Qin and Han · Scholar

Master Gai 蓋公

Gai Gong

Attested BC 201 - BC 195

Passages: 8
Chapters: 3
Histories: 2

Overview

The translated histories identify Master Gai as a philosopher, scholar, and teacher. This record brings together 8 passages from 3 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Master Gai	蓋公	Gai Gong
Personal	Gai Gong	蓋公	Gai Gong
Title	Master Gai	蓋公	Gài Gōng
Title	Master Gai	蓋公	Gài gōng

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:048:s0267, shiji:054:s0084, shiji:080:s0121

Roles

Philosopher
Scholar
Teacher

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 膠西有蓋公 · Western Year: BC 201
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:054:s0084
Source Date: Text: 蓋公教於齊高密、膠西，為曹相國師 · Western Year: BC 195
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:080:s0122

Places and affiliations

膠西
Explicit · hanshu:048:s0267
Place: Gaomi and Jiaoxi in Qi / 齊高密、膠西 · Relation: taught-at
Explicit · shiji:080:s0122
Place: Jiaoxi / 膠西 · Relation: resided-at
Explicit · shiji:054:s0084

Learning and skills

Belief: Huang-Lao / 黃老 · Relation: expert-in
Explicit · shiji:054:s0084

Events and relationships

Relation: teacher-of · Person Id: Cao Can (曹參)
Explicit · shiji:054:s0084, shiji:054:s0085, shiji:054:s0086
Relation: teacher-of · Person Id: Chancellor Cao (曹相國)
Explicit · shiji:080:s0122

References in the histories

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

Book of Han, Chapter 48Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen · 3 passages

聞膠西有蓋公，善治黃老言，使人厚幣請之。 He heard that in Jiaoxi there was Master Gai, skilled in Huang-Lao teachings, and sent someone with generous gifts to invite him.

既見蓋公，蓋公爲言治道貴清靜而民自定，推此類具言之。 Once he met Master Gai, Master Gai explained that in governing, the Way values clarity and stillness so that the people settle themselves, and elaborated on such points in full.

參於是避正堂，舍蓋公焉。 Cao Can then yielded the main hall and lodged Master Gai there.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 54House of Chancellor Cao · 3 passages

聞膠西有蓋公，善治黃老言，使人厚幣請之。 He then heard that in Jiaoxi there lived a certain Master Gai, well versed in the teachings of Huang-Lao, and sent emissaries bearing generous gifts to invite him.

既見蓋公，蓋公為言治道貴清靜而民自定，推此類具言之。 When they met, Master Gai explained that the essence of good governance lies in prizing stillness and non-interference, so that the people settle of their own accord. He elaborated on this principle at length.

參於是避正堂，舍蓋公焉。 Cao Shen thereupon vacated his own principal hall and lodged Master Gai in it.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 80Biography of Yue Yi · 2 passages

河上丈人教安期生，安期生教毛翕公，毛翕公教樂瑕公，樂瑕公教樂臣公，樂臣公教蓋公。 The Elder on the River taught An Qisheng; An Qisheng taught Mao Xigong; Mao Xigong taught Yue Xiagong; Yue Xiagong taught Yue Chengong; and Yue Chengong taught Gai Gong.

蓋公教於齊高密、膠西，為曹相國師。 Gai Gong taught in Qi Gaomi and Jiaoxi, was Cao Xiangguo's teacher.