Dong Zhongshu (董仲舒)

Overview

Dong Zhongshu was a scholar and Philosopher.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Dong		Dong
Alternate name	Mr. Dong	董生	Dǒng shēng

Life and dates

Death

Died of old age · At at home 家
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 366
Unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 243
lived until death without managing property, devoted to scholarship and writing
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 194

Age

Label old age · Reckoning Unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 366

Attested activity

BC 141 今上即位
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 179
BC 141 to BC 87 今上時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passages 182-183, 186, 191, 193
BC 134 今漢繼大亂之後
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passages 275, 291, 294
BC 141 to BC 134 今臨政而願治七十餘歲矣
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passages 104, 118, 124, 145
BC 140 to BC 134 今陛下; 於是天子復冊之 (second and third Han court responses)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passages 163, 181, 210-211, 221
BC 179 to BC 104 仲舒
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 40, passage 161

Show 26 more source-backed claims

BC 140 仲舒不闚園
Strongly inferred · Book of Wei 96, passage 240
BC 134 仲舒復對 the second reply to Emperor Wu
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passages 222-223
BC 100 to BC 87 仲舒死後
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 26, passages 243-244
BC 126 to BC 115 使使者及廷尉張湯就其家而問之
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passage 362
BC 128 to BC 123 元朔中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 68, passages 110, 119
BC 135 to BC 131 先是遼東高廟、長陵高園殿災
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passages 350, 352
BC 126 to BC 124 卒以弘為丞相，封平津侯
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 52
BC 140 to BC 104 卒用董仲舒
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passages 200-201, 206
BC 157 to BC 141 孝景時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passage 3; Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 176
BC 141 to BC 87 孝武之世
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 101, passages 6-7
BC 141 to BC 134 對既畢，天子以仲舒為江都相
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passages 330, 363-364
BC 120 to BC 104 年老，以壽終於家
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passage 366
BC 124 to BC 121 弘希世用事，位至公卿
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passages 354, 357, 359
BC 140 to BC 104 昔董仲舒為漢武帝言之
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 178, passage 100
BC 141 to BC 87 武帝之世
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 31, passage 40
BC 141 武帝即位
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passages 7, 27
BC 141 to BC 87 武帝時
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 26, passages 223, 244
BC 179 to BC 104 漢
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 36, passage 9
BC 140 to BC 104 漢武之世
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 32, passage 4
BC 134 漢武帝三策董仲舒
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 178, passage 300
BC 140 to BC 104 漢武帝時
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 75, passage 286
BC 200 to BC 100 漢興以來
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 85, passage 41
BC 141 to BC 87 漢興六十餘載
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 68, passages 254, 258; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 277, 282
BC 140 自是之后
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passages 32, 37
BC 140 to BC 104 董生下帷，发藻儒林
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 117, passage 259
c. BC 104 量交
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 14, passage 242

Family

Kinship Role grandsons · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 366; Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 206
Kinship Role sons · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 366; Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 206

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 65 Volume 56: Dong Zhongshu 28 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 76 Volume 65: Dongfang Shuo 1 passage
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 121 Biographies of Confucian Scholars 17 passages
New Book of Tang, Chapter 178 Volume 178 Biographies 103: Liu Fen 3 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 26 Volume 24a: Treatise on Trade 1 2 passages

Career and standing

Confucian scholarship 儒雅
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 282
court scholar answering imperial questions 承學對策之臣
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 163, 210, 221
scholar-minister receiving learning 承學之臣
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 223
servant-respondent at court 臣
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 294
teacher 授業
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 4
Chancellor of Jiangdu 江都相
BC 141 今上即位 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 179

Show 20 more source-backed claims

Chancellor to the King of Jiaoxi 相膠西王
BC 141 to BC 87 今上時 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passages 191-192
erudite 博士
BC 157 to BC 141 孝景時 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passage 3; Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 176
chancellor of Jiangdu 江都相
BC 141 to BC 134 對既畢，天子以仲舒為江都相 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 330
chancellor to the king of Jiaoxi 膠西相
BC 124 to BC 121 弘希世用事，位至公卿 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 357-358
Palace Grandee 中大夫
BC 141 to BC 87 今上時 · Demoted
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 182
Palace Grandee 中大夫
Demoted
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 349
the charge of the three dukes and nine ministers 三公九卿之任
Not held · Negated true · not what Zhongshu can reach
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 294
palace grandee 中大夫
Directly stated · Book of Han 74, passage 186
Dismissed from chancellorship
BC 141 to BC 87 今上時 · Dismissal
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 182
Entered
BC 126 to BC 124 卒以弘為丞相，封平津侯 · Exile · At Jiaoxi 膠西
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 52
Left office and returned home
Retirement
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 361
Relieved for illness
BC 141 to BC 87 今上時 · Resignation
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 193
Resigned pleading illness
Resignation
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 359
worthy and cultivated 賢良
BC 141 武帝即位 · Recommended worthy · Selected
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passage 7
Handed to clerks
Arrested · Authority Emperor Wu (武帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 352
Liable for death
Capital sentence
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 352
Pardoned by edict
Pardon · Authority Emperor Wu (武帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 352
pardon of the servant's offense / leave to speak without being bound by form 寬臣之罪，令勿牽制於文
Pardoned · Authority Son of Heaven (天子)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 210
imperial pardon 詔赦
Pardon · Pardoned · Authority Present Emperor (今上)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 186
sentenced to death 當死
Death sentence · Sentenced
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 186

Places and affiliations

Han 漢
Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 85, passage 41
Western Han 漢
Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 258
Western Han 西汉
Relation Active in
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 113, passage 169
Polity Western Han · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 223
Polity Han 汉 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 259
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 65, passages 3, 7; Book of Han 75, passage 286

Show 13 more source-backed claims

Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 111, 116, 145, 181, 210, 221, 291, 294; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 277, 282; Records of the Grand Historian 121, passages 175, 195; New Book of Tang 178, passage 100
Polity Western Han 漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 330, 354; Records of the Grand Historian 121, passages 200-201
Polity Western Han 漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 65, passage 223; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 52
Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 178, passage 269
At Guangchuan 廣川
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 2; Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 175
BC 141 今上即位
At Jiangdu 江都 · Relation Posted to
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 179
BC 126 to BC 124 卒以弘為丞相，封平津侯
At Jiaoxi 膠西 · Relation Exiled to
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 52
BC 120 to BC 104 年老，以壽終於家
At Maoling 茂陵 · Relation Household moved to
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 366
At Guangchuan 廣川 · Relation Native of
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 2
At Jiaoxi 膠西 · Relation Transferred to
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 119
At Zhao 趙 · Relation Active in
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 37
Organization Confucian scholarly community 儒林 · Relation Member of
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 259
Organization Gongyang school 公羊氏 · Relation Transmitter of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 195

Learning and skills

narrates what he has heard and recites what he has studied; conveys teachers' words · Relation Studied
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 293
Subject Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋 · Stage youth
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 3
Subject Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passages 176, 195
Belief the Six Arts and the arts of Confucius 六藝之科孔子之術 · Relation Adherent of
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 328
Skill Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋 · Level authoritative-teacher
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passages 200-201
Skill ritual deportment 禮 · Level strict
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 6

Works and attributed material

writings clarifying the classics, memorials, and itemized teachings 明經術之意及上疏條教
Count 123 · Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 367
Bamboo Grove 竹林
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 368
books and scholarship 修學著書
Relation Author
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 194
Jade Cup 玉杯
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 368
Luxuriant Dew 蕃露
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 368
policy memorials 所言
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 85, passage 41

Show 24 more source-backed claims

Qingming 清明
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 368
Record of Portents and Anomalies 災異之記
Relation Author
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 182
responses on Heaven and man 天人之對
Relation Author
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 300
Wenju 聞舉
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 368
Classic of Poetry 詩
Relation Cited
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 35
Documents 書
Relation Cited
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 35
Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋
Relation Interpreter
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 325, 347, 354, 368
Analects 論語
Relation Quoted
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 222
Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋
Relation Studied
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 3, 29
Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋
Relation Transmitted
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 37
Exalted Kong and dismissed hundred schools
Policy answers · Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 364
Examination answer · Author · Addressed to Emperor Wu of Han (漢武帝)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 300
Memorial · Author · With Son of Heaven (天子) · Paraphrased · Extent s0163, s0164, s0165, s0166, s0167, s0168, s0169, s0170, s0171, s0172, s0173, s0174, s0175, s0176, s0177, s0178, s0179, s0180, s0181, s0182, s0183, s0184, s0185, s0186, s0187, s0188, s0189, s0190, s0191, s0192, s0193, s0194, s0195, s0196, s0197, s0198, s0199, s0200, s0201, s0202, s0203, s0204, s0205, s0206, s0207, s0208, s0209, s0210
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 163-210
Interpretation · Speaker · Topic meteorite omen
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 113, passage 169
Memorial · Author · With The Emperor (天子)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 104-123, 145-162
Memorial · Author · With Your Majesty (陛下) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 275-329
Memorial · Author · With Emperor Wu of Han (漢武帝) · Paraphrased · Units s0222, s0223, s0224, s0225, s0226, s0227, s0228, s0229, s0230, s0231, s0232, s0233, s0234, s0235, s0236, s0237, s0238, s0239, s0240, s0241, s0242, s0243, s0244, s0245, s0246, s0247, s0248, s0249, s0250, s0251, s0252, s0253, s0254, s0255, s0256, s0257, s0258, s0259, s0260, s0261, s0262, s0263, s0264, s0265, s0266, s0267, s0268, s0269, s0270, s0271, s0272, s0273
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 222
composed record of anomalies after demotion
Narrative action · Agent
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 182
yin-yang rain methods
Narrative action · Agent
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passages 180-181
Narrative · Teacher referenced
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passages 204-205
Oral reply · Speaker · With King Yi (易王) · Direct quotation · Units s0336, s0337, s0338, s0339, s0340, s0341, s0342, s0343, s0344, s0345 · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Dong Zhongshu (董仲舒)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 336-345
Policy response · Author · With Emperor Wu (武帝) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 28-51
Speech · Speaker · With Emperor Wu (武帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passages 223-242
spoke in outline on the ruler's Way of embodying the beginning to dwell in correctness 為漢武帝言之略矣
Speech · Speaker · With Emperor Wu of Han (漢武帝) · Paraphrased
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 100

Events and relationships

Advised agriculture policy
BC 141 to BC 87 武帝時 · Political · Advisor · With Emperor Wu (武帝)
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 26, passages 223, 225, 244
Advised
Scholarly · Speaker · With Emperor Wu of Han (漢武帝)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 100
Answered court inquiries at home
Scholarly · Consultant · With Zhang Tang (張湯)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 362
Answered policy questions
BC 141 武帝即位 · Political · Respondent · With Emperor Wu (武帝)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passages 7, 27
Answered policy questions
Scholarly · Speaker · With Your Majesty (陛下)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 292-294
Began a further written reply
Political · Respondent · With Son of Heaven (天子)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 221

Show 31 more source-backed claims

Ceased speaking of portents
Intellectual · Subject
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 187
Ceased speaking on portents
Scholarly · Subject · Negated false
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 352
Controlled rain by yin yang
Ritual cosmology · Practitioner
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passages 180-181
Did not look at garden for three years
Personal · Subject · Mode hearsay
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 5
Drafted portent interpretation
Scholarly · Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 350
Lectured behind a curtain
Scholarly · Teacher · Detail disciples transmitted instruction by seniority; some never saw his face
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 4
Let down his curtain and sent brilliance through the Confucian grove
Scholarly · Teacher
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 259
Listed among Han talents of the era
Career · Exemplar · Mode quotation Speaker Ban Gu (班固)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 282
Originated school officials and xiaolian recommendations
Institutional · Proposer
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 365
Received second rescript
Scholarly · Respondent · With Emperor Wu of Han (漢武帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 223, 225
Served two kingdoms
Administrative · Chancellor · With King Yi (易王), King of Jiaoxi (膠西王)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 360
Set right with ritual
Administrative · Corrector · With King Yi (易王)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 332
Sought rain and stopped rain
Ritual · Officiant · At Jiangdu 江都
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 347-348
Submitted earlier reply
Political · Author · 前所上對 first answer incomplete
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 224
Submitted memorials
Political · Remonstrant
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 360, 367
Taught behind curtains
Teaching · Teacher
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 177
Urged founding the Imperial Academy and merit based recruitment
Political · Petitioner · With Son of Heaven (天子)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 190, 193, 205, 209
Urged suppression of heterodox schools
Political · Adviser
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 328-329
Writings seized and presented
Political · Victim · With Zhufu Yan (主父偃)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 183
Relation Respondent to · Person Emperor Wu (武帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 7, 27
Relation Rival of · Person Gongsun Hong (公孫弘)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 355; Book of Later Han 32, passage 4
Relation Teacher of · Person Chu Da (褚大)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 201
Relation Served under · Person Emperor Jing (孝景)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 3
Relation Teacher of · Person Lu Bushu (呂步舒)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passages 185, 201
Relation Respondent to · Person Your Majesty (陛下)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 274, 292, 294
Relation Respondent to · Person Son of Heaven (天子)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 210-211, 221
Relation Teacher of · Person Lü Bushu (呂步舒)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 351
Relation Served · Person King Yi (易王)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 330, 332
Relation Advisor of · Person Emperor Wu of Han (漢武帝)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 100
Relation Teacher of · Person Yin Zhong (殷忠)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 201
Relation Official under · Person Emperor Wu of Han (漢武帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 223

Assessments and attributes

Assessment alone renowned for mastery of Spring and Autumn Annals across five Han reigns · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 195
Assessment Confucian elegance (儒雅) · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 258
Assessment first among Confucian scholars after Qin destroyed learning · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Liu Xin (劉歆)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 375
臣愚不肖
Assessment foolish-and-unworthy · Mode self-report Source Person Id Dong Zhongshu (董仲舒)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 293, 328
Assessment Gongsun Hong was a sycophant · With Gongsun Hong (公孫弘) · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Dong Zhongshu (董仲舒)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 190
Assessment harbored indignation that former kings' ritual forms were largely missing · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 40, passage 161

Show 14 more source-backed claims

Assessment incorrupt and straight · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 353
Assessment integrity and forthright character · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 188
Assessment interpreted meteorites as descending-from-on-high turning back downward · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Dong Zhongshu (董仲舒)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 113, passage 169
Assessment ranking him with Yi Yin and Lü Wang and above Guan Zhong and Yan Ying is excessive · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Liu Xin (劉歆)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 376
Assessment scholars all took him as teacher and honored him · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 6
Assessment scholars revered him as master · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 178
Assessment set forth Heaven-and-man outline; leisurely and not incisive · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 300
Assessment shallow and mean crime for an unfinished, unclear first reply · Assessor Person Id Dong Zhongshu (董仲舒) · Mode self-report Speaker Dong Zhongshu (董仲舒)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 224
Assessment speaks as a foolish servant (self-deprecation) · Mode self-report Speaker Dong Zhongshu (董仲舒)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 205, 210
Assessment such was the depth of his concentration · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 5
Assessment talent to assist a true king, not surpassed by Yi Yin and Lü Wang · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Liu Xiang (劉向)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 370
Assessment virtuous talent treated as dust when powerless · Mode quoted-source Speaker Liu Jun (劉峻)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 14, passages 242-243
In every gesture he would do nothing not in accord with ritual propriety
Conduct
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 178
Item draft interpretation of the temple fires 草稿 · Relation Authored and had stolen
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 350