Duke of Zhou (周公) | 24 Histories

Overview

Duke of Zhou was a Zhou regent, statesman, and enduring political exemplar.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Duke of Zhou Dan	周公旦	Zhou Gong Dan
Alternate name	Gong Dan	公旦	Gong Dan

Life and dates

Attested activity

legendary antiquity
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 127; Book of Chen 20, passage 37; Book of Chen 29, passage 98; Book of Han 68, passage 72; Book of Han 90, passage 184; Book of Later Han 37, passage 242; Book of Later Han 125, passage 7; History of Liao 99, passage 101; History of Liao 102, passage 54; Book of Southern Qi 36, passage 134; Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 229; Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 16; History of Yuan 171, passage 65
legendary antiquity
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 91, passages 53, 119; Book of Wei 27, passage 137
c. BC 1100 to c. BC 1046 Duke of Zhou (early Western Zhou)
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 77
BC 1042 early Zhou genealogy / conquest setting
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 116
c. BC 1045 to c. BC 1035 周公
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passage 162
BC 1042 to BC 1021 周公
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 233

Show 29 more source-backed claims

BC 1042 to BC 1035 周公
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passage 330
BC 1042 to BC 1036 周公
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 27, passage 35
c. BC 1040 周公
Directly stated · History of Ming 115, passages 24, 55
c. BC 1043 周公
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 55, passage 185
BC 1040 周公
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 47, passage 82
BC 1100 周公
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 483, passage 120
BC 1042 to BC 1035 周公之善康叔
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 34, passage 55
BC 1040 to BC 1000 周公定禮
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 36, passage 19
c. BC 1100 to c. BC 1000 周公念先業之艱難
Strongly inferred · History of Song 497, passage 3
BC 1042 to BC 1030 周公抱成王宴居
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 131, passage 50
BC 1046 周公旦，武王弟。初封
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 13, passage 106
BC 1042 to BC 1035 周公相成王
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 89, passage 13
BC 1040 周公聞之
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 58, passage 151
BC 1040 周公誅管、蔡
Uncertain · History of Liao 2, passage 212
BC 1040 周公負扆以朝諸侯
Directly stated · Book of Wei 96, passage 170
c. BC 1043 周公輔幼歸政之義
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 108, passage 118
BC 1040 周公遺風
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 144
BC 1042 to BC 1036 周公陳王業
Directly stated · History of Liao 56, passage 4
c. BC 1046 周初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 28, passage 213
BC 1042 周初
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passages 153-154
BC 1042 to BC 1021 周成王初立
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 78
BC 1042 to BC 1035 如伊尹、周公
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 78, passage 154
BC 1045 to BC 1035 挈龜算祀（西周初周公）
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 193
BC 1040 昔
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 8, passage 146
BC 1042 昔周公相成王
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passage 151
BC 1050 武王同母兄弟十人；母曰太姒；及文王崩而發立
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passages 4, 6
BC 1046 武王已克殷紂，平天下，封功臣昆弟
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 11
BC 1042 武王既崩，成王少，周公旦專王室
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passages 14-16, 20, 23-24
BC 1043 to BC 1036 西周初年（周公旦輔政）
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 25, passage 189

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of King Cheng (成王)
assisted as regent-kinsman 相 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passage 151
Kin of Cai Shu (蔡叔)
Cai 蔡 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · History of Liao 2, passage 212
Kin of King Wu of Zhou (周武王)
Duke Dan of the Zhou royal house 公旦 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 25, passage 189
Kin of King Wen of Zhou (周文王)
Duke Dan of the Zhou royal house 公旦 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 25, passage 189
Kin of King Cheng of Zhou (周成王)
Duke of Zhou to King Cheng 周公 · paternal line
Duke of Zhou 周公
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 127; Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 78
Child of King Wen of Zhou (周文王)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 4
Child of King Wen (文王)
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 154
Kin of Guan Shu (管叔)
Guan 管 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · History of Liao 2, passage 212
Sibling of King Wu of Zhou (武王)
paternal uncle 叔父 · Full siblings
same-mother brother 同母昆弟 · Full siblings
younger brother 弟 · Full siblings
same-mother younger brother 同母之弟 · Full siblings
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Han 70, passage 162; Records of the Grand Historian 35, passages 2, 4, 113, 124; Records of the Grand Historian 13, passage 106
Child of Tai Si (太姒)
son 子 · Full siblings · maternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passages 3-4

Kinship Role descendants · Polity Lu 魯 · Quantity unknown
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 116
Kinship Role forefathers · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · History of Song 497, passage 3

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 70 Volume 60: Du Zhou 4 passages
Book of Liang, Chapter 25 Volume 25: Zhou She; Xu Mian 1 passage
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 57 House of Zhou Bo, Marquis of Jiang 1 passage
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 35 Houses of Guan and Cai 10 passages
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 88 Biography of Meng Tian 7 passages

Origins and identity

Line Zhou royal house · 周
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 4

Career and standing

Enfeoffed
BC 1046 封叔旦於魯 · At Lu 魯 · Authority King Wu of Zhou (武王)
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 11
Lord of Lu 魯
First enfeoffed · At Lu 魯
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 13, passage 106
Duke of Zhou 周公
BC 1046 為周公 · Became
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 11

Places and affiliations

Polity Zhou · Relation Regent of
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 153
Polity Zhou 周 · Relation Member of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 4
Polity Zhou 周 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 189; Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 78
At Lu 魯 · Relation Enfeoffed at
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 11

Works and attributed material

Offices of Zhou 周官
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 125, passage 7
Seventh Month 七月
Relation Associated with
Directly stated · History of Liao 56, passage 4
Offices of Zhou 周官
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 125, passage 7
Seventh Month 七月
Relation Author
Directly stated · History of Song 497, passage 3
Speech · Speaker · With King Cheng of Zhou (周成王) · Paraphrased · Extent s0024
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 24
Classical exemplum · Source of teaching · Source Person Id Lu Pi (魯丕) · Mode quoted-by-memorial Speaker Lu Pi (魯丕)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 28, passage 213

Show 2 more source-backed claims

Prayer · Speaker
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passages 79-80
Speech · Speaker · With Bo Qin (伯禽)
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 119

Events and relationships

Appeared in Bian Shao repartee
Literary · Dream figure
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passage 357
Assisted young ruler and returned power
Political · Exemplar · Mode quotation
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 118
Attacked and executed Wu Geng, killed Guan Shu, banished Cai Shu
BC 1042 周公旦承成王命伐誅武庚，殺管叔，而放蔡叔 · Military · Commander · With Wu Geng Lu Fu (武庚祿父), Guan Shu Xian (管叔鮮), Cai Shu Du (蔡叔度)
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 16
Cited as a standard of achievement
BC 259 四十八年 · Historical comparison · Exemplar
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 69, 77
Seventh Month 七月
Scholarly · Author · Composed poem
Directly stated · History of Song 497, passage 3
Divided Yin remnant people into two groups
BC 1042 分殷餘民為二 · Political · Divider
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 17

Show 21 more source-backed claims

Embraced King Cheng in leisure
Personal · Guardian · With King Cheng of Zhou (周成王)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 131, passage 50
Established rites and made music
Ritual · Statesman
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passage 151
Established rites
Ritual · Reformer
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 19
Executed Guan and Cai
Legal · Authority · With Guan Shu (管叔), Cai Shu (蔡叔)
Directly stated · History of Liao 2, passage 212
Executed
Legal · Executioner · With Elai (惡來)
Directly stated · History of Liao 99, passage 101
Executed
Legal · Executioner · With Feilian (蜚廉)
Directly stated · History of Liao 99, passage 101
Seventh Month 七月
Political · Statesman · Expounded royal enterprise
Directly stated · History of Liao 56, passage 4
Ordered the realm in one, three, and five years
Governance · Regent
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 72
Read tortoise for sacrificial fate
Ritual · Diviner
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 193
Refined Zhou ritual
Ritual institutional · Reformer · Outcome Peace marked by dragon and phoenix omens
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 189
Took charge of the royal house
BC 1042 周公旦專王室 · Political · Regent
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 14
Relation Guardian of · Person King Cheng of Zhou (周成王)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 131, passage 50
Relation Teacher of · Person King Cheng of Zhou (周成王)
Directly stated · History of Ming 115, passage 24
Relation Predecessor patron of · Person Cai Zhong (蔡仲)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passages 23-24
Relation Assisted · Person King Cheng of Zhou (周成王) · Regent
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passages 11, 14, 20
Relation Teacher of · Person Bo Qin (伯禽)
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 119
Relation Assisted · Person King Wen of Zhou (周文王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 6
Relation Ritual successor refiner after · Person King Wu of Zhou (周武王)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 189
Relation Favored · Person Kangshu (康叔)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 34, passage 55
Relation Ritual successor refiner after · Person King Wen of Zhou (周文王)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 189
Relation Assisted · Person King Cheng (成王)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passage 151

Assessments and attributes

Assessment cited as model pillar minister and dream interlocutor · Mode quotation Speaker Cui Qi (崔琦)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passage 330
Assessment worthy · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 6
Assessment Zhou Gong's achievements were invoked as an unsurpassed historical standard · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Su Dai (蘇代)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 77

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 189; Book of Liang 37, passage 69; History of Liao 56, passage 4
Historicity legendary
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 127; History of Liao 99, passage 101; Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 15
Value legendary
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 72
Guan Shu and Cai Shu suspected the Duke of Zhou's actions were not in King Cheng's interest
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 35, passage 15

References in the histories

Search passages

History

91 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 31Volume 31 Biographies 23: Wang Xin; Wang Xi · 3 passages

Open chapter

晞曰：「周公抱成王朝諸侯，攝政七年，然後復子明辟，幸有故事，惟殿下慮之。」 Wang Xi said, "The Duke of Zhou held King Cheng in his arms while receiving the feudal lords at court and served as regent for seven years. He then returned the government to his sovereign. Fortunately, there is a precedent; Your Highness need only consider it."

王曰：「我安敢自擬周公。」 The prince said, "How dare I liken myself to the Duke of Zhou."

晞曰：「殿下今日地望，欲避周公得耶？」 Wang Xi said, "Your Highness's standing today — can you avoid the Duke of Zhou?"

Book of Chen, Chapter 20Volume 20: Dao Zhongju; Han Zigao; Hua Jiao · 1 passage

Open chapter

家國安危，事歸宰輔，伊、周之重，物無異議，將相舊臣，咸知宗仰。 The realm’s safety belongs to its chief ministers. The weight of Yi and Zhou is beyond dispute. Every old general and minister knows to look to him.

Book of Chen, Chapter 29Volume 29: Zong Yuanrao; Sima Shen; Mao Xi; Cai Zheng · 1 passage

Open chapter

皇太后深惟社稷至計，令王入省，方當共康庶績，比德伊、周。 The empress dowager deeply weighs the plan for the altars of soil and grain and has ordered the prince to enter the secretariat; we should together bring peace to the people's labors and match the virtue of Yi and Zhou.

Book of Han, Chapter 8Volume 7: Annals of Emperor Zhao · 1 passage

Open chapter

成王不疑周公，孝昭委任霍光，各因其時以成名，大矣哉！ King Cheng did not doubt the Duke of Zhou; Emperor Zhao entrusted Huo Guang with power. Each, in his own time, achieved renown thereby. How great this was!

Book of Han, Chapter 68Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan · 3 passages

Open chapter

臣聞周公旦治天下，期年而變，三年而化，五年而定。 I have heard that the Duke of Zhou took the realm in hand: within a single cycle things began to shift, in three years they were transformed, in five they stood firm.

書奏，天子以冊書答曰：「問：弘稱周公之治，弘之材能自視孰與周公賢？」 The memorial reached the throne; the emperor replied in his own hand: "You praise the Duke of Zhou's rule—do you count your own gifts the equal of his?"

弘對曰：「愚臣淺薄，安敢比材於周公！ Hong answered: "I am shallow and coarse—how dare I measure myself against the Duke of Zhou!

Book of Han, Chapter 70Volume 60: Du Zhou · 4 passages

Open chapter

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.

願將軍由周公之謙懼，損穰侯之威，放武安之欲，毋使范雎之徒得間其說。」 I urge you to keep the Duke of Zhou's humility, shed Marquis Rang's arrogance, and curb the appetites that ruined the Marquis of Wu'an—lest another Fan Ju find a crack through which to speak."

昔周公雖老，猶在京師，明不離成周，示不忘王室也。 The Duke of Zhou stayed in the capital in old age to show he never abandoned the royal city or the king.

夫欲天下治安變異之意，莫有將軍，主上照然知之，故攀援不遣，《書》稱『公毋困我！』 No one cares more than you for the realm's peace or for ending these portents, and the emperor knows it. That is why he holds on to you and refuses to let you go. In the Documents, King Cheng pleads, "Duke, do not leave me in distress!"

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

Open chapter

臣聞周德始乎後稷，長於公劉，大於大王，成於文、武，顯於周公，德澤上昭，天下漏泉，無所不通。 The virtue of Zhou began with Hou Ji, swelled through Duke Liu and the Great King, ripened under Wen and Wu, and shone through the Duke of Zhou until grace soaked the realm like water from a spring.

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

Open chapter

譬若以周、邵為丞相，孔丘為御史大夫，太公為將軍，畢公高拾遺於後，弁嚴子為衛尉，皋陶為大理，後稷為司農，伊尹為少府，子贛使外國，顏、閔為博士，子夏為太常，益為右扶風，季路為執金吾，契為鴻臚，龍逢為宗正，伯夷為京兆，管仲為馮翊，魯般為將作，仲山甫為光祿，申伯為太僕，延陵季子為水衡，百里奚為典屬國，柳下惠為大長秋，史魚為司直，蘧伯玉為太傅，孔父為詹事，孫叔敖為諸侯相，子產為郡守，王慶忌為期門，夏育為鼎官，羿為旄頭，宋萬為式道候。」 Imagine the Duke of Zhou and the Duke of Shao as your chancellors; Confucius as chief censor; the Grand Duke as commander; Duke Bi Gao as court remonstrant; Bian Zhuangzi as captain of the guard; Gao Yao as chief judge; Hou Ji as minister of agriculture; Yi Yin as palace treasurer; Zigong as foreign envoy; Yan Hui and Min Ziqian as court scholars; Zixia as master of rites; Yi as western capital intendant; Zilu as capital commandant; Xie as master of guest ceremonies; Guan Longpeng as keeper of the imperial genealogy; the minister Boyi as metropolitan governor; Guan Zhong as northern capital intendant; Lu Ban as chief engineer; Zhong Shanfu as palace chamberlain; the Earl of Shen as master of the horse; Prince Jizi of Yanling as keeper of parks and waters; Baili Xi as commissioner for dependent peoples; Liuxia Hui as chamberlain to the empress; Shi Yu as censor of conduct; Qu Boyu as grand tutor; Kong Fu as supervisor of the heir apparent's household; Sunshu Ao as chancellor to the feudal lords; Zichan as commandery governor; Prince Qingji as a palace gate guard; Xia Yu as cauldron officer; Yi the Archer as vanguard officer; and Song Wan as road-clearing scout."

Book of Han, Chapter 82Volume 71: Jun, Shu, Yu, Xue, Ping and Peng · 2 passages

Open chapter

昔者帝堯南面而治，先『克膽俊德，以親九族』，而化及萬國《孝經》曰『天地之性人為貴，人之行莫大於孝，孝莫大於嚴父，嚴父莫大於配天，則周公其人也。』 Emperor Yao faced his court and began by illumining matchless virtue and bringing harmony to his nine clans, until his influence spread to every state. The Classic of Filial Piety says that among heaven and earth's gifts none ranks above man, that among human deeds none ranks above filial piety, that honoring the father is filial piety's height, and that joining the father to heaven is its summit—and the Duke of Zhou is the model.

夫孝子善述人之志，周公既成文、武之業而製作禮樂，修嚴父配天之事，知文王不欲以子臨父，故推而序之，上極於後稷而以配天。 A true son carries on his forebears' purpose. The Duke of Zhou, having finished the work of Kings Wen and Wu, composed the rites and music and set his father King Wen beside heaven; knowing that a living son must not overshadow his father, he pushed the line back through the ancestors to Hou Ji so that Hou Ji might share heaven's honor.

Book of Han, Chapter 88Volume 77: Gai, Zhuge, Liu, Zheng, Sun, Wujiang and He · 5 passages

Open chapter

是時，上方用刑法，信任中尚書宦官，寬饒奏封事曰：「方今聖道浸廢，儒術不行，以刑余為周、召，以法律為《詩》、《書》。」 Kuangrao submitted a sealed memorial saying, "Today the sage way is gradually abandoned, Confucian learning does not prevail; mutilated convicts are treated as the Duke of Zhou and the Duke of Shao, and statutes are taken for the Odes and Documents."

昔武王、周公承順天地，以饗魚烏之瑞，然猶君臣祗懼，動色相戒，況於季世，不蒙繼嗣之福，屢受威怒之異者虖！ Even Wu and Zhou trembled at small omens, he argued—how much more should a childless age fear heaven's warnings.

故周公著戒曰：『惟王不知艱難，唯耽樂是從，時亦罔有克壽。』 He quoted Zhou's warning against pleasure-drunk kings.

會越巂郡上黃龍游江中，太師孔光、大司徒馬宮等咸稱莽功德比周公，宜告祠宗廟。 A yellow-dragon omen set ministers praising Wang Mang as another Duke of Zhou.

寶曰：「周公上聖，召公大賢，尚猶有不相說，著於經典，兩不相損。 Bao said, "The Duke of Zhou was a supreme sage, and the Duke of Shao a great worthy, yet even they had disagreements, as is recorded in the classics, and neither was diminished by it.

Book of Han, Chapter 89Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi · 5 passages

Open chapter

今士見者皆先露索挾持，恐非周公相成王躬吐握之禮，致白屋之意。」 Yet every caller is searched and pinioned first. That is hardly the Duke of Zhou's way with the young King Cheng—interrupting meals and baths to see a petitioner—nor does it show the regard due men in rough cottages."

政教一傾，雖有周、召之佐，恐不能復。 Tilt policy and morals once, and not even Zhou and Shao could set them straight again.

朋奏記望之曰：「將軍體周、召之德，秉公綽之質，有卞莊之威。 Zheng Peng submitted a note to Wangzhi, saying, "General, you embody the virtue of the Dukes of Zhou and Shao, possess the character of Meng Gongchuo, and command the awe of Bian Zhuang.

今將軍規模，云若管、晏而休，遂行日仄至周、召乃留乎？ Will you, General, set your ambition like Guan Zhong and Yan Ying and then rest, or press on past sunset until the Zhou dukes themselves detain you?

如將軍昭然度行，積思塞邪枉之險蹊，宣中庸之常政，興周、召之遺業，親日仄之兼聽，則下走其庶幾願竭區區，底厲鋒鍔，奉萬分之一。」 If instead the general opened straight paths, sealed off crooked schemes, enacted the steady policy of the Mean, revived the Zhou dukes' work, and listened wide and late, Peng would sharpen every talent and give the thousandth part of what he could."

Book of Han, Chapter 90Volume 79: Feng Fengshi · 1 passage

Open chapter

吏民嘉美野王、立相代為太守，歌之曰：「大馮君，小馮君，兄弟繼踵相因循，聰明賢知惠吏民，政如魯、衛德化鈞，周公、康叔猶二君。」 Officials and commoners praised them in song: "Great lord Feng, little lord Feng, the brothers follow heel to heel in succession; wise and worthy, kind to officials and people; government like Lu and Wei, transformation even—the dukes of Zhou and Kangshu, still two lords."

Book of Han, Chapter 91Volume 80: The Six Sons of Emperors Xuan and Yuan · 4 passages

Open chapter

事成功立，大王即有周、邵之名，邪臣散亡，公卿變節，功德亡比，而梁、趙之寵必歸大王，外家亦將富貴，何復望大王之金錢？」 Success would give you the stature of the Duke of Zhou and the Duke of Shao, sweep the sycophants from power, and turn every minister’s coat—while the favor now lavished on Liang and Zhao would fall to you and your wife’s clan. Why haggle over gold?”

有司奏王，王舅張博數遺王書，非毀政治，謗訕天子，褒舉諸侯，稱引周、湯，以諂惑王，所言尤惡，悖逆無道。 They say your uncle Zhang Bo wrote you again and again, attacking policy, mocking the throne, praising other kings, and invoking the ancient sages only to seduce you—language foul enough to count as treason.

《詩》云：『俾侯於魯，為周室輔。』 It says, “They made him marquis in Lu, a pillar for the house of Zhou.”

昔周公戒伯禽曰：『故舊無大故，則不可棄也，毋求備於一人。』 The Duke of Zhou warned Bo Qin: “Do not cast off old friends without grave cause; do not ask perfection of any single man.”

Book of Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Gu Yong and Du Ye · 3 passages

Open chapter

永聞之，與譚書曰：「君侯躬周召之德，執管晏之操，敬賢下士，樂善不倦，宜在上將久矣，以大將軍在，故抑鬱於家，不得舒憤。 Yong wrote to Tan: "You bear the virtue of the Duke of Zhou and Duke of Shao and the conduct of Guan Zhong and Yan Ying, honoring worthies and delighting in good without weariness—you should long have stood among the chief generals. While the grand general lived you were kept at home and could not vent your grievance.

音用從舅越親輔政，威權損於鳳時，永復說音曰：「將軍覆上將之位，食豪腴之都，任周、召之職，擁天下之樞，可謂富貴之極，人臣無二，天下之責四面至矣，將何以居之？ When Yin came to power through a maternal uncle and his authority fell short of Wang Feng's, Yong urged him: "You hold a marshal's rank, feed on the richest commanderies, bear the burden of the Zhou dukes, and turn the empire's hinge—you have reached the peak of wealth and power, yet blame now converges from every quarter. How will you bear it?

周召則不然，忠以相輔，義以相匡，同己之親，等己之尊，不以聖德獨兼國寵，又不為長專受榮任，分職於陝，並為弼疑。 The Duke of Zhou and Duke of Shao were not so—loyal in mutual aid, righteous in mutual correction, treating kin as themselves and honor as their own, not monopolizing state favor, not as elders monopolizing glory, apportioning duties at Shan, both serving as assistants and guides.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 1 passage

Open chapter

媯巢姜於孺筮兮，旦算祀于挈龜。 The Gui clan settled among the Jiang as a divination in Jingzhong's youth had foretold; the Duke of Zhou calculated his dynasty's allotted years from the tortoise shell.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 28Volume 25: Biography of Zhuo, Lu, Wei, Liu · 1 passage

Open chapter

覽詩人之旨意，察《雅》、《頌》之終始，明舜、禹、臯陶之相戒，顯周公、箕子之所陳，觀乎人文，化成天下。 Survey the Odes for intent, trace Hymns and Eulogia through to their lessons from Shun, Yu, Gao Yao, the Duke of Zhou, and Jizi—therein lies the pattern that civilizes the world.

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

Open chapter

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 Later Han, Chapter 37Volume 32: Biographies of Fan Hong; Yin Shi · 1 passage

Open chapter

是以周公誅弟，季友鴆兄，經傳大之。 Therefore the Duke of Zhou executed his younger brother and Ji You poisoned his elder brother—the classics and commentaries greatly praise this.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 89Volume 80a: Biographies of Writers 1 · 2 passages

Open chapter

今将军累世台辅，任齐伊、公，而德政未闻，黎元涂炭。 You have been the dynasty's backbone for generations—weight like Yi Yin or the Duke of Zhou—yet no humane rule appears and the people burn in misery.

寐与周公通梦，静与孔子同意。 'Asleep I bargain with the Duke of Zhou; awake in silence I match Confucius.'

Book of Later Han, Chapter 108Volume 97: Rituals and Worship Part One · 1 passage

Open chapter

王莽以舅后之家、三司鼎足冢宰之权势，依托周公、霍光辅幼歸政之義，遂以篡叛，僭号自立。 Wang Mang, wielding the power of the empress's clan, the Three Excellencies, and the chancellor, invoked the precedent of the Duke of Zhou and Huo Guang assisting a young ruler and returning power—then usurped the throne and rebelled.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 125Volume 114: Officials Part One · 1 passage

Open chapter

昔周公作《周官》，分职著明，法度相持，王室虽微，犹能久存。 Long ago the Duke of Zhou set down the Rites of Zhou, with every duty spelled out and institutions buttressing one another, so that even as royal power thinned, the dynasty endured.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 131Volume 120: Treatise on Carriages and Dress, Part Two · 1 passage

Open chapter

袍者，或曰周公抱成王宴居，故施袍。 Commentators link the robe to the Duke of Zhou cradling the boy king at ease—hence the loose outer robe.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 144Volume 144: Treatises 6 Music 1 · 1 passage

Open chapter

昔周公相成王，制禮作樂，殿庭遍奏六代舞，所謂《雲門》、《大咸》、《大韶》、《大夏》、《大》、《大武》也。 Formerly, when the Duke of Zhou assisted King Cheng, he established rites and made music. In the palace hall the dances of the six ages were performed throughout—those called "Gate of Clouds," "Great All-Pervading," "Great Shao," "Great Xia," "Great Yin," and "Great Martial."

Book of Liang, Chapter 25Volume 25: Zhou She; Xu Mian · 1 passage

Open chapter

昔文武二王，所以綱紀周室，君臨天下，公旦修之，以致太平龍鳳之瑞。 In antiquity Kings Wen and Wu used ritual to order the Zhou house and rule the realm; the Duke of Zhou refined it, bringing about the age of peace marked by the auspicious appearances of dragon and phoenix.

Book of Liang, Chapter 37Volume 37: Xie Ju; He Jingrong · 1 passage

Open chapter

昔流言裁作，公旦東奔； When rumor first arose, the Duke of Zhou fled east;

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

Open chapter

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.

History of Liao, Chapter 56Volume 56 Treatises 26: Ceremonial Guards 2 · 1 passage

Open chapter

周公陳王業，《七月》之詩，至於一日於貉，三月條桑，八月載績，公私之用由是出矣。 The Duke of Zhou set forth the royal enterprise, and in the "Seventh Month" ode one finds a day spent hunting badgers, the third month devoted to tending mulberry, and the eighth month bearing home the spun cloth—thus arose what supplied both public and private needs.

History of Liao, Chapter 99Volume 99 Biographies 29: Xiao Yanshou, Yelu Sala, Xiao Susa, Yelu Tabuye, Xiao Tabuye, Xiao Hugu, Yelu Shiliu · 1 passage

Open chapter

周公誅飛廉、惡來，天下大悅。 When the Duke of Zhou executed Feilian and Elai, the realm rejoiced.

History of Liao, Chapter 102Volume 102 Biographies 32: Xiao Fengxian, Li Chuwen, Zhang Lin, Yelu Yudu · 1 passage

Open chapter

後曰：「向使魏國王如周公，則終享親賢之名於後世。 The empress dowager replied, "If the Prince of Wei had acted like the Duke of Zhou, he would have won lasting fame in later ages as a kinsman who cherished the worthy.

History of Ming, Chapter 115Volume 115 Biographies 3: Emperor Xingzong Xiaokang, Emperor Ruizong Xingxian · 2 passages

Open chapter

昔周公教成王克詰戎兵，召公教康王張惶六師，此居安慮危，不忘武備。 The Duke of Zhou taught King Cheng to master arms; the Duke of Shao taught King Kang to keep the six hosts on alert—security that still remembers war.

洛陽周公卜之，周、漢遷之，然嵩、邙非有殽函、終南之阻，澗、瀍、伊、洛非有涇、渭、灞、滻之雄。 Luoyang was divined by the Duke of Zhou and used by Zhou and Han, yet Mount Song and Mangshan are not Xiao-Han or Zhongnan, nor are the Jian, Chan, Yi, and Luo the Jing, Wei, Ba, and Chan.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 36Volume 36 Biographies 17: Xie Chaozong, Liu Xiang · 1 passage

Open chapter

英達之君，假伊、周而治。 and enlightened rulers governed with the aid of Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 47Volume 47 Biographies 28: Wang Rong, Xie Tiao · 1 passage

Open chapter

竊習戰陣攻守之術，農桑牧藝之書，申、商、韓、墨之權，伊、周、孔、孟之道。 I have studied the arts of attack and defense, books of farming and herding, the stratagems of Shen Buhai, Shang Yang, Han Fei, and Mozi, and the Ways of Yi Yin, the Duke of Zhou, Confucius, and Mencius.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 55Volume 55 Biographies 36: Filial Piety · 1 passage

Open chapter

隆昌末，預謂丹陽尹徐孝嗣曰：「外傳藉藉，似有伊周之事，君蒙武帝殊常之恩，荷託付之重，恐不得同人此舉。 Late in Longchang Yu told Xu Xiaosi, governor of Danyang: "Rumors are rife, as though men plot like Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou. You received extraordinary favor from Emperor Wu and bear a heavy trust—I fear you cannot join them.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 483Volume 483 Biographies 270: Confucian Scholars 4: Kong Yinzhi Son: Xing Xie, Yu Qi Son: Chuan Duo, Guang Qi Son: Zhao Huan, Sun :Xianpei, Zeng Sun : Qing Rong, Zeng Sun : Fan Hao, Xuan Sun : Xiang Ke, Lai Sun : Ling Yi · 1 passage

Open chapter

又增設咸陽姬氏文王后，曲阜東野氏周公後，濟寧閔氏子騫後，濬縣端木氏子貢後，常熟言氏子遊後，鉅野卜氏子夏后，蕭縣顓孫氏子張後，菏澤、肥城兩冉氏伯牛、仲弓後，肥城有氏有子後，鄒平伏氏伏生後，孟縣韓氏文公後，郿縣張氏明公後，各一人。 It further added one post each for the Ji of Xianyang, heirs of King Wen; the Dongye of Qufu, heirs of the Duke of Zhou; the Min of Jining, heirs of Ziqian; the Duanmu of Junxian, heirs of Zigong; the Yan of Changshu, heirs of Ziyou; the Bu of Juye, heirs of Zixia; the Zhuansun of Xiaoxian, heirs of Zizhang; the two Ran lines of Heze and Feicheng, heirs of Boniu and Zhonggong; the You of Feicheng, heirs of Youzi; the Fu of Zouping, heirs of Fusheng; the Han of Mengxian, heirs of Master Wengong; and the Zhang of Meixian, heirs of Master Ming.

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

Open chapter

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.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 13Genealogical Tables of the Three Dynasties · 1 passage

Open chapter

魯周公旦，武王弟。初封。 Lu: Zhou Gong Dan, younger brother of King Wu. First enfeoffment.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 35Houses of Guan and Cai · 10 passages

Open chapter

其長子曰伯邑考，次曰武王發，次曰管叔鮮，次曰周公旦，次曰蔡叔度，次曰曹叔振鐸，次曰成叔武，次曰霍叔處，次曰康叔封，次曰冉季載。 Her eldest son was called Bo Yi Kao; next came King Wu Fa, then Guan Shu Xian, the Duke of Zhou Dan, Cai Shu Du, Cao Shu Zhen Duo, Cheng Shu Wu, Huo Shu Chu, Kang Shu Feng, and Ran Ji Zai.

同母昆弟十人，唯發、旦賢，左右輔文王，故文王舍伯邑考而以發為太子。 Of the ten brothers from the same mother, only Fa and Dan were worthy. They assisted King Wen on left and right, so King Wen passed over Bo Yi Kao and made Fa his crown prince.

封叔旦於魯而相周，為周公。 He enfeoffed Shu Dan at Lu, and Shu Dan assisted Zhou, becoming the Duke of Zhou.

武王既崩，成王少，周公旦專王室。 After King Wu passed away, King Cheng was young, and the Duke of Zhou Dan took charge of the royal house.

管叔、蔡叔疑周公之為不利於成王，乃挾武庚以作亂。 Guan Shu and Cai Shu suspected that the Duke of Zhou's actions were not in King Cheng's interest, so they joined with Wu Geng and raised a rebellion.

周公旦承成王命伐誅武庚，殺管叔，而放蔡叔，遷之，與車十乘，徒七十人從。 The Duke of Zhou Dan received King Cheng's command, attacked and executed Wu Geng, killed Guan Shu, and banished Cai Shu. He relocated Cai Shu with ten chariots and seventy followers.

冉季、康叔皆有馴行，於是周公舉康叔為周司寇，冉季為周司空，以佐成王治，皆有令名於天下。 Ran Ji and Kang Shu were both disciplined and mild in conduct. Therefore, the Duke of Zhou promoted Kang Shu to be Zhou's Minister of Crime and Ran Ji to be Zhou's Minister of Works, assisting King Cheng in government. Both had good reputations throughout the realm.

周公聞之，而舉胡以為魯卿士，魯國治。 When the Duke of Zhou heard this, he promoted Hu to serve as a minister in Lu, and Lu became well governed.

於是周公言於成王，復封胡於蔡，以奉蔡叔之祀，是為蔡仲。 The Duke of Zhou therefore spoke to King Cheng, who again enfeoffed Hu at Cai so that he could continue Cai Shu's sacrifices. This was Cai Zhong.

周公旦，其後為魯，有世家言。 The Duke of Zhou Dan—his descendants became Lu, and their story is told in the hereditary houses.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 57House of Zhou Bo, Marquis of Jiang · 1 passage

Open chapter

雖伊尹、周公，何以加哉！ Even Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou could scarcely have done more!

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 58House of Prince Xiao of Liang · 2 passages

Open chapter

周公聞之，進見曰：「天王封弟，甚善。」 When the Duke of Zhou heard of this, he came forward and said, "The Son of Heaven has enfeoffed his younger brother — this is most excellent."

周公曰：「人主無過舉，不當有戲言，言之必行之。」 The Duke of Zhou said, "A ruler must make no careless gesture and speak no idle word. What the ruler says, he must carry out."

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 73Biographies of Bai Qi and Wang Jian · 1 passage

Open chapter

武安君所為秦戰勝攻取者七十餘城，南定鄢、郢、漢中，北禽趙括之軍，雖周、召、呂望之功不益於此矣。 Lord Wu'an's victories for Qin—conquering over seventy cities, pacifying Yan and Ying in the south, taking Hanzhong, capturing Zhao Kuo's forces in the north—even the achievements of Zhou Gong, Shao Gong, and Lu Wang would not surpass this.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 78Biography of Lord Chunshen · 1 passage

Open chapter

今楚王病，旦暮且卒，而君相少主，因而代立當國，如伊尹、周公，王長而反政，不即遂南面稱孤而有楚國？ The King of Chu now lies ill and will die any day. Your Lordship aids the young ruler, seizes control of the government, and ascends the throne like Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou. When the king comes of age, you return power to him. If not, you proclaim yourself ruler facing south and take possession of the kingdom of Chu.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 88Biography of Meng Tian · 7 passages

Open chapter

昔周成王初立，未離襁緥周公旦負王以朝，卒定天下。 Long ago, when King Cheng of Zhou first came to the throne, he was still an infant in swaddling clothes. The Duke of Zhou carried the young king in his arms to hold court and ultimately brought peace to the realm.

及成王有病甚殆，公旦自揃其爪以沈於河，曰：『王未有識，是旦執事。 When King Cheng fell gravely ill, the Duke of Zhou cut his own fingernails and sank them in the river as an offering to the spirits, praying: 'The King is still too young to know right from wrong. It is I, Dan, who have governed in his stead.

有罪殃，旦受其不祥。』 If there be any guilt or divine displeasure, let it fall upon Dan alone.'

及王能治國，有賊臣言：『周公旦欲為亂久矣，王若不備，必有大事。』 When the King came of age and assumed power, a treacherous minister whispered: 'The Duke of Zhou has long plotted rebellion. If Your Majesty does not act, disaster will surely follow.'

王乃大怒，周公旦走而奔於楚。 The King flew into a rage, and the Duke of Zhou was forced to flee to the state of Chu.

成王觀於記府，得周公旦沈書，乃流涕曰：『孰謂周公旦欲為亂乎！』 But when King Cheng later examined the royal archives and discovered the Duke of Zhou's prayer, he wept and said: 'Who dared claim that the Duke of Zhou wished to rebel!'

殺言之者而反周公旦。 He had the slanderer executed and summoned the Duke of Zhou home.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 99Biographies of Liu Jing and Shusun Tong · 1 passage

Open chapter

成王即位，周公之屬傅相焉，乃營成周洛邑，以此為天下之中也，諸侯四方納貢職，道裏均矣，有德則易以王，無德則易以亡。 When King Cheng ascended the throne, Zhou Gong's kinsmen served as his tutors and ministers. They then built Chengzhou at Luoyi, making it the center of the realm, so that the feudal lords from the four directions could submit tribute and service over balanced routes. With virtue, one could easily become king; without virtue, one could easily perish.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 129Biographies of Money-Makers · 1 passage

Open chapter

而鄒、魯濱洙、泗，猶有周公遺風，俗好儒，備於禮，故其民齪齪。 Zou and Lu, along the banks of the Zhu and Si rivers, still preserve the legacy of the Duke of Zhou. Their customs favor Confucian learning and are meticulous in matters of ritual, so the people are careful and diligent.

History of Song, Chapter 497Volume 497: Appendix: History of Song Table Revision of Official Titles · 1 passage

Open chapter

竊惟周公念先業之艱難，《七月》之詩是作； We venture to reflect that the Duke of Zhou, recalling the hardships of his forefathers' labors, composed the "Seventh Month";

Book of Sui, Chapter 36Volume 36 Biographies 1: Empresses and Consorts · 1 passage

Open chapter

周公定禮，內職始備列焉。 When the Duke of Zhou established the rites, the inner palace offices were first set out in full array.

Book of Wei, Chapter 27Volume 22: Emperor Xiaowen's Five Princes · 1 passage

Open chapter

靈太后以懌肅宗懿叔，德先具瞻，委以朝政，事擬周霍。 Empress Dowager Ling, seeing Yi as Xiaoming's honored uncle and a man all eyes followed, entrusted government to him on the model of the Duke of Zhou and Huo Guang.

Book of Wei, Chapter 96Volume 90: Retired Officals: Sui Kua, Feng Liang, Li Mi, Zheng Xiu · 3 passages

Open chapter

援證定疑，必有驗於周孔之遺訓。 to settle doubt by evidence one must find confirmation in what Zhou and Confucius handed down.

豈有天子布政施令之所，宗祀文王以配上帝之堂，周公負扆以朝諸侯之處，而室戶之外僅餘四尺而已哉？ Can the Son of Heaven's hall of government, sacrifice to King Wen to match Heaven, and Duke of Zhou's audience of feudal lords leave only four feet beyond the doors?

乃作神士賦，歌曰：「周孔重儒教，莊老貴無為。 He wrote the Rhapsody of the Divine Scholar, singing: "Zhou and Confucius honor Confucian teaching; Zhuangzi and Laozi prize non-action.

History of Yuan, Chapter 171Volume 171 Biographies 58: Liu Yin, Wu Cheng · 2 passages

Open chapter

則其志不欲遺世而獨往也明矣，亦將從周公、孔子之後，為往聖繼絕學，為來世開太平者邪！」 His will not to abandon the world and walk alone is clear enough; he was surely meant to follow the Duke of Zhou and Confucius, continuing the severed learning of past sages and opening an age of great peace for generations to come!"

分而言之，上古則羲、黃其元，堯、舜其亨，禹、湯其利，文、武、周公其貞乎！ Speaking in detail: in high antiquity Fuxi and the Yellow Emperor are the Origin, Yao and Shun the Flourishing, Yu and Tang the Advantage, and King Wen, King Wu, and the Duke of Zhou the Steadfastness!