On this page
Overview Names Identity Roles Life and dates Career and standing Places and affiliations Works and attributed material Events and relationships References in the histories
Overview The translated histories identify Gongshu Zuo as an official and statesman. This record brings together 9 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
Gongshu Zuo
公叔座
Gongshu Zuo
Personal name
Gongshu
公叔
Gongshu
Personal name
Gongshu Zuo
公叔座
Gongshu Zuo
Identity
Historicity Historical
Identification Named
Sex Male Life and dates Death Attested activity Works and attributed material Kind: speech ·
Role: speaker ·
Other Person Id: Shang Yang (商鞅) ·
Quoted: trueEvents and relationships Kind: political ·
Role: recommender ·
Action: recommended ·
Other Person Id: Shang Yang (商鞅) References in the histories Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 68 Biography of Lord Shang · 9 passages
鞅少好刑名之學，事魏相公叔座為中庶子。
From youth, Yang was devoted to the study of law and governance. He served as a junior aide to Gongshu Zuo, chancellor of Wei.
公叔座知其賢，未及進。
Gongshu Zuo recognized Yang's talent but had not yet promoted him.
會座病，魏惠王親往問病，曰：「公叔病有如不可諱，將柰社稷何？」
Just then Gongshu fell ill. King Hui of Wei went in person to inquire after his health and asked, "If the chancellor should pass away, what will become of the state?"
公叔曰：「座之中庶子公孫鞅，年雖少，有奇才，願王舉國而聽之。」
Gongshu replied, "My junior aide, Gongsun Yang, is young but possesses extraordinary talent. I urge Your Majesty to entrust the entire state to his care."
王且去，座屏人言曰：「王即不聽用鞅，必殺之，無令出境。」
As the king was about to depart, Gongshu dismissed his attendants and said in private, "If Your Majesty will not employ Yang, then you must kill him. Do not allow him to leave our borders."
公叔座召鞅謝曰：「今者王問可以為相者，我言若，王色不許我。
Gongshu Zuo summoned Yang and apologized, saying, "Just now when the king asked who could serve as chancellor, I recommended you. But his expression showed he did not approve.
惠王既去，而謂左右曰：「公叔病甚，悲乎，欲令寡人以國聽公孫鞅也，豈不悖哉！」
After King Hui left, he remarked to his attendants, "Gongshu is gravely ill—how unfortunate! He wants me to entrust the entire state to Gongsun Yang. Is this not madness?"
公叔既死，公孫鞅聞秦孝公下令國中求賢者，將修繆公之業，東復侵地，乃遂西入秦，因孝公寵臣景監以求見孝公。
After Gongshu's death, Gongsun Yang learned that Duke Xiao of Qin had issued an edict throughout his realm seeking talented men. The duke intended to revive Duke Mu's legacy and recover territories lost to the east. Yang traveled west to Qin and, through the duke's favored minister Jing Jian, sought an audience with Duke Xiao.
梁惠王曰：「寡人恨不用公叔座之言也。」
King Hui of Liang said: 'I regret not using Gongshu Zuo's words.'