King Wuling of Zhao

King Wuling of Zhao (Traditional Chinese:趙武靈王, Simplified Chinese: 赵武灵王) (? - 295 BCE, reigned 325 BCE - 299 BCE) reigned in the State of Zhao during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. His reign was famous for one important event: the reforms consisting of "Wearing Barbarian Uniform and the Use of Cavalry in Battle" (Simplified Chinese: 胡服骑射, Traditional Chinese: 胡服騎射).

Probably the son of Zhao Suhou (Marquess Su of Zhao, Simplified Chinese: 赵肃侯), King Wuling of Zhao ascended to the throne at 325 BCE, about halfway into the Warring Kingdoms Era (Chinese historians refer to that as the period between 481 BCE and 221 BCE). His reign coincided with the appearance of several other notable figures in the Warring Kingdoms.

Rule and Reforms

During the early years of his reign the Kingdom of Zhao was constantly harassed by the Eastern Hu (Simplified Chinese: 东胡), the Linhu (Simplified and Traditional Chinese: 林胡), the Liufan (Simplified Chinese: 楼烦) and the Xiongnu (Simplified and Traditional Chinese: 匈奴), all wandering tribes. This might have been the inspiration for his later reforms.

In 307 BCE Wuling started his reforms. Mostly military, they concentrated on making the military more suited to fighting battles. Up to that time Zhao commanders riding on horseback still wore robes and normal court attire. Wuling ordered all commanders - in fact, the whole court and military - to wear the Hu uniform - pants, belt, boots, fur caps and fur clothes. He created a cavalry division in the army and trained them not only in the ways of a cavalry charge, but in horse archery as well.

His reforms did not go unopposed. While many reformists and officials supported the reforms, seeing it as a way to greatness and power, conservative members of the royal family such as Zhao Wuling's uncle Lord Cheng (Simplified and Traditional Chinese: 公子成) disliked it, claiming that there should not be any "Copying of barbarian clothing and changing of old rules" (Simplified Chinese: 不该 "袭远方之服, 变古之教"). Lord Cheng even went so far as to be absent from court.

Wuling did much to cease opposition. He said, "There is not only one way to rule the world, nor is there any need to copy the old to benefit the country" (Simplified Chinese: "理世不必一道, 便国不必法古")and "Those who use the old to define the new do not achieve change" (Simplified Chinese: "以古制今者, 不达于事之变"). He wore the "barbaric" clothes on court and persuaded others to do the same. He even visited Lord Cheng and gave him a suit of the "barbarian" clothing. Finally, Lord Cheng relented, and the controversy stopped.

Wuling's reforms greatly improved the fighting capability of the Zhao military. The same year the Zhao attacked the barbarian country of Zhongshan (Simplified and Traditional Chinese: 中山) and took several cities. In 306 BCE the Zhao military launched expeditions into barbarian territory in the north. The northern expedition was highly successful: the Kings of the Liufan and Linhu surrendered and its territory administered by the governor of Dai (Simplified and Traditional Chinese: 代). The next year, Zhongshan, with most of its settlements, large or small, in Zhao hands, capitulated. In 304 BCE the upper reaches of the Yellow River were invaded and taken from the barbarian tribes like the Hezhongsi (Simplified and Traditional Chinese: 河宗氏) and the You (Simplified and Traditional Chinese: 休). In the conquered areas King Wuling created two prefectures in 302 BCE - Yunzhong (Simplified Chinese: 云中) and Jiuyuan (Simplified and Traditional Chinese: 九原). In a little over five years Zhao Wuling had expanded his country to the border with the Yan, the upper reaches of the Yellow River and into the north, and had forced two tribal leaders - the Liufan and Linhu kings - to surrender. King Wuling took control of their armies and added them to his military, creating extra divisions made up entirely of hardy Mongolian warriors.

Abdication and Death

In 299 BCE Zhao Wuling, perhaps tired out from all he had done and wishing to become more involved with military instead of political affairs, abdicated and gave the throne of Zhao to his younger son, Zhao He (Simplified Chinese: 赵何) who was to become King Weiwen of the Zhao (Simplified Chinese: 赵惠文王). He called himself the "Master Father" (Simplified and Traditional Chinese: 主父), using his new title to visit neighbouring countries, especially the Qin, which he visited secretly. He lived long enough to see the annexation of the Zhongshan by the Zhao in 296 BCE.

In 295 BCE Wuling's older son Zhao Zhang (Simplified Chinese: 赵章) rebelled against King Wenwei and lost. He escaped to the palace in Shayou (Simplified and Traditional Chinese: 沙丘), where Zhao Wuling took pity on him and kept him in his palace.

Seeing this, the Prime Minister Lord Anping (Simplified and Traditional Chinese: 安平君), who was Lord Cheng, and his subordinate Lord Fengyang (Simplified Chinese: 奉阳君), also known as Li Yu (Simplified and Traditional Chinese: 李兌) surrounded the palace, allowing no food or water to be provided to the inhabitants inside. In desperation, King Wuling ordered Zhang to be killed, but still the besiegers did not retreat. Thus after 100 days, King Wuling starved to death. When the siege was finally lifted, King Wuling's body was already rotting and full of worms - a pitiful ending for such a king.

Wuling was the first Zhao ruler to have the title "king".

References

* Zhanguoshi (History of the Warring Kingdoms), Yang Huan, Commercial Press. ISBN 957-05-1416-7