Chao Cuo (晁錯) | 24 Histories

Overview

Chao Cuo was a Western Han Official (allusion).

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Nickname	Bag of Wisdom	智囊

Life and dates

Death

BC 154 天子誅錯
Execution · Cause Executed to resolve the feudal rebellion difficulty · Authority Emperor Jing of Han (漢景帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 25
BC 154 三年
Execution · Authority Emperor Jing of Han (漢景帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 11, passage 25
BC 154 孝景三年
Execution · Authority Emperor Jing of Han (漢景帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passage 249
BC 154 三年
Execution
Directly stated · Book of Han 6, passage 60
Execution
Directly stated · Book of Han 102, passage 20
beheaded in court robes at the Eastern Market 衣朝衣斬東市 · At Eastern Market 東市
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 182

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knew disaster was coming; died for the altars of state
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 254
beheaded in the eastern market wearing court robes
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 438
executed
晁錯已誅
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 90

Attested activity

BC 154 三年
Directly stated · Book of Han 6, passage 60; Records of the Grand Historian 11, passage 25
BC 155 二年，晁錯為內史
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 146
BC 155 to BC 154 前日晁錯
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 209
BC 154 吳楚反
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 107
BC 180 to BC 157 孝文帝時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 153; Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 134
BC 180 to BC 157 孝文時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 85, passages 86-87

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BC 180 to BC 154 孝文時至孝景三年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 44, passages 249, 258
BC 155 孝景帝時坐晁錯
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 50, passage 35
BC 154 孝景時…天子誅錯
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passages 23, 25
BC 154 孝景時
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 9
BC 168 文帝從錯之言
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 26, passage 196
BC 178 to BC 154 晁錯入粟之議
Strongly inferred · History of Song 408, passage 111
BC 180 to BC 157 晁錯復說上曰
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 26, passage 142
BC 154 景帝即位後吳楚反
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passages 161, 181
BC 209 to BC 141 漢初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 51, passage 128
BC 155 to BC 154 漢削諸侯
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 178, passage 254
BC 154 漢景帝朝
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 40, passage 11

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Chao Cuo's father (錯父)
father 父
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 176

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Gentleman of the Gate 門大夫
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 156
Keeper of Records under the Grand Master of Ceremonies 太常掌故
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 151
Prefect of the Capital 內史
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 161
Retainer of the Heir Apparent 太子舍人
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 156
Steward of the Household 家令
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 156
Prefect of the Capital 內史
BC 155 二年 · Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passages 146, 148

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Keeper of Precedents under the Grand Master of Ceremonies 太常掌故
BC 180 to BC 157 孝文帝時 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 134
Grandee Secretary 御史大夫
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 6, passage 60
heir apparent household steward 太子家令
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 85, passage 87
Imperial Clerk 御史大夫
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 85, passage 87
Imperial Secretary 御史大夫
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 23
Grandee Secretary 御史大夫
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passage 260
Household steward to the crown prince 太子家令
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passage 258
Household Steward to the Crown Prince 太子家令
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passage 258
Imperial Counselor / Grandee Secretary 御史大夫
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passages 89, 260
minister in charge at the Son of Heaven's side 天子用事臣
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passage 224
Imperial Secretary 御史大夫
Promoted
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passages 100, 173
Palace Grandee 中大夫
Promoted
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 159
erudite clerk of the Grand Master of Ceremonies 太常掌故
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 127
erudite 博士
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 132
gatehouse grandee 門大夫
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 132
gentleman attendant on the heir apparent 太子舍人
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 132
household commandant to the heir apparent 太子家令
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 145
Imperial Counselor 御史大夫
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 466
grandee of the palace 中大夫
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 382
household commandant to the heir apparent 太子家令
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 289
imperial counselor 御史大夫
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 398
metropolitan superintendent 內史
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 386
Held
Highly favored and influential
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 146
Beheaded to appease seven kingdoms
BC 154 三年 · Executed
Directly stated · Book of Han 6, passage 60
Declared not guilty
Acquitted · Authority Emperor Jing (孝景帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 153
Executed
BC 154 天子誅錯 · Execution · Authority Emperor Jing of Han (漢景帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 25
Suffered
Execution · Authority Emperor Jing of Han (漢景帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 11, passage 25

Places and affiliations

Han 漢
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 125
Han 漢
Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 85, passage 41; Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 23; Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 151
Polity Han
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 289
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 142
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 146; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 209
Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · History of Song 408, passage 111; New Book of Tang 178, passage 254; New History of the Five Dynasties 40, passage 11

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Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Subject of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 107
Yingchuan 潁川
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 125
At Yingchuan 潁川
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 149

Learning and skills

Legalist doctrines of Shen Buhai and Shang Yang 申商刑名
Teacher Person Id Zhang Hui (張恢)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 150
Skill worldly affairs and penal names 世務刑名 · Level clear
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 23

Works and attributed material

thirty memorial chapters on paring feudal lords and revising statutes
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passages 383, 400
policy memorials 所言
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 85, passage 41
proposal on bringing in grain 入粟之議
Relation Author
Directly stated · History of Song 408, passage 111
Book of Documents 尚書
Relation Studied
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 154
Policy counsel · Speaker · Addressed to Emperor Jing of Han (漢景帝) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passages 260-267
Memorial · Author · With Emperor Wen of Han (漢文帝) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passages 142-195, 197-203

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Speech · Speaker · With Emperor Jing of Han (漢景帝) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passages 23-24

Events and relationships

Admonished
BC 154 數干諫孝景 · Political · Adviser · With Emperor Jing of Han (漢景帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passages 23-24
Beheaded by order of
Legal · Executed · With Emperor Jing (景帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 182
Cut south gate through temple outer wall
Construction · Agent
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passages 148-149
Legal reduction of feudal lords provoked rebellion
Political · Exemplum · Mode quoted-source Speaker Zhufu Yan (主父偃)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 209
Night palace self surrender
Political · Petitioner · With Emperor Jing (孝景帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 151
Proposed bringing in grain for ennoblement
Policy · Proposer
Directly stated · History of Song 408, passage 111

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Proposed valuing grain and grain for rank policy
Policy · Adviser
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passages 179, 182, 195
Proposed reducing feudal territories
Political · Policy author
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passages 158, 173
Reduced feudal lords
Political · Reformer · Polity Han 漢
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 254
Repeatedly urged Emperor Wen and later Emperor Jing to reduce Wu before its rebellion grew stronger
Political · Adviser · With Emperor Wen of Han (漢文帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passages 258-260, 265-267
Sent to receive Documents
BC 180 to BC 157 孝文帝時 · Mission · Envoy student · With Fusheng (伏生)
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 134
Sought to diminish feudal lords
Political · Proposer
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 146
Stripped territory
Political · Official · At Changshan 常山
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 9
Relation Adviser of · Person Emperor Wen of Han (漢文帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passages 142, 196
Relation Adviser to · Person Emperor Jing of Han (漢景帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passages 23, 25
Relation Student of · Person Fusheng (伏生)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 134
Relation Rival of · Person Yuan Ang (袁盎)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passages 98-99
Relation Rival of · Person Shentu Jia (申屠嘉)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 147
Relation Fellow student of · Person Song Meng (宋孟)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 150
Relation Fellow student of · Person Liu Li (劉禮)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 150
Relation Student of · Person Zhang Hui (張恢)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 150

Assessments and attributes

Assessment clear about worldly affairs and penal names · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 23
Assessment Planned for the state’s long term but brought the resulting calamity upon himself. · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passages 244-245
Assessment sharply curtailed feudal lords without gradual steps · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 11, passage 119

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 142; Records of the Grand Historian 50, passage 35; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 209; New Book of Tang 178, passage 254
Value historical
Directly stated · History of Song 408, passage 111

References in the histories

Search passages

History

151 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 5Volume 4: Annals of Emperor Wen · 1 passage

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語在晁錯傳。 See the Biography of Chao Cuo for details.

Book of Han, Chapter 6Volume 5: Annals of Emperor Jing · 1 passage

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斬御史大夫晁錯以謝七國。 He executed Grandee Secretary Chao Cuo to appease the seven rebellious kingdoms.

Book of Han, Chapter 26Volume 24a: Treatise on Trade 1 · 3 passages

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晁錯復說上曰： Chao Cuo then offered further policy argument:

於是文帝從錯之言，令民入粟邊，六百石爵上造，稍增至四千石為五大夫，萬二千石為大庶長，各以多少級數為差。 Emperor Wen then followed Cuo's advice and ordered the people to submit grain to the frontiers under a tiered grain-to-rank schedule with escalating thresholds for higher titles.

錯復奏言：「陛下幸使天下入粟塞下以拜爵，甚大惠也。 Cuo again memorialized: 'Your Majesty's gracious policy allowing the realm to submit grain below the passes for enfeoffment is a great benefit.

Book of Han, Chapter 44Volume 35: Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu · 18 passages

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朝錯為太子家令，得幸皇太子，數從容言吳過可削。 Chao Cuo was serving as household steward to the crown prince and had won his favor. He repeatedly said in private that Wu's offenses gave grounds for reducing its territory.

及景帝即位，錯為御史大夫，說上曰：「昔高帝初定天下，昆弟少，諸子弱，大封同姓，故孽子悼惠王王齊七十二城，庶弟元王王楚四十城，兄子王吳五十餘城。 When Emperor Jing came to the throne, Chao Cuo became Imperial Counselor. He urged the emperor, "When Gaozu first settled the realm, he had few brothers and his sons were young, so he gave large fiefs to men of his own surname. Thus King Daohui, his son by a concubine, ruled Qi with seventy-two cities; King Yuan, his younger half-brother, ruled Chu with forty cities; and his nephew ruled Wu with more than fifty cities.

三年冬，楚王來朝，錯因言楚王戊往年為薄太后服，私姦服舍，請誅之。 In the winter of the third year, the King of Chu came to court. Chao Cuo then reported that in earlier years, while observing mourning for Empress Dowager Bo, the King of Chu, Wu, had had illicit relations in the mourning quarters, and he requested that Wu be executed.

高曰：「御史大夫朝錯熒惑天子，侵奪諸侯，蔽忠塞賢，朝廷疾怨，諸侯皆有背叛之意，人事極矣。 Ying Gao said, “Grandee Secretary Chao Cuo dazzles the Son of Heaven, strips the feudatories, blocks the loyal and worthy, so that the court boils with anger and every prince nurses rebellion. The crisis is complete.

吳王內以朝錯為誅，外從大王後車，方洋天下，所向者降，所指者下，莫敢不服。 The king of Wu will move first against Chao Cuo under the banner of clearing the court; abroad he would march in your wake, sweeping the realm until every place you face surrenders and every host you point at falls—none would dare resist.

諸侯既新削罰，震恐，多怨錯。 The princes, newly shorn by edict, were shaken and for the most part hated Chao Cuo.

以漢有賊臣錯，無功天下，侵奪諸侯之地，使吏劾繫訊治，以侵辱之為故，不以諸侯人君禮遇劉氏骨肉，絕先帝功臣，進任姦人，誑亂天下，欲危社稷。 Han is ridden by the traitor Chao Cuo, a man without service to the empire who gnaws at princely fiefs, hounds nobles with indictments and chains, insults them by design, dishonors the Liu kin, casts aside Gaozu’s old ministers, elevates scoundrels, and would overturn the state.

欲舉兵誅之，謹聞教。 We mean to take up arms to put Cuo to the sword and await your orders.

召入見，上問以吳楚之計，盎對曰：「吳楚相遺書，曰『賊臣朝錯擅適諸侯，削奪之地』，以故反，名為西共誅錯，復故地而罷。 Yuan Ang was summoned to audience, and the emperor asked him about the plans of Wu and Chu. Ang replied, "Wu and Chu have exchanged letters saying, 'The wicked minister Chao Cuo has arbitrarily punished the feudal lords and stripped away their lands.' That is why they have rebelled. Their stated aim is to march west together, execute Chao Cuo, restore their former territories, and then disband.

方今計獨斬錯，發使赦七國，復其故地，則兵可毋血刃而俱罷。」 The plan now is simply to execute Chao Cuo, send envoys to pardon the Seven States, and restore their former territories. Then the armies can all stand down without bloodying a blade."

上從其議，遂斬錯。 The emperor accepted his counsel and had Chao Cuo executed.

王頓首膝行對曰：「今者，朝錯天子用事臣，變更高皇帝法令，侵奪諸侯地。 On his knees Ang said, “Chao Cuo rules the court, rewrites Gaozu’s statutes, and gnaws at princely fiefs.

卬等以為不義，恐其敗亂天下，七國發兵，且以誅錯。 We judged that wicked and feared he would wreck the realm; the seven kingdoms rose chiefly to kill Cuo.

今聞錯已誅，卬等謹已罷兵歸。」 Word came that Cuo is dead; we have stood down and gone home.”

將軍曰：「王苟以錯為不善，何不以聞？ The general answered, “If Cuo was vile, why not memorialize the throne?

以此觀之，意非徒欲誅錯也。」 That was never only about Cuo.”

朝錯為國遠慮，禍反及身。 Chao Cuo thought for the realm’s long term and died for it.

「毋為權首，將受其咎」，豈謂錯哉！ “Do not be the first to devise the stratagem, or you will bear its blame”—was that not Chao Cuo’s fate?

Book of Han, Chapter 47Volume 38: The Five Sons of Emperor Gao · 1 passage

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趙王遂立二十六年，孝景時晁錯以過削趙常山郡，諸侯怨，吳楚反，遂與合謀起兵。 Liu Sui had been king of Zhao for twenty-six years when, under Emperor Jing, Chao Cuo seized the Changshan commandery from Zhao as punishment for alleged wrongdoing. The kingdoms were already smoldering with resentment; when Wu and Chu rose in revolt, Liu Sui conspired with them and mobilized his own forces.

Book of Han, Chapter 51Volume 42: Zhang, Zhou, Zhao, Ren and Shentu · 7 passages

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二年，晁錯為內史，貴幸用事，諸法令多所請變更，議以適罰侵削諸侯，而丞相嘉自絀所言不用，疾錯。 In the second year of the reign Chao Cuo held the post of inner scribe; favored and powerful, he pushed through wholesale revisions of the law and urged fines and legal pressure to whittle away the princes' domains. Chancellor Shentu Jia found his own counsel ignored and came to detest Chao Cuo.

錯為內史，門東出，不便，更穿一門，南出。 As inner scribe, Chao Cuo's official gate opened inconveniently to the east, so he opened a second gate to the south.

嘉聞錯穿宗廟垣，為奏請誅錯。 When Shentu Jia learned that Chao Cuo had breached a wall of the imperial temple precinct, he memorialized for Chao Cuo's death.

客有語錯，錯恐，夜入宮上謁，自歸上。 A client warned Chao Cuo, who in panic went to the palace that night, sought an audience, and placed himself at the emperor's mercy.

至朝，嘉請誅內史錯。 At the next court session Shentu Jia demanded the execution of Inner Scribe Chao Cuo.

上曰：「錯所穿非真廟垣，乃外堧垣，故冗官居其中，且又我使為之，錯無罪。」 The emperor replied, "Chao Cuo did not breach the inner temple wall but the outer precinct wall, where retired supernumerary officials were quartered—and I told him to do it. He is guilty of nothing."

罷朝，嘉謂長史曰：「吾悔不先斬錯乃請之，為錯所賣！」 After court Shentu Jia told his chief clerk, "I should have cut Chao Cuo's throat before I ever brought the matter to the throne—he has made a fool of me."

Book of Han, Chapter 58Volume 49: Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 60 passages

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卷四十九爰盎晁錯傳第十九 Volume 49: The Biographies of Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo, number nineteen.

盎素不好晁錯，錯所居坐，盎輒避； Yuan Ang had long disliked Chao Cuo; whenever Cuo took a seat, Ang would avoid it;

盎所居坐，錯亦避：兩人未嘗同堂語。 when Ang was seated, Cuo avoided him as well—the two had never spoken in the same hall.

及孝景即位，晁錯為御史大夫，使吏案盎受吳王財物，抵罪，詔赦以為庶人。 When Emperor Jing took the throne, Chao Cuo became imperial counselor and had officials prosecute Yuan Ang for taking gifts from the King of Wu; though convicted, an edict pardoned him and reduced him to commoner status.

吳楚反聞，錯謂丞史曰：「爰盎多受吳王金錢，專為蔽匿，言不反。 When news came that Wu and Chu had rebelled, Chao Cuo told his clerks, "Yuan Ang took large bribes from the King of Wu and hid the truth, insisting they would not rebel.

錯猶與未決。 Chao Cuo still wavered and could not decide.

盎入見，竟言吳所以反，獨急斬錯以謝吳，吳可罷。 Yuan Ang entered audience, explained at length why Wu had rebelled, and urged that only by swiftly executing Chao Cuo to appease Wu could the rebellion be ended.

及晁錯已誅，盎以泰常使吳。 After Chao Cuo's death Yuan Ang was dispatched to Wu as Grand Master of Ceremonies.

晁錯，潁川人也。 Chao Cuo came from Yingchuan.

錯為人峭直刻深。 Chao Cuo was rigid, uncompromising, and unforgiving.

太常遣錯受《尚書》伏生所，還，因上書稱說。 The office sent Chao Cuo to study with Master Fu; when he came back he memorialized in glowing terms on what he had learned.

上善之，於是拜錯為太子家令。 The emperor approved the plea and named Chao Cuo household commandant to the crown prince.

以其辯得幸太子，太子家號曰「智囊」。 His sharp tongue won the heir's confidence, and the inner household nicknamed him the "wisdom bag."

錯上言兵事，曰： Chao Cuo laid before the throne a long memorial on war, which began:

臣錯愚陋，昧死上狂言，唯陛下財擇。 I am a dull man offering rash advice at the peril of my head; I leave every word to your judgment.

文帝嘉之，乃賜錯璽書寵答焉，曰：「皇帝問太子家令：上書言兵體三章，聞之。 Wen praised the memorial and answered with an edict under the imperial seal: "The throne acknowledges your three-part essay on the nature of war.

錯復言守邊備塞、勸農力本，當世急務二事，曰： Chao Cuo wrote again on frontier defense and on promoting farming—the twin crises of the hour:

錯復言： Chao Cuo followed with another memorial:

後詔有司舉賢良文學士，錯在選中。 Later the court called for worthy literati; Chao Cuo's name was on the list.

錯對曰： Chao Cuo answered:

平陽侯臣窋、汝陰侯臣灶、潁陰侯臣何、廷尉臣宜昌、隴西太守臣昆邪所選賢良太子家令臣錯昧死再拜言：臣竊聞古之賢主莫不求賢以為輔翼，故黃帝得力牧而為五帝先，大禹得咎繇而為三王祖，齊桓得管子而為五伯長。 The men who recommended me as Worthy and Good were your servants the Marquis of Pingyang, Cao Zhu; the Marquis of Ruyin, Xiahou Zao; the Marquis of Yingyin, Guan He; the Commandant of Justice, Yichang; and the Administrator of Longxi, Kunxie. Your servant Chao Cuo bows twice and, risking death, states: I have heard that every worthy ruler of antiquity sought worthy men as his wings and helpers. Thus the Yellow Emperor obtained Limu and became foremost of the Five Thearchs; Great Yu obtained Gao Yao and became progenitor of the Three Kings; and Duke Huan of Qi obtained Guan Zhong and became leader of the Five Hegemons.

今臣□等乃以臣錯充賦，甚不稱明詔求賢之意。 Yet the board has stuffed the quota with me—hardly what your call for sages intended.

臣錯草茅臣，亡識知，昧死上愚對，曰： I am a nobody from the thatch; risking execution I offer this dull response:

時，賈誼已死，對策者百餘人，唯錯為高第，繇是遷中大夫。 Jia Yi was in the grave; of a hundred examinees only Chao Cuo took top rank and rose to grandee of the palace.

錯又言宜削諸侯事，及法令可更定者，書凡三十篇。 He also urged stripping the kingdoms and rewriting the code—thirty memorials in all.

當是時，太子善錯計策，爰盎諸大功臣多不好錯。 The crown prince loved his schemes; Yuan Ang and the old guard detested him.

景帝即位，以錯為內史。 Jing named him inner secretary to the capital.

錯數請間言事，輒聽，幸傾九卿，法令多所更定。 He won private audiences, overshadowed the nine ministers, and rewrote half the regulations.

內史府居太上廟□中，門東出，不便，錯乃穿門南出，鑿廟□垣。 His office sat inside the high temple precinct; the official gate faced east and was awkward, so he opened a southern gate through the temple's outer wall—the lacuna marks an illegible graph in the text.

丞相大怒，欲因此過為奏請誅錯。 The chancellor meant to hang the sacrilege charge on him and demand his head.

錯聞之，即請間為上言之。 Chao Cuo raced to the palace for a private word with the emperor.

丞相奏事，因言錯擅鑿廟垣為門，請下廷尉誅。 At the next audience Shentu Jia accused him of breaching the temple wall and asked the Minister of Justice to behead him.

錯以此愈貴。 Chao Cuo climbed higher still.

遷為御史大夫，請諸侯之罪過，削其支郡。 Raised to imperial counselor, he listed each king's offenses and moved to confiscate outlying counties.

奏上，上令公卿、列侯、宗室雜議，莫敢難，獨竇嬰爭之，繇此與錯有隙。 The throne sent the proposal to a joint council; only Dou Ying objected—there the feud between them began.

錯所更令三十章，諸侯□嘩。 The thirty new clauses set the kingdoms in an uproar—the damaged graph likely describes their outcry.

錯父聞之，從穎川來，謂錯曰：「上初即位，公為政用事，侵削諸侯，疏人骨肉，口讓多怨，公何為也？」 Chao Cuo's father rode from Yingchuan and said, "The new emperor trusts you, yet you strip the kings and set brother against brother—the whole realm will curse your name. Why?"

錯曰：「固也。 Chao Cuo replied, "It has to be done.

後十餘日，吳、楚七國俱反，以誅錯為名。 Within a fortnight Wu, Chu, and five other kingdoms rose in arms demanding Chao Cuo's head as their public pretext.

上與錯議出軍事，錯欲令上自將兵，而身居守。 In council Chao Cuo urged the emperor to take the field in person while he held the capital.

會竇嬰言爰盎，詔召入見，上方與錯調兵食。 Dou Ying mentioned Yuan Ang; a summons brought him to court while Jing was still haggling over grain and battalions with Chao Cuo.

錯曰：「盎策之善。」 Cuo said, "Ang's calculation is good."

上屏人，獨錯在。 The room emptied except for Chao Cuo.

乃屏錯。 He motioned Chao Cuo out.

錯趨避東箱，甚恨。 Chao Cuo withdrew to the eastern gallery, furious at the slight.

上卒問盎，對曰：「吳、楚相遺書，言高皇帝王子弟各有分地，今賊臣晁錯擅適諸侯，削奪之地，以故反名為西共誅錯，復故地而罷。 The emperor finally asked Yuan Ang, who replied, "Wu and Chu have exchanged letters saying that Gaozu's sons and younger brothers were each granted allotted territories, but now the wicked minister Chao Cuo has arbitrarily punished the feudal lords and cut away their lands. For this reason, they have raised the banner of marching west to join in executing Chao Cuo, restoring their former lands, and then standing down.

方今計，獨有斬錯，發使赦吳、楚七國，復其故地，則兵可毋血刃而俱罷。」 Execute Chao Cuo, send heralds offering pardon, return their lands—then the armies melt away without a battle."

後十餘日，丞相青翟、中尉嘉、廷尉歐劾奏錯曰：「吳王反逆亡道，欲危宗廟，天下所當共誅。 A little more than ten days later, Chancellor Zhuang Qingdi, Commandant Jia of the Capital, and Minister of Justice Zhang Ou jointly impeached Chao Cuo, saying, "The King of Wu has rebelled in lawless defiance and seeks to endanger the ancestral temples. All under Heaven should join in executing him.

今御史大夫錯議曰：『兵數百萬，獨屬群臣，不可信，陛下不如自出臨兵，使錯居守。 yet Counselor Chao Cuo has argued that a host of hundreds of thousands cannot be left to ministers—that you must lead the army yourself while he guards the capital.

錯不稱陛下德信，欲疏群臣百姓，又欲以城邑予吳，亡臣子禮，大逆無道。 He belittles your virtue, sets court and people against you, and bargains away walled towns—no subject's duty there; it is treason.

錯當要斬，父母妻子同產無少長皆棄市。 He should die by waist chop, kin to the last cousin executed in the marketplace.

錯殊不知。 Chao Cuo heard nothing of it.

乃使中尉召錯，紿載行巿。 The commandant of the capital lured him into a carriage bound for the execution ground.

錯衣朝衣斬東巿。 Still in full court dress they cut his throat in the eastern market.

錯已死，謁者僕射鄧公為校尉，擊吳、楚為將。 When Chao Cuo was dead, Deng Gong—grand usher—was serving as a colonel against Wu and Chu.

上問曰：「道軍所來，聞晁錯死，吳、楚罷不？」 "On the march," asked Jing, "did you hear that Wu and Chu disbanded once Chao Cuo died?"

鄧公曰：「吳為反數十歲矣，發怒削地，以誅錯為名，其意不在錯也。 Deng Gong said, "Wu has nursed rebellion for decades; losing counties enraged them, but Chao Cuo's death was never their true aim.

鄧公曰：「夫晁錯患諸侯強大不可制，故請削之，以尊京師，萬世之利也。 Deng Gong said, "Chao Cuo pared the kingdoms because they threatened the capital—that was a policy for the ages;

晁錯銳於為國遠慮，而不見身害。 Chao Cuo foresaw the realm's peril but not his own.

錯雖不終，世哀其忠。 Chao Cuo died young, yet later ages mourn his loyalty.

Book of Han, Chapter 74Volume 64a: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 1 · 1 passage

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今以法割削，則逆節萌起，前日朝錯是也。 Cut them by naked law and they revolt—Chao Cuo proved that only yesterday.

Book of Han, Chapter 85Volume 74: Wei Xiang and Bing Ji · 2 passages

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數條漢興已來國家便宜行事，及賢臣賈誼、朝錯、董仲舒等所言，奏請施行之，曰：「臣聞明主在上，賢輔在下，則君安虞而民和睦。 He listed policy successes since Han’s founding and memorials by Jia Yi, Chao Cuo, Dong Zhongshu, and others, asking that they be put into practice, and wrote: ‘When a wise sovereign sits the throne and able ministers serve below, the ruler rests easy and the people live in harmony.

御史大夫朝錯時為太子家令，奏言其狀。 Imperial Clerk Chao Cuo, then steward to the heir apparent, reported the irregularity.

Book of Han, Chapter 102Volume 90: Cruel Officials · 1 passage

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孝景時，晁錯以刻深頗用術輔其資，而七國之亂髮怒於錯，錯卒被戮。 Under Emperor Jing, Chao Cuo won influence through pitiless legalism; the Rebellion of the Seven States vented its rage on him, and he died under the blade.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 31Volume 28a: Biographies of Huan Tan; Feng Yan · 1 passage

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夫更張難行，而拂眾者亡，是故賈誼以才逐，而朝錯以智死。 But retuning is dangerous work: cross the crowd and you perish—Jia Yi was banished for his gifts, Chao Cuo died for his cleverness.

History of Liao, Chapter 103Volume 103 Biographies 33: Literature 1 · 1 passage

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論曰：統和、重熙之間，務修文治，而韓家奴對策，落落累數百言，概可施諸行事，亦遼之晁、賈哉。 The commentary says: Between the Tonghe and Chongxi eras the court devoted itself to civil governance. Hanjianu's policy response, flowing freely for several hundred words, could in general be put into practice. Was he not Liao's Chao Cuo and Jia Yi?

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 11Annals of the Xiaojing Emperor · 2 passages

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天子為誅晁錯，遣袁盎諭告，不止，遂西圍梁。 The emperor executed Chao Cuo on their account and sent Yuan Ang to explain his decision and admonish them. They still did not stop, and went west to besiege Liang.

太史公曰：漢興，孝文施大德，天下懷安，至孝景，不復憂異姓，而晁錯刻削諸侯，遂使七國俱起，合從而西鄉，以諸侯太盛，而錯為之不以漸也。 The Grand Historian says: When Han arose, Emperor Wen practiced great virtue, and the realm rested in peace. By Emperor Jing's time, there was no longer any fear of kings from other surnames. But Chao Cuo cut sharply into the power of the feudal lords, causing the seven states to rise together, join in alliance, and march west. The problem was that the feudal lords had grown too powerful, and Cuo did not proceed gradually.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 23Treatise on Ritual · 2 passages

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孝景時，御史大夫晁錯明於世務刑名，數干諫孝景曰：「諸侯藩輔，臣子一例，古今之制也。 During Emperor Jing's time, Imperial Secretary Chao Cuo was clear about worldly affairs and penal names. He several times earnestly admonished Emperor Jing, saying: 'The feudal lords are screens and auxiliaries; ministers and sons are one rule—this is the system of ancient and present times.

孝景用其計，而六國畔逆，以錯首名，天子誅錯以解難。 Emperor Jing used his plan, and then the six states rebelled. Making Cuo the pretext, the Son of Heaven executed Cuo to resolve the difficulty.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 50House of Prince Yuan of Chu · 1 passage

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遂既王趙二十六年，孝景帝時坐晁錯以適削趙王常山之郡。 After Sui had been King of Zhao for twenty-six years, in Emperor Jing's time, because of Chao Cuo's plan to reduce the feudal domains, the commandery of Changshan was stripped from his domain.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 52House of Prince Daohui of Qi · 1 passage

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齊孝王十一年，吳王濞、楚王戊反，興兵西，告諸侯曰「將誅漢賊臣晁錯以安宗廟」。 In the eleventh year of King Xiao of Qi, King Pi of Wu and King Wu of Chu rose in rebellion, marching their armies westward and declaring to the feudal lords: 'We shall execute the traitorous Han minister Chao Cuo to safeguard the ancestral temples.'

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 96Biography of Chancellor Zhang · 8 passages

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二年，晁錯為內史，貴幸用事，諸法令多所請變更，議以謫罰侵削諸侯。 In the second year, Chao Cuo was serving as Prefect of the Capital. Highly favored and wielding great influence, he proposed numerous changes to the laws and regulations, advocating the use of censure and punishment to encroach upon and diminish the feudal lords.

而丞相嘉自絀所言不用，疾錯。 Chancellor Jia found himself marginalized, his counsel ignored, and he grew to despise Cuo.

錯為內史，門東出，不便，更穿一門南出。 As Prefect of the Capital, Cuo's gate opened to the east, which he found inconvenient. He had a new gate cut through to open to the south.

嘉聞之，欲因此以法錯擅穿宗廟垣為門，奏請誅錯。 When Jia learned of this, he saw an opportunity to bring charges against Cuo for having unlawfully breached the wall of an ancestral temple to make a gate, and prepared a memorial requesting Cuo's execution.

錯客有語錯，錯恐，夜入宮上謁，自歸景帝。 One of Cuo's retainers warned him of the plot. Frightened, Cuo stole into the palace by night for an audience and threw himself upon the mercy of Emperor Jing.

至朝，丞相奏請誅內史錯。 The next morning at court, the chancellor submitted his memorial requesting the execution of Prefect Cuo.

景帝曰：「錯所穿非真廟垣，乃外堧垣，故他官居其中，且又我使為之，錯無罪。」 Emperor Jing said, "The wall Cuo cut through was not the actual temple wall, but the outer side wall. Other offices occupy the space within it, and besides, I ordered him to do it. Cuo is not guilty."

罷朝，嘉謂長史曰：「吾悔不先斬錯，乃先請之，為錯所賣。」 After court was dismissed, Jia said to his chief clerk, "I regret not beheading Cuo first and asking permission afterward. Cuo has outmaneuvered me."

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 101Biographies of Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 34 passages

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盎素不好鼂錯，鼂錯所居坐，盎去； Ang had always disliked Chao Cuo. Whenever Chao Cuo was present, Ang would leave.

盎坐，錯亦去：兩人未嘗同堂語。 When Ang was present, Cuo would likewise depart. The two never spoke in the same room.

及孝文帝崩，孝景帝即位，鼂錯為御史大夫，使吏案袁盎受吳王財物，抵罪，詔赦以為庶人。 When Emperor Wen died and Emperor Jing came to the throne, Chao Cuo was appointed Imperial Secretary. He sent officials to investigate Yuan Ang for accepting gifts from the King of Wu, and Ang was convicted. By imperial edict he was pardoned but reduced to a commoner.

吳楚反，聞，鼂錯謂丞史曰：「夫袁盎多受吳王金錢，專為蔽匿，言不反。 When Wu and Chu rebelled, upon hearing the news, Chao Cuo said to the Chancellor's Clerk, 'Yuan Ang accepted large sums from the King of Wu and deliberately covered for him, insisting he would not rebel.

鼂錯猶與未決。 Chao Cuo hesitated and could not make up his mind.

鼂錯在前，及盎請辟人賜閒，錯去，固恨甚。 Chao Cuo was present at the audience. When Ang asked that others be dismissed for a private word, Cuo had to leave, and his resentment deepened.

袁盎具言吳所以反狀，以錯故，獨急斬錯以謝吳，吳兵乃可罷。 Yuan Ang laid out in full the reasons for Wu's rebellion, arguing that Cuo was the cause, and that the only way to halt the Wu armies was to execute Cuo at once as a gesture of appeasement to Wu.

及鼂錯已誅，袁盎以太常使吳。 After Chao Cuo was executed, Yuan Ang was dispatched as Grand Master of Ceremonies on a mission to Wu.

鼂錯者，潁川人也。 Chao Cuo was a native of Yingchuan.

錯為人陗直刻深。 Cuo was by nature severe, blunt, and unsparing.

太常遣錯受尚書伏生所。 The Grand Master of Ceremonies dispatched Cuo to study the Book of Documents under Fu Sheng.

以其辯得幸太子，太子家號曰「智囊」。 Through his eloquence he won the favor of the Heir Apparent, and the household dubbed him the 'Bag of Wisdom.'

當是時，太子善錯計策，袁盎諸大功臣多不好錯。 At that time, the Heir Apparent approved of Cuo's plans and strategies, but Yuan Ang and many of the senior meritorious ministers disliked him.

景帝即位，以錯為內史。 When Emperor Jing came to the throne, he appointed Cuo as Prefect of the Capital.

錯常數請閒言事，輒聽，寵幸傾九卿，法令多所更定。 Cuo frequently requested private audiences to discuss affairs, and the Emperor always listened. His favor eclipsed that of the Nine Ministers, and many laws and regulations were revised at his behest.

丞相申屠嘉心弗便，力未有以傷。 Chancellor Shentu Jia resented this but lacked the means to bring Cuo down.

內史府居太上廟壖中，門東出，不便，錯乃穿兩門南出，鑿廟壖垣。 The offices of the Prefect of the Capital stood within the precincts of the Supreme Temple. The gate faced east, which was inconvenient, so Cuo opened two gates facing south, cutting through the temple precinct wall.

丞相嘉聞，大怒，欲因此過為奏請誅錯。 When Chancellor Jia heard of this, he was furious and resolved to use the offense as grounds for a memorial requesting Cuo's execution.

錯聞之，即夜請閒，具為上言之。 When Cuo learned of the Chancellor's plan, he immediately sought a private audience that night and laid the whole matter before the Emperor.

丞相奏事，因言錯擅鑿廟垣為門，請下廷尉誅。 When the Chancellor presented his memorial, he charged Cuo with arbitrarily cutting through the temple wall to make a gate and requested that the case be referred to the Commandant of Justice for execution.

錯以此愈貴。 After this, Cuo's power only grew.

奏上，上令公卿列侯宗室集議，莫敢難，獨竇嬰爭之，由此與錯有卻。 When the memorial was submitted, the Emperor ordered the senior officials, marquises, and members of the imperial clan to deliberate. None dared object, except Dou Ying, who contested it. From this a rift grew between him and Cuo.

錯所更令三十章，諸侯皆諠譁疾鼂錯。 Cuo revised thirty articles of law. The feudal lords all raised an outcry and despised Chao Cuo.

錯父聞之，從潁川來，謂錯曰：「上初即位，公為政用事，侵削諸侯，別疏人骨肉，人口議多怨公者，何也？」 When Cuo's father heard of this, he came from Yingchuan and said to Cuo, 'The Emperor has only just come to the throne, and you are the one directing affairs of state. You encroach upon the feudal lords, reduce their lands, and drive a wedge between the Emperor's own kin. People everywhere are speaking against you with resentment. Why?'

鼂錯曰：「固也。 Chao Cuo replied, 'That is to be expected.

錯父曰：「劉氏安矣，而鼂氏危矣，吾去公歸矣！」 Cuo's father said, 'The House of Liu may be secure, but the House of Chao is in peril. I will leave you and go home!'

死十餘日，吳楚七國果反，以誅錯為名。 A little over ten days after his death, the seven kingdoms of Wu and Chu rose in rebellion, using the demand to execute Cuo as their pretext.

及竇嬰、袁盎進說，上令鼂錯衣朝衣斬東市。 When Dou Ying and Yuan Ang pressed their case, the Emperor ordered Chao Cuo beheaded in his court robes at the Eastern Market.

鼂錯已死，謁者仆射鄧公為校尉，擊吳楚軍為將。 After Chao Cuo was dead, Deng Gong, the Chief Receptionist, served as a Colonel and led troops against the Wu and Chu armies.

上問曰：「道軍所來，聞鼂錯死，吳楚罷不？」 The Emperor asked, 'On your way back from the front, did you hear whether Wu and Chu ceased hostilities after Chao Cuo's death?'

鄧公曰：「吳王為反數十年矣，發怒削地，以誅錯為名，其意非在錯也。 Deng Gong replied, 'The King of Wu has been plotting rebellion for decades. He exploded in fury over the reduction of his territory and used the execution of Cuo as his pretext. His true aim was never about Cuo.

鄧公曰：「夫鼂錯患諸侯彊大不可制，故請削地以尊京師，萬世之利也。 Deng Gong said, 'Chao Cuo saw that the feudal lords had grown too powerful to control, and so he proposed reducing their territories to strengthen the capital. This was a policy to benefit ten thousand generations.

鼂錯為家令時，數言事不用； When Chao Cuo served as Steward of the Household, he repeatedly offered proposals that went unheeded.

語曰「變古亂常，不死則亡」，豈錯等謂邪！ As the saying goes, 'Those who overturn the old ways and disrupt the established order will either die or be ruined.' Was this not said of men like Cuo!

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 112Biographies of the Marquis of Pingjin and Zhufu · 1 passage

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今以法割削之，則逆節萌起，前日晁錯是也。 Should we now try to reduce them through legal measures, rebellious impulses will flare up—is the fate of Chao Cuo in the past not proof enough?

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 121Biographies of Confucian Scholars · 1 passage

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是時伏生年九十餘，老，不能行，於是乃詔太常使掌故晁錯往受之。 At that time, Master Fu was over ninety and too frail to travel. An edict was therefore issued ordering Chao Cuo, the keeper of precedents under the Grand Master of Ceremonies, to go and receive instruction from him.

History of Song, Chapter 408Volume 408 Biographies 167: Wu Changyi, Wang Gang, Chen Mi, Wang Ting · 1 passage

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晁錯入粟之議，本朝便糴之法，在其中矣。」 Chao Cuo's policy of grain delivery for ennoblement and our dynasty's convenient-purchase system embody this approach."

New Book of Tang, Chapter 178Volume 178 Biographies 103: Liu Fen · 2 passages

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昔晁錯為漢削諸侯，非不知禍之將至，忠臣之心，壯夫之節，茍利社稷，死無悔焉。 Formerly Chao Cuo reduced the feudal lords for Han — it was not that he did not know disaster was coming; the loyal minister's heart, the stalwart's integrity: if it profits the altars of state, death brings no regret.

是時，第策官左散騎常侍馮宿、太常少卿賈餗、庫部郎中龐嚴見蕡對嗟伏，以為過古晁、董，而畏中官眥睚，不敢取。 At that time the examination graders — Left Regular Attendant of the Cavalry Feng Su, Vice Minister of Rites Jia Su, and Bureau Director of the Storehouses Pang Yan — seeing Fen's answers sighed in admiration, holding them to surpass the ancient Chao Cuo and Dong Zhongshu; yet fearing the inner eunuchs' resentment, they dared not select him.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 40Volume 40 Miscellaneous Biographies 20: Li Maozhen, Han Jian, Li Renfu, Han Xun, Yang Chongben, Gao Wanxing, Wen Tao · 1 passage

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鳳翔又近京師，易以自危而難於後悔，佗日雖欲誅晁錯以謝諸侯，恐不能也。」 Fengxiang lies too close to Chang’an—strike at him and you court disaster you cannot undo. Another day, even if you wished to execute Chao Cuo to appease the feudal lords, you might not be able to.”