Qin and Han · King of Qi

Tian Heng 田橫

Tián Héng

Died BC 202

Passages: 52
Chapters: 4
Histories: 2

Overview

The translated histories identify Tian Heng as a general, official, rebel, and ruler. This record brings together 52 passages from 4 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Tian Heng	田橫	Tián Héng
Personal
Given	Heng	橫	Heng
Title	King of Qi	齊王	Qi Wang
Title	King of Qi	齊王
Surname	Tian	田	Tian
Personal name	Tian Heng	田橫	Tian Heng
Personal	Tian Heng	田橫	Tian Heng
Personal	Tian Heng	橫	Héng

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · shiji:094:s0002
Value: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:042:s0030

Roles

General
Official
Rebel
Ruler
Warlord

Life and dates

Death

Manner: suicide by cutting throat · Place: Shixiang relay station / 尸鄉廄置 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 遂自剄 · Western Year: BC 202
Explicit · shiji:094:s0075, shiji:094:s0081
Text: 自殺
Explicit · hanshu:002:s0088
Text: suicide at Shixiang on way to Luoyang / 遂自剄
Explicit · hanshu:042:s0109

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 榮弟田橫 · Western Interval: Start: BC 208 · End: BC 202
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:094:s0002, shiji:094:s0081

Family

Sibling of Tian Rong (田榮)
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Subject Relative Age: younger · Shared Parentage: full

Kinship Role: followers · Count: 500 · Note: over five hundred island followers
Explicit · shiji:094:s0068, shiji:094:s0087

Career and standing

Label: Chancellor of Qi / 相 · Action: held
Explicit · shiji:094:s0051
Label: General of Qi / 將 · Action: held
Explicit · shiji:094:s0020
Text: Chancellor of Qi / 相
Explicit · hanshu:042:s0081
Text: General of Qi / 將
Explicit · hanshu:042:s0048
Text: King of Qi / 自立為王
Explicit · hanshu:042:s0091
Title: King of Qi / 齊王 · Action: assumed
Explicit · shiji:094:s0062

Places and affiliations

Place: sea island / 海島 · Relation: resided-at
Explicit · shiji:094:s0068

Works and attributed material

Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Quoted: true
Explicit · shiji:094:s0070, shiji:094:s0075, shiji:094:s0077, shiji:094:s0078, shiji:094:s0079, shiji:094:s0080

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: counterattacked-Xiang-Yu-at-Chengyang · Other Person Id: Xiang Yu (項羽)
Explicit · shiji:094:s0048
Kind: political · Role: subject · Action: fled-to-sea-island-with-followers
Explicit · shiji:094:s0068
Relation: took-refuge-with · Person Id: Peng Yue (彭)
Explicit · shiji:094:s0063
Type: younger-brother · Person Id: Tian Rong (田榮)
Explicit · hanshu:042:s0030, hanshu:042:s0078
Relation: younger-patrilineal-cousin · Person Key: Tian Dan (田儋)
Explicit · hanshu:001:s0088

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: lofty integrity; commanded loyalty unto death · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment · Speaker Person Id: Sima Qian (太史公)
Explicit · shiji:094:s0094

References in the histories

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

Book of Han, Chapter 1Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 1 · 4 passages

田儋與從弟榮、橫起齊，自立為齊王。 Tian Dan and his younger brothers Rong and Heng rose up in Qi, establishing themselves as King of Qi.

夏四月，田榮弟橫收得數萬人，立榮子廣為齊王。 In summer, in the fourth month, Tian Rong's younger brother Heng gathered several tens of thousands of men and established Rong's son Guang as King of Qi.

齊相田橫自立為齊王，奔彭越。 Qi chancellor Tian Heng established himself as King of Qi and fled to Peng Yue.

關中兵益出，而彭越、田橫居梁地，往來苦楚兵，絕其糧食。 More troops came out from Guanzhong, while Peng Yue and Tian Heng held Liang territory, moving back and forth to harass the Chu troops and cut off their food supply.

Book of Han, Chapter 2Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 2 · 4 passages

初，田橫歸彭越。 Initially, Tian Heng had gone to Peng Yue.

項羽已滅，橫懼誅，與賓客亡入海。 Xiang Yu had already been destroyed. Heng feared execution and fled to the sea with his retainers.

上恐其久為亂，遣使者赦橫，曰：「橫來，大者王，小者侯； The emperor feared that he would cause disorder for a long time, so he sent an envoy to pardon Heng, saying: "If Heng comes, at the highest he will be king, at the lowest marquis.

橫懼，乘傳詣雒陽，未至三十里，自殺。 Heng was afraid and rode the imperial relay to Luoyang. Thirty li from arriving, he committed suicide.

Book of Han, Chapter 42Volume 33: Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Han) · 22 passages

儋從弟榮，榮弟橫，皆豪桀，宗彊，能得人。 His younger cousin Tian Rong and Rong's younger brother Tian Heng were both powerful local heroes who could attract followers.

榮乃立儋子市為王，榮相之，橫為將，平齊地。 Tian Rong then enthroned Tian Dan's son Tian Shi as king, served as his chancellor, made Tian Heng commander, and pacified Qi.

榮弟橫收齊散兵，得數萬人，反擊項羽於城陽。 Tian Rong's brother Tian Heng gathered scattered Qi troops, raised tens of thousands, and counterattacked Xiang Yu at Chengyang.

以故橫復收齊城邑，立榮子廣為王，而橫相之，政事無巨細皆斷於橫。 For this reason Tian Heng again gathered in the cities and towns of Qi, established Tian Rong's son Tian Guang as king, and served as his chancellor. Every matter of government, large or small, was decided by Heng.

會漢使酈食其往說王廣及相橫，與連和。 Meanwhile Han envoy Li Yiji went to persuade King Guang and Chancellor Tian Heng to make an alliance.

橫然之，乃罷歷下守備，縱酒，且遣使與漢平。 Tian Heng agreed, withdrew the defenses at Lixia, held drinking feasts, and prepared to send envoys for peace with Han.

王廣、相橫以酈生為賣己而亨之。 King Guang and Chancellor Tian Heng believed Li Yiji had sold them out and therefore boiled him alive.

廣東走高密，橫走博，守相田光走城陽，將軍田既軍於膠東。 Guang fled east to Gaomi, Tian Heng fled to Bo, Chancellor Tian Guang fled to Chengyang, and General Tian Ji camped at Jiaodong.

而橫聞王死，自立為王，還擊嬰，嬰敗橫軍於贏下。 Hearing the king was dead, Tian Heng made himself king and counterattacked Guan Ying, but Guan Ying defeated Tian Heng below Ying.

橫亡走梁，歸彭越。 Tian Heng fled to Liang and took refuge with Peng Yue.

橫懼誅，而與其徒屬五百餘人入海，居島中。 Tian Heng feared he would be put to death, so he and more than five hundred followers put to sea and settled on an island.

高帝聞之，以橫兄弟本定齊，齊人賢者多附焉，今在海中不收，後恐有亂，乃使使赦橫罪而召之。 When Gaozu heard of this, he considered that Tian Heng and his brothers had originally pacified Qi, and that many worthy men of Qi had attached themselves to them. If Tian Heng remained at sea and was not brought in, Gaozu feared there would be disorder later; he therefore sent an envoy to pardon Heng's crimes and summon him.

橫謝曰：「臣亨陛下之使酈食其，今聞其弟商為漢將而賢，臣恐懼，不敢奉詔，請為庶人，守海島中。」 Tian Heng declined, saying, "I boiled Your Majesty's envoy Li Yiji. Now I hear his younger brother Shang is a valued Han general. I am afraid and dare not obey; I ask only to remain a commoner and stay on an island at sea."

使還報，高帝乃詔衛尉酈商曰：「齊王橫即至，人馬從者敢動搖者致族夷！」 When the envoy returned and reported, Gaozu ordered the Commandant of the Guards, Li Shang: "When King Tian Heng of Qi arrives, if any of his followers stir up trouble, exterminate their clans!"

乃復使使持節具告以詔意，曰：「橫來，大者王，小者乃侯耳； He then sent another envoy bearing credentials to explain the edict in full, saying, "If Tian Heng comes, at best he will be made a king, and at least a marquis;

橫乃與其客二人乘傳詣雒陽。 Tian Heng then rode in an official relay carriage with two retainers to Luoyang.

至尸鄉廄置，橫謝使者曰：「人臣見天子，當洗沐。」 At the posting station in Shixiang, Tian Heng told the envoy, "A subject who is to see the Son of Heaven should bathe and wash first."

謂其客曰：「橫始與漢王俱南面稱孤，今漢王為天子，而橫乃為亡虜，北面事之，其媿固已甚矣。 He told his retainers, "Tian Heng and the Han king once both faced south as independent rulers. Now the Han king is emperor, while I am a fugitive who must face north and serve him—the humiliation is already more than I can bear.

為之流涕，而拜其二客為都尉，發卒二千，以王者禮葬橫。 He wept, appointed the two retainers commandants, dispatched two thousand troops, and buried Tian Heng with rites due a king.

高帝聞而大驚，以橫之客皆賢者，吾聞其餘尚五百人在海中，使使召至，聞橫死，亦皆自殺。 When Gaozu heard of it, he was greatly shocked. Believing that Tian Heng's retainers were all worthy men, he sent envoys to summon the five hundred or so who still remained on the island; when they heard that Heng was dead, they too all killed themselves.

於是乃知田橫兄弟能得士也。 Only then did he truly recognize how Tian Heng and his brothers won men's loyalty.

橫之志節，賓客慕義，猶不能自立，豈非天虖！ Even with Tian Heng's integrity and the loyal devotion of his retainers, he still could not establish himself. Was this not Heaven?

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 94Biography of Tian Dan, King of Qi · 22 passages

儋從弟田榮，榮弟田橫，皆豪，宗彊，能得人。 His cousin Tian Rong and Rong's younger brother Tian Heng were both bold and formidable men. Their clan wielded great power and could rally followers to their cause.

榮相之，田橫為將，平齊地。 Rong served as chancellor and Tian Heng as general, and together they pacified the lands of Qi.

榮弟橫，收齊散兵，得數萬人，反擊項羽於城陽。 Rong's younger brother Tian Heng rallied the scattered soldiers of Qi, assembling tens of thousands of men, and struck back against Xiang Yu at Chengyang.

以故田橫復得收齊城邑，立田榮子廣為齊王，而橫相之，專國政，政無巨細皆斷於相。 With Xiang Yu's attention diverted, Tian Heng recovered the cities of Qi. He installed Tian Rong's son Guang as King of Qi and served as his chancellor, concentrating all power in his own hands. Every affair of state, great or small, was decided by the chancellor.

橫定齊三年，漢王使酈生往說下齊王廣及其相國橫。 After Heng had held Qi for three years, the King of Han sent the persuader Li Yiji to talk King Guang of Qi and his Chancellor Heng into surrendering.

橫以為然，解其歷下軍。 Heng found the arguments persuasive and stood down his garrison at Lixia.

齊王廣、相橫怒，以酈生賣己，而亨酈生。 King Guang and Chancellor Heng were furious, convinced that Li Yiji had sold them out. They had him boiled alive.

齊王廣東走高密，相橫走博（陽），守相田光走城陽，將軍田既軍於膠東。 King Guang fled east to Gaomi; Chancellor Heng escaped to Boyang; the Deputy Chancellor Tian Guang retreated to Chengyang; and General Tian Ji encamped with his forces in Jiaodong.

至博（陽），而橫聞齊王死，自立為齊王，還擊嬰，嬰敗橫之軍於嬴下。 When word reached Boyang that the King of Qi was dead, Heng proclaimed himself King of Qi and turned to attack Guan Ying. But Guan Ying routed Heng's forces below Ying.

田橫亡走梁，歸彭越。 Tian Heng fled to Liang and took refuge with Peng Yue.

田橫懼誅，而與其徒屬五百餘人入海，居島中。 Tian Heng, fearing execution, sailed out to sea with more than five hundred of his followers and took up residence on an island.

高帝聞之，以為田橫兄弟本定齊，齊人賢者多附焉，今在海中不收，後恐為亂，乃使使赦田橫罪而召之。 Emperor Gao heard of this and reflected that the Tian brothers had been the ones to pacify Qi, and that many of the ablest men in Qi were devoted to them. If they were left at large on the sea, they might one day stir up trouble. He therefore sent an envoy to pardon Tian Heng and summon him to court.

田橫因謝曰：「臣亨陛下之使酈生，今聞其弟酈商為漢將而賢，臣恐懼，不敢奉詔，請為庶人，守海島中。」 Tian Heng declined, saying, "I boiled Your Majesty's envoy Li Yiji alive. Now I hear that his younger brother Li Shang serves as a Han general and is a man of ability. I am terrified and dare not obey the summons. I beg leave to remain a commoner and keep to my island."

使還報，高皇帝乃詔衛尉酈商曰：「齊王田橫即至，人馬從者敢動搖者致族夷！」 When the envoy returned with this reply, Emperor Gao issued an edict to Li Shang, the Commandant of Guards: "Tian Heng, the former King of Qi, is about to arrive. If anyone among his retinue so much as stirs, the offender's entire clan shall be exterminated!"

乃復使使持節具告以詔商狀，曰：「田橫來，大者王，小者乃侯耳； He then sent another envoy bearing the imperial tally to inform Tian Heng in full of the edict restraining Li Shang, adding, "If Tian Heng comes, at best he shall be made a king, at least a marquis.

田橫乃與其客二人乘傳詣雒陽。 Tian Heng then set out with two of his retainers, traveling by relay carriage toward Luoyang.

未至三十里，至尸鄉廄置，橫謝使者曰：「人臣見天子當洗沐。」 When they were still thirty li from the capital, they reached the relay station at Shixiang. Heng addressed the envoy, "A subject about to be received by the Son of Heaven ought first to bathe and purify himself."

謂其客曰：「橫始與漢王俱南面稱孤，今漢王為天子，而橫乃為亡虜而北面事之，其恥固已甚矣。 He said to his retainers, "At first I and the King of Han both faced south and styled ourselves sovereign. Now the King of Han is Son of Heaven, and I am nothing but a fugitive who must face north and serve him. The shame of it is already beyond bearing.

為之流涕，而拜其二客為都尉，發卒二千人，以王者禮葬田橫。 He wept for Tian Heng, appointed the two retainers as commandants, and dispatched two thousand soldiers to bury Tian Heng with the rites due a king.

高帝聞之，乃大驚，大田橫之客皆賢。 When Emperor Gao heard of this, he was deeply shaken and declared that all of Tian Heng's followers were men of the highest worth.

至則聞田橫死，亦皆自殺。 When the envoys arrived and the followers learned that Tian Heng was dead, every one of them took his own life.

田橫之高節，賓客慕義而從橫死，豈非至賢！ As for Tian Heng's lofty integrity—that his followers so admired his sense of honor as to follow him in death—were they not men of the highest virtue!