Ancient China · Jade Discoverer

Bian He 龢氏

Hé shì

Attested BC 700 - BC 600

Passages: 4
Chapters: 2
Histories: 2

Overview

Bian He was a Jade Discoverer.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 700 卞和獻寶
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 162
BC 700 to BC 600 龢氏之璧
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 117, passage 267

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 117 Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 2 passages
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 83 Biographies of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang 2 passages

Career and standing

Suffered foot amputation
Mutilation · Authority King of Chu (楚王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 162

Events and relationships

Jade wrapped in Jing stone, long unrecognized before revealing radiance
Other · Associated figure
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passages 267-268, 271

Assessments and attributes

Item He jade / He-bi 龢氏之璧 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passages 267, 271

References in the histories

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 2 passages

賓又不聞龢氏之璧韞於荊石，隨侯之珠藏於蜯蛤虖？ Have you never heard how the He-bi jade slept inside a dull rock or Sui's pearl hid in a shell?

先賤而後貴者，龢、隨之珍也； cheap at first, costly later—that is the He jade and Sui pearl;

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 83Biographies of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang · 2 passages

昔卞和獻寶，楚王刖之； In ancient times, Bian He offered his precious jade, but the King of Chu had his feet cut off.

願大王孰察卞和、李斯之意，而後楚王、胡亥之聽，無使臣為箕子、接輿所笑。 I beg Your Majesty to examine closely the true intentions of Bian He and Li Si, and not to listen as the King of Chu and Huhai did, lest your servant become an object of ridicule alongside Jizi and Jieyu.