Marquess Lie of Zhao

Marquess Lie of Zhao (?-400 BCE) (simplified Chinese: 赵烈侯; traditional Chinese: 趙烈侯; pinyin: Zhào Liè Hóu) was a ruler of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period of Chinese history (475-220 BCE). Born Zhào Jí (simplified Chinese: 赵籍; traditional Chinese: 趙籍), his father was Marquess Xian of Zhao (simplified Chinese: 赵献侯; traditional Chinese: 趙獻侯; pinyin: Zhào Xiàn Hóu).

During his reign the Marquess employed righteous and humane government officials including Gōng Zhònglián (Chinese: 公仲连), Niú Xù (Chinese: 牛畜), Xún Xīn (Chinese: 荀欣) and Xú Yuè (Chinese: 徐越) whilst himself following the virtuous “Way of the King” (Chinese: 王道; pinyin: Wáng Dào).

When fierce cavalry from the State of Zhōngshān (simplified Chinese: 中山国; traditional Chinese: 中山國) attacked the State of Zhao, Marquess Lie allied with Marquess Wen of Wei (Chinese: 魏文侯; pinyin: Wèi Wén Hóu) of the State of Wei to attack Zhongshan and afterwards moved the Zhao capital to Hándān (simplified Chinese: 邯郸; traditional Chinese: 邯鄲).

In the sixth year of Marquess Lie’s reign (403 BCE), Zhao, along with Wei and Han, became vassal states of the Zhou Kingdom as a result of the Partition of Jin.

Marquess Lie died in 400 BCE in the second year of the reign of King An of Zhou (Chinese: 周安王; pinyin: Zhōu Ān Wáng). Since his son was underage, Marquess Lie’s younger brother Zhào Wŭgōng (simplified Chinese: 赵武公; traditional Chinese: 趙武公) succeeded him as ruler.