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Overview Names Identity Roles Life and dates Career and standing Events and relationships References in the histories
Overview The translated histories identify Marquis of Jiang as an aristocrat, general, and official. This record brings together 25 passages from 5 chapters across 3 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.
Names Type English Chinese Pinyin
Personal
Marquis of Jiang
絳侯
Jiang Hou
Title
chancellor
丞相
Title
Grand Commandant
太尉
Title
Marquis of Jiang
絳侯
Jiang Hou
Title
Marquis of Jiang
絳侯
Title
Marquis of Jiang
絳
Jiàng
Title
the Marquis of Jiang
絳侯
Identity
Historicity Historical
Identification Title only
Sex Male Sex: male
Sex: male
Value: male
Roles Aristocrat General Official Life and dates Attested activity Source Date: Text: BC 200-160Western Interval: Start: BC 200End: BC 160
Source Date: Text: 孝文Western Interval: Start: BC 180End: BC 157
Source Date: Text: 孝文帝Western Interval: Start: BC 180End: BC 157
Source Date: Text: 高后時Western Interval: Start: BC 188End: BC 180
Career and standing Label: Chancellor / 丞相Action: held
Label: Grand Commandant / 太尉Action: held
Chancellor / 丞相
Grand Commandant / 太尉
retired to his state/fief / 就國
Marquis of Jiang / 絳侯
Label: accused of rebellion and imprisoned / 告以為反徵系清室Action: imprisoned
Label: released / 得釋Action: released
References in the histories Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.
Book of Han, Chapter 44 Volume 35: Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu · 1 passage
Book of Han, Chapter 58 Volume 49: Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 13 passages
絳侯為丞相，朝罷趨出，意得甚。
When the Marquis of Jiang, who was chancellor, left court, he hastened from the hall with an air of immense self-satisfaction.
盎進曰：「丞相何如人也？」
Yuan Ang stepped forward and asked, "What manner of minister is the chancellor?"
盎曰：「絳侯所謂功臣，非社稷臣。
Yuan Ang said, "The Marquis of Jiang is a man who earned his place by merit; he is not the kind of minister whose fate is bound to the altars of state.
是時絳侯為太尉，本兵柄，弗能正。
The Marquis of Jiang was Grand Commandant with the army in his hands, yet he failed to correct the situation.
呂後崩，大臣相與共誅諸呂，太尉主兵，適會其成功，所謂功臣，非社稷臣。
After her death the senior ministers rose together and extirpated the Lü; the Grand Commandant led the soldiery and was there when victory came—that is a man who seized his moment of merit, not a minister whose loyalty is welded to the dynasty itself.
丞相如有驕主色，陛下謙讓，臣主失禮，竊為陛下弗取也。」
If the chancellor wears insolence toward his sovereign while you defer to him, the proper order between lord and minister is broken; I beg you not to indulge it."
後朝，上益莊，丞相益畏。
At the next audiences the emperor carried himself with greater gravity, and the chancellor grew visibly uneasy.
已而絳侯望盎曰：「吾與汝兄善，今兒乃毀我！」
Soon the Marquis of Jiang fixed Yuan Ang with a stare and said, "Your brother and I were friends—how dare you, his junior, speak ill of me?"
及絳侯就國，人上書告以為反，征系請室，諸公莫敢為言，唯盎明絳侯無罪。
After the Marquis of Jiang retired to his state, a denunciation reached the throne accusing him of rebellion; he was arrested and locked in the Qingshi interrogation cell, and not one of the great lords would plead his case—only Yuan Ang swore he was guiltless.
絳侯得釋，盎頗有力。
The marquis was freed, and Yuan Ang's intervention counted for much.
絳侯乃大與盎結交。
From that day the Marquis of Jiang counted Yuan Ang among his closest allies.
盎即起說曰：「君為相，自度孰與陳平、絳侯？」
Yuan Ang rose and said: "You sit as chancellor—how do you rank yourself beside Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang?"
夫陳平、絳侯輔翼高帝，定天下，為將相，而誅諸呂，存劉氏；
Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang raised Gaozu, won the empire, served as general and chancellor, extirpated the Lü, and saved the Liu line;
Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 48 Volume 48 Biographies 29: Yuan Tuan, Kong Zhigui, Liu Hui · 1 passage
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 84 Biographies of Qu Yuan and Master Jia · 1 passage
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 101 Biographies of Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 9 passages
絳侯為丞相，朝罷趨出，意得甚。
The Marquis of Jiang served as Chancellor, and whenever court was dismissed, he would stride out looking enormously pleased with himself.
盎曰：「絳侯所謂功臣，非社稷臣，社稷臣主在與在，主亡與亡。
Ang said, 'The Marquis of Jiang is a meritorious minister, not a pillar of the state. A true pillar of the state shares his sovereign's fate—he rises with his lord and falls with him.
是時絳侯為太尉，主兵柄，弗能正。
At that time, the Marquis of Jiang was Grand Commandant with command of the armies, yet he could not set things right.
已而絳侯望袁盎曰：「吾與而兄善，今兒廷毀我！」
Before long, the Marquis of Jiang confronted Yuan Ang with a glare and said, 'I was on good terms with your brother, and now you, boy, denounce me at court!'
及絳侯免相之國，國人上書告以為反，徵系清室，宗室諸公莫敢為言，唯袁盎明絳侯無罪。
When the Marquis of Jiang was dismissed from the chancellorship and returned to his fief, someone from his domain submitted a memorial accusing him of rebellion. He was summoned and confined in the imperial prison. Not a single member of the imperial clan or the senior ministers dared to speak in his defense—only Yuan Ang declared the Marquis of Jiang to be innocent.
絳侯得釋，盎頗有力。
When the Marquis of Jiang was released, it was largely thanks to Ang's efforts.
絳侯乃大與盎結交。
From then on, the Marquis of Jiang became a close friend and ally of Ang.
袁盎即跪說曰：「君為丞相，自度孰與陳平、絳侯？」
Yuan Ang knelt and asked, 'As Chancellor, how do you rate yourself against Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang?'
夫陳平、絳侯輔翼高帝，定天下，為將相，而誅諸呂，存劉氏；
Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang upheld Emperor Gao, settled the empire, served as general and chancellor, and afterward wiped out the Lü clan, preserving the Liu house.