Qin and Han · Emperor and Founder

Gaozu 高祖

First attested BC 206; died BC 195

Passages: 7
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Gaozu was an emperor and Founder.

Life and dates

Death

BC 195 高祖崩
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 73

Attested activity

BC 206 高祖十月始至霸上
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 95
BC 195 高祖崩
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 73
BC 196 to BC 195 高祖持御史大夫印
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 69
BC 206 高祖立為漢王
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 85

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Empress Dowager Lu (呂后)
empress 后 · Primary marriage · Widowed
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passages 73, 83

Career and standing

King of Han 漢王
BC 206 高祖立為漢王
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 85

Places and affiliations

Polity Han 漢 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passages 69, 85
BC 206 高祖十月始至霸上
At Bashang 霸上 · Relation Arrived at
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 95

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passages 69-70

Events and relationships

Appointed
BC 196 to BC 195 遂拜趙堯為御史大夫 · Political · Appointer · With Zhao Yao (趙堯)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passages 70-71
Evaded authorities
Legal · Fugitive
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 83
Marched east against
BC 206 to BC 202 東擊項籍 · Military · Commander · With Xiang Yu (項羽)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 85
Rose in rebellion
BC 209 高祖初起 · Military · Leader
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 85
Relation Associate of · Person Ren Ao (任敖)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 84

Assessments and attributes

Item Censor Grand Master seal 御史大夫印 · Relation Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 69

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 69

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 96Biography of Chancellor Zhang · 7 passages

既行久之，高祖持御史大夫印弄之，曰：「誰可以為御史大夫者？」 After he had gone for a long time, Gaozu held the Censor Grand Master seal and played with it, saying, "Who can serve as Censor Grand Master?"

高祖崩，呂太后使使召趙王，其相周昌令王稱疾不行。 After Gaozu died, Empress Dowager Lu sent a messenger to summon the King of Zhao. His chancellor Zhou Chang instructed the king to plead illness and refuse the summons.

後五歲，高后聞御史大夫江邑侯趙堯高祖時定趙王如意之畫，乃抵堯罪，以廣阿侯任敖為御史大夫。 Five years later, Empress Dowager Gao learned that Censor Grand Master Zhao Yao, the Marquis of Jiangyi, had been the one who devised the plan to protect King Ruyi of Zhao during Gaozu's reign. She had Yao charged with a crime and replaced him with Ren Ao, the Marquis of Guang'a, as Censor Grand Master.

高祖嘗辟吏，吏系呂后，遇之不謹。 When Gaozu was once evading the authorities, an official arrested Empress Lu and treated her with disrespect.

任敖素善高祖，怒，擊傷主呂后吏。 Ren Ao, who had long been on good terms with Gaozu, flew into a rage and struck and wounded the official who had charge of Empress Lu.

及高祖初起，敖以客從為御史，守豐二歲，高祖立為漢王，東擊項籍，敖遷為上黨守。 When Gaozu first rose in rebellion, Ao joined him as a retainer and served as a censor. He defended Feng for two years. After Gaozu was established as King of Han and marched east against Xiang Ji, Ao was transferred to serve as Governor of Shangdang.

以高祖十月始至霸上，因故秦時本以十月為歲首，弗革。 Because Gaozu had first arrived at Bashang in the tenth month, and because the Qin dynasty had originally designated the tenth month as the start of the year, he did not alter this practice.