Qin and Han · Official and Merchant

Sang Hongyang 桑弘羊

Sāng Hóngyáng

c. BC 152 - BC 80

Passages
35
Chapters
12
Histories
3

Overview

Sang Hongyang was an official and Merchant.

IdentityHistorical · Male

Life and dates

Death

Age

Attested activity

Show 15 more source-backed claims

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Key source chapters

  1. Book of Han, Chapter 27 Volume 24b: Treatise on Trade 2 12 passages
  2. Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 30 Treatise on the Balanced Standard 9 passages
  3. Book of Han, Chapter 8 Volume 7: Annals of Emperor Zhao 2 passages
  4. Book of Han, Chapter 68 Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan 2 passages
  5. Book of Han, Chapter 70 Volume 60: Du Zhou 2 passages

Origins and identity

Career and standing

Show 18 more source-backed claims

Places and affiliations

Show 3 more source-backed claims

Learning and skills

Works and attributed material

Show 1 more source-backed claim

Events and relationships

Show 22 more source-backed claims

Assessments and attributes

Source notes

References in the histories

35 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 8Volume 7: Annals of Emperor Zhao · 2 passages
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冬十月，詔曰：「左將軍安陽侯桀、票騎將軍桑樂侯安、御史大夫弘羊皆數以邪枉干輔政，大將軍不聽， 而懷怨望，與燕王通謀，置驛往來相約結。 In the tenth month of winter, an edict stated: 'Left General Marquis Jie of Anyang, Flying Cavalry General Marquis An of Sang Le, and Imperial Secretary Hongyang all repeatedly interfered in the auxiliary government with crooked and perverse actions. The Grand General would not listen, so they harbored resentment and communicated with King Yan in plotting, establishing post stations for coming and going and mutually agreeing to join together.
Book of Han, Chapter 27Volume 24b: Treatise on Trade 2 · 12 passages
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弘羊以諸官各自市相爭，物以故騰躍，而天下賦輸或不償其僦費，乃請置大農部丞數十人，分部主郡國，各往往置均輸鹽鐵官，令遠方各以其物如異時商賈所轉 Hongyang argued that because offices purchased goods on their own and competed with one another, prices soared, and tax deliveries from the realm sometimes failed even to cover transport costs. He therefore requested dozens of assistant directors under the Grand Minister, divided by region to oversee commanderies and kingdoms, and in many places to establish balanced-transport and salt-and-iron offices, so distant areas could use local products as merchants formerly did when transporting goods
Book of Han, Chapter 55Volume 46: The Lords of Wan, Wei, Zhi, Zhou and Zhang · 1 passage
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Book of Han, Chapter 68Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan · 2 passages
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漢之得人，於茲為盛，儒雅則公孫弘、董仲舒、兒寬，篤行則石建、石慶，質直則汲黯、卜式，推賢則韓安國、鄭當時，定令則趙禹、張湯，文章則司馬遷、相如，滑稽則東方朔、枚皋，應對則嚴助、硃買臣，歷數則唐都、洛下閎，協律則李延年，運籌則桑弘羊，奉使則張騫、蘇武，將率則衛青、霍去病，受遺則霍光、金日磾，其餘不可勝紀。 Never did the dynasty gather talent so thickly: Hong, Dong, and Kuan for classical breadth; the Shi brothers for steadfast service; Ji An and Bu Shi for blunt loyalty; Han Anguo and Zheng Dangshi for lifting others; Zhao Yu and Zhang Tang for codifying law; Sima Qian and Xiangru for voice; jesters Dongfang Shuo and Mei Gao; debaters Yan Zhu and Zhu Maichen; calendar-makers Tang Du and Luoxia Hong; the harmonist Li Yan'nian; the reckoner Sang Hongyang; envoys Zhang Qian and Su Wu; blades Wei Qing and Huo Qubing; regents Huo Guang and Jin Midi—and a cloud of names besides.
Book of Han, Chapter 69Volume 59: Zhang Tang · 1 passage
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會左將軍上官桀父子及御史大夫桑弘羊皆與燕王、蓋主謀反誅，光以朝無舊臣，白用安世為右將軍光祿勳，以自副焉。 When Left General Shangguan Jie and his son, together with Grand Minister of Finance Sang Hongyang, were executed for plotting with the King of Yan and the Princess of Gai, Huo Guang—finding the court bereft of senior ministers—recommended Anshi as general of the right and superintendent of the masters of writing to serve as his deputy.
Book of Han, Chapter 70Volume 60: Du Zhou · 2 passages
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Book of Han, Chapter 85Volume 74: Wei Xiang and Bing Ji · 1 passage
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Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 1 passage
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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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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 30Treatise on the Balanced Standard · 9 passages
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弘羊以諸官各自市，相與爭，物故騰躍，而天下賦輸或不償其僦費，乃請置大農部丞數十人，分部主郡國，各往往縣置均輸鹽鐵官，令遠方各以其物貴時商賈所轉販者為賦，而相灌輸。 Hongyang observed that because officials each bought goods on their own and competed with one another, prices rose sharply, and the empire's taxes and transport levies sometimes did not cover their hired expenses. He therefore requested the establishment of several dozen divisional assistants under the Great Farmer, assigned by region to oversee the commanderies and kingdoms. Equal transport, salt, and iron offices were commonly established in the counties. Distant regions were ordered, when their local goods were expensive, to use what merchants transported and sold as tax payments, so that the regions could supply one another.
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 103Biographies of Wan Shi and Zhang Shu · 1 passage
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公家用少，桑弘羊等致利，王溫舒之屬峻法，兒寬等推文學至九卿，更進用事，事不關決於丞相，丞相醇謹而已。 The state coffers were running low. Sang Hongyang and his like raised revenue, Wang Wenshu and his sort enforced harsh laws, and Er Kuan and others advanced through scholarship to the rank of the Nine Ministers. Those who handled affairs were the ones promoted, and decisions were no longer referred to the Chancellor. The Chancellor was simply upright and cautious, nothing more.
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 112Biographies of the Marquis of Pingjin and Zhufu · 2 passages
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儒雅則公孫弘、董仲舒、兒寬，篤行則石建、石慶，質直則汲黯、卜式，推賢則韓安國、鄭當時，定令則趙禹、張湯，文章則司馬遷、相如，滑稽則東方朔、枚皋，應對則嚴助、朱買臣，歷數則唐都、落下閎，協律則李延年，運籌則桑弘羊，奉使則張騫、蘇武，將帥則衛青、霍去病，受遺則霍光、金日磾。 In Confucian scholarship, there were Gongsun Hong, Dong Zhongshu, and Er Kuan. In steadfast conduct, Shi Jian and Shi Qing. In forthright character, Ji An and Bu Shi. In advancing the worthy, Han Anguo and Zheng Dangshi. In codifying laws, Zhao Yu and Zhang Tang. In literary achievement, Sima Qian and Sima Xiangru. In wit and humor, Dongfang Shuo and Mei Gao. In eloquent debate, Yan Zhu and Zhu Maichen. In astronomy and calendrical science, Tang Du and Luoxia Hong. In harmonizing music, Li Yannian. In strategic finance, Sang Hongyang. In diplomatic missions, Zhang Qian and Su Wu. In military command, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing. In receiving the imperial testamentary charge, Huo Guang and Jin Midi.