Cheng Bushi (程不識)

Overview

The translated histories identify Cheng Bushi as a general and official. This record brings together 7 passages from 2 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Cheng Bushi	程不識	Chéng Bùshí
Personal	Cheng Bushi	程不識
Personal	Cheng Bushi	程不識	Cheng Bushi

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · shiji:109:s0040

Roles

General
Official

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 武帝立 · Western Year: BC 141
Explicit · shiji:109:s0040
Source Date: Text: 程不識 · Western Year: c. BC 150
Explicit · liaoshi:091:s0103

Career and standing

Label: Commander of the Changle Palace Guard / 長樂衛尉 · Action: appointed
Explicit · shiji:109:s0040
Label: Grand Palace Master / 太中大夫 · Action: appointed
Explicit · shiji:109:s0048

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: held up as exemplar equaled by Liao frontier officers · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · liaoshi:091:s0103
Assessment: incorrupt and scrupulous about regulations · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · shiji:109:s0049

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

History of Liao, Chapter 91Volume 91 Biographies 21: Yelu Hanba, Yelu Tanggu, Xiao Paizhe, Yelu Jue, Yelu Pulidu · 1 passage

Open chapter

之數人者，豈特甲胄之士，抑亦李牧、程不識之亞歟。 Were these men merely soldiers in armor, or were they also the equals of Li Mu and Cheng Bushi?

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 109Biography of General Li · 6 passages

Open chapter

居久之，孝景崩，武帝立，左右以為廣名將也，於是廣以上郡太守為未央衛尉，而程不識亦為長樂衛尉。 Some time later, Emperor Jing passed away, and Emperor Wu ascended the throne. The Emperor's advisors considered Guang a renowned general, and so he was transferred from his post as Governor of Shangjun to become Commander of the Weiyang Palace Guard, while Cheng Bushi was made Commander of the Changle Palace Guard.

程不識故與李廣俱以邊太守將軍屯。 Cheng Bushi had formerly served alongside Li Guang as a border governor and garrison commander.

程不識正部曲行伍營陳，擊刀鬬，士吏治軍簿至明，軍不得休息，然亦未嘗遇害。 Cheng Bushi, by contrast, maintained strict formations and encampments, posted sentries with watch clappers, and kept his officers working on military records until dawn. His troops got little rest, but he too was never taken by surprise.

不識曰：「李廣軍極簡易，然虜卒犯之，無以禁也； Cheng Bushi said, "General Li Guang’s army is exceedingly loose and simple; if the enemy suddenly falls upon it, there is no way to restrain them.

是時漢邊郡李廣、程不識皆為名將，然匈奴畏李廣之略，士卒亦多樂從李廣而苦程不識。 At that time, Li Guang and Cheng Bushi were both renowned generals of the Han border commanderies. But the Xiongnu feared Li Guang's cunning, and the soldiers too preferred to serve under Li Guang, finding service under Cheng Bushi a hardship.

程不識孝景時以數直諫為太中大夫。 During the reign of Emperor Jing, Cheng Bushi had been appointed Grand Palace Master for his repeated candid remonstrances.