Qin and Han · Western Han official and Marquis of Pingyang, son of Cao Shen

Cao Zhu 曹窋

Cáo Zhú

First attested BC 209; died BC 155

Passages: 20
Chapters: 5
Histories: 2

Overview

Cao Zhu was a Western Han official and Marquis of Pingyang, son of Cao Shen.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Kui	窋	Zhú
Posthumous name	Marquis Jing	靜侯	Jìng hóu

Life and dates

Death

BC 155 立二十九年卒
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 136

Attested activity

c. BC 193 to c. BC 180 Emperor Hui through Empress Gao
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 48, passage 237
BC 180 八年八月…平陽侯窋
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 4, passage 58
BC 193 參子窋為中大夫
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 110
BC 180 孝文帝立
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 135
BC 209 to BC 141 漢初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 51, passage 83
BC 155 立二十九年卒
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 136

Show 1 more source-backed claim

BC 188 to BC 180 高后時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 134

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Grandson of Cao Shen
intervening son 曾孫
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 48, passage 254
Child of Cao Shen (曹參)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passage 237; Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 110
Parent of Qi (奇)
son 子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 137

Key source chapters

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 54 House of Chancellor Cao 9 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 48 Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen 5 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 4 Volume 3: Annals of Empress Lü Zhi 4 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 51 Volume 42: Zhang, Zhou, Zhao, Ren and Shentu 1 passage
Book of Han, Chapter 58 Volume 49: Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo 1 passage

Career and standing

acting Imperial Censor-in-Chief 行御史大夫事
BC 180 八年八月庚申 · Acting
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 58
Grand Censor 御史大夫
BC 180 孝文帝立 · Dismissed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 135
Grand Censor 御史大夫
BC 188 to BC 180 高后時 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passage 253; Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 134
Palace Grandee 中大夫
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passage 237; Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 110
Censor-in-Chief 御史大夫
Promoted
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passage 253
Marquis of Pingyang 平陽侯
Succeeded
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passage 253

Show 2 more source-backed claims

Marquis Jing 靜侯
Posthumous title
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 136
Marquis of Pingyang 平陽侯
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 289

Works and attributed material

Remonstrance · Speaker · Addressed to Cao Shen (曹參) · Mode quotation Speaker Cao Zhu (曹窋)
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passage 241

Events and relationships

Served as Palace Grandee and later rose to Censor in Chief
Administrative · Official
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passages 237, 253

References in the histories

Search passages

History

20 passages

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

八月庚申，平陽侯窋行御史大夫事，見相國產計事。 On the geng-shen day of the eighth month, Pingyang Marquis Kui, acting as Imperial Censor-in-Chief, went to see Chancellor of State Lü Chan to discuss affairs.

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.'

Book of Han, Chapter 48Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen · 5 passages

參子窋為中大夫。 His son Cao Zhu held the post of palace counselor.

乃謂窋曰：「女歸，試私從容問乃父曰：『高帝新棄群臣，帝富於春秋，君為相國，日飲，無所請事，何以憂天下？』 He said to Cao Zhu, “When you go home, try privately and calmly asking your father: ‘The High Emperor has only just left his ministers, and the emperor is still young. You, as chancellor, drink every day and request no affairs of state; how does this show concern for the realm?

窋既洗沐歸，時間，自從其所諫參。 After his ritual bath Cao Zhu waited for a private moment and spoke as the emperor had coached him.

至朝時，帝讓參曰：「與窋胡治乎？ At the next audience Emperor Hui reproached him: “Why did you beat Cao Zhu?

窋嗣侯，高后時至御史大夫。 Cao Zhu inherited the title and under Empress Lü rose to imperial censor in chief.

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

初任敖免，平陽侯曹窋代敖為御史大夫。 When Ren Ao was removed from office, Cao Zhu, marquis of Pingyang, succeeded him as imperial counsellor.

Book of Han, Chapter 58Volume 49: Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 1 passage

平陽侯臣窋、汝陰侯臣灶、潁陰侯臣何、廷尉臣宜昌、隴西太守臣昆邪所選賢良太子家令臣錯昧死再拜言：臣竊聞古之賢主莫不求賢以為輔翼，故黃帝得力牧而為五帝先，大禹得咎繇而為三王祖，齊桓得管子而為五伯長。 The men who recommended me as Worthy and Good were your servants the Marquis of Pingyang, Cao Zhu; the Marquis of Ruyin, Xiahou Zao; the Marquis of Yingyin, Guan He; the Commandant of Justice, Yichang; and the Administrator of Longxi, Kunxie. Your servant Chao Cuo bows twice and, risking death, states: I have heard that every worthy ruler of antiquity sought worthy men as his wings and helpers. Thus the Yellow Emperor obtained Limu and became foremost of the Five Thearchs; Great Yu obtained Gao Yao and became progenitor of the Three Kings; and Duke Huan of Qi obtained Guan Zhong and became leader of the Five Hegemons.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 54House of Chancellor Cao · 9 passages

參子窋為中大夫。 Cao Shen's son Zhu served as a Palace Grandee.

乃謂窋曰：「若歸，試私從容問而父曰：『高帝新棄群臣，帝富於春秋，君為相，日飲，無所請事，何以憂天下乎？』 So the emperor told Zhu, "When you go home, find a quiet moment and ask your father casually: 'Emperor Gaozu has only recently departed from his ministers. The emperor is young, and you, the chancellor, do nothing but drink all day. You never bring a single matter before the throne. How can you claim to be worrying about the realm?'

窋既洗沐歸，窋侍，自從其所諫參。 On his next rest day, Zhu went home. While attending his father, he followed the emperor's instructions and raised the matter with Cao Shen.

參怒，而笞窋二百，曰：「趣入侍，天下事非若所當言也。」 Cao Shen flew into a rage and had Zhu caned two hundred strokes, saying, "Get back to the palace and attend the emperor. The affairs of the realm are no concern of yours."

至朝時，惠帝讓參曰：「與窋胡治乎？ At the next audience, Emperor Hui reproached Cao Shen: "Why did you punish Zhu?

子窋代侯。 His son Zhu succeeded to the marquisate.

平陽侯窋，高后時為御史大夫。 The Marquis of Pingyang, Zhu, served as Grand Censor during the time of Empress Dowager Gao.

孝文帝立，免為侯。 When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, Zhu was relieved of his post and reverted to his status as marquis.

立二十九年卒，謚為靜侯。 He held the marquisate for twenty-nine years before he died, and was given the posthumous title Marquis Jing.