Overview
King Zhaoxiang of Qin was a king of Qin whose long reign laid the foundations for imperial unification.
PeriodAncient China
IdentityHistorical · Male
Other names
| Type | English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal name | Ying Ji | 嬴稷 | Ying Ji |
| Regnal name | King Zhaoxiang | 昭襄王 | Zhaoxiang Wang |
Life and dates
Birth
- BC 325 historical identificationStrongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passage 163
Death
- BC 251 二十二年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 45, passage 186
- BC 251 historical identificationStrongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passage 163
- BC 251 今王喜四年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 34, passage 140
- BC 251 秦昭王五十六年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 47
Attested activity
- BC 251 二十二年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 45, passage 186
- BC 276 齊湣王二十五年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 70-71, 73, 80, 83
- BC 251 今王喜四年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 34, passage 140
- BC 260 四十七年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 57
- BC 258 四十九年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 91
- BC 259 四十八年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 83
Show 37 more source-backed claims
- BC 306 孝、昭治咸陽Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 108
- BC 306 to BC 251 戰國Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 25, passage 60
- BC 272 to BC 263 春申君之說秦昭王Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 171
- BC 325 to BC 251 昭王Strongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passage 163
- BC 300 昭王七年
- BC 275 昭王三十二年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 40
- BC 271 昭王三十六年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 106
- BC 273 昭王三十四年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 18
- BC 257 昭王五十年十一月Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 115
- BC 306 昭王元年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passages 22, 32, 87, 91, 96
- BC 306 to BC 305 昭王初，向壽平宜陽、甘茂亡秦Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passages 100, 114, 137
- BC 294 昭王十三年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 3
- BC 288 昭王十九年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 32
- BC 293 昭王十四年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 25
- BC 264 昭王四十三年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 20
- BC 306 昭王立Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 21
- BC 257 昭襄王殺武安君白起Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 68
- BC 272 歇乃上書說秦昭王Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 9, 73
- BC 306 to BC 251 秦昭Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 109, passage 222
- BC 256 to BC 251 秦昭王Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 190
- BC 306 to BC 251 秦昭王
- BC 251 秦昭王五十六年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 47
- BC 257 秦昭王五十年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 44
- BC 273 秦昭王使白起攻韓、魏Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 4
- BC 265 秦昭王四十二年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 4
- BC 267 秦昭王四十年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 3
- BC 256 秦昭王時Dated from the passage context · History of Yuan 66, passage 151
- BC 256 秦昭王滅周Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 181
- BC 280 to BC 277 秦昭王聞其賢至孟嘗君乃止Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 62, 69
- BC 284 穰侯言於秦昭王伐齊Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 128, 135
- BC 306 立其弟為昭王Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 3
- BC 288 與秦昭王爭重為帝Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 80, passage 12
- BC 299 to BC 296 謂秦昭王曰Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 99, 107
- BC 259 to BC 257 趙孝成王時秦圍邯鄲Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passages 4, 9
- BC 284 釐王十二年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 45, passage 164
- BC 260 長平Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 4
- BC 257 魏安釐王二十年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passage 40
Family
Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.
- Kin of Wei Ran (魏冉)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 114
- Sibling of Lord of Gaoling (高陵君)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 9
- Sibling of Lord Jingyang (涇陽君)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 9
- Kin of Xiang Shou (向壽)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 100
- Parent of Crown Prince of King Zhao of Qincrown prince 太子Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passages 3-4
- Child of Empress Dowager Xuan (宣太后)empress dowager 太后Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 100
- Child of King Hui of Qin (秦惠王)father of King Zhao by Empress Dowager Xuan 王母宣太后 · paternal lineStrongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passages 87-88
- Child of King Hui of Qin (秦惠王)father 父Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passages 3, 10
- Child of Queen Dowager Xuan (宣太后)maternal uncle 舅
mother 母Sources vary in certainty · Book of Han 70, passage 163; Records of the Grand Historian 72, passages 1, 4 - Child of Empress Dowager Xuan (宣太后)mother 王母 · maternal lineDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 88
- Parent of King Xiaowen (孝文王)second son 次子Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 4
- Sibling of King Wu of Qin (秦武王)younger brother 弟 · paternal lineDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 87
- Sibling of King Wu of Qin (秦武王)younger brother 弟 · Paternal half siblingsDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passages 3, 5
- Kinship Role maternal uncles · Count 2Directly stated · Book of Jin 109, passage 222
- disloyal brothers 諸兄弟不善者Kinship Role brothers · Quantity unspecifiedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 13
Key source chapters
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 73 Biographies of Bai Qi and Wang Jian 17 passages
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 78 Biography of Lord Chunshen 38 passages
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 72 Biography of the Marquis of Rang 20 passages
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 71 Biographies of Shu Lizi and Gan Mao 16 passages
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 75 Biography of Lord Mengchang 13 passages
Career and standing
- King of Qin 秦王HeldDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 2
- King Zhao of Qin 秦昭王HeldDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 171
- AccededBC 306 昭王立Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passages 21, 87, 91
- BC 306 立其弟為昭王Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 3
Places and affiliations
- Qin 秦Relation RuledDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 2; History of Yuan 66, passage 151
- QinRelation RuledDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 80, passage 12
- QinRelation ServedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 45, passage 164
- Polity Qin · Relation RuledDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passage 40
- Polity QinDirectly stated · Book of Han 70, passage 163
- Polity Qin 秦 · Relation OfDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 3
Show 2 more source-backed claims
- Polity Qin 秦 · Relation RuledDirectly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 60; Book of Jin 109, passage 222; Records of the Grand Historian 34, passage 140; Records of the Grand Historian 45, passage 186; Records of the Grand Historian 71, passages 21-22, 32, 87, 91, 100, 137, 190; Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 1; Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 62, 70, 99, 128, 135; Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 171; Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 2; Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 108
- At King Zhao Temple 昭王廟 · Relation Temple named forDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 45
Works and attributed material
- AgreedSpeech · SpeakerDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 73
- Diplomatic threat · Speaker · With King Anli of Wei (魏安釐王)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passage 43
- Proposed message · Addressee · With Lord Mengchang (孟嘗君) · Mode proposed-speech Speaker Su Dai (蘇代)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 99-100
- Speech · Speaker · Topic judgment that Bai Qi remained resentful · Mode direct-quotation Speaker King Zhaoxiang of Qin (秦昭王)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 109
- Speech · Speaker · Direct quotationDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 96
- Speech · SpeakerDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 87
Events and relationships
- Appointed chancellorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 70
- Attacked QiMilitary · RulerDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 135
- Defeated Zhao at Changping and besieged HandanBC 257 魏安釐王二十年 · Military · RulerDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passage 40
- Destroyed ZhouBC 256 秦昭王滅之 · Military · Conqueror · At Zhou 周Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 181
- Persuaded byDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 171
- Reign context of Pu campaignDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 22
Show 10 more source-backed claims
- Reigned when li bing cut li heapPolitical · RulerDirectly stated · History of Yuan 66, passage 151
- ReleasedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 80
- Relied on crack troopsMilitary policyDirectly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 60
- Returned Wusui on Gan Maos adviceDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 137
- Sent hostage to seek audienceDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 62
- Sent pursuers after regretDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 83, 85
- Sent troops from Xiao to save HanBC 306 昭王元年 · Military · Sovereign · At Xiao 殽Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passages 96-97
- Stopped chancellorship imprisoned and plotted to killDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 72-73
- Relation Employed · Person Xiang Shou (向壽)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 100
- Relation Successor of · Person King Wu of Qin (秦武王)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 21
Assessments and attributes
- Assessment capable ruler who nearly ruined the state by trusting maternal uncles · Mode quotation Speaker Murong Huang (慕容皝)Directly stated · Book of Jin 109, passage 222
- Assessment clear-sighted and skilled in planning · Mode quotation Speaker Su Dai (蘇代)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passages 83, 104
- Assessment heard Lord Mengchang was worthy · Mode historian-judgmentDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 62
- young at accessionLife stageDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 14
Source notes
- Historicity historical
References in the histories
129 passages
No matching passages.