Qin Benji — Sima Qian, Records of the Grand Historian, chapter 5

Sima Qian (c. 145–c. 86 BCE) completed the Shiji, the Records of the Grand Historian, under Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty, as the first comprehensive history of China. Its twelve Basic Annals open the work, and this is the fifth of them.

This chapter follows the state of Qin from its legendary ancestors, said to descend from Emperor Zhuanxu, through Feizi's enfeoffment for his skill at horse-breeding under King Xiao of Zhou, and the line of Qin rulers down through Duke Mu's rise to hegemony over the Western Rong with the counsel of Baili Xi, Jian Shu, and You Yu, and his defeat and later reconciliation with Jin. It then carries the ducal line forward through the Spring and Autumn and into the Warring States period, including Duke Xiao's reforms under Wei Yang, Lord of Shang, and the reigns of Kings Huiwen, Wu, and Zhaoxiang, whose general Bai Qi's campaigns and the extinguishing of the house of Zhou mark Qin's rise toward supremacy, down to the accession of the king who would become the First Emperor.

The section headings inside the chapter are editorial conveniences added by the Chinese Wikisource transcription, not divisions original to Sima Qian, and the Sanjia commentary carried by that transcription is kept in the source text below but not translated. Names and titles are given in Hanyu pinyin without tone marks, with Chinese characters at first appearance for major figures.

Translated for the Good Works Library directly from the classical Chinese printed in full below. Prior English translations of the Shiji's Basic Annals exist — Burton Watson's Records of the Grand Historian and the Nienhauser team's The Grand Scribe's Records — and are named here as controls-in-existence, not consulted in preparing this translation; no claim of firstness is made, and no live search for other prior translations could be carried out when this file was prepared.

Contents

• Annals of Qin (秦本紀)
  • The Ancestors of Qin (秦先祖)
  • Feizi (非子)
  • The Marquis of Qin (秦侯)
  • Gongbo (公伯)
  • Qin Zhong (秦仲)
  • Duke Zhuang of Qin (秦莊公)
  • Duke Xiang of Qin (秦襄公)
  • Duke Wen of Qin and Duke Jing of Qin (秦文公、秦竫公)
  • Duke Ning of Qin (秦寧公)
  • Chuzi of Qin (秦出子)
  • Duke Wu of Qin (秦武公)
  • Duke De of Qin (秦德公)
  • Duke Xuan of Qin (秦宣公)
  • Duke Cheng of Qin (秦成公)
  • Duke Mu of Qin (秦繆公)
  • Duke Kang of Qin (秦康公)
  • Duke Gong of Qin (秦共公)
  • Duke Huan of Qin (秦桓公)
  • Duke Jing of Qin (秦景公)
  • Duke Ai of Qin and Duke Yi of Qin (秦哀公、秦夷公)
  • Duke Hui of Qin, of the Spring and Autumn Period (秦惠公（春秋）)
  • Duke Dao of Qin (秦悼公)
  • Duke Ligong of Qin (秦厲共公)
  • Duke Zao of Qin (秦躁公)
  • Duke Huai of Qin (秦懷公)
  • Duke Ling of Qin (秦靈公)
  • Duke Jian of Qin (秦簡公)
  • Duke Hui of Qin, of the Warring States Period (秦惠公（戰國）)
  • Duke Chu of Qin (秦出公)
  • Duke Xian of Qin (秦獻公)
  • Duke Xiao of Qin (秦孝公)
  • Lord Huiwen of Qin (秦惠文君)
  • King Wu of Qin (秦武王)
  • King Zhaoxiang of Qin (秦昭襄王)
  • King Xiaowen of Qin (秦孝文王)
  • King Zhuangxiang of Qin (秦莊襄王)
  • The First Emperor (始皇帝)
  • The Grand Historian's Judgment (太史公曰)

Translation

Annals of Qin (秦本紀)

The Ancestors of Qin (秦先祖)

The forebears of Qin were remote descendants of Emperor Zhuanxu (帝顓頊). A granddaughter of his was called Nüxiu. Nüxiu was weaving when a dark bird let fall an egg; Nüxiu swallowed it and gave birth to a son, Daye. Daye took to wife a daughter of Shaodian, called Nühua. Nühua gave birth to Dafei, who together with Yu (禹) brought the waters and the land to order. When the work was finished, the emperor bestowed a dark jade tablet. Yu received it and said, "It is not that I was able to complete it; Dafei also was my helper." Emperor Shun (帝舜) said, "Ah, you, Fei! You aided Yu in his labor. I bestow on you a black pennant. Your posterity shall come forth greatly." He then gave him as wife a jade maiden of the Yao surname. Dafei bowed and received her, and assisted Shun in the taming of birds and beasts; the birds and beasts were largely brought to submission. This was Boyi. Shun bestowed on him the surname Ying (嬴).

Dafei had two sons. The first was called Dalian, who was the Niaosu lineage; the second was called Ruomu, who was the Fei lineage. A great-great-grandson of his was called Feichang, and among his sons and grandsons some were in the Middle States and some among the Yi and the Di. Feichang, in the time of Jie of Xia, left Xia and went over to Shang, became charioteer to Tang, and by this defeated Jie at Mingtiao. Dalian's great-great-grandsons were called Mengxi and Zhongyan; they had the bodies of birds and the speech of men. Emperor Taiwu heard of them and divined about employing them as his charioteers. The omen was auspicious, so he had them brought to drive for him and gave them wives. From Taiwu onward the descendants of Zhongyan had merit generation after generation and assisted the state of Yin; therefore many of the Ying surname were eminent, and in the end they became feudal lords.

A great-great-grandson of his was called Zhongjue, who was among the Western Rong and guarded the western marches. He begot Feilian. Feilian begot Elai. Elai had strength, and Feilian was a swift runner; father and son alike served Zhou of Yin by their talent and strength. When King Wu of Zhou attacked Zhou of Shang, he killed Elai along with him. At that time Feilian was quarrying stone for Zhou in the north. When he returned there was no one to whom he could report, so he raised an altar on Mount Huotai and made his report there. He obtained a stone coffin whose inscription read: "The Lord commands that Chufu shall take no part in the disorder of Yin, and bestows on you a stone coffin to bring glory to your clan." When he died he was accordingly buried on Mount Huotai.

Feilian had another son called Jisheng. Jisheng begot Mengzeng. Mengzeng was favored by King Cheng of Zhou; he is the one called Zhai Gaolang. Gaolang begot Hengfu, and Hengfu begot Zaofu. Zaofu, being skilled at driving, was favored by King Mu of Zhou. He obtained the team of four — Ji, Wenli, Hualiu, and Lü'er — and on the western tour of inspection the king was so delighted that he forgot to return. When King Yan of Xu raised a revolt, Zaofu drove for King Mu and made the long drive back to Zhou, a thousand li in a single day, to rescue the state from the disorder. King Mu enfeoffed Zaofu with the town of Zhao, and from this the clan of Zaofu became the Zhao lineage. From Feilian's begetting of Jisheng, five generations down to Zaofu, they dwelt apart at Zhao. Zhao Cui was their descendant. Elai Ge was a son of Feilian, and he died early. He had a son called Nüfang. Nüfang begot Panggao, Panggao begot Taiji, Taiji begot Daluo, and Daluo begot Feizi. Because of the favor shown to Zaofu they all shared in the town of Zhao and took the surname Zhao.

Feizi (非子)

Feizi lived at Quanqiu. He loved horses and livestock and was skilled at rearing and breeding them. The people of Quanqiu spoke of him to King Xiao of Zhou, and King Xiao summoned him and put him in charge of the horses between the Qian and the Wei; the horses multiplied greatly. King Xiao wished to make him the principal heir of Daluo. The daughter of the Marquis of Shen was Daluo's wife and had borne a son, Cheng, who was the principal heir. The Marquis of Shen therefore said to King Xiao, "In former times an ancestress of mine, a daughter of Mount Li, became the wife of Xuxuan of the Rong and bore Zhongjue; on account of that kinship he went over to Zhou and guarded the western marches, and it was for this reason that the western marches were in concord. Now I have again given a wife to Daluo, and she has borne the principal son Cheng. Shen and Luo have twice intermarried, and the Western Rong are all submissive; it is by this that you hold your kingship. Let the king consider it." Then King Xiao said, "In former times Boyi took charge of livestock for Shun, and the livestock bred greatly; therefore he was given land and granted the surname Ying. Now his descendant likewise breeds horses for me, and I shall divide off land for him as a dependent domain." He gave him the town of Qin and had him take up again the sacrifices of the Ying lineage, styling him Qin Ying. Nor did he set aside the son of the Marquis of Shen's daughter as Daluo's principal heir, and thus kept concord with the Western Rong.

The Marquis of Qin (秦侯)

Qin Ying begot the Marquis of Qin. The Marquis of Qin ruled ten years and died. He begot Gongbo.

Gongbo (公伯)

Gongbo ruled three years and died. He begot Qin Zhong.

Qin Zhong (秦仲)

In the third year of Qin Zhong's rule, King Li of Zhou was without the way, and some of the feudal lords revolted against him. The Western Rong rose against the royal house and destroyed the clan of Daluo at Quanqiu. When King Xuan of Zhou came to the throne he made Qin Zhong a grandee and sent him to punish the Western Rong. The Western Rong killed Qin Zhong. Qin Zhong had ruled twenty-three years when he died among the Rong. He had five sons, of whom the eldest was called Duke Zhuang. King Xuan of Zhou then summoned Duke Zhuang and his four brothers, gave them seven thousand troops, and sent them to attack the Western Rong; they broke them. Thereupon he restored the lands to the descendants of Qin Zhong, together with Quanqiu, the land of their forefather Daluo, so that they held both, and made him grandee of the western marches.

Duke Zhuang of Qin (秦莊公)

Duke Zhuang dwelt in his old seat at West Quanqiu. He had three sons, the eldest of whom was Shifu. Shifu said, "The Rong killed my grandfather Zhong. Unless I kill the king of the Rong I dare not enter the town." He then took command in order to strike the Rong, and yielded his place to his younger brother, Duke Xiang. Duke Xiang became heir apparent. Duke Zhuang ruled forty-four years and died, and the heir apparent, Duke Xiang, succeeded him.

Duke Xiang of Qin (秦襄公)

In the first year of Duke Xiang he gave his younger sister Mu Ying to be the wife of the king of Feng. In the second year of Duke Xiang the Rong besieged Quanqiu; Shifu struck at them and was taken captive by the men of Rong. After a year and more they gave Shifu back. In the spring of the seventh year, King You of Zhou, acting for Bao Si, set aside the heir apparent and made Bao Si's son the principal heir; he repeatedly deceived the feudal lords, and the feudal lords revolted against him. The Western Rong and the Quanrong joined the Marquis of Shen in attacking Zhou and killed King You below Mount Li. Duke Xiang of Qin led troops to the rescue of Zhou, fought with great vigor, and gained merit. Zhou, avoiding the troubles of the Quanrong, moved east to the city of Luo, and Duke Xiang escorted King Ping of Zhou with his troops. King Ping enfeoffed Duke Xiang as a feudal lord and granted him the lands west of Qi, saying, "The Rong are without the way; they have invaded and seized our lands of Qi and Feng. If Qin can attack and drive out the Rong, it shall possess those lands." He swore a covenant with him and conferred the rank upon him. Duke Xiang thereupon first became a state, exchanging envoys with the feudal lords in the rites of the diplomatic visit and of presentation. He then used three bay colts, three yellow oxen, and three rams to sacrifice to the Lord on High at the Western altar. In the twelfth year he attacked the Rong and reached Qi, and died. He begot Duke Wen.

Duke Wen of Qin and Duke Jing of Qin (秦文公、秦竫公)

In the first year of Duke Wen he dwelt in the palace of the western marches. In the third year Duke Wen went hunting eastward with seven hundred men. In the fourth year he came to the meeting of the Qian and the Wei. He said, "In former times Zhou settled our ancestor Qin Ying here, and afterward we at last obtained rank among the feudal lords." He divined about dwelling there, and the oracle pronounced it auspicious, whereupon he laid out the town. In the tenth year the Fu altar was first made, and three sets of the full sacrificial victims were used. In the thirteenth year scribes were first appointed to record events, and many among the people were transformed by it. In the sixteenth year Duke Wen attacked the Rong with his troops, and the Rong were defeated and fled. Duke Wen then gathered in the remaining people of Zhou and held them; his territory reached to Qi, and the land east of Qi he presented to Zhou. In the nineteenth year he obtained the Treasure of Chen. In the twentieth year the law first had the penalty that extends to the three degrees of kin. In the twenty-seventh year he felled the great catalpa of the South Mountain, and there was the great bull of Feng. In the forty-eighth year the heir apparent of Duke Wen died and was given the posthumous title of Duke Jing. The eldest son of Duke Jing became heir apparent; he was Duke Wen's grandson. In the fiftieth year Duke Wen died and was buried on the West Mountain. The son of Duke Jing was set up, and this was Duke Ning.

Duke Ning of Qin (秦寧公)

In the second year of Duke Ning the duke moved his residence to Pingyang. He sent troops to attack Dangshe. In the third year he fought with Bo; the king of Bo fled to the Rong, and Dangshe was then extinguished. In the fourth year Prince Hui of Lu assassinated his ruler, Duke Yin. In the twelfth year he attacked the Dang lineage and took it. Duke Ning was set up at the age of ten, ruled twelve years, and died; he was buried on the West Mountain. He had three sons; the eldest, Duke Wu, was heir apparent. Duke Wu's younger brother was Duke De, of the same mother, a lady of the Ji house of Lu. She also bore Chuzi. When Duke Ning died, the grand chief Fuji, together with Weilei and Sanfu, set aside the heir apparent and made Chuzi ruler.

Chuzi of Qin (秦出子)

In the sixth year of Chuzi, Sanfu and the others again together had men murder Chuzi. Chuzi was set up at the age of five and died after ruling six years. Sanfu and the others then set up again the former heir apparent, Duke Wu.

Duke Wu of Qin (秦武公)

In the first year of Duke Wu he attacked the Pengxi lineage, reached the foot of Mount Hua, and dwelt in the Feng Palace at Pingyang. In the third year he executed Sanfu and the others and exterminated their kin to the third degree, because they had killed Chuzi. Gao Qumi of Zheng killed his ruler, Duke Zhao. In the tenth year he attacked the Rong of Gui and Ji and for the first time made them counties. In the eleventh year Du and Zheng were first made counties. Lesser Guo was extinguished.

In the thirteenth year the men of Qi, Guan Zhifu, Lian Cheng, and others, killed their ruler Duke Xiang and set up the ducal grandson Wuzhi. Jin extinguished Huo, Wei, and Geng. Yong Lin of Qi killed Wuzhi, Guan Zhifu, and the others, and set up Duke Huan of Qi. Qi and Jin were strong states.

In the nineteenth year Quwo of Jin first became Marquis of Jin. Duke Huan of Qi took the leadership at Juan.

In the twentieth year Duke Wu died and was buried at Pingyang in Yong. For the first time men were made to follow him in death, and those who followed him in death were sixty-six. He had one son, named Bai. Bai was not set up but was enfeoffed at Pingyang. His younger brother Duke De was set up.

Duke De of Qin (秦德公)

In the first year of Duke De he first dwelt in the Great Zheng Palace in the city of Yong. He sacrificed at the Fu altar with three hundred sets of victims. He divined about dwelling at Yong, and the answer was that his descendants would water their horses at the Yellow River. The Earl of Liang and the Earl of Rui came to court. In the second year the fu days were first observed, and dogs were used to ward off noxious influences. Duke De was set up at the age of thirty-three and died after ruling two years. He had three sons: the eldest, Duke Xuan; the middle, Duke Cheng; and the youngest, Duke Mu. The eldest son, Duke Xuan, was set up.

Duke Xuan of Qin (秦宣公)

In the first year of Duke Xuan, Wei and Yan attacked Zhou, drove out King Hui, and set up the king's son Tui. In the third year the Earl of Zheng and Shu of Guo killed Zi Tui and brought King Hui back in. In the fourth year the Mi altar was made. He fought Jin at Heyang and defeated them. In the twelfth year Duke Xuan died. He had nine sons, none of whom was set up; his younger brother Duke Cheng was set up.

Duke Cheng of Qin (秦成公)

In the first year of Duke Cheng the Earl of Liang and the Earl of Rui came to court. Duke Huan of Qi attacked the Shanrong and halted at Guzhu.

Duke Cheng ruled four years and died. He had seven sons, none of whom was set up; his younger brother Duke Mu was set up.

Duke Mu of Qin (秦繆公)

In the first year of Duke Mu, whose name was Renhao, he personally led an army against Maojin and defeated it. In the fourth year he fetched a wife from Jin, the elder sister of Shensheng, the heir apparent of Jin. In that same year Duke Huan of Qi attacked Chu and reached Shaoling.

In the fifth year Duke Xian of Jin extinguished Yu and Guo and took captive the ruler of Yu together with his grandee Baili Xi (百里傒); this was because of the jade disc and the horses with which he had bribed Yu. Having taken Baili Xi captive, Jin sent him to Qin as an attendant in the escort of the wife of Duke Mu of Qin. Baili Xi fled from Qin and ran to Wan, and men of the Chu borderlands seized him. Duke Mu heard that Baili Xi was worthy and wished to ransom him at a heavy price, but feared that the men of Chu would not give him up. He therefore sent a man to say to Chu, "A servant of my wife's escort, Baili Xi, is among you. I beg to ransom him for five ram skins." The men of Chu then agreed to hand him over. At this time Baili Xi was already more than seventy years old. Duke Mu released him from confinement and talked with him of the affairs of the state. He declined, saying, "I am the servant of a fallen state. What in me is worth asking about?" Duke Mu said, "The ruler of Yu did not employ you, and therefore he fell. It was not your fault." He pressed his questions, and they talked for three days. Duke Mu was greatly pleased and handed over to him the government of the state, styling him the Grandee of Five Ram Skins.

Baili Xi yielded place, saying, "I do not come up to my friend Jian Shu (蹇叔). Jian Shu is worthy, and the age does not know him. I once traveled and fell into distress in Qi and begged food from the people of Zhi, and Jian Shu took me in. On that account I wished to serve Wuzhi, the ruler of Qi, but Jian Shu stopped me, and so I escaped the troubles of Qi and went on to Zhou. The king's son Tui of Zhou was fond of oxen, and I sought his employ by tending oxen. When Tui wished to employ me, Jian Shu stopped me; I departed, and so escaped execution. I served the ruler of Yu, and Jian Shu stopped me. I knew that the ruler of Yu would not employ me, but in truth I privately coveted salary and rank, and so I stayed on. Twice I used his words and escaped; once I did not use them, and I met with the ruler of Yu's disaster. By this I know that he is worthy." Duke Mu thereupon sent men with generous gifts to welcome Jian Shu, and made him senior grandee.

In autumn Duke Mu personally led an army against Jin and fought at Hequ. In Jin, Li Ji made disorder; the heir apparent Shensheng died at Xincheng, and Chong'er and Yiwu fled abroad.

In the ninth year Duke Huan of Qi met the feudal lords at Kuiqiu.

Duke Xian of Jin died. Xiqi, the son of Li Ji, was set up, and his minister Li Ke killed Xiqi. Xun Xi set up Zhuozi, and Ke killed Zhuozi and Xun Xi as well. Yiwu sent men to make request of Qin, seeking to enter Jin. Duke Mu granted it and sent Baili Xi with troops to escort Yiwu. Yiwu said, "If I truly obtain the throne, I beg to cut off eight cities of Jin west of the Yellow River and give them to Qin." When he had arrived and been set up, he sent Pi Zheng to make excuses to Qin, going back on the agreement and not giving the cities west of the river; and he killed Li Ke. When Pi Zheng heard of it he was afraid, and so plotted with Duke Mu, saying, "The men of Jin did not want Yiwu; what they truly wanted was Chong'er. That he has now gone back on the agreement with Qin and killed Li Ke is all the scheming of Lü Sheng and Xi Rui. I would have my lord urgently summon Lü and Xi with the offer of advantage. When Lü and Xi arrive, it will then be convenient to bring in Chong'er instead." Duke Mu agreed and sent men back with Pi Zheng to summon Lü and Xi. Lü, Xi, and the rest suspected that Pi Zheng had opened a breach, and so spoke to Yiwu, who killed Pi Zheng. Pi Zheng's son Pi Bao fled to Qin and urged Duke Mu, saying, "The ruler of Jin is without the way, and the people are not attached to him. He may be attacked." Duke Mu said, "If the people were truly discontented, how could he execute his great minister? That he can execute his great minister shows that they are in accord with him." He did not listen, but secretly employed Bao.

In the twelfth year Guan Zhong and Xi Peng of Qi died.

Jin suffered drought and came to ask for grain. Pi Bao urged Duke Mu not to give it, but to attack Jin while it was starving. Duke Mu asked Gongsun Zhi, and Zhi said, "Famine and abundance are matters that take their turns. You cannot but give it." He asked Baili Xi, and Xi said, "Yiwu has offended against my lord; but what fault have his people?" So he followed the words of Baili Xi and Gongsun Zhi and in the end gave them grain. By boat along the water and by cart overland, the convoys were within sight of one another from Yong all the way to Jiang.

In the fourteenth year Qin suffered famine and asked Jin for grain. The ruler of Jin took counsel with his ministers. Guo She said, "Attack them while they are starving, and great merit may be had." The ruler of Jin followed him. In the fifteenth year he raised an army to attack Qin. Duke Mu sent out troops, made Pi Bao their general, and himself went to strike them. On the day renxu of the ninth month he joined battle with Yiwu, Duke Hui of Jin, in the territory of Han. The ruler of Jin abandoned his own army to contend with Qin for advantage, and when he turned back his horses stuck fast. Duke Mu and his followers galloped in pursuit of him but could not take the ruler of Jin, and were on the contrary surrounded by the Jin army. Jin struck at Duke Mu, and Duke Mu was wounded. Thereupon the three hundred men from below Qi who had eaten his fine horse charged headlong into the Jin army; the Jin encirclement broke, Duke Mu got free, and they took the ruler of Jin alive instead.

Earlier, Duke Mu had lost a fine horse, and more than three hundred rustics from below Qi had together caught and eaten it. The officers hunted them down and wished to deal with them by law. Duke Mu said, "A gentleman does not harm men on account of livestock. I have heard that one who eats the flesh of a fine horse and does not drink wine takes harm from it." He therefore bestowed wine on them all and pardoned them. When these three hundred men heard that Qin was striking at Jin, they all begged to go along; and going along and seeing Duke Mu hard pressed, they all pushed forward their blades and vied to die, so as to repay the kindness of the horse they had eaten.

Then Duke Mu took the ruler of Jin captive and returned. He gave orders throughout the state to fast and keep vigil: "I shall sacrifice the ruler of Jin to the Lord on High." The Son of Heaven of Zhou heard of it and said, "Jin is of my own surname," and interceded for the ruler of Jin. Yiwu's elder sister was also Duke Mu's wife, and when the lady heard of it she put on mourning garments and hempen band and went barefoot, saying, "Your handmaid's brothers cannot save one another, and so bring dishonor upon my lord's command." Duke Mu said, "I took the ruler of Jin and counted it a merit; now the Son of Heaven intercedes for him, and my lady grieves over it." So he swore a covenant with the ruler of Jin and agreed to send him home; he moved him to the best lodging and presented him with seven sets of victims. In the eleventh month he sent back Yiwu, the ruler of Jin. Yiwu presented his lands west of the Yellow River and sent his heir apparent, Yu, as hostage to Qin. Qin gave Prince Yu a woman of the ducal house as wife. At this time the territory of Qin reached eastward to the Yellow River.

In the eighteenth year Duke Huan of Qi died. In the twentieth year Qin extinguished Liang and Rui.

In the twenty-second year Prince Yu of Jin heard that the ruler of Jin was ill and said, "Liang was my mother's house, and Qin extinguished it. I have many brothers; when my lord's hundred years are over, Qin will surely detain me, and Jin will make light of me and set up another son in my place." Prince Yu then fled and returned to Jin. In the twenty-third year Duke Hui of Jin died, and Prince Yu was set up as ruler. Qin resented Yu's flight, and so welcomed Prince Chong'er of Jin from Chu and gave him as wife the former wife of Prince Yu. Chong'er at first declined and afterward accepted. Duke Mu treated him with still greater ceremony and generosity. In the spring of the twenty-fourth year Qin sent men to inform the great ministers of Jin that it wished to bring Chong'er in. Jin agreed, and men were accordingly sent to escort Chong'er. In the second month Chong'er was set up as ruler of Jin; this was Duke Wen. Duke Wen sent men to kill Prince Yu. Prince Yu is the one known as Duke Huai.

In the autumn of that year Dai, the younger brother of King Xiang of Zhou, used the Di to attack the king, and the king left and dwelt in Zheng. In the twenty-fifth year the king of Zhou sent men to report his distress to Jin and Qin. Duke Mu of Qin led troops to help Duke Wen of Jin bring King Xiang back in, and killed the king's brother Dai. In the twenty-eighth year Duke Wen of Jin defeated Chu at Chengpu. In the thirtieth year Duke Mu helped Duke Wen of Jin besiege Zheng. Zheng sent a man to say to Duke Mu, "To destroy Zheng is to enrich Jin. For Jin there is gain in it, but Qin has no advantage. The strength of Jin is the trouble of Qin." Duke Mu then withdrew his troops and went home, and Jin also withdrew. In the winter of the thirty-second year Duke Wen of Jin died.

There was a man of Zheng who offered to sell Zheng to Qin, saying, "I have charge of its city gate; Zheng can be taken by surprise." Duke Mu asked Jian Shu and Baili Xi, and they answered, "To cross several states over a thousand li and fall upon men by surprise — few have ever gained advantage from it. Moreover, if a man sells Zheng, how do we know that no one of our own state will report our situation to Zheng? It cannot be done." Duke Mu said, "You do not understand. My mind is already made up." So he sent out troops, making Baili Xi's son Meng Mingshi, and Jian Shu's sons Xiqi Shu and Baiyi Bing, generals of the army. On the day of the march Baili Xi and Jian Shu, the two of them, wept over the army. When Duke Mu heard of it he grew angry and said, "I have sent out troops, and you obstruct them and weep over my army. Why?" The two old men said, "We did not dare obstruct my lord's army. The army marches, and our sons go with it; we are old, and if they are slow in returning we fear we shall not see them again. That is why we wept." The two old men withdrew and said to their sons, "If your army is defeated, it will surely be at the narrows of Xiao."

In the spring of the thirty-third year the Qin troops went east, passed through the territory of Jin, and went by the northern gate of Zhou. Wangsun Man of Zhou said, "The army of Qin is without ritual propriety. What can it await but defeat!" The troops reached Hua. Xian Gao, a trader of Zheng, was driving twelve oxen to sell in Zhou. Seeing the Qin troops, and fearing death or capture, he presented his oxen and said, "I have heard that your great state is about to punish Zheng. The ruler of Zheng has carefully put his defenses in order, and has sent me with twelve oxen to comfort your soldiers." The three generals of Qin said to one another, "We meant to fall upon Zheng by surprise, and Zheng has now become aware of it; there is no use in going on." They extinguished Hua. Hua was a border town of Jin.

At this time the funeral of Duke Wen of Jin had not yet reached burial. The heir apparent, Duke Xiang, was angry and said, "Qin insults me in my orphaned state, and takes advantage of a funeral to break our Hua." He then dyed his mourning garments black, sent out troops to bar the Qin army at Xiao, and struck them; he greatly broke the Qin army, and not one man got away. He took the three generals of Qin captive and returned. The wife of Duke Wen was a woman of Qin, and she pleaded for the three captured generals of Qin, saying, "Duke Mu's hatred of these three men has entered into his marrow. Let these three men go home, so that our lord may have the pleasure of boiling them himself." The ruler of Jin agreed and sent back the three generals of Qin. When the three generals arrived, Duke Mu, in plain white garments, met them outside the city and wept toward the three men, saying, "It is because I did not use the words of Baili Xi and Jian Shu that I have brought disgrace upon you three. What fault is yours? Give your whole hearts to wiping out this shame, and do not slacken." He then restored the three men to their offices and emoluments as before, and treated them still more generously.

In the thirty-fourth year the heir apparent of Chu, Shangchen, assassinated his father King Cheng and succeeded him.

Duke Mu then again sent Meng Mingshi and the others to lead troops against Jin, and they fought at Peng'ya. Qin had the worse of it and led its troops home.

The king of the Rong sent You Yu (由余) on a mission to Qin. You Yu's forebears were men of Jin who had fled into the Rong, and he could speak the language of Jin. Having heard that Duke Mu was worthy, the king of the Rong therefore sent You Yu to observe Qin. Duke Mu of Qin showed him his palaces and his stores. You Yu said, "If ghosts had made these, it would have wearied the spirits; if men made them, it must also have brought suffering to the people." Duke Mu thought this strange and asked, "The Middle States govern by the Odes and the Documents, by rites and music, by laws and measures, and yet from time to time there is disorder. Now the Rong and the Yi have none of these; by what do they govern? Is it not difficult?" You Yu laughed and said, "This is precisely why the Middle States are in disorder. From the time when the highest sage, the Yellow Emperor, made rites and music, laws and measures, and went before the people in his own person, he attained only a small degree of order. In later generations men grew daily more arrogant and dissolute. Relying on the awe of laws and measures, they exacted and pressed upon those below; and those below, worn to exhaustion, reproached those above in the name of benevolence and righteousness. High and low contended and resented one another, usurping and assassinating one another until whole lineages were wiped out — all of it arising from causes of this kind. The Rong and the Yi are not so. Those above hold a pure virtue in dealing with those below, and those below cherish loyalty and good faith in serving those above. The government of a whole state is like the ordering of a single body: they do not know by what means they are ordered. This is the true government of a sage."

Duke Mu then withdrew and asked the inner scribe Liao, "I have heard that a sage in a neighboring state is a trouble to the state that faces it. Now You Yu is worthy, and he is a harm to me. What is to be done?" The inner scribe Liao said, "The king of the Rong dwells in a remote and hidden place and has never heard the music of the Middle States. Let my lord try sending him women musicians, to take away his purpose; and make request for You Yu's stay, to open a breach between them; and keep him and do not send him back, so that he misses his appointed time. The king of the Rong will think it strange and will surely suspect You Yu. Once ruler and minister have a breach between them, he can be taken. Besides, the king of the Rong loves music and will surely grow slack in government." Duke Mu said, "Good." He accordingly sat with You Yu on adjoining mats and passed the vessels to him at meals, and questioned him until he had learned in full the lay of the Rong lands and the state of their forces. Afterward he ordered the inner scribe Liao to send sixteen women musicians to the king of the Rong. The king of the Rong received them and was delighted with them, and to the end of the year did not send them back. Then Qin at last sent You Yu home. You Yu remonstrated repeatedly and was not heeded, and Duke Mu also sent men repeatedly to draw You Yu aside in private. You Yu at last left and gave himself over to Qin. Duke Mu treated him with the rites due a guest and asked him about the shape of a campaign against the Rong.

In the thirty-sixth year Duke Mu again treated Meng Ming and the others still more generously and sent them with troops against Jin. They crossed the Yellow River and burned their boats, greatly defeated the men of Jin, and took Wangguan and Hao, in requital for the affair at Xiao. The men of Jin all held their walls and did not dare come out. Then Duke Mu crossed the river from Maojin, raised mounds over the corpses at Xiao, held a funeral for them, and wept for them three days. He then swore an oath before his army, saying, "Ah, officers and men! Listen without clamor; I swear and declare it to you. When the men of old took counsel with the gray-haired and hoary, then they went wrong in nothing." It was to set forth his regret at not having used the counsel of Jian Shu and Baili Xi that he made this oath, so that later generations should record his fault. When gentlemen heard of it, they all shed tears and said, "Alas! Duke Mu of Qin was thorough in his dealings with men, and in the end he obtained the blessing of Meng Ming."

In the thirty-seventh year Qin used You Yu's plan and attacked the king of the Rong, adding twelve states, opening a thousand li of territory, and so becoming hegemon over the Western Rong. The Son of Heaven sent the Duke of Shao, Guo, to congratulate Duke Mu with metal drums.

In the thirty-ninth year Duke Mu died and was buried at Yong. Those who followed him in death numbered one hundred and seventy-seven, and among those who followed him in death were three good ministers of Qin of the Ziyu lineage, named Yanxi, Zhonghang, and Zhenhu. The men of Qin grieved for them and made for them the song, the ode "Yellow Bird." A gentleman said, "Duke Mu of Qin widened his territory and added states; in the east he subdued strong Jin, and in the west he was hegemon over the Rong and the Yi. Yet that he did not become covenant-master of the feudal lords is only fitting. In dying he cast off his people and gathered his good ministers to follow him in death. Even when a former king passes away he still leaves behind virtue and hands down laws; how much more wrong, then, to snatch away the good men and fine ministers whom the people grieve for. By this one knows that Qin could not campaign eastward again." Duke Mu had forty sons; his heir apparent Ying succeeded him, and this was Duke Kang.

Duke Kang of Qin (秦康公)

The first year of Duke Kang. In the previous year, when Duke Mu died, Duke Xiang of Jin also died. Duke Xiang's younger brother, named Yong, was born of a Qin mother and was in Qin. Zhao Dun (趙盾) of Jin wished to set him up and sent Sui Hui to fetch Yong; Qin escorted him with troops as far as Linghu. Jin then set up Duke Xiang's son and turned back to strike the Qin army; the Qin army was defeated, and Sui Hui fled to Qin. In the second year Qin attacked Jin and took Wucheng, in requital for the affair at Linghu. In the fourth year Jin attacked Qin and took Shaoliang. In the sixth year Qin attacked Jin and took Jima. They fought at Hequ, and Qin greatly defeated the Jin army. The men of Jin were troubled that Sui Hui, being in Qin, would work disorder, and so had Wei Chouyu feign a defection and join in plotting with Hui; by this deception they got hold of Hui, and Hui thereupon returned to Jin. Duke Kang ruled twelve years and died; his son Duke Gong was set up.

Duke Gong of Qin (秦共公)

In the second year of Duke Gong, Zhao Chuan of Jin assassinated his ruler, Duke Ling. In the third year King Zhuang of Chu was strong; he brought his troops north to Luo and asked about the cauldrons of Zhou. Duke Gong ruled five years and died; his son Duke Huan was set up.

Duke Huan of Qin (秦桓公)

In the third year of Duke Huan, Jin defeated one of our generals. In the tenth year King Zhuang of Chu subdued Zheng and in the north defeated the Jin troops on the Yellow River. At this time Chu held the hegemony and convened meetings and covenants to gather the feudal lords. In the twenty-fourth year Duke Li of Jin, newly set up, swore a covenant with Duke Huan of Qin from either side of the river. On his return Qin went back on the covenant and joined with the Di in plotting to strike Jin. In the twenty-sixth year Jin led the feudal lords in attacking Qin; the Qin army was defeated and fled, and they pursued it as far as the Jing and then turned back. Duke Huan ruled twenty-seven years and died; his son Duke Jing was set up.

Duke Jing of Qin (秦景公)

In the fourth year of Duke Jing, Luan Shu of Jin assassinated his ruler, Duke Li. In the fifteenth year Qin went to the rescue of Zheng and defeated the Jin troops at Li. At this time Duke Dao of Jin was covenant-master. In the eighteenth year Duke Dao of Jin was strong; he repeatedly convened the feudal lords and led them to attack Qin, and defeated the Qin army. The Qin army fled and the Jin troops pursued it; they crossed the Jing, reached Yulin, and then turned back. In the twenty-seventh year Duke Jing went to Jin and swore a covenant with Duke Ping, and afterward broke it. In the thirty-sixth year Prince Wei of Chu assassinated his ruler and set himself up; this was King Ling. Houzi Zhen, Duke Jing's younger brother by the same mother, was in favor; being the duke's full younger brother he was rich, and someone slandered him. Fearing execution, he fled to Jin with a thousand chariots of baggage. Duke Ping of Jin said, "Houzi is as rich as this. Why then did you take flight?" He answered, "The lord of Qin is without the way, and I feared execution. I wish to wait for the next reign and then return." In the thirty-ninth year King Ling of Chu was strong; he convened the feudal lords at Shen, became covenant-master, and killed Qing Feng of Qi. Duke Jing ruled forty years and died; his son Duke Ai was set up. Houzi then came back and returned to Qin.

Duke Ai of Qin and Duke Yi of Qin (秦哀公、秦夷公)

In the eighth year of Duke Ai, Prince Qiji of Chu assassinated King Ling and set himself up; this was King Ping. In the eleventh year King Ping of Chu came to seek a woman of Qin as wife for his heir apparent Jian. When she reached the state, she was beautiful, and he married her himself. In the fifteenth year King Ping of Chu wished to put Jian to death; Jian fled, and Wu Zixu fled to Wu. The ducal house of Jin was lowly and the six ministers were strong; they wished to attack one another within, and for this reason Qin and Jin for a long time did not attack each other. In the thirty-first year King Helü of Wu, together with Wu Zixu, attacked Chu; the king of Chu fled to Sui, and Wu then entered Ying. The Chu grandee Shen Baoxu came to report the emergency; for seven days he did not eat, and he wept day and night. Thereupon Qin sent out five hundred chariots to rescue Chu and defeated the army of Wu. The Wu army returned home, and King Zhao of Chu was then able to enter Ying again. Duke Ai ruled thirty-six years and died. The heir apparent was Duke Yi; Duke Yi died early and could not be set up, so the son of Duke Yi was set up, and this was Duke Hui.

Duke Hui of Qin, of the Spring and Autumn Period (秦惠公（春秋）)

In the first year of Duke Hui, Confucius carried out the duties of chancellor of Lu. In the fifth year the Jin ministers of the Zhonghang and the Fan lineages revolted against Jin; Jin sent the Zhi lineage and Zhao Jianzi to attack them, and the Fan and Zhonghang lineages fled to Qi. Duke Hui ruled ten years and died; his son Duke Dao was set up.

Duke Dao of Qin (秦悼公)

In the second year of Duke Dao, the Qi minister Tian Qi assassinated his ruler Ruzi and set up Ruzi's elder brother Yangsheng; this was Duke Dao of Qi. In the sixth year Wu defeated the army of Qi. The men of Qi assassinated Duke Dao and set up his son Duke Jian. In the ninth year Duke Ding of Jin swore a covenant with King Fuchai of Wu; they contended for precedence at Huangchi, and in the end Wu was placed first. Wu was strong and encroached upon the Middle States. In the twelfth year Tian Chang of Qi assassinated Duke Jian and set up Duke Jian's younger brother Duke Ping, with Chang as his chancellor. In the thirteenth year Chu extinguished Chen. Duke Dao of Qin ruled fourteen years and died; his son Duke Ligong was set up. Confucius died in the twelfth year of Duke Dao.

Duke Ligong of Qin (秦厲共公)

In the second year of Duke Ligong men of Shu came with gifts. In the sixteenth year a moat was dug along the Yellow River. With twenty thousand troops he attacked Dali and took its royal city. In the twenty-first year Pinyang was first made a county. Jin took Wucheng. In the twenty-fourth year there was disorder in Jin; Zhi Bo was killed and his lands divided among Zhao, Han, and Wei. In the twenty-fifth year Zhi Kai came over to us with the people of his town. In the thirty-third year he attacked Yiqu and took its king captive. In the thirty-fourth year there was an eclipse of the sun. Duke Ligong died; his son Duke Zao was set up.

Duke Zao of Qin (秦躁公)

In the second year of Duke Zao, Nanzheng revolted. In the thirteenth year Yiqu came to attack and reached the south of the Wei. In the fourteenth year Duke Zao died, and his younger brother Duke Huai was set up.

Duke Huai of Qin (秦懷公)

In the fourth year of Duke Huai, the chief Chao and the great ministers surrounded Duke Huai, and Duke Huai took his own life. Duke Huai's heir apparent was called Zhaozi, and he had died early; the great ministers therefore set up the son of the heir apparent Zhaozi, and this was Duke Ling. Duke Ling was Duke Huai's grandson.

Duke Ling of Qin (秦靈公)

In the sixth year of Duke Ling, Jin walled Shaoliang, and Qin struck at them. In the thirteenth year Jigu was walled. Duke Ling died; his son Duke Xian could not be set up, and Duke Ling's youngest uncle Daozi was set up instead. This was Duke Jian. Duke Jian was Zhaozi's younger brother and a son of Duke Huai.

Duke Jian of Qin (秦簡公)

In the sixth year of Duke Jian, officials were for the first time ordered to wear swords. A moat was dug along the Luo. Chongquan was walled. In the sixteenth year he died; his son Duke Hui was set up.

Duke Hui of Qin, of the Warring States Period (秦惠公（戰國）)

In the twelfth year of Duke Hui his son Chuzi was born. In the thirteenth year he attacked Shu and took Nanzheng. Duke Hui died, and Chuzi was set up.

Duke Chu of Qin (秦出公)

In the second year of Chuzi, the chief Gai welcomed Duke Xian, the son of Duke Ling, from west of the Yellow River and set him up. He killed Chuzi and his mother and sank them beside a deep pool. Because in the past Qin had repeatedly changed rulers, and ruler and ministers were at odds and in disorder, Jin grew strong again and seized Qin's lands west of the Yellow River.

Duke Xian of Qin (秦獻公)

In the first year of Duke Xian, following the ruler in death was stopped. In the second year Liyang was walled. On the day gengyin of the first month of the fourth year, Duke Xiao was born. In the eleventh year Dan, the grand scribe of Zhou, saw Duke Xian and said, "Zhou and the state of Qin were formerly joined and then parted; after five hundred years of parting they will be joined again, and seventeen years after they are joined a hegemon-king will come forth." In the sixteenth year the peach trees blossomed in winter. In the eighteenth year gold rained down at Liyang. In the twenty-first year he fought Jin at Shimen and cut off sixty thousand heads; the Son of Heaven congratulated him with embroidered robes. In the twenty-third year he fought Wei of Jin at Shaoliang and took its general Gongsun Cuo captive. In the twenty-fourth year Duke Xian died; his son Duke Xiao was set up, being already twenty-one years old.

Duke Xiao of Qin (秦孝公)

In the first year of Duke Xiao there were six strong states east of the Yellow River and the mountains, and Qin stood alongside King Wei of Qi, King Xuan of Chu, King Hui of Wei, Duke Dao of Yan, Marquis Ai of Han, and Marquis Cheng of Zhao. Between the Huai and the Si there were more than ten small states. Chu and Wei bordered upon Qin. Wei had built a long wall running north from Zheng along the Luo, and held Shang commandery. Chu, from Hanzhong southward, held Ba and Qianzhong. The house of Zhou was weak, the feudal lords governed by force, and they contended in swallowing one another up. Qin lay remote in Yongzhou and did not take part in the meetings and covenants of the feudal lords of the Middle States; they treated it as one of the Yi and the Di. Duke Xiao thereupon spread kindness, relieved the orphaned and the widowed, summoned fighting men, and made clear the rewards for merit. He sent down an order throughout the state, saying:

"In former times our Duke Mu, from between Qi and Yong, cultivated virtue and practiced arms; in the east he settled the disorders of Jin and made the Yellow River his boundary, and in the west he was hegemon over the Rong and the Di, widening his territory by a thousand li. The Son of Heaven conferred on him the title of chief, and the feudal lords all offered congratulations. He opened an enterprise for later generations, most glorious and fine. It happened that in the unquiet reigns that followed — of Dukes Li, Zao, and Jian, and of Chuzi — the state had troubles within and no leisure for affairs abroad; the three Jin attacked and seized our former rulers' lands west of the Yellow River, and the feudal lords looked down upon Qin. No disgrace could be greater. When Duke Xian came to the throne he pacified and secured the borders and moved his seat of government to Liyang, intending to campaign eastward, to recover Duke Mu's old lands and to restore Duke Mu's ordinances. When I think upon the intent of my former rulers, my heart is always in pain. If among guests and ministers there is any who can put forward an extraordinary plan to make Qin strong, I shall raise him to honorable office and share the land with him."

Then he sent out troops, besieged the town of Shan in the east, and in the west beheaded the king of Yuan among the Rong.

Wei Yang (衛鞅) heard that this order had gone out, went west into Qin, and through Jing Jian sought an audience with Duke Xiao.

In the second year the Son of Heaven sent sacrificial meat.

In the third year Wei Yang urged Duke Xiao to change the laws and reform the punishments, within to attend to ploughing and sowing, and abroad to encourage by rewards and punishments those who would die in battle. Duke Xiao thought well of it. Gan Long, Du Zhi, and others thought otherwise and disputed it with him. In the end Yang's laws were adopted; the people suffered under them, but after three years the people found them convenient. Yang was then appointed left chief. This matter is contained in the discourse of the Lord of Shang.

In the seventh year he met King Hui of Wei at Duping. In the eighth year he fought Wei at Yuanli and gained merit. In the tenth year Wei Yang became grand administrator and led troops to besiege Anyi of Wei and brought about its surrender. In the twelfth year Xianyang was built, the Ji watchtowers were raised, and Qin moved its capital there. The various small villages and hamlets were combined and gathered into large counties, one magistrate to a county, forty-one counties in all. For the fields, the paths and the balks were opened up. Qin's eastern territory crossed the Luo. In the fourteenth year taxes were first levied. In the nineteenth year the Son of Heaven conferred the title of chief. In the twentieth year the feudal lords all offered congratulations. Qin sent Prince Shaoguan to lead an army to meet the feudal lords at Fengze and to pay court to the Son of Heaven.

In the twenty-first year, Qi defeated Wei at Maling.

In the twenty-second year, Wei Yang (衛鞅) struck Wei and took prisoner Prince Ang of Wei. Yang was enfeoffed as a ranked marquis with the title Lord of Shang.

In the twenty-fourth year, Qin fought Jin at Yanmen and took prisoner their general Wei Cuo.

Duke Xiao died, and his son Lord Huiwen took the throne. In that year Wei Yang was put to death. When Yang first put the laws into effect for Qin, the laws were not carried out, and the heir apparent violated a prohibition. Yang said: "The laws are not carried out because of the noble kin. If Your Lordship truly means to enforce the laws, begin with the heir apparent. The heir apparent cannot be tattooed on the face; tattoo his tutors." Thereupon the laws were fully applied and the people of Qin were well governed. When Duke Xiao died and the heir apparent took the throne, many of the ducal house bore a grudge against Yang. Yang fled, and this was taken as proof of revolt; in the end he was torn apart by chariots and his body was paraded through the state of Qin.

Lord Huiwen of Qin (秦惠文君)

In the first year of Lord Huiwen, men of Chu, Han, Zhao, and Shu came to court. In the second year the Son of Heaven sent congratulations. In the third year the king was capped. In the fourth year the Son of Heaven presented the sacrificial meat of Kings Wen and Wu. Qi and Wei took the title of king.

In the fifth year, Xishou, a man of Yinjin, was made daliangzao (grand governor). In the sixth year Wei presented Yinjin, and Yinjin was renamed Ningqin. In the seventh year Prince Ang fought Wei, took prisoner their general Long Jia, and beheaded eighty thousand. In the eighth year Wei presented the land west of the Yellow River. In the ninth year Qin crossed the Yellow River and took Fenyin and Pishi; the lord met the king of Wei at Ying; he besieged Jiao and forced its surrender. In the tenth year Zhang Yi (張儀) became chancellor of Qin, and Wei presented the fifteen counties of Shangjun. In the eleventh year Yiqu was made a county; Jiao and Quwo were returned to Wei; the lord of Yiqu became a subject; Shaoliang was renamed Xiayang. In the twelfth year the la sacrifice at the year's end was performed for the first time. In the thirteenth year, in the fourth month, on the day wuwu, the ruler of Wei took the title of king, and Han likewise took the title of king. Zhang Yi was sent to attack and take Shan; its people were expelled and handed over to Wei.

In the fourteenth year the reckoning was changed and began again as a first year. In the second year Zhang Yi met the great ministers of Qi and Chu at Niesang. In the third year the heirs apparent of Han and of Wei came to court, and Zhang Yi became chancellor of Wei. In the fifth year the king traveled as far as the Northern River. In the seventh year Yue Chi became chancellor of Qin. Han, Zhao, Wei, Yan, and Qi led the Xiongnu in a joint attack on Qin. Qin sent the shuzhang Ji to fight them at Xiuyu; he took prisoner their general Shen Chai, defeated Prince Ke of Zhao and Huan the heir apparent of Han, and beheaded eighty-two thousand. In the eighth year Zhang Yi again became chancellor of Qin. In the ninth year Sima Cuo attacked Shu and extinguished it. Qin attacked and took Zhongdu and Xiyang from Zhao. In the tenth year Cang, the heir apparent of Han, came as a hostage; Qin attacked and took Shizhang from Han; it attacked and defeated the Zhao general Ni; it attacked and took twenty-five cities of Yiqu. In the eleventh year Chuli Ji attacked Jiao of Wei and forced its surrender. He defeated Han at Anmen and beheaded ten thousand, and their general Xishou fled. Prince Tong was enfeoffed in Shu. The ruler of Yan yielded his throne to his minister Zizhi. In the twelfth year the king met the king of Liang at Linjin. The shuzhang Ji attacked Zhao and took prisoner the Zhao general Zhuang. Zhang Yi became chancellor of Chu. In the thirteenth year the shuzhang Zhang struck Chu at Danyang, took prisoner their general Qu Gai, and beheaded eighty thousand; he also attacked Hanzhong in Chu, took six hundred li of land, and established the commandery of Hanzhong. Chu besieged Yongshi, and Qin sent the shuzhang Ji to aid Han and to attack Qi in the east, while Dao Man aided Wei in attacking Yan. In the fourteenth year Qin attacked Chu and took Zhaoling. The Dan and the Li became subjects. Zhuang, the chancellor of Shu, killed the marquis of Shu and came over in surrender.

King Hui died, and his son King Wu took the throne. Han, Wei, Qi, Chu, and Yue all attended him as guests and followers.

King Wu of Qin (秦武王)

In the first year of King Wu he met King Hui of Wei at Linjin. Zhuang, the chancellor of Shu, was put to death. Zhang Yi and Wei Zhang both went out eastward to Wei. Qin attacked Yiqu, Dan, and Li.

In the second year the office of chancellor was established for the first time, and Chuli Ji and Gan Mao were made chancellor of the left and chancellor of the right. Zhang Yi died in Wei.

In the third year the king met King Xiang of Han outside Linjin. Nangong Jie died, and Chuli Ji became chancellor of Han. King Wu said to Gan Mao: "It is my wish to open a carriage road through the Three Rivers country and to look into the house of Zhou; then I could die without regret." In the autumn of that year he sent Gan Mao and the shuzhang Feng to attack Yiyang.

In the fourth year Yiyang was taken and sixty thousand were beheaded. Qin crossed the Yellow River and walled Wusui. The heir apparent of Wei came to court. King Wu was a strong man and fond of trials of strength, and the strongmen Ren Bi, Wu Huo, and Meng Shuo all rose to high office. The king lifted a cauldron together with Meng Shuo and snapped his shinbone. In the eighth month King Wu died, and the clan of Meng Shuo was wiped out. King Wu had taken a woman of Wei as his queen and had no son. A younger brother by another mother was set up, and this was King Zhaoxiang. King Zhaoxiang's mother was a woman of Chu, of the Mi clan, styled Queen Dowager Xuan. When King Wu died, King Zhaoxiang was a hostage in Yan; the men of Yan escorted him home, and so he was able to be established.

King Zhaoxiang of Qin (秦昭襄王)

In the first year of King Zhaoxiang, Lord Yan, Ji, was made chancellor. Gan Mao went out to Wei. In the second year a comet appeared. The shuzhang Zhuang, together with great ministers, feudal lords, and princes, rose in revolt; all were put to death, and Queen Huiwen too did not die a good death. The queen of King Daowu left and returned to Wei. In the third year the king was capped. He met the king of Chu at Huangji and gave Shangyong to Chu. In the fourth year Puban was taken; a comet appeared. In the fifth year the king of Wei came to court at the pavilion of Ying, and Puban was given back to Wei. In the sixth year Hui, the marquis of Shu, revolted, and Sima Cuo settled Shu. The shuzhang Huan attacked Chu and beheaded twenty thousand. The Lord of Jingyang was sent as a hostage to Qi. There was an eclipse of the sun, and it grew dark by day. In the seventh year Xincheng was taken. Master Chuli died. In the eighth year the general Mi Rong was sent to attack Chu and took Xinshi. Qi sent Master Zhang, Wei sent Gongsun Xi, and Han sent Bao Yuan to attack Fangcheng of Chu together, and they took Tang Mei. Zhao broke Zhongshan; its ruler fled and in the end died in Qi. Prince Jing of Wei and Prince Chang of Han were made feudal lords. In the ninth year the Lord of Mengchang, Xue Wen, came and became chancellor of Qin. Huan attacked Chu, took eight cities, and killed their general Jing Kuai. In the tenth year King Huai of Chu came to court in Qin, and Qin detained him. Xue Wen was dismissed on account of Jin Shou. Lou Huan was made chancellor. In the eleventh year Qi, Han, Wei, Zhao, Song, and Zhongshan — five states — joined in attacking Qin, came as far as Yanshi, and turned back. Qin gave Han and Wei the land north of the river and Fengling, and so made peace. A comet appeared. King Huai of Chu fled to Zhao; Zhao would not receive him, and he was sent back to Qin, where he died forthwith and was returned home for burial. In the twelfth year Lou Huan was dismissed and the Marquis of Rang, Wei Ran, was made chancellor. Fifty thousand shi of grain were given to Chu.

In the thirteenth year Xiang Shou attacked Han and took Wushi. The zuogeng Bai Qi (白起) attacked Xincheng. The wudafu Li fled the state and ran off to Wei. Ren Bi was made governor of Hanzhong. In the fourteenth year the zuogeng Bai Qi attacked Han and Wei at Yique, beheaded two hundred and forty thousand, took Gongsun Xi prisoner, and took five cities. In the fifteenth year the daliangzao Bai Qi attacked Wei and took Yuan, then gave it back. He attacked Chu and took Wan. In the sixteenth year the zuogeng Cuo took Zhi and Deng. Ran was dismissed; Prince Shi was enfeoffed at Wan, Prince Kui at Deng, and Wei Ran at Tao, and they were made feudal lords. In the seventeenth year the Lord of Chengyang came to court, and the lord of Eastern Zhou also came to court. Qin made Yuan into Puban and Pishi. The king went to Yiyang. In the eighteenth year Cuo attacked Yuan and Heyong, cut the bridge, and took them. In the nineteenth year the king took the title Emperor of the West and Qi the title Emperor of the East, and both gave the titles up again. Lü Li came of his own accord and submitted. Qi broke Song; the king of Song was in Wei and died at Wen. Ren Bi died. In the twentieth year the king went to Hanzhong, and also to Shangjun and the Northern River. In the twenty-first year Cuo attacked Hanei in Wei. Wei presented Anyi; Qin expelled its people, called for settlers to move into Hedong and granted them ranks, and pardoned convicts and moved them there. The Lord of Jingyang was enfeoffed at Wan. In the twenty-second year Meng Wu attacked Qi. Hedong was made into nine counties. The king met the king of Chu at Wan; he met the king of Zhao at Zhongyang. In the twenty-third year the commandant Si Li joined the Three Jin and Yan in attacking Qi and broke them west of the Ji. The king met the king of Wei at Yiyang and the king of Han at Xincheng. In the twenty-fourth year he met the king of Chu at Yan, and met him again at Rang. Qin took Ancheng from Wei and came as far as Daliang; Yan and Zhao came to its rescue, and the Qin army withdrew. Wei Ran was dismissed from the chancellorship. In the twenty-fifth year two cities of Zhao were taken. The king met the king of Han at Xincheng and the king of Wei at the town of Xinming. In the twenty-sixth year convicts were pardoned and moved to Rang. The marquis, Ran, became chancellor again. In the twenty-seventh year Cuo attacked Chu. Convicts were pardoned and moved to Nanyang. Bai Qi attacked Zhao and took Dai and the city of Guanglang. Sima Cuo was also sent to raise troops from Longxi and, by way of Shu, to attack Qianzhong in Chu, and he took it. In the twenty-eighth year the daliangzao Bai Qi attacked Chu and took Yan and Deng; convicts were pardoned and moved there. In the twenty-ninth year the daliangzao Bai Qi attacked Chu and took Ying, which was made the commandery of Nan, and the king of Chu fled. The lord of Zhou came. The king met the king of Chu at Xiangling. Bai Qi was made Lord of Wu'an. In the thirtieth year Ruo, governor of Shu, attacked Chu and took the commandery of Wu, and the land south of the Yangzi was made the commandery of Qianzhong. In the thirty-first year Bai Qi attacked Wei and took two cities. The men of Chu revolted against us south of the Yangzi. In the thirty-second year the chancellor, the Marquis of Rang, attacked Wei, came as far as Daliang, broke Bao Yuan and beheaded forty thousand; Yuan fled, and Wei surrendered three counties and sued for peace. In the thirty-third year the guest minister Hu Yang attacked Juan, Caiyang, and Changshe in Wei and took them. He struck Mang Mao at Huayang and broke him, beheading one hundred and fifty thousand. Wei surrendered Nanyang and made peace. In the thirty-fourth year Qin joined the Shangyong lands given by Wei and Han into a single commandery, and moved the manumitted bondsmen of Nanyang to dwell there. In the thirty-fifth year Qin aided Han, Wei, and Chu in attacking Yan. The commandery of Nanyang was established for the first time. In the thirty-sixth year the guest minister Zao attacked Qi and took Gang and Shou, which were given to the Marquis of Rang. In the thirty-eighth year the zhonggeng Hu Yang attacked Yuyu in Zhao but could not take it. In the fortieth year the heir apparent Dao died in Wei and was brought home for burial at Zhiyang. In the summer of the forty-first year Qin attacked Wei and took Xingqiu and Huai. In the forty-second year the Lord of Anguo was made heir apparent. In the tenth month Queen Dowager Xuan passed away and was buried at Mount Li in Zhiyang. In the ninth month the Marquis of Rang went out to Tao. In the forty-third year Bai Qi, Lord of Wu'an, attacked Han, took nine cities, and beheaded fifty thousand. In the forty-fourth year Qin attacked Nanyang in Han and took it. In the forty-fifth year the wudafu Ben attacked Han and took ten cities. Kui, the Lord of Sheyang, set out for his fief and died before he arrived. In the forty-seventh year Qin attacked Shangdang in Han; Shangdang surrendered to Zhao, and Qin therefore attacked Zhao. Zhao sent out troops to strike Qin, and the two stood facing each other. Qin sent Bai Qi, Lord of Wu'an, to strike them; he broke Zhao utterly at Changping, and the more than four hundred thousand men were all put to death. In the tenth month of the forty-eighth year Han presented Yuanyong. The Qin army was divided into three armies. The Lord of Wu'an returned home. Wang He led troops against Pilao in Zhao and took it. Sima Geng settled Taiyuan in the north, and Qin held the whole of Han's Shangdang. In the first month the troops were disbanded, and Shangdang was garrisoned once more. In the tenth month of that year the wudafu Ling attacked Handan in Zhao. In the first month of the forty-ninth year further troops were raised to support Ling. Ling fought badly and was relieved, and Wang He replaced him in command. In the tenth month of that year the general Zhang Tang attacked Wei and appointed a commandant at Cai; the man abandoned his post and did not hold it, and on the return he was beheaded. In the tenth month of the fiftieth year Bai Qi, Lord of Wu'an, was found guilty, was reduced to the ranks as a common soldier, and was banished to Yinmi. Zhang Tang attacked Zheng and took it. In the twelfth month further troops were raised and encamped beside the city of Fen. Bai Qi, Lord of Wu'an, was found guilty and died. He attacked Handan, could not take it, withdrew, and fled back to the army at Fen. After more than two months he attacked the army of Jin, beheading six thousand, and twenty thousand men of Jin and Chu were swept away and drowned in the river. He attacked the city of Fen, and then, following Tang, took Ningxinzhong; Ningxinzhong was renamed Anyang. A bridge over the Yellow River was built for the first time.

In the fifty-first year the general Jiu attacked Han and took Yangcheng and Fushu, beheading forty thousand. He attacked Zhao, took more than twenty counties, and took ninety thousand in heads and prisoners. The lord of Western Zhou turned his back on Qin, bound himself with the feudal lords in a vertical alliance, and led the picked troops of the world out through Yique to attack Qin, giving orders that Qin should have no passage through Yangcheng. Thereupon Qin sent the general Jiu to attack Western Zhou. The lord of Western Zhou fled, came, and gave himself up; he knocked his head to the ground and accepted his guilt, and presented in full his towns, thirty-six cities with a population of thirty thousand. The king of Qin accepted the offering and returned their lord to Zhou.

In the fifty-second year the people of Zhou fled eastward, and their vessels, the Nine Tripods, came into Qin. Zhou then first perished.

In the fifty-third year the whole world came to pay homage. Wei came last, so Qin sent Jiu to attack Wei and take Wucheng. The king of Han came to court, and Wei committed its state and obeyed Qin's commands. In the fifty-fourth year the king performed the suburban sacrifice and appeared before the Lord on High at Yong. In the autumn of the fifty-sixth year King Zhaoxiang died, and his son King Xiaowen took the throne. The lady Tang, a consort of the bazi rank, was honored as Queen Dowager Tang and was buried together with the former king. The king of Han, in coarse mourning garments and hempen band, came to offer condolence and sacrifice, and the feudal lords all sent their generals and chancellors to come and offer condolence and sacrifice and to attend upon the funeral.

King Xiaowen of Qin (秦孝文王)

In the first year of King Xiaowen convicts were pardoned, the meritorious servants of the former king were honored, his kin were generously rewarded, and the parks and preserves were opened. When King Xiaowen had put off mourning he took the throne on the day jihai of the tenth month; on the third day, xinchou, he died, and his son King Zhuangxiang took the throne.

King Zhuangxiang of Qin (秦莊襄王)

In the first year of King Zhuangxiang there was a great pardon of convicts; the meritorious servants of the former king were honored; kindness was shown generously to his own flesh and blood, and favor was spread among the people. The lord of Eastern Zhou plotted against Qin with the feudal lords. Qin sent the chancellor of state Lü Buwei (呂不韋) to put him to death, and took his whole domain in. Qin did not cut off his sacrifices, but granted the lord of Zhou the land of Yangren so that he might maintain them. Meng Ao was sent to attack Han, and Han presented Chenggao and Gong. The border of Qin now reached Daliang, and the commandery of Sanchuan was established for the first time.

In the second year Meng Ao was sent to attack Zhao, and Taiyuan was settled.

In the third year Meng Ao attacked Gaodu and Ji in Wei and took them. He attacked Yuci, Xincheng, and Langmeng in Zhao and took thirty-seven cities. In the fourth month there was an eclipse of the sun. In the fourth year Wang He attacked Shangdang. The commandery of Taiyuan was established for the first time. The Wei general Wuji led the troops of five states to strike Qin, and Qin was driven back beyond the river. Meng Ao was defeated, broke off, and withdrew. On the day bingwu of the fifth month King Zhuangxiang died, and his son Zheng took the throne; this was the First Emperor of Qin.

The First Emperor (始皇帝)

In the twenty-sixth year of the reign of King Zheng of Qin, he first joined the world together into thirty-six commanderies and took the title First Emperor. The First Emperor had ruled eleven years more when he died, and his son Huhai took the throne; this was the Second Emperor. In the third year the feudal lords rose up together and rebelled against Qin. Zhao Gao killed the Second Emperor and set up Ziying. Ziying had ruled little more than a month when the feudal lords put him to death, and so Qin was extinguished. The account of this is in the Basic Annals of the First Emperor.

The Grand Historian's Judgment (太史公曰)

The Grand Historian says: The ancestors of Qin were of the Ying surname. Their descendants were divided among fiefs and took their states as their surnames: there were the Xu clan, the Tan clan, the Ju clan, the Zhongli clan, the Yunyan clan, the Tuqiu clan, the Jiangliang clan, the Huang clan, the Jiang clan, the Xiuyu clan, the Baiming clan, the Feilian clan, and the Qin clan. Yet because their ancestor Zaofu was enfeoffed at the city of Zhao, Qin became the Zhao clan.

Colophon

This translation was prepared for the Chinese shelf of the Good Works Library and translated independently from the classical Chinese text printed below. Duke Mu's extended narrative episodes — the ransom of Baili Xi, the battle at Xiao, the oath of regret before his army — were kept as narrative with direct speech, while the year-by-year notices that make up most of the later ducal reigns were kept in their terse annal form.

The translation-status check named Burton Watson, Records of the Grand Historian (1961; 1993), and William H. Nienhauser Jr. et al., The Grand Scribe's Records, vol. 1 (1994), as existing English coverage of the Shiji's Basic Annals. Both are named here as controls-in-existence and were not consulted; this translation makes no claim of firstness, and the check itself could not include a live search when this file was prepared.

A note on titles: Qin offices particular to the state and period, such as shuzhang and daliangzao, are kept in transliteration and glossed at first appearance rather than forced into approximate English equivalents, since no standard translation covers them precisely.

Prepared for the Good Work Library by the Tianmu Anglican Church with AI-assisted translation and editorial work.

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Source Text: 史記 卷5 秦本紀

Classical Chinese text in the Chinese Wikisource transcription, with the Sanjia commentary set in 〔 〕 as the transcription carries it. Presented complete for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above; the commentary is not translated.

秦先祖

秦之先，帝顓頊之苗裔。孫曰女修。女修織，玄鳥隕卵，女修吞之，生子大業。大業取少典之子，曰女華。女華生大費，與禹平水土。已成，帝錫玄圭。禹受曰：「非予能成，亦大費為輔。」帝舜曰：「咨爾費，贊禹功，其賜爾皁游。爾後嗣將大出。」乃妻之姚姓之玉女。大費拜受，佐舜調馴鳥獸，鳥獸多馴服，是為柏翳。舜賜姓嬴氏。

大費生子二人：一曰大廉，實鳥俗氏；二曰若木，實費氏。其玄孫曰費昌，子孫或在中國，或在夷狄。費昌當夏桀之時，去夏歸商，為湯御，以敗桀於鳴條。大廉玄孫曰孟戲、中衍，鳥身人言。帝太戊聞而卜之使御，吉，遂致使御而妻之。自太戊以下，中衍之後，遂世有功，以佐殷國，故嬴姓多顯，遂為諸侯。

其玄孫曰中潏，在西戎，保西垂。生蜚廉。蜚廉生惡來。惡來有力，蜚廉善走，父子俱以材力事殷紂。周武王之伐紂，并殺惡來。是時蜚廉為紂石北方，還，無所報，為壇霍太山而報，得石棺，銘曰「帝令處父不與殷亂，賜爾石棺以華氏」。死，遂葬於霍太山。蜚廉復有子曰季勝。季勝生孟增。孟增幸於周成王，是為宅皋狼。皋狼生衡父，衡父生造父。造父以善御幸於周繆王，得驥、溫驪、驊騮、騄耳之駟，西巡狩，樂而忘歸。徐偃王作亂，造父為繆王御，長驅歸周，一日千里以救亂。繆王以趙城封造父，造父族由此為趙氏。自蜚廉生季勝已下五世至造父，別居趙。趙衰其後也。惡來革者，蜚廉子也，蚤死。有子曰女防。女防生旁皋，旁皋生太幾，太幾生大駱，大駱生非子。以造父之寵，皆蒙趙城，姓趙氏。

非子

非子居犬丘，好馬及畜，善養息之。犬丘人言之周孝王，孝王召使主馬于汧渭之間，馬大蕃息。孝王欲以為大駱適嗣。申侯之女為大駱妻，生子成為適。申侯乃言孝王曰：「昔我先酈山之女，為戎胥軒妻，生中潏，以親故歸周，保西垂，西垂以其故和睦。今我復與大駱妻，生適子成。申駱重婚，西戎皆服，所以為王。王其圖之。」於是孝王曰：「昔伯翳為舜主畜，畜多息，故有土，賜姓嬴。今其後世亦為朕息馬，朕其分土為附庸。」邑之秦，使復續嬴氏祀，號曰秦嬴。亦不廢申侯之女子為駱適者，以和西戎。

秦侯

秦嬴生秦侯。秦侯立十年，卒。生公伯。

公伯

公伯立三年，卒。生秦仲。

秦仲

秦仲立三年，周厲王無道，諸侯或叛之。西戎反王室，滅犬丘大駱之族。周宣王即位，乃以秦仲為大夫，誅西戎。西戎殺秦仲。秦仲立二十三年，死於戎。有子五人，其長者曰莊公。周宣王乃召莊公昆弟五人，與兵七千人，使伐西戎，破之。於是復予秦仲後，及其先大駱地犬丘并有之，為西垂大夫。

秦莊公

莊公居其故西犬丘，生子三人，其長男世父。世父曰：「戎殺我大父仲，我非殺戎王則不敢入邑。」遂將擊戎，讓其弟襄公。襄公為太子。莊公立四十四年，卒，太子襄公代立。

秦襄公

襄公元年，以女弟繆嬴為豐王妻。襄公二年，戎圍犬丘，（世父）世父擊之，為戎人所虜。歲餘，復歸世父。七年春，周幽王用褒姒廢太子，立褒姒子為適，數欺諸侯，諸侯叛之。西戎犬戎與申侯伐周，殺幽王酈山下。而秦襄公將兵救周，戰甚力，有功。周避犬戎難，東徙雒邑，襄公以兵送周平王。平王封襄公為諸侯，賜之岐以西之地。曰：「戎無道，侵奪我岐、豐之地，秦能攻逐戎，即有其地。」與誓，封爵之。襄公於是始國，與諸侯通使聘享之禮，乃用騮駒、黃牛、羝羊各三，祠上帝西畤。十二年，伐戎而至岐，卒。生文公。

秦文公、秦竫公

文公元年，居西垂宮。三年，文公以兵七百人東獵。四年，至汧渭之會。曰：「昔周邑我先秦嬴於此，後卒獲為諸侯。」乃卜居之，占曰吉，即營邑之。十年，初為鄜畤，用三牢。十三年，初有史以紀事，民多化者。十六年，文公以兵伐戎，戎敗走。於是文公遂收周餘民有之，地至岐，岐以東獻之周。十九年，得陳寶。二十年，法初有三族之罪。二十七年，伐南山大梓，豐大特。四十八年，文公太子卒，賜謚為竫公。竫公之長子為太子，是文公孫也。五十年，文公卒，葬西山。竫公子立，是為寧公。

秦寧公

寧公二年，公徙居平陽。遣兵伐蕩社。三年，與亳戰，亳王奔戎，遂滅蕩社。四年，魯公子翚弒其君隱公。十二年，伐蕩氏，取之。寧公生十歲立，立十二年卒，葬西山。生子三人，長男武公為太子。武公弟德公，同母魯姬子。生出子。寧公卒，大庶長弗忌、威壘、三父廢太子而立出子為君。

秦出子

出子六年，三父等復共令人賊殺出子。出子生五歲立，立六年卒。三父等乃復立故太子武公。

秦武公

武公元年，伐彭戲氏，至于華山下，居平陽封宮。三年，誅三父等而夷三族，以其殺出子也。鄭高渠瞇殺其君昭公。十年，伐邽、冀戎，初縣之。十一年，初縣杜、鄭。滅小虢。

十三年，齊人管至父、連稱等殺其君襄公而立公孫無知。晉滅霍、魏、耿。齊雍廩殺無知、管至父等而立齊桓公。齊、晉為彊國。

十九年，晉曲沃始為晉侯。齊桓公伯於鄄。

二十年，武公卒，葬雍平陽。初以人從死，從死者六十六人。有子一人，名曰白，白不立，封平陽。立其弟德公。

秦德公

德公元年，初居雍城大鄭宮。以犧三百牢祠鄜畤。卜居雍。後子孫飲馬於河。梁伯、芮伯來朝。二年，初伏，以狗御蠱。德公生三十三歲而立，立二年卒。生子三人：長子宣公，中子成公，少子穆公。長子宣公立。

秦宣公

宣公元年，衛、燕伐周，出惠王，立王子穨。三年，鄭伯、虢叔殺子穨而入惠王。四年，作密畤。與晉戰河陽，勝之。十二年，宣公卒。生子九人，莫立，立其弟成公。

秦成公

成公元年，梁伯、芮伯來朝。齊桓公伐山戎，次于孤竹。

成公立四年卒。子七人，莫立，立其弟繆公。

秦繆公

繆公任好元年，自將伐茅津，勝之。四年，迎婦於晉，晉太子申生姊也。其歲，齊桓公伐楚，至邵陵。

五年，晉獻公滅虞、虢，虜虞君與其大夫百里傒，以璧馬賂於虞故也。既虜百里傒，以為秦繆公夫人媵於秦。百里傒亡秦走宛，楚鄙人執之。繆公聞百里傒賢，欲重贖之，恐楚人不與，乃使人謂楚曰：「吾媵臣百里傒在焉，請以五羖羊皮贖之。」。楚人遂許與之。當是時，百里傒年已七十餘。繆公釋其囚，與語國事。謝曰：「臣亡國之臣，何足問！」繆公曰：「虞君不用子，故亡，非子罪也。」固問，語三日，繆公大說，授之國政，號曰五羖大夫。百里傒讓曰：「臣不及臣友蹇叔，蹇叔賢而世莫知。臣常游困於齊而乞食铚人，蹇叔收臣。臣因而欲事齊君無知，蹇叔止臣，臣得脫齊難，遂之周。周王子穨好牛，臣以養牛干之。及穨欲用臣，蹇叔止臣，臣去，得不誅。事虞君，蹇叔止臣。臣知虞君不用臣，臣誠私利祿爵，且留。再用其言，得脫，一不用，及虞君難：是以知其賢。」於是繆公使人厚幣迎蹇叔，以為上大夫。

秋，繆公自將伐晉，戰於河曲。晉驪姬作亂，太子申生死新城，重耳、夷吾出奔。

九年，齊桓公會諸侯於葵丘。

晉獻公卒。立驪姬子奚齊，其臣里克殺奚齊。荀息立卓子，克又殺卓子及荀息。夷吾使人請秦，求入晉。於是繆公許之，使百里傒將兵送夷吾。夷吾謂曰：「誠得立，請割晉之河西八城與秦。」及至，已立，而使丕鄭謝秦，背約不與河西城，而殺裏克。丕鄭聞之，恐，因與繆公謀曰：「晉人不欲夷吾，實欲重耳。今背秦約而殺裏克，皆呂甥、郤芮之計也。願君以利急召呂、郤，呂、郤至，則更入重耳便。」繆公許之，使人與丕鄭歸，召呂、郤。呂、郤等疑丕鄭有閒，乃言夷吾殺丕鄭。丕鄭子丕豹奔秦，說繆公曰：「晉君無道，百姓不親，可伐也。」繆公曰：「百姓茍不便，何故能誅其大臣？能誅其大臣，此其調也。」不聽，而陰用豹。

十二年，齊管仲、隰朋死。

晉旱，來請粟。丕豹說繆公勿與，因其饑而伐之。繆公問公孫支，支曰：「饑穰更事耳，不可不與。」問百里傒，傒曰：「夷吾得罪於君，其百姓何罪？」於是用百里傒、公孫支言，卒與之粟。以船漕車轉，自雍相望至絳。

十四年，秦饑，請粟於晉。晉君謀之群臣。虢射曰：「因其饑伐之，可有大功。」晉君從之。十五年，興兵將攻秦。繆公發兵，使丕豹將，自往擊之。九月壬戌，與晉惠公夷吾合戰於韓地。晉君棄其軍，與秦爭利，還而馬騺。繆公與麾下馳追之，不能得晉君，反為晉軍所圍。晉擊繆公，繆公傷。於是岐下食善馬者三百人馳冒晉軍，晉軍解圍，遂脫繆公而反生得晉君。初，繆公亡善馬，岐下野人共得而食之者三百餘人，吏逐得，欲法之。繆公曰：「君子不以畜產害人。吾聞食善馬肉不飲酒，傷人。」乃皆賜酒而赦之。三百人者聞秦擊晉，皆求從，從而見繆公窘，亦皆推鋒爭死，以報食馬之德。於是繆公虜晉君以歸，令於國，齊宿，吾將以晉君祠上帝。周天子聞之，曰「晉我同姓」，為請晉君。夷吾姊亦為繆公夫人，夫人聞之，乃衰绖跣，曰：「妾兄弟不能相救，以辱君命。」繆公曰：「我得晉君以為功，今天子為請，夫人是憂。」乃與晉君盟，許歸之，更舍上舍，而饋之七牢。十一月，歸晉君夷吾，夷吾獻其河西地，使太子圉為質於秦。秦妻子圉以宗女。是時秦地東至河。

十八年，齊桓公卒。二十年，秦滅梁、芮。

二十二年，晉公子圉聞晉君病，曰：「梁，我母家也，而秦滅之。我兄弟多，即君百歲後，秦必留我，而晉輕，亦更立他子。」子圉乃亡歸晉。二十三年，晉惠公卒，子圉立為君。秦怨圉亡去，乃迎晉公子重耳於楚，而妻以故子圉妻。重耳初謝，後乃受。繆公益禮厚遇之。二十四年春，秦使人告晉大臣，欲入重耳。晉許之，於是使人送重耳。二月，重耳立為晉君，是為文公。文公使人殺子圉。子圉是為懷公。

其秋，周襄王弟帶以翟伐王，王出居鄭。二十五年，周王使人告難於晉、秦。秦繆公將兵助晉文公入襄王，殺王弟帶。二十八年，晉文公敗楚於城濮。三十年，繆公助晉文公圍鄭。鄭使人言繆公曰：「亡鄭厚晉，於晉而得矣，而秦未有利。晉之彊，秦之憂也。」繆公乃罷兵歸。晉亦罷。三十二年冬，晉文公卒。

鄭人有賣鄭於秦曰：「我主其城門，鄭可襲也。」繆公問蹇叔、百里傒，對曰：「徑數國千里而襲人，希有得利者。且人賣鄭，庸知我國人不有以我情告鄭者乎？不可。」繆公曰：「子不知也，吾已決矣。」遂發兵，使百里傒子孟明視，蹇叔子西乞術及白乙丙將兵。行日，百里傒、蹇叔二人哭之。繆公聞，怒曰：「孤發兵而子沮哭吾軍，何也？」二老曰：「臣非敢沮君軍。軍行，臣子與往；臣老，遲還恐不相見，故哭耳。」二老退，謂其子曰：「汝軍即敗，必於殽阨矣。」三十三年春，秦兵遂東，更晉地，過周北門。周王孫滿曰：「秦師無禮，不敗何待！」兵至滑，鄭販賣賈人弦高，持十二牛將賣之周，見秦兵，恐死虜，因獻其牛，曰：「聞大國將誅鄭，鄭君謹修守御備，使臣以牛十二勞軍士。」秦三將軍相謂曰：「將襲鄭，鄭今已覺之，往無及已。」滅滑。滑，晉之邊邑也。

當是時，晉文公喪尚未葬。太子襄公怒曰：「秦侮我孤，因喪破我滑。」遂墨衰绖，發兵遮秦兵於殽，擊之，大破秦軍，無一人得脫者。虜秦三將以歸。文公夫人，秦女也，為秦三囚將請曰：「繆公之怨此三人入於骨髓，願令此三人歸，令我君得自快烹之。」晉君許之，歸秦三將。三將至，繆公素服郊迎，向三人哭曰：「孤以不用百里傒、蹇叔言以辱三子，三子何罪乎？子其悉心雪恥，毋怠。」遂復三人官秩如故，愈益厚之。

三十四年，楚太子商臣弒其父成王代立。

繆公於是復使孟明視等將兵伐晉，戰于彭衙。秦不利，引兵歸。

戎王使由余於秦。由余，其先晉人也，亡入戎，能晉言。聞繆公賢，故使由余觀秦。秦繆公示以宮室、積聚。由余曰：「使鬼為之，則勞神矣。使人為之，亦苦民矣。」繆公怪之，問曰：「中國以詩書禮樂法度為政，然尚時亂，今戎夷無此，何以為治，不亦難乎？」由余笑曰：「此乃中國所以亂也。夫自上聖黃帝作為禮樂法度，身以先之，僅以小治。及其後世，日以驕淫。阻法度之威，以責督於下，下罷極則以仁義怨望於上，上下交爭怨而相篡弒，至於滅宗，皆以此類也。夫戎夷不然。上含淳德以遇其下，下懷忠信以事其上，一國之政猶一身之治，不知所以治，此真聖人之治也。」於是繆公退而問內史廖曰：「孤聞鄰國有聖人，敵國之憂也。今由余賢，寡人之害，將奈之何？」內史廖曰：「戎王處辟匿，未聞中國之聲。君試遺其女樂，以奪其志；為由余請，以疏其閒；留而莫遣，以失其期。戎王怪之，必疑由余。君臣有閒，乃可虜也。且戎王好樂，必怠於政。」繆公曰：「善。」因與由余曲席而坐，傳器而食，問其地形與其兵勢盡察，而後令內史廖以女樂二八遺戎王。戎王受而說之，終年不還。於是秦乃歸由余。由余數諫不聽，繆公又數使人閒要由余，由余遂去降秦。繆公以客禮禮之，問伐戎之形。

三十六年，繆公復益厚孟明等，使將兵伐晉，渡河焚船，大敗晉人，取王官及鄗，以報殽之役。晉人皆城守不敢出。於是繆公乃自茅津渡河，封殽中尸，為發喪，哭之三日。乃誓於軍曰：「嗟士卒！聽無譁，余誓告汝。古之人謀黃髪番番，則無所過。」以申思不用蹇叔、百里傒之謀，故作此誓，令後世以記余過。君子聞之，皆為垂涕，曰：「嗟乎！秦繆公之與人周也，卒得孟明之慶。」

三十七年，秦用由余謀伐戎王，益國十二，開地千里，遂霸西戎。天子使召公過賀繆公以金鼓。

三十九年，繆公卒，葬雍。從死者百七十七人，秦之良臣子輿氏三人名曰奄息、仲行、鍼虎，亦在從死之中。秦人哀之，為作歌黃鳥之詩。君子曰：「秦繆公廣地益國，東服彊晉，西霸戎夷，然不為諸侯盟主，亦宜哉。死而棄民，收其良臣而從死。且先王崩，尚猶遺德垂法，況奪之善人良臣百姓所哀者乎？是以知秦不能復東征也。」繆公子四十人，其太子嵤代立，是為康公。

秦康公

康公元年。往歲繆公之卒，晉襄公亦卒；襄公之弟名雍，秦出也，在秦。晉趙盾欲立之，使隨會來迎雍，秦以兵送至令狐。晉立襄公子而反擊秦師，秦師敗，隨會來奔。二年，秦伐晉，取武城，報令狐之役。四年，晉伐秦，取少梁。六年，秦伐晉，取羈馬。戰於河曲，大敗晉軍。晉人患隨會在秦為亂，乃使魏讎餘詳反，合謀會，詐而得會，會遂歸晉。康公立十二年卒，子共公立。

秦共公

共公二年，晉趙穿弒其君靈公。三年，楚莊王彊，北兵至雒，問周鼎。共公立五年卒，子桓公立。

秦桓公

桓公三年，晉敗我一將。十年，楚莊王服鄭，北敗晉兵於河上。當是之時，楚霸，為會盟合諸侯。二十四年，晉厲公初立，與秦桓公夾河而盟。歸而秦倍盟，與翟合謀擊晉。二十六年，晉率諸侯伐秦，秦軍敗走，追至涇而還。桓公立二十七年卒，子景公立。

秦景公

景公四年，晉欒書弒其君厲公。十五年，救鄭，敗晉兵於櫟。是時晉悼公為盟主。十八年，晉悼公彊，數會諸侯，率以伐秦，敗秦軍。秦軍走，晉兵追之，遂渡涇，至棫林而還。二十七年，景公如晉，與平公盟，已而背之。三十六年，楚公子圍弒其君而自立，是為靈王。景公母弟後子鍼有寵，景公母弟富，或譖之，恐誅，乃奔晉，車重千乘。晉平公曰：「后子富如此，何以自亡？」對曰：「秦公無道，畏誅，欲待其後世乃歸。」三十九年，楚靈王彊，會諸侯於申，為盟主，殺齊慶封。景公立四十年卒，子哀公立。后子復來歸秦。

秦哀公、秦夷公

哀公八年，楚公子棄疾弒靈王而自立，是為平王。十一年，楚平王來求秦女為太子建妻。至國，女好而自娶之。十五年，楚平王欲誅建，建亡；伍子胥奔吳。晉公室卑而六卿彊，欲內相攻，是以久秦晉不相攻。三十一年，吳王闔閭與伍子胥伐楚，楚王亡奔隨，吳遂入郢。楚大夫申包胥來告急，七日不食，日夜哭泣。於是秦乃發五百乘救楚，敗吳師。吳師歸，楚昭王乃得復入郢。哀公立三十六年卒。太子夷公，夷公蚤死，不得立，立夷公子，是為惠公。

秦惠公 (春秋)

惠公元年，孔子行魯相事。五年，晉卿中行、范氏反晉，晉使智氏、趙簡子攻之，范、中行氏亡奔齊。惠公立十年卒，子悼公立。

秦悼公

悼公二年，齊臣田乞弒其君孺子，立其兄陽生，是為悼公。六年，吳敗齊師。齊人弒悼公，立其子簡公。九年，晉定公與吳王夫差盟，爭長於黃池，卒先吳。吳彊，陵中國。十二年，齊田常弒簡公，立其弟平公，常相之。十三年，楚滅陳。秦悼公立十四年卒，子厲共公立。孔子以悼公十二年卒。

秦厲共公

厲共公二年，蜀人來賂。十六年，塹河旁。以兵二萬伐大荔，取其王城。二十一年，初縣頻陽。晉取武成。二十四年，晉亂，殺智伯，分其國與趙、韓、魏。二十五年，智開與邑人來奔。三十三年，伐義渠，虜其王。三十四年，日食。厲共公卒，子躁公立。

秦躁公

躁公二年，南鄭反。十三年，義渠來伐，至渭南。十四年，躁公卒，立其弟懷公。

秦懷公

懷公四年，庶長朝與大臣圍懷公，懷公自殺。懷公太子曰昭子，蚤死，大臣乃立太子昭子之子，是為靈公。靈公，懷公孫也。

秦靈公

靈公六年，晉城少梁，秦擊之。十三年，城籍姑。靈公卒，子獻公不得立，立靈公季父悼子，是為簡公。簡公，昭子之弟而懷公子也。

秦簡公

簡公六年，令吏初帶劍。塹洛。城重泉。十六年卒，子惠公立。

秦惠公 (戰國)

惠公十二年，子出子生。十三年，伐蜀，取南鄭。惠公卒，出子立。

秦出公

出子二年，庶長改迎靈公之子獻公于河西而立之。殺出子及其母，沈之淵旁。秦以往者數易君，君臣乖亂，故晉復彊，奪秦河西地。

秦獻公

獻公元年，止從死。二年，城櫟陽。四年正月庚寅，孝公生。十一年，周太史儋見獻公曰：「周故與秦國合而別，別五百歲復合，合（七）十七歲而霸王出。」十六年，桃冬花。十八年，雨金櫟陽。二十一年，與晉戰於石門，斬首六萬，天子賀以黼黻。二十三年，與魏晉戰少梁，虜其將公孫痤。二十四年，獻公卒，子孝公立，年已二十一歲矣。

秦孝公

孝公元年，河山以東彊國六，與齊威、楚宣、魏惠、燕悼、韓哀、趙成侯并。淮泗之閒小國十餘。楚、魏與秦接界。魏筑長城，自鄭濱洛以北，有上郡。楚自漢中，南有巴、黔中。周室微，諸侯力政，爭相併。秦僻在雍州，不與中國諸侯之會盟，夷翟遇之。孝公於是布惠，振孤寡，招戰士，明功賞。下令國中曰：「昔我繆公自岐雍之閒，修德行武，東平晉亂，以河為界，西霸戎翟，廣地千里，天子致伯，諸侯畢賀，為後世開業，甚光美。會往者厲、躁、簡公、出子之不寧，國家內憂，未遑外事，三晉攻奪我先君河西地，諸侯卑秦、醜莫大焉。獻公即位，鎮撫邊境，徙治櫟陽，且欲東伐，復繆公之故地，修繆公之政令。寡人思念先君之意，常痛於心。賓客群臣有能出奇計彊秦者，吾且尊官，與之分土。」於是乃出兵東圍陜城，西斬戎之獂王。

衛鞅聞是令下，西入秦，因景監求見孝公。

二年，天子致胙。

三年，衛鞅說孝公變法修刑，內務耕稼，外勸戰死之賞罰，孝公善之。甘龍、杜摯等弗然，相與爭之。卒用鞅法，百姓苦之；居三年，百姓便之。乃拜鞅為左庶長。其事在商君語中。

七年，與魏惠王會杜平。八年，與魏戰元裏，有功。十年，衛鞅為大良造，將兵圍魏安邑，降之。十二年，作為咸陽，筑冀闕，秦徙都之。并諸小鄉聚，集為大縣，縣一令，四十一縣。為田開阡陌。東地渡洛。十四年，初為賦。十九年，天子致伯。二十年，諸侯畢賀。秦使公子少官率師會諸侯逢澤，朝天子。

二十一年，齊敗魏馬陵。

二十二年，衛鞅擊魏，虜魏公子卬。封鞅為列侯，號商君。

二十四年，與晉戰雁門，虜其將魏錯。

孝公卒，子惠文君立。是歲，誅衛鞅。鞅之初為秦施法，法不行，太子犯禁。鞅曰：「法之不行，自於貴戚。君必欲行法，先於太子。太子不可黥，黥其傅師。」於是法大用，秦人治。及孝公卒，太子立，宗室多怨鞅，鞅亡，因以為反，而卒車裂以徇秦國。

秦惠文君

惠文君元年，楚、韓、趙、蜀人來朝。二年，天子賀。三年，王冠。四年，天子致文武胙。齊、魏為王。

五年，陰晉人犀首為大良造。六年，魏納陰晉，陰晉更名寧秦。七年，公子卬與魏戰，虜其將龍賈，斬首八萬。八年，魏納河西地。九年，渡河，取汾陰、皮氏。與魏王會應。圍焦，降之。十年，張儀相秦。魏納上郡十五縣。十一年，縣義渠。歸魏焦、曲沃。義渠君為臣。更名少梁曰夏陽。十二年，初臘。十三年四月戊午，魏君為王，韓亦為王。使張儀伐取陜，出其人與魏。

十四年，更為元年。二年，張儀與齊、楚大臣會齧桑。三年，韓、魏太子來朝。張儀相魏。五年，王游至北河。七年，樂池相秦。韓、趙、魏、燕、齊帥匈奴共攻秦。秦使庶長疾與戰修魚，虜其將申差，敗趙公子渴、韓太子奐，斬首八萬二千。八年，張儀復相秦。九年，司馬錯伐蜀，滅之。伐取趙中都、西陽十年，韓太子蒼來質。伐取韓石章。伐敗趙將泥。伐取義渠二十五城。十一年，摢裏疾攻魏焦，降之。敗韓岸門，斬首萬，其將犀首走。公子通封於蜀。燕君讓其臣子之。十二年，王與梁王會臨晉。庶長疾攻趙，虜趙將莊。張儀相楚。十三年，庶長章擊楚於丹陽，虜其將屈丐，斬首八萬；又攻楚漢中，取地六百里，置漢中郡。楚圍雍氏，秦使庶長疾助韓而東攻齊，到滿助魏攻燕。十四年，伐楚，取召陵。丹、犁臣，蜀相壯殺蜀侯來降。

惠王卒，子武王立。韓、魏、齊、楚、越皆賓從。

秦武王

武王元年，與魏惠王會臨晉。誅蜀相壯。張儀、魏章皆東出之魏。伐義渠、丹、犁。二年，初置丞相，摢裏疾、甘茂為左右丞相。張儀死於魏。三年，與韓襄王會臨晉外。南公揭卒，摢裏疾相韓。武王謂甘茂曰：「寡人欲容車通三川，窺周室，死不恨矣。」其秋，使甘茂、庶長封伐宜陽。四年，拔宜陽，斬首六萬。涉河，城武遂。魏太子來朝。武王有力好戲，力士任鄙、烏獲、孟說皆至大官。王與孟說舉鼎，絕臏。八月，武王死。族孟說。武王取魏女為后，無子。立異母弟，是為昭襄王。昭襄母楚人，姓羋氏，號宣太后。武王死時，昭襄王為質於燕，燕人送歸，得立。

秦昭襄王

昭襄王元年，嚴君疾為相。甘茂出之魏。二年，彗星見。庶長壯與大臣、諸侯、公子為逆，皆誅，及惠文后皆不得良死。悼武王后出歸魏。三年，王冠。與楚王會黃棘，與楚上庸。四年，取蒲阪。彗星見。五年，魏王來朝應亭，復與魏蒲阪。六年，蜀侯煇反，司馬錯定蜀。庶長奐伐楚，斬首二萬。涇陽君質於齊。日食，晝晦。七年，拔新城。摢裏子卒。八年，使將軍羋戎攻楚，取新市。齊使章子，魏使公孫喜，韓使暴鳶共攻楚方城，取唐眛。趙破中山，其君亡，竟死齊。魏公子勁、韓公子長為諸侯。九年，孟嘗君薛文來相秦。奐攻楚，取八城，殺其將景快。十年，楚懷王入朝秦，秦留之。薛文以金受免。樓緩為丞相。十一年，齊、韓、魏、趙、宋、中山五國共攻秦，至鹽氏而還。秦與韓、魏河北及封陵以和。彗星見。楚懷王走之趙，趙不受，還之秦，即死，歸葬。十二年，樓緩免，穰侯魏冉為相。予楚粟五萬石。

十三年，向壽伐韓，取武始。左更白起攻新城。五大夫禮出亡奔魏。任鄙為漢中守。十四年，左更白起攻韓、魏於伊闕，斬首二十四萬，虜公孫喜，拔五城。十五年，大良造白起攻魏，取垣，復予之。攻楚，取宛。十六年，左更錯取軹及鄧。冉免，封公子市宛，公子悝鄧，魏冉陶，為諸侯。十七年，城陽君入朝，及東周君來朝。秦以垣為蒲阪、皮氏。王之宜陽。十八年，錯攻垣、河雍，決橋取之。十九年，王為西帝，齊為東帝，皆復去之。呂禮來自歸。齊破宋，宋王在魏，死溫。任鄙卒。二十年，王之漢中，又之上郡、北河。二十一年，錯攻魏河內。魏獻安邑，秦出其人，募徙河東賜爵，赦罪人遷之。涇陽君封宛。二十二年，蒙武伐齊。河東為九縣。與楚王會宛。與趙王會中陽。二十三年，尉斯離與三晉、燕伐齊，破之濟西。王與魏王會宜陽，與韓王會新城。二十四年，與楚王會鄢，又會穰。秦取魏安城，至大梁，燕、趙救之，秦軍去。魏冉免相。二十五年，拔趙二城。與韓王會新城，與魏王會新明邑。二十六年，赦罪人遷之穰。侯冉復相。二十七年，錯攻楚。赦罪人遷之南陽。白起攻趙，取代光狼城。又使司馬錯發隴西，因蜀攻楚黔中，拔之。二十八年，大良造白起攻楚，取鄢、鄧，赦罪人遷之。二十九年，大良造白起攻楚，取郢為南郡，楚王走。周君來。王與楚王會襄陵。白起為武安君。三十年，蜀守若伐楚，取巫郡，及江南為黔中郡。三十一年，白起伐魏，取兩城。楚人反我江南。三十二年，相穰侯攻魏，至大梁，破暴鳶，斬首四萬，鳶走，魏入三縣請和。三十三年，客卿胡（傷）［陽］攻魏卷、蔡陽、長社，取之。擊芒卯華陽，破之，斬首十五萬。魏入南陽以和。三十四年，秦與魏、韓上庸地為一郡，南陽免臣遷居之。三十五年，佐韓、魏、楚伐燕。初置南陽郡。三十六年，客卿灶攻齊，取剛、壽，予穰侯。三十八年，中更胡（傷）［陽］攻趙閼與，不能取。四十年，悼太子死魏，歸葬芷陽。四十一年夏，攻魏，取邢丘、懷。四十二年，安國君為太子。十月，宣太后薨，葬芷陽酈山。九月，穰侯出之陶。四十三年，武安君白起攻韓，拔九城，斬首五萬。四十四年，攻韓南（郡）［陽］，取之。四十五年，五大夫賁攻韓，取十城。葉陽君悝出之國，未至而死。四十七年，秦攻韓上黨，上黨降趙，秦因攻趙，趙發兵擊秦，相距。秦使武安君白起擊，大破趙於長平，四十餘萬盡殺之。四十八年十月，韓獻垣雍。秦軍分為三軍。武安君歸。王龁將伐趙（武安）皮牢，拔之。司馬梗北定太原，盡有韓上黨。正月，兵罷，復守上黨。其十月，五大夫陵攻趙邯鄲。四十九年正月，益發卒佐陵。陵戰不善，免，王龁代將。其十月，將軍張唐攻魏，為蔡尉捐弗守，還斬之。五十年十月，武安君白起有罪，為士伍，遷陰密。張唐攻鄭，拔之。十二月，益發卒軍汾城旁。武安君白起有罪，死。龁攻邯鄲，不拔，去，還奔汾軍。二月餘攻晉軍，斬首六千，晉楚流死河二萬人。攻汾城，即從唐拔寧新中，寧新中更名安陽。初作河橋。

五十一年，將軍摎攻韓，取陽城、負黍，斬首四萬。攻趙，取二十餘縣，首虜九萬。西周君背秦，與諸侯約從，將天下銳兵出伊闕攻秦，令秦毋得通陽城。於是秦使將軍摎攻西周。西周君走來自歸，頓首受罪，盡獻其邑三十六城，口三萬。秦王受獻，歸其君於周。五十二年，周民東亡，其器九鼎入秦。周初亡。

五十三年，天下來賓。魏後，秦使摎伐魏，取吳城。韓王入朝，魏委國聽令。五十四年，王郊見上帝於雍。五十六年秋，昭襄王卒，子孝文王立。尊唐八子為唐太后，而合其葬於先王。韓王衰绖入弔祠，諸侯皆使其將相來弔祠，視喪事。

秦孝文王

孝文王元年，赦罪人，修先王功臣，褒厚親戚，弛苑囿。孝文王除喪，十月己亥即位，三日辛丑卒，子莊襄王立。

秦莊襄王

莊襄王元年，大赦罪人，修先王功臣，施德厚骨肉而布惠於民。東周君與諸侯謀秦，秦使相國呂不韋誅之，盡入其國。秦不絕其祀，以陽人地賜周君，奉其祭祀。使蒙驁伐韓，韓獻成皋、鞏。秦界至大梁，初置三川郡。二年，使蒙驁攻趙，定太原。三年，蒙驁攻魏高都、汲，拔之。攻趙榆次、新城、狼孟，取三十七城。四月日食。（四年）王龁攻上黨。初置太原郡。魏將無忌率五國兵擊秦，秦卻於河外。蒙驁敗，解而去。五月丙午，莊襄王卒，子政立，是為秦始皇帝。

始皇帝

秦王政立二十六年，初并天下為三十六郡，號為始皇帝。始皇帝立十一年而崩，子胡亥立，是為二世皇帝。三年，諸侯并起叛秦，趙高殺二世，立子嬰。子嬰立月餘，諸侯誅之，遂滅秦。其語在始皇本紀中。

太史公曰

太史公曰：秦之先為嬴姓。其後分封，以國為姓，有徐氏、郯氏、莒氏、終黎氏、運奄氏、菟裘氏、將梁氏、黃氏、江氏、修魚氏、白冥氏、蜚廉氏、秦氏。然秦以其先造父封趙城，為趙氏。

Source Colophon

The Chinese text follows the Chinese Wikisource transcription of Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian (article 史記/卷005, revision of 9 June 2026), inspected from a witness copy captured on 22 August 2026. Chinese Wikisource transcriptions are published under CC BY-SA 4.0 and the GFDL; the text itself is ancient and in the public domain. The wiki header, navigation links, license templates, and modern contributors' footnotes have been removed; the text is otherwise complete and unaltered.

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