Qin and Han · Royal Family Member

Crown Prince 太子

Taizi

Attested BC 196 - BC 195

Passages: 18
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Crown Prince was a Royal Family Member.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Nickname	the boy	豎子

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 196 漢十一年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 218
BC 195 漢十二年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 236, 258

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Emperor Gaozu (高祖)
crown prince 太子 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 218, 224, 244
Sibling of Ruyi (如意)
son 子 · Paternal half siblings · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 224

Career and standing

General overseeing Guanzhong troops 將軍監關中兵
BC 196 漢十一年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 233
General 將軍
BC 196 漢十一年 · Proposed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 218, 220-221

Places and affiliations

BC 196 漢十一年
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Heir of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 218
BC 196 漢十一年
At Guanzhong 關中 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 233

Events and relationships

Attended banquet
BC 195 漢十二年 · Court · Attendant
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 240
Was never replaced
BC 195 漢十二年 · Political · Heir
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 258

Assessments and attributes

Assessment humane, filial, respectful, and fond of scholars · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Master Dongyuan (東園公)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 246
Assessment insufficient to command · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Emperor Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 229

References in the histories

Search passages

History

18 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 55House of Marquis of Liu · 18 passages

漢十一年，黥布反，上病，欲使太子將，往擊之。 In the eleventh year of Han, Ying Bu revolted. The emperor was ill and wished to send the crown prince to lead the army against him.

四人相謂曰：「凡來者，將以存太子。 The Four Elders said to one another, "We came here for the sole purpose of safeguarding the crown prince.

太子將兵，事危矣。」 If the crown prince is sent to command the army, his position will be in grave danger."

乃說建成侯曰：「太子將兵，有功則位不益太子； They went to the Marquis of Jiancheng and counseled him, "If the crown prince leads the army and wins, his rank cannot rise any higher than it already is.

且太子所與俱諸將，皆嘗與上定天下梟將也，今使太子將之，此無異使羊將狼也，皆不肯為盡力，其無功必矣。 Moreover, every general assigned to serve under the crown prince once helped the emperor conquer the empire — battle-hardened veterans all. Setting the crown prince over them is no different from sending a lamb to lead a pack of wolves. None will fight with full effort, and failure is certain.

臣聞『母愛者子抱』，今戚夫人日夜待御，趙王如意常抱居前，上曰『終不使不肖子居愛子之上』，明乎其代太子位必矣。 We have heard the saying, 'The child of the favored mother is held in the arms.' Lady Qi attends the emperor day and night, and Ruyi, the King of Zhao, is always at his father's side. The emperor has declared, 'I will never let an unworthy son stand above the son I love.' It is plain that the crown prince will be replaced.

君何不急請呂后承間為上泣言：『黥布，天下猛將也，善用兵，今諸將皆陛下故等夷，乃令太子將此屬，無異使羊將狼，莫肯為用，且使布聞之，則鼓行而西耳。 You should urge Empress Lu to find the right moment and plead with the emperor through tears, saying that Ying Bu is one of the most fearsome generals alive and a master of warfare. The generals you would assign to the crown prince are all men who once fought as your equals. To put the crown prince in command of them is no different from setting a lamb over wolves — not one will obey. And if Ying Bu hears of it, he will march on us without hesitation.

上曰：「吾惟豎子固不足遣，而公自行耳。」 The emperor said, "I have always known the boy is not up to the task. I shall lead the campaign myself."

因說上曰：「令太子為將軍，監關中兵。」 He also advised, "Appoint the crown prince as general to command the garrison troops within the passes."

上曰：「子房雖病，彊臥而傅太子。」 The emperor said, "Zifang, even though you are ill, I ask you to stay at your rest and serve as tutor to the crown prince."

漢十二年，上從擊破布軍歸，疾益甚，愈欲易太子。 In the twelfth year of Han, the emperor returned from his victory over Ying Bu's forces. His illness had grown worse, and his desire to replace the crown prince became more pressing than ever.

叔孫太傅稱說引古今，以死爭太子。 Grand Tutor Shusun Tong invoked precedents from antiquity and the present, staking his very life on the defense of the crown prince.

及燕，置酒，太子侍。 At a banquet one evening, wine was served, and the crown prince attended upon his father.

四人從太子，年皆八十有餘，鬚眉皓白，衣冠甚偉。 Four men accompanied the crown prince, all past eighty years of age, with snow-white beards and brows, clad in robes and caps of striking dignity.

上乃大驚，曰：「吾求公數歲，公辟逃我，今公何自從吾兒游乎？」 The emperor was greatly astonished and exclaimed, "I have sought you for years, and you always fled from me. Why have you now chosen to follow my son?"

竊聞太子為人仁孝，恭敬愛士，天下莫不延頸欲為太子死者，故臣等來耳。」 But we have heard that the crown prince is humane and filial, respectful and fond of scholars. All under heaven crane their necks, eager to lay down their lives for him. That is why we have come."

上曰：「煩公幸卒調護太子。」 The emperor said, "I am grateful. I ask you to continue looking after the crown prince."

竟不易太子者，留侯本招此四人之力也。 In the end, the crown prince was never replaced, and this was entirely owing to the Marquis of Liu's stratagem of summoning the Four Elders.