Meng Yi

Meng Yi
Meng Yi
蒙こうむ毅あつし
Born	Unknown
Died	210 BC; Yu County, Hebei
Occupation	Official
Father	Meng Wu
Relatives	Meng Tian (brother)

Meng Yi (died c.August or September 210 BC^[1]) was a Chinese military general and politician. As an official of the Qin dynasty, he served in the court of Qin Shi Huang. He was a younger brother of the general Meng Tian. After Qin Shi Huang's death, Meng Yi and his brother were executed by Qin Er Shi on the urging of Zhao Gao.

Life

Meng Yi's ancestors were from the Qi state of the Warring States period. His grandfather, Meng Ao [zh], left Qi and came to the Qin state. Meng Ao served under King Zhaoxiang of Qin and his highest position was "Senior Minister" (上うえ卿きょう). During the reign of King Zhuangxiang of Qin, Meng Ao was appointed as a general and he led Qin's armies to attack Qin's rival states Han, Zhao and Wei. Meng Yi's father, Meng Wu, served as a general during the reign of King Zhuangxiang's son, Zheng (the future Qin Shi Huang). Meng Wu participated in the Qin campaign against the Chu state as a deputy to the general Wang Jian and succeeded in conquering Chu.^[2]

In 221 BC, Meng Yi's elder brother, Meng Tian, was also appointed as a general. He led the Qin army to attack the Qi state and conquered it, after which he was commissioned as an "Interior Minister" (內史). With the fall of Qi, Qin unified all the states in China under its rule. Ying Zheng proclaimed himself "Qin Shi Huang" (First Emperor of Qin) and established the Qin dynasty. In the following years, Qin Shi Huang put Meng Tian in charge of defending the Qin Empire's northern border from attacks by the Xiongnu and overseeing the construction of the Great Wall. Qin Shi Huang trusted the Meng family and regarded them very highly. Meng Yi served in Qin Shi Huang's court as a minister and was one of the emperor's close aides and advisors. He was allowed to ride in the same carriage as the emperor and stand near the emperor during court sessions.^[3] When Zhao Gao, a personal attendant to Qin Shi Huang's youngest son Huhai, committed a serious offence, the emperor ordered Meng Yi to prosecute Zhao according to the laws. Meng Yi went by the book and noted that Zhao Gao was to receive the death penalty and be stripped of his official titles. However, Qin Shi Huang eventually pardoned Zhao Gao on account of his diligence in performing his duties.^[4]

In the winter of 210 BC, Qin Shi Huang became seriously ill while he was on an inspection tour in eastern China so he sent Meng Yi to help him pray to the gods on his behalf. Before Meng Yi returned, the emperor died at Shaqiu (沙すな丘おか; south of present-day Dapingtai Village, Guangzong County, Henan), with only Zhao Gao, Huhai, and Li Si by his deathbed. Zhao Gao and Li Si secretly changed the emperor's final edict – which named his eldest son, Fusu, his successor – and made Huhai the new emperor instead. The falsified edict also ordered Fusu and Meng Tian, who were away at the border, to commit suicide. Fusu faithfully followed the order but Meng Tian felt suspicious and repeatedly requested for confirmation, but was placed under arrest. When Huhai heard that Fusu was dead, he wanted to spare Meng Tian, but Zhao Gao advised him against it because he feared that the Mengs would take revenge against him.^[5]

When Meng Yi returned from his mission, Zhao Gao suggested to Huhai to exterminate the Meng clan, but Huhai had Meng Yi arrested and imprisoned in Dai (代だい; around present-day Yu County, Zhangjiakou, Hebei). Meng Tian, who had already been arrested earlier for defying the edict, was imprisoned in Yangzhou (陽ひ周あまね; around present-day Yulin, Shaanxi). After Huhai returned to the Qin capital, Xianyang, he held a grand funeral for his father, after which he ascended the throne as Qin Er Shi (Second Emperor of Qin). Zhao Gao remained as a close aide to Qin Er Shi and he often spoke ill of the Mengs in front of the emperor and urged the emperor to get rid of them.^[6]

A prominent Qin royal, Ziying, strongly advised Qin Er Shi against executing the Mengs, but the emperor refused to listen. Qin Er Shi sent an envoy to meet Meng Yi and order Meng to commit suicide. Meng Yi gave a long reply, in which he hinted that the emperor had no reason to execute him. However, the envoy, who knew that the emperor wanted to see Meng Yi dead, ignored Meng's response and killed him.^[7] Meng Tian committed suicide in Yangzhou later by consuming poison.^[8]

In popular culture

Jackie Chan portrayed the protagonist, Meng Yi, in the 2005 Hong Kong film The Myth. This character is loosely based on the historical Meng Yi. In the film, Meng Yi is reincarnated as a present-day archaeologist who embarks on a quest to find a mysterious element that can make objects hover in air. His quest leads him to discover his past life and to Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum.

In 2010, The Myth was adapted into the television series of the same title, with Jackie Chan as the producer for the series. Hu Ge starred as the protagonist, Yi Xiaochuan, a 21st-century freelance photographer who is accidentally transported back in time to the Qin dynasty, where he takes on his new identity as Meng Yi.

In the manga series Kingdom, Meng Yi is known as "Mou Ki", the younger son of the Great General Mou Bu (Meng Wu). Like his older brother Meng Tian, he studied under Lord Changping, and learned tactics and strategy alongside He Liao Diao (Ka Ryo Ten in the series).

References

Citations

^ Vol.7 of Zizhi Tongjian indicate that Qin Shi Huang died on the bing'yin day of the 7th month of the 37th year of his reign. While there was no bing'yin (丙へい寅とら) day in that month, there is a bing'shen (丙へい申さる) day, which corresponds to 11 Aug 210 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar. The same volume also indicate that Qin Shi Huang was buried in the 9th month of that year, which corresponds to 19 Sep to 18 Oct 210 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar. Since Meng Yi definitely died after Qin Shi Huang and likely before the emperor was buried, Meng's death should be in Aug or Sep 210 BCE.
^ (蒙こうむ恬者，其先齊ひとし人じん也。恬大父ちち蒙こうむ驁，自じ齊ひとし事こと秦はた昭あきら王おう，官かん至上しじょう卿きょう。秦莊はたしょう襄じょう王おう元年がんねん，蒙こうむ驁為秦はた將すすむ，伐き韓かん，取と成なる臯、滎陽，作さく置おけ三川さんかわ郡ぐん。二に年ねん，蒙こうむ驁攻趙ちょう，取と三さん十じゅう七なな城しろ。始はじめ皇すめらぎ三さん年ねん，蒙こうむ驁攻韓かん，取と十じゅう三城みき。五ご年ねん，蒙こうむ驁攻魏ぎ，取と二に十じゅう城しろ，作さく置おけ東ひがし郡ぐん。始はじめ皇すめらぎ七なな年ねん，蒙こうむ驁卒。驁子曰武，武子たけし曰恬。恬嘗書しょ獄ごく典てん文學ぶんがく。始はじめ皇すめらぎ二に十じゅう三さん年ねん，蒙こうむ武たけ為ため秦しん裨將軍ぐん，與あずか王おう翦攻楚すわえ，大破たいは之の，殺ころせ項こう燕つばめ。二に十じゅう四よん年ねん，蒙こうむ武たけ攻おさむ楚すわえ，虜とりこ楚すわえ王おう。蒙こうむ恬弟毅あつし。) Shiji vol. 88.
^ (始はじめ皇すめらぎ二に十じゅう六ろく年ねん，蒙こうむ恬因家か世よ得う為ため秦はた將すすむ，攻おさむ齊ひとし，大破たいは之の，拜はい為ため內史。秦はた已やめ并天下か，乃使蒙こうむ恬將三さん十じゅう萬衆北逐戎狄，收おさむ河南かなん。築ちく長城ちょうじょう，因いん地形ちけい，用よう制せい險けわし塞ふさが，起おこり臨洮，至いたり遼東りゃおとん，延のべ袤萬餘あまり里さと。於是渡河とか，據よりどころ陽ひ山さん，逶蛇而北。暴師於外十じゅう餘よ年ねん，居きょ上郡かみごおり。是ぜ時じ蒙こうむ恬威振ふ匈奴きょうど。始はじめ皇すめらぎ甚尊寵ちょう蒙こうむ氏し，信任しんにん賢けん之の。而親近しんきん蒙こうむ毅あつし，位くらい至上しじょう卿きょう，出で則そく參さん乘じょう，入にゅう則のり御前ごぜん。恬任外事がいじ而毅常つね為ため內謀，名めい為ため忠信ちゅうしん，故こ雖諸將しょう相しょう莫敢與之の爭そう焉。) Shiji vol. 88.
^ (高こう有ゆう大罪だいざい，秦はた王おう令れい蒙こうむ毅あつし法治ほうち之の。毅あつし不ふ敢阿法ほう，當とう高こう罪ざい死し，除じょ其宦籍せき。帝みかど以高之の敦あつし於事也，赦之，復ふく其官爵かんしゃく。) Shiji vol. 88.
^ (始はじめ皇すめらぎ三さん十じゅう七なな年ねん冬ふゆ，行ぎょう出で游ゆう會かい稽，並なみ海上かいじょう，北きた走はし琅邪。道みち病びょう，使つかい蒙こうむ毅あつし還かえ禱山川やまかわ，未み反はん。始はじめ皇すめらぎ至いたり沙すな丘おか崩くずれ，祕ひ之の，羣臣莫知。是ぜ時じ丞相じょうしょう李り斯、少子しょうし胡えびす亥い、中車ちゅうしゃ府ふ令れい趙ちょう高だか常つね從したがえ。高雅こうが得とく幸こう於胡亥い，欲よく立りつ之の，又また怨蒙毅あつし法治ほうち之の而不為ふため己おのれ也。因よし有ゆう賊ぞく心しん，乃與丞相じょうしょう李り斯、公子こうし胡えびす亥い陰謀いんぼう，立たて胡えびす亥い為ため太子たいし。太子たいし已やめ立りつ，遣や使者ししゃ以罪賜たまもの公子こうし扶蘇、蒙こうむ恬死。扶蘇已やめ死し，蒙こうむ恬疑而復請之。使者ししゃ以蒙恬屬吏，更さら置おけ。胡えびす亥い以李斯舍人為じんい護まもる軍ぐん。使者ししゃ還かえ報むくい，胡えびす亥い已やめ聞扶蘇そ死し，即そく欲よく釋しゃく蒙こうむ恬。趙ちょう高だか恐おそれ蒙こうむ氏し復ふく貴き而用事ようじ，怨之。) Shiji vol. 88.
^ (毅あつし還かえ至いたり，趙ちょう高こう因いん為ため胡えびす亥い忠ちゅう計けい，欲よく以滅蒙こうむ氏し，乃言曰：「臣しん聞先帝せんてい欲よく舉賢立太子りったいし久ひさ矣，而毅諫曰『不可ふか』。若わか知賢ともかた而愈不ふ立だて，則のり是ぜ不忠ふちゅう而惑主ぬし也。以臣愚ぐ意い，不ふ若わか誅之。」胡えびす亥い聽而繫蒙毅あつし於代。前ぜん已やめ囚しゅう蒙こうむ恬於陽ひ周しゅう。喪も至いたり咸陽，已やめ葬そう，太子たいし立たて為ため二に世せい皇帝こうてい，而趙高だか親近しんきん，日にち夜よる毀惡蒙こうむ氏し，求もとめ其罪過ざいか，舉劾之の。) Shiji vol. 88.
^ (子こ嬰進諫曰： ... 胡えびす亥い不ふ聽。而遣御ご史し曲きょく宮みや乘じょう傳でん之これ代だい，令れい蒙こうむ毅あつし曰：「先さき主ぬし欲よく立太子りったいし而卿難なん之の。今こん丞相じょうしょう以卿為ため不忠ふちゅう，罪つみ及其宗むね。朕ちん不ふ忍にん，乃賜卿きょう死し，亦また甚幸矣。卿きょう其圖之の！」毅あつし對たい曰：「以臣不能ふのう得とく先さき主ぬし之の意い，則のり臣しん少しょう宦，順じゅん幸こう沒ぼつ世よ。可か謂いい知ち意い矣。以臣不知ふち太子たいし之の能のう，則のり太子たいし獨どく從したがえ，周旋しゅうせん天下でんか，去さ諸しょ公子こうし絕遠ぜつえん，臣しん無む所しょ疑うたぐ矣。夫おっと先さき主ぬし之の舉用太子たいし，數すう年ねん之の積せき也，臣しん乃何言ごと之の敢諫，何なに慮おもんばか之これ敢謀！非ひ敢飾辭じ以避死し也，為ため羞累先さき主ぬし之の名な，願ねがい大夫たいふ為ため慮おもんばか焉，使臣ししん得とく死し情實じょうじつ。且夫順じゅん成なり全ぜん者しゃ，道之みちゆき所しょ貴き也；刑けい殺ころせ者しゃ，道之みちゆき所しょ卒そつ也。昔むかし者しゃ秦はた穆きよし公おおやけ殺ころせ三さん良りょう而死，罪つみ百里奚而非其罪也，故こ立だて號ごう曰『繆』。昭あきら襄じょう王おう殺ころせ武安たけやす君くん白しろ起おこり。楚すわえ平たいら王おう殺ころせ伍ご奢おご。吳くれ王おう夫おっと差さ殺ころせ伍ご子こ胥。此四君くん者しゃ，皆みな為ため大だい失しつ，而天下か非ひ之の，以其君くん為ため不明ふめい，以是籍せき於諸侯こう。故こ曰『用よう道どう治者ちしゃ不ふ殺ころせ無罪むざい，而罰不ふ加か於無辜むこ』。唯ただ大夫たいふ留とめ心しん！」使者ししゃ知ち胡えびす亥い之の意い，不ふ聽蒙毅あつし之の言げん，遂とげ殺ころせ之これ。) Shiji vol. 88.
^ (二世又遣使者之陽周，令れい蒙こうむ恬曰： ... 乃吞藥やく自殺じさつ。) Shiji vol. 88.

Sources

Sima Qian. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji).

[1] Vol.7 of Zizhi Tongjian indicate that Qin Shi Huang died on the bing'yin day of the 7th month of the 37th year of his reign. While there was no bing'yin (丙へい寅とら) day in that month, there is a bing'shen (丙へい申さる) day, which corresponds to 11 Aug 210 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar. The same volume also indicate that Qin Shi Huang was buried in the 9th month of that year, which corresponds to 19 Sep to 18 Oct 210 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar. Since Meng Yi definitely died after Qin Shi Huang and likely before the emperor was buried, Meng's death should be in Aug or Sep 210 BCE.

[2] (蒙こうむ恬者，其先齊ひとし人じん也。恬大父ちち蒙こうむ驁，自じ齊ひとし事こと秦はた昭あきら王おう，官かん至上しじょう卿きょう。秦莊はたしょう襄じょう王おう元年がんねん，蒙こうむ驁為秦はた將すすむ，伐き韓かん，取と成なる臯、滎陽，作さく置おけ三川さんかわ郡ぐん。二に年ねん，蒙こうむ驁攻趙ちょう，取と三さん十じゅう七なな城しろ。始はじめ皇すめらぎ三さん年ねん，蒙こうむ驁攻韓かん，取と十じゅう三城みき。五ご年ねん，蒙こうむ驁攻魏ぎ，取と二に十じゅう城しろ，作さく置おけ東ひがし郡ぐん。始はじめ皇すめらぎ七なな年ねん，蒙こうむ驁卒。驁子曰武，武子たけし曰恬。恬嘗書しょ獄ごく典てん文學ぶんがく。始はじめ皇すめらぎ二に十じゅう三さん年ねん，蒙こうむ武たけ為ため秦しん裨將軍ぐん，與あずか王おう翦攻楚すわえ，大破たいは之の，殺ころせ項こう燕つばめ。二に十じゅう四よん年ねん，蒙こうむ武たけ攻おさむ楚すわえ，虜とりこ楚すわえ王おう。蒙こうむ恬弟毅あつし。) Shiji vol. 88.

[3] (始はじめ皇すめらぎ二に十じゅう六ろく年ねん，蒙こうむ恬因家か世よ得う為ため秦はた將すすむ，攻おさむ齊ひとし，大破たいは之の，拜はい為ため內史。秦はた已やめ并天下か，乃使蒙こうむ恬將三さん十じゅう萬衆北逐戎狄，收おさむ河南かなん。築ちく長城ちょうじょう，因いん地形ちけい，用よう制せい險けわし塞ふさが，起おこり臨洮，至いたり遼東りゃおとん，延のべ袤萬餘あまり里さと。於是渡河とか，據よりどころ陽ひ山さん，逶蛇而北。暴師於外十じゅう餘よ年ねん，居きょ上郡かみごおり。是ぜ時じ蒙こうむ恬威振ふ匈奴きょうど。始はじめ皇すめらぎ甚尊寵ちょう蒙こうむ氏し，信任しんにん賢けん之の。而親近しんきん蒙こうむ毅あつし，位くらい至上しじょう卿きょう，出で則そく參さん乘じょう，入にゅう則のり御前ごぜん。恬任外事がいじ而毅常つね為ため內謀，名めい為ため忠信ちゅうしん，故こ雖諸將しょう相しょう莫敢與之の爭そう焉。) Shiji vol. 88.

[4] (高こう有ゆう大罪だいざい，秦はた王おう令れい蒙こうむ毅あつし法治ほうち之の。毅あつし不ふ敢阿法ほう，當とう高こう罪ざい死し，除じょ其宦籍せき。帝みかど以高之の敦あつし於事也，赦之，復ふく其官爵かんしゃく。) Shiji vol. 88.

[5] (始はじめ皇すめらぎ三さん十じゅう七なな年ねん冬ふゆ，行ぎょう出で游ゆう會かい稽，並なみ海上かいじょう，北きた走はし琅邪。道みち病びょう，使つかい蒙こうむ毅あつし還かえ禱山川やまかわ，未み反はん。始はじめ皇すめらぎ至いたり沙すな丘おか崩くずれ，祕ひ之の，羣臣莫知。是ぜ時じ丞相じょうしょう李り斯、少子しょうし胡えびす亥い、中車ちゅうしゃ府ふ令れい趙ちょう高だか常つね從したがえ。高雅こうが得とく幸こう於胡亥い，欲よく立りつ之の，又また怨蒙毅あつし法治ほうち之の而不為ふため己おのれ也。因よし有ゆう賊ぞく心しん，乃與丞相じょうしょう李り斯、公子こうし胡えびす亥い陰謀いんぼう，立たて胡えびす亥い為ため太子たいし。太子たいし已やめ立りつ，遣や使者ししゃ以罪賜たまもの公子こうし扶蘇、蒙こうむ恬死。扶蘇已やめ死し，蒙こうむ恬疑而復請之。使者ししゃ以蒙恬屬吏，更さら置おけ。胡えびす亥い以李斯舍人為じんい護まもる軍ぐん。使者ししゃ還かえ報むくい，胡えびす亥い已やめ聞扶蘇そ死し，即そく欲よく釋しゃく蒙こうむ恬。趙ちょう高だか恐おそれ蒙こうむ氏し復ふく貴き而用事ようじ，怨之。) Shiji vol. 88.

[6] (毅あつし還かえ至いたり，趙ちょう高こう因いん為ため胡えびす亥い忠ちゅう計けい，欲よく以滅蒙こうむ氏し，乃言曰：「臣しん聞先帝せんてい欲よく舉賢立太子りったいし久ひさ矣，而毅諫曰『不可ふか』。若わか知賢ともかた而愈不ふ立だて，則のり是ぜ不忠ふちゅう而惑主ぬし也。以臣愚ぐ意い，不ふ若わか誅之。」胡えびす亥い聽而繫蒙毅あつし於代。前ぜん已やめ囚しゅう蒙こうむ恬於陽ひ周しゅう。喪も至いたり咸陽，已やめ葬そう，太子たいし立たて為ため二に世せい皇帝こうてい，而趙高だか親近しんきん，日にち夜よる毀惡蒙こうむ氏し，求もとめ其罪過ざいか，舉劾之の。) Shiji vol. 88.

[7] (子こ嬰進諫曰： ... 胡えびす亥い不ふ聽。而遣御ご史し曲きょく宮みや乘じょう傳でん之これ代だい，令れい蒙こうむ毅あつし曰：「先さき主ぬし欲よく立太子りったいし而卿難なん之の。今こん丞相じょうしょう以卿為ため不忠ふちゅう，罪つみ及其宗むね。朕ちん不ふ忍にん，乃賜卿きょう死し，亦また甚幸矣。卿きょう其圖之の！」毅あつし對たい曰：「以臣不能ふのう得とく先さき主ぬし之の意い，則のり臣しん少しょう宦，順じゅん幸こう沒ぼつ世よ。可か謂いい知ち意い矣。以臣不知ふち太子たいし之の能のう，則のり太子たいし獨どく從したがえ，周旋しゅうせん天下でんか，去さ諸しょ公子こうし絕遠ぜつえん，臣しん無む所しょ疑うたぐ矣。夫おっと先さき主ぬし之の舉用太子たいし，數すう年ねん之の積せき也，臣しん乃何言ごと之の敢諫，何なに慮おもんばか之これ敢謀！非ひ敢飾辭じ以避死し也，為ため羞累先さき主ぬし之の名な，願ねがい大夫たいふ為ため慮おもんばか焉，使臣ししん得とく死し情實じょうじつ。且夫順じゅん成なり全ぜん者しゃ，道之みちゆき所しょ貴き也；刑けい殺ころせ者しゃ，道之みちゆき所しょ卒そつ也。昔むかし者しゃ秦はた穆きよし公おおやけ殺ころせ三さん良りょう而死，罪つみ百里奚而非其罪也，故こ立だて號ごう曰『繆』。昭あきら襄じょう王おう殺ころせ武安たけやす君くん白しろ起おこり。楚すわえ平たいら王おう殺ころせ伍ご奢おご。吳くれ王おう夫おっと差さ殺ころせ伍ご子こ胥。此四君くん者しゃ，皆みな為ため大だい失しつ，而天下か非ひ之の，以其君くん為ため不明ふめい，以是籍せき於諸侯こう。故こ曰『用よう道どう治者ちしゃ不ふ殺ころせ無罪むざい，而罰不ふ加か於無辜むこ』。唯ただ大夫たいふ留とめ心しん！」使者ししゃ知ち胡えびす亥い之の意い，不ふ聽蒙毅あつし之の言げん，遂とげ殺ころせ之これ。) Shiji vol. 88.

[8] (二世又遣使者之陽周，令れい蒙こうむ恬曰： ... 乃吞藥やく自殺じさつ。) Shiji vol. 88.

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