Su Dai (蘇代) | 24 Histories

Overview

Su Dai was a Strategist and Diplomat.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 273 伐齊
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passages 82-83
BC 288 to BC 284 其後，秦亡將呂禮相齊，欲困蘇代
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 118-119
BC 259 四十八年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 69, 72
BC 306 to BC 305 昭王初，向壽平宜陽、甘茂亡秦
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passages 103, 110, 124, 135
BC 305 to BC 299 甘茂之亡秦奔齊
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passages 142-143, 150, 159
BC 280 to BC 277 秦昭王聞其賢至孟嘗君乃止
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 64, 68-69

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BC 299 to BC 296 蘇代為西周謂曰
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 95, 107
BC 318 蘇代為齊使於燕
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 34, passage 91
BC 320 蘇秦之在燕
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 34, passage 87
BC 300 襄王十二年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 45, passage 123

Key source chapters

Places and affiliations

Han and Zhao 韓、趙
Relation Envoy for
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 72
Polity Han 韓 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 103
Polity Qi 齊 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passage 143
Polity Qi · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 34, passage 91
Polity Western Zhou 西周 · Relation Acted for
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 95

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Xiang Shou (向壽) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passages 103-108, 110-122, 124, 127-131, 133-135
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to King Min of Qi (齊湣王) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passages 159-162
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to King Zhao of Qin (秦王) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passages 150-153, 155
Letter · Author · With Wei Ran (魏冉)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passages 83-104
Persuasive speech · Speaker · Topic argument to halt the Qin offensive · Mode direct-quotation Speaker Su Dai (蘇代)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 72, 74, 76-82
Speech · Speaker · With Lord Mengchang (孟嘗君) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 119-123

Show 5 more source-backed claims

Speech · Speaker · With Lord Mengchang (孟嘗君)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 64-68
Speech · Speaker · With Mi Rong (羋戎)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 45, passages 147-152
Speech · Speaker · With Yan Kuai (燕噲)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 34, passages 91-94
Speech · Speaker · With King Xi (韓釐王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 45, passages 123-125
Speech · Speaker · With Lord Mengchang (孟嘗君) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 95-104

Events and relationships

Advised halt to attack on Qin
BC 299 to BC 296 蘇代為西周謂曰 · Diplomatic · Envoy advisor · With Lord Mengchang (孟嘗君)
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 95, 105-106
Advised Xiang Shou
BC 306 to BC 305 昭王初，向壽平宜陽、甘茂亡秦 · Diplomatic · Envoy · With Xiang Shou (向壽)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passages 103, 135
Counseled
Political · Advisor · With Lord Mengchang (孟嘗君)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 119, 124
Persuaded Lord Ying to halt Qin's offensive by warning of Bai Qi's power
BC 259 四十八年 · Person centered · Diplomat · With Lord Ying (應侯), Bai Qi (白起)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 72, 74, 76-82
Served as Qi envoy to Qin
BC 305 to BC 299 甘茂之亡秦奔齊 · Diplomatic · Envoy · At Qin 秦
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passages 143, 149
Served as Qi envoy to Yan
Diplomatic · Envoy
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 34, passage 91

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Relation Adviser of · Person Lord Mengchang (孟嘗君)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 64, 68
Relation Advisor of · Person Lord Mengchang (孟嘗君)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 119, 124
Relation Aided household of · Person Gan Mao (甘茂)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 71, passages 147-148
Relation Advisor of · Person King Xi (韓釐王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 45, passage 123
Relation Advisor of · Person Lord Mengchang (孟嘗君)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 95, 105
Relation Friend of · Person Zizhi (子之)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 34, passage 87

Assessments and attributes

Item one hundred pieces of gold 百金 · Relation Received · With Zizhi (子之)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 34, passage 97

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 64, 95

References in the histories

Search passages

History

20 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 34House of Yan Shaogong · 5 passages

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蘇秦之在燕，與其相子之為婚，而蘇代與子之交。 While Su Qin was in Yan, he formed a marriage alliance with the prime minister Zizhi, and Su Dai formed a friendship with Zizhi.

及蘇秦死，而齊宣王復用蘇代。 After Su Qin died, King Xuan of Qi employed Su Dai again.

蘇代為齊使於燕，燕王問曰：「齊王奚如？」 Su Dai served as an envoy from Qi to Yan. The Yan king asked: "What is the King of Qi like?"

蘇代欲以激燕王以尊子之也。 Su Dai wished to use this to encourage the Yan king to honor Zi Zhi.

子之因遺蘇代百金，而聽其所使。 Zi Zhi then gave Su Dai one hundred pieces of gold and let him direct affairs as he wished.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 45House of Han · 2 passages

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蘇代謂韓咎曰：「蟣蝨亡在楚，楚王欲內之甚。 Su Dai said to Han Jiu, "Ji Shi has fled and is in Chu, and the King of Chu is very eager to install him.

蘇代又謂秦太后弟羋戎曰：「公叔伯嬰恐秦楚之內蟣蝨也，公何不為韓求質子於楚？ Su Dai then said to Mi Rong, the brother of the Queen Mother of Qin, "Gongshu Boying fears that Qin and Chu will install Ji Shi. Why do you not seek a hostage from Chu on Han's behalf?

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 71Biographies of Shu Lizi and Gan Mao · 7 passages

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韓公仲使蘇代謂向壽曰：「禽困覆車。 Han's Gong Zhong sent Su Dai to address Xiang Shou: 'A trapped bird overturns the cart.

蘇代對曰：「願有謁於公。 Su Dai replied: 'I wish to make a report to you.

甘茂之亡秦奔齊，逢蘇代。 When Gan Mao fled Qin and went to Qi, he encountered Su Dai.

代為齊使於秦。 Su Dai was serving as Qi's envoy to Qin.

蘇代許諾。 Su Dai consented.

蘇代曰：「王不若重其贄，厚其祿以迎之，使彼來則置之鬼谷，終身勿出。」 Su Dai declared: 'Your Majesty should increase his gifts, enrich his salary to welcome him, and when he comes, place him in Guigu Valley, never to emerge for life.'

蘇代謂齊湣王曰：「夫甘茂，賢人也。 Su Dai addressed King Min of Qi: 'Gan Mao is a worthy man.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 72Biography of the Marquis of Rang · 1 passage

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齊襄王懼，使蘇代為齊陰遺穰侯書曰：「臣聞往來者言曰『秦將益趙甲四萬以伐齊』，臣竊必之敝邑之王曰『秦王明而熟於計，穰侯智而習於事，必不益趙甲四萬以伐齊』。 King Xiang of Qi was alarmed, and had Su Dai secretly send the Marquis of Rang a letter on Qi's behalf: "Your servant has heard travelers say, 'Qin is going to add forty thousand armored troops to Zhao for an attack on Qi.' I privately assured the king of my humble state: 'The King of Qin sees clearly and is skilled in planning, and the Marquis of Rang is wise and practiced in affairs; they surely will not add forty thousand armored troops to Zhao to attack Qi.'

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 73Biographies of Bai Qi and Wang Jian · 1 passage

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韓、趙恐，使蘇代厚幣說秦相應侯曰：「武安君禽馬服子乎？」 Han and Zhao, in fear, sent Su Dai with lavish gifts to persuade Qin's prime minister Lord Ying, asking: 'Has Lord Wu'an captured Ma Fuzi?'

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 75Biography of Lord Mengchang · 4 passages

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蘇代謂曰：「今旦代從外來，見木禺人與土禺人相與語。 Su Dai said: 'This morning I came in from outside and saw a wooden puppet and an earthen puppet speaking with each other.

蘇代為西周謂曰：「君以齊為韓、魏攻楚九年，取宛、葉以北以彊韓、魏，今復攻秦以益之。 Su Dai, on behalf of Western Zhou, advised him: 'My lord used Qi to attack Chu for Han and Wei for nine years, taking Wan and north of Ye to strengthen Han and Wei. Now you attack Qin again to benefit them further.

其後，秦亡將呂禮相齊，欲困蘇代。 Afterward, Lu Li, a general who had fled Qin, became chancellor of Qi and wanted to put pressure on Su Dai.

代乃謂孟嘗君曰：「周最於齊，至厚也，而齊王逐之，而聽親弗相呂禮者，欲取秦也。 Su Dai then said to Lord Mengchang: 'Zhou Zui has been deeply attached to Qi, yet the King of Qi expelled him and listened to Qin Fu while making Lu Li chancellor, because he wished to win over Qin.