Sima Qian: PM Chen

 

Why did Sima Qian insert descendant notes at the end of his biographies?  “I have engaged in many secret plottings,” Chen Ping said [H1.128]  He was the master strategist, so of course he had secrets.  He died acclaimed as a wise and worthy man, yet his descendants did not reap the benefits.  One interpretation of why Chen Ping was afraid his heirs may lose their position is that he had two sets of secrets – the ones that benefited emperor and country, and the ones aimed at self-preservation.  It is these secrets, designed to favor the self rather than for the greater good, that brought bad luck to his descendants. 

Many incidents in Chen Ping’s life show his character, beginning with the plot to attract the attention of wealthy Madame Zhang by hiring himself out as a handsome young mourner.  The ruse worked, he married the granddaughter, and began to prosper [H1.115b-116t].  While on the run, Chen Ping decided to help row, which then gave him the excuse to strip naked so that the boatman knew he had no hidden goods on him [H1.117m].  After betting on the winning side, Chen Ping knew that in order to assure the emperor of his virtue, he needed to make a show of turning down his reward of territories as well as “ask” for rewards for his old benefactor Wei Wuzhi [H1.122m].  Both of them were rewarded.  Later still, the emperor ordered him to behead Fan Kuai – and Chen Ping decided not to.  He knew the emperor may change his mind after he calmed down, but more importantly, he knew he could not risk angering the empress, whose younger sister was married to Fan Kuai.  The gamble worked, and he did indeed earn her gratitude.  Finally, Chen Ping assured himself of his position after the emperor’s death by letting the empress rule the country.  Sima Qian tells us that by doing so, he was able to save the Han dynasty after the empress died, but it is also true that he saved himself from harm [H1.128b].  His public accomplishments as the “Wise Marquis” should have ensured his legacy, but perhaps there were enough private acts of dubious morality to taint his descendants.  

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