Ancient China · King of Chu from BC 515 to 489

King Zhao of Chu 楚昭王

Chu Zhao Wang

Attested BC 515 - BC 489

Passages: 17
Chapters: 3
Histories: 2

Overview

King Zhao of Chu was a king of Chu from BC 515 to 489.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 506 己卯昭王出奔；吳入郢
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 92-93
BC 515 to BC 489 楚昭王
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 72
BC 515 to BC 489 楚昭王
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 119, passage 50
BC 515 to BC 489 楚昭王遭闔廬之禍
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 25, passage 89

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of King Ping of Chu (楚平王)
father 父
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 8, 72
Child of Qin Consort of King Ping (秦女)
mother 母
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 8, 72

Key source chapters

Career and standing

pardon of Shi She 赦其罪
Granted · With Shi She (石奢)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 119, passages 58, 61
King Zhao of Chu 昭王
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 72

Places and affiliations

Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 72
Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passages 89, 95
At Chu 楚 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 119, passage 50

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Addressee elders
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passages 90-91
Speech · Speaker · With Shi She (石奢)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 119, passage 58

Events and relationships

Lost his state after Helü’s attack, fled, received Qin aid, and returned
Military political · Exiled ruler · With Helü (闔廬)
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passages 89, 94-95

Assessments and attributes

Assessment reputation established through Shi She's choice to die after releasing his father · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 119, passage 80
Assessment worthy ruler whose followers remained loyal · Mode quoted-source Speaker elders
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passages 92-93

References in the histories

Search passages

History

17 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 25Volume 23: Treatise on Punishment and Law · 3 passages

楚昭王遭闔廬之禍，國滅出亡，父老送之。 Even after catastrophic defeat under Wu pressure, King Zhao entered exile with popular support.

王曰：「父老反矣！ The king said: 'Elders, return home!

二國并力，遂走吳師，昭王返國，所謂善敗不亡者也。 With allied support Chu recovered, illustrating how political legitimacy can survive even major military defeat.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 66Biography of Wu Zixu · 8 passages

平王遂自取秦女而絕愛幸之，生子軫。 King Ping then took the Qin woman himself and doted on her exclusively. She gave birth to a son named Zhen.

初，平王所奪太子建秦女生子軫，及平王卒，軫竟立為後，是為昭王。 Initially, the Qin woman whom King Ping had seized from Crown Prince Jian gave birth to a son named Zhen. When King Ping died, Zhen was finally established as heir. This was King Zhao.

六年，楚昭王使公子囊瓦將兵伐吳。 In the sixth year, King Zhao of Chu sent Prince Nang Wa to lead troops and attack Wu.

己卯，楚昭王出奔。 On jimao day, King Zhao of Chu fled.

昭王出亡，入雲夢； King Zhao fled and entered Yun Meng;

及吳兵入郢，伍子胥求昭王。 When Wu's troops entered Ying, Wu Zixu searched for King Zhao.

會吳王久留楚求昭王，而闔廬弟夫概乃亡歸，自立為王。 It happened that the Wu king stayed long in Chu seeking King Zhao, while Helü's younger brother Fu Gai fled back and established himself as king.

楚昭王見吳有內亂，乃復入郢。 King Zhao of Chu saw that Wu was in internal disorder, so he returned to Ying.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 119Biographies of Upright Officials · 6 passages

石奢者，楚昭王相也。 Shi She was the Chancellor of King Zhao of Chu.

使人言之王曰：「殺人者，臣之父也。 He sent a messenger to report to the king: "The murderer is your servant's father.

王曰：「追而不及，不當伏罪，子其治事矣。」 The king said, 'You gave chase but did not catch him. You should bear no guilt. Return to your duties.'

王赦其罪，上惠也； That Your Majesty pardons my crime is a sovereign's grace;

遂不受令，自刎而死。 He refused the king's pardon and cut his own throat.

石奢縱父而死，楚昭名立。 Shi She released his father and chose to die, and the reputation of King Zhao of Chu was established.