Ancient China · Advisor

Guo Kui 郭隗

Attested BC 311 - BC 279

Passages: 12
Chapters: 6
Histories: 5

Overview

Guo Kui was an Advisor.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 311 先禮郭隗以招賢者
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 80, passage 8
BC 311 先築郭隗之宮
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 88, passage 124
BC 311 燕昭王於破燕之後即位
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 34, passages 122-123
BC 311 to BC 279 燕王之待郭隗
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 178
BC 310 郭隗
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 47, passage 118

Key source chapters

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With King Zhao of Yan (燕昭王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 34, passages 126-127

Events and relationships

Honored to attract worthies
Political · Honored advisor · With King Zhao of Yan (燕昭王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 80, passage 8
Relation Teacher of · Person King Zhao of Yan (燕昭王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 34, passage 128
Relation Client of · Person King Zhao of Yan (燕昭王)
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passages 178, 185

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 178

References in the histories

Search passages

History

12 passages

History of the Northern Dynasties, Chapter 88Volume 88 Biographies 76: Recluses · 1 passage

吾兄欽賢重士，敬愛忘疲，先築郭隗之宮，常置穆生之醴。 My elder brother cherishes the worthy and esteems scholars, honoring them without weariness; he first built a palace for Guo Kui and always kept the wine of Mu Sheng ready.

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

融曰：「買死馬之骨，亦以郭隗之故。」 Rong said, "Buying the bones of a dead horse was also for Guo Wei's sake."

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 37Volume 37: Book of Shu 7: Biographies of Pang Tong and Fa Zheng · 4 passages

宜加敬重，以眩遠近，追昔燕王之待郭隗。」 Elevate him to impress distant audiences, as King Zhao of Yan honored Guo Wei.”

正務眩惑之術，違貴尚之風，譬之郭隗，非其倫矣。 Fa Zheng used dazzlers’ tricks against noble taste—he is no Guo Wei.

臣松之以為郭隗非賢，猶以權計蒙寵，況文休名聲夙著，天下謂之英偉，雖末年有瑕，而事不彰徹，若不加禮，何以釋遠近之惑乎？ Pei Songzhi answers: Guo Wei was mediocre yet duped a throne; Xu Jing’s name towered—ignore courtesy and you fuel rumor.

法正以靖方隗，未為不當，而盛以封墓式閭為難，何其迂哉！ Fa Zheng’s analogy holds; Sun Sheng’s fuss over grave ritual is fussy pedantry.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 34House of Yan Shaogong · 4 passages

謂郭隗曰：「齊因孤之國亂而襲破燕，孤極知燕小力少，不足以報。 He said to Guo Kui: "Qi took advantage of the disorder in my state to attack and destroy Yan. I fully know that Yan is small and weak, insufficient to take revenge.

郭隗曰：「王必欲致士，先從隗始。 Guo Kui said, "If Your Majesty truly wishes to attract scholars, begin with me.

況賢於隗者，豈遠千里哉！」 How much more for men worthier than I—would they regard a journey of a thousand li as too far?"

於是昭王為隗改筑宮而師事之。 King Zhao then built Kui a new palace and served him as teacher.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 80Biography of Yue Yi · 1 passage

燕國小，辟遠，力不能制，於是屈身下士，先禮郭隗以招賢者。 Yan was small and remote, its strength could not control matters, thus he humbled himself and treated scholars with respect, first honoring Guo Wei to attract worthy men.

Book of Sui, Chapter 77Volume 77 Biographies 42: Recluses · 1 passage

吾兄欽賢重士，敬愛忘疲，先築郭隗之宮，常置穆生之醴。 My elder brother honors the worthy and cherishes scholars with tireless devotion; he built a palace for Guo Wei and keeps sweet wine ready for Mu Sheng.