Ancient China · Zhou prince and rebel

Cai Shu 蔡叔

Attested BC 1046 - BC 1035

Passages: 6
Chapters: 6
Histories: 5

Overview

Cai Shu was a Zhou prince and rebel.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 1040 周公誅管、蔡
Uncertain · History of Liao 2, passage 212
BC 1042 管、蔡
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 55, passage 188
BC 1042 to BC 1035 管、蔡之亂
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 34, passage 55
c. BC 1040 蔡
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passage 162
BC 1046 to BC 1042 蔡叔
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 233

Family

Kin of Duke of Zhou (周公)
Cai 蔡 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · History of Liao 2, passage 212
Sibling of Guan Shu (管叔)
Guan and Cai 管、蔡 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 55, passage 188

Key source chapters

References in the histories

Book of Han, Chapter 70Volume 60: Du Zhou · 1 passage

見鳳專政泰重，戒之曰：「昔周公身有至聖之德，屬有叔父之親，而成王有獨見之明，無信讒之聽，然管、蔡流言而周公懼。 Seeing Wang Feng's grip on power grow oppressive, Du Qin warned him: "The Duke of Zhou was the paragon of sagehood and the king's uncle, and King Cheng was a discerning sovereign who refused slander—yet the rumor spread by Guan and Cai still struck terror into the duke.

Book of Han, Chapter 76Volume 65: Dongfang Shuo · 1 passage

故淫亂之漸，其變為篡，是以豎貂為淫而易牙作患，慶父死而魯國全，管、蔡誅而周室安。」 When debauchery and disorder are allowed to spread, they end in usurpation. Shu Diao's corruption enabled Yi Ya's treachery; Lu was preserved only after Qingfu died, and the Zhou house was secure only after Guan Shu and Cai Shu were executed."

Book of Later Han, Chapter 34Volume 30a: Biographies of Su Jing; Yang Hou · 1 passage

夫周公之善康叔，以不從管、蔡之亂也； The Duke of Zhou favored Kangshu because Kangshu did not join Guan and Cai’s revolt.

Book of Liang, Chapter 55Volume 55: Zong, Prince of Yuzhang; Ji, Prince of Wuling; Zhengde, Prince of Linhe; Yu, Prince of Hedong · 1 passage

身當管、蔡之罰，蓋自貽哉。 He suffered the fate of Guan and Cai—and had only himself to blame.

History of Liao, Chapter 2Volume 2 Annals 2: Taizu 2 · 1 passage

周公誅管、蔡，人未有能非之者。 When the Duke of Zhou put Guan and Cai to death, no one faulted him for it.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 3Annals of Yin · 1 passage

周武王崩，武庚與管叔、蔡叔作亂，成王命周公誅之，而立微子於宋，以續殷後焉。 When King Wu died, Wugeng and the lords of Guan and Cai rebelled; King Cheng ordered the Duke of Zhou to crush them and set Weizi in Song to carry on Yin's line.