Zhu Fuyan主父偃

Where the histories differ

The Records of the Grand Historian pairs Zhufu Yan with Gongsun Hong in a joint biography, lamenting his downfall; the History of Han places him in a joint biography of nine literary officials, asserting that his death was self-inflicted.

• histories differThe historical evaluation and joint biography classification of Zhufu Yan's downfall and clan execution

  In the Records of the Grand Historian, 'The Joint Biography of the Marquis of Pingjin and Zhufu Yan' pairs Zhufu Yan with Gongsun Hong, lamenting that after his fall, his colleagues turned against him: 'When Zhufu Yan was in power, all the gentlemen praised him; but when his reputation was ruined and he was executed, the scholars vied to speak ill of him. How sad!' In the History of Han, 'The Joint Biography of Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia' removes Gongsun Hong and instead places Zhufu Yan in a joint biography of nine literary officials of Emperor Wu's court. In the appraisal, it coldly judges that he brought about his own destruction: 'Examining his deeds, Zhufu sought to be honored like a tripod but instead brought about the extermination of his clan; Yan and Jia entered and exited the palace gates, seeking power and profit, and their deaths were all their own doing. What resentment could there be against those who framed them?'