| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 魏无忌, 魏無忌, Wèi Wújì |
| Nickname | Lord Xinling (信陵君, Xìnlíng Jūn) |
| Other name | Ngụy Vô Kỵ |
| INFORMATION | |
| Birth Place | Daliang, State of Wei (魏国大梁; Đại Lương, nước Ngụy) |
| Died | 243 BC |
| Death Reason | Excessive drinking and debauchery leading to illness. |
| FAMILY | |
| Father | |
| Relatives | |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | State of Wei |
| Battles | Battle of Handan, Battle of the Yellow River |
Biography & Historical Record
Wei Wuji (魏无忌, Ngụy Vô Kỵ), better known by his title Lord Xinling (信陵君, Tín Lăng quân), was one of the ‘Four Lords of the Warring States’ of China. He was renowned for his extreme humility, his ability to attract and retain talented individuals regardless of their social standing, and his deep loyalty to his homeland. Despite being a prince of the State of Wei, he famously lowered himself to visit humble scholars like Hou Ying (侯嬴, Hầu Doanh) and Zhu Hai (朱亥, Chu Hợi) to seek their counsel and aid.
His most significant achievement was the salvation of the State of Zhao (赵国, Triệu quốc) during the Siege of Handan by the State of Qin (秦国, Tần quốc). By cunningly stealing the military tally from his half-brother, King Anxi of Wei (魏安釐王, Ngụy An Ly Vương), and commanding the Wei army to join forces with the state of Chu (楚国, Sở quốc), he successfully forced the Qin army to retreat. He lived his later years in exile in the state of Zhao to avoid political persecution by his brother, but ultimately returned to save Wei from further Qin aggression before dying in 243 BC.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
While Wei Wuji predates the Three Kingdoms period by centuries, he is frequently referenced in the narrative as the archetype of the righteous and charismatic nobleman. Figures such as Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) and Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) often modeled their recruitment of talented subordinates after the legacy of Lord Xinling, who valued merit and loyalty over rank.
Wei Wuji — Historical & Literary Timeline
257 BC
The Rescue of Handan
Wei Wuji steals the tiger tally to seize control of the Wei military, orchestrating a coalition that breaks the Qin siege of Handan, the capital of Zhao.
247 BC
The Alliance against Qin
He leads the allied forces of five states to defeat the army of Qin at the Yellow River, forcing the Qin troops to retreat behind the Hangu Pass.
243 BC
Death
Distrusted by his brother and targeted by Qin’s disinformation campaigns, Wei Wuji retreats from political life and dies from illness exacerbated by heavy drinking.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Wei Wuji on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
- Historical Figures
- Hou Ying (侯嬴, Hầu Doanh): A gatekeeper whose strategic advice enabled the theft of the military tally.
- Zhu Hai (朱亥, Chu Hợi): A butcher who acted as his loyal assassin and bodyguard.
- King Anxi of Wei (魏安釐王, Ngụy An Ly Vương): His half-brother, whose insecurity and suspicion eventually forced Wei Wuji into a precarious position.
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