Ancient China · Butcher and strongman who killed Jin Bi

Zhu Hai 朱亥

Zhū Hài

Attested BC 257

Passages: 8
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Zhu Hai was a Butcher and strongman who killed Jin Bi.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 257 魏安釐王二十年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passages 40, 88

Career and standing

butcher 屠者
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passages 25, 38

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Prince Wuji of Wei (魏公子無忌)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passages 78-79

Events and relationships

Killed Jin Bi
Military · Assassin · With Jin Bi (晉鄙)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passage 88
Relation Retainer of · Person Prince Wuji of Wei (魏公子無忌)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passage 80
Relation Friend of · Person Hou Ying (侯嬴)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passages 24-25

Assessments and attributes

Assessment worthy-man-hidden-among-butchers · Mode named-speech Speaker Hou Ying (侯嬴)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passage 38
Item forty-jin iron mace 四十斤鐵椎 · Relation Used
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 77, passage 88

References in the histories

Search passages

History

8 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 77Biography of the Prince of Wei · 8 passages

公子引車入市，侯生下見其客朱亥，俾倪故久立，與其客語，微察公子。 The prince drove his chariot into the market. Master Hou got down to visit his friend Zhu Hai, deliberately lingering in conversation to carefully observe the prince's demeanor.

侯生謂公子曰：「臣所過屠者朱亥，此子賢者，世莫能知，故隱屠閒耳。」 Master Hou said to the prince: 'The butcher I visited, Zhu Hai, is a worthy man. The world cannot recognize his worth, so he hides among the butchers.'

公子往數請之，朱亥故不復謝，公子怪之。 The prince went several times to call on him, but Zhu Hai deliberately declined to offer thanks in return. The prince found this puzzling.

臣客屠者朱亥可與俱，此人力士。 My retainer Zhu Hai, the butcher, can go with you. He is a man of exceptional strength.

不聽，可使擊之。」 if he does not obey, you can have Zhu Hai strike him down."

於是公子請朱亥。 So the prince invited Zhu Hai.

朱亥笑曰：「臣乃市井鼓刀屠者，而公子親數存之，所以不報謝者，以為小禮無所用。 Zhu Hai smiled and said: 'I'm just a butcher swinging my cleaver in the marketplace, yet the prince has personally called on me several times. The reason I have not returned thanks is that I thought small gestures were unnecessary.

朱亥袖四十斤鐵椎，椎殺晉鄙，公子遂將晉鄙軍。 Zhu Hai had hidden a forty-jin iron mace in his sleeve and used it to kill Jin Bi. The prince then assumed command of Jin Bi's army.