Zhou Bo

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In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhou.
Zhou Bo
周勃
Right Imperial Chancellor (右丞相)
In office
16 December 180[1] – 2 October 179 BC[2]
MonarchEmperor Wen of Han
Preceded byChen Ping
Personal details
BornUnknown
Pei County, Jiangsu
Died169 BC
Children
OccupationMilitary general, politician
Posthumous nameMarquis Wu (武侯)
PeerageMarquis of Jiang (絳侯)

Zhou Bo (died 169 BC), posthumously known as Marquis Wu of Jiang (绛武侯), was a Chinese military general and politician who served as a chancellor of the early Western Han dynasty.

Life[edit]

Zhou Bo's ancestral home was in Juan County (卷縣; present-day Yuanyang County, Henan) but he was born in Pei County in present-day Jiangsu. He was a friend of Liu Bang (Emperor Gaozu), the founding emperor of the Han dynasty. Around 206 BC, he joined Liu Bang in rebelling against the Qin dynasty. After the fall of the Qin dynasty, Zhou Bo fought on Liu Bang's side in the Chu–Han Contention against Liu Bang's rival, Xiang Yu.

After Liu Bang became emperor and established the Han dynasty, he enfeoffed Zhou Bo as the Marquis of Jiang (絳侯) to honour him for his contributions in battle. During the regency of Empress Lü, Zhou Bo served as Grand Commandant (太尉). Zhou Bo later served as the Right Chancellor during the reign of Liu Bang's son, Liu Heng (Emperor Wen), but resigned within a year as he realised that his aptitude for the position was inferior to that of Chen Ping's. However, Chen Ping died soon after holding both Chancellor positions; on 5 December 179 BCE,[3] Zhou Bo was re-appointed Chancellor. Zhou Bo was relieved of his Chancellor post and sent back to his fiefdom in the week of 22 January 177 BCE;[4] Guan Ying was appointed Chancellor in his place on 29 January.

After Zhou Bo died, Emperor Wen awarded him the posthumous title "Marquis Wu" (武侯; literally "military marquis").

One of Zhou Bo's sons, Zhou Yafu, served under Liu Qi (Emperor Jing), Emperor Wen's successor, and played a key role in suppressing the Rebellion of the Seven States.

References[edit]

  1. ^ xinsi day of the 11th month of the 1st year of Emperor Wen's reign, per vol.13 of Zizhi Tongjian. This was the same day Chen Ping became Left Imperial Chancellor. In the modified Zhuanxu calendar used in this era, the 1st year of Emperor Wen's reign began on 15 November 180 BCE and ended on 4 Nov 179 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar.
  2. ^ xinwei day of the 8th month of the 1st year of Emperor Wen's reign, per vol.13 of Zizhi Tongjian. Chen Ping took over the post of Right Imperial Chancellor on the same day.
  3. ^ yihai day of the 11th month of the 2nd year of Emperor Wen's reign, per vol.13 of Zizhi Tongjian. In the modified Zhuanxu calendar used during this era, the 2nd year of Emperor Wen's reign starts from 5 Nov 179 BCE and ends on 23 Nov 178 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar.
  4. ^ Volume 14 of Zizhi Tongjian indicated that Zhou Bo was dismissed as Chancellor in the 12th month of the 3rd year of Emperor Wen's reign. The month starts from 22 Jan 177 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar. However, since Guan Ying was appointed Chancellor on 29 Jan (yihai day of that month), Zhou Bo's dismissal must have taken place between 22 and 29 Jan. In the modified Zhuanxu calendar used during this era, the 3rd year of Emperor Wen's reign starts from 24 Nov 178 BCE and ends on 11 Nov 177 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar.
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