Ancient China · King of Chu in the Zhuang Sheng episode

King of Chu 楚王

Chǔ Wáng

Attested BC 450 - BC 350

Passages: 11
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

King of Chu was a king of Chu in the Zhuang Sheng episode.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 450 to BC 350 范蠡居陶後
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 202

Career and standing

Ordered trial and execution
Target Person Id Middle son of Fan Li
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 225

Places and affiliations

Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 202

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Zhuang Sheng (莊生)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 208, 210, 224

Events and relationships

Sealed the three money treasuries in preparation for a pardon
Legal administrative · King
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 211
Relation Trusted · Person Zhuang Sheng (莊生)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 208

References in the histories

Search passages

History

11 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 41House of King Goujian of Yue · 11 passages

莊生雖居窮閻，然以廉直聞於國，自楚王以下皆師尊之。 Although Zhuang Sheng lived in a poor lane, he was known throughout the state for integrity and uprightness. Everyone from the king of Chu on down honored him as a teacher.

莊生閒時入見楚王，言「某星宿某，此則害於楚」。 In his leisure time Zhuang Sheng went in to see the king of Chu and said: “A certain star lodges in a certain place. This harms Chu.”

楚王素信莊生，曰：「今為柰何？」 The Chu king usually trusted Zhuang Sheng and said: “What should be done now?”

楚王曰：「生休矣，寡人將行之。」 The Chu king said: “Master Sheng, rest. I will carry it out.”

王乃使使者封三錢之府。 The king then sent an envoy to seal the three money treasuries.

楚貴人驚告朱公長男曰：「王且赦。」 The Chu nobles were alarmed and told Zhu Gong's eldest son, saying: “The king is about to issue a pardon.”

曰：「每王且赦，常封三錢之府。 He said: “Whenever the king is about to issue a pardon, he always seals the three money treasuries.

昨暮王使使封之。」 Last evening the king sent an envoy and sealed them.”

莊生羞為兒子所賣，乃入見楚王曰：「臣前言某星事，王言欲以修德報之。 Zhuang Sheng was ashamed at having been betrayed by the young man, so he went in to see the King of Chu and said, “Earlier I spoke to Your Majesty about the matter of a certain star.

今臣出，道路皆言陶之富人朱公之子殺人囚楚，其家多持金錢賂王左右，故王非能恤楚國而赦，乃以朱公子故也。」 Now when I went out, everyone on the road was saying that the son of Zhu Gong, a rich man of Tao, had killed someone and been imprisoned in Chu; that his family had brought a great deal of gold and bribed the king’s attendants; and that Your Majesty’s pardon was not meant to show compassion for Chu, but only for Zhu Gong’s son.”

楚王大怒曰：「寡人雖不德耳，柰何以朱公之子故而施惠乎！」 The King of Chu was furious and said, “Though I lack virtue, how could I bestow favor merely for Zhu Gong’s son?”