Ancient China · King Xiaowen of Qin

King Xiaowen 孝文王

Xiàowén Wáng

First attested BC 265; died BC 250

Passages: 16
Chapters: 2
Histories: 1

Overview

King Xiaowen was a king Xiaowen of Qin.

Life and dates

Death

BC 250 秦王立一年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 49

Attested activity

BC 250 施及孝文王、莊襄王
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 176
BC 251 秦昭王五十六年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 47
BC 265 秦昭王四十二年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 4
BC 250 秦王立一年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 49

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Lady Xia (夏姬)
concubine 姬
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 8
Parent of Eldest son of Lord Anguo
eldest son 長子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 20
Spouse of Lady Huayang (華陽夫人)
principal wife 正夫人 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 6
Child of King Zhaoxiang of Qin (秦昭王)
second son 次子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 4
Sibling of Crown Prince of King Zhao of Qin
second son 次子 · Uncertain siblings
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passages 3-4
Parent of King Zhuangxiang (莊襄王)
son 子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 8

Kinship Role sons · Count 20 · Qualifier more than
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 5

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Appointed
BC 265 秦昭王四十二年 · Crown prince
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 4
BC 251 秦昭王五十六年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 47

Places and affiliations

Polity Qin 秦 · Relation Of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 4
At Shouling 壽陵 · Relation Buried at
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 73

Assessments and attributes

Item jade tally 玉符 · Relation Engraved · With Lady Huayang (華陽夫人)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 37

References in the histories

Search passages

History

16 passages

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

施及孝文王、莊襄王，享國之日淺，國家無事。 The reigns of Kings Xiaowen and Zhuangxiang were brief, and the state knew no great upheaval.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 85Biography of Master Lü Buwei · 15 passages

其四十二年，以其次子安國君為太子。 Two years later, the king designated his second son, Lord Anguo, as the new crown prince.

安國君有子二十餘人。 Lord Anguo had over twenty sons.

安國君有所甚愛姬，立以為正夫人，號曰華陽夫人。 Lord Anguo deeply favored one of his concubines and elevated her to the rank of principal wife, bestowing upon her the title of Lady Huayang.

安國君中男名子楚，子楚母曰夏姬，毋愛。 One of Lord Anguo's middle sons was named Zichu. His mother, Lady Xia, had long fallen out of favor.

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.

竊聞安國君愛幸華陽夫人，華陽夫人無子，能立適嗣者獨華陽夫人耳。 I have heard that Lord Anguo dotes on Lady Huayang, yet Lady Huayang has no sons of her own. She alone has the power to determine who will be named the legitimate heir.

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."

不韋雖貧，請以千金為子西游，事安國君及華陽夫人，立子為適嗣。」 Though I am not a rich man, allow me to spend a thousand catties of gold to travel west to Qin on your behalf. I will attend upon Lord Anguo and Lady Huayang and secure your appointment as the legitimate heir."

今夫人事太子，甚愛而無子，不以此時蚤自結於諸子中賢孝者，舉立以為適而子之，夫在則重尊，夫百歲之後，所子者為王，終不失勢，此所謂一言而萬世之利也。 You now serve the crown prince and enjoy his deep love, yet you have borne him no sons. If you do not seize this moment to choose the worthiest and most filial among his sons, establish him as the legitimate heir, and adopt him as your own, then while your husband lives you will be doubly honored. After he passes, the son you have selected will be king, and you will never lose your position. This is what they call gaining ten thousand generations of benefit through a single word.

華陽夫人以為然，承太子閒，從容言子楚質於趙者絕賢，來往者皆稱譽之。 Lady Huayang agreed with this counsel. When she found the crown prince at leisure, she brought up the subject of Zichu with studied casualness, remarking that the hostage in Zhao was said to be extraordinarily talented, and that all travelers who had met him spoke highly of his character.

安國君許之，乃與夫人刻玉符，約以為適嗣。 Lord Anguo consented, and he and Lady Huayang carved a jade tally together, sealing the pledge that Zichu would be named the legitimate heir.

安國君及夫人因厚餽遺子楚，而請呂不韋傅之，子楚以此名譽益盛於諸侯。 Lord Anguo and Lady Huayang then sent generous gifts to Zichu and appointed Lü Buwei as his tutor. With this patronage, Zichu's reputation grew ever more distinguished among the feudal lords.

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.

秦王立一年，薨，謚為孝文王。 The new King of Qin reigned for only a year before he died. He was given the posthumous title King Xiaowen.

孝文王后曰華陽太后，與孝文王會葬壽陵。 Empress Dowager Huayang, the queen of King Xiaowen, was buried with King Xiaowen at the Shouling tomb.