Qin and Han · Official

Gu Yong 谷永

Attested BC 16 - BC 13

Passages: 48
Chapters: 8
Histories: 2

Overview

The translated histories identify Gu Yong as a commentator, named individual, official, and scholar. This record brings together 48 passages from 8 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Gu Yong	谷永	Gu Yong
Personal	Bing	並	Bìng
Surname	Gu	谷	Gu
Surname	Gu	谷	Gǔ
Personal	Gu Yong	谷永	Gǔ Yǒng
Personal name	Gu Yong	谷永
Personal name	Gu Yong	谷永	Gǔ Yǒng
Personal name	Only Gu Yong	谷永
Given	Yong	永	Yong
Given	Yong	永	Yǒng
Changed	Yong	永	Yǒng
Personal name	Yong	永
Courtesy	Ziyun	子雲	Ziyun

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:056:s0132, hanshu:096:s0002, hanshu:096:s0305
Sex: male
Explicit · houhanshu:119:s0167

Roles

Commentator
Named Individual
Official
Scholar
Statesman
Writer

Life and dates

Death

died at home several months after dismissal
Explicit · hanshu:096:s0308

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 延熹九年 · Western Year: AD 166
Explicit · houhanshu:119:s0167
Source Date: Text: 永始中 · Western Interval: Start: BC 16 · End: BC 13
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:056:s0132

Career and standing

governor of Beidi / 北地太守
Explicit · hanshu:096:s0305
minister of grand granaries / 大司農
Explicit · hanshu:096:s0305
太常丞
Explicit · hanshu:096:s0005
安定太守
Explicit · hanshu:096:s0254
北地太守
Explicit · hanshu:096:s0288
光祿大夫
Explicit · hanshu:096:s0083
太中大夫
Explicit · hanshu:096:s0138
涼州刺史
Explicit · hanshu:096:s0270

Places and affiliations

長安
Explicit · hanshu:096:s0002

Works and attributed material

Kind: memorial · Role: author · Other Person Id: Liu Li (立)
Explicit · hanshu:056:s0132, hanshu:056:s0133, hanshu:056:s0134, hanshu:056:s0135, hanshu:056:s0136, hanshu:056:s0137, hanshu:056:s0138, hanshu:056:s0139, hanshu:056:s0140, hanshu:056:s0141, hanshu:056:s0142, hanshu:056:s0143, hanshu:056:s0144, hanshu:056:s0145
Kind: prognostication · Role: author · Quoted: false
Explicit · houhanshu:119:s0167

Events and relationships

Type: son · Person Id: Ji (吉)
Explicit · hanshu:096:s0003

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: ominous for the venerable ones of the three courts · Provenance: Mode: named-source-report · Source Person Id: Gu Yong (谷永)
Explicit · houhanshu:119:s0167

Source notes

Historicity: historical
Explicit · houhanshu:119:s0167
From: Bing / 並 · To: Yong / 永 · Reason: because of Fan Bing's rebellion at Weishi / 以尉氏樊並反
Explicit · hanshu:096:s0309

References in the histories

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

Book of Han, Chapter 38Volume 29: Treatise on Rivers and Canals · 1 passage

先是，谷永以為「河，中國之經瀆，聖王興則出圖書，王道廢則竭絕。 Earlier, Gu Yong had argued: "The Yellow River is the great central channel of China. Under sage rule, auspicious charts appear; when the kingly way declines, waterways fail.

Book of Han, Chapter 56Volume 47: The Three Sons of Emperor Wen · 1 passage

太中大夫谷永上疏曰：「臣聞『禮，天子外屏，不欲見外』也。 Gu Yong of the Palace submitted a long memorial: “The Rites prescribe an outer screen for the Son of Heaven so that he need not gaze upon what lies beyond.

Book of Han, Chapter 88Volume 77: Gai, Zhuge, Liu, Zheng, Sun, Wujiang and He · 1 passage

於是中朝左將軍辛慶忌、右將軍廉褒、光祿勳師丹、太中大夫谷永俱上書曰：「臣聞明王垂寬容之聽，崇諫爭之官，廣開忠直之路，不罪狂狷之言，然後百僚在位，竭忠盡謀，不懼後患，朝廷無諂諛之士，元首無失道之伥。 Thereupon Left General Xin Qingji, Right General Lian Bao, Chamberlain for Ceremonies Shi Dan, and Palace Grandee Gu Yong jointly submitted a memorial saying, "We have heard that an enlightened king extends a tolerant hearing, honors the offices of remonstrance and dispute, opens wide the path for loyal and upright men, and does not punish reckless or uncompromising words. Only then can the hundred officials in office exhaust their loyalty and offer all their plans without fearing later disaster; the court has no flatterers, and the sovereign has no guides who would lead him from the Way.

Book of Han, Chapter 94Volume 83: Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo · 1 passage

月餘，御史大夫於永卒，谷永上疏曰： A month later Imperial Secretary Yu Yong died, and Gu Yong presented a memorial:

Book of Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Gu Yong and Du Ye · 40 passages

卷八十五谷永杜鄴傳第五十五 Volume 85, the fifty-fifth biography: Gu Yong and Du Ye.

谷永字子雲，長安人也。 Gu Yong, styled Ziyun, was a native of Chang'an.

永少為長安小史，後博學經書。 He began as a petty clerk in Chang'an, then immersed himself in the canon.

建昭中，御史大夫繁延壽聞其有茂材，除補屬，舉為太常丞，數上疏言得失。 Under Jianzhao, Imperial Counselor Fan Yanshou, hearing of his ability, took him on staff, nominated him aide to the chamberlain of ceremonials, and Yong repeatedly memorialized on policy.

建始三年冬，日食、地震同日俱發，詔舉方正直言極諫之士，太常陽城侯劉慶忌舉永待詔公車。 In the third year of Jianshi, winter brought a solar eclipse and an earthquake on the same day. The throne called for blunt critics; Liu Qingji, Marquis of Yangcheng and chamberlain of ceremonials, nominated Gu Yong to the waiting roster at the public carriage office.

對奏，天子異焉，特召見永。 The emperor was struck by the memorial and summoned Gu Yong for a private audience.

永對畢，因曰：「臣前幸得條對災異之效，禍亂所極，言關於聖聰。 When he had finished, Yong added: "I was once allowed to set forth how portents foretell disaster—matters that touched your sacred ear.

上特復問永，永對曰：「日食、地震，皇后、貴妾專寵所致。」 The emperor specially again questioned Yong; Yong replied, saying: "Solar eclipse and earthquake are caused by the empress and honored concubines' exclusive favor."

永知鳳方見柄用，陰欲自托，乃復曰： Knowing Feng was ascendant, Yong sought quietly to win his favor and added:

時，對者數十人，永與杜欽為上第焉。 Of the dozens who responded, Gu Yong and Du Qin ranked highest.

後上嘗賜許皇后書，采永言以責之，語在《外戚傳》。 Later the emperor sent Empress Xu a letter borrowing Yong's phrases to chastise her, as told among the consort kin biographies.

永既陰為大將軍鳳說矣，能實最高，由是擢為光祿大夫。 Having quietly pleaded Wang Feng's cause, Yong was judged the ablest candidate and was raised to grand counselor of the palace.

永奏書謝鳳曰：「永斗筲之材，質薄學朽，無一日之雅，左右之介，將軍說其狂言，擢之皁衣之吏，廁之爭臣之末，不聽浸潤之譖，不食膚受之訴，雖齊桓、晉文用士篤密，察父哲兄覆育子弟，誠無以加！ He wrote Wang Feng: "I am a trifling talent, shallow and ill-read, a stranger to you without introduction, yet you welcomed my blunt words, raised me from a petty clerk to the ranks of remonstrators, and refused both whispered slander and shallow complaint. Not even Duke Huan of Qi or Lord Wen of Jin treated their men with such care—no fond father or elder brother could do more.

平阿侯譚年次當繼大將軍鳳輔政，尤與永善。 Marquis of Ping'a Tan, next in line to succeed Grand General Wang Feng, was especially close to Yong.

永聞之，與譚書曰：「君侯躬周召之德，執管晏之操，敬賢下士，樂善不倦，宜在上將久矣，以大將軍在，故抑鬱於家，不得舒憤。 Yong wrote to Tan: "You bear the virtue of the Duke of Zhou and Duke of Shao and the conduct of Guan Zhong and Yan Ying, honoring worthies and delighting in good without weariness—you should long have stood among the chief generals. While the grand general lived you were kept at home and could not vent your grievance.

永遠為郡吏，恐為音所危，病滿三月免。 When Yong was posted as a commandery clerk, he feared Wang Yin would harm him and pleaded illness for three months until he was released.

音奏請永補營軍司馬，永數謝罪自陳，得轉為長史。 Yin asked to appoint him camp marshal; Yong repeatedly begged off in self-defense and was instead made chief clerk.

音用從舅越親輔政，威權損於鳳時，永復說音曰：「將軍覆上將之位，食豪腴之都，任周、召之職，擁天下之樞，可謂富貴之極，人臣無二，天下之責四面至矣，將何以居之？ When Yin came to power through a maternal uncle and his authority fell short of Wang Feng's, Yong urged him: "You hold a marshal's rank, feed on the richest commanderies, bear the burden of the Zhou dukes, and turn the empire's hinge—you have reached the peak of wealth and power, yet blame now converges from every quarter. How will you bear it?

音猶不平，薦永為護菀使者。 Yin, still resentful, had Yong appointed commissioner of the imperial hunting park.

永對曰：輒上聞，則商周不易姓而迭興，三正不變改而更用。 Yong answered: "If warnings of ruin always reached the throne, Shang and Zhou would not have fallen in succession, nor would the three calendar beginnings have turned over as they did."

音薨，成都侯商代為大司馬衛將軍，永乃遷為涼州刺史。 When Wang Yin died, Marquis of Chengdu Shang succeeded him as grand marshal and general of the guards, and Gu Yong was made inspector of Liang province.

奏事京師訖，當之部，時有黑龍見東萊，上使尚書問永，受所欲言。 After reporting in the capital and before taking up his post, a black dragon appeared in Donglai. The emperor sent the masters of writing to question Yong and hear him out.

至親難數言，故推永等使因天變而切諫，勸上納用之。 Kin could not speak plainly, so they pushed Gu Yong and others to use celestial portents as a lever for blunt advice the emperor might accept.

永自知有內應，展意無所依違，每言事輒見答禮。 Yong knew he had backers at court and never pulled his punches; each memorial won a polite hearing.

衛將軍商密□永令發去。 General Wang Shang secretly told Yong to flee.

上使侍御史收永，敕過交道廄者勿追，御史不及永，還，上意亦解，自悔。 He sent censors after Yong but ordered the relay post not to give fresh mounts; they failed to overtake him, and the emperor's anger cooled into regret.

明年，征永為太中大夫，遷光祿大夫給事中。 The next year Yong was recalled as grandee of the palace, then promoted to grand counselor of the palace with concurrent palace attendant.

永對曰：臣永幸得以愚朽之材為太中大夫，備拾遺之臣，從朝者之後，進不能盡思納忠輔宣聖德，退無被堅執銳討不義之功，猥蒙厚恩，仍遷至北地太守。 Yong answered: "I am a worn-out man raised to grandee of the palace, a minor remonstrator who neither advances good counsel nor wins glory in arms; your grace in making me governor of Beidi is more than I deserve."

臣永幸得免於言責之辜，有官守之任，當畢力遵職，養綏百姓而已，不宜復關得失之辭。 I am no longer chief remonstrator but a line officer—I should devote myself to the people and not debate policy.

臣永幸得給事中出入三年，雖執干戈守邊垂，思慕之心常存於省闥，是以敢越郡吏之職，陳累年之憂。 Though three years a palace attendant and now a frontier guard, my heart stayed at the palace gate—so I overstep my rank to voice years of worry.

時災異尤數，永當之官，上使衛尉淳于長受永所欲言。 Portents were especially frequent; as Yong was about to take office, the emperor sent Commandant of the Guards Chunyu Chang to hear him out.

安危之分界，宗廟之至憂，臣永所以破膽寒心，豫言之累年。 The boundary of safety and danger, the altars' utmost worry—this is why I have shattered gall and chilled heart, warning of it for years.

永於經書，泛為疏達，與杜欽、杜鄴略等，不能洽浹如劉向父子及揚雄也。 Gu Yong's learning in the classics was broad but superficial, roughly equal to that of Du Qin and Du Ye, though not as thorough as that of Liu Xiang and his son or Yang Xiong.

永所居任職，為北地太守歲餘，衛將軍商薨，曲陽侯根為票騎將軍，薦永，徵入為大司農。 After more than a year as governor of Beidi, General Wang Shang died; Marquis of Quyang Wang Gen became general of agile cavalry, recommended Yong, and he was summoned in as minister of grand granaries.

歲餘，永病，三月，有司奏請免。 More than a year later Yong fell ill; after three months the responsible offices memorialized requesting dismissal.

故事，公卿病，輒賜告，至永獨即時免。 By precedent, when grandees fell ill they were granted leave; only Yong was dismissed at once.

本名並，以尉氏樊並反，更名永云。 His original name was Bing; because of Fan Bing's rebellion at Weishi he changed his name to Yong.

鄴言民訛言行籌，及谷永言王者買私田，彗星隕石牡飛之占，語在《五行志》。 Du Ye on the rod divinations and Gu Yong on the emperor's private land, comets, meteors, and flying gate-bolts are recorded in the Treatise on the Five Phases.

故杜鄴敢譏丁、傅，而欽、永不敢言王氏，其勢然也。 So Du Ye could mock the Ding and Fu, while Du Qin and Gu Yong kept silent on the Wangs—such was the force of circumstance.

永陳三七之戒，斯為忠焉，至其引申伯以阿鳳，隙平阿於車騎，指金、火以求合，可謂諒不足而談有餘者。 Gu Yong's "three-seven" warning was true loyalty; yet he cited Shen Bo to flatter Wang Feng, sowed strife with Ping'a, and read Venus and Mars to suit his patrons—candor thin, words many.

Book of Han, Chapter 104Volume 92: Youxias · 1 passage

與谷永俱為五侯上客，長安號曰「谷子雲筆札，樓君卿脣舌」，言其見信用也。 He and Gu Yong were chief clients of the five Wang marquises, and the capital joked, "Ziyun wields the brush; Junqing wields the tongue"—both men were indispensable.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 2 passages

唯谷永嘗言「建始、河平之際，許、班之貴，傾動前朝，熏灼四方，賞賜無量，空虛內臧，女寵至極，不可尚矣； Only Gu Yong once said, "During the Jianshi and Heping eras, the eminence of the Xu and Ban houses shook the former court and blazed across the four quarters. Rewards and gifts were beyond measure; they emptied the inner treasury, and favor shown to women reached an unsurpassable extreme;

永指以駮譏趙、李，亦無間云。 He aimed the rebuke at Zhao Feiyan and Li Ping, yet commentators say no one could gainsay his point.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 119Volume 108: Five Elements Part Six · 1 passage

谷永以为三朝尊者恶之。 Gu Yong warned that the eclipse was ominous for the senior ministers of the three courts.