Qin and Han · Huang-Lao scholar and teacher

Master Gai 蓋公

Gai Gong

Attested BC 201 - c. BC 194

Passages: 8
Chapters: 3
Histories: 2

Overview

Master Gai was a Huang-Lao scholar and teacher.

Life and dates

Attested activity

c. BC 201 to c. BC 194 Cao Shen governed Qi
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 48, passage 267
BC 201 膠西有蓋公
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 84
BC 195 蓋公教於齊高密、膠西，為曹相國師
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 80, passage 122

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 48 Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen 3 passages
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 54 House of Chancellor Cao 3 passages
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 80 Biography of Yue Yi 2 passages

Places and affiliations

At Gaomi and Jiaoxi in Qi 齊高密、膠西 · Relation Taught at
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 80, passage 122
At Jiaoxi 膠西 · Relation Resided at
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passage 267; Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 84

Learning and skills

Belief Huang-Lao 黃老 · Relation Expert in
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passage 267; Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 84

Works and attributed material

Teaching · Speaker · Addressed to Cao Shen (曹參) · Mode reported-speech
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passage 268

Events and relationships

Relation Teacher of · Person Cao Shen (曹參)
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passages 267-268; Records of the Grand Historian 54, passages 84-86
Relation Teacher of · Person Chancellor Cao (曹相國)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 80, passage 122

References in the histories

Search passages

History

8 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 48Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen · 3 passages

聞膠西有蓋公，善治黃老言，使人厚幣請之。 He heard that in Jiaoxi there was Master Gai, skilled in Huang-Lao teachings, and sent someone with generous gifts to invite him.

既見蓋公，蓋公爲言治道貴清靜而民自定，推此類具言之。 When Cao Shen met Master Gai, the scholar explained that government should prize purity and tranquility, allowing the people to settle themselves, and developed the principle in detail.

參於是避正堂，舍蓋公焉。 Cao Shen then yielded the main hall and lodged Master Gai there.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 54House of Chancellor Cao · 3 passages

聞膠西有蓋公，善治黃老言，使人厚幣請之。 He then heard that in Jiaoxi there lived a certain Master Gai, well versed in the teachings of Huang-Lao, and sent emissaries bearing generous gifts to invite him.

既見蓋公，蓋公為言治道貴清靜而民自定，推此類具言之。 When they met, Master Gai explained that the essence of good governance lies in prizing stillness and non-interference, so that the people settle of their own accord. He elaborated on this principle at length.

參於是避正堂，舍蓋公焉。 Cao Shen thereupon vacated his own principal hall and lodged Master Gai in it.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 80Biography of Yue Yi · 2 passages

河上丈人教安期生，安期生教毛翕公，毛翕公教樂瑕公，樂瑕公教樂臣公，樂臣公教蓋公。 The Elder on the River taught An Qisheng; An Qisheng taught Mao Xigong; Mao Xigong taught Yue Xiagong; Yue Xiagong taught Yue Chengong; and Yue Chengong taught Gai Gong.

蓋公教於齊高密、膠西，為曹相國師。 Gai Gong taught in Qi Gaomi and Jiaoxi, was Cao Xiangguo's teacher.