Zhou Bo (周勃) | 24 Histories

Overview

Zhou Bo was a Western Han general, statesman, and Marquis of Jiang.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Posthumous name	Marquis Wu	武侯

Life and dates

Death

BC 169 historical identification
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passage 220
BC 169 孝文帝十一年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 112

Attested activity

BC 200 to BC 160 BC 200-160
Dated from the passage context · Book of Southern Qi 48, passage 74
BC 209 to BC 169 Han founding era
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 48, passage 18
BC 186 二年…絳侯臣勃
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 4, passage 11
BC 180 八年…太尉勃
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 4, passage 44
BC 196 十一年冬
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 93, passage 148
c. BC 206 to c. BC 169 周勃
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passages 220, 271

Show 26 more source-backed claims

BC 200 to BC 169 周勃
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 24, passage 213
BC 206 to BC 169 周勃
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 18, passage 103
BC 180 太尉勃
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 74
BC 196 to BC 195 太尉勃擊陳豨
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 98, passage 14
BC 189 孝惠帝六年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 83
BC 180 to BC 157 孝文
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 132, 143
BC 178 孝文二年
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 317
BC 180 to BC 157 孝文帝
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 5
BC 169 孝文帝十一年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 112
BC 180 to BC 157 孝文時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 93, passage 105
BC 200 故當其有事也，非蕭、曹…
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 99, passage 70
BC 180 to BC 157 文帝
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 59, passage 17
BC 180 to BC 157 文帝時論周勃
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 102, passage 17
BC 206 to BC 169 漢
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 150, passage 28
BC 209 to BC 141 漢初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 51, passage 86
BC 206 to BC 169 漢初至絳侯薨
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 44, passage 152
BC 180 漢誅祿、產
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 16, passage 41
BC 195 燕王盧綰反
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 161, 165
BC 209 to BC 169 絳侯
Directly stated · Book of Liang 14, passage 38
BC 209 to BC 169 西漢
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 130, passage 28
BC 180 西漢
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passage 28
BC 206 to BC 169 降灌
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 101, passage 72
BC 180 高后崩…誅諸呂
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 75
BC 180 高后崩
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passages 84, 88
BC 188 to BC 180 高后時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passages 10-11
BC 209 to BC 206 高祖之為沛公初起
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 4

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Zhou Yafu (周亞夫)
son 子
late father, the Marquis of Jiang 故父絳侯
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 115; Book of Han 44, passage 152
Parent of Zhou Jian (周堅)
other son 他子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 221
Parent of Zhou Shengzhi (周勝之)
son 子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 113

Key source chapters

Career and standing

reed-mat weaver and funeral flautist 織薄曲、吹簫給喪事
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 3
Grand Commandant 太尉
BC 189 孝惠帝六年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 83
Right Chancellor 右丞相
BC 180 文帝既立 · Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 90
Commander of the Tiger Guard 虎賁令
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 26
commander replacing Fan Kuai 代噲將
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 161, 165
general 將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 36

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Grand Commandant 太尉
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 65
Grand Commandant 太尉
BC 180 八年 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 44
chancellor 丞相
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 93, passage 105
Chancellor 丞相
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 317; Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 5
Grand Commandant 太尉
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 75; Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 11
Left/Right Chancellor 左右丞相
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 317
Chancellor 丞相
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 2
Grand Commandant 太尉
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 9
Title En Chancellor · Title Zh 丞相
Directly stated · Book of Han 5, passage 123
Title En Grand Commandant · Title Zh 太尉
Directly stated · Book of Han 5, passage 4
Marquis of Jiang 絳侯
At Jiang 絳 · Households 8180 · Enfeoffed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 57
Additional Households 10000 · Gold Jin 5000
Directly stated · Book of Han 5, passage 327
retired to his state/fief 就國
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 15
Marquis of Weiwu 威武侯
Granted
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 35
Marquis of Jiang 絳侯
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 11; Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 161; Records of the Grand Historian 102, passage 17
Marquis of Jiang 絳侯
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 2
Title En Marquis Jiang · Title Zh 絳侯
Directly stated · Book of Han 5, passage 148
accused of rebellion 告勃欲反
Arrest · Arrested on accusation of rebellion
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passages 98-99
accused of rebellion and imprisoned 告以為反徵系清室
Imprisoned
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 18
Pardoned and rank restored
Pardon
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 108
released 得釋
Released
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 19

Places and affiliations

Han 漢
Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 25, passage 317
Han 漢
Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 56
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 44; Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 165; New Book of Tang 150, passage 28
Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 213; Old Book of Tang 126, passage 28
Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Subject of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 75
At Pei 沛
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 1

Show 1 more source-backed claim

At Juan 卷 · Relation Ancestral origin
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 2

Works and attributed material

Biography of Zhou Bo 周勃傳
Relation Subject of
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 88
BC 178 孝文二年
Memorial · Author · With Chen Ping (陳平)
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passages 317-319
BC 178 孝文二年
Speech · Speaker · With Chen Ping (陳平)
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passages 324-325
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 162-163

Events and relationships

abolished seizure statutes and mutual-implication law 盡除收律、相坐法
BC 178 孝文二年 · Legal · Official · Abolished
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 325
Destroyed the Lu clan and enthroned Emperor Wen
BC 180 高后崩 · Political · Conspirator · With Chen Ping (陳平)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 88
Entered Northern Army via Southern Army and secured Liu house
BC 180 西漢 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passage 28
Pacified Taiyuan and Dai
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 93, passage 148
Pacified rebellious districts
Military · Commander · At Yan 燕
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 165
Secured the Liu house via Southern and Northern Armies
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 130, passage 28

Show 9 more source-backed claims

Took Northern Army
BC 180 八年 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passages 67, 69
Urged Liu Bang to attack Xiang Yu
Political · Advisor · With Liu Bang (劉邦)
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passage 18
Was sent back to his fief after a solar eclipse
Political
Directly stated · Book of Han 93, passage 105
With Marquis of Zhuxu and Chancellor Ping exterminated Lü clan
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passages 75-76
Zhou Bo was a surviving minister of Emperor Gaozu.
Person Liu Bang (劉邦) · Type minister
Directly stated · Book of Han 70, passage 271
Relation Ally of · Person Chen Ping (陳平)
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 48; Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 88
Relation Colleague of · Person Chen Ping (陳平)
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passages 317, 324
Relation Friend of · Person Yuan Ang (袁盎)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 20
Relation Friend of · Person Yuan Kuai (袁噲)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 16

Assessments and attributes

Assessment man-of-worth-but-inarticulate · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Zhang Shizhi (張釋之)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 102, passages 18, 21
Assessment plain-spoken, steadfast, and honest; trusted with great affairs · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 79
Assessment saved the state from the Lu clan; comparable to Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passages 228-229
wisdom 知
Assessment wise · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 328

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Liang 18, passage 103

References in the histories

Search passages

History

133 passages

Book of Chen, Chapter 16Volume 16: Zhao Zhili; Cai Jingli; Liu Shizhi; Xie Qi · 1 passage

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雖漢誅祿、產，舉朝寔賴絳侯，晉討約、峻，中外一資陶牧，比事論功，彼奚足筭。 When Han executed Lü Lu and Lü Chan, the whole court relied on the Marquis of Jiang; when Jin campaigned against Zu Yue and Su Jun, court and provinces alike relied on Tao Kan. Set beside your deeds, what are those worth reckoning?

Book of Han, Chapter 2Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 2 · 5 passages

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太尉周勃道太原入定代地，至馬邑，馬邑不下，攻殘之。 Grand marshal Zhou Bo took the Taiyuan route to pacify Dai territory, reaching Mayi. Mayi did not submit, so he attacked and devastated it.

周勃定代，斬陳豨於當城。 Zhou Bo pacified Dai and beheaded Chen Xi at Dangcheng.

春二月，使樊噲、周勃將兵擊綰。 In the second month of spring, he sent Fan Kuai and Zhou Bo to lead troops to attack Lu Wan.

周勃重厚少文，然安劉氏者必勃也，可令為太尉。」 Zhou Bo is steady and substantial but short on refinement. Yet the man who will secure the Liu clan must be Bo. He can be made Grand Marshal."

陳平、灌嬰將十萬守滎陽，樊噲、周勃將二十萬定燕代，此聞帝崩，諸將皆誅，必連兵還鄉，以攻關中。 Chen Ping and Guan Ying are leading 100,000 men guarding Xingyang, and Fan Kuai and Zhou Bo are leading 200,000 pacifying Yan and Dai. If they hear that the emperor has died and that the generals are all being executed, they will surely join forces and return home to attack Guanzhong.

Book of Han, Chapter 4Volume 3: Annals of Empress Lü Zhi · 17 passages

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丞相臣平言：「謹與絳侯臣勃、曲周侯臣商、潁陰侯臣嬰、安國侯臣陵等議，列侯幸得賜餐錢奉邑，陛下加惠，以功次定朝位，臣請臧高廟。」 Chancellor Chen Ping memorialized: 'I have respectfully deliberated with Bo, Marquis of Jiang; Shang, Marquis of Quzhou; Ying, Marquis of Yingyin; Ling, Marquis of Anguo; and others. The marquises have fortunately received bestowed meal allowances and fief incomes. Your Majesty adds further favor by establishing court positions according to the order of their merits. I request that these rankings be preserved in the Gao Temple.'

章欲與太尉勃、丞相平為內應，以誅諸呂。 Zhang wished to coordinate internally with Grand Commandant Zhou Bo and Chancellor Chen Ping to execute the various members of the Lü clan.

太尉勃與丞相平謀，以曲周侯酈商子寄與祿善，使人劫商令寄紿說祿曰：「高帝與呂后共定天下，劉氏所立九王，呂氏所立三王，皆大臣之議。 Grand Commandant Zhou Bo and Chancellor Chen Ping plotted together. Since Marquis of Quzhou Li Shang's son Ji was on good terms with Lü Lu, they sent men to seize Shang and have Ji deceive and persuade Lü Lu, saying: 'Emperor Gaozu and Empress Lü together settled the realm. The Liu clan established nine kings and the Lü clan established three kings—all were matters deliberated by the ministers.

平陽侯窋聞其語，馳告丞相平、太尉勃。 Pingyang Marquis Kui heard their conversation and galloped to inform Chancellor Chen Ping and Grand Commandant Zhou Bo.

勃欲入北軍，不得入。 Zhou Bo wished to enter the Northern Army but was unable to do so.

襄平侯紀通尚符節，乃令持節矯內勃北軍。 Xiangping Marquis Ji Tong still held the tally and credentials. They then ordered him to use the credentials to forge a command admitting Zhou Bo into the Northern Army.

勃復令酈寄、典客劉揭說祿，曰：「帝使太尉守北軍，欲令足下之國，急歸將軍印辭去。 Zhou Bo then ordered Li Ji and Protocol Director Liu Jie to persuade Lü Lu, saying: 'The emperor has made the Grand Commandant guard the Northern Army and wishes you to return to your state. Urgently return the general's seal and depart.

祿遂解印屬典客，而以兵授太尉勃。 Lü Lu then removed his seal and entrusted it to the Protocol Director, handing command of the troops over to Grand Commandant Zhou Bo.

勃入軍門，行令軍中曰：「為呂氏右袒，為劉氏左袒。」 Zhou Bo entered the army gate and issued a command throughout the army: 'Those for the Lü clan, bare the right shoulder; those for the Liu clan, bare the left shoulder.'

勃遂將北軍。 Zhou Bo then took command of the Northern Army.

然尚有南軍，丞相平召朱虛侯章佐勃。 However, the Southern Army still remained. Chancellor Chen Ping summoned Zhu Xu Marquis Zhang to assist Zhou Bo.

勃令章監軍門，令平陽侯告衛尉，毋內相國產殿門。 Zhou Bo ordered Liu Zhang to watch the military gate, and sent the Marquis of Pingyang to tell the Guard Commander not to admit Chancellor of State Lü Chan through the palace gate.

平陽侯馳語太尉勃，勃尚恐不勝，未敢誦言誅之，乃謂朱虛侯章曰：「急入宮衛帝。」 The Marquis of Pingyang galloped back to inform Grand Commandant Zhou Bo. Zhou Bo still feared they might not prevail and did not yet dare openly call for Lü Chan's execution, so he said to Zhang, Marquis of Zhuxu, 'Enter the palace at once and guard the emperor.'

章從勃請卒千人，入未央宮掖門，見產廷中。 Zhang requested one thousand troops from Zhou Bo and entered Weiyang Palace through the side gate, where he saw Lü Chan in the courtyard.

還入北軍，復報太尉勃。 He returned and entered the Northern Army, then reported again to Grand Commandant Zhou Bo.

勃起拜賀章，曰：「所患獨產，今已誅，天下定矣。」 Zhou Bo rose, bowed, and congratulated Zhang, saying, 'Lü Chan alone was the one we feared. Now that he has been executed, the realm is secure.'

語在周勃、高五王傳。 The account is given in the biographies of Zhou Bo and the Five Sons of Emperor Gao.

Book of Han, Chapter 5Volume 4: Annals of Emperor Wen · 11 passages

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丞相陳平、太尉周勃、朱虛侯劉章等共誅之，謀立代王。 Chancellor Chen Ping, Grand Commandant Zhou Bo, the Marquis of Zhuxu Liu Zhang, and others joined together to execute the Lü clan and plotted to establish the King of Dai on the throne.

夫以呂太后之嚴，立諸呂為三王，擅權專制，然而太尉以一節入北軍，一呼士皆袒左，為劉氏，畔諸呂，卒以滅之。 Despite Empress Lü's iron-fisted rule in establishing three Lü kings and monopolizing power with dictatorial control, the Grand Commandant Zhou Bo entered the Northern Army with just one imperial tally. With a single command, all the soldiers bared their left arms in loyalty to the Liu clan, rebelled against the Lü faction, and ultimately destroyed them.

於是代王乃遣太后弟薄昭見太尉勃，勃等具言所以迎立王者。 At this the King of Dai dispatched Bo Zhao, the Empress Dowager's younger brother, to meet with Grand Commandant Zhou Bo. Zhou Bo and his colleagues explained in detail the reasons for welcoming and enthroning the king.

太尉勃進曰：「願請間。」 Grand Commandant Zhou Bo stepped forward and said: 'I request a private audience.'

太尉勃乃跪上天子璽。 Grand Commandant Zhou Bo then knelt and presented the imperial seal.

群臣從至，上議曰：「丞相臣平、太尉臣勃、大將軍臣武、御史大夫臣蒼、宗正臣郢、朱虛侯臣章、東牟侯臣興居、典客臣揭再拜言大王足下：子弘等皆非孝惠皇帝子，不當奉宗廟。 The ministers followed and arrived. The court deliberated, saying: "Chancellor Chen Ping, Grand Commandant Zhou Bo, General-in-Chief Chai Wu, Grandee Secretary Zhang Cang, Director of the Imperial Clan Liu Ying, Marquis Zhu Xu Liu Zhang, Marquis Dong Mou Liu Xingju, and Court Receptionist Liu Jie bowed twice and addressed Your Majesty: Zi Hong and the others are not sons of Emperor Xiaohui and should not serve at the ancestral temple.

呂產欲為不善，丞相平與太尉勃等謀奪產等軍。 Lü Chan intended to do evil, and Chancellor Ping and Grand Commandant Bo and others plotted to seize the armies of Chan and his associates.

太尉勃身率襄平侯通持節承詔入北軍。 Grand Commandant Bo personally led Marquis Xiangping Tong, holding the imperial tally and edict, into the Northern Army.

其益封太尉勃邑萬戶，賜金五千斤。 Grand Commandant Bo was granted an additional fief of ten thousand households and five thousand jin of gold.

遂免丞相勃，遣就國。 As a result, he dismissed Chancellor Zhou Bo from office and sent him back to his fief.

絳侯周勃有罪，逮詣廷尉詔獄。 Marquis Jiang Zhou Bo committed a crime and was arrested for trial in the imperial prison under the Chamberlain for Law.

Book of Han, Chapter 25Volume 23: Treatise on Punishment and Law · 3 passages

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左右丞相周勃、陳平奏言：「父母妻子同產相坐及收，所以累其心，使重犯法也。 The left and right chancellors, Zhou Bo and Chen Ping, memorialized: "Implicating and seizing parents, wives, children, and siblings is meant to burden people's minds and make them take the violation of law seriously.

平、勃乃曰：「陛下幸加大惠於天下，使有罪不收，無罪不相坐，甚盛德，臣等所不及也。 Chen Ping and Zhou Bo then said: "Your Majesty has graciously extended great favor to the realm, so that the guilty are not seized and the innocent are not implicated. This is exceedingly great virtue, beyond what your servants can match.

夫以孝文之仁，平、勃之知，猶有過刑謬論如此甚也，而況庸材溺於末流者乎？ If even with Emperor Wen's benevolence and the wisdom of Chen Ping and Zhou Bo, errors about excessive punishment could be this severe, how much more so with mediocre talents submerged in the later current?

Book of Han, Chapter 44Volume 35: Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu · 1 passage

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至淮陽，問故父絳侯客鄧都尉曰：「策安出？」 In Huaiyang he put the question to Deng, once a client of his late father the Marquis of Jiang and now commandant of the district: “What counsel do you offer?”

Book of Han, Chapter 47Volume 38: The Five Sons of Emperor Gao · 2 passages

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呂祿、呂產欲作亂，朱虛侯章與太尉勃、丞相平等誅之。 When Lü Lu and Lü Chan moved toward open revolt, Liu Zhang joined Zhou Bo, Chen Ping, and the loyal ministers in cutting them down.

章首先斬呂產，太尉勃等乃盡誅諸呂。 Liu Zhang struck the first blow, killing Lü Chan; Zhou Bo and the rest then wiped out the entire Lü faction.

Book of Han, Chapter 48Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen · 1 passage

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周勃、灌嬰、樊噲皆勸之，何諫之曰：「雖王漢中之惡，不猶愈於死乎？」 Zhou Bo, Guan Ying, and Fan Kuai urged him to fight, but Xiao He objected: “Even Hanzhong is preferable to annihilation.”

Book of Han, Chapter 51Volume 42: Zhang, Zhou, Zhao, Ren and Shentu · 1 passage

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蒼與絳侯等尊立代王為孝文皇帝，四年，代灌嬰為丞相。 Zhang Cang joined the Marquis of Jiang and the others in raising the King of Dai to the throne as Emperor Wen; in the fourth year of his reign, Cang succeeded Guan Ying as chancellor.

Book of Han, Chapter 58Volume 49: Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 13 passages

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絳侯為丞相，朝罷趨出，意得甚。 When the Marquis of Jiang, who was chancellor, left court, he hastened from the hall with an air of immense self-satisfaction.

盎進曰：「丞相何如人也？」 Yuan Ang stepped forward and asked, "What manner of minister is the chancellor?"

盎曰：「絳侯所謂功臣，非社稷臣。 Yuan Ang said, "The Marquis of Jiang is a man who earned his place by merit; he is not the kind of minister whose fate is bound to the altars of state.

是時絳侯為太尉，本兵柄，弗能正。 The Marquis of Jiang was Grand Commandant with the army in his hands, yet he failed to correct the situation.

呂後崩，大臣相與共誅諸呂，太尉主兵，適會其成功，所謂功臣，非社稷臣。 After her death the senior ministers rose together and extirpated the Lü; the Grand Commandant led the soldiery and was there when victory came—that is a man who seized his moment of merit, not a minister whose loyalty is welded to the dynasty itself.

丞相如有驕主色，陛下謙讓，臣主失禮，竊為陛下弗取也。」 If the chancellor wears insolence toward his sovereign while you defer to him, the proper order between lord and minister is broken; I beg you not to indulge it."

後朝，上益莊，丞相益畏。 At the next audiences the emperor carried himself with greater gravity, and the chancellor grew visibly uneasy.

已而絳侯望盎曰：「吾與汝兄善，今兒乃毀我！」 Soon the Marquis of Jiang fixed Yuan Ang with a stare and said, "Your brother and I were friends—how dare you, his junior, speak ill of me?"

及絳侯就國，人上書告以為反，征系請室，諸公莫敢為言，唯盎明絳侯無罪。 After the Marquis of Jiang retired to his state, a denunciation reached the throne accusing him of rebellion; he was arrested and locked in the Qingshi interrogation cell, and not one of the great lords would plead his case—only Yuan Ang swore he was guiltless.

絳侯得釋，盎頗有力。 The marquis was freed, and Yuan Ang's intervention counted for much.

絳侯乃大與盎結交。 From that day the Marquis of Jiang counted Yuan Ang among his closest allies.

盎即起說曰：「君為相，自度孰與陳平、絳侯？」 Yuan Ang rose and said: "You sit as chancellor—how do you rank yourself beside Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang?"

夫陳平、絳侯輔翼高帝，定天下，為將相，而誅諸呂，存劉氏； Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang raised Gaozu, won the empire, served as general and chancellor, extirpated the Lü, and saved the Liu line;

Book of Han, Chapter 59Volume 50: Zhang, Feng, Ji and Zheng · 2 passages

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釋之前曰：「陛下以絳侯周勃何如人也？」 Shizhi stepped forward: "Your Majesty, what manner of man do you take Marquis of Jiang Zhou Bo to be?"

釋之曰：「夫絳侯、東陽侯稱為長者，此兩人言事曾不能出口，豈效此嗇夫喋喋利口捷給哉！ Shizhi replied, "Those two are honored as elder statesmen, yet neither could get a sentence out when state business was discussed. Is Your Majesty to take this overseer, with his endless patter and glib tongue, as the model?

Book of Han, Chapter 70Volume 60: Du Zhou · 2 passages

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詔有司論定策功：大司馬大將軍光功德過太尉絳侯周勃； An edict ordered the relevant offices to assess merits in settling the succession: Grand Marshal Grand General Huo Guang's merit surpassed that of Marquis of Jiang, Grand Commandant Zhou Bo;

昔諸呂欲危劉氏，賴有高祖遺臣周勃、陳平尚存，不者，幾為奸臣笑。」 In the past, when the Lü clan sought to endanger the Liu house, survival depended on the continued presence of the High Emperor's old ministers, Zhou Bo and Chen Ping. Without them, the dynasty would almost have become a laughingstock for treacherous ministers."

Book of Han, Chapter 93Volume 82: Wang Shang, Shi Dan and Fu Xi · 1 passage

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往者丞相周勃再建大功，及孝文時纖介怨恨，而日爲之蝕，於是退勃使就國，卒無怵惕憂。 Formerly Chancellor Zhou Bo had rendered great service twice, yet when minor resentments arose under Emperor Wen the sun was eclipsed on his account; the emperor then sent Bo back to his fief, and he lived out his days without further fear.

Book of Han, Chapter 99Volume 87b: Yang Xiong 2 · 1 passage

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故當其有事也，非蕭、曹、子房、平、勃、樊、霍則不能安； When trouble came, only Xiao He, Cao Shen, Zhang Liang, Chen Ping, Zhou Bo, Fan Kuai, and Huo Guang could set it right.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 24Volume 21: Biographies of Ren, Li, Wan, Pi, Liu, Geng · 1 passage

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純辭就國，帝曰：『文帝謂周勃「丞相吾所重，君為我率諸侯就國」，今亦然也。』 When Geng Chun asked leave to retire to his fief, the emperor quoted Emperor Wen of Former Han to Zhou Bo: "The chancellor is indispensable to me, but you must still lead the marquises home to their estates." "The same holds now," he said.

Book of Jin, Chapter 101Volume 101 Records 1: Liu Yuanhai and Liu Xuan · 1 passage

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嘗謂同門生硃紀、範隆曰：「吾每觀書傳，常鄙隨陸無武，降灌無文。 He once told Zhu Ji and Fan Long, "Reading history I always scoff that Sui He and Lu Jia had no sword, while Zhou Bo and Guan Ying had no brush.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 130Volume 126 Biographies 76: Li Kui, Li Han, Chen Shaoyou, Lu Yue, Pei Xu · 1 passage

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揆上疏曰：「昔西漢以南北軍相攝，故周勃因南軍入北軍，遂安劉氏。 Kui memorialized: "In Western Han the Southern and Northern Armies were made to balance each other. That was how Zhou Bo, entering the Northern Army through the Southern, was able to save the Liu dynasty.

Book of Liang, Chapter 14Volume 14: Jiang Yan; Ren Fang · 1 passage

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昔上將之恥，絳侯幽獄； Of old a great general's shame was Jiang Hou in the cells;

Book of Liang, Chapter 18Volume 18: Zhang Huishao; Feng Daogen; Kang Xuan; Chang Yizhi · 1 passage

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微時不學，旣貴，粗讀書，自謂少文，常慕周勃之器重。 He had never studied in youth; after rank came to him he read a little, called himself unlettered, and often spoke of Zhou Bo's solid bearing.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 48Volume 48 Biographies 29: Yuan Tuan, Kong Zhigui, Liu Hui · 1 passage

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是則吏挾威福之勢，民懷不對之怨，所以溫舒獻辭於失政，絳侯慷慨而興歎。 Thus clerks wield arbitrary power while the people nurse grievances of unanswered justice—hence Wen Shu offered his remonstrance against misrule, and the Marquis of Jiang sighed aloud in indignation.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 52House of Prince Daohui of Qi · 2 passages

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呂祿、呂產欲作亂關中，朱虛侯與太尉勃、丞相平等誅之。 When Lü Lu and Lü Chan attempted their coup within the passes, the Marquis of Zhuxu joined with Grand Commandant Zhou Bo and Chancellor Chen Ping to put them to death.

朱虛侯首先斬呂產，於是太尉勃等乃得盡誅諸呂。 The Marquis of Zhuxu was the first to strike down Lü Chan, and with that, Grand Commandant Zhou Bo and the others were able to exterminate the entire Lü clan.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 56House of Chancellor Chen · 2 passages

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用陳平謀而召絳侯周勃受詔床下，曰：「陳平亟馳傳載勃代噲將，平至軍中即斬噲頭！」 Following Chen Ping's plan, he summoned the Marquis of Jiang, Zhou Bo, to receive a secret edict at his bedside. The emperor commanded, "Chen Ping is to ride the imperial relay at full speed, taking Zhou Bo to replace Fan Kuai as commander. The moment Ping reaches the army, he is to behead Fan Kuai!"

噲受詔，即反接載檻車，傳詣長安，而令絳侯勃代將，將兵定燕反縣。 Fan Kuai received the edict and was immediately bound with his arms behind his back, loaded into a prison cart, and sent by relay to Chang'an. The Marquis of Jiang, Zhou Bo, replaced him as commander and led the troops to pacify the rebellious districts of Yan.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 57House of Zhou Bo, Marquis of Jiang · 47 passages

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絳侯周勃者，沛人也。 The Marquis of Jiang, Zhou Bo, was a man of Pei.

勃以織薄曲為生，常為人吹簫給喪事，材官引彊。 Bo earned his living weaving reed mats, often played the flute at funerals, and served as a crossbowman in the local militia.

高祖之為沛公初起，勃以中涓從攻胡陵，下方與。 When the future Emperor Gaozu first rose in revolt as the Duke of Pei, Bo joined him as an attendant and took part in the attack on Huling, capturing Fangyu.

方與反，與戰，卻適。 When Fangyu revolted, Bo fought the rebels and drove them back.

攻豐。 Bo attacked Feng.

復攻碭，破之。 Bo attacked Dang again and took it.

攻蒙、虞，取之。 Bo attacked Meng and Yu and took both.

攻都關、定陶，襲取宛朐，得單父令。 Bo attacked Duguan and Dingtao, raided and seized Wanqu, and captured the magistrate of Shanfu.

擊李由軍雍丘下。 Bo engaged the army of Li You beneath the walls of Yongqiu.

沛公拜勃為虎賁令，以令從沛公定魏地。 The Duke of Pei appointed Bo as Commander of the Tiger Guard, and in that capacity Bo followed the Duke to pacify the lands of Wei.

攻東郡尉於城武，破之。 Bo attacked the Governor of the Eastern Commandery at Chengwu and defeated him.

漢王賜勃爵為威武侯。 The King of Han conferred upon Bo the rank of Marquis of Weiwu.

從入漢中，拜為將軍。 Bo followed him into Hanzhong and was appointed general.

籍已死，因東定楚地泗（川）［水］、東海郡，凡得二十二縣。 After Xiang Yu was already dead, Bo went east to pacify the former Chu territories of Sishui and Donghai Commandery, securing twenty-two counties in all.

食絳八千一百八十戶，號絳侯。 He received a fief of eight thousand one hundred and eighty households at Jiang and was titled the Marquis of Jiang.

勃遷為太尉。 Bo was promoted to the office of Grand Commandant.

燕王盧綰反，勃以相國代樊噲將，擊下薊，得綰大將抵、丞相偃、守陘、太尉弱、御史大夫施，屠渾都。 When the King of Yan, Lu Wan, rebelled, Bo, as Chancellor of State, replaced Fan Kuai in command. He attacked and captured Ji, seizing Lu Wan's Grand General Di, Chancellor Yan, Commander Xing, Grand Commandant Ruo, and Censor-in-Chief Shi, and slaughtered Hundu.

勃為人木彊敦厚，高帝以為可屬大事。 Bo was by nature plain-spoken, steadfast, and honest, and Emperor Gaozu believed he could be entrusted with great affairs.

勃不好文學，每召諸生說士，東鄉坐而責之：「趣為我語。」 Bo had no taste for letters. Whenever he summoned scholars and rhetoricians, he would sit facing east and press them: "Just speak up—tell me plainly."

勃既定燕而歸，高祖已崩矣，以列侯事孝惠帝。 By the time Bo pacified Yan and returned, Emperor Gaozu had already passed away. He served Emperor Hui as a marquis.

孝惠帝六年，置太尉官，以勃為太尉。 In the sixth year of Emperor Hui's reign, the office of Grand Commandant was established, and Bo was appointed to it.

勃為太尉，不得入軍門。 Bo, though Grand Commandant, was barred from entering the army gates.

於是勃與平謀，卒誅諸呂而立孝文皇帝。 Thereupon Bo and Chen Ping conspired together and at last destroyed the entire Lu clan, establishing Emperor Wen on the throne.

文帝既立，以勃為右丞相，賜金五千斤，食邑萬戶。 After Emperor Wen was enthroned, he appointed Bo as Right Chancellor, rewarded him with five thousand jin of gold, and granted him a fief of ten thousand households.

居月餘，人或說勃曰：「君既誅諸呂，立代王，威震天下，而君受厚賞，處尊位，以寵，久之即禍及身矣。」 After little more than a month, someone cautioned Bo: "Having destroyed the Lu clan and installed the King of Dai on the throne, your prestige now overawes the realm. Yet you continue to accept lavish rewards and hold a position of supreme honor in the emperor's favor. If this goes on too long, disaster will surely overtake you."

勃懼，亦自危，乃謝請歸相印。 Bo grew fearful and sensed his own peril. He tendered his apologies and asked to return the chancellor's seal.

歲餘，丞相平卒，上復以勃為丞相。 Over a year later, Chancellor Chen Ping died, and the emperor once again appointed Bo as chancellor.

乃免相就國。 Thus, Bo was dismissed from the chancellorship and sent to his fief.

歲餘，每河東守尉行縣至絳，絳侯勃自畏恐誅，常被甲，令家人持兵以見之。 Over a year later, whenever the Governor of Hedong made his circuit inspection and arrived at Jiang, the Marquis of Jiang, fearing that he might be put to death, would don his armor and order his household to bear arms before receiving the official.

其後人有上書告勃欲反，下廷尉。 In time, someone submitted a memorial accusing Bo of plotting rebellion, and the case was referred to the Commandant of Justice.

廷尉下其事長安，逮捕勃治之。 The Commandant of Justice referred the matter to Chang'an, and Bo was arrested and brought in for interrogation.

勃恐，不知置辭。 Bo was terrified and at a loss for how to defend himself.

勃以千金與獄吏，獄吏乃書牘背示之，曰「以公主為證」。 Bo gave a thousand jin of gold to the prison officials, who then wrote on the back of a wooden tablet and showed it to him: "Call the princess as your witness."

公主者，孝文帝女也，勃太子勝之尚之，故獄吏教引為證。 The princess was Emperor Wen's daughter; Bo's heir, Shengzhi, had married her. That is why the prison officials advised him to call upon her as a witness.

勃之益封受賜，盡以予薄昭。 Bo had given all of his additional enfeoffments and rewards to Bo Zhao.

及系急，薄昭為言薄太后，太后亦以為無反事。 When Bo's imprisonment grew dire, Bo Zhao interceded with Empress Dowager Bo, who likewise believed there was no truth to the charge of rebellion.

文帝朝，太后以冒絮提文帝，曰：「絳侯綰皇帝璽，將兵於北軍，不以此時反，今居一小縣，顧欲反邪！」 At Emperor Wen's morning audience, the Empress Dowager seized the emperor by his headdress cloth and said: "The Marquis of Jiang once held the imperial seal in his hands and commanded the Northern Army. If he did not rebel then, why would he now, living in some small county, suddenly wish to rebel?"

文帝既見絳侯獄辭，乃謝曰：「吏［事］方驗而出之。」 After Emperor Wen reviewed the Marquis of Jiang's prison deposition, he apologized and said: "The officials are finishing their verification, and he will be released."

於是使使持節赦絳侯，復爵邑。 He thereupon dispatched envoys bearing the imperial tally to pardon the Marquis of Jiang and restore his rank and fief.

絳侯既出，曰：「吾嘗將百萬軍，然安知獄吏之貴乎！」 Upon his release, the Marquis of Jiang sighed: "I once commanded an army of a million men, yet how could I have known the true worth of a prison official!"

絳侯復就國。 The Marquis of Jiang returned once more to his fief.

孝文帝十一年卒，謚為武侯。 He died in the eleventh year of Emperor Wen's reign and was given the posthumous title of Marquis Wu.

絕一歲，文帝乃擇絳侯勃子賢者河內守亞夫，封為條侯，續絳侯後。 After a lapse of one year, Emperor Wen chose the most worthy of the Marquis of Jiang's sons, Yafu, who was then serving as Governor of Henei, and enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Tiao to continue the line of the Marquis of Jiang.

居三歲，其兄絳侯勝之有罪，孝文帝擇絳侯子賢者，皆推亞夫，乃封亞夫為條侯，續絳侯後。 Three years later, his elder brother Shengzhi, the Marquis of Jiang, was found guilty of a crime. Emperor Wen selected from among the Marquis of Jiang's sons the most worthy; all agreed on Yafu. He was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Tiao to carry on the line of the Marquis of Jiang.

絕一歲，景帝乃更封絳侯勃他子堅為平曲侯，續絳侯後。 After a lapse of one year, Emperor Jing enfeoffed another of the Marquis of Jiang's sons, Jian, as the Marquis of Pingqu to carry on the line.

太史公曰：絳侯周勃始為布衣時，鄙樸人也，才能不過凡庸。 The Grand Historian remarks: When the Marquis of Jiang, Zhou Bo, was still a commoner, he was an unpolished rustic of no more than ordinary ability.

及從高祖定天下，在將相位，諸呂欲作亂，勃匡國家難，復之乎正。 Yet when he followed Emperor Gaozu to pacify the realm and rose to the rank of general and chancellor, and when the Lu clan plotted to seize power, it was Bo who saved the state in its hour of peril and restored it to the rightful course.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 84Biographies of Qu Yuan and Master Jia · 1 passage

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絳、灌、東陽侯、馮敬之屬盡害之，乃短賈生曰：「雒陽之人，年少初學，專欲擅權，紛亂諸事。」 But the Marquis of Jiang, Guan Ying, the Marquis of Dongyang, Feng Jing, and others all opposed him. They slandered Jia Sheng, saying: 'This man from Luoyang is young and has barely begun his studies, yet he seeks to monopolize power and throw everything into confusion.'

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 93Biographies of Han Xin (King of Han) and Lu Wan · 1 passage

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太尉勃入定太原、代地。 The Grand Commandant Bo marched in and pacified the territories of Taiyuan and Dai.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 98Biographies of Fu, Jin, and the Marquis of Kuaicheng · 1 passage

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四月，擊陳豨，屬太尉勃，以相國代丞相噲擊豨。 In the fourth month, he joined the campaign against Chen Xi under Grand Commandant Zhou Bo; as Chancellor of Qi he took Fan Kuai's place as chancellor in the attack on Xi.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 101Biographies of Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 9 passages

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絳侯為丞相，朝罷趨出，意得甚。 The Marquis of Jiang served as Chancellor, and whenever court was dismissed, he would stride out looking enormously pleased with himself.

盎曰：「絳侯所謂功臣，非社稷臣，社稷臣主在與在，主亡與亡。 Ang said, 'The Marquis of Jiang is a meritorious minister, not a pillar of the state. A true pillar of the state shares his sovereign's fate—he rises with his lord and falls with him.

是時絳侯為太尉，主兵柄，弗能正。 At that time, the Marquis of Jiang was Grand Commandant with command of the armies, yet he could not set things right.

已而絳侯望袁盎曰：「吾與而兄善，今兒廷毀我！」 Before long, the Marquis of Jiang confronted Yuan Ang with a glare and said, 'I was on good terms with your brother, and now you, boy, denounce me at court!'

及絳侯免相之國，國人上書告以為反，徵系清室，宗室諸公莫敢為言，唯袁盎明絳侯無罪。 When the Marquis of Jiang was dismissed from the chancellorship and returned to his fief, someone from his domain submitted a memorial accusing him of rebellion. He was summoned and confined in the imperial prison. Not a single member of the imperial clan or the senior ministers dared to speak in his defense—only Yuan Ang declared the Marquis of Jiang to be innocent.

絳侯得釋，盎頗有力。 When the Marquis of Jiang was released, it was largely thanks to Ang's efforts.

絳侯乃大與盎結交。 From then on, the Marquis of Jiang became a close friend and ally of Ang.

袁盎即跪說曰：「君為丞相，自度孰與陳平、絳侯？」 Yuan Ang knelt and asked, 'As Chancellor, how do you rate yourself against Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang?'

夫陳平、絳侯輔翼高帝，定天下，為將相，而誅諸呂，存劉氏； Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang upheld Emperor Gao, settled the empire, served as general and chancellor, and afterward wiped out the Lü clan, preserving the Liu house.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 102Biographies of Zhang Shizhi and Feng Tang · 2 passages

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釋之久之前曰：「陛下以絳侯周勃何如人也？」 After reflecting for some time, Shizhi stepped forward and asked, "Your Majesty, what sort of man was Zhou Bo, the Marquis of Jiang?"

釋之曰：「夫絳侯、東陽侯稱為長者，此兩人言事曾不能出口，豈斅此嗇夫諜諜利口捷給哉！ Shizhi said, "The Marquis of Jiang and the Marquis of Dongyang are both called worthy men, yet when they discussed affairs they could scarcely get a word out. How could they be anything like this bailiff, with his glib and nimble tongue!

New Book of Tang, Chapter 150Volume 150 Biographies 75: Li, Chang, Zhao, Cui, Qi, Lu · 1 passage

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揆曰：「漢以南、北軍相統攝，故周勃因南軍入北軍，以安劉氏。 Kui said: "Under the Han the Southern and Northern Armies kept each other in check; that is why Zhou Bo entered the Northern Army through the Southern Army and thereby secured the house of Liu.