Qin and Han · Hermit

Old man of the Xiapi bridge 老父

Attested BC 218 - BC 202

Passages: 2
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Old man of the Xiapi bridge was a Hermit.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 218 to BC 202 下邳圯上
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 268

Places and affiliations

At Xiapi bridge 下邳圯上 · Relation Appeared at
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 268

Works and attributed material

Taigong's book 太公書
Relation Transmitted
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 268

Events and relationships

Relation Teacher of · Person Zhang Liang (張良)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 268

Source notes

Historicity uncertain
Uncertain · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 268, 273

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 55House of Marquis of Liu · 2 passages

子房始所見下邳圯上老父與太公書者，後十三年從高帝過濟北，果見穀城山下黃石，取而葆祠之。 The old man whom Zifang had met on the bridge at Xiapi, the one who gave him the book of Taigong — thirteen years later, while accompanying Emperor Gao through Jibei, Zhang Liang came upon a yellow stone at the foot of Mount Gucheng, just as the old man had foretold. He took it and enshrined it with reverence.

至如留侯所見老父予書，亦可怪矣。 As for the old man whom the Marquis of Liu encountered, who bestowed a book upon him — that too is a strange affair indeed.