Overview
Zhu Maichen was an official and Diplomat.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Other names
| Type | English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|
| Courtesy name |
Wengzi |
翁子 |
Wengzi |
Life and dates
Death
executed 誅
- Executed as one of the three chief clerks
Age
Attested activity
Show 3 more source-backed claims
Key source chapters
-
Book of Han, Chapter 74
Volume 64a: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 1
34 passages
-
Book of Han, Chapter 68
Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan
2 passages
-
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 112
Biographies of the Marquis of Pingjin and Zhufu
2 passages
-
Book of Chen, Chapter 25
Volume 25: Pei Ji; Sun Yang
1 passage
-
Book of Han, Chapter 69
Volume 59: Zhang Tang
1 passage
Career and standing
Show 1 more source-backed claim
Places and affiliations
Han 漢
Relation Served
Western Han 漢
Relation Served
- Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
- Polity Han 漢
- Polity Western Han 漢 · Relation Served
- Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Associated with
Show 2 more source-backed claims
- Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Served
Wu 吳
Events and relationships
Brought in dongou
BC 138 to BC 122 自是之後 · Diplomatic
· Agent
· With Yan Zhu (嚴助) Debated Gongsun Hong on Shuofang
Listed among Han talents of the era
Posed ten strategies
Raised ten arguments on Shuofang
BC 126 元朔三年 · Debate
· Challenger
· With Gongsun Hong (公孫弘) · Outcome Hong could not refute one
- Relationship · Type son · Target Shanfu (山拊)
Show 1 more source-backed claim
Assessments and attributes
- Assessment repartee (應對) · Mode historian-judgment
References in the histories
No matching passages.
Book of Chen, Chapter 25Volume 25: Pei Ji; Sun Yang · 1 passage
Book of Han, Chapter 68Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan · 2 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 69Volume 59: Zhang Tang · 1 passage
Book of Han, Chapter 74Volume 64a: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 1 · 34 passages
卷六十四上 嚴朱吾丘主父徐嚴終王賈傳 第三十三上
Chapter 64a: Biographies of Yan Zhu, Zhu Maichen, Wuqiu Shouwang, Zhufu Yan, Xu Le, Yan An, Zhong Jun, Wang Bao, and Jia Yi (part one).
後得朱買臣、吾丘壽王、司馬相如、主父偃、徐樂嚴安、東方朔、枚皋、膠倉、終軍、嚴蔥奇等，並在左右。
He soon gathered Zhu Maichen, Wuqiu Shouwang, Sima Xiangru, Zhufu Yan, Xu Le, Yan An, Dongfang Shuo, Mei Gao, Jiao Cang, Zhong Jun, Yan Congqi, and the rest in his inner circle.
朱買臣
Zhu Maichen.
朱買臣字翁子，吳人也。
Zhu Maichen, courtesy name Wengzi, came from Wu.
其妻亦負戴相隨，數止買臣毋歌嘔道中。
His wife trudged beside him, begging him to stop bawling his lessons like a madman in the dust.
買臣愈益疾歌，妻羞之，求去。
He only sang louder; shamed beyond bearing, she demanded a divorce.
買臣笑曰：「我年五十當貴，今已四十餘矣。
He laughed: "At fifty I shall win rank and honor—I am barely past forty.
買臣不能留，即聽去。
He could not hold her and let her go.
其後，買臣獨行歌道中，負薪墓間。
Afterward he walked alone among the graves, chanting with firewood on his back.
後數歲，買臣隨上計吏為卒，將重車至長安，詣闕上書，書久不報。
Some years later he rode to Chang'an as a conscript teamster on the annual accounting caravan, presented a memorial at the palace gate, and heard nothing for months.
會邑子嚴助貴幸，薦買臣，召見，說《春秋》，言《楚詞》，帝甚說之，拜買臣為中大夫，與嚴助俱侍中。
His townsman Yan Zhu, then in favor at court, recommended him. He discoursed on the Spring and Autumn Annals and the Songs of Chu; the emperor was charmed, named him palace grandee, and paired him with Yan Zhu as palace attendant.
上使買臣難詘弘，語在《弘傳》。
The emperor set Zhu Maichen to demolish Hong's argument—the exchange is recorded in Hong's biography.
後買臣坐事免，久之，召待詔。
Later he lost office over a charge, then after a long interval was recalled to await edict.
是時，東越數反覆，買臣因言：「故東越王居保泉山，一人守險，千人不得上。
Eastern Yue had rebelled again. Zhu Maichen told the throne: "Their old king held Quan Mountain, where one defender could block a thousand climbers.
上拜買臣會稽太守。
The emperor named him governor of Kuaiji.
買臣頓首辭謝。
Zhu Maichen kowtowed in thanks.
詔買臣到郡，治樓船，備糧食、水戰具，須詔書到，軍與俱進。
He was ordered, on reaching Kuaiji, to fit out war junks and stores and hold his fleet ready until the imperial command to sail.
初，買臣免，待詔，常從會稽守邸者寄居飯食。
While dismissed and awaiting summons in Chang'an he roomed at the Kuaiji hostel and ate on credit.
拜為太守，買臣衣故衣，懷其印綬，步歸郡邸。
On his appointment he walked into the hostel in rags, the governor's seal hidden in his sleeve.
買臣入室中，守邸與共食，食且飽，少見其綬，守邸怪之，前引其綬，視其印，會稽太守章也。
He went inside and shared their meal; as they finished he let slip a corner of silk—the keeper tugged at it, found the jade seal of the governor of Kuaiji, and froze.
其故人素輕買臣者入內視之，還走，疾呼曰：「實然！」
A man who had always sneered at Zhu Maichen went in, ran back, and cried, "It is true!"
買臣徐出戶。
Zhu Maichen strolled out at leisure.
有頃，長安廄吏乘駟馬車來迎，買臣遂乘傳去。
Presently a four-horse carriage from the capital stable arrived; he mounted the post relay and rode away.
買臣駐車，呼令後車載其夫妻，到太守舍，置園中，給食之。
He halted his train, loaded the pair into a baggage cart, housed them in his garden, and fed them.
居一月，妻自經死，買臣乞其夫錢，令葬。
Within a month she hanged herself; Zhu gave her husband coin enough for a decent burial.
居歲餘，買臣受詔將兵，與橫海將軍韓說等俱擊破東越，有功。
A year later he led troops beside Han Yue, general of crossing seas, smashed Eastern Yue, and won distinction.
始，買臣與嚴助俱侍中，貴用事，湯尚為小吏，趨走買臣等前。
Once Zhu and Yan Zhu had stood high at court while Zhang Tang was a runner who scurried at their heels.
後湯以延尉治淮南獄，排陷嚴助，買臣怨湯。
When Zhang Tang as commandant of justice tried the Huainan case he destroyed Yan Zhu; Zhu Maichen never forgave him.
及買臣為長史，湯數行丞相事，知買臣素貴，故陵折之。
After Zhu became chief clerk, Zhang—often acting for the chancellor—knew how high Zhu had once stood and snubbed him at every turn.
買臣見湯，坐床上弗為禮。
When Zhu called, Zhang lounged on his couch and refused courtesy.
買臣深怨，常欲死之。
Zhu nursed a murderous grudge.
後遂告湯陰事，湯自殺，上亦誅買臣。
He struck back with a secret denunciation; Zhang Tang fell on his sword, and the emperor had Zhu executed as well.
買臣子山拊官至郡守，右扶風。
His son Shanfu rose to governor of Youfufeng commandery.
朱買臣難詘弘，遂置朔方，本偃計也。
Zhu Maichen demolished Hong in debate, and Shuofang was founded on Yan's design after all.
Book of Han, Chapter 75Volume 64b: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 2 · 1 passage
卷六十四下 嚴朱吾丘主父徐嚴終王賈傳 第三十三下
Volume 64b, Part Two: biographies of Yan Zhu, Zhu Mai Chen, Wuqiu Shouwang, Zhufu Yan, Xu Le, Yan An, Zhong Jun, Wang Bao, and Jia Juanzhi—the thirty-third set of biographies, lower scroll.
Book of Han, Chapter 76Volume 65: Dongfang Shuo · 1 passage
是時，朝廷多賢材，上復問朔：「方今公孫丞相，兒大夫、董仲舒、夏侯始昌、司馬相如、吾丘壽王、主父偃、硃買臣、嚴助、汲黯、膠倉、終軍、嚴安、徐樂、司馬遷之倫，皆辯知閎達，溢於文辭，先生自視，何與比哉？」
The court at that time teemed with talent, and the emperor pressed Shuo again: "Consider Chancellor Gongsun Hong, Censor-in-Chief Er Kuan, Dong Zhongshu, Xiahou Shichang, Sima Xiangru, Wuqiu Shouwang, Zhufu Yan, Zhu Maichen, Yan Zhu, Ji An, Jiao Cang, Zhong Jun, Yan An, Xu Le, Sima Qian, and men of that stamp. They are learned, articulate, and prolific writers. How do you measure yourself against such company?"
Book of Later Han, Chapter 38Volume 33: Biographies of Zhu, Feng, Yu, Zheng, Zhou · 1 passage
History of Liao, Chapter 76Volume 76 Biographies 6: Yelu Jieli, Yelu Balide, Yelu Shuogu, Yelu Lubugu, Zhao Yanshou, Gao Mohan, Zhao Siwen, Yelu Oulisi, Zhang Li · 1 passage
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 30Treatise on the Balanced Standard · 1 passage
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 112Biographies of the Marquis of Pingjin and Zhufu · 2 passages
於是天子乃使朱買臣等難弘置朔方之便。
The Emperor then dispatched Zhu Maichen and others to debate Gongsun Hong on the merits of establishing the Shuofang Commandery.
儒雅則公孫弘、董仲舒、兒寬，篤行則石建、石慶，質直則汲黯、卜式，推賢則韓安國、鄭當時，定令則趙禹、張湯，文章則司馬遷、相如，滑稽則東方朔、枚皋，應對則嚴助、朱買臣，歷數則唐都、落下閎，協律則李延年，運籌則桑弘羊，奉使則張騫、蘇武，將帥則衛青、霍去病，受遺則霍光、金日磾。
In Confucian scholarship, there were Gongsun Hong, Dong Zhongshu, and Er Kuan. In steadfast conduct, Shi Jian and Shi Qing. In forthright character, Ji An and Bu Shi. In advancing the worthy, Han Anguo and Zheng Dangshi. In codifying laws, Zhao Yu and Zhang Tang. In literary achievement, Sima Qian and Sima Xiangru. In wit and humor, Dongfang Shuo and Mei Gao. In eloquent debate, Yan Zhu and Zhu Maichen. In astronomy and calendrical science, Tang Du and Luoxia Hong. In harmonizing music, Li Yannian. In strategic finance, Sang Hongyang. In diplomatic missions, Zhang Qian and Su Wu. In military command, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing. In receiving the imperial testamentary charge, Huo Guang and Jin Midi.