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管蔡世家

Houses of Guan and Cai

Chapter 35 of 史記 ✓ Translated
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Chapter 35
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1
Guan Shu Xian and Cai Shu Du were the sons of King Wen of Zhou and younger brothers of King Wu. King Wu had ten brothers from the same mother. Their mother was called Tai Si, King Wen's principal consort. Their eldest son was called Bo Yi Kao, next was King Wu Fa, next was Guan Shu Xian, next was the Duke of Zhou Dan, next was Cai Shu Du, next was Cao Shu Zhen Duo, next was Cheng Shu Wu, next was Huo Shu Chu, next was Kang Shu Feng, and next was Ran Ji Zai. Ran Ji Zai was the youngest. Of the ten brothers from the same mother, only Fa and Dan were worthy. They assisted King Wen on left and right, so King Wen passed over Bo Yi Kao and made Fa his crown prince. When King Wen passed away, Fa ascended the throne and became King Wu. Bo Yi Kao had already died previously.
2
祿
King Wu had already conquered Yin Zhou and pacified the world, and he enfeoffed meritorious ministers and his brothers. Therefore he enfeoffed Shu Xian at Guan and Shu Du at Cai. These two men assisted Wu Geng Lu Fu, the son of King Zhou, in governing the remnant people of Yin. He enfeoffed Shu Dan at Lu, and Shu Dan assisted Zhou, becoming the Duke of Zhou. He enfeoffed Shu Zhen Duo at the state of Cao, Shu Wu at the state of Cheng, and Shu Chu at the state of Huo. Kang Shu Feng and Ran Ji Zai were both young and had not yet received enfeoffments.
3
King Wu had already passed away. King Cheng was young, and the Duke of Zhou Dan took control of the royal house. Guan Shu and Cai Shu suspected that the Duke of Zhou's actions were harmful to King Cheng, so they took Wu Geng and rebelled. The Duke of Zhou Dan received King Cheng's command to attack and execute Wu Geng, kill Guan Shu, and banish Cai Shu. He moved Cai Shu and gave him ten chariots with seventy followers. And he divided the remnant people of Yin into two groups: one he enfeoffed Wei Zi Qi at Song, to continue the sacrifices of Yin; The other he enfeoffed Kang Shu as lord of Wei, who became Wei Kang Shu. He enfeoffed Ji Zai at Ran. Ran Ji and Kang Shu both had gentle conduct. Therefore the Duke of Zhou raised Kang Shu to be Zhou's Minister of Crime, and Ran Ji to be Zhou's Minister of Works, to assist King Cheng in governing. They all had good reputations throughout the world.
4
Cai Shu Du, having been moved, died. His son was called Hu. Hu then changed his conduct, following virtue and being gentle and good. The Duke of Zhou heard of it and raised Hu to be a minister in Lu. The state of Lu was well governed. Therefore the Duke of Zhou spoke to King Cheng, again enfeoffed Hu at Cai, to continue Cai Shu's sacrifices. This was Cai Zhong. The remaining five uncles all went to their states, and none became officials of the Son of Heaven.
5
Cai Zhong died, and his son Cai Bo Huang succeeded him. Cai Bo Huang died, and his son Gong Hou succeeded him. Gong Hou died, and his son Duke Li succeeded him. Duke Li died, and his son Duke Wu succeeded him. In Duke Wu's time, King Li of Zhou lost his state and fled to Zhi. The Gong He administered the government, and many feudal lords rebelled against Zhou.
6
Duke Wu died, and his son Duke Yi succeeded him. In the eleventh year of Duke Yi's reign, King Xuan of Zhou ascended the throne. In the twenty-eighth year, Duke Yi died, and his son Duke Xi Suo Shi succeeded him.
7
In the thirty-ninth year of Duke Xi's reign, King You of Zhou was killed by the Quan Rong, and the Zhou house became weak and moved east. Qin first became ranked among the feudal lords.
8
In the forty-eighth year, Duke Xi died, and his son Duke Gong Xing succeeded him. Duke Gong died in the second year of his reign, and his son Duke Dai succeeded him. Duke Dai died in the tenth year of his reign, and his son Duke Xuan Cuo Fu succeeded him.
9
In the twenty-eighth year of Duke Xuan's reign, Duke Yin of Lu first ascended the throne. In the thirty-fifth year, Duke Xuan died, and his son Duke Huan Feng Ren succeeded him. In the third year of Duke Huan's reign, Lu assassinated their lord Duke Yin. In the twentieth year, Duke Huan died, and his younger brother Duke Ai Xian Wu succeeded him.
10
In the eleventh year of Duke Ai's reign, initially Duke Ai married a woman from Chen, and Duke Xi also married a woman from Chen. The Lady of Xi was about to return home and passed through Cai, but the Duke of Cai was not respectful. Duke Xi was angry and invited King Wen of Chu: 'Come attack me, I will seek help from Cai, Cai must come, and Chu can then strike them and achieve the merit.' King Wen of Chu followed this plan and captured Duke Ai of Cai, returning with him. Duke Ai stayed for nine years and died in Chu. He altogether reigned for twenty years and died. The Cai people established his son Xi, who became Duke Mu.
11
Duke Mu made his younger sister the wife of Duke Huan of Qi. In the eighteenth year, Duke Huan of Qi was playing with the Cai woman in the boat. His wife rocked the boat. Duke Huan told her to stop, but she didn't. The duke was angered and returned the Cai woman but didn't divorce her. The Duke of Cai was angered and married off his younger sister. Duke Huan of Qi was angered and attacked Cai; Cai collapsed, and he captured Duke Mu, going south to Shao Ling in Chu. Then the feudal lords apologized to Qi on Cai's behalf, and the Duke of Qi returned the Duke of Cai. In the twenty-ninth year, Duke Mu died, and his son Duke Zhuang Jia Wu succeeded him.
12
In the third year of Duke Zhuang's reign, Duke Huan of Qi died. In the fourteenth year, Duke Wen of Jin defeated Chu at Cheng Pu. In the twentieth year, Chu's Crown Prince Shang Chen assassinated his father King Cheng and replaced him. In the twenty-fifth year, Duke Mu of Qin died. In the thirty-third year, King Zhuang of Chu ascended the throne. In the thirty-fourth year, Duke Zhuang died, and his son Duke Wen Shen succeeded him.
13
In the fourteenth year of Duke Wen's reign, King Zhuang of Chu attacked Chen and killed Xia Zheng Shu. In the fifteenth year, Chu surrounded Zheng. Zheng surrendered to Chu, and Chu again freed them. In the twentieth year, Duke Wen died, and his son Duke Jing Gu succeeded him.
14
In the first year of Duke Jing's reign, King Zhuang of Chu died. In the forty-ninth year, Duke Jing married a wife for Crown Prince Ban from Chu, but Duke Jing had relations with her. The crown prince assassinated Duke Jing and established himself, becoming Duke Ling.
15
使 使
In the second year of Duke Ling's reign, Chu's Prince Wei assassinated his king Jia Ao and established himself, becoming King Ling. In the ninth year, Chen's Minister of Works Zhao assassinated their lord Duke Ai. Chu sent Prince Qi Ji to destroy Chen and take possession of it. In the twelfth year, King Ling of Chu, because Duke Ling had assassinated his father, lured Duke Ling of Cai to Shen. He hid armored troops and drank with him, got him drunk and killed him, and executed seventy of his soldiers. He commanded Prince Qi Ji to surround Cai. In the eleventh month, he destroyed Cai and made Qi Ji the Duke of Cai.
16
Three years after Chu destroyed Cai, the Chu prince Qi Ji assassinated his lord King Ling and replaced him, becoming King Ping. King Ping then sought the youngest son Lu of Cai's Duke Jing and established him, who became Duke Ping. In this year, Chu also re-established Chen. King Ping of Chu had just ascended and desired to be close to the feudal lords, so he re-established the descendants of Chen and Cai.
17
In the ninth year of Duke Ping's reign, he died. Dong Guo, the grandson of Duke Ling Ban, attacked Duke Ping's son and established himself, becoming Duke Dao. Duke Dao's father was called the Hidden Crown Prince You. The Hidden Crown Prince You was Duke Ling's crown prince. When Duke Ping ascended, he killed the Hidden Crown Prince. Therefore, when Duke Ping died, the Hidden Crown Prince's son Dong Guo attacked Duke Ping's son and replaced him, becoming Duke Dao. Duke Dao died in the third year of his reign, and his younger brother Duke Zhao Shen succeeded him.
18
In the tenth year of Duke Zhao's reign, he paid court to King Zhao of Chu, holding two beautiful fur coats. He offered one to King Zhao and wore one himself. Chu's prime minister Zi Chang desired it, but the duke wouldn't give it. Zi Chang slandered the Duke of Cai and detained him in Chu for three years. The Duke of Cai learned of it and then offered his fur coat to Zi Chang; Zi Chang accepted it and then spoke to have the Duke of Cai returned. The Duke of Cai returned and went to Jin, requesting to attack Chu together with Jin.
19
使 使
In the spring of the thirteenth year, he met with Duke Ling of Wei at Shao Ling. The Duke of Cai privately consulted with Chang Hong of Zhou to seek precedence over Wei; Wei had a scribe speak of Kang Shu's merits and virtue, and then gave precedence to Wei. In summer, on behalf of Jin they destroyed Shen. Chu was angered and attacked Cai. Duke Zhao of Cai made his son a hostage in Wu, to attack Chu together. In winter, together with King Helu of Wu, they then broke Chu and entered Ying. Cai resented Zi Chang. Zi Chang feared and fled to Zheng. In the fourteenth year, Wu departed and King Zhao of Chu recovered his state. In the sixteenth year, Chu's prime minister wept for his people to scheme against Cai, and Duke Zhao of Cai feared. In the twenty-sixth year, Confucius went to Cai. King Zhao of Chu attacked Cai. Cai feared and reported urgently to Wu. The state of Wu considered Cai too far, so they agreed to move Cai closer to themselves, making it easier for them to rescue each other; Duke Zhao privately promised and did not consult with the grand officers. The Wu people came to save Cai and therefore moved Cai to Zhou Lai. In the twenty-eighth year, when Duke Zhao was about to pay court at Wu, the grand officers feared he would move again, so they commanded the assassin Li to kill Duke Zhao; Then they executed the assassin Li to dispel the blame, and established Duke Zhao's son Shuo, who became Duke Cheng.
20
In the fourth year of Duke Cheng's reign, Song destroyed Cao. In the tenth year, Tian Chang of Qi assassinated their lord Duke Jian. In the thirteenth year, Chu destroyed Chen. In the nineteenth year, Duke Cheng died, and his son Duke Sheng Chan succeeded him. Duke Sheng died in the fifteenth year of his reign, and his son Duke Yuan succeeded him. Duke Yuan died in the sixth year of his reign, and his son Duke Qi succeeded him.
21
In the fourth year of Duke Qi's reign, King Hui of Chu destroyed Cai. Duke Qi of Cai fled, and Cai's sacrifices then ended. This was thirty-three years after Chen was destroyed.
22
Bo Yi Kao—it is not known where his descendants were enfeoffed. King Wu Fa—his descendants became Zhou, and there are basic annals that speak of this. Guan Shu Xian made rebellion and was executed. He had no descendants. The Duke of Zhou Dan—his descendants became Lu, and there are hereditary houses that speak of this. Cai Shu Du—his descendants became Cai, and there are hereditary houses that speak of this. Cao Shu Zhen Duo had descendants who became Cao, and there are hereditary houses that speak of this. Cheng Shu Wu—his later generations are nowhere to be seen. Huo Shu Chu—his descendants were destroyed at Huo during the time of Duke Xian of Jin. Kang Shu Feng—his descendants became Wei, and there are hereditary houses that speak of this. Ran Ji Zai—his later generations are nowhere to be seen.
23
The Grand Historian says: Guan and Cai made rebellion, nothing worth recording. However, when King Wu of Zhou died, King Cheng was young, and the world was already suspicious. They relied on the same mother's younger brothers Cheng Shu, Ran Ji and their group of ten to assist and protect, thus the feudal lords ultimately honored Zhou. Therefore it is attached to the hereditary houses account.
24
Cao Shu Zhen Duo was the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou. King Wu had already defeated Yin Zhou and enfeoffed Shu Zhen Duo at Cao.
25
Shu Zhen Duo died, and his son Tai Bo Pi succeeded him. Tai Bo died, and his son Zhong Jun Ping succeeded him. Zhong Jun Ping died, and his son Gong Bo Hou succeeded him. Gong Bo Hou died, and his son Xiao Bo Yun succeeded him. Xiao Bo Yun died, and his son Yi Bo Xi succeeded him.
26
In the twenty-third year of Yi Bo Xi's reign, King Li of Zhou fled to Zhi.
27
He died in the thirtieth year of his reign, and his younger brother You Bo Qiang succeeded him. In the ninth year of You Bo Qiang's reign, his younger brother Su killed You Bo and replaced him, becoming Dai Bo. In the first year of Dai Bo's reign, King Xuan of Zhou had already been on the throne for three years. In the thirtieth year, Dai Bo died, and his son Hui Bo Si succeeded him.
28
In the twenty-fifth year of Hui Bo's reign, King You of Zhou was killed by the Quan Rong. Because of moving east, the Zhou house became increasingly weak, and the feudal lords rebelled against it. Qin first became ranked among the feudal lords.
29
In the thirty-sixth year, Hui Bo died. His son Shi Fu succeeded, but his younger brother Wu killed him and replaced him, becoming Duke Mu. Duke Mu died in the third year of his reign, and his son Duke Huan Zhong Sheng succeeded him.
30
In the thirty-fifth year of Duke Huan's reign, Duke Yin of Lu succeeded. In the forty-fifth year, Lu assassinated their lord Duke Yin. In the forty-sixth year, Song's Hua Fu Du assassinated their lord Duke Shang and Kong Fu. In the fifty-fifth year, Duke Huan died, and his son Duke Zhuang Xi Gu succeeded him.
31
In the twenty-third year of Duke Zhuang's reign, Duke Huan of Qi first became hegemon.
32
In the thirty-first year, Duke Zhuang died, and his son Duke Xi Yi succeeded him. Duke Xi died in the ninth year of his reign, and his son Duke Zhao Ban succeeded him. In the sixth year of Duke Zhao's reign, Duke Huan of Qi defeated Cai, then reached Zhao Ling in Chu. In the ninth year, Duke Zhao died, and his son Duke Gong Xiang succeeded him.
33
In the sixteenth year of Duke Gong's reign, initially, Jin's Prince Chong Er, while in exile, passed through Cao. The lord of Cao was discourteous and wished to see his fused ribs. Xi Fu Ji remonstrated, but the lord did not listen. Xi Fu Ji privately befriended Chong Er. In the twenty-first year, Duke Wen of Jin, Chong Er, attacked Cao, captured Duke Gong and returned with him, and commanded the army not to enter Xi Fu Ji's clan alley. Someone persuaded Duke Wen of Jin, saying: 'Formerly Duke Huan of Qi assembled the feudal lords and restored those of different surnames; Now you imprison the lord of Cao and destroy those of the same surname. How can you command the feudal lords?' Jin then returned Duke Gong.
34
In the twenty-fifth year, Duke Wen of Jin died. In the thirty-fifth year, Duke Gong died, and his son Duke Wen Shou succeeded him. Duke Wen died in the twenty-third year of his reign, and his son Duke Xuan Qiang succeeded him. Duke Xuan died in the seventeenth year of his reign, and his younger brother Duke Cheng Fu Chu succeeded him.
35
使
In the third year of Duke Cheng's reign, Duke Li of Jin attacked Cao, captured Duke Cheng and returned with him, then released him again. In the fifth year, Luan Shu and Zhong Xing Yan of Jin sent Cheng Hua to assassinate their lord Duke Li. In the twenty-third year, Duke Cheng died, and his son Duke Wu Sheng succeeded him. In the twenty-sixth year of Duke Wu's reign, Chu's Prince Qi Ji assassinated his lord King Ling and replaced him. In the twenty-seventh year, Duke Wu died, and his son Duke Ping Xu succeeded him. Duke Ping died in the fourth year of his reign, and his son Duke Dao Wu succeeded him. In this year, Song, Wei, Chen, and Zheng all had fires.
36
In the eighth year of Duke Dao's reign, Duke Jing of Song ascended the throne. In the ninth year, Duke Dao paid court to Song, and Song imprisoned him; Cao established his younger brother Ye, who became Duke Sheng. Duke Dao died in Song and was returned for burial.
37
In the fifth year of Duke Sheng's reign, Duke Ping's younger brother Tong assassinated Duke Sheng and replaced him, becoming Duke Yin. In the fourth year of Duke Yin's reign, Duke Sheng's younger brother Lu assassinated Duke Yin and replaced him, becoming Duke Jing. Duke Jing died in the fourth year of his reign, and his son Bo Yang succeeded him.
38
使
In the third year of Bo Yang's reign, a person of the state dreamed that many noblemen stood at the She palace, plotting to destroy Cao; Cao Shu Zhen Duo stopped them and requested to wait for Gong Sun Qiang, and the request was permitted. In the morning, they sought him in Cao, but there was no such person. The dreamer warned his son, saying: 'When I die, if you hear that Gong Sun Qiang administers the government, you must leave Cao to avoid the calamity of Cao.' When Bo Yang ascended the throne, he liked matters of hunting and shooting. In the sixth year, Cao's rustic Gong Sun Qiang also liked hunting and shooting. He obtained a white goose and offered it, moreover spoke about hunting and shooting theories, and took advantage to discuss government affairs. Bo Yang was greatly pleased with him and favored him, making him the Minister of Works to handle government affairs. The dreamer's son then fled away.
39
Gong Sun Qiang spoke theories of hegemony to the lord of Cao. In the fourteenth year, the lord of Cao followed this and then turned against Jin to offend Song. Duke Jing of Song attacked them, but the Jin people did not save them. In the fifteenth year, Song destroyed Cao, seized Cao Bo Yang and Gong Sun Qiang, returned with them, and killed them. Cao then ended its sacrifices.
40
The Grand Historian says: I investigated how Duke Gong of Cao did not use Xi Fu Ji, yet had three hundred chariot riders, and I knew that only virtue was not established. And as for Zhen Duo's dream, how could it not have desired to extend the sacrifices of Cao! If Gong Sun Qiang had not repaired the government, Shu Duo's sacrifices would have been neglected.
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