Ancient China · Statesman and Diplomat

Huang Xie 黃歇

First attested BC 278; died BC 238

Passages: 57
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Huang Xie was a statesman and Diplomat.

Life and dates

Death

BC 238 楚考烈王卒
Assassination · At Thorn Gate 棘門
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 165

Attested activity

BC 238 春申君相二十五年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 149, 165
BC 278 to BC 263 游學博聞，事楚頃襄王
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 2
BC 262 考烈王元年，以黃歇為相
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 100

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of King You of Chu (楚幽王)
son 子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 167

Origins and identity

Lineage Huang clan 黃氏
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 1

Career and standing

Prime Minister of Chu 楚相
BC 262 考烈王元年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 100
Lord Chunshen 春申君
BC 262 考烈王元年 · Enfeoffed · At twelve counties north of the Huai 淮北地十二縣
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 100
Lord Chunshen 春申君
BC 247 後十五歲 · Transferred · At Jiangdong 江東
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 101, 103-104
Entered
Hostage · At Qin 秦
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 76
Household destroyed
BC 238 盡滅春申君之家 · Clan extermination
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 166

Places and affiliations

Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Native of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 1
Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 2, 100
At Chu 楚
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 1
BC 247 城故吳墟
At Wu 吳 · Relation Residence
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 105, 128

Works and attributed material

Memorial · Author · With King Zhaoxiang of Qin (秦昭王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 9-72
Speech · Speaker · With King Zhaoxiang of Qin (秦昭王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 94-95
Speech · Speaker · With Lord Ying (應侯)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 78, 80-85
Speech · Speaker · With King Kaolie of Chu (楚考烈王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 88-92

Events and relationships

Attacked
BC 241 相二十二年 · Military · Commander · At Qin 秦
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 117-118
Destroyed
BC 255 相楚八年 · Military · Commander · At Lu 魯
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 110
Helped escape
Political · Agent · With King Kaolie of Chu (楚考烈王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 88, 93-94
Household exterminated
BC 238 盡滅春申君之家 · Political · Subject
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 166
Relieved siege
BC 258 春申君相楚...五年 · Military · Commander · At Handan 邯鄲
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 109
Sent to
Diplomatic · Envoy · At Qin 秦
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 3, 5

Show 6 more source-backed claims

Relation Patron of · Person Li Yuan (李園)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 131
Relation Rival peer of · Person Prince Wuji of Wei (魏公子無忌)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 106
Relation Retainer of · Person King Qingxiang of Chu (楚頃襄王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 2
Relation Rival peer of · Person Lord Pingyuan (平原)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 106
Relation Patron of · Person Zhu Ying (朱英)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 120
Relation Rival peer of · Person Lord Mengchang (孟嘗君)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 106

Assessments and attributes

Item pearl-embroidered shoes of retainers 珠履 · Relation Associated
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 114

Source notes

maintained over three thousand retainers whose honored guests wore pearl shoes
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 114

References in the histories

Search passages

History

57 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 78Biography of Lord Chunshen · 57 passages

春申君者，楚人也，名歇，姓黃氏。 Lord Chunshen was a man of Chu, named Xie, of the Huang clan.

頃襄王以歇為辯，使於秦。 King Qingxiang valued Xie’s eloquence and sent him as an envoy to 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.

黃歇見楚懷王之為秦所誘而入朝，遂見欺，留死於秦。 Huang Xie witnessed King Huai of Chu being lured by Qin into attending their court, only to be deceived, detained, and die in Qin.

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

黃歇受約歸楚，楚使歇與太子完入質於秦，秦留之數年。 Huang Xie accepted the treaty and returned to Chu. Chu sent Xie along with Crown Prince Wan as hostages to Qin. Qin held them for several years.

而楚太子與秦相應侯善，於是黃歇乃說應侯曰：「相國誠善楚太子乎？」 The Chu crown prince was friendly with Qin's prime minister Lord Ying. Thus, Huang Xie counseled Lord Ying: 'Prime Minister, do you genuinely befriend the Chu crown prince?'

歇曰：「今楚王恐不起疾，秦不如歸其太子。 Xie said: 'The King of Chu now fears he will not survive his illness. Qin should send the crown prince back.

黃歇為楚太子計曰：「秦之留太子也，欲以求利也。 Huang Xie devised a plan for the Chu crown prince: 'Qin's keeping of the crown prince is meant to gain leverage.

今太子力未能有以利秦也，歇憂之甚。 Now the crown prince lacks the power to benefit Qin. I worry about this terribly.

楚太子因變衣服為楚使者御以出關，而黃歇守舍，常為謝病。 The Chu crown prince disguised himself as a Chu envoy's chariot driver and slipped through the pass. Huang Xie stayed at the residence, continually pleading illness.

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.

歇當死，願賜死。」 I deserve to die. I beg you to execute me.'

應侯曰：「歇為人臣，出身以徇其主，太子立，必用歇，故不如無罪而歸之，以親楚。」 Lord Ying said: 'Xie serves as a minister, staking his life to follow his lord. If the crown prince ascends the throne, he will certainly appoint Xie. Better to release him guilt-free and win Chu's friendship.'

秦因遣黃歇。 Qin therefore released Huang Xie.

歇至楚三月，楚頃襄王卒，太子完立，是為考烈王。 When Xie reached Chu, three months later King Qingxiang died. Crown Prince Wan ascended the throne as King Kaolie.

考烈王元年，以黃歇為相，封為春申君，賜淮北地十二縣。 In the first year of King Kaolie, Huang Xie was appointed prime minister, enfeoffed as Lord Chunshen, and granted twelve counties north of the Huai River.

後十五歲，黃歇言之楚王曰：「淮北地邊齊，其事急，請以為郡便。」 Fifteen years later, Huang Xie said to the King of Chu, “The northern Huai region borders Qi, and affairs there are urgent. Please make it a commandery for convenience.”

春申君因城故吳墟，以自為都邑。 Lord Chunshen built a city on the ancient ruins of Wu, establishing it as his personal capital.

春申君既相楚，是時齊有孟嘗君，趙有平原君，魏有信陵君，方爭下士，招致賓客，以相傾奪，輔國持權。 Lord Chunshen became prime minister of Chu. At this time, Qi had Lord Mengchang, Zhao had Lord Pingyuan, Wei had Lord Xinling—all competing to win over scholars, recruiting retainers to outdo one another, strengthening their states and wielding influence.

春申君為楚相四年，秦破趙之長平軍四十餘萬。 Lord Chunshen had served as Chu’s prime minister for four years when Qin broke Zhao’s army of more than four hundred thousand at Changping.

邯鄲告急於楚，楚使春申君將兵往救之，秦兵亦去，春申君歸。 Handan sent urgent pleas to Chu. Chu dispatched Lord Chunshen with troops to relieve them. The Qin forces withdrew as well. Lord Chunshen returned home.

春申君相楚八年，為楚北伐滅魯，以荀卿為蘭陵令。 In Lord Chunshen's eighth year as prime minister of Chu, he led a northern campaign that destroyed Lu and appointed Xun Qing magistrate of Lanling.

趙平原君使人於春申君，春申君捨之於上舍。 Lord Pingyuan of Zhao sent an envoy to Lord Chunshen. Lord Chunshen lodged him in the finest guest quarters.

趙使欲夸楚，為瑁簪，刀劍室以珠玉飾之，請命春申君客。 The Zhao envoy wished to impress Chu, so he made a cap of green jade, decorated sword hilts and scabbards with pearls and jade, and asked to present them to Lord Chunshen’s retainers.

春申君客三千餘人，其上客皆躡珠履以見趙使，趙使大慚。 Lord Chunshen maintained over three thousand retainers. His most honored guests all wore pearl-embroidered shoes to greet the Zhao envoy. The envoy was deeply embarrassed.

春申君相十四年，秦莊襄王立，以呂不韋為相，封為文信侯。 Lord Chunshen had served as prime minister for fourteen years when Qin installed King Zhuangxiang, appointed Lü Buwei prime minister, and enfeoffed him as Lord Wenxin.

春申君相二十二年，諸侯患秦攻伐無已時，乃相與合從，西伐秦，而楚王為從長，春申君用事。 Lord Chunshen had served as prime minister for twenty-two years. The feudal lords, troubled by Qin’s endless attacks, formed an alliance to attack Qin in the west. The King of Chu served as head of the alliance.

楚考烈王以咎春申君，春申君以此益疏。 King Kaolie of Chu held Lord Chunshen responsible. Lord Chunshen grew increasingly estranged as a result.

客有觀津人朱英，謂春申君曰：「人皆以楚為彊而君用之弱，其於英不然。 A retainer from Guanjin named Zhu Ying said to Lord Chunshen: 'Everyone says Chu is strong, yet Your Lordship is weakening it—but I, Zhu Ying, do not see it that way.

春申君由此就封於吳，行相事。 Lord Chunshen therefore took up his fief in Wu, while continuing to handle prime ministerial duties.

楚考烈王無子，春申君患之，求婦人宜子者進之，甚眾，卒無子。 King Kaolie of Chu had no sons. Lord Chunshen worried about this and sought women fit to bear children to present to him; there were very many, but in the end none bore sons.

李園求事春申君為舍人，已而謁歸，故失期。 Li Yuan sought a position as retainer to Lord Chunshen. After some time, he requested leave to return home, deliberately arriving late.

還謁，春申君問之狀，對曰：「齊王使使求臣之女弟，與其使者飲，故失期。」 When he returned for audience, Lord Chunshen asked what had happened. He replied, “The King of Qi sent an envoy to seek my younger sister. I drank with the envoy and therefore missed the appointment.”

春申君曰：「娉入乎？」 Lord Chunshen said: 'Have you betrothed her?'

春申君曰：「可得見乎？」 Lord Chunshen said: 'Can I see her?'

於是李園乃進其女弟，即幸於春申君。 Thus, Li Yuan presented his younger sister, who won Lord Chunshen's favor.

園女弟承閒以說春申君曰：「楚王之貴幸君，雖兄弟不如也。 Li Yuan’s younger sister took advantage of an intimate moment to advise Lord Chunshen, saying, “The King of Chu values and favors Your Lordship more than his own brothers.

今君相楚二十餘年，而王無子，即百歲後將更立兄弟，則楚更立君後，亦各貴其故所親，君又安得長有寵乎？ Now Your Lordship has been prime minister of Chu for more than twenty years, yet the king has no sons. After his hundred years are over, he will establish one of his brothers; then, when Chu installs a new ruler, Your Lordship will no longer be favored.

非徒然也，君貴用事久，多失禮於王兄弟，兄弟誠立，禍且及身，何以保相印江東之封乎？ This is no idle threat. Your Lordship has held high position and wielded power for years, repeatedly offending the king's brothers. If they should ascend the throne, calamity will befall you. How then can you safeguard your prime minister's seal and your fief in Jiangdong?

妾幸君未久，誠以君之重而進妾於楚王，王必幸妾； I have not long enjoyed Your Lordship’s favor. If you truly use your influence to present me to the King of Chu, the king will certainly favor me.

妾賴天有子男，則是君之子為王也，楚國盡可得，孰與身臨不測之罪乎？」 If heaven grants me a son, then Your Lordship's son becomes king and the whole of Chu can be yours—how does that compare with facing uncertain punishment yourself?'

春申君大然之，乃出李園女弟，謹舍而言之楚王。 Lord Chunshen strongly agreed. He sent Li Yuan’s younger sister away, housed her carefully, and spoke of her to the King of Chu.

李園既入其女弟，立為王后，子為太子，恐春申君語泄而益驕，陰養死士，欲殺春申君以滅口，而國人頗有知之者。 Once Li Yuan had brought in his younger sister and established her as queen with her son as crown prince, he feared Lord Chunshen would reveal the secret and grow even more insolent. Secretly, he cultivated assassins, intending to kill Lord Chunshen and silence him forever. Many in the kingdom knew of his plans.

春申君相二十五年，楚考烈王病。 Lord Chunshen had served as prime minister for twenty-five years when King Kaolie of Chu fell gravely ill.

朱英謂春申君曰：「世有毋望之福，又有毋望之禍。 Zhu Ying told Lord Chunshen, “In the world there are blessings that come unexpectedly, and disasters that come unexpectedly.

今君處毋望之世，事毋望之主，安可以無毋望之人乎？」 Your Lordship now lives in an age without prospects, serving a ruler without prospects. How can you be without a companion who shares your lack of prospects?'

春申君曰：「何謂毋望之福？」 Lord Chunshen said, “What are blessings that come unexpectedly?”

曰：「君相楚二十餘年矣，雖名相國，實楚王也。 “Your Lordship has been prime minister of Chu for more than twenty years. Though nominally prime minister, you are truly the king of Chu.

今楚王病，旦暮且卒，而君相少主，因而代立當國，如伊尹、周公，王長而反政，不即遂南面稱孤而有楚國？ The King of Chu now lies ill and will die any day. Your Lordship aids the young ruler, seizes control of the government, and ascends the throne like Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou. When the king comes of age, you return power to him. If not, you proclaim yourself ruler facing south and take possession of the kingdom of Chu.

春申君曰：「何謂毋望之禍？」 Lord Chunshen said: 'What is unexpected calamity?'

曰：「李園不治國而君之仇也，不為兵而養死士之日久矣，楚王卒，李園必先入據權而殺君以滅口。 'Li Yuan cares nothing for governing the state, but he is Your Lordship's mortal enemy. Instead of raising armies, he has long been cultivating assassins. When the King of Chu dies, Li Yuan will surely enter first, seize control, and kill Your Lordship to silence the secret.

春申君曰：「何謂毋望之人？」 Lord Chunshen said: 'What is a companion without prospects?'

春申君曰：「足下置之，李園，弱人也，仆又善之，且又何至此！」 Lord Chunshen said: 'Set that aside for now. Li Yuan is a weakling, and I have treated him kindly. How could matters come to such a pass!'

春申君入棘門，園死士俠刺春申君，斬其頭，投之棘門外。 Lord Chunshen entered the Thorn Gate. Li Yuan's death-dealers struck him from both sides, severed his head, and threw it outside the gate.

於是遂使吏盡滅春申君之家。 They then commanded officials to utterly destroy Lord Chunshen's entire household.

而李園女弟初幸春申君有身而入之王所生子者遂立，是為楚幽王。 Li Yuan's younger sister, who had conceived by Lord Chunshen before being presented to the king, bore the son who was enthroned as King You of Chu.