CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Chen Ping陈平

Archaic / OtherHistory

A strategist and chancellor in the early Han dynasty, who assisted Liu Bang in conquering the realm with ingenious schemes, and later participated in suppressing the various Lü clan members.

DIRECT FIGURES
13
RELATION RECORDS
24
SOURCE WORKS
3

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Chen Ping, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

1 figure · 2 records
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

7 figures · 11 records
3 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

5 figures · 5 records
1 more in the complete record
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

6 figures · 6 records
3 more in the complete record

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

In history · Records of the Grand Historian

According to the Records of the Grand Historian, chapter on the House of Chancellor Chen, Chen Ping devised six ingenious stratagems, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Quyi after serving the Han, and together with Zhou Bo eliminated the Lü clan.

Across source works

How this figure changes across texts

Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.

  1. Official history

    Book of Han

    26 profile notes
    19 relations27 verified quotations
    • Liu BangemployChen Ping
    • Chen Pingruler-subjectLiu Bang
    • Chen Pingoffer planLiu Bang
    • Chen Pingruler-subjectXiang Yu
    Verified original text · 27
    1. 用良、平之谋

      employ · Book of Han, 刑法志

    2. 收陈平于亡命

      take concubine · Book of Han, 叙传上

    25 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

    Open work page

  2. Official history

    Book of the Later Han

    3 profile notes
    1 relations1 verified quotations
    • Chen Pingruler-subjectLiu Bang
    Verified original text · 1
    1. 高祖击匈奴,至白登,被围七日,用陈平计得出。

      offer plan · Book of the Later Han, 崔骃列传

    Open work page

  3. 17 profile notes
    12 relations17 verified quotations
    • Liu BangemployChen Ping
    • Chen Pingruler-subjectLiu Bang
    • Chen Pingruler-subjectXiang Yu
    • Emperor Wen of Hanruler-subjectChen Ping
    Verified original text · 17
    1. 曲逆侯陈平为左丞相

      任命左丞相 · Records of the Grand Historian, 汉兴以来将相名臣年表

    2. 陈平可以助之

      指定辅佐 · Records of the Grand Historian, 高祖本纪

    15 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

    Open work page

Where the histories differ

Records of the Grand Historian separately established a Hereditary House for Chen Ping, while History of Han abolished the hereditary house status and downgraded him to a combined biography chapter.

  • In Records of the Grand Historian, the Hereditary House of Chancellor Chen (史记·陈丞相世家) separately establishes a hereditary house for Chen Ping, detailing his six ingenious stratagems: 'When Chen Ping, the Chancellor, was young, he was fond of the arts of the Yellow Emperor and Laozi. When he was cutting meat on the chopping board, his ambition was already far-reaching. Tossed about between Chu and Wei, he finally returned to Emperor Gao.' In History of Han, the combined biography of Zhang, Chen, Wang, and Zhou (汉书·张陈王周传) abolishes the hereditary house for ministers and downgrades him to a combined biography chapter: 'Chen Ping's ambition was seen under the altar; tossed about between Chu and Wei, he finally returned to Han and became a strategist. During Empress Lü's time, many events occurred, yet Ping managed to escape and ended with wisdom.' Thus, he was reduced from a separate hereditary house to a combined biography chapter.

Relationship network

14 figures · 65 links
Chen PingChen PingLiu BangLiu BangXiang YuXiang YuEmperor Wen of HanEmperor Wen of HanEmpress LüEmpress LüGuan YingGuan YingHan WangHan WangFan KuaiFan KuaiZhou BoZhou BoEmperor Wen of HanEmperor Wen of HanLü ChanLü ChanMarquis of JiangLu JiaWang Ling
historyliteraturedual
Open full atlas →

Sources: Records of the Grand Historian, 吕太后本纪; Book of the Later Han, 崔骃列传; Book of Han, 刑法志; Records of the Grand Historian, 孝文本纪; Book of the Later Han, 杜栾刘李刘谢列传; Book of Han, 叙传上; Records of the Grand Historian, 张丞相列传; Book of the Later Han, 袁张韩周列传

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.