King of Chu (楚王) | 24 Histories

Overview

The translated histories identify King of Chu as a ruler. This record brings together 5 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	King of Chu	楚王	Chǔ wáng
Title	King of Chu	楚王

Identity

Historicity: Literary
Identification: Title only
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · hanshu:066:s0086

Roles

Ruler

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: composition context: Sima Xiangru's lifetime · Western Interval: Start: BC 179 · End: BC 117 · Qualitative: literary figure; interval describes composition context, not lifespan
Strongly inferred · hanshu:066:s0061, hanshu:066:s0086

Events and relationships

Kind: hunt · Role: hunter · Action: grand hunt in Cloud Dream
Explicit · hanshu:066:s0086, hanshu:066:s0090, hanshu:066:s0099

References in the histories

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

Book of Han, Chapter 66Volume 57a: Sima Xiangru · 5 passages

Open chapter

楚王之獵孰與寡人？』 How, he demanded, did the king of Chu’s sport measure against mine?”

楚王乃駕馴駁之駟，乘雕玉之輿，靡魚須之橈旃，曳明月之珠旗，建干將之雄戟，左鳥號之雕弓，右夏服之勁箭； The king of Chu yoked teams of trained horses, mounted a jade-inlaid carriage, flew banners fringed with yak hair and pearl streamers, brandished the great Ganjiang halberd, slung the famed “Bird-cry” bow on the left and filled the right with Xia-made shafts.

於是楚王乃弭節徘徊，翱翔容與，覽乎陰林，觀壯士之暴怒，與猛獸之恐懼，徼□受詘，殫睹眾物之變態。 Then the king checked his team, wheeled slowly, and idled through the shadowed woods, savoring the fury of his hunters and the terror of the beasts until every quarry had yielded and the spectacle was spent.

於是楚王乃登陽雲之台，泊乎無為，淡乎自持，勺藥之和具而後御之。 The king of Chu then climbed the Yangyun Terrace, let his mind rest in stillness, and in quiet restraint waited until the spiced banquet was laid before he tasted it.

今足下不稱楚王之德厚，而盛推雲夢以為驕，奢言淫樂而顯侈靡，竊為足下不取也。 Yet you never praise the king of Chu’s magnanimity; instead you inflate Cloud Dream into a boast, wallow in sensual excess, and parade every kind of luxury. I cannot think that becomes you.