Gao Jian (高儉) | 24 Histories

Overview

Gao Jian was an official and Aristocrat.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Shilian	士廉	Shilian
Posthumous name	Literary Offering	文獻

Life and dates

Death

AD 647 貞觀二十一年
Illness · At his residence 其第
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 255

Age

71
AD 647 貞觀二十一年 · Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 255

Attested activity

AD 601 to AD 604 仁壽中
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 6
AD 645 帝伐高麗
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 30
AD 614 斛斯政奔高麗
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 7
AD 622 武德五年
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 11
AD 647 貞觀二十一年
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 255
AD 626 隱太子與王隙
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passages 12-13

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AD 626 高祖崩
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 24

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Ancestor of Gao Chong (重)
fifth-generation descendant 五世孫 · paternal line · 5 generations
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 1
Parent of Empress Wende (文德皇后)
daughter 所出女
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 35
Child of Gao Li (勵)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 2
Child of Mother of Gao Jian
mother 母
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 7
Parent of Gao Lüxing (履行)
son 子 · paternal line
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 1
Parent of Gao Shenxing (審行)
son 子 · paternal line
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 1
Parent of Gao Zhenxing (真行)
son 子 · paternal line
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 1
Spouse of Xianyu (鮮于)
wife 妻
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 7

Origins and identity

Northern Qi imperial clan 齊宗室
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 5

Career and standing

court minister 大臣
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passages 22, 29
Gentleman for Managing Rites 治禮郎
AD 601 to AD 604 仁壽中 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 6
Acting Grand Tutor 攝太傅
AD 645 帝伐高麗 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 30
Administrator 治中
AD 622 武德五年 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 11
Right Vice Tutor 右庶子
AD 626 王為皇太子 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 13
Acting Minister of Works 攝司空
AD 626 高祖崩 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 24

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Acting Junior Tutor 攝少師
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 27
Campaigning Marshal 行軍司馬
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 10
Grand Master Equal to the Three Offices 開府儀同三司
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 29
Judicial Secretary 司法書佐
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 8
Minister of Personnel 吏部尚書
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 22
Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs 尚書右僕射
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 25
Third Rank equal to Secretariat-Chancellery 同中書門下三品
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 29
Registrar of Zhuyuan 硃鳶主簿
AD 614 斛斯政奔高麗 · Demoted
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 7
Military Governor of An Prefecture 安州都督
Demoted
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 15
Military Governor of Bing Prefecture 并州都督
AD 647 詔贈 · Posthumously granted
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 260
Chief Administrator of the Yizhou Area Command 益州大都督府長史
Promoted
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 16
Palace Attendant 侍中
Promoted
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 14
Vice Director (resigned) 僕射
Resigned
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 29
Duke of Xu 許國公
Advanced
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 22
Duke of Yixing Commandery 義興郡公
Enfeoffed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 14
Special Advance 特進
Granted
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 25
Literary Offering 文獻
Posthumous title
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 260
posthumous Minister of Education 司徒
AD 647 卒後詔贈 · Posthumously granted
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 260
Grand Commandant 太尉
AD 649 高宗即位 · Posthumously granted
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 263
placed in Taizong's temple court 配享太宗廟廷
AD 649 高宗即位 · Posthumously granted
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 263
Duke of Xu 許國公
Advanced
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 22
Duke of Yixing Commandery 義興郡公
Enfeoffed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 14
Held
In charge of state affairs
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 29
Requested
Retirement requested
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 29
demotion for withholding Wang Gui's memorial 坐匿王珪奏
Demoted · With Wang Gui (王珪)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 15
demotion for association with Husizheng 坐與善貶
Punished · With Husizheng (斛斯政)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 7

Places and affiliations

Polity Northern Qi 齊 · Relation Clan member of
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passages 2, 5
Polity Sui 隋 · Relation Served
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passages 4, 6
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 11
At An Prefecture 安州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 15
At Bingzhou 并州 · Relation Fell ill at
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 254
At Jiaozhi 交趾 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 8

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At Mount Zhongnan 終南山 · Relation Resided at
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 5
At Yizhou 益州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 16
At Zhaoling 昭陵 · Relation Buried at
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 260
At Zhuyuan 硃鳶 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 7

Learning and skills

Earned
AD 601 to AD 604 仁壽中 · Credential literary talent examination, highest class 文才甲科
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 6
Skill genealogies and appointments 裁鑒、氏譜 · Level renowned
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 23
Skill rapid memorization of texts 觀書一見輒誦 · Level renowned
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 3
Skill repartee 占對 · Level sharp
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 3

Works and attributed material

hand edict on Guanzhong 手詔
Relation Addressee · With Taizong (太宗)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 28
Dying words · Author · Addressed to Taizong (太宗) · Paraphrased
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 259
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Qiu He (丘和) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 9
Testament · Author · Paraphrased
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 36

Events and relationships

Armed prisoners and fought at Fanglin Gate
AD 626 是日 · Military · Ally · With Zhangsun Wuji (長孫無忌) · At Fanglin Gate 芳林門
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 12
Came to submit
AD 622 武德五年 · Political · Surrendering official · With Qiu He (丘和)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 11
Companion burial at Zhaoling
Ritual · Deceased · At Zhaoling 昭陵
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 260
Declined separate desk
Court · Grand tutor
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 32
Defeated
Military · Commander · With Ning Changzhen (寧長真)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 10
Extended irrigation canals
Engineering · Director
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 21

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Fell ill
Medical · Patient · At Bingzhou 并州
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 254
Left wife to nurse mother
Personal · Son · With Mother of Gao Jian
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 7
Oversaw imperial tomb
AD 626 高祖崩 · Ritual · Acting minister of works · With Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 24
Passed top class
AD 601 to AD 604 仁壽中 · Examination · Candidate
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 6
Placed in Taizong temple
AD 649 高宗即位 · Ritual · Commemorated
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 263
Reformed Shu customs
Administrative · Governor
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 18
Revived schools
Scholarly · Patron
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 19
Relation Associate of · Person Husizheng (斛斯政)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 7
Relation Friend of · Person Cui Zujun (崔祖浚)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 4
Relation Ally of · Person Zhangsun Wuji (長孫無忌)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 12
Relation Friend of · Person Xue Daoheng (薛道衡)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 4

Assessments and attributes

Assessment dignified court bearing; colleagues watched him when he spoke · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 33
Assessment quick-witted and magnanimous · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 3
Assessment recognized Taizong as extraordinary while young · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 35
features so fine they seemed painted
Physical description
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 3
Item a single suit of clothes and cherished books of ancient royal instruction 衣一襲與平生所好書 · Relation Ordered buried with
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 36

Source notes

Value historical
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 2
always burned draft memorials so that even his household never saw them
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 34
three generations of his family held the right vice directorship
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 26

References in the histories

Search passages

History

22 passages

New Book of Tang, Chapter 95Volume 95 Biographies 20: Gao Jian and Fifth Generation Descendents: Gao Zhong, Dou Weizhi, Douzhi, Dou Gui, Dou Cong, Dou Kang, Dou Jing, Dou Dan, Dou Zhi, Dou Congsun: Dou Dexuan · 22 passages

Open chapter

高檢子:履行審行真行五世孫:重竇威侄:軌琮抗侄孫:靜誕侄:璡從孫:德玄 Gao Jian — sons Lüxing, Shenxing, and Zhenxing; fifth-generation descendant Chong; Dou Wei's nephews Gui, Cong, and Kang; grandnephews Jing and Dan; nephew Jin; great-grandnephew Dexuan.

高儉，字士廉，以字顯，齊清河王岳之孫，父勵樂安王，入隋為洮州刺史。 Gao Jian, whose courtesy name Shilian was the name by which he was known, was a grandson of Prince Yue of Qinghe under the Northern Qi. His father Li held the title Prince of Le'an and, after the Sui unification, became prefect of Tao.

士廉敏惠有度量，狀貌若畫，觀書一見輒誦，敏於占對。 Shilian was quick-witted and broad-minded, with features so fine they seemed painted. He could recite a text after a single reading and was exceptionally sharp in conversation.

斛斯政奔高麗，坐與善，貶為硃鳶主簿，以母老不可居瘴癘地，乃留妻鮮于奉養而行。 After Husizheng defected to Goguryeo, Shilian was punished for their association and demoted to registrar at Zhuyuan. His mother was too old to endure the southern miasmas, so he left his wife Xianyu to tend her and set out alone.

時欽州俚帥寧長真以兵侵交趾，和懼，欲出迎，士廉曰：「長真兵雖多，縣軍遠客，勢不得久，城中勝兵尚可戰，奈何受制於人？」 When Ning Changzhen, a Li chieftain from Qin, marched on Jiaozhi, Qiu He panicked and prepared to surrender. Shilian objected: "Changzhen may have numbers, but his men are far from home and cannot sustain a siege. We still have able troops in the city — why let ourselves be dictated to?"

和因命為行軍司馬，逆擊破之。 Qiu He then named him campaigning marshal, and Shilian led a counterattack that routed the enemy.

高祖遣使徇嶺南，武德五年與和來降，於是秦王領雍州牧，薦士廉為治中，親重之。 After Gaozu sent agents to bring Lingnan into submission, Shilian surrendered with Qiu He in Wude 5. The Prince of Qin, then governor of Yong, recommended him as administrator and held him in high personal regard.

隱太子與王隙已熾，乃與長孫無忌密計計定，是日率吏卒釋囚授甲，趨芳林門助戰。 As the feud between the Hidden Crown Prince and the Prince of Qin reached its breaking point, Shilian and Zhangsun Wuji laid their plans in secret. On the day of the coup he led clerks and troops, freed prisoners, armed them, and hurried to Fanglin Gate to fight.

王為皇太子，授右庶子。 After the prince became crown prince, Shilian was made right vice tutor.

進侍中，封義興郡公。 He was promoted to palace attendant and enfeoffed as Duke of Yixing.

士廉為設條教，辯告督勵，風俗翕然為變。 Shilian issued regulations, explained the law, and urged compliance until local customs changed almost overnight.