CHRONICLES OF CHINESE HISTORY华 夏 历 史 志

约前?–约前?

Western Han Founding StatesmanImperial Counselor (Three Excellencies)

Zhao Yao

赵尧

Zhao Yao (dates unknown) was an early Western Han statesman who rose to Imperial Counselor (Yushi Dafu), one of the Three Excellencies. Starting as Imperial Secretary for Tallies and Seals, he astutely divined Emperor Gaozu's anxiety regarding the vulnerability of his favorite young son, Prince Liu Ruyi of Zhao. Zhao proposed appointing the uncompromising and universally respected Censor Zhou Chang as Chancellor of Zhao to…

约前?–约前?Western Han

PROFILE

Zhao Yao (dates unknown) was an early Western Han statesman who rose to Imperial Counselor (Yushi Dafu), one of the Three Excellencies. Starting as Imperial Secretary for Tallies and Seals, he astutely divined Emperor Gaozu's anxiety regarding the vulnerability of his favorite young son, Prince Liu Ruyi of Zhao. Zhao proposed appointing the uncompromising and universally respected Censor Zhou Chang as Chancellor of Zhao to shield the prince against Empress Lu's faction, earning Gaozu's profound confidence. In 198 BCE, Zhao was appointed Imperial Counselor to succeed Zhou Chang. Following combat against Chen Xi's rebellion, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jiangyi. In 195 BCE, he was dispatched with Marquis of Piyang Shen Yiji to interrogate King Lu Wan of Yan over suspected treason. Following Gaozu's death, Empress Dowager Lu harbored deep resentment over Zhao's stratagem protecting Liu Ruyi; in 187 BCE, she stripped Zhao of his chancellorship and marquisate, replacing him with Ren Ao.

Courtesy Name
Unknown
Noble Title
Marquis of Jiangyi (fief of 600 households)
Identity
Western Han Founding Statesman, Imperial Counselor (Three Excellencies)
Era
Early Western Han Dynasty
Dynasty
Western Han Dynasty
Highest Office
Imperial Counselor (Yushi Dafu, Three Excellencies)
Major Offices
Imperial Secretary for Tallies and Seals, Imperial Counselor
Date of Birth
Unknown
Date of Death
Unknown
Native Place
Unknown

LIFE TIMELINE

Imperial Secretary ｜ Managed seals; recognized as a rare talent destined for high office.
Imperial Counselor ｜ Advised Gaozu to send Zhou Chang to Zhao; promoted to Imperial Counselor.
Enfeoffment ｜ Participated in crushing Chen Xi; enfeoffed as Marquis of Jiangyi.
Mission to Yan ｜ Investigated Prince Lu Wan's sedition alongside Shen Yiji.
Purged ｜ Stripped of high office and noble title by Empress Dowager Lu.

BIOGRAPHY

Biography

Early Bureaucratic Role and Keen Insight

Zhao Yao was an early Western Han official whose early lineage remains unrecorded. By 202 BCE, he served as Imperial Secretary for Tallies and Seals under Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang), an intimate administrative position granting access to imperial deliberations. The local magistrate Duke of Fangyu presciently warned Imperial Counselor Zhou Chang that the youthful Zhao Yao possessed extraordinary talent and would eventually supplant him.

The Stratagem to Protect Prince Liu Ruyi

When Emperor Gaozu fell into deep melancholy over the perilous position of his young favorite son, Prince Liu Ruyi of Zhao, facing the merciless vengeance of Empress Lu after his eventual death, the court remained silent. Zhao Yao approached the emperor and precisely voiced Gaozu's unspoken dilemma. Zhao proposed appointing a chancellor to Zhao whose moral prestige and uncompromising rectitude would intimidate Empress Lu and court ministers alike, identifying Zhou Chang as the sole candidate. Gaozu embraced the plan, reassigning Zhou Chang as Chancellor of Zhao.

Elevation to Imperial Counselor and Purge

Recognizing Zhao Yao's acute political wisdom, Gaozu appointed him Imperial Counselor in 198 BCE, elevating him to the Three Excellencies. Following military campaigns suppressing the Chen Xi insurrection, Zhao was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jiangyi with a domain of 600 households. In 195 BCE, Zhao was dispatched alongside Shen Yiji to investigate treasonous communications involving King Lu Wan of Yan. Following Gaozu's demise and the death of Zhou Chang, Empress Dowager Lu retaliated against Zhao Yao for having masterminded the defense of Liu Ruyi. In 187 BCE, she stripped him of high office and nobility, ending his political career.

Major Activities

Formulation of the Stratagem to Protect the Prince of Zhao

Devised the political deployment of Zhou Chang to govern Zhao, creating an institutional bulwark safeguarding Prince Liu Ruyi during Gaozu's lifetime.

Performance as Imperial Counselor

Discharged top ministerial duties within the Three Excellencies from 198 to 187 BCE, directing treason investigations against regional kings and codifying imperial court protocol.

Enfeoffment as Marquis of Jiangyi

Awarded the hereditary marquisate of Jiangyi following meritorious contributions in the suppression of Chen Xi's northern rebellion.

Personal Relations

  • Imperial Sovereign: Emperor Gaozu of Han (patronized his counsel, elevating him to excellency).
  • Imperial Adversary: Empress Dowager Lu (harbored resentment and purged him upon taking power).
  • Predecessor: Zhou Chang (Imperial Counselor reassigned to Prince of Zhao on Zhao's advice).
  • Diplomatic Colleague: Shen Yiji (Marquis of Piyang, dispatched together to investigate Yan).
  • Successor: Ren Ao (Marquis of Guang'a, succeeded Zhao as Imperial Counselor).

Historical Assessment

  • Duke of Fangyu: Early on identified young Zhao Yao as an extraordinary strategic mind destined to replace Zhou Chang.
  • Emperor Gaozu of Han: Relied deeply upon his acute political instincts to protect his beloved heir.
  • Sima Qian (Records of the Grand Historian): Faithfully documented his meteoric rise via perceptive counsel and his subsequent purge by Empress Lu.

LOCAL NETWORK

FIGURES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DYNASTY

256 BCE–195 BCE

Liu Bang

Liu Bang (256 BCE or 247 BCE–June 1, 195 BCE), courtesy name Ji, was from Zhongyang Village in Fengyi, Pei (present-day Feng County, Xuzhou, Jiangsu), with ancestral origins stated in the source as Daliang (present-day Kaifeng, Henan). He was the founding emperor of the Western Han, reigning from February 28, 202 BCE to June 1, 195 BCE, and was also a politician, strategist, and military leader. Born into a farming f

156 BCE–87 BCE

Liu Che

Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che (156 BCE–March 29, 87 BCE), was the seventh emperor of the Western Han, the son of Emperor Jing of Han, Liu Qi, and Empress Wang. His temple name was Shizong, his posthumous name Emperor Xiaowu, and he was buried at Maoling. He reigned for fifty-four years, making him one of the longest-reigning emperors in Chinese history. His rule was characterized by stronger central authority, long wars

45 BCE–23 CE

Wang Mang

Wang Mang (45 BCE–23 CE), courtesy name Jujun, was a native of Yuancheng in Wei Commandery (present-day Handan, Hebei), a maternal relative of the Western Han imperial house, a powerful official, and the founder of the Xin dynasty. He was a nephew of Wang Zhengjun, empress of Emperor Yuan of Han. In his early career he became known for modesty, frugality, learning, and high moral conduct. After the death of Emperor A

203 BCE–157 BCE

Liu Heng

Emperor Wen of Han, Liu Heng (203 BCE–157 BCE), was the fourth son of Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Western Han, and Lady Bo. He was the fifth emperor of the Han dynasty, reigning from 180 BCE to 157 BCE. Initially enfeoffed as Prince of Dai, he guarded the northern frontier. After the death of Empress Lü, the group of senior meritorious officials suppressed the Lü Clan disturbance and installed Liu Heng as e

Bibliography

  • Records of the Grand Historian (Shi Ji), vol. 96, Biography of Zhao Yao.
  • Records of the Grand Historian (Shi Ji), vol. 18, Table of Meritorious Marquises.
  • Book of Han (Han Shu), vol. 42, Biography of Zhao Yao.