Jing Ke vs Liu Xiang

Jing Ke, sent by the crown prince of Yan, attempted to assassinate King Zheng of Qin (later Qin Shi Huang) at his court. He presented a map and a severed head as gifts, then tried to stab the king with a dagger hidden in the map. The attempt failed, and Jing Ke was killed.

Jing Ke was chosen by Crown Prince Dan of Yan to carry out the assassination plot. He was given the heads of two Qin generals and a map of Yan territory to gain access to the Qin court. The mission was a desperate attempt to prevent Qin's conquest of Yan.

After the failed assassination attempt, Jing Ke was killed by Qin guards. His death became a symbol of futile resistance against Qin's unification, and he is remembered as a tragic hero in Chinese history.

Liu Xiang, as imperial librarian, compiled the Bie Lu, the first comprehensive catalog of Chinese texts. He organized and edited thousands of scrolls from the imperial library, preserving many ancient works. This catalog became the foundation for later bibliographic scholarship.

Liu Xiang compiled the Zhan Guo Ce (Strategies of the Warring States), a collection of political anecdotes and diplomatic strategies from the Warring States period. This work became a key historical source for that era and influenced Chinese political thought.

Liu Xiang edited and organized the Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas), a mythological geography text. His editorial work helped standardize this ancient text, which became a foundational work in Chinese mythology and geography.