King Zhao of Yan (燕昭王)

Overview

King Zhao of Yan was a ruler.

Life and dates

Death

BC 279 燕昭王卒
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 82, passage 12

Attested activity

BC 311 to BC 279 如燕，昭王
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 37
BC 284 to BC 279 燕昭王...伐齊
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 80, passages 20, 26, 29
BC 311 to BC 279 燕昭王
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 62, passage 163
BC 279 燕昭王卒
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 82, passage 12

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of King Hui of Yan (燕惠王)
father 父
son 子
Sources vary in certainty · Records of the Grand Historian 82, passage 12; Records of the Grand Historian 80, passage 29
Kin of King Hui of Yan (燕惠王)
King Hui 惠王
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 62, passage 163

Key source chapters

Places and affiliations

Yan
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 80, passage 7
Polity Yan 燕 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 37; Records of the Grand Historian 82, passage 12

Events and relationships

Embraced broom and drove ahead; built Jieshi Palace
Ritual honor · Host · With Zou Yan (鄒衍)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 37
Relation Student of · Person Zou Yan (鄒衍)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 37

References in the histories

Search passages

History

25 passages

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 62Volume 62: Book of Wu 17: Biographies of Shi Yi and Hu Zong · 1 passage

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昔樂毅為燕昭王立功於齊，惠王即位，疑奪其任，遂去燕之趙，休烈不虧。 Once Yue Yi served King Zhao of Yan against Qi; when King Hui came to the throne he was suspected and stripped of command, left Yan for Zhao, and lost none of his renown.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 74Biographies of Mengzi and Xun Qing · 1 passage

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如燕，昭王擁彗先驅，請列弟子之座而受業，筑碣石宮，身親往師之。 When he went to Yan, King Zhao embraced a broom and drove ahead, requested to arrange a disciple's seat to receive instruction, built the Jieshi Palace, and personally went to study under him.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 80Biography of Yue Yi · 22 passages

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聞燕昭王以子之之亂而齊大敗燕，燕昭王怨齊，未嘗一日而忘報齊也。 Yue Yi heard that King Zhao of Yan, because of the Zi Zhi rebellion, had been greatly defeated by Qi; King Zhao of Yan resented Qi and never for a single day forgot to avenge Qi.

樂毅辭讓，遂委質為臣，燕昭王以為亞卿，久之。 Yue Yi declined modestly, then submitted his pledge and became a minister; King Zhao of Yan made him vice minister, and he served in that capacity for a long time.

於是燕昭王問伐齊之事。 King Zhao of Yan therefore asked how Qi might be attacked.

樂毅還報，燕昭王悉起兵，使樂毅為上將軍，趙惠文王以相國印授樂毅。 Yue Yi returned and reported. King Zhao of Yan mobilized the whole army and appointed him Supreme General, while King Huiwen of Zhao granted him the chancellor's seal.

燕昭王大說，親至濟上勞軍，行賞饗士，封樂毅於昌國，號為昌國君。 King Zhao of Yan was delighted. He went in person to the Ji River to reward the army, distributed honors and feasted the troops, enfeoffed Yue Yi at Changguo, and gave him the title Lord of Changguo.

於是燕昭王收齊鹵獲以歸，而使樂毅復以兵平齊城之不下者。 King Zhao of Yan then returned with the spoils from Qi, leaving Yue Yi with troops to subdue the remaining Qi cities.

會燕昭王死，子立為燕惠王。 It happened that King Zhao of Yan died, his son ascended as King Hui of Yan.

燕惠王乃使人讓樂毅，且謝之曰：「先王舉國而委將軍，將軍為燕破齊，報先王之讎，天下莫不震動，寡人豈敢一日而忘將軍之功哉！ King Hui of Yan then sent someone both to reproach Yue Yi and to apologize: "The former king entrusted the whole state to you. You defeated Qi for Yan and avenged his wrongs, until all under Heaven was shaken. How could I dare forget your merit for even one day!

會先王棄群臣，寡人新即位，左右誤寡人。 But the former king had just passed from us, I had only newly taken the throne, and my attendants misled me.

將軍自為計則可矣，而亦何以報先王之所以遇將軍之意乎？」 You may look to your own safety, but how does this repay the former king's treatment of you?"

臣不佞，不能奉承王命，以順左右之心，恐傷先王之明，有害足下之義，故遁逃走趙。 Your minister is not talented, could not accept Your Majesty's command, to comply with the hearts of those around you, feared harming the former king's wisdom, harming Your Majesty's righteousness, thus fled and went to Zhao.

今足下使人數之以罪，臣恐侍御者不察先王之所以畜幸臣之理，又不白臣之所以事先王之心，故敢以書對。 Now Your Majesty sends people to enumerate my crimes, your minister fears the attendants do not examine the former king's reasons for nurturing and favoring your minister, and do not understand your minister's heart in serving the former king, thus dares to respond with a letter.

臣竊觀先王之舉也，見有高世主之心，故假節於魏，以身得察於燕。 I privately observed the former king's conduct and saw in him the mind of a ruler who surpassed his age. For that reason I borrowed credentials from Wei and presented myself for service in Yan.

先王過舉，廁之賓客之中，立之群臣之上，不謀父兄，以為亞卿。 The former king over-elevated, placed him among the guests, established him above the ministers, did not consult father and brothers, made him vice minister.

先王命之曰：「我有積怨深怒於齊，不量輕弱，而欲以齊為事。」 The former king told me, "I bear old resentment and deep anger toward Qi. Though my strength is slight, I wish to make Qi my great undertaking."

先王以為然，具符節南使臣於趙。 The former king considered it right, prepared credentials and south sent your minister to Zhao.

以天之道，先王之靈，河北之地隨先王而舉之濟上。 By Heaven's Way and the former king's spirit, the lands north of the River rallied to him, and the campaign rose on the banks of the Ji.

齊器設於寧臺，大呂陳於元英，故鼎反乎磿室，薊丘之植植於汶篁，自五伯已來，功未有及先王者也。 Qi vessels set up at Ning Terrace, Da Lu displayed at Yuan Ying, ancient tripods returned to Ao chamber, Jiqiu's plants planted at Wen Huang, since the five hegemons, merit has not equaled the former king.

先王以為慊於志，故裂地而封之，使得比小國諸侯。 The former king considered it satisfying to his ambitions, thus split land and enfeoffed him, allowing him to compare to small state feudal lords.

若先王之報怨雪恥，夷萬乘之彊國，收八百歲之蓄積，及至棄群臣之日，餘教未衰，執政任事之臣，修法令，慎庶孽，施及乎萌隸，皆可以教後世。 As for the former king, he avenged his resentment and washed away shame, leveled a mighty state of ten thousand chariots, and seized the accumulated stores of eight hundred years. Even on the day he left his ministers behind, his remaining teachings had not declined: the ministers in charge of government handled affairs, maintained laws and commands, carefully managed the many collateral descendants, and extended order down to the common servants. All this can instruct later generations.

夫免身立功，以明先王之跡，臣之上計也。 Escaping the body and establishing merit, to clarify the former king's traces, is your minister's highest plan.

離毀辱之誹謗，墮先王之名，臣之所大恐也。 Separating from slander and humiliation, destroying the former king's name, is what your minister greatly fears.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 82Biography of Tian Dan · 1 passage

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頃之，燕昭王卒，惠王立，與樂毅有隙。 Before long, King Zhao of Yan died and King Hui succeeded him. The new king bore a grudge against Yue Yi.