Qin and Han · Emperor of Han

Gaozu 高祖

Attested BC 210 - BC 198

Passages: 19
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Gaozu was an emperor of Han.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 200 七年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 41, passage 165
BC 198 九年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 41, passage 183
BC 205 漢二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 41, passage 160
BC 210 高祖為布衣時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 41, passage 10

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Princess Lu Yuan (魯元公主)
eldest daughter 長女
Directly stated · Book of Han 41, passage 219
Spouse of Empress Lü (呂后)
empress 后
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 41, passage 191

Places and affiliations

Polity Han · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 41, passage 149

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Empress Lü (呂后)
Directly stated · Book of Han 41, passage 192

Events and relationships

Relation Associate of · Person Zhang Er (張耳)
Directly stated · Book of Han 41, passage 10

References in the histories

Search passages

History

19 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 41Volume 32: Zhang Er and Chen Yu · 19 passages

高祖為布衣時，嘗從耳遊。 Before he rose to power, Gaozu had once traveled with Zhang Er.

耳敗走，曰：「漢王與我有故，而項王彊，立我，我欲之楚。」 Defeated, Zhang Er fled and said, "The Han king and I have old ties, but King Xiang is strong and installed me as king, so I mean to go to Chu."

甘公曰：「漢王之入關，五星聚東井。 "Gan Gong said that when the Han king entered the passes, the Five Planets gathered in Eastern Well.

耳謁漢王，漢王厚遇之。 Zhang Er met the Han king, who received him generously.

子敖嗣立為王，尚高祖長女魯元公主，為王后。 His son Ao succeeded as king, married Gaozu's eldest daughter Princess Lu Yuan, and she became queen.

七年，高祖從平城過趙，趙王旦暮自上食，體甚卑，有子婿禮。 In the seventh year, Gaozu passed through Zhao on his way from Pingcheng. The king of Zhao personally served his meals morning and evening, humbling himself like a son-in-law.

高祖箕踞罵詈，甚慢之。 Gaozu sat with legs spread, cursing and insulting him, and treated him with great contempt.

說敖曰：「天下豪桀並起，能者先立，今王事皇帝甚恭，皇帝遇王無禮，請為王殺之。」 They urged Zhang Ao, saying, "Heroes are rising everywhere, and the able establish themselves first. You serve the emperor with great respect, yet he treats you without courtesy — let us kill him for you."

且先王亡國，賴皇帝得復國，德流子孫，秋豪皆帝力也。 My father lost his state, and only through the emperor did he recover it; his kindness extends to his descendants — even the smallest benefit comes from the emperor.

且吾等義不辱，今帝辱我王，故欲殺之，何乃汙王為？ Moreover, we cannot bear this insult to our honor; the emperor has humiliated our king, so we wish to kill him — why should we involve the king and stain him?

八年，上從東垣過。 In year eight, the emperor passed through Dongyuan.

上過欲宿，心動，問曰：「縣名為何？」 "The emperor considered lodging there, then felt uneasy and asked the county name."

於是上逮捕趙王諸反者。 The emperor then arrested the King of Zhao and those implicated in the plot.

上怒曰：「使長敖據天下，豈少乃女虖！」 The emperor angrily replied, "If Zhang Ao held the realm, would your daughter be the only woman he took?"

廷尉以貫高辭聞，上曰：「壯士！ When the chief justice reported Guan Gao's testimony, the emperor said, "What a strong man!

上使泄公持節問之箯輿前。 The emperor sent Xie Gong with tally-staff credentials to question Guan Gao before his prison litter.

於是泄公具以報上，上乃赦趙王。 Xie Gong reported all this fully to the emperor, and the emperor then pardoned the King of Zhao.

上賢高能自立然諾，使泄公赦之，告曰：「張王已出，上多足下，故赦足下。」 The emperor admired Guan Gao for holding to his pledged word. He ordered Xie Gong to release him and tell him: "Zhang Wang has already been released; the emperor greatly values you, so you are pardoned."

於是上賢張王諸客，皆以為諸侯相、郡守。 The emperor then valued the retainers of the Zhao king and appointed them as chancellors of feudal states and commandery governors.