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Ma Zhao

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Ma Zhao was a Cao Wei scholar known for answering Prince Gaogui’s questions on the Book of Rites and moral instruction and retribution.

History Records, vol. 4 · Not in the Romance

In the sources

Where the books name Ma Zhao

  • History · vol. 4Records of the Three Kingdoms

    …博士馬照對曰:「太上立德,謂三皇五帝之世以德化民,其次報施,謂三王之世以禮為治也。」…
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    於是復命講《禮記》。帝問曰:「『太上立德,其次務施報』。為治何由而教化各異;皆脩何政而能致於立德,施而不報乎?」博士馬照對曰:「太上立德,謂三皇五帝之世以德化民,其次報施,謂三王之世以禮為治也。」帝曰:「二者致化薄厚不同,將主有優劣邪?時使之然乎?」照對曰:「誠由時有樸文,故化有薄厚也。」〈帝《集》載帝自敘始生禎祥曰:「昔帝王之生,或有禎祥,蓋所以彰顯神異也。惟予小子,支胤末流,謬為靈祇之所相祐也,豈敢自比於前喆,聊記錄以示後世焉。其辭曰:惟正始三年九月辛未朔,二十五日乙未直成,予生。于時也,天氣清明,日月暉光,爰有黃氣,烟熅於堂,照曜室宅,其色煌煌。相而論之曰:未者為土,魏之行也;厥日直成,應嘉名也;烟熅之氣,神之精也;無災無害,蒙神靈也。齊王不弔,顛覆厥度,羣公受予,紹繼皇祚。以眇眇之身,質性頑固,未能涉道,而遵大路,臨深履冰,涕泗憂懼。古人有云,懼則不亡。伊予小子,曷敢怠荒?庶不忝辱,永奉烝甞。」傅暢《晉諸公贊》曰:帝常與中護軍司馬望、侍中王沈、散騎常侍裴秀、黃門侍郎鍾會等講宴於東堂,并屬文論。名秀為儒林丈人,沈為文籍先生,望、會亦各有名號。帝性急,請召欲速。秀等在內職,到得及時,以望在外,特給追鋒車,虎賁卒五人,每有集會,望輒奔馳而至。〉

  • History · vol. 4Records of the Three Kingdoms

    丙辰,帝幸太學,問諸儒曰:「聖人幽贊神明,仰觀俯察,始作八卦,後聖重之為六十四,立爻以極數,凡斯大義,罔有不備,而夏有連山,殷有歸藏,周曰周易,易之書,其故何也?」…
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    丙辰,帝幸太學,問諸儒曰:「聖人幽贊神明,仰觀俯察,始作八卦,後聖重之為六十四,立爻以極數,凡斯大義,罔有不備,而夏有連山,殷有歸藏,周曰周易,易之書,其故何也?」易博士淳于俊對曰:「包羲因燧皇之圖而制八卦,神農演之為六十四,黃帝、堯、舜通其變,三代隨時,質文各繇其事。故易者,變易也,名曰連山,似山出內雲氣,連天地也;歸藏者,萬事莫不歸藏於其中也。」帝又曰:「若使包羲因燧皇而作易,孔子何以不云燧人氏沒包羲氏作乎?」俊不能荅。帝又問曰:「孔子作彖、象,鄭玄作注,雖聖賢不同,其所釋經義一也。今彖、象不與經文相連,而注連之,何也?」俊對曰;「鄭玄合彖、象於經者,欲使學者尋省易了也。」帝曰:「若鄭玄合之,於學誠便,則孔子曷為不合以了學者乎?」俊對曰:「孔子恐其與文王相亂,是以不合,此聖人以不合為謙。」帝曰:「若聖人以不合為謙,則鄭玄何獨不謙邪?」俊對曰:「古義弘深,聖問奧遠,非臣所能詳盡。」帝又問曰:「繫辭云『黃帝、堯、舜垂衣裳而天下治』,此包羲、神農之世為無衣裳。但聖人化天下,何殊異爾邪?」俊對曰:「三皇之時,人寡而禽獸衆,故取其羽皮而天下用足,及至黃帝,人衆而禽獸寡,是以作為衣裳以濟時變也。」帝又問:「乾為天,而復為金,為玉,為老馬,與細物並邪?」俊對曰:「聖人取象,或遠或近,近取諸物,遠則天地。」

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Ma Zhao was a doctor in Cao Wei. He appears in the account of a discussion on the Book of Rites with the Duke of Gaogui Township; the Romance of the Three Kingdoms does not mention him.

Deeds

As a doctor, Ma Zhao answered the Duke of Gaogui Township’s question about the Book of Rites passage, “The highest aim is to establish virtue; next comes the duty to give and repay.” He explained that “the highest aim is to establish virtue” referred to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors transforming the people through virtue, while “next comes the duty to repay and give” referred to the Three Kings governing the state through ritual. (Recorded in historical sources)

Ma Zhao also replied that differences in the depth of moral instruction were indeed due to the distinction between the simplicity of one age and the refinement of another. (Recorded in historical sources)

Relationships

  • He exchanged questions and answers with the Duke of Gaogui Township in a discussion of the Book of Rites.

Lines

  • 史 ch.4 §45→ Cao Mao

    「太上立德,謂三皇五帝之世以德化民,其次報施,謂三王之世以禮為治也。」

Relationships

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Relation graph of Ma ZhaoCao MaoMa Zhao
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History · vol. 4

  • Lord

    Erudite at the Imperial Academy; answered the emperor’s questions