Huiwen of Qin

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King Qin Huiwen , also known as Monarch Huiwen of Qin and King Hui of Qin (秦惠文王, 秦惠文君，秦惠王), ruled the Chinese state of Qin from 338 BC until 311 BC. He took the title of "king", rather than "duke" as his predecessors and peers of the other Zhou states had. "King Qin Huiwen" (秦惠文王) is his posthumous title or name, conferred by the temple he was associated with, as is customary in Chinese dynastic history. Ying Si (嬴駟) was his ruling name. He succeeded Duke Xiao (秦孝公) (also a posthumous name) and executed his predecessor's prime minister, the famous legalist, Shang Yang (商鞅), on charges of fomenting rebellion. The real reason may have been longstanding hatred toward Shang Yang for his draconian punishments: it is recorded that Shang Yang enraged the young crown prince Huiwen by having the nose of Huiwen's tutor cut off for a minor infraction. Nevertheless Huiwen retained Shang Yang's reforms to the structure of the Qin state as he could see the benefits inherent in these — indeed the legalist reforms enacted by Shang Yang probably contributed significantly to Qin's successful conquest of the other Six Kingdoms.

By his middle years, Huiwen had defeated many of his enemies. Even so, a remaining enemy, Luoyang Su Qin, canvassed the other six countries of the Warring States to form an alliance against Qin. This put Qin under considerable pressure. Nevertheless King Qin Huiwen recruited Su Qin's friend-in-crime, Zhang Yi, to crush the alliance. Infighting contributed to the fall of the alliance. Su Qin was later executed in the kingdom Qi (齐).

King Qin Huiwen also played a major role in the unification of Qin Shi Huang. He ruled Qin for 27 years, dying in 311 BC at the age of 46. His son, King Qin Wu, succeeded his throne, but only for a short time. During Qin Wu's reign, Zhang Yi departed to Wei (魏) and thence switched back and forth between the two countries. He finally died in Wei.

Preceded by Xiao

King of Qin 338 BC–311 BC

Succeeded by King Wu