Fusu

Fusu (扶苏, Phù Tô; d. 210 BC), was the eldest son and rightful heir of China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇). Celebrated in antiquity for his humane temperament, upright courage, and Confucian wisdom, he was widely beloved by the people and soldiers of the empire.

In 212 BC, when Qin Shi Huang executed over four hundred and sixty scholars and alchemists in Xianyang in the infamous Burning of Books and Burying of Scholars, Fusu fearlessly submitted an outspoken memorial protesting the brutality: ‘The empire is newly unified, and the distant peoples have not yet settled; these scholars revere the teachings of Confucius, and if Your Majesty imposes extreme punishment, I fear the realm will be plunged into terror and revolt.’ Furious at his son’s opposition, Qin Shi Huang banished Fusu to the northern frontier at Shangjun to oversee General Meng Tian’s (Meng Tian) three-hundred-thousand-man army building the Great Wall.

In 210 BC, following Qin Shi Huang’s sudden death at Shaqiu, treacherous eunuch Zhao Gao and chancellor Li Si conspired to usurp the throne for younger prince Huhai (Huhai). They forged an imperial decree accusing Fusu of filial impiety and ordering him to commit suicide. While General Meng Tian correctly suspected foul play and urged Fusu to petition the capital for verification, Fusu wept bitterly: ‘When a father commands his son to die, on what authority can the son petition?’ Refusing to rebel against his father’s perceived mandate, Fusu turned his sword upon himself and took his life, an act of tragic filial piety that sealed the swift doom of the Qin Dynasty.

Role in History (Shiji)

Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji, vol. 87, Biography of Li Si): “Fusu wept before Meng Tian: ‘If a father commands his son to die, what verification can there be?’ He drew his sword and plunged it into his breast. Meng Tian was arrested, and Huhai seized the empire.”

Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji, vol. 48, House of Chen She): “When Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rose in Dazexiang, they rallied the empire in the name of Prince Fusu, for the hearts of all men grieved for his wrongful death.”

Fusu — Historical & Literary Timeline

Key Relationships

Family

• Father Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇, Tần Thủy Hoàng – First Emperor): Father whom Fusu honored with absolute filial obedience unto death.
• Brother & Usurper Huhai (胡亥, Hồ Hợi – Qin Er Shi): Younger brother who usurped the throne through forged decrees.
• Brothers Prince Gao, Prince Jianglü: Imperial brothers murdered in the Shaqiu aftermath.
• Son / Kin Ziying (子婴, Tử Anh – King of Qin): Later executed Zhao Gao and surrendered to Liu Bang.

Friends

• Allied Marshal Meng Tian (Meng Tian, Mông Điềm): Supreme frontier general who urged Fusu to verify the forged decree.

Enemies

• Plotting Eunuch Zhao Gao (赵高, Triệu Cao): Architect of the forged suicide decree.
• Colluding Chancellor Li Si (李斯): Chancellor who signed the fatal mandate.

Other

• Rebel Leader Chen Sheng (陈胜, Trần Thắng): Used Fusu’s name to ignite the rebellion that destroyed Qin.