Overview
King Huiwen of Zhao was a ruler.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Life and dates
Attested activity
BC 283 趙惠文王十六年
BC 298 to BC 266 趙惠文王時
Places and affiliations
- Polity Zhao 趙 · Relation Ruled
Works and attributed material
- Speech · Speaker · Quote true
Events and relationships
Acquired He family bi from Chu
Diplomatic · Ruler
Consulted ministers on Qin bi exchange
Fasted five days before sending bi
Ritual · Ruler
Met Yan king at border
Sent envoy west with bi
Summoned and questioned
Show 3 more source-backed claims
References in the histories
No matching passages.
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 81Biographies of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru · 18 passages
趙惠文王十六年，廉頗為趙將伐齊，大破之，取陽晉，拜為上卿，以勇氣聞於諸侯。
In the sixteenth year of King Huiwen of Zhao, Lian Po served as Zhao's general and attacked Qi. He routed them and took Yangjin, was appointed upper minister, and his bravery became renowned among the feudal lords.
趙惠文王時，得楚和氏璧。
During King Huiwen of Zhao's reign, Zhao acquired the He family jade disc from Chu.
秦昭王聞之，使人遺趙王書，願以十五城請易璧。
When King Zhaoxiang of Qin heard of it, he sent a messenger to the king of Zhao offering fifteen cities in exchange for the jade disc.
趙王與大將軍廉頗諸大臣謀：欲予秦，秦城恐不可得，徒見欺；
The king of Zhao consulted with Grand General Lian Po and the other ministers: if they gave the bi to Qin, they feared they could not obtain Qin's cities and would only be deceived;
王問：「何以知之？」
The king asked, "How do you know?"
臣語曰：『臣嘗從大王與燕王會境上，燕王私握臣手，曰「願結友」。
I told him, 'I once accompanied Your Majesty to meet the king of Yan at the border, and the king of Yan privately grasped my hand and said, "I wish to form a friendship."
相如謂臣曰：『夫趙彊而燕弱，而君幸於趙王，故燕王欲結於君。
Xiangru told me, 'Zhao is strong and Yan is weak. You are favored by the king of Zhao, and therefore the king of Yan wishes to form an alliance with you.
臣從其計，大王亦幸赦臣。
I followed his plan, and the great king graciously pardoned me.
於是王召見，問藺相如曰：「秦王以十五城請易寡人之璧，可予不？」
The king summoned Lin Xiangru and asked, "The king of Qin is offering fifteen cities for my jade. Should I send it?"
王曰：「取吾璧，不予我城，柰何？」
The king said, "What if he takes my jade and gives me no cities?"
王曰：「誰可使者？」
The king said: "Who can be sent?"
相如曰：「王必無人，臣願奉璧往使。
Xiangru said, "If Your Majesty has no one else, I am willing to carry the jade as your envoy.
趙王於是遂遣相如奉璧西入秦。
The king of Zhao thereupon sent Xiangru west into Qin carrying the bi.
王授璧，相如因持璧卻立，倚柱，怒髪上沖冠，謂秦王曰：「大王欲得璧，使人發書至趙王，趙王悉召群臣議，皆曰『秦貪，負其彊，以空言求璧，償城恐不可得』。
The king handed the jade back. Xiangru took it, stepped backward until he stood against a pillar, his hair bristling with anger as if it would lift his cap, and said to the king of Qin, "Your Majesty wanted this jade and sent a letter to the king of Zhao. The king of Zhao gathered all his ministers to discuss it, and they said, 'Qin is greedy and trusts in its power. It wants the jade on empty promises; the cities will surely never be delivered.'
於是趙王乃齋戒五日，使臣奉璧，拜送書於庭。
The king of Zhao therefore fasted and purified himself for five days, entrusted me with the jade, and bowed in his court as he sent the letter.
臣觀大王無意償趙王城邑，故臣復取璧。
I saw that Your Majesty had no intention of compensating Zhao with cities, so I took the jade back.
相如度秦王特以詐詳為予趙城，實不可得，乃謂秦王曰：「和氏璧，天下所共傳寶也，趙王恐，不敢不獻。
Xiangru judged that the King of Qin was only pretending to offer Zhao cities and that in truth they could not be obtained. He then said to the King of Qin: "The He Shi bi is a treasure transmitted throughout the world. The King of Zhao was afraid and had no choice but to present it.
趙王送璧時，齋戒五日，今大王亦宜齋戒五日，設九賓於廷，臣乃敢上璧。」
When the king of Zhao sent the jade, he fasted and purified himself for five days. Your Majesty should likewise fast for five days and arrange the full nine-guest ceremony in court; only then will I dare present the jade."