Overview
Zhu Bo was a Han general and statesman.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Other names
| Type | English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|
| Courtesy name |
Ziyuan |
子元 |
Ziyuan |
| Alternate name |
|
硃博 |
|
Life and dates
Death
Attested activity
Key source chapters
-
Book of Han, Chapter 94
Volume 83: Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo
69 passages
-
Book of Han, Chapter 70
Volume 60: Du Zhou
5 passages
-
Book of Han, Chapter 89
Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi
5 passages
-
Book of Later Han, Chapter 30
Volume 27: Biographies of Xuan, Zang, Two Wangs, Du, Guo, Wu, Cheng, Zheng, Zhao
1 passage
-
Book of Liang, Chapter 14
Volume 14: Jiang Yan; Ren Fang
1 passage
Career and standing
Chancellor 丞相
Promoted
- governor of Langye 琅邪太守
- Rear General 後將軍
- regional inspector of Jizhou 冀州刺史
- village head 亭長
chancellor 丞相
Show 11 more source-backed claims
commandant of justice 廷尉
governor of Qianwei 犍為太守
governor of Shanyang 山陽太守
grand minister of agriculture 大司農
grand minister of works 大司空
imperial secretary 御史大夫
metropolitan governor 京兆尹
rear general 後將軍
superintendent of the imperial household 光祿大夫
Marquis of Yangxiang 陽鄉侯
Households 2000 · returned 1000 households
Marquis of Yangxiang 陽鄉侯
Assessments and attributes
- Assessment friendship broke down in the end · Mode named-source-report Speaker Wang Dan (王丹)
References in the histories
No matching passages.
Book of Han, Chapter 70Volume 60: Du Zhou · 5 passages
紅陽侯立坐子受長貨賂故就國耳，非大逆也，而方進復奏立黨友後將軍朱博、巨鹿太守孫宏、故少府陳咸，皆免官，歸咸故郡。
Wang Li, marquis of Hongyang, was punished because his son accepted Chang's bribes and therefore went to his fief—this was not great treason. Yet Fangjin again memorialized against Li's partisan associates: Rear General Zhu Bo, Administrator of Julu Sun Hong, and former Chamberlain for the Palace Revenues Chen Xian. All were dismissed, and Chen Xian was sent to his native commandery.
不知而白之，是背經術惑左道也：二者皆在大辟，重於朱博、孫宏、陳咸所坐。
if he did not know and nevertheless reported it, then he abandoned classical learning and misled the court with heterodox arts. Either offense deserves capital punishment and is graver than the charges for which Zhu Bo, Sun Hong, and Chen Xian were punished.
竊見朱博忠信勇猛，材略不世出，誠國家雄俊之寶臣也，宜征博置左右，以填天下。
I have privately observed that Zhu Bo is loyal, trustworthy, brave, and forceful, with talent and strategy rarely seen in any age. He is truly a heroic and precious minister of the state. He should be summoned and placed at Your Majesty's side to steady the realm.
前後所言皆合指施行，朱博果見拔用。
Memorial after memorial hit the mark and was implemented; Zhu Bo in particular owed his rise to Du Ye's backing.
業因勢而抵垝，稱硃博，毀師丹，愛憎之議可不畏哉
Du Ye exploited every political opening, praising Zhu Bo and attacking Shi Dan. The danger of letting personal favor and resentment govern public argument should give us pause.
Book of Han, Chapter 89Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi · 5 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 94Volume 83: Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo · 69 passages
卷八十三 薛宣朱博傳第五十三
Volume 83: Biographies of Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo (chapter fifty-three).
朱博字子元，杜陵人也。
Zhu Bo, courtesy name Ziyuan, came from Duling.
是時，前將軍望之子蕭育，御史大夫萬年子陳咸以公卿子著材知名，博皆友之矣。
In those days Xiao Yu, son of Former General Xiao Wangzhi, and Chen Xian, son of Imperial Secretary Chen Wannian, were celebrated heirs of the elite, and Zhu Bo numbered among their companions.
時，諸陵縣屬太常，博以太常掾察廉，補安陵丞。
The imperial tomb districts fell under the chamberlain of ceremonials; Zhu Bo, serving on that staff, won an incorrupt nomination and became assistant magistrate of Anling.
博去吏，間步至廷尉中，候伺咸事。
Zhu Bo quit his post, slipped into the commandant of justice compound, and watched Chen Xian's trial.
咸掠治困篤，博詐得為醫人獄，得見咸，具知其所坐罪。
Chen Xian was racked until he was near death; Zhu Bo posed as a prison doctor, gained access, and learned every count against him.
博出獄，又變性名，為咸驗治數百，卒免咸死罪。
He then changed his name, filed hundreds of affidavits on Chen Xian's behalf, and finally spared him execution.
咸得論出，而博以此顯名，為郡功曹。
When Chen Xian walked free, Zhu Bo's reputation was made and he became the commandery merit clerk.
咸薦蕭育、朱博除莫府屬，鳳甚奇之，舉博櫟陽令，徙雲陽、平陵三縣，以高弟入為長安令。
Chen Xian recommended Xiao Yu and Zhu Bo for posts on the marshal's staff. Wang Feng was greatly impressed, named Zhu Bo magistrate of Liyang, moved him through Yunyang and Pingling, and because he ranked at the top of the list brought him into Chang'an as magistrate.
博本武吏，不更文法，及為刺史行部，吏民數百人遮道自言，官寺盡滿。
Zhu Bo was a rough soldier-clerk with no training in the code; on his first inspection tour hundreds of petitioners mobbed the road and filled every office.
從事白請且留此縣錄見諸自言者，事畢乃發，欲以觀試博。
His aide suggested they delay in that county, hear every petitioner, and then move on—intending to test the new inspector.
博心知之，告外趣駕。
Zhu Bo saw through the ploy and ordered his carriage readied at once.
既白駕辦，博出就車見自言者，使從事明敕告吏民：「欲言縣丞尉者，刺史不察黃綬，各自詣郡。
Once the team was harnessed, he rode out to the crowd and had his aide announce: "Complaints against county assistants or captains—this inspector does not hear cases against yellow-sash officials; take those to the commandery yourselves.
博駐車決遣，四五百人皆罷去，如神。
He disposed of four or five hundred cases from his chariot as if by magic, and the crowd melted away.
吏民大驚，不意博應事變乃至於此。
Officials and commoners were stunned that he could clear such a mob so decisively.
後博徐問，果老從事教民聚會。
Later inquiry showed a senior clerk had coached the demonstration.
博殺此吏，州郡畏博威嚴。
Zhu Bo had that clerk put to death, and every commandery learned to fear him.
齊舒緩養名，博新視事，右曹掾史皆移病臥。
Qi culture was languid and reputation-conscious; when Zhu Bo arrived, every clerk in the right bureau called in sick.
博問其故，對言：「惶恐！
He demanded an explanation; they answered, "We are terrified!
博奮髯抵幾曰：「觀齊兒欲以此為俗邪！」
Zhu Bo swept his beard aside, slammed the desk, and roared, "Do you mean to make a ritual of laziness?"
博出教主簿：「贛老生不習吏禮，主簿且教拜起，閑習乃止。」
Zhu Bo told his chief clerk, "Old Master Gan is not practiced in clerk ritual; teach him bows and risings for now, and stop when he has practiced them at his ease."
博尤不愛諸生，所至郡輒罷去議曹，曰：「豈可復置謀曹邪！」
Zhu Bo had little patience for scholars: in each commandery he abolished the deliberation staff, declaring, "I will not revive a separate 'strategy office.'"
文學儒吏時有奏記稱說云云，博見謂曰：「如太守漢吏，奉三尺律令以從事耳，亡奈生所言聖人道何也！
When Confucian clerks filed ornate memorials, he cut them short: "I am a Han magistrate: my job is the code on this desk, not your disquisitions on the Way of the sages.
博治郡，常令屬縣各用其豪桀以為大吏，文武從宜。
As governor he told each county to press its own leading men into service as chief aides, mixing civil and martial talent as the case required.
縣有劇賊及它非常，博輒移書以詭責之。
Whenever a county faced serious outlaws or emergencies, he fired off a stern circular demanding results.
事留不出。
Zhu Bo let the request sit.
於是府丞詣閣，博乃見丕丞掾曰：「以為縣自有長吏，府未嘗與也，丞掾謂府當與之邪？」
The commandery's assistant governor came to the gate, and Zhu Bo told the county aides: "Each county has its own magistrate. This office has never run your arrests—do you imagine the governor's yamen should do your job for you?"
閣下書佐入，博口占檄文曰：「府告姑幕令丞：言賊發不得，有書。
He dictated a summons for the gate clerk: "Tell Gumu's magistrate and assistant: you wrote that the robbers escaped capture.
博復移書曰：「王卿憂公甚效！
Zhu Bo followed with praise: "Wang Qing has served the public with remarkable zeal!
博聞知，以它事召見，視其面，果有瘢。
Zhu Bo heard of it, called Jin in on other business, and spotted the scar.
博辟左右問禁：「是何等創也？」
Sending attendants away, he asked, "What left that mark?"
博笑曰：「大丈夫固時有是。
Zhu Bo laughed and said, "A great man naturally sometimes has such things.
博因敕禁：「毋得洩語，有便宜，輒記言。」
Bo thereupon charged Jin, "You must not leak words; whenever there is something advantageous, record and report."
博擢禁連守縣令。
Zhu Bo raised him in stages until he served as magistrate of several counties in turn.
博知其對以實，乃令就席，受敕自改而已。
Satisfied it was true, Zhu Bo let him sit down, accepted his vow to mend his ways, and stopped there.
功曹後常戰慄，不敢蹉跌，博遂成就之。
The clerk thereafter walked on eggshells and never slipped again—exactly the discipline Zhu Bo wanted.
先是，南蠻若兒數為寇盜，博厚結其昆弟，使為反間，襲殺之，郡中清。
The southern chief Ruo'er had long raided the border; Zhu Bo won over his brothers, turned them double, ambushed Ruo'er, and restored quiet to the commandery.
博恐為官屬所誣，視事，召見正監典法掾史，謂曰：「廷尉本起於武吏，不通法律，幸有眾賢，亦何憂！
Fearing his staff might deceive him, he told the chief jailers on day one: "I rose from the ranks and never memorized the code—luckily I have you experts.
正監以為博苟強，意未必能然，即共條白焉。
The jailers thought he was bluffing and drew up a long list.
博皆召掾史，並坐而問，為平處其輕重，十中八九。
He called them in, weighed each problem, and scored eight or nine correct.
官屬咸服博之疏略，材過人也。
The whole office marveled at his rough-hewn brilliance.
立有罪就國，有司奏立黨友，博坐免。
When Liu Li was sent to his fief for crimes, the authorities listed Zhu Bo among his partisans and cashiered him.
後歲餘，哀帝即位，以博名臣，召見，起家復為光祿大夫，遷為京兆尹，數月超為大司空。
A year later Emperor Ai took the throne, recalled Zhu Bo as a noted minister, restored him from private life to superintendent of the imperial household, then metropolitan governor, and within months to grand minister of works.
後二歲餘，朱博為大司空，奏言：「帝王之道不必相襲，各由時務。
More than two years later, after Zhu Bo became Grand Minister of Works, he memorialized: "The way of emperors and kings need not copy one another; each follows the needs of its time.
哀帝從之，乃更拜博為御史大夫。
Emperor Ai agreed and named Zhu Bo imperial secretary.
及博奏復御史大夫官，又奏言：「漢家至德溥大，宇內萬里，立置郡縣。
When Zhu Bo restored the censorate, he added: "The house of Han's supreme virtue spreads broadly; within the realm of ten thousand li it has established commanderies and counties.
博為人廉儉，不好酒色游宴。
Zhu Bo lived plainly and shunned carousing.
其趨事待士如是，博以此自立，然終用敗。
He built a career on hustle and patronage—and in the end it destroyed him.
孔鄉侯傅晏亦太后從弟，諂諛欲順指，會博新徵用為京兆尹，與交結，謀成尊號，以廣孝道。
Her cousin Fu Yan of Kongxiang toadied to her; Zhu Bo, newly named metropolitan governor, allied with Yan to push the title through in the name of filial piety.
由是師丹先免，博代為大司空，數燕見奏封事，言：「丞相光志在自守，不能憂國；
Shi Dan was therefore dismissed first, and Zhu Bo replaced him as Grand Minister of Works. Several times, during private audiences after banquets, Bo submitted sealed memorials saying, "Chancellor Kong Guang is intent on protecting himself and cannot worry for the state;
上遂罷喜遣就國，免光為庶人，以博代光為丞相，封陽鄉侯，食邑二千戶。
The emperor banished Fu Xi to his fief, reduced Kong Guang to commoner rank, named Zhu Bo chancellor in his place, enfeoffed him as Marquis of Yangxiang with two thousand households of income.
博上書讓曰：「故事封丞相不滿千戶，而獨臣過制，誠慚懼，願還千戶。」
Zhu Bo memorialized in protest: "Chancellors have never held more than a thousand-household fiefs; mine breaks precedent and shames me—I ask to give back one thousand households."
博受詔，與御史大夫趙玄議，玄言：「事已前決，得無不宜？」
Zhu Bo took the order and consulted Imperial Secretary Zhao Xuan, who asked, "The case was settled long ago—is it wise to reopen it?"
博曰：「已許孔鄉侯有指。
Zhu Bo replied, "I gave Fu Yan my word.
博唯有死耳！」
I would rather die than break faith!"
博惡獨斥奏喜，以故大司空汜鄉侯何武前亦坐過免就國，事與喜相似，即並奏：「喜、武前在位，皆無益於治，雖已退免，爵士之封非所當得也。
Unwilling to single out Fu Xi alone, Zhu Bo lumped in He Wu, former grand minister of works and Marquis of Sìxiang, who had also been cashiered to his fief: "Neither Fu Xi nor He Wu helped the government while in power; though removed, they should not keep their marquisates.
上知傅太后素常怨喜，疑博、玄承指，即召玄詣尚書問狀。
The emperor knew the grand empress dowager's grudge against Fu Xi and suspected Zhu Bo and Zhao Xuan acted on her nod; he summoned Zhao Xuan to the secretariat for questioning.
宣等劾奏：「博宰相，玄上卿，晏以外親封位特進，股肱大臣，上所信任，不思竭誠奉公，務廣恩化，為百寮先，皆知喜、武前已蒙恩詔決，事更三赦，博執正道，虧損上恩，以結信貴戚，背君鄉臣，傾亂政治，奸人之雄，附下罔上，為臣不忠不道；
Peng Xuan and the others impeached them, saying: "Zhu Bo is chancellor, Zhao Xuan is an upper minister, and Yan, as an outside relative, holds enfeoffed rank as Specially Advanced. They are great ministers, arms and thighs of the state, trusted by the sovereign, yet they did not think to exhaust loyalty in serving the public, broaden grace and transformation, and lead the hundred offices. They all knew that Xi and Wu had already received a merciful edict and decision, and that the matter had passed through three amnesties. Bo abandoned the straight Way and damaged the sovereign's grace in order to bind trust with honored in-laws; he turned his back on the ruler and faced the ministers, overturned and disordered government, became a champion among wicked men, attached himself below and deceived above. As a minister he is disloyal and without the Way;
玄知博所言非法，枉義附從，大不敬；
Zhao Xuan knew the memorial was unlawful yet went along—gross irreverence;
晏與博議免喜，失禮不敬。
Fu Yan conspired with Zhu Bo to ruin Fu Xi—another breach of propriety.
臣請詔謁者召博、玄、晏詣廷尉詔獄。」
We ask that Zhu Bo, Zhao Xuan, and Fu Yan be taken to the imperial prison under the commandant of justice."
今晏放命圯族，干亂朝政，要大臣以罔上，本造計謀，職為亂階，宜與博、玄同罪，罪皆不道。」
Fu Yan defied the throne, stirred the court, extorted senior ministers, and hatched the plot—he should share Zhu Bo and Zhao Xuan's guilt; all three are guilty of capital disloyalty."
上減玄死罪三等，削晏戶四分之一，假謁者節召丞相詣廷尉詔獄。
The emperor commuted Zhao Xuan's death sentence three steps, trimmed Fu Yan's fief by a quarter, and sent the usher with credentials to take Zhu Bo into the imperial prison.
博自殺，國除。
Zhu Bo committed suicide and his marquisate was extinguished.
初，博以御史為丞相，封陽鄉侯，玄以少府為御史大夫，並拜於前殿，廷登受策，有音如鐘聲。
When Zhu Bo rose from imperial secretary to Marquis of Yangxiang chancellor and Zhao Xuan from privy treasurer to imperial secretary, both were invested in the front hall; as they mounted the steps to receive their patents a bell-like tone rang out.
贊曰：薛宣、朱博皆起佐史，歷位以登宰相。
The historian concludes: Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo climbed from petty clerks to the chancellorship.
博馳聘進取，不思道德，已亡可言，又見孝成之世委任大臣，假借用權。
Zhu Bo chased power without scruple and, seeing how Emperor Cheng's great ministers had wielded borrowed authority, mistook the lesson.
世主已更，好惡異前，復附丁、傅稱順孔鄉。
A new emperor brought new tastes; Zhu Bo hitched himself to the Ding and Fu clans and echoed Fu Yan.
博亦然哉！
Zhu Bo was no different.
Book of Later Han, Chapter 30Volume 27: Biographies of Xuan, Zang, Two Wangs, Du, Guo, Wu, Cheng, Zheng, Zhao · 1 passage
Book of Liang, Chapter 14Volume 14: Jiang Yan; Ren Fang · 1 passage