Ancient China · Merchant and Disciple

Zigong 子貢

Attested BC 500

Passages: 3
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Zigong was a Merchant and Disciple.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Ci	賜	Cì

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 500 子贛既學於仲尼
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 70

Career and standing

merchant 鬻財
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 70
served in Wei 仕於衛
Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 70

Places and affiliations

Polity Wei 衛 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 70
At between Cao and Lu 曹、魯之閒 · Relation Traded in
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 70

Events and relationships

Spread Confucius fame
Diplomatic · Envoy patron
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passages 72-73
Relation Student of · Person Confucius (孔子)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 70

Assessments and attributes

Assessment most prosperous of the seventy disciples · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 70

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 129Biographies of Money-Makers · 3 passages

子贛既學於仲尼，退而仕於衛，廢著鬻財於曹、魯之閒，七十子之徒，賜最為饒益。 Zigong studied under Confucius, then withdrew to serve in Wei, trading goods and accumulating wealth between Cao and Lu. Of all the seventy disciples, Zigong was by far the most prosperous.

子貢結駟連騎，束帛之幣以聘享諸侯，所至，國君無不分庭與之抗禮。 Zigong rode in a four-horse carriage with a retinue of mounted escorts, bearing bundles of silk as gifts to visit and feast the feudal lords. Wherever he went, rulers divided the court and received him with the courtesy due an equal.

夫使孔子名布揚於天下者，子貢先後之也。 It was Zigong, working tirelessly before and after, who caused the name of Confucius to be spread and celebrated throughout the realm.