Qin and Han · Aristocrat and Official

Zhang Anshi 張安世

Zhāng Ānshì

Attested BC 141 - BC 48

Passages: 54
Chapters: 5
Histories: 2

Overview

The translated histories identify Zhang Anshi as an aristocrat, general, official, and statesman. This record brings together 54 passages from 5 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Zhang Anshi	張安世	Zhāng Ānshì
Given	Anshi	安世	Anshi
Given name	Anshi	安世	Anshi
Title	Chariot-and-Cavalry General	車騎將軍
Title	General of the Right	右將軍
Posthumous name	Marquis Jing	敬侯	Jing hou
Posthumous name	Marquis Jing	敬侯
Title	Marquis of Fuping	富平侯
Title	Marquis of Fuping	富平侯	Fuping hou
Surname	Zhang	張	Zhang
Personal name	Zhang Anshi	張安世
Personal name	Zhang Anshi	張安世	Zhang Anshi
Personal	Zhang Anshi	張安世	Zhang Anshi
Personal name	Zhang Anshi	張安世	Zhāng Ānshì
Courtesy	Ziru	子孺	Ziru
Given		安世	Anshi
Surname		張	Zhang

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:008:s0135
Sex: male
Explicit · hanshu:068:s0260, hanshu:069:s0114, hanshu:069:s0190, hanshu:069:s0192, hanshu:085:s0114, liangshu:014:s0246

Roles

Aristocrat
General
Official
Statesman

Life and dates

Death

Date Text: Yuankang year 4, autumn
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:069:s0243, hanshu:069:s0248

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 元康四年春 · Western Year: BC 62
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0243
Source Date: Text: 元鳳六年 · Western Year: BC 75
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:008:s0135
Source Date: Text: 孝宣承統 · Western Interval: Start: BC 74 · End: BC 48
Explicit · hanshu:068:s0260
Source Date: Text: 敬侯遺風 · Western Interval: Start: BC 74 · End: BC 49
Strongly inferred · hanshu:069:s0190
Source Date: Text: 昌邑廢後 · Western Year: BC 74
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:085:s0114
Source Date: Text: 武、昭、宣世 · Western Interval: Start: BC 141 · End: BC 49
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0192
Source Date: Text: 量交 · Western Year: c. BC 62
Explicit event contextual date · liangshu:014:s0246

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Ancestor of Zhang Jing (張敬)
Kinship Term: granddaughter / 女孫 · Generation Distance: 2
Sibling of Zhang He (張賀)
Kinship Term: elder brother / 兄 · Subject Relative Age: elder · Shared Parentage: full
Child of Zhang Tang (張湯)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father
Kin of Zhang He (張賀)
Kinship Term: He / 賀 · Line: paternal
Ancestor of Zhang Chun (張純)
Kinship Term: Marquis Jing / 敬侯 · Line: paternal
Kinship Term: surviving manner of Marquis Jing / 敬侯遺風 · Line: paternal
Parent of Zhang Qianqiu (張千秋)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son · Object Birth Order: 1
Parent of Zhang Yanshou (張延壽)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Parent of Zhang Pengzu (張彭祖)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Spouse of Wife of Zhang Anshi (安世夫人)
Kinship Term: wife / 夫人 · Union Category: marriage · Subject Role: husband · Object Role: wife
Ancestor of Zhang Fang (張放)
Line: paternal

Career and standing

Label: Chariot-and-Cavalry General / 車騎將軍 · Action: held
Explicit · hanshu:085:s0114
Office: Chamberlain for Attendants / 光祿勳
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0199
Office: Director of the Masters of Writing / 尚書令
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0120
Office: General of Chariots and Cavalry / 車騎將軍
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0202
Office: General of the Guard / 衛將軍
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0219
Office: General of the Right / 右將軍
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0199
Office: gentleman-attendant / 郎
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0116
Office: Grand Marshal / 大司馬
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0218
Office: Grandee of Splendid Happiness / 光祿大夫
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0120
衛將軍
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0245
Title: Marquis of Fuping / 富平侯 · Action: enfeoffed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元鳳六年 · Western Year: BC 75
Explicit · hanshu:008:s0135
Title: Marquis Jing / 敬侯 · Action: posthumously-titled
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0190
敬侯
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0249
富平侯
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0245
Title: Marquis of Fuping / 富平侯
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0201

Places and affiliations

Label: Han / 漢 · Relation: served
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0192, hanshu:069:s0194, hanshu:085:s0114
Label: Western Han / 漢 · Relation: served
Explicit · hanshu:068:s0260
Polity: Han / 漢
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0198
Place: imperial mausoleum settlements / 陵 · Relation: relocated-with · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 武、昭、宣世 · Western Interval: Start: BC 141 · End: BC 49
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0192
Place: Duling / 杜陵 · Relation: resided-at
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0192

Works and attributed material

Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Provenance: Mode: quotation · Speaker Person Id: Zhang Anshi (張安世)
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0214

Events and relationships

Kind: political · Role: appointee · Action: appointed-grand-marshal
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0218
Kind: political · Role: participant · Action: deposed-Changyi-enthroned-Xuan · Other Person Id: Huo Guang (霍光)
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0203
Kind: death · Role: subject · Action: died · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 至秋薨 · Western Year: BC 62
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0248
Kind: migration · Role: subject · Action: followed three imperial mausoleum settlements then returned to Duling · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 武、昭、宣世輒隨陵，凡三徙，復還杜陵 · Western Interval: Start: BC 141 · End: BC 49
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0192
Kind: political · Role: ancestor-of-house · Action: Fuping marquisate uniquely preserved favor among Han marquises · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0194

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: general or chancellor (將相) · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · hanshu:068:s0260
Assessment: had achievements recounted in their age · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · hanshu:068:s0260
Assessment: house entered by bribes · Provenance: Mode: quoted-source · Speaker Person Id: Liu Jun (劉峻)
Explicit · liangshu:014:s0246
Assessment: walked the Way; full yet not overflowing · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0196

References in the histories

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

Book of Han, Chapter 8Volume 7: Annals of Emperor Zhao · 1 passage

右將軍張安世宿衛忠謹，封富平侯。 General of the Right Zhang Anshi had served loyally and diligently in the palace guard. He was enfeoffed as Marquis of Fuping.

Book of Han, Chapter 68Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan · 1 passage

孝宣承統，纂修洪業，亦講論六藝，招選茂異，而蕭望之、梁丘賀、夏侯勝、韋玄成、嚴彭祖，尹更始以儒術進，劉向，王褒以文章顯，將相則張安世、趙充國、魏相、丙吉、於定國、杜延年，治民則黃霸、王成、龔遂、鄭弘、召信臣、韓延壽、尹翁歸、趙廣漢、嚴延年、張敞之屬，皆有功跡見述於世。 Emperor Xuan inherited the succession and carried forward the great enterprise. He too expounded the Six Arts and recruited outstanding men. Xiao Wangzhi, Liangqiu He, Xiahou Sheng, Wei Xuancheng, Yan Pengzu, and Yin Gengshi advanced through Confucian learning; Liu Xiang and Wang Bao gained distinction for their writing; among the generals and chancellors were Zhang Anshi, Zhao Chongguo, Wei Xiang, Bing Ji, Yu Dingguo, and Du Yannian; and among those who governed the people were Huang Ba, Wang Cheng, Gong Sui, Zheng Hong, Shao Xinchen, Han Yanshou, Yin Wengui, Zhao Guanghan, Yan Yannian, Zhang Chang, and others. All left achievements celebrated in their age.

Book of Han, Chapter 69Volume 59: Zhang Tang · 50 passages

上惜湯，復稍進其子安世。 The emperor still regretted Tang's fate and began again to advance his son Zhang Anshi.

子安世 His son: Zhang Anshi.

安世字子孺，少以父任為郎。 Zhang Anshi, courtesy name Ziru, entered the court in his youth as a gentleman-attendant by virtue of his father's rank.

上行幸河東，嘗亡書三篋，詔問莫能知，唯安世識之，具作其事。 On an imperial progress to Hedong three document cases went missing. An edict summoned anyone who could identify them; only Anshi recognized the files from memory and wrote out their contents in full.

昭帝即位，大將軍霍光秉政，以安世篤行，光親重之。 When Emperor Zhao came to the throne, Grand General Huo Guang held power. Because Zhang Anshi was known for upright conduct, Huo Guang personally valued him.

會左將軍上官桀父子及御史大夫桑弘羊皆與燕王、蓋主謀反誅，光以朝無舊臣，白用安世為右將軍光祿勳，以自副焉。 When Left General Shangguan Jie and his son, together with Grand Minister of Finance Sang Hongyang, were executed for plotting with the King of Yan and the Princess of Gai, Huo Guang—finding the court bereft of senior ministers—recommended Anshi as general of the right and superintendent of the masters of writing to serve as his deputy.

久之，天子下詔曰：「右將軍光祿勳安世輔政宿衛，肅敬不怠，十有三年，咸以康寧。 After some time the emperor issued an edict: "General of the Right and superintendent of the masters of writing Anshi has assisted in government and guarded the palace with reverent diligence for thirteen years, and the realm has remained at peace.

夫親親任賢，唐、虞之道也，其封安世為富平侯。」 To cherish kin and employ the worthy is the Way of Tang and Yu. Let Anshi be enfeoffed as Marquis of Fuping."

明年，昭帝崩，未葬，大將軍光白太后，徙安世為車騎將軍，與共徵立昌邑王。 The next year Emperor Zhao died. Before the funeral, Huo Guang reported to the empress dowager, transferred Anshi to general of chariots and cavalry, and together they summoned and enthroned the King of Changyi.

王行淫亂，光復與安世謀，廢王、尊立宣帝。 When the new king proved dissolute, Huo Guang again plotted with Anshi, deposed him, and enthroned Emperor Xuan in his place.

車騎將軍光祿勳富平侯安世，宿衛忠正，宣德明恩，勤勞國家，守職秉義，以安宗廟，其益封萬六百戶，功次大將軍光。」 General of chariots and cavalry, superintendent of the masters of writing, and Marquis of Fuping Anshi has guarded the palace with loyal rectitude, spread virtue abroad, toiled for the state, and upheld righteousness to secure the ancestral temple. Increase his fief by ten thousand six hundred households; his merit ranks next to Grand General Huo Guang."

安世子千秋、延壽、彭祖，皆中郎將侍中。 Anshi's sons Zhang Qianqiu, Zhang Yanshou, and Pengzu were all made generals of the household gentlemen and attendants of the interior.

車騎將軍安世事孝武皇帝三十餘年，忠信謹厚，勤勞政事，夙夜不怠，與大將軍定策，天下受其福，國家重臣也，宜尊其位，以為大將軍，毋令領光祿勳事，使專精神，憂念天下，思惟得失。 General of chariots and cavalry Anshi served Emperor Wu for more than thirty years with loyal, careful service, toiling day and night in government. With the grand general he settled the succession, and the realm benefited. He is a pillar of the state and should be raised to grand general, relieved of the superintendent of the masters of writing, so that he may devote himself wholly to the realm and weigh its gains and losses.

安世子延壽重厚，可以為光祿勳，領宿衛臣。」 Anshi's son Zhang Yanshou is grave and sincere and may serve as superintendent of the masters of writing, leading the palace guard ministers."

安世聞指，懼不敢當。 When Anshi heard what was intended, he was afraid and did not dare accept.

安世深辭弗能得。 Anshi declined with all his strength but could not prevail.

後歲餘，禹謀反，夷宗族，安世素小心畏忌，已內憂矣。 A little over a year later Huo Yu rose in rebellion and his entire clan was wiped out. Anshi, who had always been cautious and easily alarmed, was already anxious at heart.

其女孫敬為霍氏外屬婦，當相坐，安世瘦懼，形於顏色，上怪而憐之，以問左右，乃赦敬，以尉其意。 His granddaughter Zhang Jing had married into a Huo-affiliated family and stood liable to collective punishment. Anshi grew haggard with dread, and it showed on his face. The emperor noticed, took pity, asked his attendants for the story, and pardoned Jing to set his mind at ease.

安世浸恐。 His fear only deepened.

嘗有所薦，其人來謝，安世大恨，以為舉賢達能，豈有私謝邪？ Once he recommended a man for office. When the appointee came to thank him in person, Anshi was furious: recommending talent for the public good was not an occasion for private gratitude.

有郎功高不調，自言，安世應曰：「君之功高，明主所知。 A gentleman-attendant of long and distinguished service had not been promoted and spoke up for himself. Anshi replied, "Your record is known to the enlightened ruler.

莫府長史遷，辭去之官，安世問以過失。 When his headquarters chief clerk was promoted and came to say farewell before leaving for his new command, Anshi asked whether he had ever found fault with his administration.

安世曰「明主在上，賢不肖較然，臣下自修而已，何知士而薦之？」 Anshi answered, "When a clear-sighted ruler sits on the throne, the worthy and the unworthy sort themselves out. Subjects have only to mind their own conduct—why should I play patron to office-seekers?"

為光祿勳，郎有醉小便殿上，主事白行法，安世曰：「何以知其不反水漿邪？ While he was superintendent of the household, a gentleman-attendant relieved himself on the palace floor while drunk. The duty officer asked leave to prosecute. Anshi said, "How can we be sure it was not wine he spilled?

郎淫官婢，婢兄自言，安世曰：「奴以恚怒，誣污衣冠。」 A gentleman-attendant had illicit relations with a palace maid. Her brother lodged a complaint. Anshi said, "The slave is acting out of resentment and falsely smearing an official."

安世自見父子尊顯，懷不自安，為子延壽求出補吏，上以為北地太守。 Seeing how exalted he and his son had become, Anshi grew uneasy. He asked that his son Yanshou be given a provincial post, and the emperor appointed Yanshou governor of Beidi.

歲餘，上閔安世年老，復徵延壽為左曹、太僕。 A year later, pitying Anshi's age, the emperor recalled Yanshou to court as left aide in the secretariat and chamberlain for the imperial stud.

初，安世兄賀幸於衛太子，太子敗，賓客皆誅，安世為賀上書，得下蠶室。 At first Anshi's elder brother Zhang He had been favored by Crown Prince Liu Ju of Wei. When the prince fell, all his clients were executed; Anshi memorialized on He's behalf and won reduction of the sentence to the silkworm chambers.

賀聞知，為安世道之，稱其材美。 When He heard of these omens, he told Anshi and praised the boy's talents.

安世輒絕止，以為少主在上，不宜稱述曾孫。 Anshi always cut him short, holding that with the reigning young emperor above, it was improper to speak openly of the great-grandson.

上謂安世曰：「掖廷令平生稱我，將軍止之，是也。」 The emperor said to Anshi, "The director of the palace consorts quarters praised me all his life, and you stopped him—that was right."

賀有一子蚤死，無子，子安世小男彭祖。 He had one son who died young without issue, so he adopted Anshi's youngest son Pengzu.

故安世深辭賀封，又求損守塚戶數，稍減至三十戶。 Anshi therefore declined the enfeoffment for He and asked to reduce the tomb-guard households, eventually cutting them to thirty.

上曰：「吾自為掖廷令，非為將軍也。」 The emperor said, "I do this for the director of the palace consorts quarters himself, not for you, General."

安世乃止，不敢復言。 Anshi then desisted and did not dare speak again.

安世以父子封侯，在位大盛，乃辭祿。 With father and son both enfeoffed and his power at its height, Anshi declined further salary.

安世尊為公侯，食邑萬戶，然身衣弋綈，夫人自紡績，家童七百人，皆有手技作事，內治產業，累織纖微，是以能殖其貨，富於大將軍光。 Though ennobled at the highest rank with a fief of ten thousand households, he dressed in plain black silk and his wife spun the household's cloth herself. Seven hundred retainers were each put to skilled manual labor. He micromanaged the family estates, pinching every cash, until his private wealth outstripped even Grand General Huo Guang's.

天子甚尊憚大將軍，然內親安世，心密於光焉。 The emperor treated Huo Guang with awe and kept him at a distance, but he was genuinely intimate with Anshi in a way he never was with Guang.

元康四年春，安世病，上疏歸侯，乞骸骨。 In spring of the fourth year of Yuankang, Anshi fell ill, submitted a memorial returning his marquisate, and begged to retire.

天子報曰：「將軍年老被病，朕甚閔之。 The emperor replied, "General, you are old and ill; I am deeply concerned.

雖不能視事，折衝萬里，君先帝大臣，明於治亂，朕所不及，得數問焉，何感而上書歸衛將軍富平侯印？ Though you cannot attend to affairs, you still repel enemies a myriad li away. You are a minister of the former emperor, clear-sighted in order and chaos beyond my reach; I may still consult you—why feel moved to return the seal of general of the guard and Marquis of Fuping?

安世復強起視事，至秋薨。 Anshi forced himself to resume office, but by autumn he died.

天子贈印綬，送以輕車介士，謚曰敬侯。 The emperor presented seals and ribbons, sent light carriages and armored soldiers as escort, and granted the posthumous title Marquis Jing.

初，安世長子千秋與霍光子禹俱為中郎將，將兵隨度遼將軍范明友擊烏桓。 Long before, Anshi's eldest son Zhang Qianqiu and Huo Guang's son Huo Yu had both been generals of the household gentlemen when they campaigned under the Trans-Liao general Fan Mingyou against the Wuhuan.

光由是賢千秋，以禹為不材，歎曰：「霍氏世衰，張氏興矣！」 From that day Huo Guang respected Qianqiu and wrote Yu off as worthless, sighing, "The house of Huo is fading; the house of Zhang is on the rise!"

及禹誅滅，而安世子孫相繼，自宣、元以來為侍中、中常侍、諸曹散騎、列校尉者凡十餘人。 After the Huo clan was extirpated, Zhang Anshi's descendants held one high post after another. From the reigns of Xuandi and Yuandi onward, more than ten of them served as palace attendants, regular attendants, mounted escorts in the various bureaus, or colonels of the guard.

功臣之世，唯有金氏、張氏，親近寵貴，比於外戚。 Of all the families ennobled for merit, only the Jins and the Zhangs remained so close to the throne—almost like imperial in-laws.

放子純嗣侯，恭儉自修，明習漢家制度故事，有敬侯遺風。 Zhang Chun, Zhang Fang's son, succeeded to the marquisate. He was modest, frugal, and self-disciplined, thoroughly versed in Han institutions and precedent, and carried something of the old Marquis Jing's manner.

張湯本居杜陵，安世武、昭、宣世輒隨陵，凡三徙，復還杜陵。 Zhang Tang originally lived at Duling. During the reigns of Emperor Wu, Emperor Zhao, and Emperor Xuan, Anshi followed each new imperial mausoleum settlement—three relocations in all—before returning to Duling.

安世履道，滿而不溢。 Zhang Anshi walked the middle path—his cup was full, yet he never let it spill.

Book of Han, Chapter 85Volume 74: Wei Xiang and Bing Ji · 1 passage

賀即位，以行淫亂廢，光與車騎將軍張安世諸大臣議所立，未定。 Prince He was enthroned but deposed for debauchery; Huo Guang and Zhang Anshi debated a replacement without reaching agreement.

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

苞苴所入，實行張、霍之家。 wherever bribes enter, it is truly Zhang and Huo's home.