An Analysis of Liu Pang’s Exploits and his Historical Orientation Based on Su Ma-chien’s Shi-ji (Records of the Historian)

Author: Tzu-ping Yang(Department of Chinese Literature, National Central University)

Vol.&No.：Vol. 53, No. 1
Date：January 2008
Pages：29-48
DOI：10.6210/JNTNULL.2008.53(1).02

Abstract：

The purpose of this study is to analyze Taishih Kung’s evaluation of Liu Pang, and his explanation of how the Liu Pang collective founded the Han Dynasty. Taishih Kung thought that the Han Dynasty was through the interaction of two factors, “trend” and “hero.” By looking closely at the historical path that begins with the Qin Dynasty’s downfall and ends Chen Sheng's revolution and Hsiang Yu's hegemony, Taishih Kung perceived that Liu Pang had followed the trend. Yet at the same time, it was the great intelligence of Liu Pang and the other three heroes that initiated the new era. Instead of judging Liu Pang by conventional moral standards or by the value his achievements, Taishih Kung interpreted him within his historical context. Viewed in this light, it is clear that Liu Pang had set the historical precedent for attributing the founding of the Han Dynasty to an ordinary person; it is also clear that Liu Pang’s ambition was to achieve hereditary domination. Therefore it is concluded that Taishih Kung’s analysis of Liu Pang is noteworthy, for it is not based solely on the character, success or failure of this historical figure.

Keywords：Shi-ji (Records of the Historian), Liu Pang, Hsiang Yu, Taishih Kung, the exploits of the Three Heroes in the early Han Dynasty, Han Xin

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