King Wu of Qin

King Wu of Qin (Chinese: 秦武王; 329–307 BC), personal name Ying Dang, was the king of the Qin state from 310 to 307 BC.

Despite his short time as ruler, King Wu played a part in Qin's wars of unification, mainly through his efforts against the Han state. He also invaded some of the other major powers of the Warring States period, notably the Wei state. In the fourth year of King Wu's reign, his minister Gan Mao (甘茂), suggested an attack on the Han fortress of Yiyang to open up a path to invade the eastern powers. The campaign succeeded and Qin subsequently gained control of the key roads to the Eastern Zhou capital of Luoyang.

While visiting Luoyang, King Wu, a keen wrestler, decided to try powerlifting a heavy bronze cauldron in the Eastern Zhou palace as a show of his own physical strength, urged on by a strongman he favoured named Meng Yue (孟說). Though he successfully lifted the cauldron, the king broke his shin bones while trying to carry it. At night, blood came out of his eyes, and he died very soon afterwards. He had ascended the throne at the age of 18–19, and died aged 21–22, having only ruled for about three years.

After King Wu's death, Gan Mao left Qin to serve Wei. Since King Wu died young without issue, it threw Qin into a succession crisis, with multiple brother-princes contending for the throne. Eventually, King Wu's younger half-brother Prince Ji, who was serving as a political hostage at the Yan state at the time, returned to Qin with the support of his uncle Wei Ran (魏冉) and King Wuling of Zhao and ascended to the throne.