Gonggong (共工) | 24 Histories

Overview

Gonggong was a Legendary figure associated with rebellion and catastrophic floods.

Life and dates

Attested activity

legendary antiquity
Directly stated · Book of Han 20, passage 665; Book of Han 25, passage 20; Book of Later Han 110, passage 65; Book of Liang 14, passage 244; History of Liao 111, passage 70; Records of the Three Kingdoms 62, passages 61-62; Records of the Grand Historian 1, passages 90-91, 136, 139; Records of the Grand Historian 25, passage 9

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Goulong (句龙)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passage 65

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Lowest grade: the foolish 下下愚人
Nine grade table rank · Listed
Directly stated · Book of Han 20, passage 665
Exiled
Authority Context Yao-Shun government
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 21
Exiled
Exile · At Youling 幽陵 · Authority Emperor Shun (帝舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 139

Events and relationships

Fought
Military · Opponent · With Emperor Zhuanxu Gaoyang (顓頊帝高陽氏)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 25, passage 9
Military · Opponent · With Emperor Zhuanxu Gaoyang (顓頊帝高陽氏)
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 20

Assessments and attributes

Assessment embodiment of gathered wickedness · Mode quoted-source Speaker Liu Jun (劉峻)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 14, passage 244

Source notes

Historicity legendary
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passage 65; Book of Liang 14, passage 244; History of Liao 111, passage 70; Records of the Three Kingdoms 62, passage 62; Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 90; Records of the Grand Historian 25, passage 9

References in the histories

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History

12 passages

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

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共工 Gong Gong

Book of Han, Chapter 25Volume 23: Treatise on Punishment and Law · 2 passages

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自黃帝有涿鹿之戰以定火災，顓頊有共工之陳以定水害。 From the Yellow Emperor there was the battle of Zhuolu to settle the calamity of fire, and Zhuanxu had the campaign against Gonggong to settle the harm of water.

唐虞之際，至治之極，猶流共工，放讙兜，竄三苗，殛鯀，然後天下服。 In the age of Yao and Shun, even at the height of good government, they still exiled Gonggong, banished Huandou, deported the Sanmiao, and executed Gun; only then did all under heaven submit.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 110Volume 99: Rituals and Worship Part Three · 1 passage

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《礼记》及《国语》皆谓共工氏之子曰句龙，为后土官，能平九土，故祀以为社。 The Rites and Guoyu name Goulong, son of Gonggong, earth officer who levelled the nine domains, and therefore deified as She.

Book of Liang, Chapter 14Volume 14: Jiang Yan; Ren Fang · 1 passage

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若衡重錙銖，纊微彯撇，雖共工之蒐慝，驩兜之掩義，南荊之跋扈，東陵之巨猾，皆爲匍匐委蛇，折枝舐痔，金膏翠羽將其意，脂韋便辟導其誠。 If the scale weighs heavy as a cash-weight and the gossamer stirs the slightest breath, though Gong Gong's evil, Huan Dou's masked righteousness, southern Jing's arrogance, eastern mound's great knavery—all crawl and writhe, break branches and lick hemorrhoids; gold paste and kingfisher plumes suit their intent, grease and rush smooth their sincerity.

History of Liao, Chapter 111Volume 111 Biographies 41: Treacherous Ministers 2 · 1 passage

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論曰：舜流共工，孔子誅少正卯，治奸之法嚴矣。 The commentary says: Shun exiled Gong Gong, and Confucius executed Shaozheng Mao—the standards for dealing with traitors were severe indeed.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 62Volume 62: Book of Wu 17: Biographies of Shi Yi and Hu Zong · 1 passage

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高辛誅共，舜征有苗，啟有甘師，湯有鳴條。 Emperor Ku slew Gonggong; Shun chastised the Miao; Qi mustered the host of Gan; Tang struck at Mingtiao.

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

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讙兜曰：「共工旁聚布功，可用。」 Huan Dou proposed Gonggong: “He gathers merit on every side; appoint him.”

堯曰：「共工善言，其用僻，似恭漫天，不可。」 Yao replied, “Gonggong talks fair but acts crooked; he feigns reverence while scorning heaven—he is unfit.”

讙兜進言共工，堯曰不可而試之工師，共工果淫辟。 Huan Dou praised Gonggong; Yao refused the post but still tested him as minister of works, and Gonggong proved wanton and corrupt.

於是舜歸而言於帝，請流共工於幽陵，以變北狄； Shun then reported to Yao and asked to exile Gonggong to Youling to chasten the northern Di.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 25Treatise on the Pitch-Pipes · 1 passage

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顓頊有共工之陳，以平水害； Zhuanxu had the battle array of Gonggong, to pacify the water harm.