Ancient China · Ruler

Duke Mu of Qin 秦伯

Qín Bó

Attested BC 659 - BC 621

Passages: 6
Chapters: 4
Histories: 2

Overview

Duke Mu of Qin was a ruler.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Posthumous name	Mu	繆	Miu

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 621 秦穆公卒
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 67
BC 659 to BC 621 繆公
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 189
BC 659 to BC 621 繆公之業
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 68, passages 17, 146

Key source chapters

Places and affiliations

Polity Qin 秦 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 68, passage 17; Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 67

Events and relationships

Relation Patron of · Person Five Ram Skin Grand Master (五羖大夫)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 68, passages 146-147

References in the histories

Book of Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Gu Yong and Du Ye · 1 passage

昔秦伯有千乘之國，而不能容其母弟，春秋亦書而譏焉。 Duke Mu of Qin had a state of a thousand chariots yet could not accommodate his younger brother; the Spring and Autumn recorded and mocked this.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 68Biography of Lord Shang · 3 passages

公叔既死，公孫鞅聞秦孝公下令國中求賢者，將修繆公之業，東復侵地，乃遂西入秦，因孝公寵臣景監以求見孝公。 After Gongshu's death, Gongsun Yang learned that Duke Xiao of Qin had issued an edict throughout his realm seeking talented men. The duke intended to revive Duke Mu's legacy and recover territories lost to the east. Yang traveled west to Qin and, through the duke's favored minister Jing Jian, sought an audience with Duke Xiao.

聞秦繆公之賢而願望見，行而無資，自粥於秦客，被褐食牛。 He heard of Duke Mu of Qin's worthiness and wished to see him. Traveling without resources, he sold himself to a Qin merchant, wore coarse clothing, and tended cattle.

期年，繆公知之，舉之牛口之下，而加之百姓之上，秦國莫敢望焉。 After one year, Duke Mu discovered him, raised him from tending cattle, and placed him above the common people. No one in Qin dared to rival him.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 83Biographies of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang · 1 passage

故百里奚乞食於路，繆公委之以政； Baili Xi once begged for food by the roadside, yet Duke Mu of Qin entrusted him with the government.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 88Biography of Meng Tian · 1 passage

昔者秦穆公殺三良而死，罪百里奚而非其罪也，故立號曰『繆』。 Long ago, Duke Mu of Qin had three worthy ministers buried alive to accompany him in death and unjustly accused Baili Xi of offenses not his own. For these acts he received the posthumous epithet 'Mu,' signifying a flawed reign.