Ancient China · Political intermediary of the Warring States

Lou Huan 樓緩

Lóu Huǎn

Attested c. BC 300 - BC 256

Passages: 14
Chapters: 3
Histories: 1

Overview

The translated histories identify Lou Huan as a diplomat, official, and statesman. This record brings together 14 passages from 3 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Lou Huan	樓緩	Lóu Huǎn
Personal name	Lou Huan	樓緩	Lóu Huǎn
Alternate name	Lou Zi	樓子	Lóu Zǐ
Alternate name	Louzi	樓子	Lóuzǐ

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · shiji:048:s0170, shiji:072:s0016, shiji:076:s0157

Roles

Diplomat
Official
Statesman

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 戰國時期 · Western Year: c. BC 300
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:048:s0170
Source Date: Text: 昭王七年 · Western Year: BC 300
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:072:s0015, shiji:072:s0016
Source Date: Text: 秦既解邯鄲圍 · Western Year: BC 256
Derived · shiji:076:s0122, shiji:076:s0157

Career and standing

Label: chancellor of Qin / 相秦 · Action: appointed
Explicit · shiji:072:s0016
Label: chancellor of Qin / 相秦 · Action: dismissed
Explicit · shiji:072:s0023

Places and affiliations

Polity: Qin / 秦 · Relation: served
Explicit · shiji:072:s0016
Polity: Zhao / 趙 · Relation: from
Explicit · shiji:072:s0016
Place: Zhao / 趙 · Relation: native-of
Explicit · shiji:072:s0016

Works and attributed material

Kind: political-counsel · Role: speaker · Addressee Person Id: King Xiaocheng of Zhao (趙孝成王)
Explicit · shiji:076:s0158, shiji:076:s0160, shiji:076:s0161, shiji:076:s0162, shiji:076:s0163, shiji:076:s0164, shiji:076:s0165, shiji:076:s0166, shiji:076:s0167, shiji:076:s0168, shiji:076:s0169, shiji:076:s0170, shiji:076:s0171, shiji:076:s0177, shiji:076:s0178, shiji:076:s0179, shiji:076:s0180, shiji:076:s0181, shiji:076:s0182, shiji:076:s0183, shiji:076:s0184, shiji:076:s0185, shiji:076:s0186

Events and relationships

Kind: political-advice · Role: advisor · Action: argued-for-ceding-land-to-Qin
Explicit · shiji:076:s0157, shiji:076:s0177, shiji:076:s0186
Kind: diplomacy · Role: intermediary · Action: communicated the intentions of the six states
Explicit · shiji:048:s0170
Relation: advisor-of · Person Id: King Xiaocheng of Zhao (趙孝成王)
Explicit · shiji:076:s0157, shiji:076:s0160

References in the histories

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

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 48House of Chen She · 1 passage

於是六國之士有甯越、徐尚、蘇秦、杜赫之屬為之謀，齊明、周聚、陳軫、邵滑、樓緩、翟景、蘇厲、樂毅之徒通其意，吳起、孫臏、帶他、兒良、王廖、田忌、廉頗、趙奢之倫制其兵。 The six states thus had men like Ning Yue, Xu Shang, Su Qin, and Du He to devise their strategies; Qi Ming, Zhou Ju, Chen Zhen, Shao Hua, Lou Huan, Di Jing, Su Li, and Yue Yi to serve as their intermediaries; and Wu Qi, Sun Bin, Dai Tuo, Ni Liang, Wang Liao, Tian Ji, Lian Po, and Zhao She to command their armies.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 72Biography of the Marquis of Rang · 5 passages

趙人樓緩來相秦，趙不利，乃使仇液之秦，請以魏冉為秦相。 The Zhao man Lou Huan came to serve as chancellor of Qin. This disadvantaged Zhao, so they dispatched Qiu Ye to Qin to petition for Wei Ran to become chancellor of Qin.

仇液將行，其客宋公謂液曰：「秦不聽公，樓緩必怨公。 As Qiu Ye was about to depart, his guest Song Gong advised him, "If Qin does not listen to you, Lou Huan will certainly resent you.

公不若謂樓緩曰『請為公毋急秦』。 You should tell Lou Huan, 'Please do not hurry Qin on my behalf.'

公言而事不成，以德樓子； If you speak up and the plan fails, Lou Huan will feel indebted to you;

而秦果免樓緩而魏冉相秦。 Qin did in fact remove Lou Huan and make Wei Ran its chancellor.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 76Biographies of Lord Pingyuan and Yu Qing · 8 passages

趙王計未定，樓緩從秦來，趙王與樓緩計之，曰：「予秦地（何）如毋予，孰吉？」 King Zhao's plans were not yet decided when Lou Huan arrived from Qin. The king consulted with Lou Huan, asking: "Which is better—to cede territory to Qin or not to cede it?"

緩辭讓曰：「此非臣之所能知也。」 Lou Huan politely declined, saying: "This is not something this minister can presume to know."

樓緩對曰：「王亦聞夫公甫文伯母乎？ Lou Huan replied: "Has Your Majesty also heard about the mother of Gongfu Wenbo?

樓緩聞之，往見王。 When Lou Huan heard of this, he went to see the King.

王又以虞卿之言告樓緩。 The King again shared Yu Qing's arguments with Lou Huan.

樓緩對曰：「不然。 Lou Huan replied: "Not so.

虞卿聞之，往見王曰：「危哉樓子之所以為秦者，是愈疑天下，而何慰秦之心哉？ When Yu Qing heard this, he went to see the king, saying: "How dangerous! The way Lou Zi acts for Qin only increases the world's suspicions. How can this soothe Qin's heart?

樓緩聞之，亡去。 When Lou Huan learned of it, he fled Zhao.