Tian Guang

Tian Guang (田廣, ? – 204 BC) was the king of Qi during the Chu–Han Contention in China. He was a member of the royal family of Qi from the Warring States period and the son of King Tian Rong of Qi.

Life

In 205 BC, Tian Rong died fighting the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu then made Tian Jia, the former king of Qi who had been driven out by Tian Rong, king again. However, when Xiang Yu massacred the people of Qi, the people of Qi resisted fiercely, and Xiang Yu, bogged down in the fighting against them, lost the Chu capital Pengcheng to Liu Bang, the King of Han. When Xiang Yu left to retake Pengcheng, his uncle Tian Heng, who had been fighting against Xiang Yu, recovered the territory of Qi and was installed as king of Qi. All affairs of state were governed by Tian Heng, who had become chancellor.¹²

In 203 BC, Tian Guang, together with Tian Heng, accepted the persuasion of Li Yiji sent by Han. While enjoying a banquet with Li Yiji, they had the guard relaxed for the General of Chariots and Cavalry Hua Wushang and Tian Jie, who were stationed at Lixia and opposing Han. However, Han Xin, coveting merit, raided Lixia. The undefended Qi army was defeated, and Han Xin advanced as far as Linzi, the capital of Qi. Enraged, Tian Guang boiled Li Yiji to death (pengsha, killing by boiling), and the leadership of Qi scattered. Tian Guang fled to Gaomi.²³⁴ When the Chu general Long Ju came to Gaomi with a relief force of some 200,000 men, known as Huwa, he joined forces with the Chu army. However, Long Ju fell into Han Xin's trap, was defeated, and was killed in battle. Tian Guang was captured by , who was under Han Xin's command, together with the chancellor Tian Guang (田光), the acting chancellor Xu Zhang (許章), and the general Tian Ji (田旣). He was then killed by Han Xin.