Ancient China · Legendary judge and minister of Emperors Yao and Shun

Gao Yao 皋陶

Gāo Yáo

Legendary antiquity

Passages: 36
Chapters: 20
Histories: 6

Overview

Gao Yao was a Legendary judge and minister of Emperors Yao and Shun.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Gaoyao	咎繇	Gaoyao
Epithet	planter of virtue	種德

Life and dates

Death

Natural
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 206

Attested activity

legendary antiquity
Directly stated · Book of Han 20, passage 748; Book of Han 25, passage 86; Book of Han 65, passage 146; Book of Han 75, passage 179; Book of Han 99, passage 67; Book of Han 117, passage 256; Book of Later Han 32, passage 74; Book of Later Han 92, passage 163; Book of Jin 41, passage 238; Book of Jin 128, passage 61; Old Book of Tang 85, passage 211; Records of the Grand Historian 1, passages 211, 217, 221, 248; Records of the Grand Historian 2, passages 20, 124, 206; Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 71; Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 182; Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 168; Book of Song 55, passage 169; Book of Zhou 23, passage 406

Family

Ancestor of Ying Bu (英布)
ancestor 先 · paternal line
descendant 後 · paternal line
Uncertain · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 168

Kinship Role descendants · sometimes enfeoffed at Ying and Liu; destroyed by King Mu of Chu; no genealogy · Quantity unknown
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 182
Kinship Role descendants · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 207

Key source chapters

Career and standing

judge 士
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 124
Minister of Crime 士
Appointed · Authority Emperor Shun (帝舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 221
judicial officer 士
Appointed · Authority Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 86
chief judge 大理
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 248
minister of crime 士
Held
Directly stated · Book of Jin 128, passage 61
Descendants enfeoffed
Places Ying 英, Liu 六
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 207

Show 1 more source-backed claim

Second highest grade: men of benevolence 上中仁人
Nine grade table rank · Listed
Directly stated · Book of Han 20, passage 748

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passages 126, 128-129, 131-132, 138-147, 149

Events and relationships

Completed merit
Administrative · Appointee
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 248
Counseled Shun
Political · Adviser · With Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 256
Named as worthier
Ritual · Yielded to · With Yu (禹)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 41, passage 238
Ordered people to model Yu
Administration · Enforcer
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 190
Type minister-of · Person Yu the Great (大禹)
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 289
Relation Patronized by · Person Emperor Shun (帝舜)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 32, passage 74

Show 3 more source-backed claims

Relation Minister of · Person Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 256
Relation Minister of · Person Yao (堯)
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 75, passage 179
Relation Served under · Person Shun (舜)
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 248

Assessments and attributes

Assessment famous minister with merit and virtue in Tang-Yu era · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 186

Source notes

Historicity legendary
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 179; Book of Jin 41, passage 238; Book of Jin 128, passage 61; Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 211; Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 2; Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 71; Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 168
Historicity legendary
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 256

References in the histories

Search passages

History

36 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 20Table of Ancient and Modern Persons · 1 passage

咎繇 Gao Yao

Book of Han, Chapter 25Volume 23: Treatise on Punishment and Law · 1 passage

若夫舜修百僚，咎繇作士，命以「蠻夷猾夏，寇賊姦軌」，而刑無所用，所謂善師不陳者也。 As for Shun ordering the hundred officials and Gao Yao serving as judicial officer, entrusted with cases of 'Man and Yi disturbing Xia, bandits, rebels, and traitors,' yet with punishments having no occasion to be used: this is what is meant by one who is good at commanding not forming ranks.

Book of Han, Chapter 58Volume 49: Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 1 passage

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.

Book of Han, Chapter 65Volume 56: Dong Zhongshu · 1 passage

臣聞堯受命，以天下為憂，而未以位為樂也，故誅逐亂臣，務求賢聖，是以得舜、禹、稷、□、咎繇。 I have heard that Yao, once charged with the realm, worried for the world rather than rejoiced in the throne—so he purged corrupt ministers and sought sages, gaining Shun, Yu, Lord Millet, Xie, and Gaoyao.

Book of Han, Chapter 75Volume 64b: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 2 · 1 passage

故世平主聖，俊艾將自至，若堯、舜、禹、湯、文、武之君，獲稷、契、皋陶、伊尹、呂望，明明在朝，穆穆列布，聚精會神，相得益章。 Thus, in an age of peace under a sage ruler, outstanding elders come of their own accord. Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Kings Wen and Wu obtained the service of Hou Ji, Xie, Gao Yao, Yi Yin, and Lü Wang. Brilliant at court and solemn in their ranks, they joined their finest insights and magnified the glory of ruler and minister alike.

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

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 94Volume 83: Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo · 1 passage

故皋陶曰：「知人則哲，能官人。」 Gao Yao said, "To know men is wisdom; to place them rightly is statesmanship."

Book of Han, Chapter 99Volume 87b: Yang Xiong 2 · 1 passage

天下之士，雷動雲合，魚鱗雜襲，鹹營於八區，家家自以為稷、契，人人自以為咎繇，戴縰垂纓而談者皆擬於阿衡，五尺童子羞比晏嬰與夷吾，當塗者入青雲，失路者委溝渠，旦握權則為卿相，夕失勢則為匹夫； Scholars swarm like thunderheads—layer on layer they crowd the eight circuits, every house fancying itself the line of Ji and Xie, every man a second Gao Yao; anyone in cap and ribbons plays at being Yi Yin, and boys barely five feet tall scorn to mention Yan Ying or Guan Zhong. Catch favor and you ride the clouds; miss your footing and you lie in the gutter—minister at dawn, nobody at dusk.

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

昔咎繇謨虞，箕子訪周，言通帝王，謀合聖神； Gao Yao advised Shun, Jizi counseled Zhou—their speech reached kings, their plans matched the spirits;

Book of Later Han, Chapter 32Volume 28b: Biography of Feng Yan · 1 passage

臯陶釣於雷澤兮，賴虞舜而後親。 Gao Yao angled in Lei Marsh until Shun raised him up.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 92Volume 82a: Biographies of Alchemists 1 · 1 passage

舜用皋陶，政致雍熙、殷、周雖有高宗、昌、發之君，猶賴傅說、呂望之策，故能克崇其業，允協大中。 Shun used Gao Yao and harmony followed. Yin and Zhou boasted kings like Gaozong, Wen, and Wu, yet even they leaned on Fu Yue and Lü Wang—only thus could they magnify their work and hit the great mean.

Book of Jin, Chapter 41Volume 41 Biographies 11: Wei Shu; Li Xi; Liu Shi; Gao Guang · 1 passage

昔舜以禹為司空，禹拜稽首，讓於稷契及咎繇。 When Shun made Yu minister of works, Yu kowtowed and yielded the honor to Ji, Xie, and Gao Yao.

Book of Jin, Chapter 128Volume 128 Records 28: Murong Chao · 1 passage

且虞舜大聖，猶命咎繇作士，刑之不可已已也如是！ “Even Shun set Gao Yao over justice—punishment is inescapable.”

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 1Annals of the Five Emperors · 4 passages

而禹、皋陶、契、后稷、伯夷、夔、龍、倕、益、彭祖自堯時而皆舉用，未有分職。 Yu, Gao Yao, Qi, Hou Ji, Boyi, Kui, Long, Chui, Yi, and Peng Zu had served since Yao’s day without fixed portfolios.

禹拜稽首，讓於稷、契與皋陶。 Yu kowtowed and tried to yield to Ji, Qi, and Gao Yao.

舜曰：「皋陶，蠻夷猾夏，寇賊姦軌，汝作士，五刑有服，五服三就； Shun told Gao Yao, “Barbarians harass the heartland and villains breed—be Minister of Crime; let the five punishments fit the crime, with three degrees of enforcement.

此二十二人咸成厥功：皋陶為大理，平，民各伏得其實； Those twenty-two all proved their worth: Gao Yao as judge was even-handed, and the people trusted his verdicts.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 2Annals of Xia · 14 passages

禹拜稽首，讓於契、后稷、皋陶。 Yu kowtowed and declined in favor of Xie, Hou Ji, and Gao Yao.

皋陶作士以理民。 Gao Yao acted as judge to keep order among the people.

帝舜朝，禹、伯夷、皋陶相與語帝前。 At Shun's audience Yu, Boyi, and Gao Yao debated policy before the throne.

皋陶述其謀曰：「信其道德，謀明輔和。」 Gao Yao said, "Hold fast to true virtue and clear counsel, and harmony will follow."

皋陶曰：「於！ Gao Yao cried, "Ah!

皋陶曰：「於！ Gao Yao cried, "Ah!

皋陶曰：「然，於！ Gao Yao said, "Just so—indeed!

皋陶曰：「余未有知，思贊道哉。」 Gao Yao said, "I know little myself—I only wish to help along the right path."

皋陶難禹曰：「何謂孳孳？」 Gao Yao pressed him: "What do you mean by striving without ceasing?"

皋陶曰：「然，此而美也。」 Gao Yao said, "Truly—this is the finest of policies."

皋陶於是敬禹之德，令民皆則禹。 Gao Yao then honored Yu's example and told the people to imitate him.

皋陶拜手稽首揚言曰：「念哉，率為興事，慎乃憲，敬哉！」 Gao Yao bowed and cried, "Remember this! Lead in raising affairs; watch your pattern—be reverent, be reverent!"

帝禹立而舉皋陶薦之，且授政焉，而皋陶卒。 When Emperor Yu came to power he promoted Gao Yao and meant to hand him the government, but Gao Yao died.

封皋陶之後於英、六，或在許。 He enfeoffed Gao Yao's descendants at Ying, Liu, and perhaps Xu.

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

曰：『古禹、皋陶久勞于外，其有功乎民，民乃有安。 He said: Long ago Yu and Gao Yao worked far from court; they served the people, and the people found peace.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 36Houses of Chen and Qi · 1 passage

皋陶之後，或封英、六，楚穆王滅之，無譜。 Gao Yao's descendants were sometimes enfeoffed at the states of Ying and Liu. King Mu of Chu destroyed them. There is no genealogy.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 91Biography of Qing Bu · 1 passage

太史公曰：英布者，其先豈春秋所見楚滅英、六，皋陶之後哉？ The Grand Historian remarks: Could Ying Bu's ancestors have been those recorded in the Spring and Autumn Annals, from the states of Ying and Liu that Chu destroyed—descendants of the ancient sage Gaoyao?

Book of Song, Chapter 55Volume 55 Biographies 15: Zang Dao, Xu Guang, F Long · 1 passage

將父子孫祖，互相殘戮，懼非先王明罰，咎繇立法之本旨也。 Are father, son, grandson, and grandmother to slaughter one another in turn? I fear this is not what the former kings intended in clarifying punishments, nor what Gao Yao intended in establishing law.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 23Volume 23 Biographies 15: Su Chuo · 1 passage

若乃庖廚、胥靡、種德、微管之臣，罕聞於世； Men like the cook, the convict laborer, the planter of virtue, and Guan Zhong in humble obscurity are rarely celebrated in their own time;