Yan

Yan was a Zhou-era state in northern China, traditionally founded during the Western Zhou period and conquered by Qin in 222 BCE.

Zhou dynasty: A Chinese dynasty that ruled from about 1046 to 256 BCE and shaped the political order of the early Zhou states. Yan was established within the Zhou realm and retained a royal house descended from Zhou aristocracy.
Ji (ancient city): An ancient city in the Beijing region that served as the capital of the state of Yan. Ji became Yan’s principal political center and later developed into a major northern city.
Yan coins: Bronze currency issued by the state of Yan, including knife-shaped coins used in northern China. Their inscriptions and forms provide evidence of Yan’s economy and political reach.
Qi (state): A powerful eastern Chinese state that existed during the Zhou dynasty and was conquered by Qin in 221 BCE. Yan’s earlier invasion of Qi was followed by Qi’s recovery and later rivalry between the states.
Ji (surname): A Chinese surname borne by the Zhou royal house and several states founded by its lineage. Yan’s ruling house belonged to the Ji lineage associated with the Zhou kings.
Yishui River: A river in Hebei, China, flowing east toward the Bohai Sea. The river marked the setting for Yan’s final defense against Qin in 227 BCE.
Ming dynasty: A Chinese dynasty that ruled from 1368 to 1644 and made Beijing its capital. The later prominence of Beijing grew from a region that had served as Yan’s political center.
Zhao (state): A major Warring States kingdom in northern China, conquered by Qin in 228 BCE. Zhao and Yan shared a northern frontier but faced Qin’s expansion in succession.
King Wu of Zhou: The founder of the Zhou dynasty, who overthrew the Shang around 1046 BCE. Tradition credits King Wu with granting the territory of Yan to his relative Shao Gong.
Battle of Yishui: A 227 BCE battle in which Qin forces defeated Yan’s army near the Yishui River. The defeat exposed Yan’s capital to invasion and forced its court to flee.

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