Qin and Han · Han scholar, mathematician, and hydraulic official

Xu Shang 許商

Attested BC 33 - c. BC 7

Passages: 10
Chapters: 3
Histories: 1

Overview

Xu Shang was a Han scholar, mathematician, and hydraulic official.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 33 to BC 7 成帝之世
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passages 14, 20
c. BC 32 to c. BC 17 成帝初至鴻嘉四年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 38, passage 138
BC 33 to BC 7 成帝時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 117, passage 60
c. BC 30 to c. BC 7 許商
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passage 253

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 38 Volume 29: Treatise on Rivers and Canals 7 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 117 Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 2 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 70 Volume 60: Du Zhou 1 passage

Career and standing

Grand Counselor of the Household 光祿大夫
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 60
Academician 博士
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 38, passage 138
Minister of the Lesser Treasury 少府
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 60
Palace Attendant 侍中
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 60
River-Dike Commandant 河隄都尉
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 38, passage 166
Superintendent of Imperial Works 將作大匠
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 38, passage 156

Show 1 more source-backed claim

Guanglu Xun (Superintendent of the Imperial Household) 光祿勳
Directly stated · Book of Han 70, passage 253

Places and affiliations

Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passage 138
Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 60

Learning and skills

Skill calculation and cost-benefit analysis 明計算，能商功利
Directly stated · Book of Han 38, passages 138, 158

Works and attributed material

Hydraulic response · Author · Mode direct-attribution Speaker Xu Shang (許商)
Directly stated · Book of Han 38, passages 170-173

Events and relationships

Inspected the Tunshi River and recommended deferring dredging because funds were insufficient
Hydraulic · Inspector
Directly stated · Book of Han 38, passages 138-139
Relation Teacher of · Person Ban Bo (班伯)
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 60
Relation Teacher of · Person Ban Bo (班伯)
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 20

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 75

References in the histories

Search passages

History

10 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 38Volume 29: Treatise on Rivers and Canals · 7 passages

事下丞相、御史，白博士許商治尚書，善為算，能度功用。 The case went to the chancellor and censors, who consulted Academician Xu Shang - a Documents specialist skilled in calculation and cost-benefit assessment.

遣行視，以為屯氏河盈溢所為，方用度不足，可且勿浚。 After inspecting the site, Xu Shang concluded that overflow from the Tunshi River had caused the problem. Since funds were short, he recommended postponing the dredging.

宜遣焉及將作大匠許商、諫大夫乘馬延年雜作。 Yang Yan should be sent to work jointly with Xu Shang, superintendent of imperial works, and Chengma Yannian, grandee of remonstrance.

商、延年皆明計算，能商功利，足以分別是非，擇其善而從之，必有成功。」 Xu Shang and Yannian are both strong in technical calculation and cost-benefit assessment. They can sort right from wrong; choose the best option and success should follow."

河隄都尉許商與丞相史孫禁共行視，圖方略。 Dike commandant Xu Shang and chancellery clerk Sun Jin conducted a joint inspection and drew up response plans.

許商以為「古說九河之名，有徒駭、胡蘇、鬲津，今見在成平、東光、鬲界中。 Xu Shang replied, "Ancient records name among the Nine Rivers channels such as Tuohai, Husu, and Gejin, and their traces still lie around Chengping, Dongguang, and Ge.

公卿皆從商言。 The court's top ministers sided with Xu Shang.

Book of Han, Chapter 70Volume 60: Du Zhou · 1 passage

案師丹行能無異，及光祿勳許商被病殘人，皆但以附從方進，嘗獲尊官。 Consider Shi Dan: there was nothing exceptional in his conduct or ability. Xu Shang, Superintendent of the Imperial Household, suffered from a disabling illness. Both obtained high office only by attaching themselves to Fangjin.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 2 passages

既通大義，又講異同於許商，遷奉車都尉。 Once he had the larger outlines, he argued fine points with Xu Shang and was promoted to Privy Coachman.

是時許商為少府，師丹為光祿勳，上於是引商、丹入為光祿大夫，伯遷水衡都尉，與兩師並侍中，皆秩中二千石。 At the time Xu Shang was Minister of the Lesser Treasury and Shi Dan was Chamberlain for Attendants. The emperor brought Shang and Dan into court as grand counselors of the household, promoted Ban Bo to chief commandant of waters and parks, and had him serve as Palace Attendant together with his two teachers; all held the salary rank of fully two thousand piculs.