Tongdian: Grand Tutor太傅
[From Tongdian 20. Small text sections moved to the end as lettered end notes]
Grand Tutor太傅
The Grand Tutor is an ancient office[a]. In the time of King Cheng of Zhou, the Noble of Bi was Grand Tutor.
Han’s 1st Year of Empress Gao [187 BC], they began to set up the Grand Tutor, with golden seal and purple ribbon. In the beginning they employed Wang Ling, later it was rationalized. 8th Year [180 BC] they again set it up. Later it was rationalized. Emperor Ai’s 2nd Year of Yuanshou [1 BC], again set it up, its rank was above that of the Three Nobles. Emperor Ping used Kong Guang as it.
Later Han had the Grand Tutor as the High Noble, 1 person, in charge of the Way of Good, it was an irregular posting. Guangwu used Zhuo Mao as it. When he passed away, it was rationalized. Emperor Ming again used Deng Yu as it[b]. After that, each time an Emperor first was enthroned, they immediately set up a Grand Tutor, Recording the Affairs of the Highest Writers錄尚書事, when [the Grand Tutor] passed away, it was rationalized[c].
When Emperor Huan trod upon the throne, since he had already put on the prime clothes, he did not again set up a Tutor, but only ordered the Grand Commandant太尉, Hu Guang, and the Minister of Foot司徒, Zhao Jie, to Record the Affairs of the Highest Writers. Arriving at Emperor Ling, he again used Chen Fan as Grand Tutor, he and Guang took part in Recording the Affairs of the Highest Writers[d].
At the beginning of Wei, they set up a Grand Tutor, and used Zhong Yao as it[e].
During Jin and Song [the Grand Tutor had] gold insignia and purple ribbon, Thrice Rafted Cap of Advancing the Worthy, plated headwrap 介幘, scarlet court dress, and belt pendants of “mountain dark山玄[?]” jade.
Liang, Later Wei, Northern Qin, Later Zhou and Great Tang all had it.
[a]The Tutor傅 was to tutor them virtue and righteousness.
[b]Deng Yu, courtesy name Zhonghua, for is prime merit was designated Grand Tutor, when advancing he was to look eastward. Also Zhang Yu, coutesy name Boda, moved to Grand Tutor, and resided within in the Palace, when the great officials advanced to eat, after five days they as one returned to their offices. At court he saw special support, he and the Three Nobles had separate mats. Emperor Zhang, since Zhao Xi for three generations had been among the ranked, and he was the prime elder of state, therefore used hima s Grand Tutor. When Emperor He was enthroned, he was young and immature, and since Deng Biao had exalted fame, and Within the Seas had return to humaneness, he summoned him to be Grand Tutor. The hundred officials managed themselves by listening to him, in the extraordinariness of the grace and favour shown, nobody were comparable to him.
[c]For that reason the Broad Commentary says: “Similar to the righteousness of the ancient Supreme Steward managing themselves.”
[d]Chen Fan's aspiration and desire was to weed and hoe the eunuch upstarts, and so cleanse the foundational court. In the chaos of his generation, slander was victorious, and hence brought down his person. Hu Guang replaced him, he folded his hands in silence, and that was all.
[e]Zhong Yao, courtesy name Yuanchang, when he moved to Grand Tutor, he was ill. At the time Hua Xin was also ill due to his exalted age. At court audiences, both were made to drive their carriages to the upper hall to approach and sit. After that, when someone among the Three Nobles was ill, they thereupon considered it as the old precedent.
