On this page
Overview Names Identity Roles Life and dates Events and relationships References in the histories
Overview The translated histories identify Chanyu as a ruler and tribal leader. This record brings together 14 passages from 1 chapter across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.
Names Type English Chinese Pinyin
Personal
Chanyu
單于
Chányú
Title
Chanyu
單于
Chányú
Identity
Historicity Historical
Identification Title only
Sex Male Life and dates Attested activity References in the histories Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 108 Biography of Han Changru · 14 passages
陰使聶翁壹為閒，亡入匈奴，謂單于曰：「吾能斬馬邑令丞吏，以城降，財物可盡得。」
They secretly sent Nie Wengyi as an agent. He fled into the Xiongnu and told the Chanyu, "I can behead the magistrate, assistant, and clerks of Mayi and surrender the city, so that all its goods may be taken."
單于愛信之，以為然，許聶翁壹。
The Chanyu, who trusted and favored him, found the proposal reasonable and granted Nie Wengyi permission to proceed.
聶翁壹乃還，詐斬死罪囚，縣其頭馬邑城，示單于使者為信。
Nie Wengyi then returned, beheaded a prisoner condemned to death, and hung the head on the walls of Maiyi, displaying it to the Chanyu's envoy as proof.
於是單于穿塞將十餘萬騎，入武州塞。
The Chanyu then breached the frontier and led more than a hundred thousand cavalry through the Wuzhou pass.
約單于入馬邑而漢兵縱發。
The plan was that once the Chanyu entered Maiyi, the Han forces would spring their attack.
於是單于入漢長城武州塞。
The Chanyu then entered the Han Great Wall through the Wuzhou pass.
單于怪之，攻烽燧，得武州尉史。
The Chanyu grew suspicious, attacked a beacon tower, and captured the garrison officer of Wuzhou.
單于顧謂左右曰：「幾為漢所賣！」
The Chanyu turned to his attendants and said, "We were nearly sold out by the Han!"
塞下傳言單于已引去。
Word reached the frontier that the Chanyu had already retreated.
王恢等兵三萬，聞單于不與漢合，度往擊輜重，必與單于精兵戰，漢兵勢必敗，則以便宜罷兵，皆無功。
Wang Hui and his thirty thousand troops, learning that the Chanyu had not engaged with the Han forces, calculated that if they went to attack the supply train they would inevitably have to fight the Chanyu's elite cavalry and would surely be defeated. He therefore used his discretion to withdraw his forces, and all ended without achievement.
天子怒王恢不出擊單于輜重，擅引兵罷也。
The Emperor was furious that Wang Hui had failed to attack the Chanyu's supply train and had withdrawn his forces without authorization.
恢曰：「始約虜入馬邑城，兵與單于接，而臣擊其輜重，可得利。
Wang Hui said, "The original plan was for the enemy to enter Mayi city, for our troops to engage the Chanyu, and for me to strike his baggage train and gain advantage.
今單于聞，不至而還，臣以三萬人眾不敵，禔取辱耳。
Now that the Chanyu was forewarned and turned back before arriving, with my thirty thousand men I was no match for him and would only have met with humiliation.
且縱單于不可得，恢所部擊其輜重，猶頗可得，以慰士大夫心。
Even if the Chanyu himself could not have been captured, had Hui led his forces to attack the supply train, there would still have been considerable gains to comfort the hearts of the soldiers and officials.