The Dazexiang Rebellion led by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang: a farmer rebellion that changed history
2024-04-26 16:29:38 中文版

In the long history of China, the Dazexiang Rebellion led by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang is an important event. This rebellion not only marked the decline of the Qin Dynasty, but also heralded the first large-scale peasant rebellion in Chinese history. So, how did this rebellion break out?

During the reign of Hu Hai, the second emperor of the Qin Dynasty, in 209 BC, the rule of the Qin Dynasty had already fallen into crisis. In order to build the royal tomb and the Great Wall, the Qin Dynasty recruited a large number of peasants, which intensified social conflicts. Against this backdrop, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, two ordinary peasants, decided to launch a rebellion against the Qin Dynasty.

Both Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were poor peasants who were forced to leave their hometowns due to hardship. During their wandering, they witnessed the tyranny of the Qin Dynasty and the suffering of the people, which gave them the idea of rebellion. They came to Dazexiang, a remote place where the rule of the Qin Dynasty was relatively weak, providing conditions for them to launch the rebellion.

Chen Sheng and Wu Guang began to secretly organize the rebellion. They used their influence to gather some like-minded individuals and jointly planned the rebellion. They also developed a strategy, which included first occupying Dazexiang, then spreading to surrounding areas, and ultimately overthrowing the rule of the Qin Dynasty.

However, the preparations for the rebellion were not smooth. Some participants chose to withdraw due to fear of retaliation from the Qin Dynasty, while Chen Sheng and Wu Guang firmed their resolve. They decided to officially launch the rebellion in the July of the third year of Hu Hai's reign (209 BC).

When the rebellion began, the rebel army led by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang only had a few dozen people. However, their actions received widespread support from the peasants, who had suffered from the oppression of the Qin Dynasty and were eager to change their fate. Therefore, they joined the rebel army in droves, rapidly expanding its size.

The actions of the rebel army also drew the attention of the Qin Dynasty, which sent a large army to suppress them. However, due to the high morale of the rebel army and their familiarity with the terrain, they successfully defeated the Qin army's attack. This victory greatly enhanced the reputation of the rebel army and encouraged more peasants to join them.

The success of the Dazexiang Rebellion marked the beginning of the shake of the Qin Dynasty's rule. Although the rebellion ultimately failed, it paved the way for peasant rebellions in Chinese history. The story of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang has also become an inspiration for many later rebels.

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