Overview
Gaozu was a ruler.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Life and dates
Attested activity
Places and affiliations
- Polity Han 漢 · Relation Ruled
- At Feng and Pei 豐沛 · Relation Arose from
Events and relationships
Appointed
BC 202 to BC 195 及高祖時，中國初定 · Political
· Sovereign
· With Lu Jia (陸賈) Destroyed
Enfeoffed for fathers sake
BC 195 漢十二年 · Political
· Sovereign
· With Jie (疥) First entered the passes
BC 206 唯漢王先入關，據咸陽 · Military · Commander · At Xianyang 咸陽
Reviewed marquises and remembered
Sent envoy with seal
BC 202 to BC 195 及高祖時，中國初定 · Diplomatic
· Sovereign
· With Lu Jia (陸賈)
Show 1 more source-backed claim
Assessments and attributes
- Assessment arose from Feng and Pei, attacked Qin, destroyed Chu, unified the central states · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Lu Jia (陸賈)
References in the histories
No matching passages.
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 97Biographies of Li Yiji and Lu Jia · 12 passages
高祖舉列侯功臣，思酈食其。
When Gaozu reviewed the marquises and their merits, he was reminded of Li Yiji.
酈食其子疥數將兵，功未當侯，上以其父故，封疥為高梁侯。
Li Yiji's son Jie had led troops on several occasions, but his merit was not yet worthy of a marquisate. The emperor, because of his father's sake, enfeoffed Jie as the Marquis of Gaoliang.
以客從高祖定天下，名為有口辯士，居左右，常使諸侯。
As a retainer, he followed Gaozu in the conquest of the empire. Renowned as an eloquent debater, he remained at the emperor's side and was frequently dispatched on embassies to the feudal lords.
及高祖時，中國初定，尉他平南越，因王之。
In the time of Gaozu, when the Central Kingdoms had just been pacified, Zhao Tuo had subdued Nanyue and thereupon made himself its king.
高祖使陸賈賜尉他印為南越王。
Gaozu sent Lu Jia to bestow on Zhao Tuo the seal appointing him King of Nanyue.
今足下反天性，棄冠帶，欲以區區之越與天子抗衡為敵國，禍且及身矣。
Now you have turned against your own nature, cast off the cap and sash of civilization, and seek to pit this insignificant Yue against the Son of Heaven as a rival state. Calamity will soon fall upon you.
且夫秦失其政，諸侯豪桀并起，唯漢王先入關，據咸陽。
When Qin lost its mandate to govern, the heroes among the feudal lords all rose together. Only the King of Han entered the passes first and seized Xianyang.
然漢王起巴蜀，鞭笞天下，劫略諸侯，遂誅項羽滅之。
Yet the King of Han rose from Ba and Shu, scourged the realm, subdued the feudal lords one by one, and finally destroyed Xiang Yu and extinguished his line.
天子聞君王王南越，不助天下誅暴逆，將相欲移兵而誅王，天子憐百姓新勞苦，故且休之，遣臣授君王印，剖符通使。
The Son of Heaven heard that you rule over Nanyue yet did not aid in the punishment of the violent and the rebellious. His generals and ministers wished to march their armies south to destroy you, but the Son of Heaven took pity on the common people, who had only just endured such suffering, and so granted you a reprieve. He has sent me to bestow upon you the royal seal and the split tallies for the exchange of envoys.
復曰：「我孰與皇帝賢？」
He asked again: 'Compared to the Emperor, who am I most like in worthiness?'
陸生曰：「皇帝起豐沛，討暴秦，誅彊楚，為天下興利除害，繼五帝三王之業，統理中國。
Lu Jia replied: 'The Emperor arose from Feng and Pei, attacked the violent Qin, executed the strong Chu, brought benefits and removed harms for the realm, succeeded the enterprises of the Five Emperors and Three Kings, and unified governance of the central states.
歸報，高祖大悅，拜賈為太中大夫。
When he returned and reported his success, Gaozu was greatly pleased and appointed Lu Jia as Grand Palace Grandee.