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Ban Zhao

Eastern Han scholar and sister of Ban Gu who completed the unfinished tables of the History of the Han and taught in the palace, where she was called Cao Dagu

Also known as Courtesy: HuiBan · Caodajia

Ban Zhao, courtesy name Huiban, came from Anling in Fufeng; she was the daughter of Ban Biao and younger sister of Ban Gu and Ban Chao, and was widowed young after marrying Cao Shishu. When Ban Gu died with the eight tables and the astronomy treatise of the *History of the Han* (*Hanshu*) unfinished, Emperor He ordered her to complete them in the Eastern Pavilion library. The emperor often called her to the palace to teach the empress and consorts, who addressed her as Dagu, and under the regency of Empress Dowager Deng she took part in state affairs, earning her son a marquisate. Because many readers struggled with the new *Hanshu*, the young Ma Rong studied it under her. She wrote the *Admonitions for Women* (*Nujie*) in seven sections and, while travelling with her son to Chenliu, the *Rhapsody on a Journey East* (*Dongzheng fu*); she died in her seventies. Xiao Tong later placed that rhapsody among the travel pieces of his *Selections of Refined Literature* (*Wenxuan*).

Life and times

  1. c. 45 CEBornHan
  2. 92Ban Zhao Continues HistoryTook partBan Zhao completed the Book of Han at Dongguan Library, taught master scholars, and advised Empress Deng Sui.
    1. Ban Zhao Completes Book of HanSummoned to the Dongguan Imperial Library by Emperor He to complete Ban Gu's unfinished Book of Han.
    2. Ban Zhao Lectures Scholars at Dongguan105Teaching master scholars such as Ma Rong behind silk screens at the Dongguan Library to transmit classical scholarship.
    3. Ban Zhao Authoring Lessons for Women110Advising Empress Deng as Venerable Scholar Cao and authoring the seven-chapter Lessons for Women.
  3. c. 117 CEDied

Works

  1. Literature · Sayings5
    1. Three Obediences and Four Virtues for WomenHanIdiom from the ritual classics and Ban Zhao's Admonitions: an old code binding women
    2. Putting Others First and Oneself AfterHanIdiom from Ban Zhao's Lessons for Women: considering others before oneself
    3. Leaving the Old Home for a New PostHanIdiom found in Ban Zhao's Rhapsody on a Journey East: leaving the old behind for the new
    4. Bearing Insult and Swallowing ShameHanIdiom from Ban Zhao's Lessons for Women: enduring humiliation in silence
    5. Teeth Worn Down Like an Old Dog's or Horse'sHanFamous line from Ban Zhao's memorial pleading for her brother Ban Chao: old and worn out
  2. Literature · Prose2
    1. Admonitions for WomenHanBan Zhao's seven-chapter instructions for the women of her family, later a Four Books for Women
    2. Memorial Asking that My Brother Chao Be RelievedHanBan Zhao's memorial pleading for her aged brother Ban Chao's recall from the Western Regions
  3. Literature · Rhapsodies1
    1. Rhapsody on the Eastward JourneyHanBan Zhao's travel rhapsody on the road to her son's post at Changyuan, the earliest by a woman

Family tree

  1. Direct kin
    Ban Biao
    Father
    Ban ChaoElder brother
    Ban GuElder brother
    Ban Zhao

Connections

  1. Shared events1
    1. Emperor He of Han79 CE–106 CE
  2. Teachers and students1
    1. Ma RongStudent · 79 - 166

Records

Ban Zhao completes the Book of Han

Eastern Han period

The Book of the Later Han biographies of women says Ban Zhao, named Zhao and styled Huiban, was also called Ji. Her brother Ban Gu wrote the Book of Han but died before finishing its eight tables and the treatise on astronomy, and Emperor He ordered her to the book repository at Dongguan to carry the work through. Ma Rong of the same commandery knelt below the hall to take instruction from her in reading it. She also wrote the seven chapters of Admonitions for Women, was called Dagu, the Venerable Lady, and died past seventy, when the empress dowager put on plain mourning dress for her.

References (1)