Ancient China · Chu scholar and adviser

Zhuang Sheng 莊生

Zhuāng Shēng

Attested BC 450 - BC 350

Passages: 15
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Zhuang Sheng was a Chu scholar and adviser.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 450 to BC 350 范蠡居陶後
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 194

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Wife of Zhuang Sheng
wife 婦
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 204

Places and affiliations

Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 202

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Wife of Zhuang Sheng
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 204-205
Speech · Speaker · With King of Chu (楚王) · Speech Act accusation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 222-223
Speech · Speaker · With King of Chu (楚王) · Speech Act advice
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 209
Speech · Speaker · With King of Chu (楚王) · Speech Act astrological warning
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 207
Speech · Speaker · With Eldest son of Fan Li · Speech Act instruction
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 199-200
Speech · Speaker · With Eldest son of Fan Li
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 217, 220

Events and relationships

Intended to return Fan Li's gold after completing the rescue
Financial trust · Custodian
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 203-204
Reversed the expected pardon after feeling betrayed by Fan Li's eldest son
Political · Adviser
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 222-223
Relation Old friend of · Person Fan Li (蠡)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 194
Relation Honored as teacher by · Person King of Chu (楚王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 202

Assessments and attributes

Assessment known throughout Chu for integrity and uprightness · Mode narrative-reputation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 202

References in the histories

Search passages

History

15 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 41House of King Goujian of Yue · 15 passages

朱公不得已而遣長子，為一封書遺故所善莊生。 Zhu Gong had no choice but to send the eldest son. He prepared a sealed letter for his old friend Zhuang Sheng.

曰：「至則進千金于莊生所，聽其所為，慎無與爭事。」 He said: “When you arrive, advance a thousand gold at Zhuang Sheng's place. Listen to what he does, and be careful not to contend with him over affairs.”

至楚，莊生家負郭，披藜藋到門，居甚貧。 When he arrived in Chu, Zhuang Sheng's home backed onto the outer city wall. He had to push through weeds and thistles to reach the gate; Zhuang Sheng lived in deep poverty.

莊生曰：「可疾去矣，慎毋留！ Zhuang Sheng said: “You can quickly go. Be careful not to stay!

長男既去，不過莊生而私留，以其私齎獻遺楚國貴人用事者。 After the eldest son left, he did not return by way of Zhuang Sheng but stayed in secret, using the gold he had brought privately to make gifts to powerful nobles in Chu.

莊生雖居窮閻，然以廉直聞於國，自楚王以下皆師尊之。 Although Zhuang Sheng lived in a poor lane, he was known throughout the state for integrity and uprightness. Everyone from the king of Chu on down honored him as a teacher.

及朱公進金，非有意受也，欲以成事後復歸之以為信耳。 When Zhu Gong presented the gold, Zhuang Sheng had not intended to keep it. He meant to complete the affair and then return it as proof of good faith.

莊生閒時入見楚王，言「某星宿某，此則害於楚」。 In his leisure time Zhuang Sheng went in to see the king of Chu and said: “A certain star lodges in a certain place. This harms Chu.”

楚王素信莊生，曰：「今為柰何？」 The Chu king usually trusted Zhuang Sheng and said: “What should be done now?”

莊生曰：「獨以德為可以除之。」 Zhuang Sheng said: “Only with virtue can one remove it.”

楚王曰：「生休矣，寡人將行之。」 The Chu king said: “Master Sheng, rest. I will carry it out.”

朱公長男以為赦，弟固當出也，重千金虛棄莊生，無所為也，乃復見莊生。 Zhu Gong’s eldest son thought this meant a pardon would be issued and that his younger brother would certainly be released. Resenting that the thousand gold pieces left with Zhuang Sheng would have been wasted, he went to see Zhuang Sheng again.

莊生驚曰：「若不去邪？」 Zhuang Sheng was startled and said: “Have you not gone?”

莊生知其意欲復得其金，曰：「若自入室取金。」 Zhuang Sheng knew that he intended to recover his gold and said, “Go into the room yourself and take it.”

莊生羞為兒子所賣，乃入見楚王曰：「臣前言某星事，王言欲以修德報之。 Zhuang Sheng was ashamed at having been betrayed by the young man, so he went in to see the King of Chu and said, “Earlier I spoke to Your Majesty about the matter of a certain star.