Qin and Han · Ruler

Emperor Gaozu 高祖

Gaozu

First attested BC 202; died BC 195

Passages: 28
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Emperor Gaozu was a ruler.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Posthumous name	Emperor Gao	高帝	Gaodi

Life and dates

Death

BC 195 高帝崩
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 264

Attested activity

BC 197 擊代
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 259
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, passage 236
BC 202 to BC 195 高帝
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 275
BC 195 高帝崩
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 264

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Ruyi (如意)
beloved son 愛子 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 224
Parent of Crown Prince (太子)
crown prince 太子 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 218, 224, 244
Spouse of Empress Lu (呂后)
empress 后 · Primary marriage
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 225, 227, 251
Spouse of Lady Qi (戚夫人)
Lady 夫人 · Secondary marriage
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 224, 252

Kinship Role wife and children · Quantity unspecified · 妻子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 227

Career and standing

Suffered
BC 196 漢十一年 · Illness
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 218, 226
Worsened
BC 195 漢十二年 · Illness
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 236

Places and affiliations

BC 196 漢十一年
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 218, 264
BC 196 漢十一年
At Bashang 灞上 · Relation Departed via
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 230
BC 196 漢十一年
At eastward campaign 東 · Relation Traveled to
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 230

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Zhang Liang (張良) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 234
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Master Dongyuan (東園公) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 244
Song · Author · Addressed to Lady Qi (戚夫人) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 252-256
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Lady Qi (戚夫人) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 250-251
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Mode historian-quotation Source Person Id Grand Historian (太史公)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 275
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 224, 229, 242, 247

Events and relationships

Defeated
BC 195 漢十二年 · Military · Commander · With Ying Bu (英布)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 236
Held banquet
BC 195 漢十二年 · Ritual · Host
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 240, 257
Personally led campaign east
BC 196 漢十一年 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 229-230
Sought to replace heir
BC 196 漢十一年 · Political · Sovereign · With Crown Prince (太子)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 218, 224
Still sought to replace heir
BC 195 漢十二年 · Political · Sovereign · With Crown Prince (太子)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 236, 239, 250

Assessments and attributes

Assessment despises scholars and is given to cursing · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Master Dongyuan (東園公)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 245

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 218

References in the histories

Search passages

History

28 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 55House of Marquis of Liu · 28 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.

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.

上雖病，彊載輜車，臥而護之，諸將不敢不盡力。 Though Your Majesty is ill, you must force yourself into a supply wagon and oversee the campaign even from a reclining position. With you present, none of the generals will dare hold anything back.

上雖苦，為妻子自彊。』」 It will be hard on you, but for the sake of your wife and children, you must bear it."

於是呂澤立夜見呂后，呂后承間為上泣涕而言，如四人意。 Lu Ze went to see Empress Lu that very night. The empress found the right moment, and through her tears she spoke to the emperor exactly as the Four Elders had directed.

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."

於是上自將兵而東，群臣居守，皆送至灞上。 The emperor then took personal command of the army and marched east. The ministers who remained behind to guard the capital escorted him as far as Bashang.

留侯病，自彊起，至曲郵，見上曰：「臣宜從，病甚。 The Marquis of Liu was ill, but he forced himself out of bed and traveled to Quyu to see the emperor. He said, "I ought to accompany you, but my illness is too severe.

楚人剽疾，願上無與楚人爭鋒。」 The men of Chu are fierce and quick to attack. I beg Your Majesty not to meet them head-on."

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.

留侯諫，不聽，因疾不視事。 The Marquis of Liu remonstrated, but the emperor would not listen. Pleading illness, the marquis withdrew from public affairs.

上詳許之，猶欲易之。 The emperor feigned agreement, yet in his heart still intended to make the change.

上怪之，問曰：「彼何為者？」 The emperor was startled and asked, "Who are these men?"

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?"

四人皆曰：「陛下輕士善罵，臣等義不受辱，故恐而亡匿。 The four men all replied, "Your Majesty despises scholars and is given to cursing them. We could not in good conscience endure such insult, so we withdrew in fear and went into hiding.

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."

上目送之，召戚夫人指示四人者曰：「我欲易之，彼四人輔之，羽翼已成，難動矣。 The emperor watched them go, then summoned Lady Qi and pointed after the four men, saying, "I wanted to replace the heir, but those four now stand behind him. His wings are fully formed — he can no longer be displaced.

戚夫人泣，上曰：「為我楚舞，吾為若楚歌。」 Lady Qi wept. The emperor said, "Dance the dance of Chu for me, and I will sing a song of Chu for you."

歌數闋，戚夫人噓唏流涕，上起去，罷酒。 After singing several verses, Lady Qi broke into sobs. The emperor rose and departed, and the banquet came to an end.

留侯從上擊代，出奇計馬邑下，及立蕭何相國，所與上從容言天下事甚眾，非天下所以存亡，故不著。 The Marquis of Liu accompanied the emperor on the campaign against Dai, devised a brilliant stratagem at Mayi, and played a role in appointing Xiao He as Chancellor of State. He discussed a great many affairs of the realm with the emperor at leisure, but since they did not bear on questions of the empire's survival, they are not recorded here.

會高帝崩，呂后德留侯，乃彊食之，曰：「人生一世間，如白駒過隙，何至自苦如此乎！」 When Emperor Gao died, Empress Lu, grateful for all the Marquis of Liu had done, pressed him to eat again, saying, "A man's life in this world is as brief as a white colt flashing past a crack in the wall. Why torment yourself so?"

子房始所見下邳圯上老父與太公書者，後十三年從高帝過濟北，果見穀城山下黃石，取而葆祠之。 The old man whom Zifang had met on the bridge at Xiapi, the one who gave him the book of Taigong — thirteen years later, while accompanying Emperor Gao through Jibei, Zhang Liang came upon a yellow stone at the foot of Mount Gucheng, just as the old man had foretold. He took it and enshrined it with reverence.

高祖離困者數矣，而留侯常有功力焉，豈可謂非天乎？ Emperor Gaozu escaped from peril time and again, and each time the Marquis of Liu proved instrumental in his deliverance — can this be called anything but the work of Heaven?

上曰：「夫運籌筴帷帳之中，決勝千里外，吾不如子房。」 The Emperor himself declared: 'When it comes to devising strategies within the command tent and securing victory a thousand li away, I am no match for Zifang.'