Map Introduction

State of Yan (1044 BCE – 222 BCE) was one of the vassal states of the Zhou royal clan during the Zhou Dynasty. Its founding ancestor was the Duke of Shao, a member of the Zhou royal house, and it later became one of the seven major powers of the Warring States period.

Foundation and Expansion
In 1044 BCE, King Wu of Zhou enfeoffed the Duke of Shao at Ji (present-day Beijing), establishing the State of Yan. During the 7th century BCE, Yan expanded into northern Hebei and western Liaoning, and after annexing the State of Ji, it made Jicheng its capital.

Peak and Decline
Yan declared itself a kingdom in 323 BCE. In 316 BCE, the rebellion of Zi Zhi provoked a joint invasion by the allied forces of Qi and Qin. Yan was restored two years later. During the reign of King Zhao of Yan, the employment of Yue Yi led to successful alliances against Qi and victories over the Donghu and Korean territories, bringing Yan to its peak of power. Subsequently, after the Battle of Changping, Yan's failed attempt to take advantage of Zhao's weakness led to its gradual decline.

Downfall
In 228 BCE, Qin attacked Handan, the capital of Zhao, and deployed troops at the Yi River. Following the failure of Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin, Ying Zheng ordered Wang Jian to launch an attack on Yan. In 226 BCE, King Xi of Yan fled to Liaodong. In 222 BCE, the Qin general Wang Ben attacked Liaodong, captured King Xi of Yan, and brought about the fall of the State of Yan.

Map Source

The historical map of yan state in the warring states period of china is sourced from The Historical Atlas of China, Volume 1(2)—Maps of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods, published by SinoMaps Press on October 1, 1982, with Tan Qixiang as its author.

The Historical Atlas of China is an atlas focusing primarily on the historical administrative divisions and territories of China throughout its dynasties, compiled under the chief editorship of Tan Qixiang. The entire work spans from the primitive society to the end of the Qing dynasty, organized into 8 volumes and 20 sections according to historical periods, containing a total of 304 maps (not including illustrations). All maps juxtapose historical and modern geography. The compilation of this atlas began in the 1950s, it was seriously disturbed during the cultural revolution. The internal edition was published in 1975 but contained numerous errors. Publication of Volumes 1-8 occurred successively starting in 1982. The Historical Atlas of China is a rare and valuable resource for studying the historical administrative divisions of China.

Related Maps - Historical Map of the Warring States Period in China
- Historical Map: Situation of the Contending States during the Warring States Period (350 BCE)
- Historical Map of the States of Han and Wei during the Warring States Period in China
- Historical Map of the States of Zhao and Zhongshan during the Warring States Period in China
- Historical Map of the States of Qi, Lu, and Song during the Warring States Period in China
- Historical Map of the States of Qin and Shu during the Warring States Period in China
- Historical Map of the States of Chu and Yue during the Warring States Period in China