Battle of Changping

E185651

The Battle of Changping was a decisive 3rd-century BCE clash between the Qin and Zhao states that annihilated Zhao’s forces and paved the way for Qin’s eventual unification of China.

All labels observed (2)

Label Occurrences
Battle of Changping canonical 6
Battle of Handan 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
military conflict
associatedWithRuler King Xiaocheng of Zhao
King Zhaoxiang of Qin
belligerent State of Qin
state of Zhao
surface form: State of Zhao
casualties massive Zhao losses
casualtiesDescription large-scale slaughter of surrendered Zhao soldiers
changeOfCommand replacement of Lian Po by Zhao Kuo
combatType land battle
commander Bai Qi
Lian Po
Wang He
Zhao Kuo
conflictBetween state of Qin
surface form: Qin

Zhao
countryAtTime state of Qin
surface form: Qin

Zhao
date 262–260 BCE
endDate 260 BCE
era late Warring States period
estimatedZhaoPrisonersKilled over 400,000 (traditional accounts)
historicalPeriod Ancient China
historicalReputation one of the bloodiest battles of the Warring States period
location Changping District
surface form: Changping

near present-day Gaoping, Shanxi, China
longTermConsequence contributed to decline of Zhao as a major power
shifted balance of power in favor of Qin
militaryTheater Zhao–Qin frontier
notableCommanderFor Bai Qi
Zhao Kuo
notableFor decisive nature of Qin victory
scale of casualties
use of stratagems and deception by Qin commanders
partOf Warring States period
precededBy Qin–Zhao struggle over Shangdang
primarySourceTradition Records of the Grand Historian
surface form: Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji)
region North China
relatedEvent Qin conquest of rival states
surface form: Qin unification wars
result decisive Qin victory
startDate 262 BCE
strategicSignificance paved the way for Qin’s eventual unification of China
severely weakened the State of Zhao
tacticsUsedByQin cutting enemy supply lines
encirclement
tacticsUsedByZhao initial defensive strategy under Lian Po

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (7)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Warring States period significantEvent Battle of Changping
state of Zhao majorBattle Battle of Changping
subject surface form: State of Zhao
state of Zhao majorBattle Battle of Changping
subject surface form: State of Zhao
this entity surface form: Battle of Handan
Bai Qi knownFor Battle of Changping
Bai Qi participatedIn Battle of Changping
state of Qin notableBattle Battle of Changping
subject surface form: State of Qin