Ancient China · Ruler

King Zhao of Qin 昭王

Zhao Wang

Died BC 251

Passages: 95
Chapters: 12
Histories: 3

Overview

The translated histories identify King Zhao of Qin as a ruler. This record brings together 95 passages from 12 chapters across 3 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	King Zhao of Qin	昭王	Zhao Wang
Title	King of Qin	秦王	Qín Wáng
Title	King of Qin	秦王	Qin Wang
Title	King Zhao	昭王	Zhao Wang
Title	King Zhao	昭王	Zhāo Wáng
Title	King Zhao	昭王	Zhāowáng
Posthumous	King Zhao	昭王	Zhao Wang
Regnal	King Zhao	昭王	Zhao Wang
Regnal	King Zhao	昭王	Zhaowang
Title	King Zhao	昭王	Zhāo wáng
Title	King Zhao of Qin	秦昭王	Qin Zhao Wang
Posthumous	King Zhao of Qin	秦昭王	Qín Zhāo Wáng
Title	King Zhao of Qin	秦昭王	Qín Zhāowáng
Personal	King Zhao of Qin	秦昭王	Qin Zhaowang
Regnal	King Zhao of Qin	秦昭王	Qín Zhāowáng
Regnal	King Zhao of Qin	秦昭王	Qin Zhao Wang
Title	King Zhao of Qin	秦昭王	Qin Zhaowang
Title	King Zhao of Qin	秦昭王	Qín Zhāo wáng
Title	King Zhao of Qin	秦昭王	Qín Zhāo Wáng
Regnal	King Zhaoxiang	昭襄王	Zhaoxiang Wang
Title	King Zhaoxiang of Qin	秦昭王	Qin Zhaowang
Title	the king	王

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Strongly inferred · shiji:045:s0004, shiji:078:s0171, shiji:080:s0012, shiji:083:s0004, yuanshi:066:s0151
Sex: male
Explicit · shiji:045:s0186, shiji:072:s0001, shiji:072:s0003, shiji:077:s0040, shiji:078:s0004, shiji:084:s0047, shiji:085:s0003, shiji:088:s0002
Value: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:070:s0163
Value: male
Explicit · shiji:073:s0002

Roles

Ruler

Life and dates

Death

Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二十二年 · Regnal Year: 22 · Western Year: BC 251
Explicit · shiji:045:s0186
Date Context: Source Date: Text: 秦昭王五十六年 · Western Year: BC 251
Explicit · shiji:085:s0047

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 二十二年 · Regnal Year: 22 · Western Year: BC 251
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:045:s0186
Source Date: Text: 四十七年 · Western Year: BC 260
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0057
Source Date: Text: 四十九年 · Western Year: BC 258
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0091
Source Date: Text: 四十八年 · Western Year: BC 259
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0083
Source Date: Text: 春申君之說秦昭王 · Western Interval: Start: BC 272 · End: BC 263
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:078:s0171
Source Date: Text: 昭王七年 · Western Year: BC 300
Explicit · shiji:072:s0015
Source Date: Text: 昭王三十二年 · Western Year: BC 275
Explicit · shiji:072:s0040
Source Date: Text: 昭王三十六年 · Western Year: BC 271
Explicit · shiji:072:s0106
Source Date: Text: 昭王三十四年 · Western Year: BC 273
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0018
Source Date: Text: 昭王五十年十一月 · Western Year: BC 257
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0115
Source Date: Text: 昭王十三年 · Western Year: BC 294
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0003
Source Date: Text: 昭王十九年 · Western Year: BC 288
Explicit · shiji:072:s0032
Source Date: Text: 昭王十四年 · Western Year: BC 293
Explicit · shiji:072:s0025
Source Date: Text: 昭王四十三年 · Western Year: BC 264
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:073:s0020
Source Date: Text: 昭襄王殺武安君白起 · Western Year: BC 257
Explicit · shiji:088:s0068
Source Date: Text: 歇乃上書說秦昭王 · Western Year: BC 272
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:078:s0009, shiji:078:s0073
Source Date: Text: 秦昭王 · Western Interval: Start: BC 306 · End: BC 251
Explicit · shiji:084:s0047, shiji:088:s0002
Source Date: Text: 秦昭王五十六年 · Western Year: BC 251
Explicit · shiji:085:s0047
Source Date: Text: 秦昭王五十年 · Western Year: BC 257
Explicit · shiji:085:s0044
Source Date: Text: 秦昭王使白起攻韓、魏 · Western Year: BC 273
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:078:s0004
Source Date: Text: 秦昭王四十二年 · Western Year: BC 265
Explicit · shiji:085:s0004
Source Date: Text: 秦昭王四十年 · Western Year: BC 267
Explicit · shiji:085:s0003
Source Date: Text: 秦昭王時 · Western Year: BC 256
Explicit event contextual date · yuanshi:066:s0151
Source Date: Text: 立其弟為昭王 · Western Year: BC 306
Explicit · shiji:072:s0003
Source Date: Text: 與秦昭王爭重為帝 · Western Year: BC 288
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:080:s0012
Source Date: Text: 趙孝成王時秦圍邯鄲 · Western Interval: Start: BC 259 · End: BC 257
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:083:s0004, shiji:083:s0009
Source Date: Text: 釐王十二年 · Western Year: BC 284
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:045:s0164
Source Date: Text: 長平 · Western Year: BC 260
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:083:s0004
Source Date: Text: 魏安釐王二十年 · Western Year: BC 257
Explicit · shiji:077:s0040

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Kin of Wei Ran (魏冉)
Kinship Term: maternal uncle / 親舅 · Subject Role: maternal-uncle · Object Role: sister's-son · Line: maternal · Generation Distance: 1 · Intermediary Person Ids: Empress Dowager Xuan (宣太后)
Sibling of Lord of Gaoling (高陵君)
Kinship Term: uterine younger brother / 同母弟 · Shared Parentage: maternal-half · Subject Relative Age: younger · Subject Role: younger-brother · Object Role: elder-brother · Intermediary Person Ids: Empress Dowager Xuan (宣太后)
Sibling of Lord Jingyang (涇陽君)
Kinship Term: uterine younger brother / 同母弟 · Shared Parentage: maternal-half · Subject Relative Age: younger · Subject Role: younger-brother · Object Role: elder-brother · Intermediary Person Ids: Empress Dowager Xuan (宣太后)
Parent of Crown Prince of King Zhao of Qin
Kinship Term: crown prince / 太子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Child of King Hui of Qin (秦惠王)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Child of Empress Dowager Xuan (宣太后)
Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: son
Parent of King Xiaowen (孝文王)
Kinship Term: second son / 次子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son · Object Birth Order: 2
Sibling of King Wu of Qin (秦武王)
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Shared Parentage: paternal-half · Subject Relative Age: younger · Subject Role: younger-brother · Object Role: elder-brother

Kinship Role: brothers · Label: disloyal brothers / 諸兄弟不善者 · Quantity: unspecified
Explicit · shiji:072:s0013

Career and standing

Label: King of Qin / 秦王 · Action: held
Explicit · shiji:073:s0002
Title: King Zhao of Qin / 秦昭王 · Action: held
Explicit · shiji:078:s0171
Date Context: Source Date: Text: 立其弟為昭王 · Western Year: BC 306
Explicit · shiji:072:s0003

Places and affiliations

Label: Qin / 秦 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · shiji:073:s0002, yuanshi:066:s0151
Label: Qin · Relation: ruled
Explicit · shiji:080:s0012
Label: Qin · Relation: served
Explicit · shiji:045:s0164
Polity: Qin · Relation: ruled
Explicit · shiji:077:s0040
Polity: Qin
Explicit · hanshu:070:s0163
Polity: Qin / 秦 · Relation: of
Explicit · shiji:085:s0003
Polity: Qin / 秦 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · shiji:045:s0186, shiji:072:s0001, shiji:078:s0171, shiji:088:s0002

Works and attributed material

Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Action: agreed
Explicit · shiji:078:s0073
Kind: diplomatic-threat · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: King Anli of Wei (魏安釐王)
Explicit · shiji:077:s0043
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Topic: judgment that Bai Qi remained resentful · Provenance: Mode: direct-quotation · Speaker Person Id: King Zhao of Qin (昭王)
Explicit · shiji:073:s0109
Kind: speech · Role: speaker
Explicit · shiji:078:s0087

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: ruler · Action: defeated-Zhao-at-Changping-and-besieged-Handan · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 魏安釐王二十年 · Western Year: BC 257
Explicit · shiji:077:s0040
Kind: diplomatic · Role: addressee · Action: persuaded-by · Other Person Id: Lord Chunshen (春申君) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 春申君之說秦昭王 · Western Interval: Start: BC 272 · End: BC 263
Explicit · shiji:078:s0171
Kind: political · Role: ruler · Action: reigned-when-li-bing-cut-li-heap
Explicit · yuanshi:066:s0151

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: clear-sighted and skilled in planning · Provenance: Mode: quotation · Speaker Person Id: Su Dai (蘇代)
Explicit · shiji:072:s0083, shiji:072:s0104
Kind: life-stage · Statement: young at accession
Explicit · shiji:072:s0014

Source notes

Historicity: historical
Explicit · shiji:078:s0171

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Book of Han, Chapter 70Volume 60: Du Zhou · 1 passage

穰侯，昭王之舅也，權重於秦，威震鄰敵，有旦莫偃伏之愛，心不介然有間，然范雎起徒步，由異國，無雅信，開一朝之說，而穰侯就封。 Marquis Rang, uncle to King Zhao of Qin, dominated that state and awed its neighbors; he shared the king's pillow and board without a shadow between them—yet Fan Ju, a stranger on foot, won a single hearing and sent Rang packing to his domain.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 45House of Han · 2 passages

十二年，與秦昭王會西周而佐秦攻齊。 During the twelfth year, they met with King Zhao of Qin at Western Zhou and assisted Qin in attacking Qi.

二十二年，秦昭王卒。 In the twenty-second year, King Zhao of Qin died.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 72Biography of the Marquis of Rang · 20 passages

穰侯魏冉者，秦昭王母宣太后弟也。 Wei Ran, Marquis of Rang, was the younger brother of Empress Dowager Xuan, the mother of King Zhao of Qin.

秦武王卒，無子，立其弟為昭王。 When King Wu of Qin died without heirs, his younger brother ascended as King Zhao.

昭王母故號為羋八子，及昭王即位，羋八子號為宣太后。 King Zhao's mother was formerly known as Lady Mi the Eighth. When King Zhao ascended the throne, Lady Mi the Eighth was elevated to Empress Dowager Xuan.

而昭王同母弟曰高陵君、涇陽君。 King Zhao's uterine younger brothers were titled Lord of Gaoling and Lord of Jingyang.

武王卒，諸弟爭立，唯魏冉力為能立昭王。 When King Wu died, his younger brothers vied for the throne. Only Wei Ran wielded sufficient power to establish King Zhao.

昭王即位，以冉為將軍，衛咸陽。 When King Zhao ascended the throne, he appointed Ran as general to defend Xianyang.

誅季君之亂，而逐武王后出之魏，昭王諸兄弟不善者皆滅之，威振秦國。 He executed Ji Jun's rebellion, banished King Wu's empress to Wei, and eliminated all of King Zhao's disloyal brothers. His authority shook the state of Qin.

昭王少，宣太后自治，任魏冉為政。 Since King Zhao was young, Empress Dowager Xuan ruled personally and entrusted Wei Ran with conducting political affairs.

昭王七年，樗里子死，而使涇陽君質於齊。 In the seventh year of King Zhao, Shu Lizi died, and Lord Jingyang was dispatched as hostage to Qi.

秦王見趙請相魏冉之不急，且不聽公。 The King of Qin will see that Zhao's petition to appoint Wei Ran as chancellor is not pressing and will not heed you.

昭王十四年，魏冉舉白起，使代向壽將而攻韓、魏，敗之伊闕，斬首二十四萬，虜魏將公孫喜。 In the fourteenth year of King Zhao, Wei Ran recommended Bai Qi to replace Xiang Shou as general and attack Han and Wei, defeating them at Yiguan, beheading two hundred and forty thousand, and capturing the Wei general Gongsun Xi.

昭王十九年，秦稱西帝，齊稱東帝。 In the nineteenth year of King Zhao, Qin styled itself Western Emperor, and Qi as Eastern Emperor.

昭王三十二年，穰侯為相國，將兵攻魏，走芒卯，入北宅，遂圍大梁。 In the thirty-second year of King Zhao, the Marquis of Rang, serving as prime minister, led troops to attack Wei, routed Mang Mao, entered Beizhai, and thereupon besieged Daliang.

齊襄王懼，使蘇代為齊陰遺穰侯書曰：「臣聞往來者言曰『秦將益趙甲四萬以伐齊』，臣竊必之敝邑之王曰『秦王明而熟於計，穰侯智而習於事，必不益趙甲四萬以伐齊』。 King Xiang of Qi was alarmed, and had Su Dai secretly send the Marquis of Rang a letter on Qi's behalf: "Your servant has heard travelers say, 'Qin is going to add forty thousand armored troops to Zhao for an attack on Qi.' I privately assured the king of my humble state: 'The King of Qin sees clearly and is skilled in planning, and the Marquis of Rang is wise and practiced in affairs; they surely will not add forty thousand armored troops to Zhao to attack Qi.'

臣故曰秦王明而熟於計，穰侯智而習於事，必不益趙甲四萬以代齊矣。」 Your servant therefore says that the King of Qin is clear-sighted and practiced in planning, and the Marquis of Rang is intelligent and experienced in affairs; they surely will not add forty thousand Qin armored troops to Zhao in order to attack Qi."

昭王三十六年，相國穰侯言客卿灶，欲伐齊取剛、壽，以廣其陶邑。 In the thirty-sixth year of King Zhao, the chancellor Marquis of Rang recommended his guest minister Zao, desiring to attack Qi and take Gang and Shou to expand his fief at Tao.

於是魏人范睢自謂張祿先生，譏穰侯之伐齊，乃越三晉以攻齊也，以此時奸說秦昭王。 At this time the Wei man Fan Ju, calling himself Master Zhanglu, ridiculed the Marquis of Rang's attack on Qi as crossing the Three Jin to attack Qi, and craftily advised King Zhao of Qin.

昭王於是用范睢。 King Zhao thereupon employed Fan Ju.

於是秦昭王悟，乃免相國，令涇陽之屬皆出關，就封邑。 King Zhao of Qin then understood. He dismissed the chancellor and ordered Jingyang and the others to leave the passes and go to their fiefs.

太史公曰：穰侯，昭王親舅也。 The Grand Historian remarks: The Marquis of Rang was King Zhao's own maternal uncle.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 73Biographies of Bai Qi and Wang Jian · 17 passages

善用兵，事秦昭王。 He was adept at warfare and served King Zhao of Qin.

昭王十三年，而白起為左庶長，將而擊韓之新城。 In King Zhao's thirteenth year, Bai Qi was appointed Left Senior Minister and led troops to attack Xincheng of Han.

昭王三十四年，白起攻魏，拔華陽，走芒卯，而虜三晉將，斬首十三萬。 In King Zhao's thirty-fourth year, Bai Qi attacked Wei, conquered Huayang, routed Mang Mao, captured three Jin generals, and beheaded 130,000 men.

昭王四十三年，白起攻韓陘城，拔五城，斬首五萬。 In King Zhao's forty-third year, Bai Qi attacked Han's Xingcheng, conquered five cities, and beheaded 50,000 men.

秦王聞趙食道絕，王自之河內，賜民爵各一級，發年十五以上悉詣長平，遮絕趙救及糧食。 When the King of Qin heard that Zhao's supply routes were severed, he went personally to Henei, granted each commoner one rank in nobility, and mobilized all men fifteen years and older to proceed to Changping to block Zhao's rescue forces and provisions.

「趙亡則秦王王矣，武安君為三公。 'If Zhao falls, the King of Qin will become hegemon. Lord Wu'an will become one of the Three Dukes.

今趙亡，秦王王，則武安君必為三公，君能為之下乎？ Now if Zhao falls and the King of Qin becomes hegemon, Lord Wu'an will certainly become one of the Three Dukes. Can you serve beneath him?

於是應侯言於秦王曰：「秦兵勞，請許韓、趙之割地以和，且休士卒。」 Lord Ying then spoke to the King of Qin: 'Our soldiers are weary. Please allow us to accept Han and Zhao's territorial concessions for peace, and let our soldiers rest.'

王聽之，割韓垣雍、趙六城以和。 The king heeded this and accepted Han's Huanyong and six Zhao cities for peace.

武安君病愈，秦王欲使武安君代陵將。 Lord Wu'an recovered from his illness. The King of Qin wished to send Lord Wu'an to replace Ling as commander.

秦王自命，不行； The King of Qin personally commanded it, but he refused to go.

秦王使王龁代陵將，八九月圍邯鄲，不能拔。 The King of Qin sent Wang He to replace Ling as commander. In the eighth and ninth months they besieged Handan but could not conquer it.

秦王聞之，怒，彊起武安君，武安君遂稱病甐。 The King of Qin heard this and flew into a rage. He compelled Lord Wu'an to rise, but Lord Wu'an pleaded illness and would not go.

秦王乃使人遣白起，不得留咸陽中。 The King of Qin thereupon sent men to banish Bai Qi, forbidding him to remain in Xianyang.

秦昭王與應侯群臣議曰：「白起之遷，其意尚怏怏不服，有餘言。」 King Zhao of Qin discussed the matter with Lord Ying and the assembled ministers, saying: 'Bai Qi remains resentful and unreconciled over his exile, with much left unsaid.'

秦王乃使使者賜之劍，自裁。 The King of Qin thereupon sent an envoy bearing a sword, commanding him to take his own life.

武安君之死也，以秦昭王五十年十一月。 Lord Wu'an's death occurred in the eleventh month of King Zhao of Qin's fiftieth year.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 77Biography of the Prince of Wei · 2 passages

魏安釐王二十年，秦昭王已破趙長平軍，又進兵圍邯鄲。 In the twentieth year of King Anli of Wei, King Zhao of Qin had already defeated Zhao's army at Changping and then advanced his troops to besiege Handan.

秦王使使者告魏王曰：「吾攻趙旦暮且下，而諸侯敢救者，已拔趙，必移兵先擊之。」 The King of Qin sent an envoy to tell the King of Wei: 'I am attacking Zhao and will take it any day now. Any feudal lord who dares to rescue them—I will first destroy Zhao, then shift my troops to attack them.'

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 78Biography of Lord Chunshen · 38 passages

秦昭王使白起攻韓、魏，敗之於華陽，禽魏將芒卯，韓、魏服而事秦。 King Zhao of Qin sent Bai Qi to attack Han and Wei, defeating them at Huayang and capturing Wei's general Mang Mao. Han and Wei submitted and served Qin.

秦昭王方令白起與韓、魏共伐楚，未行，而楚使黃歇適至於秦，聞秦之計。 King Zhao of Qin was about to order Bai Qi to join forces with Han and Wei to attack Chu, but before the plan could be executed, Chu's envoy Huang Xie arrived in Qin and learned of Qin's strategy.

歇乃上書說秦昭王曰： Xie then submitted a memorial advising King Zhao of Qin:

今聞大王欲伐楚，此猶兩虎相與鬬。 Now I hear that Your Majesty wishes to attack Chu—this would be like two tigers fighting each other.

今大國之地，遍天下有其二垂，此從生民已來，萬乘之地未嘗有也。 Now Your Majesty's territory spans two-thirds of the world—this has not occurred since the dawn of civilization; no kingdom of ten thousand chariots has ever achieved such extent.

今王使盛橋守事於韓，盛橋以其地入秦，是王不用甲，不信威，而得百里之地。 Now Your Majesty has Sheng Qiao overseeing affairs in Han, and Sheng Qiao has brought his territory into Qin. This means Your Majesty has gained a hundred li of land without deploying troops or displaying military might.

王可謂能矣。 Your Majesty can truly be called capable.

王又舉甲而攻魏，杜大梁之門，舉河內，拔燕、酸棗、虛、桃，入邢，魏之兵雲翔而不敢捄。 Your Majesty again raised troops and attacked Wei, blocking the gates of Daliang, taking Henei, capturing Yan, Suantao, Xu, Tao, and entering Xing. Wei's troops scattered like clouds but dared not come to the rescue.

王之功亦多矣。 Your Majesty's achievements are also numerous.

王休甲息眾，二年而後復之； Your Majesty rested the troops for two years and then resumed campaigning.

王又割濮磿之北，注齊秦之要，絕楚趙之脊，天下五合六聚而不敢救。 Your Majesty again cut off the north of Puyang, seized the vital link between Qi and Qin, and severed the corridor joining Chu and Zhao. Though the world united five times and gathered six times, none dared come to the rescue.

王之威亦單矣。 Your Majesty's prestige now stands alone above all others.

王若能持功守威，絀攻取之心而肥仁義之地，使無後患，三王不足四，五伯不足六也。 If Your Majesty can preserve these achievements and this prestige, put aside thoughts of conquest, broaden the realm of benevolence and righteousness, and avoid future disasters, the Three Kings will be outmatched and the Five Hegemons surpassed.

王若負人徒之眾，仗兵革之彊，乘毀魏之威，而欲以力臣天下之主，臣恐其有後患也。 If Your Majesty relies on the multitude of common people and the strength of weapons and armor, takes advantage of having broken Wei’s power, and seeks to force the lords of the world to become your ministers, I fear there will be future disaster.

今王妒楚之不毀也，而忘毀楚之彊韓、魏也，臣為王慮而不取也。 Now Your Majesty envies the fact that Chu has not been destroyed, but forgets that destroying Chu would strengthen Han and Wei. I urge Your Majesty to consider this and not proceed.

今王中道而信韓、魏之善王也，此正吳之信越也。 Now Your Majesty half trusts the loyalty of Han and Wei toward you; this is precisely like Wu trusting Yue.

王無重世之德於韓、魏，而有累世之怨焉。 Your Majesty has shown Han and Wei no deep favors over the generations, but has accumulated generations of resentment.

故韓、魏之不亡，秦社稷之憂也，今王資之與攻楚，不亦過乎！ Therefore, the survival of Han and Wei is a threat to Qin's altars of soil and grain. Now Your Majesty is supplying them to attack Chu—is this not a grave mistake?

且王攻楚將惡出兵？ Moreover, when Your Majesty attacks Chu, from where will the army march?

王將借路於仇讎之韓、魏乎？ Will Your Majesty borrow a route through your enemies Han and Wei?

兵出之日而王憂其不返也，是王以兵資於仇讎之韓、魏也。 On the day the army marches out, Your Majesty will fear it will not return—thus Your Majesty would be arming your enemies Han and Wei.

王若不借路於仇讎之韓、魏，必攻隨水右壤。 If Your Majesty does not borrow a route through the enemy states of Han and Wei, you must attack along the right bank of the Sui River.

隨水右壤，此皆廣川大水，山林谿谷，不食之地也，王雖有之，不為得地。 The right bank of the Sui is all broad rivers and great waters, mountain forests and valleys—land that yields no crops. Even if Your Majesty takes it, you gain no usable territory.

是王有毀楚之名而無得地之實也。 Thus, Your Majesty would earn the reputation of destroying Chu but gain no territory in fact.

且王攻楚之日，四國必悉起兵以應王。 Moreover, on the day Your Majesty attacks Chu, the four states will certainly all raise troops in response.

王破楚以肥韓、魏於中國而勁齊。 Your Majesty would destroy Chu only to fatten Han and Wei in the central states and strengthen Qi.

夫以王壤土之博，人徒之眾，兵革之彊，壹舉事而樹怨於楚，遲令韓、魏歸帝重於齊，是王失計也。 With Your Majesty’s vast territory, numerous people, and strong weapons and armor, a single campaign would create enmity with Chu. If you delay until Han and Wei return the imperial title to Qi, then Qin will be isolated.

臣為王慮，莫若善楚。 I advise Your Majesty that nothing is better than befriending Chu.

王施以東山之險，帶以曲河之利，韓必為關內之侯。 Your Majesty can deploy the danger of Dongshan and gird yourself with the advantage of the Qu River; Han will certainly become an inner-pass marquis.

若是而王以十萬戍鄭，梁氏寒心，許、鄢陵嬰城，而上蔡、召陵不往來也，如此而魏亦關內侯矣。 In this way, if Your Majesty stations one hundred thousand troops in Zheng, the Liang clan will lose heart. Xu and Yanling will be besieged, and Shangcai and Shaoling will have no trade.

王壹善楚，而關內兩萬乘之主注地於齊，齊右壤可拱手而取也。 If Your Majesty befriends Chu, the two marquisates of ten thousand chariots within the pass will pour their land toward Qi. Qin’s right flank can be taken with folded hands.

王之地一經兩海，要約天下，是燕、趙無齊、楚，齊、楚無燕、趙也。 Your Majesty’s territory will stretch between the two seas and command the world’s strategic points; this will make Yan and Zhao unable to oppose Qi and Chu, and Qi and Chu unable to oppose Yan and Zhao.

昭王曰：「善。」 King Zhao said: 'Excellent.'

應侯以聞秦王。 Lord Ying brought this to the attention of the King of Qin.

秦王曰：「令楚太子之傅先往問楚王之疾，返而後圖之。」 The King of Qin said: 'Send the Chu crown prince's tutor first to inquire about the King of Chu's illness, then we can decide what to do.'

度太子已遠，秦不能追，歇乃自言秦昭王曰：「楚太子已歸，出遠矣。 When he judged the crown prince was safely distant and Qin could not catch him, Xie went to King Zhao of Qin and said: 'The Chu crown prince has gone home. He is far away by now.

昭王大怒，欲聽其自殺也。 King Zhao flew into a rage and wanted to let him kill himself.

初，春申君之說秦昭王，及出身遣楚太子歸，何其智之明也！ At first, Lord Chunshen's persuasion of King Zhao of Qin, and staking his life to send the Chu crown prince home—what clarity of wisdom!

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 80Biography of Yue Yi · 1 passage

與秦昭王爭重為帝，已而復歸之。 He even rivaled King Zhao of Qin for imperial precedence, though he later gave up the imperial title.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 83Biographies of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang · 5 passages

趙孝成王時，而秦王使白起破趙長平之軍前後四十餘萬，秦兵遂東圍邯鄲。 During the reign of King Xiaocheng of Zhao, the King of Qin sent Bai Qi to destroy the Zhao army at Changping, killing over four hundred thousand soldiers in total, after which the Qin forces marched east to besiege Handan.

趙誠發使尊秦昭王為帝，秦必喜，罷兵去。」 If Zhao would sincerely send an envoy to honor King Zhao of Qin as Emperor, Qin would surely be pleased and withdraw its troops.'

魯仲連曰：「吾將使秦王烹醢梁王。」 Lu Zhonglian said, 'Then I shall see to it that the King of Qin boils the King of Wei alive and makes mincemeat of him.'

先生又惡能使秦王烹醢梁王？」 And how could the Master possibly bring it about that the King of Qin would boil and mince the King of Wei?'

衛先生為秦畫長平之事，太白蝕昴，而昭王疑之。 Master Wei devised the strategy for the Battle of Changping on behalf of Qin, and Venus eclipsed the Pleiades as a celestial sign—yet King Zhao of Qin doubted him.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 84Biographies of Qu Yuan and Master Jia · 1 passage

時秦昭王與楚婚，欲與懷王會。 At that time, King Zhao of Qin had formed a marriage alliance with Chu and wished to meet with King Huai.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 85Biography of Master Lü Buwei · 5 passages

秦昭王四十年，太子死。 In the fortieth year of the reign of King Zhao of Qin, the crown prince died.

呂不韋曰：「秦王老矣，安國君得為太子。 Lü Buwei said, "The King of Qin is growing old, and Lord Anguo has been made crown prince.

即大王薨，安國君立為王，則子毋幾得與長子及諸子旦暮在前者爭為太子矣。」 When the great king dies and Lord Anguo ascends the throne, you will have little chance of competing to become heir against the eldest son and those brothers who attend upon him morning and evening."

秦昭王五十年，使王齮圍邯鄲，急，趙欲殺子楚。 In the fiftieth year of King Zhao of Qin's reign, the king sent the general Wang Yi to besiege Handan. As the siege tightened, the state of Zhao moved to execute Zichu.

秦昭王五十六年，薨，太子安國君立為王，華陽夫人為王后，子楚為太子。 In the fifty-sixth year of his reign, King Zhao of Qin died. Lord Anguo, the crown prince, ascended the throne. Lady Huayang was made queen, and Zichu was named crown prince.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 88Biography of Meng Tian · 2 passages

恬大父蒙驁，自齊事秦昭王，官至上卿。 Tian's grandfather Meng Ao left Qi to serve King Zhao of Qin and rose to the rank of High Minister.

昭襄王殺武安君白起。 King Zhaoxiang put to death his own general, Bai Qi, the Lord of Wu'an.

History of Yuan, Chapter 66Volume 66 Treatises 19: Rivers and Canals 3 · 1 passage

秦昭王時，蜀太守李冰鑿離堆，分其江以灌川蜀，民用以饒。 Under King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Shu governor Li Bing cut the Li Heap, split the river to irrigate the Chengdu Plain, and the people prospered.