Qin Hui (Song Dynasty)

Qin Hui
Statues of Lady Wang (left) and Qin Hui (right) in Hangzhou. Visitors traditionally spit on the statues despite measures to protect them as relics.
Traditional Chinese	秦檜
Simplified Chinese	秦桧
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Qín Huì or Qín Kuài Wade–Giles Ch'in2 Hui4 or Ch'in2 K'uai1 IPA [tɕʰǐn xwêi] or [tɕʰǐn kʰwâi] Yue: Cantonese Jyutping ceon4 kui2
Courtesy name
Traditional Chinese	會之
Simplified Chinese	会之
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Huìzhī Wade–Giles Hui4-chih1 Yue: Cantonese Jyutping wui6 zi1

Qin Hui or Qin Kuai (January 17, 1090–November 18, 1155) was a Chancellor of the Song dynasty in Chinese history. He is widely regarded as a traitor for his part in the persecution and execution of Yue Fei, a general who fought for the Song against the Jin dynasty during the Jin–Song Wars. Modern historians however, have placed as much blame (if not more) on the reigning Emperor Gaozong himself.

Born in Jiangning (present day Nanjing, Jiangsu), Qin won Jinshi in the Imperial examination of 1115. During the Northern Song dynasty, Qin was an activist against the invasion by the Jin dynasty in the Jin–Song Wars. He was captured along with Emperor Qinzong and Emperor Huizong in the Jingkang Incident.

Some years later, he suddenly returned from captivity in the Jin empire to the capital of Emperor Gaozong. He claimed some sort of miraculous escape but quite some people expressed doubt regarding his story. However, he quickly won the emperor's favor and became the Chancellor of the Southern Song empire in 1131. In the next year, he was removed from the position after impeachment. After some Song victories in 1137, the Jin empire was forced to reopen peace talks, and Qin gained power as a pacifist.

With Qin's help, the emperor suppressed the war hawks and signed the Treaty of Shaoxing with the Jin empire. The emperor basically accepted the status of being a vassal of the Jin empire publicly. To open the peace talks, the national hero general Yue Fei, who was famous for his military successes against the Jurchen people, was first removed from his position, then imprisoned, and then killed in prison. The killing of Yue Fei is one of the most famous evil acts by government minister in the whole history of the Song dynasty. Qin became notorious, and (after he lost power and died) some people suspected that he was a traitor.