Gongsun Ao (公孫敖) | 24 Histories

Overview

The translated histories identify Gongsun Ao as a general. This record brings together 2 passages from 2 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Gongsun Ao	公孫敖	Gōngsūn Áo
Given	Ao	敖
Surname	Gongsun	公孫
Personal	Gongsun Ao	公孫敖	Gongsun Ao

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Strongly inferred · shiji:108:s0125
Sex: male
Explicit · shiji:109:s0124

Roles

General

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 元狩四年 · Western Year: BC 119
Explicit · shiji:109:s0124
Source Date: Text: 車騎將軍衛青擊匈奴 · Western Year: BC 129
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:108:s0123, shiji:108:s0125

Career and standing

Status: lost-marquisate · Action: lost
Explicit · shiji:109:s0124
Label: liable to execution, redeemed to commoner / 當斬，贖為庶人 · Action: sentenced
Explicit · shiji:108:s0125

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 108Biography of Han Changru · 1 passage

Open chapter

公孫敖大亡卒：皆當斬，贖為庶人。 Gongsun Ao lost many of his troops: both were liable to execution but redeemed their sentences and were reduced to commoners.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 109Biography of General Li · 1 passage

Open chapter

而是時公孫敖新失侯，為中將軍從大將軍，大將軍亦欲使敖與俱當單于，故徙前將軍廣。 Moreover, Gongsun Ao had recently lost his marquisate and was serving as General of the Center under the Grand General. The Grand General wished to give Ao the chance to face the Chanyu alongside him, and so he reassigned Guang from the vanguard.