Xiang Ru (相如) | 24 Histories

Overview

Xiang Ru was a Writer and Poet.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Sima Xiangru	司馬相如	Sima Xiangru
Courtesy name	Zhangqing	長卿	Zhǎngqīng
Childhood name	Quanzi	犬子	Quǎnzǐ
Alternate name	Ma Qing	馬卿

Life and dates

Death

BC 118 相如既卒
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 67, passage 257
Died of illness · Leaving testament on feng-shan
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 226
Illness · At Maoling 茂陵
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 173, 175

Attested activity

BC 179 to BC 117 Western Han court writer
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passage 22
BC 141 to BC 130 上讀《子虛賦》而善之
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 66, passages 35-36, 38
BC 157 to BC 141 事孝景帝
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 6
BC 179 to BC 117 司馬相如
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 121, passage 74
BC 140 夫藺先生收功於章台…
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 99, passage 107
BC 135 建元六年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 116, passages 18, 34

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BC 144 會梁孝王薨
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 66, passage 8
BC 179 to BC 117 漢世
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 31
BC 129 漢興七十有八載
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 33, 35
BC 140 相如
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 47, passage 104
BC 149 相如
Directly stated · History of Liao 76, passage 105
BC 117 相如已死
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 67, passage 175
BC 118 相如既卒
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 67, passage 257
BC 129 相如為郎數歲…唐蒙使略通夜郎
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 67, passages 2, 35
BC 140 to BC 117 蜀有司馬相如
Directly stated · Book of Han 98, passage 17
BC 141 to BC 130 賦奏，天子以為郎
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 66, passage 190
c. BC 117 量交
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 14, passage 242
BC 179 to BC 117 銜使若相如
Strongly inferred · Book of Chen 16, passage 49

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Zhuo Wenjun (卓文君)
wife 妻 · Elopement then recognized marriage · BC 144 to BC 140 文君夜亡奔相如
wife 妻
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 22, 27, 34; Book of Han 67, passages 29, 87, 176
Kin of Zhuo Wangsun (卓王孫)
Zhuo clan by marriage 卓氏
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 29, 87

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 66 Volume 57a: Sima Xiangru 28 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 67 Volume 57b: Sima Xiangru 28 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 68 Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan 3 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 74 Volume 64a: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 1 3 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 98 Volume 87a: Yang Xiong 1 3 passages

Career and standing

court litterateur and envoy 郎/中郎將
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 2, 25, 85
fu rhapsodist / poet 辭賦家
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 7, 40
General of the Household / commandant of palace attendants 中郎將
BC 129 乃拜相如為中郎將 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 25
gentleman-attendant 郎
BC 157 to BC 141 以訾為郎 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 6
gentleman-attendant 郎
BC 141 to BC 130 賦奏，天子以為郎 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 190
Palace Gentleman General 郎中將
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 116, passage 35

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steward of Emperor Wen's mausoleum park 孝文園令
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 118
regular palace cavalry guard 武騎常侍
BC 157 to BC 141 事孝景帝，為武騎常侍 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 6
gentleman attendant 郎
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 2
gentleman attendant 郎
BC 129 居歲餘，復召為郎 · Restored
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 84
Entered
Dismissal · Reason accused of taking bribes on mission
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 83
Entered
Retirement · Reason illness
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 173
Entered
Poverty
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 8, 23
Entered
Wealthy
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 34
Resigned
Resignation · pleaded illness and left post
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 7

Places and affiliations

Liang 梁
Relation Sojourned at
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 7
Western Han 漢
Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 6, 190; Book of Han 68, passage 258
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 2, 35; Records of the Grand Historian 116, passage 34
Polity Western Han · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passage 22
At Chengdu in Shu commandery 蜀郡成都
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 3
At Shu 蜀
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 116, passage 34

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At Ba and Shu 巴蜀 · Relation Traveled to
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 4, 27
At Chengdu 成都 · Relation Resided in
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 8, 22, 34
At Liang 梁 · Relation Sojourned in
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 7
At Linqiang 臨邛 · Relation Sojourned in
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 9-10, 27
At Maoling 茂陵 · Relation Resided at
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 173
At Shu 蜀 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Book of Han 98, passage 17
At Shu 蜀 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 27, 30

Learning and skills

loved reading in youth 少時好讀書
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 4
Skill qin / zither 琴 · Level practiced
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 16-18
Skill fu rhapsody 賦 · Level renowned
Directly stated · Book of Han 98, passage 17
Skill literary composition 著書 · Level renowned
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 85
Skill swordsmanship 擊劍 · Level studied
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 4

Works and attributed material

posthumous memorial on feng and shan 遺書
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 226
Sir Vacuity 子虛賦
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 37, 39
Dialogue remonstrating with Shu elders / Nan Shu fulao 難蜀父老
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 33-34
Disputation with the Five Gentlemen 與五公子相難
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 259
fu-rhapsodies 辞赋
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passage 22
Letter Left for the Marquis of Pingling 遺平陵侯書
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 259

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Memorial on the feng and shan sacrifices 封禪書
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 178-180
Rhapsody for the Great Man 大人賦
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 120-121, 172
Rhapsody lamenting the Second Emperor 哀二世賦
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 105-106
Rhapsody of the Great Man 大人賦
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 99, passage 110
Rhapsody on Sir Vacuity / Sir Vacuity 子虛之賦
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 7, 37
rhapsody on the Son of Heaven's hunt (Shanglin) 天子遊獵之賦
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 40, 46, 190
Sir Fantasy rhapsody 子虛賦
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 119
Treatise on Plants and Trees 草木書篇
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 259
Dialogue · Author · Mode quotation Speaker Xiang Ru (相如)
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 35-83
Letter Left for the Marquis of Pingling 遺平陵侯書
Letter · Author · With Marquis of Pingling (平陵侯)
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 259
Sir Vacuity / Shanglin rhapsody dialogue 子虛上林賦
Literary work · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 48-189
Memorial · Author · With Son of Heaven (天子) · Mode quotation Speaker Xiang Ru (相如)
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 91-103, 181-250
Proclamation · Author · Mode quotation Speaker Xiang Ru (相如)
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 5-17
Rhapsody · Author · Mode quotation Speaker Xiang Ru (相如)
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 106-117, 122-171
有是。然此乃諸侯之事…請為天子遊獵之賦。
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 39-40

Events and relationships

Accompanied emperor hunting at Changyang and remonstrated
Court · Attendant · At Changyang 長楊
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 89-90
Accused of accepting gold while on mission and lost office
Legal · Accused
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 83
Attended Zhuo banquet and played qin
Banquet · Honored guest · With Zhuo Wangsun (卓王孫) · At Linqiang 臨邛
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 14-15, 17-18
Courted Wenjun through qin music and gifts to her maid
Courtship · Suitor · With Zhuo Wenjun (卓文君)
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 18, 21
Lodged at Linqiang relay inn; magistrate paid court daily
Social · Guest · With Wang Ji (王吉) · At Linqiang 臨邛
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 10-11
Pacified southwestern tribes
Diplomatic · Envoy · At southwest 西南夷
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 25, 30-31

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Persuaded western Yi; established commandant and counties under Shu
Diplomatic · Envoy
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 116, passage 35
Presented hunting rhapsody; emperor delighted
Literary presentation · Author · With the emperor (上)
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 46, 190
Remonstrated against dangerous imperial hunting
Remonstrance · Author · With Son of Heaven (天子)
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 90, 104
Reprimanded
Diplomatic · Envoy · With Tang Meng (唐蒙) · At Ba and Shu 巴蜀
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 4, 18
Served Emperor Jing as cavalry guard
Court service · Official · With Emperor Xiaojing (孝景皇帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 6
Sold carriage and horses, opened wine shop; Wenjun tended counter; Xiangru washed vessels in market
Commerce · Proprietor · With Zhuo Wenjun (卓文君) · At Linqiang 臨邛
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 27-28
Summoned and questioned about authorship of Sir Vacuity
Audience · Summoned subject · With the emperor (上)
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 38-39
Went to Liang as client among persuader scholars
Travel · Guest · At Liang 梁
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 7
pieces especially shown to dukes and ministers 尤著公卿者
Literary · Author · Writings shown to ministers
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 259
Relation Client of · Person Liu Wu (劉武)
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 7
Relation Admired · Person Lin Xiangru (藺相如)
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 5
Relation Wrote to · Person Marquis of Pingling (平陵侯)
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 259
Relation Friend of · Person Wang Ji (王吉)
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 9

Assessments and attributes

Assessment emperor delighted by report and by Great Man rhapsody · Mode narrative
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 31, 172
Assessment fu praised; emperor wished to be contemporary with its author · Mode quoted-speech Speaker the emperor (上)
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 36
Assessment literary composition (文章) · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 258
Assessment opulent rhapsodies exhort a hundred times and remonstrate once, like Zheng and Wei music with elegance only at the end—mere play · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Yang Xiong (子雲)
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 263
Assessment prose often empty and excessive, yet ultimately leads readers toward frugality, like the admonitory voice of the Odes · Mode quotation Speaker Sima Qian (太史公)
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 262
Assessment talented man worthy of reliance despite poverty · Mode named-source-report Speaker Note brothers and elders of Zhuo Wangsun
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 31

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Assessment virtuous talent treated as dust when powerless · Mode quoted-source Speaker Liu Jun (劉峻)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 14, passages 242-243
arrived with chariot and escort; unhurried grace and polish
Demeanor
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 19
chronic wasting-thirst / diabetes (消渴病)
Illness
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 86
stammered (口吃)
Speech
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 85
Item wealth from Zhuo marriage 卓氏財 · Relation Possessed
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passages 29, 87

Source notes

Bought office by wealth qualification (以訾為郎)
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passage 6
Found cavalry-guard post uncongenial; Emperor Jing disliked fu rhapsody
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 6-7
From Quanzi 犬子 · To Xiangru 相如 · Reason admired Lin Xiangru
Directly stated · Book of Han 66, passages 4-5

References in the histories

Search passages

History

82 passages

Book of Chen, Chapter 16Volume 16: Zhao Zhili; Cai Jingli; Liu Shizhi; Xie Qi · 1 passage

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直言如毛遂，能厲主威，銜使若相如，不辱君命。 In straight speech they are like Mao Sui and stiffen their lord's majesty; as envoys they are like Xiang Ru and do not disgrace their ruler's charge.

Book of Chen, Chapter 19Volume 19: Shen Jiong; Yu Li; Ma Shu · 1 passage

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昔承明既厭，嚴助東歸，駟馬可乘，長卿西返，恭聞故實，竊有愚心。 When Chenming grew weary, Yan Zhu went east; four-horse carriages waited, Sima Xiangru returned west—I hear these precedents and harbor this foolish wish.

Book of Han, Chapter 27Volume 24b: Treatise on Trade 2 · 1 passage

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唐蒙、司馬相如始開西南夷，鑿山通道千餘里，以廣巴蜀，巴蜀之民罷焉。 Tang Meng and Sima Xiangru launched southwestern expansion, cutting mountain passes over a thousand li into Ba and Shu, leaving those populations worn out.

Book of Han, Chapter 66Volume 57a: Sima Xiangru · 28 passages

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卷五十七上司馬相如傳第二十七上 Volume 57a: Biography of Sima Xiangru, chapter twenty-seven, first part.

司馬相如（上） Sima Xiangru, Part One.

司馬相如字長卿，蜀郡成都人也。 Sima Xiangru, whose courtesy name was Zhangqing, came from Chengdu in Shu commandery.

少時好讀書，學擊劍，名犬子。 As a boy he loved books, trained in swordsmanship, and bore the childhood name Quanzi (“Pup”).

相如既學，慕藺相如之為人也，更名相如。 Once his schooling was done, he so admired the conduct of Lin Xiangru that he adopted the name Xiangru for himself.

會景帝不好辭賦，是時梁孝王來朝，從遊說之士齊人鄒陽、淮陰枚乘、吳嚴忌夫子之徒，相如見而說之，因病免，客遊梁，得與諸侯游士居，數歲，乃著《子虛之賦》。 Emperor Jing had little taste for fu rhapsody. Just then King Xiao of Liang was at court with a retinue of persuader-scholars—Zou Yang of Qi, Mei Sheng of Huaiyin, Master Yan Ji of Wu, and others. Sima Xiangru took to their company, pleaded illness, left his post, and went to Liang as a client. For several years he lived among the itinerant literati at the feudal courts, and there he wrote his “Sir Vacuity.”

會梁孝王薨，相如歸，而家貧無以自業。 When King Xiao of Liang died, Xiangru went home, only to find his household too poor to make a living.

素與臨邛令王吉相善，吉曰：「長卿久宦游，不遂而困，來過我。」 He was old friends with Wang Ji, magistrate of Linqiang. Wang Ji said, “Zhangqing, you have been in service and on the road for years without getting anywhere. Come stay with me.”

於是相如往捨都亭，臨邛令繆為恭敬，日往朝相如。 Sima Xiangru moved into the county relay inn. The magistrate feigned elaborate respect and called on him every morning.

相如初尚見之，後稱病，使從者謝吉，吉愈益謹肅。 At first he received Wang Ji, then pleaded illness and sent retainers to turn him away—whereupon the magistrate grew only more punctilious and deferential.

令既至，卓氏客以百數，至日中請司馬長卿，長卿謝病不能臨。 When Wang Ji appeared, Zhuo’s hall held a hundred guests. At noon they sent for Sima Zhangqing; he pleaded illness and would not attend.

臨邛令不敢嘗食，身自迎相如，相如為不得已而強往，一坐盡傾。 The magistrate would not touch his meal and went in person to escort him. Sima Xiangru yielded at last and came—and with a single appearance he charmed the whole company.

酒酣，臨邛令前奏琴曰：「竊聞長卿好之，願以自娛。」 When they were deep in wine, the magistrate stepped forward with a zither and said, “I have heard that Zhangqing is fond of this; I wish to amuse myself with it.”

相如辭謝，為鼓一再行。 Sima Xiangru demurred, then played a passage or two.

是時，卓王孫有女文君新寡，好音，故相如繆與令相重而以琴心挑之。 Zhuo Wangsun’s daughter Wenjun was newly widowed and loved music. Sima Xiangru therefore played up his friendship with the magistrate and, through what his qin implied, courted her.

相如時從車騎，雍容閑雅，甚都。 He arrived with chariot and escort, carrying himself with unhurried grace and unmistakable polish.

既罷，相如乃令侍人重賜文君侍者通殷勤。 Afterward he sent his people to tip her maid handsomely and pass on his tender regard.

文君夜亡奔相如，相如與馳歸成都。 That night Wenjun slipped away to join him, and the two raced back to Chengdu.

文君久之不樂，謂長卿曰：「弟俱如臨邛，從昆弟假貸，猶足以為生，何至自苦如此！」 After some time Wenjun grew miserable and said, “My dear, let us return to Linqiang. Even if we only borrow from our brothers on loan, we can still earn a living—anything is better than starving in pride like this.”

相如與俱之臨邛，盡賣車騎，買酒捨，乃令文君當盧。 They went back to Linqiang, sold their carriage and horses, opened a tavern, and put Wenjun behind the counter.

相如身自著犢鼻褌，與庸保雜作，滌器於市中。 Sima Xiangru himself donned leather breeches like a laborer, worked alongside potmen, and scrubbed cups in the marketplace.

今文君既失身於司馬長卿，長卿故倦游，雖貧，其人材足依也。 Wenjun has given herself to Sima Zhangqing. He may be poor, but he is a man of talent who has long since wearied of mere roaming—she can rely on him.

文君乃與相如歸成都，買田宅，為富人。 She and Sima Xiangru returned to Chengdu, bought land and manor, and settled among the wealthy.

得意曰：「臣邑人司馬相如自言為此賦。」 Yang Deyi replied, “My countryman Sima Xiangru claims authorship of that piece.”

上驚，乃召問相如。 Startled, the emperor summoned Sima Xiangru for an audience.

相如曰：「有是。 Sima Xiangru said, “It is so.

上令尚書給筆札，相如以「子虛」，虛言也，為楚稱； The emperor ordered brushes and bamboo slips from the Secretariat. Sima Xiangru explained that “Sir Vacuity” stood for empty boasting on Chu’s behalf;

賦奏，天子以為郎。 When the fu was laid before the throne, the emperor appointed Sima Xiangru a gentleman-attendant at court.

Book of Han, Chapter 67Volume 57b: Sima Xiangru · 28 passages

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司馬相如（下） Sima Xiangru (Part Two).

相如為郎數歲，會唐蒙使略通夜郎、僰中，發巴、蜀吏卒，千人，郡又多為發轉漕萬餘人，用軍興法誅其渠率。 Xiangru had served as a gentleman attendant for several years when Tang Meng was dispatched to push the frontier toward Yelang and the Bozhong region. Tang called up a thousand officers and troops from Ba and Shu, and the commanderies raised more than ten thousand additional laborers for transport and supply. Invoking the statutes used in wartime mobilization, he put their leaders to death.

上聞之，乃遣相如責唐蒙等，因諭告巴、蜀民以非上意。 When the emperor learned of the unrest, he sent Xiangru to reprimand Tang Meng and his associates and to make clear to the people of Ba and Shu that none of this had been the sovereign's will.

相如還報。 Xiangru returned and made his report.

上問相如，相如曰：「邛、莋、冉、駹者近蜀，道易通，異時嘗通為郡縣矣，至漢興而罷。 The emperor asked Xiangru for his view. He replied: "The tribes of Qiong, Zuo, Ran, and Mang border Shu; their routes are easy to open. They were once organized as commanderies in earlier dynasties and only lapsed when the Han arose.

上以為然，乃拜相如為中郎將，建節往使。 The emperor agreed and appointed Xiangru General of the Household, sending him as an envoy bearing imperial credentials.

於是卓王孫、臨邛諸公皆因門下獻牛、酒以交歡。 Zhuo Wangsun and the leading families of Linqiong then sent cattle and wine through Xiangru's attendants to join the celebration.

卓王孫喟然而歎，自以得使女尚司馬長卿晚，乃厚分與其女財，與男等。 Zhuo Wangsun sighed that he had waited too long to gain Sima Changqing as a son-in-law; he now settled a lavish marriage portion on his daughter, equal to what he gave his sons.

相如使略定西南夷，邛、莋、冉、駹、斯榆之君皆請為臣妾，除邊關，邊關益斥，西至沫、若水，南至牂牁為徼，通靈山道，橋孫水，以通邛、莋。 On mission Xiangru brought the southwest under control: the rulers of Qiong, Zuo, Ran, Mang, and Siyu all asked to submit as tributaries. Frontier barriers came down and the line of outposts stretched west to the Mo and Ruoshui rivers and south to Zangke as the outer perimeter. Roads pierced Mount Ling, bridges spanned the Sun River, and traffic linked Qiong and Zuo.

相如使時，蜀長老多言通西南夷之不為用，大臣亦以為然。 While Xiangru was away, Shu notables kept saying that the southwest road served no purpose, and senior ministers at court agreed.

相如欲諫，業已建之，不敢，乃著書，借蜀父老為辭，而己詰難之，以風天子，且因宣其使指，令百姓皆知天子意。 He wanted to argue the case but dared not, having himself sponsored the scheme. Instead he drafted a dialogue, putting the objections in the mouths of Shu elders and answering them in his own voice, both to sway the throne and to spell out what his mission had meant so that every household would grasp the emperor's purpose.

其後人有上書言相如使時受金，失官。 Later a memorial accused Xiangru of taking bribes on mission, and he was dismissed.

相如口吃而善著書。 Xiangru stammered yet excelled at literary composition.

是時天子方好自擊熊豕，馳逐野獸，相如因上疏諫。 The emperor had taken to killing bears and boars with his own hands and racing after game; Xiangru therefore presented a written remonstrance.

還過宜春宮，相如奏賦以哀二世行失。 On the way back the imperial train passed Yichun Palace, where Xiangru offered a rhapsody mourning the Second Emperor's moral failure.

相如拜為孝文園令。 Xiangru received appointment as steward of Emperor Wen's mausoleum park.

上既美子虛之事，相如見上好仙，因曰：「上林之事未足美也，尚有靡者。 The sovereign had already praised his "Sir Fantasy" rhapsody. Seeing how fond the emperor was of immortals, Xiangru said: "What I wrote of the Upper Grove is not the limit of splendor; something grander remains.

相如以為列仙之儒居山澤間，形容甚□，此非帝王之仙意也，乃遂奏《大人賦》。 He thought the common picture of immortals—emaciated recluses in hills and swamps—beneath an emperor's dignity, and so he offered the "Rhapsody for the Great Man" instead.

相如既奏《大人賦》，天子大說，飄飄有陵雲氣游天地之間意。 After Xiangru recited the "Rhapsody for the Great Man," the emperor was transported; he felt light enough to ride the wind between heaven and earth.

相如既病免，家居茂陵。 When illness forced Xiangru to retire, he lived quietly at Maoling.

天子曰：「司馬相如病甚，可往從悉取其書，若後之矣。」 The emperor said: "Sima Xiangru is dying; send someone to collect whatever manuscripts he has before it is too late."

使所忠往，而相如已死，家無遺書。 Suo Zhong was dispatched, but Xiangru had already died and his house held no books.

問其妻，對曰：「長卿未嘗有書也。 When they asked his wife, she said: "Changqing never kept books of his own.

長卿未死時，為一卷書，曰有使來求書，奏之。」 Before he died he left one scroll with the note, 'If an envoy comes for my writings, present this memorial.'"

相如既卒五歲，上始祭后土。 Five years after Xiangru's death the emperor first offered sacrifice to Hou Tu.

八年而遂禮中岳，封於太山，至梁甫，禪肅然。 Eight years after Xiangru's death he worshiped the central peak, performed the feng on Mount Tai, went on to Liangfu, and the shan at Suyan.

相如它所著，若《遺平陵侯書》、《與五公子相難》、《草木書篇》，不採，采其尤著公卿者雲。 Other pieces attributed to him—letters to the Marquis of Pingling, debates with the five gentlemen, botanical sketches—are omitted here; this chapter records chiefly what he laid before the high ministers.

相如雖多虛辭濫說，然要其歸引之於節儉，此亦《詩》之風諫何異？」 Xiangru's prose is often inflated, yet in the end he pulls the reader back toward restraint—much like the corrective voice of the Odes."

Book of Han, Chapter 68Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan · 3 passages

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先是，司馬相如病死，有遺書，頌功德，言符瑞，足以封泰山。 Sima Xiangru had left a posthumous memorial praising the reign and its omens as warranting the Tai-shan ceremony.

上奇其書，以問寬，寬對曰：「陛下躬發聖德，統楫群元，宗祀天地，薦禮百神，精神所鄉，徵兆必報，天地並應，符瑞昭明。 The emperor showed him Xiangru's text; Kuan answered: "Your virtue steers the people, your sacrifices reach Heaven, earth, and the gods—where mind and rite meet, omens reply in plain sight.

漢之得人，於茲為盛，儒雅則公孫弘、董仲舒、兒寬，篤行則石建、石慶，質直則汲黯、卜式，推賢則韓安國、鄭當時，定令則趙禹、張湯，文章則司馬遷、相如，滑稽則東方朔、枚皋，應對則嚴助、硃買臣，歷數則唐都、洛下閎，協律則李延年，運籌則桑弘羊，奉使則張騫、蘇武，將率則衛青、霍去病，受遺則霍光、金日磾，其餘不可勝紀。 Never did the dynasty gather talent so thickly: Hong, Dong, and Kuan for classical breadth; the Shi brothers for steadfast service; Ji An and Bu Shi for blunt loyalty; Han Anguo and Zheng Dangshi for lifting others; Zhao Yu and Zhang Tang for codifying law; Sima Qian and Xiangru for voice; jesters Dongfang Shuo and Mei Gao; debaters Yan Zhu and Zhu Maichen; calendar-makers Tang Du and Luoxia Hong; the harmonist Li Yan'nian; the reckoner Sang Hongyang; envoys Zhang Qian and Su Wu; blades Wei Qing and Huo Qubing; regents Huo Guang and Jin Midi—and a cloud of names besides.

Book of Han, Chapter 74Volume 64a: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 1 · 3 passages

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後得朱買臣、吾丘壽王、司馬相如、主父偃、徐樂嚴安、東方朔、枚皋、膠倉、終軍、嚴蔥奇等，並在左右。 He soon gathered Zhu Maichen, Wuqiu Shouwang, Sima Xiangru, Zhufu Yan, Xu Le, Yan An, Dongfang Shuo, Mei Gao, Jiao Cang, Zhong Jun, Yan Congqi, and the rest in his inner circle.

其尤親幸者，東方朔、枚皋、嚴助、吾丘壽王、司馬相如。 Those he favored most were Dongfang Shuo, Mei Gao, Yan Zhu, Wuqiu Shouwang, and Sima Xiangru.

相如常稱疾避事。 Sima Xiangru habitually pleaded illness to dodge court duty.

Book of Han, Chapter 76Volume 65: Dongfang Shuo · 1 passage

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是時，朝廷多賢材，上復問朔：「方今公孫丞相，兒大夫、董仲舒、夏侯始昌、司馬相如、吾丘壽王、主父偃、硃買臣、嚴助、汲黯、膠倉、終軍、嚴安、徐樂、司馬遷之倫，皆辯知閎達，溢於文辭，先生自視，何與比哉？」 The court at that time teemed with talent, and the emperor pressed Shuo again: "Consider Chancellor Gongsun Hong, Censor-in-Chief Er Kuan, Dong Zhongshu, Xiahou Shichang, Sima Xiangru, Wuqiu Shouwang, Zhufu Yan, Zhu Maichen, Yan Zhu, Ji An, Jiao Cang, Zhong Jun, Yan An, Xu Le, Sima Qian, and men of that stamp. They are learned, articulate, and prolific writers. How do you measure yourself against such company?"

Book of Han, Chapter 98Volume 87a: Yang Xiong 1 · 3 passages

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先是時，蜀有司馬相如，作賦甚弘麗溫雅，雄心壯之，每作賦，常擬之以為式。 Earlier, Shu had produced Sima Xiangru, whose fu were magnificent yet refined; Xiong admired him and took his style as the model for his own verse.

又怪屈原文過相如，至不容，作《離騷》，自投江而死，悲其文，讀之未嘗不流涕也。 He also marveled that Qu Yuan's gifts outshone even Xiangru's, yet the court would not tolerate him—so he wrote Encountering Sorrow and drowned himself in the river. Xiong mourned that work and wept whenever he read it.

孝成帝時，客有薦雄文似相如者，上方郊祠甘泉泰畤、汾陰后土，以求繼嗣，召雄待詔承明之庭。 Under Emperor Cheng a visitor praised Xiong's prose as rivaling Sima Xiangru's. The emperor was preparing suburban sacrifices at the Grand Altar of Sweet Springs and at the earth shrine of Fenyin to win a successor, and summoned Xiong as expectant scholar in the Chenming hall.

Book of Han, Chapter 99Volume 87b: Yang Xiong 2 · 3 passages

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夫藺先生收功於章台，四皓采榮於南山，公孫創業於金馬，票騎發跡於祁連，司馬長卿竊訾於卓氏，東方朔割炙於細君。 Lord Lin won his fame on the Zhangtai terrace; the Four Whiteheads took honor on Mount Shang; Gongsun Hong built a career from the Golden Horse gate; Huo Qubing made his name beyond Qilian; Sima Xiangru wangled a fortune from the Zhuos; Dongfang Shuo carved a roast for his bride.

往時武帝好神仙，相如上《大人賦》，欲以風，帝反縹縹有陵雲之志。 When Emperor Wu doted on immortals, Sima Xiangru offered his "Rhapsody of the Great Man" as a cautionary mirror—only to leave the sovereign drifting, more eager than ever to ride the wind above the clouds.

辭莫麗於相如，作四賦； No voice was richer than Sima Xiangru’s—he composed four great fu in that mold.

Book of Han, Chapter 105Volume 93: Flatterers · 1 passage

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是時，上方興天地祠，欲造樂，令司馬相如等作詩頌。 Wu was founding state rituals to Heaven and Earth and wanted fresh ritual music; Sima Xiangru and others were told to supply hymn texts.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 89Volume 80a: Biographies of Writers 1 · 1 passage

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窃见司马相如、杨子云作辞赋以讽主上，臣诚慕之，伏作书一篇，名曰《论都》，谨并封奏如左。 I recall how Sima Xiangru and Yang Xiong crafted rhapsodies to counsel their rulers—examples I earnestly wish to emulate. Kneeling, I offer this essay titled On the Capital (Lun Du), sealed and laid before you as follows.

Book of Liang, Chapter 14Volume 14: Jiang Yan; Ren Fang · 1 passage

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若衡不能舉，纊不能飛，雖顏、冉龍翰鳳＜芻鳥＞，曾、史，蘭熏雪白，舒、向金玉，淵海卿、雲，黼黻河漢，視若遊塵。 If the scale cannot lift and the gossamer cannot fly, though Yan and Ran had dragon sinews and phoenix pinions, Zeng and Shi orchid scent and snow-white, Shu and Xiang gold, jade, and the abyss-sea, Qing and Yun embroidery and the Milky Way—they are wandering dust.

History of Liao, Chapter 76Volume 76 Biographies 6: Yelu Jieli, Yelu Balide, Yelu Shuogu, Yelu Lubugu, Zhao Yanshou, Gao Mohan, Zhao Siwen, Yelu Oulisi, Zhang Li · 1 passage

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至東京，父老歡迎曰：「公起戎行，致身富貴，為鄉里榮，相如、買臣輩不足過也。」 When he reached the Eastern Capital, the local elders welcomed him, saying, "You rose from the ranks to wealth and honor and have brought glory to our home—men like Sima Xiangru and Zhu Maichen are not your equal."

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 47Volume 47 Biographies 28: Wang Rong, Xie Tiao · 2 passages

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後日，宋弁於瑤池堂謂融曰：「昔觀相如《封禪》，以知漢武之德； A few days later Song Bian said to Rong at Yaochi Hall, "When I once read Sima Xiangru's 'Feng and Shan,' I learned Emperor Wu of Han's virtue;

更慚鄙製，無以遠匹相如。」 and I am ashamed that my humble piece cannot remotely match Xiangru."

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 116Treatise on the Southwestern Yi People · 2 passages

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蜀人司馬相如亦言西夷邛、筰可置郡。 Sima Xiangru, a man of Shu, likewise argued that commanderies could be established in the western Yi territories of Qiong and Zuo.

使相如以郎中將往喻，皆如南夷，為置一都尉，十餘縣，屬蜀。 Sima Xiangru was dispatched as a Palace Gentleman General to win them over. The arrangements followed the same pattern as with the southern Yi: a commandant was appointed, more than ten counties were established, and all were placed under the jurisdiction of Shu.

Book of Sui, Chapter 77Volume 77 Biographies 42: Recluses · 1 passage

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