CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Xiao He萧何
Prime Minister of the Han dynasty, author of the Nine Chapters of Law.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 11
- RELATION RECORDS
- 23
- SOURCE WORKS
- 3
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Xiao He, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
2 figures · 2 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Zhang Liang—Xiao Heenfeoffed
Cao Shen—Xiao Hefriend
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
9 figures · 12 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Liu Bang→Xiao Heenfeoff
Cao Shen→Xiao Hesucceed
Han Xin→Xiao Herecommend
Emperor Wu of Han→Xiao Heposthumously confer
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
3 figures · 3 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Xiao He→Han Xindeceive
Liu Bang→Xiao Heimprison
Xiao He→Cao Shendiscord
Source record
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
4 figures · 6 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Xiao He→Han Xinrecommend
Xiao He→Liu Bangoffer plan
Xiao He→Emperor Hui of Hanrecommend
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
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.
- Official history23 profile notes
Book of Han
10 relations16 verified quotations- Liu Bang→ enfeoff →Xiao He
- Xiao He→ assist →Liu Bang
- Emperor Wu of Han→ posthumously confer →Xiao He
- Xiao He→ offer plan →Empress Lü
Verified original text · 16
任萧、曹之文
employ · Book of Han, 刑法志
股肱萧、曹
subordinate · Book of Han, 叙传下
14 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history8 profile notes
Book of the Later Han
3 relations3 verified quotations- Xiao He→ assist →Liu Bang
- Cao Shen→ succeed →Xiao He
- Emperor Ming of Han→ send envoy to sacrifice →Xiao He
Verified original text · 3
萧公权宜以拓其制
build palace · Book of the Later Han, 班彪列传下
萧何为法，讲若画一。曹参代之，守而勿失。
succeed · Book of the Later Han, 王充王符仲长统列传
1 more verified quotation in the relationship records below.
- Official history13 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
16 relations18 verified quotations- Liu Bang→ enfeoff →Xiao He
- Xiao He→ assist →Liu Bang
- Liu Bang→ imprison →Xiao He
- Liu Bang→ release →Xiao He
Verified original text · 18
丞相萧何守汉中
任命丞相 · Records of the Grand Historian, 汉兴以来将相名臣年表
萧、曹、绛、灌之属或至四万
enfeoff · Records of the Grand Historian, 高祖功臣侯者年表〈第十八〉
16 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
Where the histories differ
Records of the Grand Historian lists Xiao He among the hereditary houses of the feudal lords, while History of Han demotes him to the biographies and combines him with Cao Shen
- histories differXiao He's rank in the formal history genre
In Records of the Grand Historian, the Hereditary House of Chancellor Xiao gives Xiao He an extremely high status, placing him among the 'hereditary houses' of the feudal lords, and praises him as a founding hero: 'Chancellor Xiao He was a scribe in the Qin dynasty, ordinary and without remarkable deeds. When Han arose, relying on the last light of the sun and moon, He carefully guarded the keys, and because the people hated the harsh laws, he followed the current and made a new beginning. Han Xin, Qing Bu, and others were all executed, but He's merit shone brightly.' In History of Han, the Biography of Xiao He and Cao Shen abolishes the precedent of listing meritorious officials in the hereditary houses, demoting him to the biographies and combining him with Cao Shen in one volume: 'Xiao He and Cao Shen both rose from Qin scribes, at the time ordinary and without remarkable deeds.' The institutional rank was thus downgraded.
Relationship network
- enfeoff← Liu Bang → Xiao Hehist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 汉兴以来将相名臣年表Records of the Grand Historian, 萧相国世家Records of the Grand Historian, 高祖功臣侯者年表Records of the Grand Historian, 高祖功臣侯者年表〈第十八〉Book of Han, 刑法志Book of Han, 叙传下Book of Han, 高帝纪_ch. 1上
Original text (6)
任萧、曹之文
Original relation: employ · Book of Han, 刑法志
股肱萧、曹
Original relation: subordinate · Book of Han, 叙传下
萧何为主吏
Original relation: master-servant · Book of Han, 高帝纪_ch. 1上
萧何发关中老弱未傅者悉诣军
Original relation: dispatch troops · Book of Han, 高帝纪_ch. 1上
丞相萧何守汉中
Original relation: 任命丞相 · Records of the Grand Historian, 汉兴以来将相名臣年表
萧、曹、绛、灌之属或至四万
- assistXiao He → Liu Banghist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 萧相国世家Records of the Grand Historian, 项羽本纪Records of the Grand Historian, 高祖本纪Book of the Later Han, 班彪列传下Book of Han, 萧何曹参传Book of Han, 陈胜项籍传Book of Han, 高帝纪_ch. 1上
Original text (6)
高祖为布衣时，数以吏事护高祖。
萧何亦发关中卒悉诣荥阳
因荐于汉王
Original relation: 荐韩信 · Book of Han, 高帝纪_ch. 1上
萧公权宜以拓其制
Original relation: build palace · Book of the Later Han, 班彪列传下
高祖为布衣时，何数以吏事护高祖。
萧何为主吏，主进
Original relation: master-servant · Records of the Grand Historian, 高祖本纪
Original text (1)
乃下相国廷尉，械系之。
Original text (1)
是日，使使持节赦出相国。
Original text (1)
于是何从其计，汉王大说。
Original text (1)
封故相国萧何曾孙庆为列侯
Original text (1)
吕后用何计诛信。
- recommendXiao He → Han Xinhist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 淮阴侯列传Records of the Grand Historian, 萧相国世家Book of Han, 韩彭英卢吴传_ch. 34Book of Han, 高帝纪_ch. 1上
Original text (4)
何闻信亡，不及以闻，自追之。
萧何追还之
Original relation: recover · Book of Han, 高帝纪_ch. 1上
何闻信亡，不及以闻，自追之
Original relation: 追回 · Records of the Grand Historian, 淮阴侯列传
何进言韩信，汉王以信为大将军。
- appreciate← Han Xin → Xiao HehistRecords of the Grand Historian, 淮阴侯列传Records of the Grand Historian, 高祖功臣侯者年表
Original text (2)
信数与萧何语，何奇之
萧何言为大将军
Original relation: recommend · Records of the Grand Historian, 高祖功臣侯者年表
- deceiveXiao He → Han Xinhist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 淮阴侯列传Records of the Grand Historian, 萧相国世家Book of Han, 韩彭英卢吴传_ch. 34
Original text (2)
相国绐信曰：‘虽病，强入贺。’
相国绐信曰：‘虽疾，彊入贺。’
Original relation: deceive · Records of the Grand Historian, 淮阴侯列传
Original text (1)
萧何言信为大将军
Original text (1)
乃封张良为留侯，与萧何等俱封。
Original text (1)
- succeed← Cao Shen → Xiao Hehist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 太史公自序Book of the Later Han, 王充王符仲长统列传Book of Han, 叙传下Book of Han, 萧何曹参传
Original text (3)
继而弗革
萧何为法，讲若画一。曹参代之，守而勿失。
续何相国
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
至何且死，所推贤唯参。
Original text (1)
遣使者以中牢祠萧何、霍光
Original text (1)
关内侯鄂君进曰：“群臣议皆误
Original text (1)
何顿首曰：“帝得之矣！臣死不恨矣！”
Original text (1)
相国何薨