Ancient China · Ruler

King Zhao of Qin 秦昭王

Qin Zhaowang

Attested BC 280 - BC 276

Passages: 9
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

King Zhao of Qin was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 276 齊湣王二十五年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 70-71, 73, 80, 83
BC 280 to BC 277 秦昭王聞其賢至孟嘗君乃止
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 62, 69

Places and affiliations

Polity Qin 秦 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 62, 70

Events and relationships

Appointed chancellor
BC 276 齊湣王二十五年 · Appointment · Ruler · With Lord Mengchang (孟嘗君)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 70
Released
BC 276 齊湣王二十五年 · Legal · Authority · With Lord Mengchang (孟嘗君)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 80
Sent hostage to seek audience
Diplomatic · Ruler · With Lord Jingyang (涇陽君)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 62
Sent pursuers after regret
BC 276 齊湣王二十五年 · Pursuit · Authority · With Lord Mengchang (孟嘗君)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 83, 85
Stopped chancellorship imprisoned and plotted to kill
BC 276 齊湣王二十五年 · Legal · Authority · With Lord Mengchang (孟嘗君)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 72-73

Assessments and attributes

Assessment heard Lord Mengchang was worthy · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 62

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 62

References in the histories

Search passages

History

9 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 75Biography of Lord Mengchang · 9 passages

秦昭王聞其賢，乃先使涇陽君為質於齊，以求見孟嘗君。 King Zhao of Qin heard of his worthiness, and first sent Lord Jingyang as hostage to Qi to seek an audience with Lord Mengchang.

齊湣王二十五年，復卒使孟嘗君入秦，昭王即以孟嘗君為秦相。 In the twenty-fifth year of King Min of Qi, they finally sent Lord Mengchang into Qin again, and King Zhao immediately made Lord Mengchang chancellor of Qin.

人或說秦昭王曰：「孟嘗君賢，而又齊族也，今相秦，必先齊而後秦，秦其危矣。」 Someone advised King Zhao of Qin: 'Lord Mengchang is worthy, but he is also a member of the Qi ruling house. If he now serves as Qin's chancellor, he will surely put Qi first and Qin second. Qin will be in danger.'

於是秦昭王乃止。 King Zhao of Qin then stopped.

孟嘗君使人抵昭王幸姬求解。 Lord Mengchang sent someone to bribe King Zhao's favored concubine to seek his release.

此時孟嘗君有一狐白裘，直千金，天下無雙，入秦獻之昭王，更無他裘。 At this time Lord Mengchang had a white fox fur coat worth a thousand in gold, unmatched in the world, which he had presented to King Zhao upon entering Qin, and he had no other furs.

乃夜為狗，以入秦宮臧中，取所獻狐白裘至，以獻秦王幸姬。 That night he crawled like a dog into the Qin palace storehouse, took the white fox-fur coat that had been presented there, and offered it to the King of Qin's favored concubine.

幸姬為言昭王，昭王釋孟嘗君。 The favored concubine spoke on his behalf to King Zhao, and King Zhao released Lord Mengchang.

秦昭王後悔出孟嘗君，求之已去，即使人馳傳逐之。 King Zhao of Qin afterward regretted releasing Lord Mengchang. He sought him, but he had already gone, so he sent men galloping with passports to pursue him.