Qin and Han · Marquis of Jiang and Han Statesman

Zhou Bo 周勃

Attested BC 206 - BC 157

Passages: 26
Chapters: 6
Histories: 4

Overview

Zhou Bo was a Marquis of Jiang and Han Statesman.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 200 to BC 160 BC 200-160
Dated from the passage context · Book of Southern Qi 48, passage 74
BC 180 to BC 157 孝文
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passages 132, 143
BC 180 to BC 157 孝文帝
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 5
BC 206 to BC 169 漢初至絳侯薨
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 44, passage 152
BC 180 漢誅祿、產
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 16, passage 41
BC 188 to BC 180 高后時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passages 10-11

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Zhou Yafu (周亞夫)
late father, the Marquis of Jiang 故父絳侯
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passage 152

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Chancellor 丞相
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 5
Grand Commandant 太尉
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 11
Chancellor 丞相
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 2
Grand Commandant 太尉
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 9
retired to his state/fief 就國
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 15
Marquis of Jiang 絳侯
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 2

Show 2 more source-backed claims

accused of rebellion and imprisoned 告以為反徵系清室
Imprisoned
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 18
released 得釋
Released
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 19

Events and relationships

Relation Friend of · Person Yuan Ang (袁盎)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 20
Relation Friend of · Person Yuan Kuai (袁噲)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 16

References in the histories

Search passages

History

26 passages

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

雖漢誅祿、產，舉朝寔賴絳侯，晉討約、峻，中外一資陶牧，比事論功，彼奚足筭。 When Han executed Lu and Chan the whole court truly leaned on the Marquis of Jiang; when Jin struck Su and Jun the court within and without alike leaned on Tao Kan—set beside your deeds, what are those worth reckoning?

Book of Han, Chapter 44Volume 35: Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu · 1 passage

至淮陽，問故父絳侯客鄧都尉曰：「策安出？」 In Huaiyang he put the question to Deng, once a client of his late father the Marquis of Jiang and now commandant of the district: “What counsel do you offer?”

Book of Han, Chapter 58Volume 49: Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 13 passages

絳侯為丞相，朝罷趨出，意得甚。 When the Marquis of Jiang, who was chancellor, left court, he hastened from the hall with an air of immense self-satisfaction.

盎進曰：「丞相何如人也？」 Yuan Ang stepped forward and asked, "What manner of minister is the chancellor?"

盎曰：「絳侯所謂功臣，非社稷臣。 Yuan Ang said, "The Marquis of Jiang is a man who earned his place by merit; he is not the kind of minister whose fate is bound to the altars of state.

是時絳侯為太尉，本兵柄，弗能正。 The Marquis of Jiang was Grand Commandant with the army in his hands, yet he failed to correct the situation.

呂後崩，大臣相與共誅諸呂，太尉主兵，適會其成功，所謂功臣，非社稷臣。 After her death the senior ministers rose together and extirpated the Lü; the Grand Commandant led the soldiery and was there when victory came—that is a man who seized his moment of merit, not a minister whose loyalty is welded to the dynasty itself.

丞相如有驕主色，陛下謙讓，臣主失禮，竊為陛下弗取也。」 If the chancellor wears insolence toward his sovereign while you defer to him, the proper order between lord and minister is broken; I beg you not to indulge it."

後朝，上益莊，丞相益畏。 At the next audiences the emperor carried himself with greater gravity, and the chancellor grew visibly uneasy.

已而絳侯望盎曰：「吾與汝兄善，今兒乃毀我！」 Soon the Marquis of Jiang fixed Yuan Ang with a stare and said, "Your brother and I were friends—how dare you, his junior, speak ill of me?"

及絳侯就國，人上書告以為反，征系請室，諸公莫敢為言，唯盎明絳侯無罪。 After the Marquis of Jiang retired to his state, a denunciation reached the throne accusing him of rebellion; he was arrested and locked in the Qingshi interrogation cell, and not one of the great lords would plead his case—only Yuan Ang swore he was guiltless.

絳侯得釋，盎頗有力。 The marquis was freed, and Yuan Ang's intervention counted for much.

絳侯乃大與盎結交。 From that day the Marquis of Jiang counted Yuan Ang among his closest allies.

盎即起說曰：「君為相，自度孰與陳平、絳侯？」 Yuan Ang rose and said: "You sit as chancellor—how do you rank yourself beside Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang?"

夫陳平、絳侯輔翼高帝，定天下，為將相，而誅諸呂，存劉氏； Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang raised Gaozu, won the empire, served as general and chancellor, extirpated the Lü, and saved the Liu line;

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 48Volume 48 Biographies 29: Yuan Tuan, Kong Zhigui, Liu Hui · 1 passage

是則吏挾威福之勢，民懷不對之怨，所以溫舒獻辭於失政，絳侯慷慨而興歎。 Thus clerks wield arbitrary power while the people nurse grievances of unanswered justice—hence Wen Shu offered his remonstrance against misrule, and the Marquis of Jiang sighed aloud in indignation.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 84Biographies of Qu Yuan and Master Jia · 1 passage

絳、灌、東陽侯、馮敬之屬盡害之，乃短賈生曰：「雒陽之人，年少初學，專欲擅權，紛亂諸事。」 But the Marquis of Jiang, Guan Ying, the Marquis of Dongyang, Feng Jing, and others all opposed him. They slandered Jia Sheng, saying: 'This man from Luoyang is young and has barely begun his studies, yet he seeks to monopolize power and throw everything into confusion.'

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 101Biographies of Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 9 passages

絳侯為丞相，朝罷趨出，意得甚。 The Marquis of Jiang served as Chancellor, and whenever court was dismissed, he would stride out looking enormously pleased with himself.

盎曰：「絳侯所謂功臣，非社稷臣，社稷臣主在與在，主亡與亡。 Ang said, 'The Marquis of Jiang is a meritorious minister, not a pillar of the state. A true pillar of the state shares his sovereign's fate—he rises with his lord and falls with him.

是時絳侯為太尉，主兵柄，弗能正。 At that time, the Marquis of Jiang was Grand Commandant with command of the armies, yet he could not set things right.

已而絳侯望袁盎曰：「吾與而兄善，今兒廷毀我！」 Before long, the Marquis of Jiang confronted Yuan Ang with a glare and said, 'I was on good terms with your brother, and now you, boy, denounce me at court!'

及絳侯免相之國，國人上書告以為反，徵系清室，宗室諸公莫敢為言，唯袁盎明絳侯無罪。 When the Marquis of Jiang was dismissed from the chancellorship and returned to his fief, someone from his domain submitted a memorial accusing him of rebellion. He was summoned and confined in the imperial prison. Not a single member of the imperial clan or the senior ministers dared to speak in his defense—only Yuan Ang declared the Marquis of Jiang to be innocent.

絳侯得釋，盎頗有力。 When the Marquis of Jiang was released, it was largely thanks to Ang's efforts.

絳侯乃大與盎結交。 From then on, the Marquis of Jiang became a close friend and ally of Ang.

袁盎即跪說曰：「君為丞相，自度孰與陳平、絳侯？」 Yuan Ang knelt and asked, 'As Chancellor, how do you rate yourself against Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang?'

夫陳平、絳侯輔翼高帝，定天下，為將相，而誅諸呂，存劉氏； Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang upheld Emperor Gao, settled the empire, served as general and chancellor, and afterward wiped out the Lü clan, preserving the Liu house.