Battle of Banquan (legend)

According to the "Basic Annals of the Five Emperors" in the Records of the Grand Historian, Xuanyuan fought the Yan Emperor three times on the plain of Banquan before achieving his aim, and the two great tribes thereafter merged

Belligerents

Background

This is a war from the legends of ancient Chinese history. Legend places it around the 26th century BCE; since this site's timeline begins in 2100 BCE, it is placed at the start of the timeline. According to the Records of the Grand Historian, the Yan Emperor sought to oppress the feudal lords, and the lords all turned to Xuanyuan.

Course of the battle

1. The lords submitThe Yan Emperor oppressed the feudal lords, and they turned one after another to Xuanyuan
2. Cultivating virtue and strengthening the armyXuanyuan cultivated virtue and trained his troops, studied the climate of the four seasons, planted the five grains and brought peace to the people
3. Three battles at BanquanXuanyuan led his well-trained followers against the Yan Emperor on the plain of Banquan and won after three battles
4. Yan and Huang tribes mergeThe two great tribes moved from confrontation to union, and later generations came to call the Chinese "descendants of Yan and Huang"

Outcome at a glance

Impact

The Battle of Banquan is regarded as the beginning of the union of the Yan and Huang tribes. It is told here according to the Records of the Grand Historian and belongs to legend rather than reliable history; accounts of its location also differ.