Elder on the River (河上丈人)

Overview

The translated histories identify Elder on the River as a hermit and teacher. This record brings together 2 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	Elder on the River	河上丈人	Heshang Zhangren
Epithet	Elder on the River	河上丈人	Heshang Zhangren

Identity

Historicity: Uncertain
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Strongly inferred · shiji:080:s0120

Roles

Hermit
Teacher

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 本師號曰河上丈人 · Western Year: BC 220
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:080:s0120

Events and relationships

Relation: teacher-of · Person Id: An Qisheng (安期生)
Explicit · shiji:080:s0121

Source notes

Statement: origins unknown · Negated: false
Explicit · shiji:080:s0120

References in the histories

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

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 80Biography of Yue Yi · 2 passages

Open chapter

樂臣公學黃帝、老子，其本師號曰河上丈人，不知其所出。 Yue Chengong studied Huangdi and Laozi. His original teacher was known as the Elder on the River, though his origins are unknown.

河上丈人教安期生，安期生教毛翕公，毛翕公教樂瑕公，樂瑕公教樂臣公，樂臣公教蓋公。 The Elder on the River taught An Qisheng; An Qisheng taught Mao Xigong; Mao Xigong taught Yue Xiagong; Yue Xiagong taught Yue Chengong; and Yue Chengong taught Gai Gong.