Ancient China · Courtier

Li Yuan 李園

Attested BC 240 - BC 238

Passages: 13
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Li Yuan was a Courtier.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 238 後制於李園
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 172
BC 240 to BC 238 趙人李園
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 130, 165

Family

Sibling of Younger Sister of Li Yuan (李園女弟)
younger sister 女弟 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 130

Places and affiliations

Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Active in
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 172
At Zhao 趙
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 130

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Huang Xie (黃歇) · Mode self-report
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 132
Speech · Speaker · With Huang Xie (黃歇)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 132

Events and relationships

Controlled
BC 238 後制於李園 · Political · Controller · With Lord Chunshen (春申君)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 172
Killed
BC 238 楚考烈王卒 · Assassination · Instigator · With Huang Xie (黃歇)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passages 164-165
Relation Controller of · Person Lord Chunshen (春申君)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 172
Relation Enemy of · Person Huang Xie (黃歇)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 157

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 172

References in the histories

Search passages

History

13 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 78Biography of Lord Chunshen · 13 passages

又并蒲、衍、首、垣，以臨仁、平丘，黃、濟陽嬰城而魏氏服； Again annexing Pu, Yan, Shou, and Yuan, threatening Ren and Pingqiu. Huang and Jiyang were besieged, and the House of Wei submitted.

趙人李園持其女弟，欲進之楚王，聞其不宜子，恐久毋寵。 A Zhao native named Li Yuan brought his younger sister, intending to present her to the King of Chu. Hearing that the king was not producing sons, he feared her favor would not last.

李園求事春申君為舍人，已而謁歸，故失期。 Li Yuan sought a position as retainer to Lord Chunshen. After some time, he requested leave to return home, deliberately arriving late.

於是李園乃進其女弟，即幸於春申君。 Thus, Li Yuan presented his younger sister, who won Lord Chunshen's favor.

知其有身，李園乃與其女弟謀。 When he learned she was with child, Li Yuan conspired with his younger sister.

楚王貴李園，園用事。 The King of Chu favored Li Yuan, who came to wield considerable influence.

李園既入其女弟，立為王后，子為太子，恐春申君語泄而益驕，陰養死士，欲殺春申君以滅口，而國人頗有知之者。 Once Li Yuan had brought in his younger sister and established her as queen with her son as crown prince, he feared Lord Chunshen would reveal the secret and grow even more insolent. Secretly, he cultivated assassins, intending to kill Lord Chunshen and silence him forever. Many in the kingdom knew of his plans.

曰：「李園不治國而君之仇也，不為兵而養死士之日久矣，楚王卒，李園必先入據權而殺君以滅口。 'Li Yuan cares nothing for governing the state, but he is Your Lordship's mortal enemy. Instead of raising armies, he has long been cultivating assassins. When the King of Chu dies, Li Yuan will surely enter first, seize control, and kill Your Lordship to silence the secret.

對曰：「君置臣郎中，楚王卒，李園必先入，臣為君殺李園。 He replied: 'Appoint me as your aide-de-camp. When the King of Chu dies, Li Yuan will surely enter first. I will kill Li Yuan for you.

春申君曰：「足下置之，李園，弱人也，仆又善之，且又何至此！」 Lord Chunshen said: 'Set that aside for now. Li Yuan is a weakling, and I have treated him kindly. How could matters come to such a pass!'

後十七日，楚考烈王卒，李園果先入，伏死士於棘門之內。 Seventeen days later, King Kaolie of Chu died. As predicted, Li Yuan entered first, concealing assassins within the Thorn Gate.

春申君入棘門，園死士俠刺春申君，斬其頭，投之棘門外。 Lord Chunshen entered the Thorn Gate. Li Yuan's death-dealers struck him from both sides, severed his head, and threw it outside the gate.

後制於李園，旄矣。 Later he was controlled by Li Yuan—what utter confusion!