State
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| Name | Zhao |
| Kanji | 趙 |
| Chinese | Zhào |
| Romaji | Chō |
| Capital | Kantan |
The State of Zhao (趙; jp: Chō; cn: Zhào), is of one China's current six Warring States, located in the central plains of the continent and its northern boders. It is a state with formidable military power, acting as the major enemy against Qin's desire to unify the entirety of China.
The capital city of Zhao is Kantan.
History[]
The state of Zhao was created by the legendary king known as Wu following the partition of Jin once the latter had undergone a brutal civil war. Zhao has always been fighting against the other warring states and is a power to be reckoned with as their Three Great Heavens have fought the Six Great Generals of Qin on multiple occasions in the past.
Zhao gains the Wei region of Hanyou by conquest sometime close to Ren Pa's defection to Wei.
A large-scale battle occurred between Great General Ren Pa and Gaku Jou due to Ren Pa's refusal of the king's decree to strip him of his rank. Ren Pa's 8,000 men won against Gaku Jou's 50,000, the latter forced to yield to Ren Pa who spared his life. Ren Pa went to Wei to seek asylum and was welcomed by its king Kei Bin.
Zhao holds a grudge against Qin because of the horrors they suffered at Chouhei, 19 years before the story, where many of their surrendered soldiers were slaughtered by being buried alive by Qin forces. 400,000 Zhao men were buried alive by Haku Ki of Qin's Six Great Generals at Chouhei and their male relatives later formed into troops led by General Man Goku.
Story[]
The state of Zhao sent an army of 120,000 troops to invade Qin which was currently occupied with conquering cities in the weak state of Han. The army was led by Hou Ken and several notable generals, two of which, led the initial invasion force to conquer the Qin border cities of Baou and Bayou. The Zhao retreated after killing the last living member of the Six Great Generals of Qin as that was their main reason for invading Qin.
An incident brought about by Ryo Fui forced the Zhao king to send the newly appointed Prime Minister, Ri Boku to Qin which led to an alliance between the two states.
After the Qin took over the region of Sanyou, Zhao attacks the state of Yan with 100,000 troops. In 242 BC, General Geki Shin is defeated by Zhao General Hou Ken who captures 20,000 Yan soldiers as prisoners.
Culture[]
Martial prominence[]
The flags of Zhao being waved in Kantan
Zhao is portrayed as a state whose culture is fundamentally built around warfare. Its geographic position places it at the center of the Warring States system, sharing borders with nearly every other major power: Qin to the west, Han and Wei to the south, Yan to the east, and Qi to the southeast. Historically, Zhao has fought significant wars against all of them, and even in periods of nominal peace, skirmishes, raids, and military mobilizations are a regular feature of life. As a result, military institutions, soldiering, and martial values are deeply embedded in Zhao’s identity.
The prominence of the army within Zhao’s political and social order is reflected in the status of its generals. The “Three Great Heavens of Zhao” are not simply officers but national figures who embody the state’s ideals of martial pride. This status hierarchy indicates a culture in which military merit is one of the principal routes to prestige, and in which the deeds of generals serve as cultural reference points for national pride. Even among commoners, the reputation of the army and its leaders occupies a central place in everyday discourse and local identity. In this sense, Zhao functions, as the other Warring States, as a semi-militarized society, where warfare is both a practical necessity and a key element of collective self-definition.
The martial orientation of Zhao also manifests in its art, values, and public morality. Personal courage, loyalty to one’s commander, and perseverance under hardship are consistently portrayed as moral virtues. Conversely, cowardice, surrender, and treachery are treated as cultural taboos. The societal admiration for endurance is especially visible in Zhao’s conduct during major sieges, such as the defense of Gyou, where the population’s ability to withstand starvation and isolation is represented as a point of collective pride rather than purely military necessity.
Cultural influence from non-Chinese peoples[]
Zhao’s northern territories have historically been exposed to continuous contact and conflict with nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples from beyond the Chinese plains, most prominently the Xiongnu and related tribal groups. Over generations, this interaction produced a noticeable cultural synthesis in the northern regions of Zhao, where aspects of “barbarian” (steppe) culture were assimilated into Zhao’s frontier society.
This integration is visible in several ways. First, the northern Zhao armies show clear stylistic similarities with steppe warfare: an emphasis on cavalry, mobility, and hit-and-run tactics rather than pure infantry formations. Second, the temperament and appearance of the northern Zhao people are portrayed as more rugged and less ceremonially refined compared to central Zhao or the southern plains.
The result is a composite identity in which Zhao’s “core” culture, rooted in the agrarian traditions of the Central Plains, coexists with frontier elements derived from steppe interactions. This duality distinguishes Zhao from its fellow Jin-successor states like Wei or Han, whose cultures are portrayed as more bureaucratic and courtly. In contrast, Zhao’s northern component lends it an image of harshness and practicality. It also contributes to a sense of internal diversity: the northern provinces often see themselves as culturally distinct from the political center at Kantan.
Anti-Qin sentiment[]
Young Ei Sei beaten by Zhao citizens in Kantan
A defining element of Zhao’s national psychology is its intense and enduring hostility toward the State of Qin. This hostility is not limited to political rivalry but has evolved into a cultural and emotional cornerstone of Zhao’s collective identity. The primary historical cause of this animosity is the Chouhei massacre, in which the Qin Great General Haku Ki executed approximately 400,000 Zhao prisoners of war by burying them alive following Zhao’s defeat in the battle of Chouhei. The event constitutes one of the most traumatic moments in Zhao’s history and is portrayedas a cultural turning point.
The massacre is deeply ingrained in Zhao’s cultural memory. In the following years, hatred against the Qin people was so fanatical that a any person that hailed from Qin found themselves in a situation of continuous threat of being lynched in Kantan if their origins ever came to be known in public. The thirst for revenge dwelved deep enough for Qin children to also be the victims of violence, as it was the case for Ei Sei during his childhood in Zhao's capital city, who experienced countless beating from locals whenever he was seen in public.
The massacre referenced repeatedly by both soldiers and civilians as a symbol of Qin’s cruelty and as justification for unyielding resistance. In the generations that followed, the Chouhei atrocity became a foundational myth of collective suffering and revenge. The hatred of Qin thus transcends mere political or military enmity; it has become an enduring cultural constant transmitted across generations. It defines Zhao’s rhetoric of patriotism, frames its wars as moral crusades rather than expedient conflicts, and justifies extreme sacrifices in defense of the homeland.
The Man Goku army acted as the personification of Zhao's hatred for Qin
Amongst Zhao's military, the Man Goku's army became the personification of the country's eternal grudge towards Qin, as its general, who was a direct survivor of the massacre gathered thousands of men who were direct relatives of those buried alive in Chouhei. They used their thirst for Qin blood as motivation during the battlefield, and the army continuously burned whole villages whenever they entered Qin territory. By the time of the Coalition war, the Man Goku army was responsible for the slaughter of 10,000 powerless Qin civilians, engaging in mutilation and mass-rape, with their final objective being the complete annihilation of the capital city Kanyou.
The impact of this trauma is visible not only in military behavior but also in Zhao’s internal propaganda and political discourse. The state’s rulers and generals frequently evoke the memory of Chouhei to rally the populace, to legitimize conscription, and to suppress internal dissent. In this respect, anti-Qin sentiment functions as an instrument of cohesion in an otherwise fragmented state. However, it also restricts Zhao’s capacity for pragmatic diplomacy: even when strategic realities might suggest negotiation, the cultural memory of Chouhei makes compromise politically and morally untenable.
Zhao was once again engulfed in an anti-Qin fury after Kan Ki army's slaughter of 100,000 Zhao POWs reminded the populace of Chouhei, vowing to fight to the last person in order to enact revenge on him. After his death at the hands of Ri Boku's army, the people of Kantan and various other Zhao cities erupted in mass celebrations.
Regionalism and local Identities[]
One of the most distinctive aspects of Zhao’s culture is its pronounced regionalism. The state encompasses a wide variety of local cultures and sub-identities, many of which maintain a sense of autonomy from central Zhao. This pattern results partly from Zhao’s size and geography, its long east-west span and the difficulty of communication between regions, but also from the historical evolution of semi-independent city-states that retained local traditions and loyalties even after formal unification under the Zhao crown.
Cities such as Seika and Rigan exemplify this phenomenon. Both are depicted as possessing strong internal cohesion and self-reliant civic identities. Their populations often express greater loyalty to their local commanders and city institutions than to the state of Zhao as a whole. In Seika’s case, this has developed into a fully distinct subculture, characterized by a disciplined and austere lifestyle centered on military service and self-defense. Seika’s leaders, such as Shibashou, operate with significant autonomy, and the city’s citizens demonstrate a collective sense of pride separate from the broader Zhao polity. Similar patterns appear in other border regions, where local armies, civic traditions, and even dialectal differences reinforce the perception of regional independence.
This regional diversity, while enriching Zhao’s cultural landscape, also generates friction. The central government in Kantan often struggles to assert consistent authority, and communication between the court and regional powers is frequently hindered by mistrust. The contrast between the decadent or politically divided central elite and the austere, duty-driven regional cultures further deepens these divisions. This tension between center and periphery is a recurring theme in Zhao’s internal politics and plays a decisive role in the state’s weakening during the late Warring States period.
Cult of heroism[]
Ri Boku[]
No individual occupies a greater position in Zhao’s cultural imagination currently than the Great General Ri Boku. His prominence goes beyond military leadership; Ri Boku functions as a national symbol and moral ideal. He represents the integration of Zhao’s martial ethos, its defensive identity, and its collective aspiration for survival in the face of existential threats.
Ri Boku hailed before marching to war
Ri Boku’s repeated defense of Zhao against Qin invasions, most notably during campaigns led by Qin’s top generals such as Ou Sen and Kan Ki, which has elevated him to the status of a living legend. Among the population, his name evokes not merely respect but a form of devotion that verges on veneration. The soldiers of Zhao speak of Ri Boku in reverential terms, and the general’s image appears to serve as a psychological anchor for the state’s morale. In propaganda and public sentiment, Ri Boku embodies the virtues expected of the ideal Zhao citizen: loyalty, composure, strategic intelligence, and self-sacrifice for the homeland.
Kantan's populace celebrating Ri Boku's military triumph
This hero worship of Ri Boku also reflects Zhao’s dependency on charismatic leadership. The cultural tendency to personalize state identity around a few exceptional figures, like first the Three Great Heavens, later Ri Boku himself, reveals a national inclination to equate individual heroism with collective legitimacy. As a result, the prestige of generals like Ri Boku functions as a substitute for stable political institutions. The people’s trust in the state is mediated through their trust in its heroes. The decline or loss of such figures therefore carries not only strategic implications but also cultural and psychological consequences.
Ri Boku stoking Northern Zhao soldiers for the sake of fighting against Qin
Ri Boku is currently hailed by many people as the one who is the sole reason for Zhao still existing. It is widely known that no other man throughout the country is as famous and loved as he is, with some comparing him to have the prestige of a king. His popularity is currently even higher than Zhao's royal family in the hearts of the citizens, with many believing that he should be the one to rule Zhao as its king. This popularity is seen very negatively by the current king Yuu Boku and the main political faction inside the court, the one headed by the Prime Minister Kaku Kai, who have been scheming for many years in order to strike him down. Ri Boku is a man who is very well versed with his speeches, being able to charismatically instill passion, admiration, and loyalty to vast crowds of soldiers and civilians alike whenever he issues a public declaration.
Although he is universally adored by the people of Zhao, his popularity is the most fanatical in the northern lands of the country. For numerous generations, the populations of northern Zhao have been victims of numerous Xiongnu raids and attacks, burning border towns and villages, stealing riches, raping and killing civilians. This lead to the armies of northern Zhao to be locked in a constant state of warfare against the Xiongnu for many years, until the rise of Ri Boku. As the commanding officer of Ganmon, Ri Boku led North Zhao's troops to an overwhelming victory against a huge enemy army of 200,000, finally bringing peace to the region. In a part of Zhao that was already in opposition against Central Zhao, Ri Boku establish his popular base in this part of the country, in which he is unnoficially its undisputed leader, with hundreds of thousands of men pledging allegiance to him.
Others[]
Government[]
The state has a monarchy, and the current king of Zhao was Tou Jou, a deviant with a twisted personality. After being crowned king in his youth, one of his first orders was to strip the famous great general Ren Pa of his rank and title due to hating him for speaking out against him.
Royal Family[]
Prime Minister & Chancellors[]
Officials[]
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Financial circle official
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Official
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Official of Ran City
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Kaku Kai's Right Hand
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Envoy
Slain by Kan Sou's Agents
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Clerk
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Seikaku Checkpoint
City Lords[]
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Lord of Roumou
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Lord of Gian
Citizens[]
The everyday people who make up the foundation of the state of Zhao. The peasants, commoners, and nobles, who aren't apart of the government or in the Zhao Military.
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Santan Citizen
Battles[]
See also Territory of the states.
Past[]
- Ren Pa vs. Qin(Haku Ki). >400,000 vs unknown: stalemate
- Chou Katsu vs. Qin(Haku Ki). >400,000 vs unknown: winner Qin, price Joutou region
- Ri Haku vs. Yan. 7000 vs 50,000: winner Zhao, in defense of a city, price unknown.
Present[]
- vs. Qin, unknown vs unknown: winner unknown, price unknown. (Anime only)
- Hou Ken vs. Qin (Dan Shi), 120,000 vs unknown: winner Hou Ken, price Baou.
- Hou Ken vs. Qin (Ou Ki), 120,000 vs 100,000: winner draw (both retreated), price death of Ou Ki
- Ri Boku vs.Yan, unknown vs unknown: winner Zhao, price Bu Sui, and Hau.
- Hou Ken vs. Yan (Geki Shin), unknown vs unknown: winner Zhao
- Ri Boku vs. Qin (Ou Sen), 120,000 vs 88,000: winner - Qin
price - the elite echelon of commanders such as Chou Ga Ryuu, Gyou'un, Gaku Ei, Kin Mou, and Earl Kou are killed. - Shun Sui Ju vs. Qin (Yo Tan Wa), 100,000+ vs 60,000: winner - Qin, price - the death of the entire royal Quanrong family and the Quanrong people swearing loyalty to Yo Tan Wa.
Gallery[]
Manga[]
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Trivia[]
- Ei Sei, the 31st king of Qin, was born in Zhao and lived there until the age of 9 as a political hostage before escaping to Qin and becoming its crown prince at the age of 13. During his time in Zhao, he was hated by its people who would viciously abuse him due to their rage towards the massacre of Chouhei.
- King Burei once snuck into the Qin capital of Kanyou to personally pay his respects to their King, Sho of Qin.
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| Zhao | |
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| Royal Family | Bu Rei † • Tou Jou † • Yuu Boku • Ka • Earl Chou Ki † • |
| Prime Minister | Kaku Kai • Ri Boku |
| Officials | Hi • Shun Pei Kun • Hei To • Ko Shuu • Jou Kei •
Ken Ho • Kan Sou • En Sei † • |
| Royal Harem | Kou Hi |
| City Lords | Duke Hoku Ryou • Duke Son Fu ‡ • Ki Shou • Gaku'in • Shi Ba Shou • Duke Kuku • Tou Kan • Tou Kin • |
| Citizens | Master Hou † • Madame Hou † • Shi Kei † • Shi Ka † • A Mon † • Kou Shou † • Kon † • En Kan • |
| Military | |
| Great Generals | Gaku Jou ‡ • Ko Chou † • Chou Katsu † • |
| Three Great Heavens | Ri Boku • Shi Ba Shou • Hou Ken † • Ren Pa ‡ • Rin Shou Jo † • Chou Sha † • |
| Generals | Ki Sui • Ba Tei • Kei Sha † • Kan Saro • Ji Aga † • Gaku Shou • Ba Nan Ji • Shun Sui Ju • Fu Tei • Kotsu Min Haku • En Kan • Ri Haku • Kou Son Ryuu ‡ • Earl Rai • Chou Haku • Mai Kou • Kai Gou • Ryuu Tou † • Gou Ki • Kou Ki Ou • Kou Shi • Shin Sei Jou † • Fuu Ki † • Man Goku † • Chou Sou † • Gaku'Ei † • Chou Ga Ryuu † • Gyou’un † • Kin Mou † • Earl Kou † • Shin Ri Kan † • Zet Su † • Jyou Ka Ryuu † • Ko Haku Kou † • Gaku Haku Kou † • Ryuu Haku Kou † • Ryuu Fu † |
| Commanders | Kaine • Ba Fuu Ji • Fuuon • Shi En • Sai'u • Mei Fu • Kou Kaku † • Gou Ran † • Sei Kiga • Ka Hou • Kai Shin • Koku Rai • Koku Rei • Zen Man • Sen Bi • Sei Mei • Seiu • Duke Sei • Ren Ka • Sou Ha • Sei Ka Un • Man Haku • Tou Gan † • Shuu † • Gi Ka † • Sou † • Shuu † • You Ou † • Ba Toku † • Den'I † • Ten † • Rai Ka † • Jo Shou † • Jo Rin † • Shin Riku † • Seki Kou † • Kou Zen † • An Ki † • Chiku Shin † • Ko Getsu † • Ta Getsu † • Ro Shin † • Chou Gaku † • Kou Tou † • Ko Ro † • Sou Kan † • Ka Man † • Kyo Yo † • Chou Riku † • Ki Shou † • Un Kei † • Un Gen † • Gou Za Kou † • |
| Soldiers | Haku Sha † • En Shou † • Ban Riku † • Kaku Jou † • Kon Jin † • Den Ko • Den Pou † • Hei Shuu † • Haku Ya • Kou Shuu • Gi Ta • Ga Kou • Kei Fu • Kat Sho • |
| Affiliates | Quanrong of Ryouyou (Rozo † • Goba † • Bunen † • Tork † ) • Geeli † • Bolf • Chida † • Tehgo • Nujah • Wan • Geni • |