Qin ruler. In Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), although he is not the main subject of a biography, he becomes an indispensable soul figure in the "Biographies of Assassins" through his skill in "playing the Zhu" and his spirit of "a scholar dies for the one who understands him." In the late Warring States period, when many heroes rose up, Gao Jianli's existence not only enriched the storyline of Jing Ke's assassination attempt but also highlighted the deeper connotations of ancient Chinese knight-errant culture, becoming a tragic legend in the long river of history.

Core Knowledge Points

* Identity and Skills: Gao Jianli was proficient in the "Zhu," an ancient percussion string instrument shaped like a Zeng but played by striking. His performance style was tragic and desolate, capable of evoking strong emotional resonance from listeners, making him a representative figure in the musical circle of the State of Yan at the time.
* Friendship of Kindred Spirits: He and Jing Ke often drank together in the markets of Yan. Gao Jianli would play the Zhu, and Jing Ke would sing along, as if no one else was around, demonstrating a tacit understanding beyond life and death. This "friendship among the common people" broke social barriers and is a famous example of friendship in the Shiji.
* Tragic End: After Jing Ke's failed assassination of Qin, Qin Shi Huang spared Gao Jianli due to his appreciation of talent but blinded him. Gao Jianli eventually hid lead inside the Zhu and attempted another assassination, but failed and was killed, completing his transformation from musician to assassin.

Connection to the Content of "Records of the Grand Historian"

In the "Biographies of Assassins" of the Records of the Grand Historian, Sima Qian did not give Gao Jianli a separate biography but included him as an extension of Jing Ke's story. This arrangement is highly meaningful:

1. Atmosphere Rendering: Through the scene description of "Gao Jianli playing the Zhu, Jing Ke singing along," Sima Qian laid a tragic and solemn tone for the assassination event, making readers feel the sorrow before the battle even began. The original text records, "Gao Jianli, a man of Yan, was skilled at playing the Zhu." This combination of music and poetry is a manifestation of the literary quality of the Shiji.
2. Continuation of Spirit: Gao Jianli's second assassination attempt proved that the assassin's spirit was not the will of one person, but a collective faith. Even with blind eyes, he did not forget the grievance of his confidant, embodying the core value of "a scholar dies for the one who understands him."
3. Historical Evaluation: Through Gao Jianli's ending, the Shiji reflects Qin Shi Huang's complex attitude towards talent from a side angle—cherishing talent yet suspicious, ultimately leading to a tragic conclusion, revealing individual fate under autocratic imperial power. Sima Qian used Gao Jianli's death to express a silent accusation against tyrannical rule.

Conclusion

Gao Jianli's story is an excellent footnote regarding friendship and loyalty in the Records of the Grand Historian. He was not only Jing Ke's confidant but also a tragic hero in that turbulent era who practiced his beliefs with his life. His image has crossed millennia and is still praised by later generations, becoming a symbol of "confidant" and "righteous person" in Chinese culture.