King Wei of Qi facts for kids

King Wei of Qi (Chinese: 齊威王; pinyin: Qí Wēi Wáng), whose personal name was Tian Yinqi (田因齊), was a powerful ruler in ancient China. He was the king of the northern Chinese state of Qi. This was during a time called the Warring States period, when many different states fought for control of China. King Wei ruled from 356 to 320 BC. He was the first ruler of Qi to call himself a "king."

His son, King Xuan of Qi, became king after him. A wise advisor named Su Qin once said that King Wei and King Xuan were among the best rulers of their time. He noted that their state of Qi was strong and wealthy. Their people were capable, and their armies were powerful.

A Wise and Fair King

King Wei was known for being fair and careful with his officials. One time, his spies kept telling him that one of his generals, Zhangzi, had given up to the enemy state of Qin. But King Wei refused to believe it. He trusted Zhangzi.

Soon after, news arrived that Qi had won a great battle. The king of Qin even apologized to Qi. King Wei said he always knew Zhangzi was loyal. This story showed how much he trusted his people.

Encouraging Feedback

King Wei also wanted to hear what people thought about his rule. He made a rule that anyone who criticized him directly would get the highest reward. Those who wrote down their criticisms would get the next highest reward. Even those who just heard criticism and told him about it would get a reward.

At first, so many people came to share their thoughts that the entrance to his palace looked like a busy market. But after a year, people had fewer problems to report. This was because King Wei had already fixed many issues. When other states like Yan, Zhao, Han, and Wei heard about this, they were impressed. They all sent representatives to visit Qi.

Military Successes

King Wei hired a famous military expert named Sun Bin as his main advisor. Sun Bin helped plan the strategy for a big victory for Qi. This was at the Battle of Maling in 342 BC. This battle greatly weakened the rival state of Wei. The enemy general, Pang Juan, died there. Later in his rule, King Wei also sent his armies to fight against the states of Qin and Zhao.

King Wei also had a special bronze pot made. This pot is important because it has the earliest known mention of the Yellow Emperor. The Yellow Emperor is a legendary figure in Chinese history.

King Wei's Family

King Wei had several children. His first son, Crown Prince Pijiang, later became King Xuan of Qi. Another son, Prince Ying, was the father of a very famous person named Lord Mengchang. Lord Mengchang was a powerful and influential figure in Qi.

Queens:

• Queen Wei (威后)

Concubines:

• Wey Ji (衛姬 姬姓), from the Wey state
• Yu Ji (虞姬 虞姓), whose personal name was Juanzhi (娟之)

Sons:

• Crown Prince Pijiang (太子辟疆; 350–301 BC), who became King Xuan of Qi
• Prince Ying (公子嬰), also known as Lord Jingguo (靖郭君)
  • He was the father of Lord Mengchang
  • He served as the Prime Minister of Qi
  • He was given the land of Xue in 322 BC
• Prince Jiaoshi (公子郊师)