Qin and Han · Official

Han Anguo 韓安國

Died BC 127

Passages: 50
Chapters: 8
Histories: 2

Overview

The translated histories identify Han Anguo as a diplomat, general, official, and statesman. This record brings together 50 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	Han Anguo	韓安國	Han Anguo
Given name	Anguo	安國	Ānguó
Personal	Anguo	安國	Anguo
Given	Anguo	安國	Ānguó
Title	General Han Anguo	韓將軍
Title	Grand Censor	御史大夫	Yùshǐ Dàfū
Title	Grand Minister of Agriculture	大農
Surname	Han	韓	Hán
Personal name	Han Anguo	韓安國	Hán Ānguó
Personal name	Han Anguo	韓安國	Han Anguo
Personal	Han Anguo	韓安國	Hán Ānguó
Personal	Han Anguo	韓將軍
Courtesy	Han Changru	韓長孺	Hán Chángrú
Given		安國	Anguo
Surname		韓	Han

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · hanshu:055:s0149, hanshu:068:s0258, shiji:103:s0143, shiji:109:s0067, shiji:114:s0028
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:056:s0017, shiji:108:s0001

Roles

Diplomat
General
Official
Statesman

Life and dates

Death

Manner: fell ill, vomited blood, and died / 病歐血死 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元朔二年中 · Western Year: BC 127
Explicit · shiji:108:s0142, shiji:108:s0143

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 元光元年 · Western Year: BC 134
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:108:s0079, shiji:108:s0087
Source Date: Text: 元朔二年中 · Western Year: BC 127
Explicit · shiji:108:s0143
Source Date: Text: 元朔四年 · Western Year: BC 125
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:103:s0143
Source Date: Text: 其春，吳、楚、齊、趙七國反 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:056:s0017
Source Date: Text: 吳楚反時 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:108:s0004
Source Date: Text: 居無何 · Western Interval: Start: BC 124 · End: BC 120
Explicit · shiji:109:s0067
Source Date: Text: 建元中 · Western Interval: Start: BC 140 · End: BC 135
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:108:s0061
Source Date: Text: 建元六年 · Western Year: BC 135
Explicit · shiji:108:s0065
Source Date: Text: 建元六年 · Western Year: BC 135
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:114:s0028, shiji:114:s0026
Source Date: Text: 武帝元朔中 · Western Interval: Start: BC 128 · End: BC 123
Explicit · hanshu:055:s0149
Source Date: Text: 漢興六十餘載 · Western Interval: Start: BC 141 · End: BC 87
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:068:s0254, hanshu:068:s0258

Career and standing

Label: acting Chancellor / 行丞相事 · Action: acting
Explicit · shiji:108:s0119
Label: general / 將軍 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 七國反 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · hanshu:056:s0017
Label: General Protector of the Army / 護軍將軍 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元光元年 · Western Year: BC 134
Explicit · shiji:108:s0087
Label: Commandant of Beidi / 北地都尉 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 建元中 · Western Interval: Start: BC 140 · End: BC 135
Explicit · shiji:108:s0062
Label: General / 將軍 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 建元六年 · Western Year: BC 135
Explicit · shiji:114:s0028
Label: Grand Censor / 御史大夫 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 建元六年 · Western Year: BC 135
Explicit · shiji:108:s0065
Label: Prefect of Liang / 梁內史 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 梁內史缺 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · shiji:108:s0027, shiji:108:s0035
Label: Commandant of the Capital / 中尉 · Action: appointed
Explicit · shiji:108:s0121
Label: General of Infantry / 材官將軍 · Action: appointed
Explicit · shiji:108:s0128
Label: Imperial Secretary / 御史大夫 · Action: dismissed
Explicit · shiji:103:s0143
Label: Grand Minister of Agriculture / 大農 · Action: held · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 建元六年 · Western Year: BC 135
Explicit · shiji:114:s0028
Label: Imperial Clerk / 御史大夫 · Action: held
Explicit · hanshu:055:s0149
Label: Inner Scribe / 內史 · Action: held
Explicit · hanshu:056:s0042
Label: Palace Grandee / 中大夫 · Action: held
Explicit · shiji:108:s0003
Label: Grand Minister of Agriculture / 大司農 · Action: promoted
Explicit · shiji:108:s0062
Label: Captain of the Guard / 衛尉 · Action: transferred
Explicit · shiji:108:s0122
general / 將軍
Explicit · hanshu:044:s0200
Status: imprisoned · Action: entered
Explicit · shiji:108:s0024
Status: stripped-of-office · Action: entered
Explicit · shiji:108:s0060

Places and affiliations

Label: Han / 漢 · Relation: served
Explicit · shiji:108:s0023, shiji:108:s0065
Label: Liang / 梁 · Relation: served
Explicit · shiji:108:s0003
Label: Western Han / 漢 · Relation: served
Explicit · hanshu:068:s0258
Place: Cheng'an in Liang / 梁成安
Explicit · shiji:108:s0001
Place: Suiyang / 睢陽 · Relation: moved-to
Explicit · shiji:108:s0001
Place: Youbeiping / 右北平 · Relation: posted-to
Explicit · shiji:108:s0135
Place: Yuyang / 漁陽 · Relation: posted-to
Explicit · shiji:108:s0128

Learning and skills

Teacher Person Id: Master Zou Tian (騶田生) · Subjects: writings of Han Feizi / 韓子, Eclectic School teachings / 雜家說
Explicit · shiji:108:s0002

Works and attributed material

Kind: memorial · Role: author
Explicit · shiji:108:s0130
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Grand Princess (大長公主)
Explicit · shiji:108:s0010, shiji:108:s0011, shiji:108:s0012, shiji:108:s0013, shiji:108:s0014, shiji:108:s0015, shiji:108:s0016, shiji:108:s0017
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Topic: heqin debate
Explicit · shiji:108:s0070, shiji:108:s0071, shiji:108:s0072, shiji:108:s0073, shiji:108:s0074, shiji:108:s0075, shiji:108:s0076, shiji:108:s0077

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defended · Place: eastern border of Liang / 東界 · Other Person Id: Zhang Yu (張羽) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 吳楚反時 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · shiji:108:s0004, shiji:108:s0005
Kind: diplomatic · Role: envoy · Action: pleaded
Explicit · shiji:108:s0010
Relation: recommender-of · Person Id: Zhi Ta (郅他)
Explicit · shiji:108:s0118
Relation: student-of · Person Id: Master Zou Tian (騶田生)
Explicit · shiji:108:s0002
Relation: recommender-of · Person Id: Hu Sui (壺遂)
Explicit · shiji:108:s0118
Relation: recommender-of · Person Id: Zang Gu (臧固)
Explicit · shiji:108:s0118

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: advancing the worthy (推賢) · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · hanshu:068:s0258
Assessment: broad vision and grand strategy; loyal and generous; greedy for wealth · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment · Speaker Person Id: Sima Qian (太史公)
Explicit · shiji:108:s0115, shiji:108:s0116
Kind: physical-description · Statement: lamed after falling from a carriage
Explicit · shiji:108:s0119, shiji:108:s0120
Item: five hundred gold objects / 五百金物 · Relation: gifted · Other Person Id: Tian Fen (田蚡)
Explicit · shiji:108:s0061
Item: gifts worth over a thousand gold / 可直千餘金 · Relation: bestowed · Other Person Id: Lady Dou (竇氏)
Explicit · shiji:108:s0022

References in the histories

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

Book of Han, Chapter 44Volume 35: Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu · 1 passage

梁使韓安國及楚死事相弟張羽為將軍，乃得頗敗吳兵。 Only when Liang raised Han Anguo and Zhang Yu—brother of Chu’s martyr minister—as generals could they begin to bloody Wu’s advance.

Book of Han, Chapter 55Volume 46: The Lords of Wan, Wei, Zhi, Zhou and Zhang · 1 passage

至武帝元朔中，代韓安國為御史大夫。 In Wu’s Yuanshuo years he succeeded Han Anguo as Imperial Clerk.

Book of Han, Chapter 56Volume 47: The Three Sons of Emperor Wen · 3 passages

梁王城守睢陽，而使韓安國、張羽等為將軍以距吳、楚。 The king of Liang held Suiyang while Han Anguo, Zhang Yu, and others led his troops against Wu and Chu.

使者責二千石急，梁相軒丘豹及內史安國皆泣諫王，王乃令勝、詭皆自殺，出之。 Under relentless pressure from the envoys, Chancellor Xuanqiu Bao and Inner Scribe Anguo wept as they urged the king to yield; at last he had Yang Sheng and Gongsun Gui kill themselves and handed over their bodies.

梁王恐，乃使韓安國因長公主謝罪太后，然後得釋。 Terrified, he sent Han Anguo to plead through the Eldest Princess before the empress dowager, and only then escaped worse punishment.

Book of Han, Chapter 68Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan · 1 passage

漢之得人，於茲為盛，儒雅則公孫弘、董仲舒、兒寬，篤行則石建、石慶，質直則汲黯、卜式，推賢則韓安國、鄭當時，定令則趙禹、張湯，文章則司馬遷、相如，滑稽則東方朔、枚皋，應對則嚴助、硃買臣，歷數則唐都、洛下閎，協律則李延年，運籌則桑弘羊，奉使則張騫、蘇武，將率則衛青、霍去病，受遺則霍光、金日磾，其餘不可勝紀。 Never did the dynasty gather talent so thickly: Hong, Dong, and Kuan for classical breadth; the Shi brothers for steadfast service; Ji An and Bu Shi for blunt loyalty; Han Anguo and Zheng Dangshi for lifting others; Zhao Yu and Zhang Tang for codifying law; Sima Qian and Xiangru for voice; jesters Dongfang Shuo and Mei Gao; debaters Yan Zhu and Zhu Maichen; calendar-makers Tang Du and Luoxia Hong; the harmonist Li Yan'nian; the reckoner Sang Hongyang; envoys Zhang Qian and Su Wu; blades Wei Qing and Huo Qubing; regents Huo Guang and Jin Midi—and a cloud of names besides.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 103Biographies of Wan Shi and Zhang Shu · 1 passage

至武帝元朔四年，韓安國免，詔拜歐為御史大夫。 In the fourth year of Emperor Wu's Yuanshuo era, Han Anguo was dismissed, and an edict was issued appointing Ou as Imperial Secretary.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 108Biography of Han Changru · 40 passages

御史大夫韓安國者，梁成安人也，後徙睢陽。 The Grand Censor Han Anguo was a native of Cheng'an in the kingdom of Liang, and later moved to Suiyang.

吳楚反時，孝王使安國及張羽為將，捍吳兵於東界。 When Wu and Chu rebelled, King Xiao dispatched Anguo and Zhang Yu as generals to defend the eastern border against the forces of Wu.

張羽力戰，安國持重，以故吳不能過梁。 Zhang Yu fought with fierce determination while Anguo held a steady defensive position, and so the armies of Wu were unable to advance past Liang.

吳楚已破，安國、張羽名由此顯。 After Wu and Chu were defeated, the names of Anguo and Zhang Yu became renowned throughout the realm.

韓安國為梁使，見大長公主而泣曰：「何梁王為人子之孝，為人臣之忠，太后曾弗省也？ Han Anguo, as envoy of Liang, went to see the Grand Princess and wept, saying, "How can it be that the King of Liang's filial piety as a son and loyalty as a minister have never won the Empress Dowager's regard?

太后、長公主更賜安國可直千餘金。 The Empress Dowager and the Grand Princess in turn rewarded Anguo with gifts worth over a thousand pieces of gold.

其後安國坐法抵罪，蒙獄吏田甲辱安國。 Later, Anguo was convicted of a crime and imprisoned. While in prison, the jailer Tian Jia humiliated him.

安國曰：「死灰獨不復然乎？」 Anguo said, "Can dead ashes alone not blaze up again?"

居無何，梁內史缺，漢使使者拜安國為梁內史，起徒中為二千石。 Before long, the position of Prefect of Liang fell vacant. The Han court sent an envoy to appoint Anguo as Prefect of Liang, raising him from prisoner to an official of two-thousand-shi rank.

安國曰：「甲不就官，我滅而宗。」 Anguo said, "If Jia does not take up his post, I will exterminate his clan."

安國笑曰：「可溺矣！ Anguo laughed and said, "You may urinate on them now!

卒善遇之。 In the end, Anguo treated him with kindness.

竇太后聞，乃詔王以安國為內史。 When Empress Dowager Dou heard of this, she issued a decree commanding the king to appoint Anguo as Prefect instead.

內史安國聞詭、勝匿孝王所，安國入見王而泣曰：「主辱臣死。 Prefect Anguo learned that Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng were hidden at King Xiao's residence. Anguo entered to see the king and wept, saying, "When the lord is disgraced, his minister must die.

安國泣數行下，曰：「大王自度於皇帝，孰與太上皇之與高皇帝及皇帝之與臨江王親？」 Anguo wept, his tears streaming down several lines, and said, "Your Majesty, compare for yourself your closeness to the Emperor—which is greater, the relation between the Grand Emperor Father and Emperor Gaozu, or that between the Emperor and the King of Linjiang?"

安國曰：「夫太上、臨江親父子之閒，然而高帝曰『提三尺劍取天下者朕也』，故太上皇終不得制事，居于櫟陽。 Anguo said, "The Grand Emperor Father and the King of Linjiang both stood within the closest bonds of father and son. Yet Emperor Gaozu said, 'It was I who took the empire with a three-foot sword,' and so the Grand Emperor Father in the end could not direct affairs, but lived at Liyang.

語未卒，孝王泣數行下，謝安國曰：「吾今出詭、勝。」 Before Anguo had finished speaking, King Xiao wept, tears streaming down several lines, and apologized to Anguo, saying, "I will now hand over Gui and Sheng."

漢使還報，梁事皆得釋，安國之力也。 When the Han envoys returned with their report, all charges against Liang were dropped—this was entirely through Anguo's efforts.

於是景帝、太后益重安國。 From then on, Emperor Jing and the Empress Dowager valued Anguo even more highly.

孝王卒，共王即位，安國坐法失官，居家。 When King Xiao died and King Gong succeeded him, Anguo was convicted of an offense and stripped of his position, retiring to his home.

建元中，武安侯田蚡為漢太尉，親貴用事，安國以五百金物遺蚡。 During the Jianyuan reign period, the Marquis of Wuan, Tian Fen, served as Grand Commandant of Han. He wielded power as an intimate of the imperial family, and Anguo presented him with gifts worth five hundred pieces of gold.

蚡言安國太后，天子亦素聞其賢，即召以為北地都尉，遷為大司農。 Tian Fen commended Anguo to the Empress Dowager. The Emperor, who had long heard of his abilities, immediately summoned him and appointed him Commandant of Beidi, then promoted him to Grand Minister of Agriculture.

閩越、東越相攻，安國及大行王恢將。 When Minyue and Dongyue attacked each other, Anguo and the Grand Herald Wang Hui were appointed to lead the campaign.

建元六年，武安侯為丞相，安國為御史大夫。 In the sixth year of the Jianyuan reign, the Marquis of Wuan became Chancellor, and Anguo became Grand Censor.

安國曰：「千里而戰，兵不獲利。 Anguo said, "To fight a battle a thousand li away brings the army no profit.

群臣議者多附安國，於是上許和親。 The majority of the ministers who deliberated sided with Anguo, and so the Emperor approved the marriage alliance.

御史大夫韓安國為護軍將軍，諸將皆屬護軍。 The Grand Censor Han Anguo was appointed General Protector of the Army, and all the other generals were placed under his command.

安國為人多大略，智足以當世取合，而出於忠厚焉。 Anguo was a man of broad vision and grand strategy, wise enough to navigate the politics of his age and win favor, and all of this was rooted in his loyalty and generosity of spirit.

安國為御史大夫四歲餘，丞相田蚡死，安國行丞相事，奉引墮車蹇。 Anguo served as Grand Censor for more than four years. When the Chancellor Tian Fen died, Anguo assumed the duties of Chancellor. But while leading the imperial procession, he fell from his carriage and injured his leg.

天子議置相，欲用安國，使使視之，蹇甚，乃更以平棘侯薛澤為丞相。 The Emperor wished to make Anguo Chancellor and sent an envoy to assess his condition, but his lameness was severe. He therefore appointed the Marquis of Pingji, Xue Ze, as Chancellor instead.

安國病免數月，蹇愈，上復以安國為中尉。 Anguo was relieved of his duties for several months due to illness. When his lameness healed, the Emperor reappointed him as Commandant of the Capital.

衛尉安國為材官將軍，屯於漁陽。 The Captain of the Guard, Anguo, was appointed General of Infantry and garrisoned at Yuyang.

安國捕生虜，言匈奴遠去。 Anguo captured prisoners alive, who reported that the Xiongnu had withdrawn far away.

安國壁乃有七百餘人，出與戰，不勝，復入壁。 Anguo's fortress held only some seven hundred men. They sallied forth to fight but could not prevail, and retreated back behind the walls.

天子聞之，怒，使使責讓安國。 When the Emperor heard of this, he was furious and sent an envoy to reprimand Anguo.

徒安國益東，屯右北平。 He transferred Anguo further east to garrison Youbeiping.

安國始為御史大夫及護軍，後稍斥疏，下遷； Anguo had first served as Grand Censor and General Protector of the Army, but was later gradually distanced and demoted;

安國既疏遠，默默也； Anguo, now distant from favor, kept silent;

安國以元朔二年中卒。 Anguo died in the middle of the second year of the Yuanshuo reign.

太史公曰：余與壺遂定律歷，觀韓長孺之義，壺遂之深中隱厚。 The Grand Historian says: I worked with Hu Sui on establishing the calendar and laws, and observed Han Changru's integrity and Hu Sui's profound inner reserve and hidden depth of character.

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

居無何，匈奴入殺遼西太守，敗韓將軍，後韓將軍徙右北平。 Not long afterward, the Xiongnu invaded and killed the Governor of Liaoxi, defeated General Han Anguo, and Han Anguo was transferred to Youbeiping.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 114Treatise on the Eastern Yue · 2 passages

上遣大行王恢出豫章，大農韓安國出會稽，皆為將軍。 The emperor sent the Grand Herald Wang Hui forth from Yuzhang and the Grand Minister of Agriculture Han Anguo from Kuaiji, each to serve as a commanding general.

乃以便宜案兵告大農軍，而使使奉王頭馳報天子。 Acting on his own authority, he halted the advance and notified the army of the Grand Minister of Agriculture, while dispatching a rider to present the king's head to the emperor.