身世

陈直认为春申君是黄国的后裔，而司马迁、韩非子、金正炜、钱穆、杨宽均认为春申君为楚顷襄王之弟。

生平

受命赴秦

黄歇年轻的时候曾四处拜师游学，见识广博，以辩才出众深得楚顷襄王的赏识。

在楚顷襄王熊横还是太子的时候，曾在秦国作为政治人质。前302年，熊横在私斗中杀死秦国的一位看守大夫逃回楚国，秦国和楚国的关系开始恶化。前299年，秦国伐楚，攻下八个城池，楚怀王入秦国求和，被秦昭王强行扣留，最后于前296年死在秦国。前298年，楚顷襄王熊横即位，秦昭王对其非常轻视，大举出兵准备灭掉楚国。秦昭王派遣白起攻打楚国，夺下巫郡（今四川东部）、黔中郡（今湖南、四川、贵州交界地区）两郡，并于前278年攻下楚国都城鄢郢（今湖北江陵），向东直打到竟陵（今湖北潜江），楚顷襄王被迫把都城向东迁往陈县（今河南淮阳）。

这时的楚顷襄王急于和秦国求和，于是于前272年派遣辩才出众的黄歇出使秦国。当时秦昭王派遣白起进攻韩国和魏国的联军，在华阳大败他们，擒获魏国将领芒卯，韩国和魏国只好向秦国臣服并听命于秦国。秦昭王已命令白起同韩国、魏国一起进攻楚国，正准备出发。这时，黄歇恰巧来到秦国，听到秦国这个计划。黄歇于是上书劝秦昭王说，秦国和楚国是最强大的两个国家，如果秦国欲攻打楚国，必然会导致两败俱伤，很容易使韩、赵、魏、齐等国家得渔翁之利。这还不如让秦国和楚国结盟，然后联合起来一起对付其它国家。秦昭王被黄歇成功说服，于是阻止了白起出征，派使臣给楚国送去厚礼，与楚国缔结盟约，互为友好国家。

黄歇接受盟约后回到楚国，楚顷襄王派黄歇和太子熊完做为人质去到秦国，秦昭王将他们扣留十年。前263年，楚顷襄王病重，秦国却不同意熊完回去楚国，黄歇知道秦国丞相范雎和熊完关系很好，于是试图说服范雎。黄歇指出楚顷襄王可能会一病不起，如果秦国能让熊完回去，熊完即位后必然会感激秦国，努力维护和秦国的关系；如果不放熊完回去，而是利用熊完要挟楚国，楚国必然会另立太子以对付秦国，秦和楚的关系就会破裂，而被秦国掌握的太子熊完也就变成了一个没有价值的人。范雎将黄歇的意思转达给秦昭王，秦昭王让熊完的师傅回去探问一下楚顷襄王的病情，回来后再作打算。

此时的黄歇为太子熊完深深担扰，他觉得如果楚顷襄王真的不幸去世，而熊完又不在楚国的话，把持楚国朝政的王室宗亲阳文君必定会把自己的儿子立为新太子，这样，熊完就不能继承王位了。于是，黄歇让熊完换了衣服扮成楚国使臣的车夫得以出关，而他自己却在住所留守，并以熊完生病为藉口谢绝访客。等熊完走远了，秦国没办法再追到时，黄歇才向秦昭王说出实情，秦昭王大怒，想把黄歇赐死。范雎劝道，熊完即位后，必定会重用黄歇，不如放黄歇回楚，以表示秦国的亲善。秦昭王听从范雎的意见，因而将黄歇送回楚国。

辅国持权

黄歇回到楚国三个月，楚顷襄王去世，熊完即位，是为楚考烈王。楚考烈王元年（前262年），黄歇被楚考烈王任命为楚国令尹，封为春申君，赐给淮北十二县的封地。15年后，由于在公元前333年被楚威王打残以及在公元前306年被楚怀王灭掉的越国的残馀势力不断骚扰早已是楚国版图的原吴越地，后方不稳，于是春申君藉口与齐国相临的淮北经常发生战事，请求楚考烈王把自己的封地淮北十二县换到江东，楚考烈王答应了黄歇的要求。

前260年，赵孝成王在和秦国的长平之战中，中了秦国的反间计，用「纸上谈兵」的赵括取代老将廉颇，结果导致赵国的大败，40多万兵士被秦国坑杀。前258年，赵国把灵丘赐予给春申君作为封地，但不知是否和出兵救赵是否有关。前257年，秦国的军队包围了赵国的都城邯郸，赵国的形势非常危急，赵国的丞相平原君赵胜前去楚国请求救援，楚考烈王弃秦楚两国的盟约不顾，派遣春申君领兵救援赵国。与此同时，魏国也派出信陵君魏无忌救援赵国，在楚、魏、赵三国的联合下，一举击溃秦国，解除了邯郸之围。

前256年，楚考烈王派遣春申君向北征伐鲁国，次年春申君灭掉鲁国，任命荀况为兰陵（今山东苍山）县令。通过援赵灭鲁，春申君的在诸侯中的威望大增，也使楚国重新兴盛强大。

春申君黄歇在对外显示楚国惊人的中兴实力的同时，对内则致力于扫除残越势力对江东原吴越地的骚扰并开发江东，兴修水利，造福于民。同时，春申君也一扫自楚顷襄王以来楚国的奢靡之风，楚考烈王时代的封君们在春申君的约束下，到底比不得楚顷襄王时代的州侯、夏侯、鄢陵君、寿陵君等等，也都不敢恣意妄为、骄奢淫欲，使得秦昭襄王都不得不对相国范雎忧叹道：「吾闻楚之铁剑利而倡优拙。夫铁剑利则士勇,倡优拙则思虑远。夫以远思虑而御勇士,吾恐楚之图秦也。」

但晚年时，春申君与齐国的孟尝君，赵国的平原君，魏国的信陵君竞相礼贤下士，招引门客，最高峰时黄歇有门客3000多人，其数量在「战国四公子」中居于首位。黄歇的门客多逞强好斗，奢侈浮华。有一次，赵国的平原君派门客拜访春申君，春申君把他们安排在上等的客馆住下。平原君的门客想向楚国夸耀赵国的富有，他们特意在头上插上玳瑁簪子，亮出装饰著珍珠宝玉的剑鞘，前去拜见春申君，而春申君的上等门客都穿著宝珠做的鞋子，让平原君的门客自惭形秽。

前256年，秦国灭掉西周国，同年，寄居在西周国的周赧王死去，作为天子之国的周朝不复存在。前249年，秦国秦庄襄王即位，任命吕不韦为丞相，又带兵灭掉东周国。前242年，各诸侯国担忧秦国吞并中原的势头不能遏制，故除亲秦的齐国外，其馀五国于是互相订立盟约，联合起来讨伐秦国，并让楚考烈王担任合纵联军的首脑，让春申君当权主事，他任命庞暖为联军主帅，合纵联军曾一度攻到函谷关（今河南灵宝境内），秦国倾全国之兵出关应战，合纵联军战败而逃。楚考烈王怕秦国向楚国报复，迁都至寿阳，并将作战失利的罪责归于春申君，从此开始冷落他。

命丧棘门

春申君有一门客为赵国人李园，他把妹妹李环进献给春申君为妾，后来李环怀有身孕。由于楚考烈王在位多年无子嗣，春申君怕楚考烈王死后楚国王位由其他王族继承，会影响他的政治地位。李园建议春申君将其妹李环献给无子的楚考烈王为妃，她怀著的孩子便有机会继承王位。后来李环生下一子熊悍，被立为太子，李园晋为国舅，得与春申君同掌楚国朝政。前238年，楚考烈王病重，李园一来怕太子熊悍的身世败露，二来又想取代黄歇的地位，于是暗中豢养了刺客准备刺杀春申君。春申君另一门客朱英得到了这个消息，提醒春申君注意李园的动向，但春申君认为李园没有胆量及能力对付他，故没有理会朱英的警告。不久，楚考烈王去世，李园抢先进入王宫，在棘门埋伏下刺客。春申君前去王宫奔丧，在棘门受到李园刺客的伏击，当即被斩杀，首级扔在棘门外。同时，李园派官兵前去春申君家中，将春申君一家灭族。同年，熊悍继位，是为楚幽王，李园取代黄歇，被任命为楚国令尹。

春申君死后葬地众说纷纭。一说他死后葬于安徽淮南市谢家集区李郢孜镇境内，今有「春申君陵园」。一说他葬于古黔中郡开元寺（今湖南常德一带）。陈桥驿主编的《中国都城辞典》称「皇陵冢、即春申君黄歇墓，在江陵城东35公里处，泥港湖东岸」。另，江苏苏州人颇敬春申君，不少民众奉之为城隍，为之立神主，定期祭祀。

评语

司马迁：我前往楚地，看春申君过去的城池，那宫庭壮观大气啊！当时，春申君说服秦昭王，以及挺身而出把楚太子送回楚国，智慧是多么高明啊！可是受制于李园，却昏庸了。俗话说：「应当决断时不决断，反过来就要遭受祸患。」说的就是春申君失却了朱英说要先杀李园的机会罢？

《索隐述赞》：黄歇辩智，权略秦、楚。太子获归，身作宰辅。珠炫赵客，邑开吴土。烈王寡胤，李园献女。无妄成灾，朱英徒语。

宋末元初年的大儒许衡在其《鲁斋遗书》中有言：战国四君子，其可称道者为一春申君尔，其馀皆尸位素餐者也！

著名的史学家黎东方教授的《细说秦汉》：单就黄浦江的疏浚与安顿荀况于兰陵这两件事而论，春申君对中国经济与中国文化的贡献，可说是非其他三位公子可比。其他三位都是抗秦的勇者，然而其成就是限于军事与政治，而且是有时间性的。春申君黄歇也是抗秦的勇者，其贡献却及于经济及文化，并且是「永久性」的。可叹的是，他最后死于非命，并且连累了全家。

楚史学家张正明认为，春申君晚年之所以会轻信李园而被其所害，是因为他在晚年因为早年的丰功伟绩而变得自信满满，太过于相信自己的判断。

影视作品

电视剧

注释

Family background

Much of what is known about Lord Chunshen comes from his biography in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), written by the great Han Dynasty historian Sima Qian. The Shiji does not mention his family background, leading some historians to speculate that he descended from the State of Huang, judging by his surname. However, most modern historians, including Ch'ien Mu and Yang Kuan, believe that he was a son of King Huai of Chu, and younger brother of King Qingxiang of Chu.

As ambassador to Qin

As Huang Xie was a well-educated scholar and highly eloquent in his speech, King Qingxiang of Chu dispatched him as an ambassador to the Kingdom of Qin. At this time the Kingdom of Chu, though large in area, was in grave danger from Qin, the most powerful of the Seven Warring States. King Huai, King Qingxiang's father, had died in captivity in Qin, and a Qin army had invaded the western part of Chu and captured its capital Ying. King Qingxiang had been forced to flee and move his capital east to Chen County.

The historical text Zhan Guo Ce records a long, impassioned letter written by an unnamed Chu envoy to the king of Qin, pleading him not to invade Chu. In the Shiji, Sima Qian attributes this letter to Huang Xie, saying that he successfully persuaded King Zhao of Qin to call off his plan to invade Chu. However, modern historians have concluded the letter could not have been written by Huang, as it mentioned events that occurred after his death.

Rescue of the crown prince

As part of a peace treaty with Qin, King Qingxiang of Chu agreed to send his son, Crown Prince Wan, to Qin as a hostage, and Huang Xie stayed with the prince in Qin. After several years, Huang Xie received the news that King Qingxiang was ill. Afraid that the son of Lord Yangwen, King Qingxiang's brother, would seize the throne if Crown Prince Wan remained a hostage in Qin, Huang Xie secretly arranged the prince's escape back to Chu.

When Huang Xie told King Zhao of Qin about Prince Wan's escape, the furious king ordered him to commit suicide. However, Fan Ju, the Prime Minister of Qin, persuaded King Zhao to release Huang Xie, in order to maintain a friendly relationship with Chu.

As Prime Minister of Chu

Three months after Huang Xie returned to Chu, King Qingxiang died in 263 BC. Crown Prince Wan ascended the throne, to be known as King Kaolie of Chu. In 262 BC, King Kaolie appointed Huang Xie the Prime Minister of Chu, awarded him the title Lord Chunshen, and enfeoffed him with twelve counties of Huaibei, north of the Huai River. Fifteen years later, at Lord Chunshen's own request, the king changed his fief to the Jiangnan area (then called Jiangdong), because it was better for the state to directly administer the strategic Huaibei area, at the border with Qi. Lord Chunshen set up his new base at the former capital of Wu, in modern Suzhou.

Lord Chunshen became powerful and wealthy, and kept more than 3,000 retainers. He became well known as one of the Four Lords of the Warring States, together with Lord Mengchang of Qi, Lord Xinling of Wei, and Lord Pingyuan of Zhao.

In 259 BC, the Qin army massacred 400,000 Zhao soldiers at the Battle of Changping, and besieged Handan, the capital of Zhao, the following year. Zhao sought help from Chu; Lord Chunshen led the Chu army to Handan, and successfully relieved the siege. In 256 BC, Lord Chunshen attacked the State of Lu, and annexed the state for Chu.

In 241 BC, five of the seven major warring states: Chu, Zhao, Wei, Yan, and Han, formed an alliance to fight the rising power of Qin. King Kaolie of Chu was named the leader of the alliance, and Lord Chunshen the military commander. According to historian Yang Kuan, the Zhao general Pang Nuan (庞暖) was the actual commander in the battle. The allies attacked Qin at the strategic Hangu Pass, but were defeated. King Kaolie blamed Lord Chunshen for the loss and began to mistrust him. Afterwards, Chu moved its capital east to Shouchun, farther away from the threat of Qin.

Assassination

In 238 BC, King Kaolie was ill. Earlier, Lord Chunshen's retainer Li Yuan (李园) presented his younger sister to the king. The sister gave birth to a son, who was made the crown prince of Chu, and she became the queen. Li Yuan also gained the favour of the king. When the king was dying, Zhu Ying (朱英), another of Lord Chunshen's 3,000 retainers, advised him to kill Li Yuan, but Lord Chunshen refused, believing that Li Yuan was a weak man and grateful to him.

As soon as King Kaolie died in 238 BC, Li Yuan dispatched killers to assassinate Lord Chunshen as he entered the Ji Gate (棘门) in Shouchun. After killing him, Li Yuan ordered the massacre of Lord Chunshen's entire family. Li Yuan's nephew, the crown prince, ascended the throne, to be known as King You of Chu.

Relationship with King You

According to the Zhan Guo Ce, King You of Chu was the illegitimate son of Lord Chunshen. It is said that King Kaolie had no son despite having many concubines. Li Yuan presented his younger sister to Lord Chunshen, and after she became pregnant with Lord Chunshen's child but before the pregnancy was obvious, Lord Chunshen presented the woman to the king. She gave birth to a boy named Xiong Han, who was made the crown prince and later became King You of Chu.

Sima Qian recorded the story in the Shiji as part of Lord Chunshen's biography, but most historians, including Huang Shisan, Ch'ien Mu, and Yang Kuan, consider it apocryphal. King Kaolie was known to have at least three other sons, King Ai, Fuchu, and Lord Changping, the last three kings of Chu.

Legacy

Lord Chunshen is a revered figure in his former fief of Wu, and especially in Shanghai. He was credited with building hydrological works on the "three rivers" of Wu: East River, Lou River, and Wusong River, which helped to prevent floods and develop agriculture. The Huangpu, Shanghai's "mother river", gets its name from Lord Chunshen's surname Huang. The Huangpu is also called the Chunshen or Shen River.

Shanghai is also called Shencheng, or City of Shen, in the honour of Lord Chunshen. In 2002, the Shanghai government rebuilt the Temple of Lord Chunshen on the site of an ancient temple. The temple is in the Chunshen Village, where he was said to have lived, in Songjiang District. The temple is decorated with calligraphy by famous Songjiang artists Shi Zhecun, Cheng Shifa, and Zheng Wei (郑为).

Lord Chunshen's tomb is said to be located in Huainan, Anhui province, 12 kilometers outside of ancient Shouchun. The extant tomb measures 90 meters by 80 meters, and is 11 meters high.

Jiangxia District of Wuhan, Hubei province claims that Lord Chunshen was buried in Jiangxia after his death, and has built a tomb and sculpture for him.

Portrayal in media

In the Kingdom (manga) he is portrayed as the caustic Shunshinkun.