Ancient China · King of Chu

King Qingxiang of Chu 楚頃襄王

Chu Qingxiang Wang

First attested BC 298; died BC 263

Passages: 11
Chapters: 3
Histories: 2

Overview

King Qingxiang of Chu was a king of Chu.

Life and dates

Death

BC 263 楚頃襄王卒
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 99

Attested activity

BC 278 to BC 263 事楚頃襄王
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 2, 6, 99
BC 298 to BC 263 楚頃襄王
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 37, passage 53
BC 298 to BC 263 頃襄王
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 55

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of King Kaolie of Chu (楚考烈王)
crown prince 太子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 76, 99
Child of King Huai (懷王)
eldest son 長子
son 子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 55; Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 8
Sibling of Zi Lan (子蘭)
younger brother 弟子 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 55

Key source chapters

Career and standing

King Qingxiang 頃襄王
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 55

References in the histories

Search passages

History

11 passages

Book of Later Han, Chapter 37Volume 32: Biographies of Fan Hong; Yin Shi · 1 passage

論曰：昔楚頃襄王問陽陵君曰：『君子之富何如？』 The historian remarks: King Qingxiang of Chu once asked the lord of Yangling what a gentleman's wealth should be.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 78Biography of Lord Chunshen · 8 passages

游學博聞，事楚頃襄王。 He traveled widely in his studies, became broadly learned, and served King Qingxiang of Chu.

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

當是之時，秦已前使白起攻楚，取巫、黔中之郡，拔鄢郢，東至竟陵，楚頃襄王東徙治於陳縣。 At this time, Qin had already sent Bai Qi to attack Chu, taking the commanderies of Wu and Qianzhong, capturing Yan and Ying, and advancing east to Jingling. King Qingxiang of Chu moved his capital east to Chen county.

頃襄王，其子也，秦輕之，恐壹舉兵而滅楚。 King Qingxiang was his son. Qin held him in contempt and feared that with a single campaign they could destroy Chu entirely.

楚頃襄王病，太子不得歸。 King Qingxiang of Chu fell gravely ill, preventing the crown prince's return.

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.

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.'

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.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 84Biographies of Qu Yuan and Master Jia · 2 passages

長子頃襄王立，以其弟子蘭為令尹。 The eldest son ascended the throne as King Qingxiang and appointed his younger brother Zi Lan as Prime Minister.

令尹子蘭聞之大怒，卒使上官大夫短屈原於頃襄王，頃襄王怒而遷之。 When Prime Minister Zi Lan heard of this, he was enraged. He had Grand Master Shangguan speak against Qu Yuan before King Qingxiang. The king, in his anger, banished Qu Yuan.