Gao Jianli

Gao Jianli (Chinese: 高漸離) was a citizen of Yan, a Chinese state during the Warring States Period, and a player of the zhu (a stringed musical instrument played with a thin stick). After Jing Ke was killed in his assassination attempt on Qin Shi Huang, Gao changed his name and became an assistant in a wine shop as Qin Shi Huang retaliated against all friends of Jing Ke . As the work is very hard, Gao would usually pace around the house of the owner of the wine shop listening to the guests playing the zhu in the owner's house. He would commend about the playing until one day when someone told the owner what Gao said about his guests' skills in playing the zhu.

So the owner asked Gao to play for him and his skillful play won him the heart of the owner. Qin Shi Huang heard about the event and decided to summon Gao to play for him. Someone recognised Gao and told Qin Shi Huang about his real identity. Qin Shi Huang loved music very much and decided to pardon Gao but not before making him blind.

The skill of Gao won him praises from Qin Shi Huang and after a few performances the Emperor lost his guarding of Gao, who began to move nearer and nearer to him. Gao sensed the movement and secretly hid lead pieces in the instrument, when the Emperor is within striking distance, Gao took a strike but missed. Gao was subsequently executed and Qin Shi Huang stopped being close to people from the other states.