Ge Shuhan (哥舒翰) | 24 Histories

Overview

Ge Shuhan was a general.

Life and dates

Death

AD 756 十五載
Secretly killed · Authority An Lushan (安祿山) · At the park 苑中
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 281

Age

40
AD 730 to AD 746 年四十，遭父喪 · Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 204

Attested activity

AD 756 六月四日
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 246, 268
AD 756 其年三月
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 282-283
AD 752 十一載…其冬
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 229, 231, 237
AD 752 十一載
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 227-228
AD 747 天寶六載…其冬
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 218-220
AD 747 天寶六載
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 211, 213-214

Show 15 more source-backed claims

AD 749 八載
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 224-226
AD 738 to AD 746 初事節度使王倕…遷左衛郎將
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 205-206, 208-210
AD 754 十三載
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 240
AD 753 十二載
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 238
AD 756 十五載
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 246
AD 755 及安祿山反
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 244
AD 742 to AD 755 天寶
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 55, passages 114, 117
AD 747 天寶六年
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 3
AD 756 天寶十五年六月
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 112, passage 23
AD 755 to AD 756 天寶末
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 131, passage 30
AD 730 to AD 746 年四十，遭父喪
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 204
AD 748 明年
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 221-222
AD 742 to AD 756 河西節度使哥舒翰表為行軍司馬
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 117, passage 88
AD 756 潼關失守
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 15
AD 755 玄宗幸蜀前
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 113, passages 96-97

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Ju (沮)
grandfather 祖 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 201
Child of Daoyuan (道元)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 202, 204
Child of Mother of Ge Shuhan (翰母尉遲氏)
mother 母 · maternal line
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 230, 232
Parent of Son of Ge Shuhan (哥舒翰之子)
son 子
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 226

Kinship Role son · Count 1 · granted a fifth-rank office
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 226

Key source chapters

Origins and identity

Ethnicity Turgesh Geshu tribe 突騎施哥舒部落
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 199-200
Lineage descendant of Geshu tribal chieftains of the Turgesh 突騎施首領哥舒部落之裔
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 199

Career and standing

acting censor-in-chief 攝御史大夫
AD 749 八載 · Added
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 226
acting Palace Aide to the Censor-in-Chief 攝御史中丞
AD 747 天寶六載…其冬 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 219
Chamberlain for Court Ceremonials 鴻臚卿
AD 747 天寶六載…其冬 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 219
prefect of Xiping 西平郡太守
AD 747 天寶六載…其冬 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 219
acting general of the Right Martial Guard 右武衛員外將軍
AD 747 天寶六載 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 211
commander of Guanxi forces 都知關西兵馬使
AD 747 天寶六載 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 211

Show 27 more source-backed claims

commander of the Heyuan army 河源軍使
AD 747 天寶六載 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 211
deputy commissioner of Longxi 隴西節度副使
AD 747 天寶六載 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 211
acting supernumerary Chamberlain for Court Ceremonials 鴻臚員外卿
AD 749 八載 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 226
Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent 太子太保
AD 754 十三載 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 240
Military Commissioner of Hexi 河西節度使
AD 753 十二載 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 238
Associate Grand Councilor of the Secretariat-Chancellery 同中書門下平章事
AD 756 十五載 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 246
Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs 尚書左僕射
AD 756 十五載 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 246
Minister of Works 司空
AD 756 十五載 · Appointed · Polity rebel court 賊庭
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 279
Vanguard Commander of the Heir Apparent's Army 皇太子先鋒兵馬元帥
AD 755 及安祿山反 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 244
deputy of the Great Battle Army 大鬥軍副使
Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 208
yamen general 衙將
Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 206
Censor-in-Chief 御史大夫
AD 754 十三載 · Concurrent
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 240
Longyou Military Commissioner 隴右節度使
Held
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 55, passage 117
Military Commissioner of Hexi 河西節度使
Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 117, passage 88
Military Governor of Hexi 河西節度使
Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 113, passage 96
military governor of Longyou 隴右節度使
Held · From Source Date: Text: 天寶六年 · Western Year: AD 747
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 3
langjiang of the Left Guard 左衛郎將
Promoted
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 209
Longyou commissioner for disbursements and military colonies, in charge of commission affairs 隴右節度支度營田副大使，知節度事
AD 747 天寶六載…其冬 · Replaced · With Wang Zhongsi (王忠嗣)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 219
another three hundred households of substantive enfeoffment 更加實封三百戶
AD 754 十三載 · Granted
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 240
substantive fief of three hundred households 食實封三百戶
AD 753 十二載 · Granted
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 238
Grand Master for Splendid Happiness with the Ceremonial of the Three Dukes 開府儀同三司
AD 752 十一載 · Granted
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 227
Special Advancement 特進
AD 749 八載 · Granted
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 226
Duke of Liang 涼國公
AD 753 十二載 · Advanced
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 238
Prince of Xiping Commandery 西平郡王
AD 753 十二載 · Enfeoffed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 238
Entered
AD 754 十三載 · Disabled by illness · At home 家
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 243
Entered
AD 756 十五載 · Imprisoned · At the park 苑中
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 281
Used as envoy by rebels
AD 756 至五月 · Captivity
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 15

Places and affiliations

AD 753 十二載
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 238
AD 756 十五載
Polity Yan rebel regime 賊庭 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 279, 290
Tang 唐
Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 113, passage 96
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 211, 219
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 112, passage 23; Old Book of Tang 114, passage 3; Old Book of Tang 117, passage 88
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 55, passage 117

Show 11 more source-backed claims

At Anxi 安西
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 202
AD 754 十三載
At the capital 京 · Relation Traveled to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 243
AD 754 十三載
At Tumen 土門 · Relation Traveled to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 242
AD 753 十二載
At Hexi 河西 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 238
AD 755 及安祿山反
At Tong Pass 潼關 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 244, 247
At Anxi 安西 · Relation Ancestral residence
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 202
At Hexi 河西 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 117, passage 88
At Hexi 河西 · Relation Traveled to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 204
At Longyou 隴右 · Relation Posted to · From Source Date: Text: 天寶六年 · Western Year: AD 747
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 3
At Longyou 隴右 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 55, passage 117
At the capital 京師 · Relation Sojourned
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 204

Learning and skills

Book of Han 漢書
Relation Read
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 207
Zuo Commentary to the Spring and Autumn Annals 左氏春秋傳
Relation Read
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 207
Skill spear 槍 · Level master
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 216

Works and attributed material

letters summoning Li Guangbi and others 作書招光弼等
AD 756 十五載 · Relation Author
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 280
Requested transfer of Du Qianyun troops
AD 756 十五載 · Memorial · Author
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 253
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Lushan (祿山) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 234-235
AD 756 十五載
Advice · Addressee · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 247
AD 756 十五載
Memorial · Author · Paraphrased
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 258
AD 756 十五載
Memorial · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 260-264

Show 4 more source-backed claims

AD 756 十五載
Speech · Speaker · With An Lushan (安祿山) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 277-278
AD 756 十五載
Speech · Addressee · Speaker An Lushan (安祿山) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 276
此人後當為節度使矣。
Prediction · Speaker · With Lu Jiong (魯炅) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 5
Speech · Addressee · With Yan Zhenqing (顏真卿)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 4

Events and relationships

Agreed in heart but did not act
AD 756 十五載 · Political · Subject
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 248
Ambushed Tibetan raiders
AD 747 天寶六載 · Military · Commander · At Jishi Army 積石軍
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 213-214
Attacked fortress
AD 749 八載 · Military · Supreme commander · At Shibao Fortress 石堡城
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 224-225
Attacked Tibet
Military · Commander · At Xincheng 新城
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 208
Beat deputy to death
Legal · Perpetrator
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 208
Beheaded
AD 756 十五載 · Legal · Executor · With Du Qianyun (杜乾運) · At Tong Pass 潼關
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 253

Show 31 more source-backed claims

Built city
AD 748 明年 · Military · Builder · At Responding Dragon City on Dragon Colt Island 應龍城
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 222
Built garrison
AD 748 明年 · Military · Builder · At Shenwei Army on the Qinghai 神威軍於青海上
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 221
Came to court and banqueted
AD 752 十一載…其冬 · Diplomatic · Guest · At pool pavilion of Cui Huitong east of the capital 京城東駙馬崔惠童池亭
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 229
Defeated at Taolin
AD 756 天寶十五年六月 · Military · Commander · At Taolin 桃林 · Outcome Tong Pass fell
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 112, passage 23
Defeated Tibet
Military · Commander · At Kubo Sea 苦拔海
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 210
Directed operations
Military · Strategist · At Xincheng 新城 · With Wang Chui (王倕)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 205
Encamped
AD 756 六月四日 · Military · Commander · At western plain of Lingbao 靈寶縣之西原
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 268
Falsely accused
AD 756 十五載 · Legal · Accuser · With An Sishun (安思順)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 282
Fought and was defeated
AD 756 八日 · Military · Commander · With Cui Qianyu (崔乾祐) · At Lingbao 靈寶
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 269, 271, 275
Held feast
AD 747 天寶六年 · Social · Host · With Yan Zhenqing (顏真卿) · At Longyou 隴右
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 4
Led army out of pass
AD 756 十五載 · Military · Commander · At Tong Pass 潼關
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 267
Observed mourning in capital
AD 730 to AD 746 年四十，遭父喪 · Personal · Mourner
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 204
Pleaded for
AD 747 天寶六載…其冬 · Political · Advocate · With Wang Zhongsi (王忠嗣)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 220
Recalled to command
AD 755 及安祿山反 · Military · Commander · With The Emperor (天子) · At Tong Pass 潼關
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 244
Seized and surrendered
AD 756 八日 · Military · Captive · With Huoba Guiren (火拔歸仁)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 275
Speared pursued foes
Military · Combatant
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 216
Stopped from replying
Personal · Interlocutor · With Gao Lishi (高力士)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 237
Suffered stroke
AD 754 十三載 · Medical · Patient · At Tumen garrison 土門軍
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 242
Summoned
AD 756 至五月 · Diplomatic · Envoy · With Lu Jiong (魯炅) · Outcome Refused · sent by the rebels after Tong Pass fell
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 15
Watched from midstream boat
AD 756 八日 · Military · Observer · With Tian Liangqiu (田良丘)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 271
Relation Reconciled as brothers with · Person Lushan (祿山) · Intermediary Person Ids Emperor Xuanzong (玄宗)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 228
Relation Reconciled as brothers with · Person Sishun (思順) · Intermediary Person Ids Emperor Xuanzong (玄宗)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 228
Relation Patron of · Person Pei Mian (裴冕)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 117, passage 88
Relation Commander of · Person Wang Nande (王難得)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 213
Relation Patron of · Person Lu Jiong (魯炅)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passages 3, 5
Relation At odds with · Person Lushan (祿山)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 228
Relation Commander of · Person Yang Jinghui (楊景暉)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 213
Relation At odds with · Person Sishun (思順)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 228
Relation Entrusted government to · Person Tian Liangqiu (田良丘)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 255
Relation Subordinate of · Person Wang Chui (王倕)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 205
Relation Subordinate of · Person Wang Zhongsi (王忠嗣)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 206, 208

Assessments and attributes

Assessment accepted rebel office and clung to life; failed loyalty compared with Yan Gaoqing · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 290
Assessment bold, chivalrous, kept promises, gambled and drank · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 203
Assessment court praised his righteousness and courage · Mode named-source-report Source Work the court 朝廷
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 220
Assessment did not personally handle army affairs and entrusted unfit men · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 286
Assessment gave freely and valued honor; gentlemen attached to him · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 207
Assessment indulged revenge while holding imperial military power · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 282

Show 6 more source-backed claims

Assessment shameful for not dying for his lord · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 297
loved drinking and indulged in music and women
Habit
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 241
longstanding wind ailment (stroke) worsened so that he no longer handled army affairs in person
Illness
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 242, 255
AD 749 八載
Item a thousand bolts of goods 物千匹 · Relation Bestowed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 226
AD 749 八載
Item manor and residence 莊宅各一所 · Relation Bestowed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 226
AD 756 十五載
Item forged letter purported to be from An Lushan to An Sishun 偽令人為祿山遺思順書 · Relation Caused to be made
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 282

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 199, 238; Old Book of Tang 112, passage 23; New Book of Tang 55, passage 117
Value historical
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 117, passage 88
Combined commissioner stipends not less than one million cash monthly
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 55, passage 117
family was wealthy
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 203

References in the histories

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 112Volume 108 Biographies 58: Wei Jiansu, Cui Yuan, Cui Huan, Du Hongjian · 1 passage

Open chapter

十五年六月，哥舒翰兵敗桃林，潼關不守。 In the sixth month of the fifteenth year Geshu Han was defeated at Taolin, and Tong Pass fell.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 117Volume 113 Biographies 63: Miao Jingqing, Pei Mian, Pei Zunqing · 1 passage

Open chapter

河西節度使哥舒翰表為行軍司馬，累遷員外郎中。 Geshu Han, military commissioner of Hexi, appointed him campaigning marshal, and he rose through several posts to vice director.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 131Volume 127 Biographies 77: Yao Lingyan, Zhang Guangcheng, Yuan Xiu, Qiao Lin, Zhang She, Jiang Zhen, Hong Jinglun, Peng Yan · 1 passage

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天寶末，哥舒翰兵敗潼關，大將王思禮所乘馬中流矢而斃，光晟時在騎卒之中，因下，以馬授思禮。 At the end of the Tianbao era, when Geshu Han was defeated at Tong Pass, the horse of Grand General Wang Sil encountered a stray arrow midstream and collapsed. Guangcheng was then among the mounted soldiers; he dismounted and gave his horse to Sil.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 55Volume 55 Treatises 51: Finance and Economics 4 · 1 passage

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幽州平盧節度使安祿山、隴右節度使哥舒翰兼使所給，亦不下百萬。 An Lushan of Pinglu and Geshu Han of Longyou likewise drew no less than one million cash monthly from their combined commissioner appointments.