Qin and Han · Diplomat and Envoy

Su Wu 蘇武

Sū Wǔ

Attested BC 141 - BC 81

Passages: 9
Chapters: 7
Histories: 6

Overview

Su Wu was a Diplomat and Envoy.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 81 始元六年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 8, passage 64
BC 141 to BC 87 漢興六十餘載
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 68, passages 254, 258; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 277, 282
BC 100 to BC 81 漢蘇武出使
Strongly inferred · Book of Wei 93, passage 19
BC 100 to BC 81 蘇武
Directly stated · Book of Jin 129, passage 203; Draft History of Qing 327, passage 103
BC 100 to BC 81 西漢
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 39, passage 210

Key source chapters

Career and standing

diplomatic missions 奉使
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 282
Han envoy 漢使
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 39, passage 210
Superintendent of Dependencies 典屬國
BC 81 始元六年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Han 8, passage 64

Places and affiliations

Western Han 漢
Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 258
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 129, passage 203
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 277, 282
Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 39, passage 210

Events and relationships

Alluded as loyal envoy
Diplomatic · Exemplar
Directly stated · Book of Jin 129, passage 203
Listed among Han talents of the era
Career · Exemplar · Mode quotation Speaker Ban Gu (班固)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 282
Received a funu from the chanyu
Diplomatic · Recipient · With Chanyu (單于)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 39, passage 210
Returned after nineteen years at Chanyu court
BC 81 始元六年 · Diplomatic · Envoy
Directly stated · Book of Han 8, passage 64
Served on diplomatic missions
Diplomatic · Envoy · Mode quotation Speaker Ban Gu (班固)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 282

Assessments and attributes

Assessment envoy service (奉使) · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 258
Item funu vessel 服匿 · Relation Received
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 39, passage 210

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 39, passage 210
Value historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 282

References in the histories

Search passages

History

9 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 8Volume 7: Annals of Emperor Zhao · 1 passage

栘中監蘇武前使匈奴，留單于庭十九歲乃還，奉使全節，以武為典屬國，賜錢百萬。 The former Court Monitor Su Wu had been sent as envoy to the Xiongnu nineteen years earlier, and had remained at the Chanyu's court all that time before returning, having preserved his integrity throughout his mission. He was appointed Superintendent of Dependencies and granted 1,000,000 cash.

Book of Han, Chapter 68Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan · 1 passage

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 Jin, Chapter 129Volume 129 Records 29: Juqu Mengxun · 1 passage

及至，蒙遜執其手曰：「卿孤之蘇武也！」 When he came home, Mengxun took his hand and said, "You are my Su Wu!"

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 39Volume 39 Biographies 20: Liu Huan, Di Jin, Lu Cheng · 1 passage

以竟陵王子良得古器，小口方腹而底平，可將七八升，以問澄，澄曰：「北名服匿，單于以與蘇武。」 When the Prince of Jingling, Xiao Ziliang, obtained an ancient vessel with a small mouth, square belly, and flat base that held about seven or eight sheng, he asked Cheng about it. Cheng said: "In the north it is called funu; the chanyu gave it to Su Wu."

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 327Volume 327 Biographies 114: Liu Zao, Yang Yingju, Yang Zhongying, Su Erxiang, Ming Rui · 2 passages

上大悅，進道員，釋長齡出獄，比以蘇武之節，御製蘇楊論旌之。 The Emperor was greatly pleased, promoted him to circuit intendant, released Changling from prison, compared him to the integrity of Su Wu, and composed the Discourse on Su and Yang to honor him.

上命阿桂傳諭，令其詣京師，引見，授游擊，賜詩亦比以蘇武。 The Emperor ordered Agui to instruct him to come to the capital, granted him an audience, appointed him guerrilla officer, and in bestowing a poem also compared him to Su Wu.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 112Biographies of the Marquis of Pingjin and Zhufu · 1 passage

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.

Book of Wei, Chapter 93Volume 87: Morality and Righteousness: Yu Shenmen, Duan Jin, Shi Wende, Ji Gu, Wang Xuanwei, Lou Ti, Liu Kehou · 2 passages

世祖下詔曰：「什門奉使和龍，值狂豎肆虐，勇志壯厲，不為屈節，雖昔蘇武何以加之。」 Emperor Taiwu issued an edict: "Shenmen served as envoy at Helong when a reckless usurper ran riot. His courage and resolve were magnificent, and he would not bend his integrity. Not even Su Wu of old could have done more."

高祖以長生等守節遠同蘇武，甚嘉之，拜長生河內太守，于提隴西太守，並賜爵五等男。 Emperor Xiaowen held that in keeping their integrity Changsheng and his companions rivaled Su Wu of old, and he greatly honored them. Changsheng was appointed administrator of Henei, Yu Ti administrator of Longxi, and both were enfeoffed as fifth-rank barons.