Chen She (陳涉) | 24 Histories

Overview

Chen She was a rebel King of Chu.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Chen Sheng	陳勝	Chén Shèng
Posthumous name	Hidden King	隱王

Life and dates

Death

BC 209 臘月
Responsible Person Id Zhuang Jia (莊賈) · At Xiachengfu 下城父
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7, 116
Cause Killed by Zhuang Jia
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 100
BC 209 to BC 208 不滿半歲竟滅亡
destroyed / perished 滅亡
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 19

Attested activity

BC 209 一夫作難
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 201
BC 209 二世元年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 1, 7
BC 209 to BC 207 二世時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 113, passage 4
BC 209 二世時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 84
BC 209 勝廣之憂
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passage 57
BC 209 及秦皇帝崩，天下大叛
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 183-184

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BC 209 及陳勝、項梁等起
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 4
BC 209 張耳諫陳勝自王
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 45
BC 209 秦之末世
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 138-139
BC 209 與陳涉度長絜大
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 197
BC 209 賢陳涉遠矣
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 84, passage 262
BC 209 陳、吳
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 129, passage 67
BC 209 陳、吳之事
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 129, passage 259
BC 209 陳勝、吳廣…起於秦
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 172
BC 209 陳勝之反秦
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 171
BC 209 to BC 208 陳勝之王也
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 42, passage 3
BC 209 陳勝之起
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 9
BC 209 陳勝之起王也
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passage 4
BC 209 陳勝等起
Directly stated · Book of Han 46, passage 28; Records of the Grand Historian 100, passage 35
BC 209 陳勝舉陳
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 36
BC 209 陳涉之位
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 192
BC 209 陳涉之初起王楚
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 3
BC 209 to BC 208 陳涉之王也
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passages 17-19
BC 209 陳涉等起兵
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 40
BC 209 陳涉起蘄，至入陳
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 23
BC 209 陳涉起蘄
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 41, passage 17

Key source chapters

Origins and identity

not a descendant of kings, dukes, or men of noble lineage
Negated true
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 139

Career and standing

hired agricultural laborer 傭耕
Worked as
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 3
squad leader 屯長
Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7-8
general 將軍
Self appointed
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7, 42
King of Chen 陳王
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passages 3, 8
King of Chu 楚王
Assumed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 36
Hidden King 隱王
Posthumously bestowed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 117

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King of Chu 楚王
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 527
King of Chu
Polity Chu
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 100
Noted
Commoner origin
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 37
Rose from
Commoner origin
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 19
Selected
Conscript for garrison duty
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7-8
a single commoner 一夫
Commoner
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 201
station 位
Station
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 192
Commoner · Negated Offices true
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 139
Rose without noble or senior office
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 185-186
King of Chen 陳王
Self enthroned
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7, 52
King of Chu 王楚
BC 209 旬月以王楚
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 19
King of Chen 陳王
BC 209 陳勝之起王也
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passage 4
proclaimed himself King of Chu 自立為楚王
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 527
king 王
At Chen 陳
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 36

Places and affiliations

Chu 楚
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 527
Qin 秦
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 222
Chen 陳
Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passage 5
Polity Qin
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 352
Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passages 36, 43; Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 19
Polity Chu · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 41, passage 25

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Polity Qin 秦 · Relation Rebelled against
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passages 35-36; Book of Jin 80, passage 57; Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 201; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 138-139; New Book of Tang 178, passage 172
Polity Qin 秦 · Relation Rebelled against
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 40; Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 4
At Yangcheng 陽城
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 1
At Chen 陳 · Relation Entered
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 23
At Chen 陳 · Relation Established court at
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 44
At Dang 碭 · Relation Buried at
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 117

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Topic rallying the conscripts to revolt · Co Speaker Person Id Wu Guang (吳廣)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 35-37
Narrative · Subject
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 193-196
Speech · Speaker · Topic whether to launch a revolt under the names of Fusu and Xiang Yan
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 11-19

Events and relationships

Admonished not to proclaim himself king
BC 209 張耳諫陳勝自王 · Political · Would be king · With Zhang Er (張耳)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 45
Captured Daze, Qi, and Chen and raised a large army
BC 209 二世元年 · Military · Commander
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7, 42-49
measured in length and greatness against the states east of the mountains 與陳涉度長絜大，比權量力
Political · Compared party · Compared in power
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 197
Helped kill the two commandants
BC 209 二世元年 · Killing · Attacker
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7, 34
Invoked as comparison
Allusion · Historical exemplar
Directly stated · Book of Jin 129, passage 67
Invoked as warning
Rebellion · Rebel exemplar
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 57

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Led exhausted conscripts against Qin and inspired uprisings that destroyed the Qin house
Revolt · Founder
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 186-189
Planned uprising
BC 209 二世元年 · Revolt · Co leader · With Wu Guang (吳廣)
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7, 11-19
Planted a silk prophecy naming himself king
BC 209 二世元年 · Omen making · Organizer
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7, 24-26
Raised troops
Military · Rebel leader
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 40
Raised chen
Military · Leader · With Wu Guang (吳廣) · At Chen 陳
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 184
Raised conscripts and declared king
Rebellion · Leader
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passages 17, 19
Raised revolt
Military · Leader · Outcome Qin seven ancestral temples fell; the Qin ruler died at others' hands and became the laughingstock of the empire
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 201
Raised revolt
Military · Leader · At Chen 陳
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 36
Raised revolt
Military · Rebel leader · At Qi 蘄
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 23
Rebelled against
BC 209 陳勝之反秦 · Military · Rebel leader · Polity Qin 秦
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 171
Received allegiance of Lu Confucians
Political · Recipient
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 17
Rose from a wretched alley, seized a thorny staff, and the empire followed him
Military · Rebel leader
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 139, 148
Rose in rebellion under Qin; cited as warning that such risings are not unique to Qin
Military · Rebel leader
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 172
Rose in rebellion
Military · Rebel leader · With Xiang Liang (項梁)
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 4
Rose in rebellion
BC 209 二世 · Military · Rebel leader
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 84
Rose in revolt
Rebellion · Leader
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 113, passage 4
Sent officers north to Zhao
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 39
Sent Wu Guang and Zhou Wen west against Qin
Military · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 44
Urged to become King of Chu
Political · Addressee
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passages 26-27
BC 209 陳、吳之事
Rebellion · Leader · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Jin 129, passage 259
Relation Ally of · Person Wu Guang (吳廣)
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 36; New Book of Tang 178, passage 172
Relation Co rebel with · Person Wu Guang (吳廣)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 129, passage 259
Relation Patron of · Person Wu Chen (武臣)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 39
Relation Former companion of · Person Old companion of Chen She
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 135

Assessments and attributes

Assessment although dead, his appointees destroyed Qin because he had initiated the revolt · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 152
Assessment drew on popular distress, unnoticed resentment, and unreformed disorder as his capital · Mode quotation Speaker Xu Le (徐樂)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 140
Assessment garrison conscripts not equal to the armies of the nine states · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 194
Assessment grand strategy and arts of war did not reach the statesmen and generals of earlier times · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 195
Assessment had long heard of Zhang Er and Chen Yu as worthy men · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 25
Assessment his trust in Zhu Fang and Hu Wu’s harsh scrutiny alienated his generals and caused his defeat · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 147-151

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Assessment lacked the authority of a lord of a thousand chariots, local reputation, the wisdom of Confucius, Mozi, or Zengzi, and the wealth of Tao Zhu or Yi Dun · Mode quotation Speaker Xu Le (徐樂)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 139
Assessment of ordinary ability and neither as wise as Confucius and Mozi nor as wealthy as Tao Zhu and Yi Dun · Mode quoted-source-judgment Source Person Id Jia Yi (賈誼)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 186-187
Assessment states east of the mountains could not be compared with Chen She in the same breath when measuring territory and power—yet outcomes were reversed · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 197
Assessment station not more exalted than the lords of Qi, Chu, Yan, Zhao, Han, Wei, Song, Wey, and Zhongshan · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 192
Assessment success and failure reversed relative to the stronger lords and armies of the nine states · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 196
Assessment weapons of hoes, rakes, and sharpened stakes not equal to hooked halberds and long spears · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 193

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 57; Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 23; Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 4; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 184; New Book of Tang 178, passage 172
Value historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 139
had no reputation in his home village and rose from a wretched alleyway
Field social-origin
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 139

References in the histories

Search passages

History

130 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 1Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 1 · 6 passages

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秦二世元年秋七月，陳涉起蘄，至陳，自立為楚王，遣武臣、張耳、陳餘略趙地。 In the first year of the Second Emperor of Qin, in autumn, in the seventh month, Chen She rose at Qi. He reached Chen, set himself up as King of Chu, and sent Wu Chen, Zhang Er, and Chen Yu to seize the territory of Zhao.

郡縣多殺長吏以應涉。 Many commanderies and counties killed their senior officials in response to Chen She.

陳涉之將周章西入關，至戲，秦將章邯距破之。 Chen She's general Zhou Zhang marched west into the pass and reached Xi, where Qin general Zhang Han opposed and defeated him.

十二月，楚王陳涉為其御莊賈所殺。 In the twelfth month, King Chen She of Chu was killed by his charioteer Zhuang Jia.

且楚數進取，前陳王、項梁皆敗，不如更遣長者扶義而西，告諭秦父兄。 Moreover, Chu has repeatedly advanced but the former King Chen and Xiang Liang both failed. It would be better to send an elder who upholds righteousness to go west and inform the fathers and brothers of Qin.

卒不許羽，而遣沛公西收陳王、項梁散卒。 In the end they did not permit Xiang Yu, but sent Pei Gong west to gather the scattered troops of King Chen and Xiang Liang.

Book of Han, Chapter 41Volume 32: Zhang Er and Chen Yu · 13 passages

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陳涉起蘄至陳，耳、餘上謁涉。 When Chen She's uprising reached Chen, Zhang Er and Chen Yu came to pay their respects.

涉及左右生平數聞耳、餘賢，見，大喜。 Chen She and his aides had long heard of their reputation; when he met them, he was delighted.

陳豪桀說涉曰：「將軍被堅執銳，帥士卒以誅暴秦，復立楚社稷，功德宜為王。」 A leading man of Chen urged Chen She, saying, "General, you have taken up armor and arms, led soldiers to punish brutal Qin, and restored the state of Chu — your merit entitles you to kingship."

陳涉問兩人，兩人對曰：「將軍瞋目張膽，出萬死不顧之計，為天下除殘。 Chen She asked the two of them. They replied, "General, you have faced death without flinching and taken measures that risked everything to rid the realm of cruelty.

涉不聽，遂立為王。 Chen She did not accept their advice and declared himself king.

耳、餘復說陳王曰：「大王興梁、楚，務在入關，未及收河北也。 "Zhang Er and Chen Yu again advised him that Hebei was still unsecured and his priority remained entering the passes.

於是陳王許之，以所善陳人武臣為將軍，耳、餘為左右校尉，與卒三千人，從白馬渡河。 The King of Chen agreed. He appointed his trusted fellow townsman Wu Chen as general, made Zhang Er and Chen Yu left and right commandants, and gave them three thousand soldiers to cross the Yellow River at Baima.

今陳王奮臂為天下倡始，莫不嚮應，家自為怒，各報其怨，縣殺其令丞，郡殺其守尉。 Now King Chen has raised his arm and begun the cause for all under heaven; none fail to turn and respond. Each household vents its own anger, each repays its resentment; counties kill their magistrates and assistants, commanderies kill their governors and commandants.

又聞諸將為陳王徇地，多以讒毀得罪誅。 They also heard that many commanders serving Chen She were ruined by slander and executed.

怨陳王不以為將軍而以為校尉，乃說武臣曰：「陳王非必立六國後。 "Resentful that they had only deputy rank, they told Wu Chen that Chen She could not be trusted to restore the six states.

且陳王聽讒，還報，恐不得脫於禍。 They warned that Chen She listened to slander and that reporting back might be fatal.

使人報陳王，陳王大怒，欲盡族武臣等家，而發兵擊趙。 When news reached Chen, Chen She was enraged and wanted to annihilate Wu Chen's families and attack Zhao.

陳王從其計，徙繫武臣等家宮中，封耳子敖為成都君。 Chen She accepted: he kept their families under palace custody and enfeoffed Zhang Er's son Ao as Lord of Chengdu.

Book of Han, Chapter 42Volume 33: Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Han) · 5 passages

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陳勝之王也，咎往從之。 When Chen Sheng made himself king, Wei Jiu went to follow him.

勝使魏人周市徇魏地，魏地已下，欲立周市為魏王。 Chen Sheng sent Zhou Shi, a man of Wei, to bring Wei territory over. After Wei territory had submitted, the people wished to make Zhou Shi king of Wei.

市不受，迎魏咎於陳，五反，陳王乃遣立咎為魏王。 Zhou Shi refused the title. He went to Chen to bring Wei Jiu back, and after he asked five times, the King of Chen finally sent Wei Jiu and installed him as king of Wei.

章邯已破陳王，進兵擊魏王於臨濟。 After Zhang Han had defeated the King of Chen, he advanced and attacked the King of Wei at Linji.

陳涉使周市略地，北至狄，狄城守。 When Chen She sent Zhou Shi to seize territory, he reached Di, but Di held its walls.

Book of Han, Chapter 46Volume 37: Ji Bu, Luan Bu and Tian Shu · 1 passage

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且秦以事胡，陳勝等起。 Moreover, the Qin empire crumbled in part because it exhausted itself on the northern frontier, and Chen Sheng rose in rebellion.

Book of Han, Chapter 58Volume 49: Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 2 passages

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陳勝行戍，至於大澤，為天下先倡，天下從之如流水者，秦以威劫而行之之敝也。 Chen Sheng's guard detail reached Daze and sparked the rebellion; the empire poured after him because Qin had marched men forward only with the whip.

陳勝先倡，天下大潰，絕祀亡世，為異姓福。 Chen Sheng struck first; the dynasty shattered, the temple fires went out, and another house picked up the pieces.

Book of Han, Chapter 74Volume 64a: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 1 · 4 passages

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陳涉無千乘之尊、疆土之地，身非王公大人名族之後，無鄉曲之譽，非有孔、曾、墨子之賢，陶朱、猗頓之富也。 Chen She owned no kingdom, no famous name, no village cheering him on—he was no sage and no millionaire.

由民困而主不恤，下怨而上不知，俗已亂而政不修，此三者陳涉之所以為資也。 Because the people were desperate and the ruler felt nothing, because anger seethed below while the court slept, because order had rotted before the laws were mended—those three truths were Chen She's opening.

非權輕於匹夫而兵弱於陳涉也。 Not because they were weaker than Chen She.

由此觀之，天下誠有土崩之勢，雖布衣窮處之士或首難而危海內，陳涉是也，況三晉之君或存乎？ If the soil is loose, a beggar in a lane can shake the realm, as Chen She proved—how much quicker would true princes rise if any remained?

Book of Han, Chapter 75Volume 64b: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 2 · 1 passage

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陳勝、吳廣舉陳，武臣、張耳舉趙，項梁舉吳，田儋舉齊，景駒舉郢，周市舉魏，韓廣舉燕，窮山通谷，豪士並起，不可勝載也。 Chen Sheng and Wu Guang seized Chen, Wu Chen and Zhang Er raised Zhao, Xiang Liang rose in Wu, Tian Dan in Qi, Jing Ju in Ying, Zhou Shi in Wei, Han Guang in Yan—bold leaders sprang up in every ravine and pass, too many to list.

Book of Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Gu Yong and Du Ye · 1 passage

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外則為諸夏下土將有樊並、蘇令、陳勝、項梁奮臂之禍。 Without, the realm will face the calamity of Fan Bing, Su Ling, Chen Sheng, and Xiang Liang raising their arms.

Book of Jin, Chapter 80Volume 80 Biographies 50: Wang Xizhi · 1 passage

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自頃年割剝遺黎，刑徒竟路，殆同秦政，惟未加參夷之刑耳，恐勝廣之憂，無復日矣。 For years the remnant population has been bled white; shackled convicts choke the highways—policy almost as harsh as the Qin, short only of mass executions by kinship. I fear a Chen Sheng and Wu Guang–style uprising may not be far off.

Book of Jin, Chapter 129Volume 129 Records 29: Juqu Mengxun · 2 passages

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吾所以初奉之者，以之為陳、吳耳，而信讒多忌，枉害忠良，豈可安枕臥觀，使百姓離于塗炭。」 I raised him at first thinking him another Chen Sheng or Wu Guang, yet he trusts slander, suspects everyone, and kills the loyal—can we sleep while the people burn?"

推段業以濟時，假以陳、吳之事。 he raised Duan Ye as a banner for the hour, as Chen Sheng and Wu Guang once did;

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 48House of Chen She · 55 passages

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陳勝者，陽城人也，字涉。 Chen Sheng was a native of Yangcheng, styled She.

陳涉少時，嘗與人傭耕，輟耕之壟上，悵恨久之，曰：「茍富貴，無相忘。」 In his youth, Chen She once worked as a hired laborer plowing fields alongside others. He stopped his plowing and climbed to the top of a ridge, where he stood brooding for a long while before saying, 'If any of us should ever become wealthy and noble, let us not forget one another.'

陳涉太息曰：「嗟乎，燕雀安知鴻鵠之志哉！」 Chen She heaved a deep sigh and said, 'Alas! How can sparrows and swallows know the ambitions of swans and wild geese?'

陳勝、吳廣皆次當行，為屯長。 Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were both among those called up, and they were appointed as squad leaders.

陳勝、吳廣乃謀曰：「今亡亦死，舉大計亦死，等死，死國可乎？」 Chen Sheng and Wu Guang conferred in secret: 'If we flee now, we die. If we rise up in revolt, we also die. Since death awaits us either way, would it not be better to die fighting for our country?'

陳勝曰：「天下苦秦久矣。 Chen Sheng said, 'The empire has suffered under Qin for far too long.

陳勝、吳廣喜，念鬼，曰：「此教我先威眾耳。」 Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were delighted. Reflecting on the mention of spirits, they said, 'He is telling us to first overawe the men with supernatural signs.'

乃丹書帛曰「陳勝王」，置人所罾魚腹中。 So they wrote 'Chen Sheng shall be king' in cinnabar on a strip of silk and slipped it into the belly of a fish that someone had caught in a net.

又彊令吳廣之次所旁叢祠中，夜篝火，狐鳴呼曰「大楚興，陳勝王」。 Then they had Wu Guang steal into a shrine in a thicket near the camp at night. There he lit a fire inside a basket and, imitating the cry of a fox, called out, 'Great Chu shall rise again! Chen Sheng shall be king!'

旦日，卒中往往語，皆指目陳勝。 The next morning, the soldiers whispered among themselves, casting sidelong glances at Chen Sheng and pointing him out to one another.

陳勝佐之，并殺兩尉。 Chen Sheng rushed to his aid, and together they slew both officers.

陳勝自立為將軍，吳廣為都尉。 Chen Sheng declared himself general, and Wu Guang was made commandant.

三老、豪傑皆曰：「將軍身被堅執銳，伐無道，誅暴秦，復立楚國之社稷，功宜為王。」 The elders and men of standing all declared, 'The general has donned armor and taken up arms to strike down tyranny, punish the brutal Qin, and restore the altars of the state of Chu. By such merit, he deserves to be made king.'

陳涉乃立為王，號為張楚。 Chen She was thus enthroned as king, and his state was named Zhang Chu — 'Expanding Chu.'

當此時，諸郡縣苦秦吏者，皆刑其長吏，殺之以應陳涉。 At that time, across the commanderies and counties that had long suffered under Qin's officials, the people punished and killed their local administrators to answer Chen She's call.

嬰後聞陳王已立，因殺襄彊，還報。 When Ge Ying later learned that Chen She had already been crowned king, he killed Xiang Qiang and returned to report.

至陳，陳王誅殺葛嬰。 When Ge Ying arrived in Chen, the king had him executed.

陳王令魏人周市北徇魏地。 The King of Chen ordered Zhou Shi, a man of Wei, to march north and pacify the Wei territories.

陳王徵國之豪傑與計，以上蔡人房君蔡賜為上柱國。 The King of Chen summoned the outstanding men of the realm to consult on strategy and appointed Cai Ci, Lord of Fang from Shangcai, as Supreme Pillar of State.

周文，陳之賢人也，嘗為項燕軍視日，事春申君，自言習兵，陳王與之將軍印，西擊秦。 Zhou Wen was a man of ability from Chen who had once served as a diviner for Xiang Yan's army and had been in the retinue of Lord Chunshen. He claimed expertise in military affairs, so the King of Chen bestowed upon him a general's seal and sent him west to attack Qin.

陳王怒，捕系武臣等家室，欲誅之。 The King of Chen was furious. He seized the families of Wu Chen and his associates, intending to put them to death.

陳王乃遣使者賀趙，而徙系武臣等家屬宮中，而封耳子張敖為成都君，趣趙兵亟入關。 The King of Chen then sent envoys to congratulate Zhao. He moved the detained families of Wu Chen and the others into the palace, enfeoffed Zhang Er's son Zhang Ao as Lord of Chengdu, and urged the Zhao forces to hasten west into the passes.

時咎在陳王所，不得之魏。 At the time, however, Jiu was at the court of the King of Chen and could not go to Wei.

使者五反，陳王乃立甯陵君咎為魏王，遣之國。 Envoys traveled back and forth five times before the King of Chen finally installed the Lord of Ningling, Jiu, as King of Wei and sent him to his domain.

因相與矯王令以誅吳叔，獻其首於陳王。 So they forged the king's orders to execute Wu Guang and presented his head to the King of Chen.

陳王使使賜田臧楚令尹印，使為上將。 The King of Chen sent an envoy to bestow upon Tian Zang the seal of the Chu Prime Minister and appointed him Supreme General.

陳王誅鄧說。 The King of Chen had Deng Yue executed.

陳王初立時，陵人秦嘉、铚人董緶符離人朱雞石、取慮人鄭布、徐人丁疾等皆特起，將兵圍東海守慶於郯。 When the King of Chen was first enthroned, Qin Jia of Ling, Dong Xie of Zhi, Zhu Jishi of Fuli, Zheng Bu of Qulü, Ding Ji of Xu, and others had each risen independently. They led their troops to besiege Qing, the Governor of Donghai, at Tan.

陳王聞，乃使武平君畔為將軍，監郯下軍。 When the King of Chen heard of this, he appointed Pan, the Lord of Wuping, as general to supervise the forces besieging Tan.

陳王出監戰，軍破，張賀死。 The King of Chen himself went out to oversee the battle, but his army was shattered and Zhang He was killed.

臘月，陳王之汝陰，還至下城父，其御莊賈殺以降秦。 In the twelfth month, the King of Chen traveled to Ruyin. On his return, at Xiachengfu, his own charioteer Zhuang Jia murdered him and surrendered to Qin.

陳勝葬碭，謚曰隱王。 Chen Sheng was buried at Dang and given the posthumous title of 'the Hidden King.'

陳王故涓人將軍呂臣為倉頭軍，起新陽，攻陳下之，殺莊賈，復以陳為楚。 General Lü Chen, a former palace attendant of the King of Chen, raised an army of 'Granary Heads.' He launched his campaign from Xinyang, attacked and retook the city of Chen, killed Zhuang Jia, and restored Chen to the banner of Chu.

初，陳王至陳，令铚人宋留將兵定南陽，入武關。 Earlier, when the King of Chen first arrived at Chen, he had ordered Song Liu of Zhi to lead troops to pacify Nanyang and enter the Wu Pass.

留已徇南陽，聞陳王死，南陽復為秦。 Song Liu had already subdued Nanyang, but upon hearing that the King of Chen was dead, Nanyang reverted to Qin.

秦嘉等聞陳王軍破出走，乃立景駒為楚王，引兵之方與，欲擊秦軍定陶下。 When Qin Jia and the others heard that the King of Chen's army had been destroyed and that he had fled, they set up Jing Ju as the new King of Chu, marched their forces to Fangyu, and prepared to attack the Qin army at Dingtao.

齊王曰：「聞陳王戰敗，不知其死生，楚安得不請而立王！」 The King of Qi said, 'I have heard that the King of Chen has been defeated in battle, and no one knows whether he is alive or dead. How dare Chu set up a new king without consulting anyone?'

陳勝王凡六月。 Chen Sheng reigned as king for a total of six months.

其故人嘗與庸耕者聞之，之陳，扣宮門曰：「吾欲見涉。」 An old companion from his days as a hired laborer heard the news and traveled to Chen. He knocked at the palace gate and said, 'I wish to see She.'

陳王出，遮道而呼涉。 When the King of Chen came out on the road, the man blocked his path and called out, 'She!'

陳王聞之，乃召見，載與俱歸。 The King of Chen heard him and summoned him to an audience. He took the man into his carriage and returned to the palace together.

涉之為王沈沈者！」 How vast and imposing are the halls of King Chen She!'

楚人謂多為夥，故天下傳之，夥涉為王，由陳涉始。 In the dialect of Chu, the word for 'much' is 'huo.' From this arose the saying known throughout the empire: 'How grand She has become as king!' — a phrase that originated with Chen She.

客出入愈益發舒，言陳王故情。 As the visitor came and went more freely, he grew increasingly at ease and began to speak openly of the king's humble past.

或說陳王曰：「客愚無知，顓妄言，輕威。」 Someone advised the King of Chen, 'This guest is foolish and ignorant; he speaks rashly on his own and belittles Your Majesty.'

陳王斬之。 The King of Chen had the man beheaded.

諸陳王故人皆自引去，由是無親陳王者。 After this, all the King of Chen's old friends withdrew. From that time on, no one dared draw close to him.

陳王以朱房為中正，胡武為司過，主司群臣。 The King of Chen appointed Zhu Fang as Arbiter of Rectitude and Hu Wu as Inspector of Faults, entrusting them with overseeing his ministers.

陳王信用之。 The King of Chen placed his full trust in these men.

陳勝雖已死，其所置遣侯王將相竟亡秦，由涉首事也。 Though Chen Sheng himself was already dead, the lords, kings, generals, and ministers he had appointed and dispatched ultimately destroyed Qin. It was She who lit the first flame.

高祖時為陳涉置守冢三十家碭，至今血食。 In the time of Emperor Gaozu, thirty households were established at Dang to tend Chen She's tomb. To this day, sacrifices are offered there.

然而陳涉甕牖繩樞之子，甿隸之人，而遷徙之徒也。 Yet Chen She was the son of a family so poor their windows were broken jars and their door-hinges were made of rope — a field laborer and a conscript exile.

陳涉之位，非尊於齊、楚、燕、趙、韓、魏、宋、衛、中山之君也； Chen She's station was not more exalted than the lords of Qi, Chu, Yan, Zhao, Han, Wei, Song, Wey, and Zhongshan;

深謀遠慮，行軍用兵之道，非及鄉時之士也。 and in grand strategy and the arts of war, Chen She could not approach the statesmen and generals of earlier times.

嘗試使山東之國與陳涉度長絜大，比權量力，則不可同年而語矣。 If one were to compare the states east of the mountains with Chen She — measuring their territory, weighing their power and resources — they could not even be mentioned in the same breath.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 55House of Marquis of Liu · 1 passage

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後十年，陳涉等起兵，良亦聚少年百餘人。 Ten years later, when Chen She and others raised the banner of revolt, Liang too gathered more than a hundred young men.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 73Biographies of Bai Qi and Wang Jian · 1 passage

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陳勝之反秦，秦使王翦之孫王離擊趙，圍趙王及張耳鉅鹿城。 When Chen Sheng rebelled against Qin, Qin sent Wang Jian's grandson Wang Li to attack Zhao, besieging the King of Zhao and Zhang Er at Julu City.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 89Biographies of Zhang Er and Chen Yu · 12 passages

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陳涉起蘄，至入陳，兵數萬。 When Chen She raised his rebellion at Qi and marched into the city of Chen, he commanded an army of tens of thousands.

張耳、陳餘上謁陳涉。 Zhang Er and Chen Yu went to present themselves before Chen She.

涉及左右生平數聞張耳、陳餘賢，未嘗見，見即大喜。 Chen She and his attendants had heard for years of the fame and virtue of Zhang Er and Chen Yu, though they had never met in person. When they finally did, Chen She was overjoyed.

陳中豪傑父老乃說陳涉曰：「將軍身被堅執銳，率士卒以誅暴秦，復立楚社稷，存亡繼絕，功德宜為王。 The local leaders and elders of Chen urged Chen She, 'General, you have donned armor and taken up the blade, leading your soldiers to punish the tyranny of Qin. You have restored the altars of Chu and revived what was lost. Such deeds merit nothing less than the title of king.

且夫監臨天下諸將，不為王不可，願將軍立為楚王也。」 Moreover, to command all the generals under heaven, you must take the royal title. We beg you to proclaim yourself King of Chu.'

陳涉問此兩人，兩人對曰：「夫秦為無道，破人國家，滅人社稷，絕人後世，罷百姓之力，盡百姓之財。 Chen She consulted the two men, and they replied, 'Qin has ruled without righteousness. It destroyed other states, toppled their altars, severed their lines of succession, exhausted the strength of the common people, and drained their wealth.

將軍瞋目張膽，出萬死不顧一生之計，為天下除殘也。 You, General, widened your eyes and steeled your courage, braving ten thousand deaths without a thought for your own life, all to rid the world of this tyranny.

願將軍毋王，急引兵而西，遣人立六國後，自為樹黨，為秦益敵也。 We urge you not to claim the royal title. Instead, march your forces west at once and send envoys to restore the heirs of the six fallen states. In this way you will build a network of allies and multiply the enemies ranged against Qin.

陳涉不聽，遂立為王。 Chen She did not heed their counsel and proclaimed himself king.

陳餘乃復說陳王曰：「大王舉梁、楚而西，務在入關，未及收河北也。 Chen Yu then addressed King Chen again: 'Your Majesty has rallied the forces of Liang and Chu and pressed westward, focused on entering the Pass. But you have not yet secured the territory north of the Yellow River.

於是陳王以故所善陳人武臣為將軍，邵騷為護軍，以張耳、陳餘為左右校尉，予卒三千人，北略趙地。 King Chen accordingly appointed his old friend Wu Chen, a native of Chen, as general, with Shao Sao as protector of the army and Zhang Er and Chen Yu as colonels of the left and right. He gave them three thousand soldiers and sent them north to conquer the land of Zhao.

陳王奮臂為天下倡始，王楚之地，方二千里，莫不響應，家自為怒，人自為鬬，各報其怨而攻其讎，縣殺其令丞，郡殺其守尉。 King Chen raised his arm and led the world in revolt, claiming the land of Chu across two thousand li. All responded to his call. Every household burned with anger, every man took up arms, each one avenging old grudges—killing county magistrates and commandery governors alike.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 90Biographies of Wei Bao and Peng Yue · 5 passages

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陳勝之起王也，咎往從之。 When Chen Sheng rose in rebellion and declared himself king, Jiu went to join him.

陳王使魏人周市徇魏地，魏地已下，欲相與立周市為魏王。 The King of Chen sent Zhou Shi, a man of Wei, to pacify the old Wei territories. Once those lands had submitted, the people wished to make Zhou Shi the King of Wei.

五反，陳王乃遣立咎為魏王。 After five round trips of entreaty, the King of Chen finally released Jiu and established him as King of Wei.

章邯已破陳王，乃進兵擊魏王於臨濟。 After Zhang Han had defeated the King of Chen, he advanced his forces to attack the King of Wei at Linji.

陳勝、項梁之起，少年或謂越曰：「諸豪桀相立畔秦，仲可以來，亦效之。」 When Chen Sheng and Xiang Liang rose in revolt, some young men said to Yue, "The heroes everywhere are setting themselves up and rebelling against Qin. You could join them and follow their example, Zhong."

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 91Biography of Qing Bu · 3 passages

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陳勝之起也，布乃見番君，與其眾叛秦，聚兵數千人。 When Chen Sheng raised the banner of revolt, Bu sought out Lord Fan of Poyang and joined forces with his followers to rebel against Qin, assembling an army of several thousand men.

章邯之滅陳勝，破呂臣軍，布乃引兵北擊秦左右校，破之清波，引兵而東。 After Zhang Han destroyed Chen Sheng and routed the army of Lü Chen, Bu led his forces northward to attack the Qin left and right battalions. He defeated them at Qingbo, then marched his army eastward.

項梁至薛，聞陳王定死，迺立楚懷王。 When Xiang Liang arrived at Xue, he received confirmation of King Chen's death and thereupon enthroned King Huai of Chu.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 94Biography of Tian Dan, King of Qi · 1 passage

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陳涉之初起王楚也，使周市略定魏地，北至狄，狄城守。 When Chen She first rose in revolt and proclaimed himself King of Chu, he dispatched Zhou Shi to subdue the territory of Wei. Zhou Shi advanced north as far as Di, but the city held fast against him.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 97Biographies of Li Yiji and Lu Jia · 1 passage

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及陳勝、項梁等起，諸將徇地過高陽者數十人，酈生聞其將皆握齱好苛禮自用，不能聽大度之言，酈生乃深自藏匿。 When Chen Sheng, Xiang Liang, and the other rebel leaders rose up, dozens of generals passed through Gaoyang while seizing territory. Li Yiji heard that these generals were all petty men fond of rigid etiquette who acted on their own judgment and could not tolerate broad-minded counsel, so he went deep into hiding.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 99Biographies of Liu Jing and Shusun Tong · 1 passage

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數歲，陳勝起山東，使者以聞，二世召博士諸儒生問曰：「楚戍卒攻蘄入陳，於公如何？」 Several years later, Chen Sheng rose east of the mountains. When an envoy reported this, the Second Emperor summoned the erudites and scholar-students and asked, "Chu garrison soldiers have attacked Qi and entered Chen. What do you gentlemen make of this?"

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 100Biographies of Ji Bu and Luan Bu · 1 passage

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且秦以事於胡，陳勝等起。 Moreover, when Qin was occupied with campaigns against the Hu, Chen Sheng and others rose in revolt.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 112Biographies of the Marquis of Pingjin and Zhufu · 5 passages

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陳涉無千乘之尊，尺土之地，身非王公大人名族之后，無鄉曲之譽，非有孔、墨、曾子之賢，陶朱、猗頓之富也，然起窮巷，奮棘矜，偏袒大呼而天下從風，此其故何也？ Chen She commanded neither the authority of a lord of a thousand chariots nor a single foot of territory. He was no descendant of kings or dukes or men of noble lineage. He had no reputation in his home village, nor the wisdom of Confucius, Mozi, or Master Zeng, nor the wealth of Tao Zhu or Yi Dun. Yet he rose from a wretched alleyway, seized a thorny staff, bared his shoulder, let out a great shout, and the entire empire followed him like wind bending the grass. What was the reason?

由民困而主不恤，下怨而上不知（也），俗已亂而政不修，此三者陳涉之所以為資也。 It was because the people were in distress and their ruler showed no concern; resentment festered below while those above remained ignorant of it; customs had fallen into disorder and the government did nothing to set them right. These three conditions were the capital upon which Chen She drew.

非權輕於匹夫而兵弱於陳涉也，當是之時，先帝之德澤未衰而安土樂俗之民眾，故諸侯無境外之助。 It was not that their authority was less than a commoner's or their forces weaker than Chen She's. At that time, the former emperors' grace and beneficence had not yet faded, and the great mass of the people remained content with their land and customs. The rebellious lords therefore found no allies beyond their own borders.

由是觀之，天下誠有土崩之勢，雖布衣窮處之士或首惡而危海內，陳涉是也。 Seen from this perspective, when the empire truly faces a crumbling foundation, even a commoner from the most obscure corner can rise as the chief instigator and imperil the entire realm—Chen She is the proof.

陳勝、吳廣舉陳，武臣、張耳舉趙，項梁舉吳，田儋舉齊，景駒舉郢，周市舉魏，韓廣舉燕，窮山通谷豪士并起，不可勝載也。 Chen Sheng and Wu Guang raised the banner in Chen; Wu Chen and Zhang Er in Zhao; Xiang Liang in Wu; Tian Dan in Qi; Jing Ju in Ying; Zhou Shi in Wei; Han Guang in Yan. From every remote mountain and hidden valley, men of ambition rose up simultaneously—too many to record.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 113Treatise on the Nanyue · 1 passage

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至二世時，南海尉任囂病且死，召龍川令趙佗語曰：「聞陳勝等作亂，秦為無道，天下苦之，項羽、劉季、陳勝、吳廣等州郡各共興軍聚眾，虎爭天下，中國擾亂，未知所安，豪傑畔秦相立。 When the Second Emperor's reign began, the Commandant of Nanhai, Ren Xiao, fell gravely ill and lay near death. He summoned Zhao Tuo, the Magistrate of Longchuan, and told him: "I have heard that Chen Sheng and the others have risen in revolt. Qin has ruled without the Way, and the whole realm suffers for it. Xiang Yu, Liu Ji, Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, and men across the commanderies and districts have all raised armies and gathered followers, fighting over the empire like tigers. The Central Plains are thrown into chaos, and no one knows where peace will come from. Great men everywhere have turned against Qin and set themselves up as rival lords.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 121Biographies of Confucian Scholars · 4 passages

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陳涉之王也，而魯諸儒持孔氏之禮器往歸陳王。 When Chen She declared himself king, the Confucian scholars of Lu took up the ritual vessels of the Kong family and went to pledge their allegiance to him.

於是孔甲為陳涉博士，卒與涉俱死。 Kong Jia became one of Chen She's erudites, and in the end perished alongside him.

陳涉起匹夫，驅瓦合適戍，旬月以王楚，不滿半歲竟滅亡，其事至微淺，然而縉紳先生之徒負孔子禮器往委質為臣者，何也？ Chen She rose from the humblest origins, rallied a ragtag band of garrison conscripts, proclaimed himself king of Chu within a month, and was utterly destroyed in less than half a year — his enterprise could not have been more trifling. Yet the robed and belted gentlemen-scholars carried Confucius's ritual vessels and went to pledge themselves as his subjects. Why?

以秦焚其業，積怨而發憤于陳王也。 Because Qin had burned their life's work, they had stored up such resentment that they channeled their fury through King Chen.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 84Volume 84 Biographies 9: Li, Mi · 2 passages

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玄感問密，密曰：「昔張耳諫陳勝自王，荀彧止魏武求九錫，皆見疑外。 Xuangan asked Mi for his view. Mi said, "In the past Zhang Er admonished Chen Sheng against proclaiming himself king, and Xun Yu stopped Cao Cao from seeking the Nine Bestowments—both were viewed with suspicion from without.

然禮賢得士，乃田橫徒歟，賢陳涉遠矣！ Yet in honoring the worthy and winning men he was like Tian Heng and his followers. How far he surpassed Chen She!

New Book of Tang, Chapter 178Volume 178 Biographies 103: Liu Fen · 1 passage

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即不幸因之以病癘，繼之以兇荒，陳勝、吳廣不獨起於秦，赤眉、黃巾不獨生於漢，臣所以為陛下發憤扼腕、痛心泣血也。 If misfortune adds plague upon this, followed by fierce famine — Chen Sheng and Wu Guang did not arise only in Qin, the Red Eyebrows and Yellow Turbans did not arise only in Han; this is why I vent indignation for you, clutch my wrist in anguish, and grieve to the point of weeping blood.