Overview
Xu Jia was an eunuch.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Life and dates
Attested activity
Places and affiliations
- Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Subject of
References in the histories
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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 52House of Prince Daohui of Qi · 8 passages
齊有宦者徐甲，入事漢皇太后。
There was a eunuch from Qi named Xu Jia who had entered service at the Han court under the Grand Empress Dowager.
修成君有女名娥，太后欲嫁之於諸侯，宦者甲乃請使齊，必令王上書請娥。
Lady Xiucheng had a daughter named E. The Empress Dowager wished to marry her to a feudal king, and the eunuch Xu Jia volunteered to go to Qi, promising that he would get the King to submit a memorial requesting E's hand.
皇太后喜，使甲之齊。
The Grand Empress Dowager was delighted and dispatched Xu Jia to Qi.
是時齊人主父偃知甲之使齊以取后事，亦因謂甲：「即事成，幸言偃女願得充王後宮。」
At this time, Zhu Fu Yan, a man from Qi, learned that Xu Jia was being sent to arrange a marriage with the Qi court. He said to Xu Jia, 'If the matter succeeds, please put in a word that my daughter would like a place in the King's harem.'
甲既至齊，風以此事。
When Xu Jia arrived in Qi, he broached the matter.
且甲，齊貧人，急乃為宦者，入事漢，無補益，乃欲亂吾王家！
Xu Jia is nothing but a poor man from Qi who castrated himself out of desperation to serve at the Han court. He has been of no use whatsoever, and now he dares to meddle in my royal house!
徐甲大窮，還報皇太后曰：「王已願尚娥，然有一害，恐如燕王。」
Xu Jia, having been thoroughly rebuffed, returned to the Grand Empress Dowager and reported: 'The King is willing to take E as his consort, but there is one concern—I fear the situation may resemble that of the King of Yan.'
燕王者，與其子昆弟姦，新坐以死，亡國，故以燕感太后。
The King of Yan had committed incest with members of his own family, and had recently been convicted and put to death, his kingdom abolished. Xu Jia invoked this case to alarm the Empress Dowager.