Crown Prince Dan (Chinese: 太子丹) was a crown prince of the State of Yan during the Warring States period of ancient China. He was also called Yan Dan (燕丹).
He lived in the State of Qin as a hostage, but returned to Yan in 232 BC. He sent Jing Ke to assassinate King Zheng of Qin, who later assumed the title Qin Shi Huang and became the first Emperor of China, but Jing failed. King Xi of Yan, Dan's father and the last king of Yan, ordered the execution of Dan to please Qin after Ji, the capital of Yan, had fallen. Invasion of Qin did halt for few years, during which time the states of Wei and Chu were conquered. Meanwhile the King Xi of Yan moved to the Liaodong Commandery.
The state of Yan was conquered in 222 BC and King Xi was captured.
All except King Xi were featured in the Chinese period epic The Emperor and the Assassin. Prince Dan is also featured in the 2004 TV series Assassinator Jing Ke.
Famous quotes containing the words crown, prince and/or dan:
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His strong heart stirs the ever-beating sea;
His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn;
His cross is every tree.”
—Joseph Mary Plunkett (1887–1916)
“When the Prince of Wales [later King George IV] and the Duke of York went to visit their brother Prince William [later William IV] at Plymouth, and all three being very loose in their manners, and coarse in their language, Prince William said to his ship’s crew, “now I hope you see that I am not the greatest blackguard of my family.””
—Horace Walpole (1717–1797)
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—Gus Van Sant, U.S. screenwriter and director, and Dan Yost. Bob Hughes (Matt Dillon)