CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Zhao Gao赵高
Zhao Gao was a eunuch and the Director of the Chariot and Horse Office in the Qin dynasty, who once taught Huhai to read. He was autocratic and tyrannical, causing chaos in the government. He infamously called a deer a horse, murdered Prime Minister Li Si, and forced the Second Emperor of Qin to commit suicide. He was eventually executed by Ziying, who had him torn apart by chariots.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 4
- RELATION RECORDS
- 9
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Zhao Gao, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01MENTORSHIPMentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
Zhao Gao→Huhaiteach
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
3 figures · 5 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Qin Shi Huang→Zhao Gaoemploy
Zhao Gao→Huhaiserve
Zhao Gao→King Zheng of Qinoffer strategy
Source record
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
2 figures · 3 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Zhao Gao→Li Siframe
Zhao Gao→Huhaikill
6 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Grand Historian
Zhao Gao was the Director of the Chariot and Horse Office and a eunuch in the Qin dynasty, who once taught Huhai to read. After seizing power, he became autocratic and tyrannical, calling a deer a horse and murdering Prime Minister Li Si. After forcing the Second Emperor to commit suicide, he was eventually killed by Ziying, who had him torn apart by chariots.
In fiction · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms
Zhao Gao was a eunuch and the Prefect of the Palace in the Qin dynasty, who once alertly reminded the King of Qin to carry his sword on his back, earning a great reward. Later, he wielded great power in the court, causing great chaos and becoming a treacherous minister who brought disaster to the country and its people.
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.
- Literature / legend2 profile notes
Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms
2 relations1 verified quotations- Zhao Gao→ ruler-subject →Qin Shi Huang
- Zhao Gao→ offer strategy →King Zheng of Qin
Verified original text · 1
赵高为郎中令
ruler-subject · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 108
- Official history7 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
7 relations9 verified quotations- Qin Shi Huang→ employ →Zhao Gao
- Zhao Gao→ frame →Li Si
- Li Si→ impeach →Zhao Gao
- Huhai→ plot →Zhao Gao
Verified original text · 9
中车府令赵高行符玺事
employ · Records of the Grand Historian, 秦始皇本纪
于是乃相与谋，诈为受始皇诏丞相
accomplice · Records of the Grand Historian, 李斯列传
7 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
Did Zhao Gao once remind the King of Qin to carry the sword on his back and draw it?
The Records of the Grand Historian, in the 'Basic Annals of Qin Shi Huang' and the 'Biography of Li Si' and other chapters, clearly records the true historical facts that Zhao Gao, as the Chief of the Chariot and Horse Bureau, taught Huhai, and after the death of Qin Shi Huang, he wielded power arbitrarily, 'pointed at a deer and called it a horse', and forced the Second Emperor of Qin to die, bringing disaster to the country and the people. However, in the Records of the Grand Historian, in the 'Biography of Assassins', in the episode of Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin, it only records 'The attendants then said: 'The King should carry the sword on his back!'', without specifying that it was Zhao Gao who did it. The Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, in chapter 107, cleverly attributes this detail to Zhao Gao, fabricating the fictional plot of 'A young eunuch named Zhao Gao urgently called out: 'Why doesn't the King carry the sword on his back and draw it?'', laying the groundwork for his future favor and misrule.
Relationship network
Original text (1)
中车府令赵高行符玺事
Original text (1)
Original text (3)
于是乃相与谋，诈为受始皇诏丞相
Original relation: accomplice · Records of the Grand Historian, 李斯列传
赵高案治李斯。
赵高为丞相，竟案李斯杀之。
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)