Contents
Biography & Historical Record
King Huiwen of Zhao (赵惠文王, Triệu Huệ Văn Vương; 310–266 BC), personal name Zhao He (赵何), was a renowned monarch of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period. He was the son of the great reformer King Wuling of Zhao.
Ascending the throne after his father’s abdication, King Huiwen steered Zhao through its greatest golden age of military and diplomatic prestige. He possessed the extraordinary wisdom to employ legendary patriots, most notably Prime Minister Lin Xiangru (Lâm Tương Như) and Supreme Commander Lian Po (Liêm Pha).
King Huiwen famously defended Zhao’s honor in the ‘Returning the Jade Intact to Zhao’ (Wanbi Gui Zhao) and Shengchi diplomatic summits, continually thwarting the aggressive expansionism of King Zhaoxiang of Qin.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Chapter 1: Historical exemplars like King Huiwen of Zhao and his harmonious commanders Lian Po and Lin Xiangru served as the ultimate benchmarks of state unity celebrated throughout the Three Kingdoms.
King Huiwen of Zhao — Historical & Literary Timeline
310 BC
Birth of Prince He
Born in Handan to King Wuling of Zhao.
298 BC
Ascension to the Throne
Crowned King of Zhao following King Wuling’s historic abdication.
266 BC
End of a Golden Era
Passes away after a glorious 33-year reign, leaving Zhao as the chief bulwark against Qin.
Key Relationships
Family
- Father King Wuling of Zhao (赵武灵王, Triệu Vũ Linh Vương): Father; King Wuling of Zhao, military visionary who introduced ‘Nomadic Dress and Horseback Archery’ (Hufu Qishe).
- Brother Zhao Sheng (赵胜, Triệu Thắng): Brother; Lord Pingyuan, famous Chancellor of Zhao and one of the Four Warring States Lords.
Friends
- Lin Xiangru (蔺相如, Lâm Tương Như): Brilliant Prime Minister; hero of ‘Returning the Jade Intact to Zhao’ (Wanbi Gui Zhao) and the Shengchi summit.
- Lian Po (廉颇, Liêm Pha): Invincible Grand General; made peace with Lin Xiangru in the famous ‘Bearing the Thorn’ (Fubao Qingzui) alliance.
Enemies
- King Zhaoxiang of Qin (秦昭襄王, Tần Chiêu Tương Vương): Aggressive expansionist king of Qin who repeatedly bullied Zhao for territory and the Heshibi jade, consistently outsmarted by King Huiwen.
Other
- Bai Qi (白起, Bạch Khởi): Qin generalissimo whose subsequent victory at Changping occurred after King Huiwen’s reign.
In Novel
Chapter 43 (Zhuge Liang’s Diplomatic Debates with Jiangdong Scholars)
- King Huiwen of Zhao (赵惠文王, Triệu Huệ Văn Vương): Invoked as the classical standard of courageous statecraft, recalling how the kingdom of Zhao defied the overwhelming might of Qin through the unyielding unity of Lin Xiangru and Lian Po.
Chapter 85 (Liu Bei Entrusts His Son at Baidicheng)
- King Huiwen of Zhao (赵惠文王, Triệu Huệ Văn Vương): Cited in historical homilies on monarchical wisdom and the trust placed in ministers of state to preserve the ancestral altars against external aggression.
In History
Summary
- King Huiwen of Zhao (赵惠文王, Triệu Huệ Văn Vương) (310–266 BC), personal name Zhao He (赵何), was a visionary sovereign of the state of Zhao during the Warring States period; son of the martial reformer King Wuling of Zhao.
Year: 279 BC
- Convened the legendary Mianchi Conference with King Zhaoxiang of Qin; backed by minister Lin Xiangru and general Lian Po, King Huiwen preserved Zhao’s national prestige and thwarted Qin intimidation.
Year: 269 BC
- Dispatched general Zhao She to relieve Eyu, crushing the invading Qin army and proving that Zhao could militarily defeat Qin in open pitched battle.
Historical Record
- Records of the Grand Historian (史记), Volume 43 (House of Zhao): Comprehensive record of his 44-year reign and patronage of talent.
- Records of the Grand Historian (史记), Volume 81 (Biographies of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru): Celebrates his court’s moral rectitude and martial resolve.