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The Battle of Fei River or “Feishui” (Traditional Chinese: 淝水之戰; Simplified Chinese: 淝水之战; Pinyin: Féishŭi zhī zhàn) was a battle in 383, where Fu Jiān (T.: 苻堅) of the Former Qin was decisively defeated by the numerically inferior army of Eastern Jin.^[1] (The location of the battle, the Fei River, no longer exists, but is believed to have flowed through modern Lu'an, Anhui, near the Huai River).^[2] The battle is considered to be one of the most significant battles in the history of China.^[3] The aftermath of the battle includes the Former Qin empire falling into massive civil war and its eventual destruction, ensuring the survival of Eastern Jin and other regimes south of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang).^[3] Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Image File history File links Circle-question. ... The Former Qin (Chinese character: 前秦, Hanyu pinyin Qiánqín) (351-394) was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. ... The Jin Dynasty (晉 pinyin: jìn, 265-420), one of the Six Dynasties, followed the Three Kingdoms and preceded the Southern and Northern Dynasties in China. ... Fu Jiān (苻堅) (337-385), courtesy name Yonggu (永固) or Wenyu (文玉), was an emperor (who, however, used the title Heavenly Prince (Tian Wang) during his regn) of the Chinese/Di state Former Qin, under whose rule (assisted by his able prime minister Wang Meng) the Former Qin state reached its greatest... Fu Rong (苻融) (d. ... Xie Xuan (謝玄) (343-388), courtesy name Youdu (幼度), formally Duke Xianwu of Kangle (康樂獻武公), was a Jin Dynasty (265-420) who is best known for repelling the Former Qin army at the Battle of Fei River, preventing the Former Qin emperor Fu Jiān from destroying Jin and uniting China. ... Traditional Chinese characters refers to one of two standard sets of printed Chinese characters. ... Simplified Chinese character (Simplified Chinese: or ; Traditional Chinese: or ; pinyin: or ) is one of two standard sets of Chinese characters of printed contemporary Chinese written language, simplified from traditional Chinese by the Peoples Republic of China in an attempt to promote literacy. ... Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), commonly called Pinyin, is the most common variant of Standard Mandarin romanization system in use. ... Events By Place Roman Empire January 19 - Arcadius is elevated to Emperor. ... Fu Jiān (苻堅) (337-385), courtesy name Yonggu (永固) or Wenyu (文玉), was an emperor (who, however, used the title Heavenly Prince (Tian Wang) during his regn) of the Chinese/Di state Former Qin, under whose rule (assisted by his able prime minister Wang Meng) the Former Qin state reached its greatest... The Former Qin (Chinese character: 前秦, Hanyu pinyin Qiánqín) (351-394) was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. ... The Jin Dynasty (晉 pinyin: jìn, 265-420), one of the Six Dynasties, followed the Three Kingdoms and preceded the Southern and Northern Dynasties in China. ... Liuan (Simplified Chinese: 六安; Pinyin: ) is a prefecture-level city in eastern Anhui province, Peoples Republic of China. ... Anhui (Chinese: 安徽; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: An-hui; Postal System Pinyin: Ngan-hui, Anhwei or An-hwei) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Huai He The Huai River (Chinese: 淮河; pinyin: ) is about mid-way between the Yellow River (Huang He) and the Yangtze River. ... The Former Qin (Chinese character: 前秦, Hanyu pinyin Qiánqín) (351-394) was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. ... The Jin Dynasty (晉 pinyin: jìn, 265-420), one of the Six Dynasties, followed the Three Kingdoms and preceded the Southern and Northern Dynasties in China. ... The Yangtze River or Chang Jiang (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ), or Drichu in Tibetan (Tibetan: འབྲི་ཆུ་; Wylie: bri chu) is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world, after the Nile in Africa, and the Amazon in South America. ...

Background

The state of Former Qin, lead by ethnic Di (氐) tribesman^[1], rose rapidly from a string of successes in the 350s^{[citation needed]}. Fu Jiān, nephew of the founder Fu Jiàn^{[citation needed]}, was a vigorous leader of tremendous drive and ambition^[3]. In 370 he conquered the state of Former Yan^{[citation needed]} and in 373 seized modern Sichuan and Chongqing from Jin^{[citation needed]}. In 379, the strategically important city of Xiangyang, gateway to the Middle Yangtze fell to Qin^{[citation needed]}. By 381, he had conquered all of north China and was preparing for an invasion of the south.^[4][5] Fu Jiàn (苻健) (317-355), originally named Pu Jiàn (蒲健, name changed 350), courtesy name Jianye (建業), formally Emperor Jingming of (Former) Qin ((前)秦景明帝), was the founding emperor of the Chinese/Di state Former Qin. ... The Former Yan (Simplified Chinese character: 前燕, Traditional Chinese character: 前燕, pinyin Qiányàn) (337-370) was a state of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China. ...   (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: SzÅ­4-chuan1; Postal map spelling: Szechwan and Szechuan) is a province in the central-western China with its capital at Chengdu. ... Chongqing (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Postal map spelling: Chungching, also Chungking) is the largest and most populous of the Peoples Republic of Chinas four provincial-level municipalities, and the only one in the less densely populated western half of China. ... Xiangyang (Traditional Chinese: 襄陽, Simplified Chinese: 襄阳, pinyin: Xiāngyáng) was a Chinese city famous for the Siege of Xiangyang (1267-1273) by Mongol invaders. ...

In May of 383, a Jin army of 100,000 commanded by Huan Chong attempted to recover Xiangyang but was driven off by a Qin relief column of 50,000 men^[6]. In response, Fu Jiān ordered a general mobilization against Jin: 1 in 10 able men were conscripted, and 30,000 elite guards (羽林郎) were gathered. In August of 383, Fu Jiān sent his brother, Fu Rong the Duke of Yangping (who had opposed the campaign) with an army of 300,000 as the advance force. Later that month, Fu Jiān marched with his army of 270,000 cavalry and 600,000 infantry from Chang'an^[6]. In September, Fu Jiān reached Xiangcheng. Separate columns were to push downstream from Sichuan, but the main offensive would occur against the city of Shouchun on the Huai River^{[citation needed]}. Emperor Xiaowu of Jin hurriedly made preparations for defense. He gave Huan Chong responsibility for the defense of the Middle Yangzi^{[citation needed]}. The pressing defense of the Huai River was given to Xie Shi (謝石) and Xie Xuan (謝玄) and the elite 80,000-strong Beifu Army (北府兵)^[6]. The prime minister Xie An oversaw overall strategy, and, while he lacked military abilities, he calmed the panicking officials and people by himself acting in a calming manner^[4][5]. Huan Chong (æ¡“æ²–) (328-384), courtesy name Youzi (幼子), formally Duke Xuanmu of Fengcheng (豐城宣穆公), was a Jin Dynasty (265-420) governor and general and the youngest brother of Huan Wen. ... Fu Rong (苻融) (d. ... For an automobile manufacturer in the Peoples Republic of China, see Changan Motors. ... Shou County (寿县) is a county in Anhui under the jurisdiction of Luan. ... Huai He The Huai River (Chinese: 淮河; pinyin: ) is about mid-way between the Yellow River (Huang He) and the Yangtze River. ... Emperor Xiaowu of Jin (晋孝武帝/晉孝武帝, pinyin Jìn XiàowÇ”dì, Wade-Giles Chin Hsiao-wu-ti) (362-396), personal name Sima Yao (司馬曜), courtesy name Changming (昌明), was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (265-420) in China. ... Huan Chong (æ¡“æ²–) (328-384), courtesy name Youzi (幼子), formally Duke Xuanmu of Fengcheng (豐城宣穆公), was a Jin Dynasty (265-420) governor and general and the youngest brother of Huan Wen. ... Xie Xuan (謝玄) (343-388), courtesy name Youdu (幼度), formally Duke Xianwu of Kangle (康樂獻武公), was a Jin Dynasty (265-420) who is best known for repelling the Former Qin army at the Battle of Fei River, preventing the Former Qin emperor Fu Jiān from destroying Jin and uniting China. ... Xie An (謝安) (320-385), courtesy name Anshi (安石), formally Duke Wenjing of Luling (廬陵文靖公), was a Jin Dynasty (265-420) statesman who, despite his lack of military ability, led Jin through a major crisis -- attacks by Former Qin. ...

Former Qin Army

Fu Jiān's force was composed of many smaller armies levied from the conquered northern territories, along with cavalry drawn from the nomadic peoples of the north (the Xianbei and Xiongnu)^[1]. Most men have no loyality for Former Qin, and many were forced to join, or joined only because of money and food. Many Battlions have problems following orders as instructed. Fu was warned of the poor state of training of his heterogeneous army, but instead chose to rely on the vast number of men that made up the army saying "My army is so huge that if all the men throw their whips into the Yangtze, its flow will be stopped." One other alternative says that "My army is so huge that if all the men spit to the foe, it is enough to drawn the enemies."^[1] The Xianbei (Simplified Chinese: 鲜卑; Traditional Chinese: 鮮卑; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Hsien-pei) were a significant nomadic people residing in modern Manchuria and eastern Mongolia, or Xianbei Shan, a historic term for Greater Khingan, before migrating into areas of the modern Chinese provinces of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Hebei, Inner Mongolia... A Xiongnu belt buckle. ... Look up Heterogeneous in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Jin Army

Xie Xuan's local army were well motivated to protect their homeland, and had a good local knowledge of the terrain - an advantage that would allow them to engage advance elements of the enemy and withdraw quickly. Xie Xuan (謝玄) (343-388), courtesy name Youdu (幼度), formally Duke Xianwu of Kangle (康樂獻武公), was a Jin Dynasty (265-420) who is best known for repelling the Former Qin army at the Battle of Fei River, preventing the Former Qin emperor Fu Jiān from destroying Jin and uniting China. ...

Battle

In October 383, the Former Qin forces under Fu Rong captured the important Jin city Shouyang (壽陽, in modern Lu'an, Anhui)^[6]. Fu Jiān, seeing a possibility of a quick victory, left his main force at Xiangcheng and led 8000 light cavalry to rendezvous with Fu Rong. Fu Jiān sent the captured Jin official Zhu Xu (朱序) as a messenger, to try to persuade Xie Shi to surrender^[6]. Instead, Zhu tipped Xie Shi to the fact that the entire Former Qin force had not arrived yet, and that he should try to defeat the advance Former Qin forces to try to lead to a collapse^[6]. Under Zhu's suggestion, Xie Xuan and Liu Laozhi (劉牢之) led 5,000 elite troops to engage the advance Former Qin force and scored a demoralizing victory, killing 15,000 men^[6]. Liuan (Simplified Chinese: 六安; Pinyin: ) is a prefecture-level city in eastern Anhui province, Peoples Republic of China. ... Anhui (Chinese: 安徽; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: An-hui; Postal System Pinyin: Ngan-hui, Anhwei or An-hwei) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

In November 383, the Former Qin troops set up camp west of the Fei River^[6]. The Jin forces stopped east of the Fei River and could not advance^[6]. Xie Xuan sent a messenger to Fu Rong, suggesting that the Former Qin forces retreat slightly west to allow Jin forces to cross the Fei River, so that the two armies could engage^[6]. Most Former Qin generals opposed^[6], since reallocating such a large army was too complicated for the benefits, specially with so many badly trained troops. But Fu Jiān overruled them, planning to attack the Jin forces as they were crossing the river^[6]. Fu Rong agreed, and he ordered a retreat^[6].

The Jin's tactic of ambush and bribery now paid off. Many soldiers in the Former Qin army began to wonder why a sudden retreat, back-up order was given. In retreat with a lowered morale, when Zhu Xu raised a cry of "the Qin army has been defeated," the army went into a panic and was routed^[1], and Xie Xuan and other generals Xie Yan (謝琰) and Huan Yi (桓伊) crossed the river and launched a major assault^[6]. The "Former Qin is Defeated" rumor spreaded like wild fire, and chaos followed. Fu Rong tried to personally halt the retreat and reorganize his troops^[6], but his horse suddenly fell, and he was killed by Jin troops^[6].

The Jin generals noticed the chaotic footprints and wheel marks, and declaired that the Former Qin army was not in an organized retreat, but is indeed in total disarray. The Jin soldiers continued their pursuit, and the entire Former Qin force collapsed^[6]. A large amount of food and supplies were abandoned as Former Qin soldiers tries to escape with their lives. In the ensuing retreat and pursuit, plus famine and death from exposure, an estimate of 70-80% of the Former Qin force were killed.^{[6][citation needed]}

Legend has it that, as Fu Jiān escapes, he screamed to the sky "天亡我也！", which means "The heaven has annihilated me!".

Aftermath

The Jin army defeated the overwhelming Former Qin army, with very minor casualty. On top of that, Jin successfully killed most of the escaping soldiers, so they cannot serve Former Qin again.

Fu Jiān's forces were not reorganizable^{[citation needed]}, even after he eventually withdrew to Luoyang under the protection of Murong Chui^{[citation needed]}, whose 30,000-man army was one of the few which did not collapse.^[5] Luoyang (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province, Peoples Republic of China. ... Murong Chui (慕容垂) (326-396), courtesy name Daoming (道明), formally Emperor Wucheng of (Later) Yan ((後)燕武成帝) was a great general of the Chinese/Xianbei state Former Yan who later became the founding emperor of Later Yan. ...

Meanwhile, agrarian rebellions arose after news of the defeat at Fei River^{[citation needed]}. Murong Chui used this opportunity to request Fu Jiān to permit him to try to lead an army to pressure the rebels in the eastern empire back into submission^{[citation needed]}. Instead, Murong Chui himself rebelled in early 384, which started a chain reaction of many Xianbei and Qiang uprisings^{[citation needed]}. The Former Qin capital Chang'an would fall in 385 to the Xianbei forces of Western Yan^{[citation needed]}, and Fu Jiān himself would die later that year at the hands of his former general Yao Chang^{[citation needed]}, the founder of Later Qin. While Former Qin would last until 394, it would never regain its power and glory^[7]. Forum of Theodosius I built in Constantinople. ... The Xianbei (Simplified Chinese: 鲜卑; Traditional Chinese: 鮮卑; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Hsien-pei) were a significant nomadic people residing in modern Manchuria and eastern Mongolia, or Xianbei Shan, a historic term for Greater Khingan, before migrating into areas of the modern Chinese provinces of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Hebei, Inner Mongolia... The Qiang people (羌族; Pinyin: qiāng zú) are an ethnic group. ... For an automobile manufacturer in the Peoples Republic of China, see Changan Motors. ... Events February 11 - Oldest Pope elected: Siricius, bishop of Tarragona. ... The Western Yan (Simplified Chinese character: 西燕, Traditional Chinese character: 西燕, pinyin Xīyàn) (384-394) was a state of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China. ... Yao Chang (姚萇) (331-394), courtesy name Jingmao (景茂), formally Emepror Wuzhao of (Later) Qin ((後)秦武昭帝), was the founding emperor of the Chinese/Qiang state Later Qin. ... The Later Qin (Simplified Chinese character: 后秦, Traditional Chinese character: 後秦, pinyin Hòuqín) (384-417) was a state of Qiang ethnicity of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty (265-420) in China. ... Events September 6 - Battle of the Frigidus: The christian Roman Emperor Theodosius I defeats and kills the pagan usurper Eugenius and his Frankish magister militum Arbogast. ...

This battle is famous not only because of its significance in history, but also because it demonstrated the importances of troop training, troop morale, troop loyality and organized battle command.

External links

• Battle of Feishui Discussion and analysis about the history of this battle.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} C J Peers (1995). Imperial Chinese Armies (1) 200 BC - AD 589. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-514-4. 
2. ^ Bo Yang, Bo Yang Edition of the Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 26.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Bo Yang, Summaries of the History of the Chinese People (中國人史綱, Zhongguoren Shigang), vol. 1, chp. 17.
4. ^ ^{a b} Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 104.
5. ^ ^{a b c} Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 105.
6. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r} Zizhi Tongjian.
7. ^ Book of Jin, vol. 114[1].

• Book of Jin, vol. 9[2], 79[3], 113[4].