King Zhuangxiang of Qin
Encyclopedia
King Zhuangxiang of Qin , personal name Yiren , later renamed to Zichu , was the ruler of the Qin state
during the 3rd century BC in the Warring States Period
of Chinese history
.
as a hostage. Ying Yiren was not treated well in Zhao and was despised. By coincidence, Ying Yiren met a businessman, Lü Buwei
, who thought that Ying was an extraordinary person and had the potential to become the future ruler of Qin. Lü brought Ying Yiren to his residence and treated him well, presenting Ying with luxuries and his concubine, Lady Zhao. Lady Zhao later bore Ying Yiren a son, Ying Zheng
.
In the meantime, Lü Buwei helped Ying Yiren win the favour of Lord Anguo's favourite concubine, Lady Huayang, and Lady Huayang managed to persuade Lord Anguo to name Ying Yiren as his successor. Lady Huayang was a native of the Chu state
and she renamed Yiren to "Zichu" (子楚), which literally means "son of Chu". After the death of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Lord Anguo ascended to the throne of Qin as King Xiaowen of Qin, but died after reigning for a year. Ying Yiren succeeded King Xiaowen and became King Zhuangxiang of Qin. King Zhuangxiang appointed Lü Buwei as his chancellor and Ying Zheng as the crown prince
.
King Zhuangxiang ruled Qin for three years and died in 247 BC at the age of 35. Historians have suspected that King Zhuangxiang's death was caused by Lü Buwei, as the king discovered Lü's adulterous affairs with Lady Zhao. Another popular belief is that Ying Zheng was not the biological son of King Zhuangxiang, as Lady Zhao was already pregnant with Lü Buwei's child when Lü presented her to King Zhuangxiang. Ying Zheng succeeded King Zhuangxiang as the ruler of Qin and unified China under the Qin Dynasty
in 221 BC, and proclaimed himself "Qin Shi Huang
" (First Emperor of Qin).
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
during the 3rd century BC in the Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
.
Biography
Ying Yiren was born to Lord Anguo and his concubine Lady Xia. Being the least favoured child of the royal family, Ying Yiren was sent by his father to the Zhao stateZhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
as a hostage. Ying Yiren was not treated well in Zhao and was despised. By coincidence, Ying Yiren met a businessman, Lü Buwei
Lü Buwei
Lü Buwei , Lord Wenxin 文信侯 was a Warring States Period merchant who schemed his way into governing the State of Qin. He served as Chancellor of China for King Zhuangxiang of Qin, and as regent and Chancellor for the king's young son Zheng, who became Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China...
, who thought that Ying was an extraordinary person and had the potential to become the future ruler of Qin. Lü brought Ying Yiren to his residence and treated him well, presenting Ying with luxuries and his concubine, Lady Zhao. Lady Zhao later bore Ying Yiren a son, Ying Zheng
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
.
In the meantime, Lü Buwei helped Ying Yiren win the favour of Lord Anguo's favourite concubine, Lady Huayang, and Lady Huayang managed to persuade Lord Anguo to name Ying Yiren as his successor. Lady Huayang was a native of the Chu state
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
and she renamed Yiren to "Zichu" (子楚), which literally means "son of Chu". After the death of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Lord Anguo ascended to the throne of Qin as King Xiaowen of Qin, but died after reigning for a year. Ying Yiren succeeded King Xiaowen and became King Zhuangxiang of Qin. King Zhuangxiang appointed Lü Buwei as his chancellor and Ying Zheng as the crown prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
.
King Zhuangxiang ruled Qin for three years and died in 247 BC at the age of 35. Historians have suspected that King Zhuangxiang's death was caused by Lü Buwei, as the king discovered Lü's adulterous affairs with Lady Zhao. Another popular belief is that Ying Zheng was not the biological son of King Zhuangxiang, as Lady Zhao was already pregnant with Lü Buwei's child when Lü presented her to King Zhuangxiang. Ying Zheng succeeded King Zhuangxiang as the ruler of Qin and unified China under the Qin Dynasty
Qin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
in 221 BC, and proclaimed himself "Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
" (First Emperor of Qin).