Ancient China · Teacher

Old man of the Xiapi bridge 圯上老父

Attested BC 218 - BC 209

Passages: 9
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Old man of the Xiapi bridge was a Teacher.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Alternate name	yellow stone	黃石
Epithet	old man	老人

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 218 to BC 209 下邳圯上
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 13-14, 40

Places and affiliations

At bridge at Xiapi 下邳圯上 · Relation Appeared at
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 14
At Mount Gucheng in Jibei 濟北穀城山 · Relation Future manifestation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 34

Works and attributed material

Art of War of Taigong 太公兵法
Relation Transmitted
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 32, 36
Speech · Speaker · With Zhang Liang (張良)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 14, 17, 21-22, 25-26, 28-29, 31-34

Events and relationships

Dropped his shoe and commanded Liang to fetch it and put it on
Test · Tester
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 14, 17-18
Foretold rise in ten years and identification with the yellow stone under Mount Gucheng in Jibei in thirteen years
Prophecy · Speaker · At Jibei, Mount Gucheng 濟北穀城山
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 33-34
Left without further words and was not seen again
Departure · Principal
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 35
Thrice set dawn meetings and praised Liang for coming before midnight
Appointment · Principal
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 22, 24-31
Relation Teacher of · Person Zhang Liang (張良)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 21, 32

Source notes

Historicity legendary
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 34

References in the histories

Search passages

History

9 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 55House of Marquis of Liu · 9 passages

良嘗閒從容步游下邳圯上，有一老父，衣褐，至良所，直墮其履圯下，顧謂良曰：「孺子，下取履！」 One day, Liang was strolling at leisure across a bridge at Xiapi when an old man in rough brown cloth approached him, deliberately dropped his shoe off the bridge, turned to Liang and said, 'Boy! Go down and fetch my shoe!'

父曰：「履我！」 The old man said, 'Put it on for me!'

父以足受，笑而去。 The old man extended his foot to receive the shoe, laughed, and walked away.

良殊大驚，隨目之。 Liang stood there in utter astonishment, watching the old man go.

父去里所，復還，曰：「孺子可教矣。 After walking about a li, the old man turned back and said, 'This young man can be taught.

父已先在，怒曰：「與老人期，後，何也？」 The old man was already there. He said angrily, 'You made an appointment with an old man, and you arrive late—what is the meaning of this?'

父又先在，復怒曰：「後，何也？」 Again the old man was there before him, and again he said angrily, 'Late! Why?'

有頃，父亦來，喜曰：「當如是。」 After a short while the old man arrived as well, and said with satisfaction, 'This is how it should be.'

十三年孺子見我濟北，穀城山下黃石即我矣。」 In thirteen years, you will find me again in Jibei—the yellow stone at the foot of Mount Gucheng will be me.'