Ancient China · Zhao lord, brother of King Huiwen

Lord Pingyuan 平原君

Pingyuan Jun

Attested BC 300 - BC 220

Passages: 31
Chapters: 5
Histories: 1

Overview

Lord Pingyuan was a Zhao lord, brother of King Huiwen.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 249 莊襄王元年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passages 52, 56
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 7, 10-11
BC 300 to BC 220 近世延陵、孟嘗、春申、平原、信陵
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 124, passage 22
BC 300 to BC 251 適趙，平原君
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 36
BC 257 魏安釐王二十年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passages 40-41

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Elder sister of Lord Xinling (公子姊)
wife 夫人
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passage 41
Sibling of King Huiwen of Zhao (趙惠文)
younger brother 弟
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passage 41

Key source chapters

Career and standing

relied on kinship with royalty 因王者親屬
Royal kin
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 124, passage 22

Places and affiliations

Polity Zhao · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passage 41
Polity Zhao 趙 · Relation Of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 85, passage 56
Polity Zhao 趙 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 36

Works and attributed material

Letter reproach · Speaker · With Prince Wuji of Wei (魏公子無忌)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passages 45-47
Speech · Speaker · With Elder sister of Lord Xinling (公子姊)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passage 117

Events and relationships

Sidestepped and swept mat in deference
Diplomatic · Host · With Zou Yan (鄒衍)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 36

Assessments and attributes

Assessment dared-not-compare-himself · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passage 96
Assessment not-the-worthiest-nobleman · Mode named-source-report Speaker Lu Zhong (魯連)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 16
Assessment worthy; attracted worthies and won renown · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 124, passage 22

References in the histories

Search passages

History

31 passages

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

適趙，平原君側行撇席。 When he went to Zhao, Lord Pingyuan stepped aside and personally swept his mat in deference.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 77Biography of the Prince of Wei · 13 passages

公子姊為趙惠文王弟平原君夫人，數遺魏王及公子書，請救於魏。 The prince's elder sister was the wife of Lord Pingyuan, younger brother of King Huiwen of Zhao. She repeatedly sent letters to the King of Wei and the prince requesting rescue from Wei.

平原君使者冠蓋相屬於魏，讓魏公子曰：「勝所以自附為婚姻者，以公子之高義，為能急人之困。 Lord Pingyuan's envoys arrived in Wei one after another, upbraiding the prince of Wei: 'The reason I allied myself with you through marriage was because of your noble righteousness, your ability to relieve others' distress.

且公子縱輕勝，棄之降秦，獨不憐公子姊邪？」 Moreover, even if the prince disdains me and abandons me to surrender to Qin, does he not pity his own elder sister?'

趙王及平原君自迎公子於界，平原君負籣矢為公子先引。 The King of Zhao and Lord Pingyuan came in person to welcome the prince at the border; Lord Pingyuan carried a quiver and arrows and went ahead to lead the way for the prince.

當此之時，平原君不敢自比於人。 At this moment, Lord Pingyuan dared not compare himself with anyone else.

趙孝成王德公子之矯奪晉鄙兵而存趙，乃與平原君計，以五城封公子。 King Xiaocheng of Zhao, grateful that the prince had forged orders to seize Jin Bi's army and save Zhao, consulted with Lord Pingyuan and granted the prince fiefdom over five cities.

平原君聞之，謂其夫人曰：「始吾聞夫人弟公子天下無雙，今吾聞之，乃妄從博徒賣漿者游，公子妄人耳。」 When Lord Pingyuan heard this, he said to his wife: 'At first I heard that your younger brother the prince was peerless in the world. Now I hear he casually associates with gamblers and wine sellers. The prince is just a madman.'

公子乃謝夫人去，曰：「始吾聞平原君賢，故負魏王而救趙，以稱平原君。 The prince then took leave of his sister and departed, saying: 'At first I heard that Lord Pingyuan was worthy, so I betrayed the King of Wei and saved Zhao to live up to Lord Pingyuan.

平原君之游，徒豪舉耳，不求士也。 Lord Pingyuan's associations are merely the extravagant displays of a wealthy lord, not the true seeking of scholars.

以無忌從之游，尚恐其不我欲也，今平原君乃以為羞，其不足從游。」 That I would seek their company, I still feared they might reject me. Now Lord Pingyuan considers it shameful—he is not worth my company.'

夫人具以語平原君。 His sister fully explained this to Lord Pingyuan.

平原君乃免冠謝，固留公子。 Lord Pingyuan then removed his cap in apology and insisted that the prince stay.

平原君門下聞之，半去平原君歸公子，天下士復往歸公子，公子傾平原君客。 When Lord Pingyuan's retainers heard this, half left him to join the prince. Scholars from throughout the world once again came to serve the prince, and the prince overshadowed Lord Pingyuan's following.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 83Biographies of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang · 15 passages

魏王使客將軍新垣衍閒入邯鄲，因平原君謂趙王曰：「秦所為急圍趙者，前與齊湣王爭彊為帝，已而復歸帝； The King of Wei sent the guest general Xin Yuanyan to slip into Handan, where through Lord Pingyuan he addressed the King of Zhao: 'The reason Qin so urgently besieges Zhao is this: previously, Qin and King Min of Qi competed for supremacy and both assumed the title of Emperor, but soon afterward both relinquished it.

平原君猶預未有所決。 Lord Pingyuan hesitated, unable to reach a decision.

此時魯仲連適游趙，會秦圍趙，聞魏將欲令趙尊秦為帝，乃見平原君曰：「事將柰何？」 At this time, Lu Zhonglian happened to be traveling in Zhao. Finding Zhao under siege by Qin and hearing that the Wei envoy intended to compel Zhao to honor Qin as Emperor, he went to see Lord Pingyuan and asked, 'What will you do about this matter?'

平原君曰：「勝也何敢言事！ Lord Pingyuan replied, 'How dare I, Sheng, presume to speak of such matters!

勝也何敢言事！」 How dare I, Sheng, presume to speak of such matters!'

平原君曰：「勝請為紹介而見之於先生。」 Lord Pingyuan said, 'Allow me to introduce him and arrange a meeting with you, Master.'

平原君遂見新垣衍曰：「東國有魯仲連先生者，今其人在此，勝請為紹介，交之於將軍。」 Lord Pingyuan then went to see Xin Yuanyan and said, 'In the eastern state of Qi there is a Master Lu Zhonglian, and he happens to be here now. Allow me to introduce you to him, General.'

平原君曰：「勝既已泄之矣。」 Lord Pingyuan said, 'I have already let him know you are here.'

新垣衍曰：「吾視居此圍城之中者，皆有求於平原君者也； Xin Yuanyan said, 'As I see it, everyone who remains in this besieged city has something to ask of Lord Pingyuan.

今吾觀先生之玉貌，非有求於平原君者也，曷為久居此圍城之中而不去？」 Yet observing your distinguished countenance, Master, you do not seem to be someone who has any request of Lord Pingyuan. Why then do you remain so long in this besieged city and not leave?'

十人而從一人者，寧力不勝而智不若邪？ When ten men follow one, is it because they lack strength or fall short in wisdom?

俱據萬乘之國，各有稱王之名，睹其一戰而勝，欲從而帝之，是使三晉之大臣不如鄒、魯之仆妾也。 Both command states of ten thousand chariots, and each bears the title of king. Yet upon seeing Qin win a single battle, you would follow along and crown it Emperor—this would make the great ministers of the Three Jin states inferior even to the servants and concubines of Zou and Lu.

於是平原君欲封魯連，魯連辭讓（使）者三，終不肯受。 Thereupon Lord Pingyuan wished to grant Lu Zhonglian a fief, but Lu Zhonglian declined three times through his envoys and in the end refused to accept.

平原君乃置酒，酒酣起前，以千金為魯連壽。 Lord Pingyuan then prepared a banquet, and when the wine was flowing freely, he rose, stepped forward, and offered Lu Zhonglian a thousand pieces of gold as a toast.

遂辭平原君而去，終身不復見。 He then took his leave of Lord Pingyuan and departed, and for the rest of his life they never met again.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 85Biography of Master Lü Buwei · 1 passage

當是時，魏有信陵君，楚有春申君，趙有平原君，齊有孟嘗君，皆下士喜賓客以相傾。 In that era, the state of Wei had the Lord of Xinling, Chu had the Lord of Chunshen, Zhao had the Lord of Pingyuan, and Qi had the Lord of Mengchang. Each of these great lords vied with the others in humbling himself before scholars and hosting retainers.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 124Biographies of Knight-errants · 1 passage

近世延陵、孟嘗、春申、平原、信陵之徒，皆因王者親屬，藉於有土卿相之富厚，招天下賢者，顯名諸侯，不可謂不賢者矣。 In more recent times, the Lord of Yanling, Lord Mengchang, Lord Chunshen, Lord Pingyuan, and Lord Xinling all drew on royal kinship and the vast wealth of their fiefs to attract the worthiest men under heaven and win renown among the feudal lords — they were, by any measure, men of worth.