Qin and Han · An unnamed old man who read the physiognomy of Empress Lü's family.

Old Physiognomist 老父

Lǎofǔ

Attested c. BC 210

Passages: 8
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Old Physiognomist was an An unnamed old man who read the physiognomy of Empress Lü's family.

Life and dates

Attested activity

c. BC 210 while Liu Bang was pavilion chief, before the anti-Qin uprising
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 1, passages 32, 36, 41

Career and standing

physiognomist 相人者
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passages 33-35, 39

References in the histories

Search passages

History

8 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 1Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 1 · 8 passages

呂后與兩子居田中，有一老父過請飲，呂后因餔之。 Empress Lü lived in the countryside with their two children. An old man passed by and asked for a drink. Empress Lü fed him.

老父相后曰：「夫人天下貴人也。」 The old man read Empress Lü's face and said: "Madame, you are a noble person of the world."

老父已去，高祖適從旁舍來，呂后具言客有過，相我子母皆大貴。 The old man had already left. Emperor Gaozu had just returned from a neighboring house. Empress Lü told him everything: a guest had passed by and read the faces of her, the children, and her mother—they were all greatly noble.

高祖問，曰：「未遠。」 Emperor Gaozu asked where the old man had gone. She said, "Not far."

乃追及，問老父。 So he pursued and caught up with him, asking the old man.

老父曰：「鄉者夫人兒子皆以君，君相貴不可言。」 The old man said: "Just now, Madame and the children all take after you. Your appearance shows nobility beyond words."

高祖乃謝曰：「誠如父言，不敢忘德。」 Emperor Gaozu then thanked him and said: "If what you say is true, I won't forget your kindness."

及高祖貴，遂不知老父處。 When Emperor Gaozu rose to power, he could no longer find the old man.