Jia Yi (賈誼) | 24 Histories

Overview

Jia Yi was a Western Han statesman, writer, and political thinker.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Jia Sheng	賈生	Jiǎ Shēng

Life and dates

Death

Cause grief after failure as tutor 自傷為傅無狀
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 240-241
Cause grief and bitter remorse after refusing food 不食，毒恨 · Self starvation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 105
already dead by the time of the policy examination
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 382

Age

18
Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 130
20
Reckoning Sui · over twenty
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 135
33
Reckoning Sui · At death
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 241

Attested activity

BC 179 to BC 169 今農事棄捐…上不聽
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 27, passages 57-76
BC 200 to BC 169 周、賈盪而貢憤
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 201
BC 175 孝文五年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 27, passages 40, 42
BC 180 to BC 157 孝文皇帝
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 129, 132
BC 200 to BC 168 屈、賈無立德之譽
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 30, passage 200
BC 200 to BC 154 文帝景帝之際
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 31, passage 41

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BC 169 死時年三十三
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 240-241
BC 168 漢之為漢幾四十年矣
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 26, passage 126
BC 200 to BC 169 漢文之世
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 65, passages 242-243
BC 200 to BC 100 漢興以來
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 85, passage 41
BC 200 to BC 169 西漢賈誼之世
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 128, passage 107
BC 170 賈生
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 445, passage 208
c. BC 175 賈生之稱
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 158
BC 200 to BC 169 賈生之論
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 38, passage 101
BC 200 to BC 169 賈生言正朔服色
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 163
BC 179 to BC 168 賈誼
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 35, passages 129, 133
BC 200 to BC 168 賈誼
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 37, passage 90
BC 200 to BC 168 賈誼
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 47, passage 268
BC 200 to BC 169 賈誼
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 40, passage 161
BC 200 to BC 169 賈誼（文帝之世）
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 75, passage 202
BC 179 to BC 169 賈誼復召宣室
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 17
BC 178 to BC 169 賈誼為博士
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 7
BC 169 賈誼為梁懷王傅…毒恨而死
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 105
BC 180 to BC 157 賈誼說上曰
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 26, passage 319
BC 200 to BC 169 過秦篇
Strongly inferred · Book of Song 69, passage 390

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Ancestor of Jia Jia (賈嘉)
grandson 孫 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 242
Ancestor of Unnamed grandson of Jia Yi (賈生之孫)
grandson 孫 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 242
Ancestor of Jia Juanzhi (賈捐之)
great-grandson 曾孫 · paternal line · 3 generations
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 202
Parent of Child of Jia Yi
father 父 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 75, passage 202

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Erudite 博士
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 134
Grand Palace Grandee 太中大夫
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 138
Grand Tutor to King Huai of Liang 梁懷王太傅
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 233
Grand Tutor to the King of Changsha 長沙王太傅
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 128, 144
Erudite 博士
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 7
Tutor to King Huai of Liang 梁懷王傅
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 105

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Entered
Exile · At Changsha 長沙
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 144-145

Places and affiliations

Han 漢
Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 85, passage 41
Han
Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 128
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 319; Book of Han 27, passage 42; Records of the Three Kingdoms 65, passages 242-243
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 163
Polity Western Han 漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passages 57-75; Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 7
Polity Western Han 漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 75, passage 202; Book of Later Han 40, passage 161; Book of Liang 35, passage 133

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Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 38, passage 101; Old Book of Tang 127, passage 17; Book of Southern Qi 47, passage 268
At Luoyang 雒陽
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 129
At Changsha 長沙 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 144-145

Learning and skills

versed in the Hundred Schools 通諸子百家之書
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 133

Works and attributed material

Jia Yi's discourse 賈生之論
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 38, passage 101
policy memorials 所言
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 85, passage 41
Rhapsody mourning Qu Yuan 弔屈原賦
Relation Author
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 128, 146
Rhapsody on the Owl 服鳥賦
Relation Author
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 175, 247
Faults of Qin 過秦篇
Relation Authored
Strongly inferred · Book of Song 69, passage 390
Memorial · Author · Direct quotation · Addressed to Emperor Wen (孝文)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 27, passages 42-56

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BC 179 to BC 169 今…上不聽
Memorial · Author · With Emperor Wen (文帝) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passages 57-75
Historical essay · Quoted author · Topic the rise and fall of Qin and Chen She
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 159-189
Memorial · Author · With Emperor Wen of Han (漢文帝) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passages 116-140, 319
Memorial · Author · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Source Person Id Jia Yi (賈誼) Speaker Hua He (華核)
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 65, passages 243, 246
Rhapsody · Author
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 148-172, 177-226
Speech · Speaker · Speaker Jia Yi (賈誼)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passages 8-10, 16-17, 24-29, 94-102

Events and relationships

Argued for correcting calendar and ritual colors
Scholarly · Proposer
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 163
Compared Han's ease to sleeping on kindling over unlit fire
BC 200 to BC 169 漢文之世 · Scholarly · Warner
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 65, passage 243
Equated life death and fortune woe yet feared sacrifice and halter
Intellectual · Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 201
Later disorders matched his words
BC 200 to BC 169 漢文之世 · Political · Predictor
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 65, passage 244
Mourned
Literary · Author · With Qu Yuan (屈平) · At Xiang River 湘水
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 128, 146
Opposed enfeoffment
Political · Remonstrant · With Emperor Wen of Han (漢文帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 236-237

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Proposed copper control and seven benefits
BC 179 to BC 169 今博禍可除，而七福可致也 · Political · Petitioner · With Emperor Wen (文帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passages 65-73, 75
Recalled to Xuan Chamber
Court · Summoned official · At Xuan Chamber 宣室
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 17
Refused food and died of grief
Death · Subject · With King Huai of Liang (梁懷王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 105
Remonstrated against private minting
Political · Remonstrant · With Emperor Wen (孝文)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 27, passage 42
Urged emperor to restore agrarian fundamentals and stores
Political · Adviser
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passages 135, 139, 319
Visited divination market
Visit · Visitor · With Sima Jizhu (司馬季主)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 11
Court audience · Advisor · With Emperor Wen of Han (漢文帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 227, 230-231
Relation Adviser of · Person Emperor Wen of Han (漢文帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passages 141, 319
Relation Tutor of · Person King Huai of Liang (梁懷王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 233-234; Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 105
Relation Tutor of · Person King of Changsha (長沙王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 128, 144
Relation Advisor of · Person Emperor Wen (文帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passages 75-76

Assessments and attributes

Assessment alone thought there were three causes for bitter weeping and six for long sighing · Mode quotation Speaker Hua He (華核)
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 65, passage 243
Assessment became famous through literature · Mode self-report Source Person Id Xiao Zixian (蕭子顯)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 35, passage 129
Assessment grieved that the court long preferred broad copper harm over the seven benefits · Mode self-report Speaker Jia Yi (賈誼)
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 75
Assessment harbored indignation that former kings' ritual forms were largely missing · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 40, passage 161
Assessment his discourse recalled as profound warning on fault-finding in office · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 38, passage 101
Qu Yuan and Jia Yi have no reputation for establishing virtue 屈、賈無立德之譽
Assessment no reputation for establishing virtue · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Yao Cha (姚察)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 200

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Assessment pursued blossoms while cutting off roots · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 106
Assessment railed in reckless essays; brave words chided passion yet still shrank from butchered ox and hated the halter · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 201
Assessment unmatched ability among court scholars · Mode narrative
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 136-137

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 319; Book of Han 27, passage 42; Book of Han 75, passage 202; Old Book of Tang 127, passage 17
Refused to eat after King Huai of Liang died 王墮馬薨，誼不食
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 105

References in the histories

Search passages

History

58 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 26Volume 24a: Treatise on Trade 1 · 2 passages

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時民近戰國，皆背本趨末，賈誼說上曰：筦子曰「倉廩實而知禮節」。 At the time popular life resembled the Warring States era, with everyone abandoning farming for marginal trades. Jia Yi urged the emperor, saying: Guanzi says, "When granaries are full, the people know ritual propriety."

於是上感誼言，始開籍田，躬耕以勸百姓。 Thereupon the emperor was moved by Jia Yi's words, first opened the imperial plow-fields, and personally plowed to encourage the people.

Book of Han, Chapter 27Volume 24b: Treatise on Trade 2 · 1 passage

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賈誼諫曰： Jia Yi remonstrated, saying:

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

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時，賈誼已死，對策者百餘人，唯錯為高第，繇是遷中大夫。 Jia Yi was in the grave; of a hundred examinees only Chao Cuo took top rank and rose to grandee of the palace.

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

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賈捐之字君房，賈誼之曾孫也。 Jia Juanzhi, whose courtesy name was Junfang, was a great-grandson of Jia Yi.

Book of Han, Chapter 85Volume 74: Wei Xiang and Bing Ji · 1 passage

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數條漢興已來國家便宜行事，及賢臣賈誼、朝錯、董仲舒等所言，奏請施行之，曰：「臣聞明主在上，賢輔在下，則君安虞而民和睦。 He listed policy successes since Han’s founding and memorials by Jia Yi, Chao Cuo, Dong Zhongshu, and others, asking that they be put into practice, and wrote: ‘When a wise sovereign sits the throne and able ministers serve below, the ruler rests easy and the people live in harmony.

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

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周、賈盪而貢憤兮，齊死生與禍福，抗爽言以矯情兮，信畏犧而忌服。 Zhuang Zhou and Jia Yi railed in reckless essays, treating life and death, fortune and woe, as one; their brave words chided human passion, yet they still shrank from the butchered ox and hated the halter.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 31Volume 28a: Biographies of Huan Tan; Feng Yan · 1 passage

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夫更張難行，而拂眾者亡，是故賈誼以才逐，而朝錯以智死。 But retuning is dangerous work: cross the crowd and you perish—Jia Yi was banished for his gifts, Chao Cuo died for his cleverness.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 37Volume 32: Biographies of Fan Hong; Yin Shi · 1 passage

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臣聞賈誼有言，『人君不可以不學』。 Jia Yi said, 'A ruler must never stop learning.'

Book of Later Han, Chapter 38Volume 33: Biographies of Zhu, Feng, Yu, Zheng, Zhou · 1 passage

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任職責過，一至於此，追感賈生之論，不亦篤乎！ To hold office yet fault-find to this degree calls Jia Yi's essay to mind—and shows how grave the matter is!

Book of Later Han, Chapter 40Volume 35: Biographies of Zhang, Cao, Zheng · 1 passage

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論曰：『漢初天下創定，朝制無文，叔孫通頗采經禮，參酌秦法，雖適物觀時，有救崩敝，然先王之容典蓋多闕矣，是以賈誼、仲舒、王吉、劉向之徒，懷憤嘆息所不能已也。 The historian comments: "Early Han had no written court ritual; Shusun Tong drew on classical rites and Qin statutes—it met the moment and staunched decay, yet the old kings' forms were largely gone, which is why men like Jia Yi, Dong Zhongshu, Wang Ji, and Liu Xiang fumed and could not rest.

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

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興曰：「吾久不見賈生，自謂過之，今不及矣。」 Xing said: “Long have I not seen Jia Yi; I thought myself his better—now I do not reach him.”

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 127Volume 123 Biographies 73: Liu Yan, Di Wuqi, Ban Hong, Ban Shao, Li Xun · 1 passage

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晏賓於東朝，猶有官謗，相公終始故舊，不信流言，賈誼復召宣室，弘羊重興功利，敢不悉力以答所知。 Though as a guest at the Eastern Court I still face official slander, you have remained my old friend from first to last and will not heed idle talk. Just as Jia Yi was called back to the privy chamber and Sang Hongyang was trusted again to manage state revenue, I dare not spare myself in repaying your confidence.

Book of Liang, Chapter 30Volume 30: Pei Ziye; Gu Xie; Xu Chi; Bao Quan · 1 passage

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有行者多尚質樸，有文者少蹈規矩，故衛、石靡餘論可傳，屈、賈無立德之譽。 Those with conduct mostly esteem plain simplicity; those with letters seldom tread within rules. Therefore Wei and Shi have no remaining discourse worth handing down, while Qu Yuan and Jia Yi have no reputation for establishing virtue.

Book of Liang, Chapter 35Volume 35: Xiao Zike; Xiao Zifan; Xiao Zixian; Xiao Ziyun · 2 passages

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前世賈、傅、崔、馬、邯鄲、繆、路之徒，並以文章顯，所以屢上歌頌，自比古人。 Men of former ages such as Jia, Fu, Cui, Ma, Handan, Miao, and Lu all became famous through literature. Therefore I repeatedly submitted songs of praise and compared myself to the ancients.

遂方賈誼何如哉？ How then compared with Jia Yi?

History of Liao, Chapter 103Volume 103 Biographies 33: Literature 1 · 1 passage

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論曰：統和、重熙之間，務修文治，而韓家奴對策，落落累數百言，概可施諸行事，亦遼之晁、賈哉。 The commentary says: Between the Tonghe and Chongxi eras the court devoted itself to civil governance. Hanjianu's policy response, flowing freely for several hundred words, could in general be put into practice. Was he not Liao's Chao Cuo and Jia Yi?

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

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夫經國體遠，許久爲難，而立功立事，信居物右，其賈誼終軍之流亞乎！ To govern the state with far-reaching vision is acknowledged as difficult, yet to achieve real deeds truly stands above common things—is he not of the company of Jia Yi and Zhong Jun!

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 445Volume 445 Biographies 232: Wu Kedu, Zhu Yixin, Tu Keshou, An Weijun, Wen Ti, Jiang Chunlin · 1 passage

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臣不禁為祖宗三百年國祚效賈生痛哭流涕長太息矣！」 Your servant cannot help, for the three hundred years of our ancestors' fortune perform Jia Yi's weeping and long sighing!"

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 65Volume 65: Book of Wu 20: Biographies of Wang, Lou, He, Wei, and Hua · 3 passages

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至於賈誼，獨以為可痛哭及流涕者三，可為長歎息者六，乃曰當今之勢何異抱火積薪之下而寢其上，火末及然而謂之安。 Jia Yi alone warned of sleeping on a pile of kindling.

誼曰復數年間，諸王方剛，漢之傅相稱疾罷歸，欲以此為治，雖堯、舜不能安。 Jia Yi said that within a few more years the princes would be in their prime and Han's tutors and chancellors would retire claiming illness—if one tried to govern thus, even Yao and Shun could not keep the peace.

誼之所欲痛哭，比今為緩，抱火臥薪之喻，於今而急。 What made Jia Yi weep is graver today; we truly sleep on kindling.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 48House of Chen She · 1 passage

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吾聞賈生之稱曰： I have heard the words of Jia Yi, who said:

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 84Biographies of Qu Yuan and Master Jia · 26 passages

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自屈原沈汨羅後百有餘年，漢有賈生，為長沙王太傅，過湘水，投書以弔屈原。 More than a hundred years after Qu Yuan drowned in the Miluo, there was a man of the Han named Jia Sheng, who served as Grand Tutor to the King of Changsha. As he crossed the Xiang River, he cast a written elegy into the waters to mourn Qu Yuan.

賈生名誼，雒陽人也。 Jia Sheng, whose given name was Yi, was a native of Luoyang.

吳廷尉為河南守，聞其秀才，召置門下，甚幸愛。 Wu, the Commandant of Justice, was serving as Governor of Henan. When he heard of Jia Yi's talent, he summoned him into his household and treated him with great favor and affection.

廷尉乃言賈生年少，頗通諸子百家之書。 The Commandant of Justice then spoke of Jia Sheng, saying that though he was young, he was deeply versed in the writings of the various philosophers and the Hundred Schools of thought.

是時賈生年二十餘，最為少。 At that time, Jia Sheng was just over twenty years old — the youngest among them.

每詔令議下，諸老先生不能言，賈生盡為之對，人人各如其意所欲出。 Whenever an edict was sent down for deliberation, the elder scholars could find nothing to say, but Jia Sheng answered every point on their behalf, expressing what each of them had wished to say but could not articulate.

賈生以為漢興至孝文二十餘年，天下和洽，而固當改正朔，易服色，法制度，定官名，興禮樂，乃悉草具其事儀法，色尚黃，數用五，為官名，悉更秦之法。 Jia Sheng believed that more than twenty years had passed since the founding of the Han, and that the realm was now at peace. It was therefore time to reform the calendar, change the ritual colors, revise the laws and institutions, establish proper official titles, and promote the rites and music. He drafted a comprehensive plan for all of these measures, proposing yellow as the dynastic color, the number five as the governing numeral, and new official titles — entirely replacing the old Qin system.

諸律令所更定，及列侯悉就國，其說皆自賈生發之。 The various reforms to the statutes and ordinances, as well as the policy of sending all the marquises to their fiefdoms, all originated from Jia Sheng's proposals.

於是天子議以為賈生任公卿之位。 The emperor then considered promoting Jia Sheng to the rank of one of the great ministers of state.

絳、灌、東陽侯、馮敬之屬盡害之，乃短賈生曰：「雒陽之人，年少初學，專欲擅權，紛亂諸事。」 But the Marquis of Jiang, Guan Ying, the Marquis of Dongyang, Feng Jing, and others all opposed him. They slandered Jia Sheng, saying: 'This man from Luoyang is young and has barely begun his studies, yet he seeks to monopolize power and throw everything into confusion.'

於是天子後亦疏之，不用其議，乃以賈生為長沙王太傅。 The emperor afterward also distanced himself from Jia Sheng and ceased to follow his counsel. He appointed Jia Sheng as Grand Tutor to the King of Changsha.

賈生既辭往行，聞長沙卑溼，自以壽不得長，又以適去，意不自得。 Jia Sheng took his leave and departed. He had heard that Changsha was low and damp, and feared he would not live long there. Moreover, having been sent away in disgrace, his spirits were deeply low.

賈生為長沙王太傅三年，有鸮飛入賈生舍，止于坐隅。 After Jia Sheng had served as Grand Tutor to the King of Changsha for three years, an owl flew into his lodgings and perched in the corner of his seat.

賈生既以適居長沙，長沙卑溼，自以為壽不得長，傷悼之，乃為賦以自廣。 Jia Sheng had been banished to live in Changsha, which was low and damp. Believing he would not live long, he grieved deeply and composed a rhapsody to console himself.

後歲餘，賈生徵見。 More than a year later, Jia Sheng was summoned back to court for an audience.

賈生因具道所以然之狀。 Jia Sheng explained in full the reasons and principles behind these matters.

既罷，曰：「吾久不見賈生，自以為過之，今不及也。」 When the audience was over, the emperor said: 'I have not seen Jia Sheng for a long time, and I thought I had surpassed him. Now I see I am not his equal.'

居頃之，拜賈生為梁懷王太傅。 Shortly afterward, he appointed Jia Sheng as Grand Tutor to King Huai of Liang.

梁懷王，文帝之少子，愛，而好書，故令賈生傅之。 King Huai of Liang was Emperor Wen's youngest son, whom the emperor loved dearly. The prince was fond of learning, and so the emperor appointed Jia Sheng as his tutor.

賈生諫，以為患之興自此起矣。 Jia Sheng remonstrated, warning that calamity would arise from this.

賈生數上疏，言諸侯或連數郡，非古之制，可稍削之。 Jia Sheng submitted memorials on multiple occasions, arguing that some feudal lords controlled territories spanning several commanderies, which was contrary to the ancient system, and that their domains should be gradually reduced.

賈生自傷為傅無狀，哭泣歲餘，亦死。 Jia Sheng blamed himself bitterly for having failed as a tutor. He wept for more than a year, and then he too died.

賈生之死時年三十三矣。 At the time of his death, Jia Sheng was only thirty-three years old.

及孝文崩，孝武皇帝立，舉賈生之孫二人至郡守，而賈嘉最好學，世其家，與余通書。 After Emperor Wen passed away and Emperor Wu ascended the throne, two of Jia Sheng's grandsons were promoted to the rank of commandery governor. Among them, Jia Jia was the most devoted to learning. He carried on the family tradition and exchanged letters with me.

及見賈生弔之，又怪屈原以彼其材，游諸侯，何國不容，而自令若是。 And when I read Jia Sheng's elegy for him, I wondered further: with such talents as Qu Yuan possessed, he could have traveled among the feudal lords — what state would not have welcomed him? Yet he brought himself to such an end.

讀服烏賦，同死生，輕去就，又爽然自失矣。 Then I read Jia Yi's 'Rhapsody on the Owl,' in which life and death are made equal and coming and going are taken lightly, and once again I was struck with a sudden sense of loss.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 96Biography of Chancellor Zhang · 1 passage

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太史公曰：「張蒼文學律歷，為漢名相，而絀賈生、公孫臣等言正朔服色事而不遵，明用秦之顓頊歷，何哉？ The Grand Historian says: "Zhang Cang was learned in texts, law, and calendrics, and became a famous chancellor of Han. Yet when Jia Yi, Gongsun Chen, and others argued for correcting the calendar's starting point and the ritual colors, he rejected their proposals and did not follow them, plainly continuing to use Qin's Zhuanxu calendar. Why?

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 127Biographies of Soothsayers · 6 passages

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宋忠為中大夫，賈誼為博士，同日俱出洗沐，相從論議，誦易先王聖人之道術，究遍人情，相視而嘆。 Song Zhong was a Palace Grandee and Jia Yi an Erudite. One day, during their rest day, the two went out together, conversing as they walked. They discussed the Book of Changes and the arts of the Way as practiced by the ancient kings and sages, examining the full breadth of human affairs, until at last they looked at one another and sighed.

賈誼曰：「吾聞古之聖人，不居朝廷，必在卜醫之中。 Jia Yi said, "I have heard it said that the sages of old, if they did not dwell at court, were surely to be found among the diviners and physicians.

宋忠、賈誼瞿然而悟，獵纓正襟危坐，曰：「吾望先生之狀，聽先生之辭，小子竊觀於世，未嘗見也。 Song Zhong and Jia Yi were startled into awareness. They straightened their cap strings, adjusted their lapels, and sat upright. "Gazing upon your bearing, sir, and listening to your words," they said, "in all our years observing the world, we have never encountered anyone like you.

宋忠、賈誼忽而自失，芒乎無色，悵然噤口不能言。 Song Zhong and Jia Yi were overcome with shame. The color drained from their faces, and they could only sit in dejected silence, unable to utter a word.

居三日，宋忠見賈誼於殿門外，乃相引屏語相謂自嘆曰：「道高益安，勢高益危。 Three days later, Song Zhong encountered Jia Yi outside the palace gate. They drew each other aside and spoke in private, sighing to one another: "The higher one's moral cultivation, the greater one's peace; the higher one's political power, the greater one's peril.

而賈誼為梁懷王傅，王墮馬薨，誼不食，毒恨而死。 Jia Yi became tutor to King Huai of Liang. When the king fell from his horse and died, Jia Yi refused food and perished of grief and bitter remorse.

Book of Song, Chapter 69Volume 69 Biographies 29: Liu Zhan, Fan Ye · 1 passage

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其中合者，往往不減《過秦》篇。 Those among them that succeed often do not fall short of Jia Yi's "Faults of Qin."

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

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佛經雲輪轉五道，無複窮已，此則賈誼所言，千變萬化，未始有極，忽然為人之謂也。 The Buddhist sutras say that revolving through the five paths of existence has no end—this is what Jia Yi meant when he spoke of a thousand transformations and ten thousand changes without limit, of suddenly becoming human.