Qin and Han · Consort

Lady Shen 慎夫人

Shèn fūrén

Attested BC 180 - BC 157

Passages: 17
Chapters: 4
Histories: 2

Overview

Lady Shen was a consort.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 180 to BC 157 慎夫人從
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 102, passage 38
BC 180 to BC 157 文帝時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 58

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Emperor Wen (文帝)
lady / concubine 夫人
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passages 58, 64

Key source chapters

Events and relationships

Relation Consort of · Person Emperor Wen of Han (漢文帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 102, passage 38
Type concubine-of · Person Emperor Wen of Han (漢文帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 57

References in the histories

Search passages

History

17 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 5Volume 4: Annals of Emperor Wen · 1 passage

身衣弋綈，所幸慎夫人衣不曳地，帷帳無文繡，以示敦朴，為天下先。 He himself wore coarse silk garments, and his favored Lady Shen's robes did not trail on the ground. The curtains and canopies lacked embroidered patterns, demonstrating frugality and setting an example for the world.

Book of Han, Chapter 58Volume 49: Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 7 passages

上幸上林，皇后、慎夫人從。 When the Son of Heaven hunted Shanglin, the empress and Lady Shen went along.

及坐，郎署長布席，盎引卻慎夫人坐。 At seating time the chief usher arranged the cushions; Yuan Ang moved Lady Shen's place to the rear.

慎夫人怒，不肯坐。 Lady Shen flared up and would not take her seat.

盎因前說曰：「臣聞尊卑有序則上下和，今陛下既以立後，慎夫人乃妾，妾、主豈可以同坐哉！ Yuan Ang said: "Rank exists for a reason; you have named a queen, and Lady Shen is a concubine—lord and servant cannot share one bench.

陛下所以為慎夫人，適所以禍之也。 The favor you think you show her is the very thing that will destroy her.

於是上乃說，入語慎夫人。 The emperor saw his point, went within, and explained it to Lady Shen.

慎夫人賜盎金五十斤。 Lady Shen sent him fifty catties of gold in thanks.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 101Biographies of Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 7 passages

上幸上林，皇后、慎夫人從。 The Emperor went to the Shanglin Park with the Empress and Lady Shen in attendance.

及坐，郎署長布席，袁盎引卻慎夫人坐。 When the seats were being arranged, the head of the Gentleman's Office laid out the mats, and Yuan Ang drew Lady Shen's seat back to a separate position.

慎夫人怒，不肯坐。 Lady Shen was furious and refused to sit down.

今陛下既已立后，慎夫人乃妾，妾主豈可與同坐哉！ Now that Your Majesty has installed the Empress, Lady Shen is a concubine. How can a concubine sit as an equal with her mistress!

陛下所以為慎夫人，適所以禍之。 What Your Majesty does for Lady Shen is precisely what will bring disaster upon her.

於是上乃說，召語慎夫人。 At this the Emperor was persuaded. He summoned Lady Shen and explained Ang's reasoning to her.

慎夫人賜盎金五十斤。 Lady Shen presented Ang with fifty catties of gold.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 102Biographies of Zhang Shizhi and Feng Tang · 2 passages

是時慎夫人從，上指示慎夫人新豐道，曰：「此走邯鄲道也。」 Lady Shen was in attendance at the time. The emperor pointed out the Xinfeng road to her and said, "This is the road to Handan."

使慎夫人鼓瑟，上自倚瑟而歌，意慘悽悲懷，顧謂群臣曰：「嗟乎！ He had Lady Shen play the zither; the emperor himself leaned on the zither and sang, his mood mournful and full of grief. He turned to the assembled ministers and said: "Alas!