Qin and Han · Rhetorician

Cao Qiusheng 曹丘生

Attested BC 180 - BC 157

Passages: 14
Chapters: 2
Histories: 2

Overview

Cao Qiusheng was a Rhetorician.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 180 to BC 157 孝文時…曹丘生
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 46, passages 32, 40
BC 180 to BC 157 孝文時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 100, passages 38, 47

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 46 Volume 37: Ji Bu, Luan Bu and Tian Shu 7 passages
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 100 Biographies of Ji Bu and Luan Bu 7 passages

Career and standing

persuasive rhetorician 辯士
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 100, passage 47

Places and affiliations

At Chu 楚
Directly stated · Book of Han 46, passage 47; Records of the Grand Historian 100, passage 47

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Ji Bu (季布)
Directly stated · Book of Han 46, passages 46-48; Records of the Grand Historian 100, passages 54-57

Events and relationships

Praised and promoted reputation
Social · Guest · With Ji Bu (季布)
Directly stated · Book of Han 46, passages 50-51
Spread reputation
Reputation building · Promoter · With Ji Bu (季布)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 100, passages 54, 56, 59
Relation Associate of · Person Zhao Tan (趙談)
Directly stated · Book of Han 46, passage 40
Relation Associate of · Person Dou Changjun (竇長君)
Directly stated · Book of Han 46, passage 40
Relation Friend of · Person Dou Changjun (竇長君)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 100, passage 48
Relation Associate of · Person Zhao Tong (趙同)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 100, passage 48

References in the histories

Search passages

History

14 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 46Volume 37: Ji Bu, Luan Bu and Tian Shu · 7 passages

辯士曹丘生數招權顧金錢，事貴人趙談等，與竇長君善。 The rhetorician Cao Qiusheng repeatedly cultivated influence and sought money, attached himself to prominent men such as Zhao Tan, and befriended Dou Changjun.

布聞，寄書諫長君曰：「吾聞曹丘生非長者，勿與通。」 When Ji Bu heard of it, he wrote to Dou Changjun warning him, "Cao Qiusheng is no man of substance; have nothing to do with him."

及曹丘生歸，欲得書請布。 When Cao Qiusheng came home, he wanted a letter of introduction to Ji Bu.

固請書，遂行。 Cao pressed until Dou yielded a letter, then set out.

使人先發書，布果大怒，待曹丘。 He had his letter sent ahead; Ji Bu flew into a rage and waited for Cao Qiusheng.

曹丘至，則揖布曰：「楚人諺曰『得黃金百，不如得季布諾』，足下何以得此聲梁楚之間哉？ When Cao arrived, he bowed to Ji Bu and said, "Chu has a saying: 'A hundred pounds of gold cannot buy Ji Bu's word'—how did you earn such fame across Liang and Chu?

布名所以益聞者，曹丘揚之也。 It was Cao Qiusheng's praise that made Ji Bu's name ring louder still.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 100Biographies of Ji Bu and Luan Bu · 7 passages

楚人曹丘生，辯士，數招權顧金錢。 There was a man of Chu named Cao Qiu Sheng, a persuasive rhetorician who repeatedly sought influence and pursued gold and money.

季布聞之，寄書諫竇長君曰：「吾聞曹丘生非長者，勿與通。」 Ji Bu heard this and sent a letter admonishing Dou Changjun, saying, 'I have heard that Cao Qiu Sheng is not an upright person—do not associate with him.'

及曹丘生歸，欲得書請季布。 When Cao Qiu returned home, he wished to obtain a letter of introduction to Ji Bu.

使人先發書，季布果大怒，待曹丘。 He sent a messenger ahead with the letter. Ji Bu, as expected, flew into a rage and waited for Cao Qiu's arrival, ready to confront him.

曹丘至，即揖季布曰：「楚人諺曰『得黃金百（斤），不如得季布一諾』，足下何以得此聲於梁楚閒哉？ Cao Qiu arrived and immediately bowed to Ji Bu, saying, 'The Chu people have a proverb: "Getting a hundred jin of yellow gold is not as good as getting one promise from Ji Bu." How did you, sir, obtain this reputation between Liang and Chu?

季布乃大說，引入，留數月，為上客，厚送之。 Ji Bu was greatly pleased. He invited Cao Qiu in, kept him as a guest for several months, treated him with the highest honor, and sent him off with lavish gifts.

季布名所以益聞者，曹丘揚之也。 The reason Ji Bu's reputation grew ever greater was that Cao Qiu had spread it far and wide.