Chen Shou · Historian · People | Muzi Chinese Matrix

Also known as Zi Chengzuo

Roles: Historian

Chen Shou, courtesy name Chengzuo, came from Anhan in Baxi commandery (modern Nanchong, Sichuan) and studied as a youth under Qiao Zhou of the same commandery. Serving Shu Han as a clerk in the archives, he was repeatedly demoted for refusing to court the eunuch Huang Hao. Under the Jin, Zhang Hua recommended him as assistant editorial director, and in 274 he presented an edition of Zhuge Liang's writings in twenty-four sections. After the Jin conquest of Wu he completed the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi), sixty-five chapters divided into thirty on Wei, fifteen on Shu and twenty on Wu. His Jin History biography says Xiahou Zhan, then writing his own history of Wei, destroyed his draft after reading Chen's. Chen Shou rose to attending censor and died of illness in 297, and in 429 Pei Songzhi of the Liu Song completed a commentary on the Sanguozhi by imperial order.

Life and times

233 CEBornThree Kingdoms Jin
297 CEDied

Works

Literature · Prose72
Literature · Sayings41
1. Like a Fish Finding WaterJinIdiom from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: like a fish in water, perfectly in one's element
2. Never Letting the Book Leave One's HandJinIdiom from Lü Meng's biography: never letting the book leave one's hand
3. At a Loss What to DoJinIdiom from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: at a loss what to do
4. Seeing Someone in a New LightJinIdiom from Lü Meng's biography: seeing someone's progress with new eyes
5. Letting the Tiger Return to the MountainsJinIdiom from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: letting an enemy go to cause future harm
6. +25 more
  1. Drawing Cakes to Allay HungerJinIdiom from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: feeding on painted cakes, empty consolation
  2. Looking with New EyesJinIdiom from the exchange of Lü Meng and Lu Su: no longer judging a person by old standards
  3. The Old Ah Meng of WuJinIdiom from Pei Songzhi's notes on Lü Meng: once an ignoramus, now praise for great progress
  4. Essays Flow from the BrushJinIdiom from the Records of the Three Kingdoms on Cao Zhi: writing that flows at once
  5. Careless of the Small ProprietiesJinIdiom from Cao Pi's letter to Wu Zhi: men of letters careless of small proprieties
  6. Living on Another's BreathJinIdiom in the Records of the Three Kingdoms on Yuan Shao: an army that lived on another's breath
  7. Hold Sincerely to the Middle WayJinIdiom from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: Han's last emperor hands Cao Pi the throne
  8. Rearing a Tiger Only to Invite DisasterJinIdiom with roots in the Shiji and the Records of the Three Kingdoms: a tamed tiger still bites
  9. Dry Bones in the Grave: Kong Rong on Yuan ShuJinIdiom from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: Kong Rong dismisses Yuan Shu
  10. Scraping the Bone to Draw Out the PoisonJinIdiom from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: Guan Yu feasts while a surgeon scrapes his arm
  11. Power That Overshadowed the RealmJinIdiom from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: four generations of Yuan family ministers
  12. The Young Deserve Our RespectJinIdiom from Pei Songzhi's notes to the Records of the Three Kingdoms: He Yan marvels at Wang Bi
  13. Collapsing Like Earth, Shattering Like Tiles at YilingJinIdiom from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: an army collapsing like earth and tile
  14. Arms Reaching Below the Knees: Liu Bei's Remarkable LooksJinFamous line from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: Liu Bei's arms reaching past his knees
  15. Opening the Gate to Bow In the RobbersJinIdiom from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: grieving at the wrong moment invites ruin
  16. Bearing Humiliation to Shoulder a Heavy ChargeJinIdiom from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: Lu Xun swallows slights to win the war
  17. The Crime of Holding a Jade DiscJinIdiom from the Zuo Tradition: the jade, not the man, is the crime
  18. Tranquil and Free of CravingJinIdiom from Cao Pi's Letter to Wu Zhi: praise for a scholar free of greed
  19. Bowing Low to Win Over Worthy MenJinIdiom from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: Yuan Shao's courtesy draws men to him
  20. Taking Up the Brush and Finishing on the SpotJinIdiom from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: young Cao Zhi's instant rhapsody
  21. Changing the Strings and Retuning the ZitherJinIdiom from Chen Shou's verdict on Sun Xiu: a ruler who failed to retune the state
  22. Attack Needs Double the Strength of DefenceJinAphorism from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: Cao Rui reads Sun Quan's attack
  23. Struck With Fear at the First Sign of the EnemyJinLine from the Records of the Three Kingdoms: Wu's ministers cowed before Red Cliffs
  24. Not Knowing at Dawn What the Evening Will BringJinIdiom from Chen Shou's verdict on Sun Hao: subjects who could not plan from dawn to dusk
  25. A Wolf Cub's Wild Heart: Cao Cao on Lü BuJinIdiom in the Records of the Three Kingdoms: Cao Cao judges Lü Bu untameable
Literature · Fables2
1. Letting the Tiger Return to the MountainJinEpisode from the Sanguo Zhi: Cao Cao lets Liu Bei go against Cheng Yu's advice
2. Drawing a Cake to Satisfy HungerJinEmperor Ming of Wei's words to Lu Yu in the Sanguo Zhi: fame is a painted cake

Records

Wrote the History of the Three Kingdoms in 65 sections

Western Jin

Chen Shou, courtesy name Chengzuo, came from Anhan in Baxi and in his youth studied under Qiao Zhou of the same commandery. He served Shu as a clerk of the pavilion archives. The Excellency of Works Zhang Hua valued his talent, recommended him as filial and incorrupt, and had him made assistant editor in the Bureau of Composition. He wrote the History of the Three Kingdoms on Wei, Wu and Shu in 65 sections, and Xiahou Zhan, who was then writing a Book of Wei, saw Chen Shou's work and destroyed his own manuscript.

References (1)

晉書/卷082Source Wikisource (Chinese)