Qin and Han · Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent and Scholar

Shu Guang 疏廣

Shū Guǎng

Attested BC 67 - BC 63

Passages: 12
Chapters: 2
Histories: 2

Overview

Shu Guang was a Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent and Scholar.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Zhongweng	仲翁	Zhòngwēng
Epithet	the two Shus	二疏	Er Shu

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 67 二疏
Directly stated · Book of Liang 52, passage 10
BC 63 元康三年
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passages 56, 60
BC 67 地節三年
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 42
BC 67 疏廣行止足之計
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 82, passage 197

Family

Sibling of Elder Brother of Shu Guang (疏廣兄)
elder brother 兄 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 43
Kin of Shu Shou (疏受)
nephew 兄子 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 43
Sibling of Shu Shou (疏受)
the two Shus 二疏 · Uncertain siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 52, passage 10

descendants and clan members prospered from his wisdom and distributed gifts
Kinship Role descendants · Quantity multiple
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 75

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince 少傅
BC 67 地節三年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 42
Erudite 博士
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 41
Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince 太傅
BC 67 地節三年 · Promoted
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 42
Grandee of the Fourth Rank / Palace Grandee 太中大夫
Promoted
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 41

Places and affiliations

Polity Han · Relation Official of
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 39
At Lanling, Donghai 東海蘭陵
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 39

Works and attributed material

Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋
Relation Scholar
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 39
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Shu Shou (疏受)
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 56
Memorial · Author · Addressed to Emperor Xuan (宣帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 58
Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passages 68-73

Events and relationships

Practiced knowing when to stop
Political · Retiree
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 197

Assessments and attributes

Assessment knew when to stop and thus escaped shame and danger; ranked next after Jun Buyi · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 197

References in the histories

Search passages

History

12 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 82Volume 71: Jun, Shu, Yu, Xue, Ping and Peng · 11 passages

疏廣字仲翁，東海蘭陵人也。 Shu Guang, courtesy name Zhongweng, came from Lanling in Donghai commandery.

地節三年，立皇太子，選丙吉為太傅，廣為少傅，數月，吉遷御史大夫，廣徙為太傅。 In Dijie 3, when the heir apparent was installed, Bing Ji became grand tutor and Shu Guang junior tutor; a few months later Ji rose to commandant of the imperial counselors and Guang succeeded him as grand tutor.

廣兄子受字公子，亦以賢良舉為太子家令。 His nephew Shu Shou, courtesy name Gongzi, was likewise recommended on the worthy-and-good list and made superintendent of the heir's household.

上以問廣，廣對曰：「太子國儲副君，師友必於天下英俊，不宜獨親外家許氏。 The emperor consulted Shu Guang, who answered, "The heir is the nation's reserve; his teachers and companions should be the finest men in the empire, not drawn chiefly from the Xu in-laws.

廣由是見器重，數受賞賜。 From then on Guang stood high in favor and often received imperial gifts.

廣謂受曰：「吾聞『知足不辱，知止不殆』，『功遂身退，天之道』也。 Guang said to Shou, "I have read that contentment saves a man from shame, that knowing when to stop keeps him from harm, and that to retire once the deed is done is heaven's own way.

滿三月賜告，廣遂稱篤，上疏乞骸骨。 After three months' sick leave Guang declared his illness grave and memorialized for permission to retire.

廣既歸鄉里，日令家共具設酒食，請族人故舊賓客，與相娛樂。 Back in his home district Guang had his household lay a feast every day for kinsmen, old friends, and guests, and joined them in good cheer.

居歲餘，廣子孫竊謂其昆弟老人廣所愛信者曰：「子孫幾及君時頗立產業基址，今日飲食，費且盡。 After a year his descendants quietly said to the old kinsmen Guang trusted, "We hoped to build up land and houses while you still lived, but these feasts are eating the fortune away.

老人即以閒暇時為廣言此計，廣曰：「吾凱老悖不念子孫哉？ When the elders relayed the plea, Guang said, "Do you take me for a senile fool who no longer cares for his descendants?

疏廣行止足之計，免辱殆之累，亦其次也。 Shu Guang knew when enough was enough and so escaped shame and danger—a worthy second.

Book of Liang, Chapter 52Volume 52: The Self-Sufficient · 1 passage

其後薛廣德及二疏等，去就以禮，有可稱焉。 Later Xue Guangde and the two Shus withdrew according to ritual—there is something to praise in that.