Kuai, King of Yan

Ji Kuai, commonly known as "Kuai, King of Yan" (Chinese: 燕王噲), was a king of the Yan state. He ruled the state between 320 BC and 318 BC.^[1]

Ji Kuai 姬噲
King of Yan
Reign	320–318 BCE
Predecessor	King Yi
Successor	Zi Zhi (子之) (usurper)
Born	?
Died	314 BC
Issue	Crown Prince Ping (太子平) King Zhao of Yan
Names ancestral name Jī (姬) clan name Yān (燕) Given name Kuài (噲 or 徻)
House	Ji
Dynasty	Yan
Father	King Yi of Yan

Kuai was the son of King Yi, whom he succeeded to the throne. In 318 BC, Lu Maoshou (鹿毛壽) persuaded him to resign the throne in favor of the powerful chancellor Zizhi (子之) to "prove his humility".^[2] Kuai did so and even removed his crown prince from power. In 314 BC, Crown Prince Ping (太子平) revolted against Zizhi, but was failed and killed in action.^[3][4] Encouraged by Mencius and other ministers, King Xuan of Qi sent Kuang Zhang (匡章) to attack Yan in 314 BC.^[5] Yan was practically conquered by Qi, and both Kuai and Zizhi were killed.^[4][2]

References

1. Cihai (small print edition) (5th ed.). Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House. p. 2509. ISBN 7-5326-0630-9.
2. Cihai (small print edition) (5th ed.). Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House. p. 1501. ISBN 7-5326-0630-9.
3. Lee Mosol, MD, MPH (2013). Ancient History of the Manchuria: Redefining the past. ISBN 9781483667690.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
4. Records of the Grand Historian. Vol. 34. 三年，国大乱，百姓恫恐。将军市被与太子平谋，将攻子之。诸将谓齐湣王曰："因而赴之，破燕必矣。"齐王因令人谓燕太子平曰："寡人闻太子之义，将废私而立公，饬君臣之义，明父子之位。寡人之国小，不足以为先後。虽然，则唯太子所以令之。"太子因要党聚众，将军市被围公宫，攻子之，不克。将军市被及百姓反攻太子平，将军市被死，以徇。因搆难数月，死者数万，众人恫恐，百姓离志。孟轲谓齐王曰："今伐燕，此文、武之时，不可失也。"
5. Mencius, chapter 4