Introduction
Hua He (華覈), courtesy name Yongxian (永先), was an Eastern Wu historian and official from Wujin (武進) in Wu Commandery. He served as Commandant of Shangyu (上虞尉), Commandant for Agriculture (典農都尉), Gentleman of the Secret Treasury (秘府郎), and Palace Secretary (中書丞). When Sun Liang succeeded (252), Hua He was ordered to compile the Wu shu (吳書) together with Wei Yao, Zhou Zhao, Xue Ying, and Liang Guang. After Sun Hao took the throne (264), Hua He was enfeoffed Marquis of Xuling (徐陵亭侯). He submitted over a hundred memorials on policy, recommendations, and pleas for colleagues: when Shu fell (263) he urged stronger defence against Wei; in 267 he joined Lu Kai in opposing the summer construction of the Xianming Palace; in 271 he persuaded Sun Hao to abandon an outing to Huali; he recommended Lu Yin and Lu Yi, and begged for the pardon of Lou Xuan, for Wei Yao’s life (unsuccessfully), and for Xue Ying’s recall. He was promoted to Director of the Eastern Lodge (東觀令) and Right Director of the Histories (右國史). Sun Hao praised him as one who “delights in ritual and the Odes.” In 275 he was dismissed for a minor fault; he died in 278, aged sixty. Chen Shou judged that “in literary and rhapsody talent he surpassed Wei Yao, but in canonical and edict style he did not”; “he offered many sound proposals and did his utmost—close to a loyal minister.”
Biography
Early career and the Wu shu
Hua He was from Wujin (武進), Wu Commandery. He first served as Commandant of Shangyu (上虞尉) and Commandant for Agriculture (典農都尉), then was summoned for his literary ability to be Gentleman of the Secret Treasury (秘府郎) and later Palace Secretary (中書丞). In the first year of Jianxing (252), when Sun Liang became emperor, Hua He was ordered to compile the Wu shu together with Wei Yao, Zhou Zhao, Xue Ying, and Liang Guang.
Under Sun Hao: remonstrance and recommendations
When Sun Hao became emperor (264), Hua He was enfeoffed Marquis of Xuling (徐陵亭侯). He submitted more than a hundred memorials on practical matters, recommendations, and explanations of colleagues’ conduct.
In 263, when Shu fell to Wei, Hua He went to the palace gate with a memorial urging the court to take the loss seriously and strengthen defences—the “lips gone, teeth cold” situation.
In Baoding 2 (267), Sun Hao built the Xianming Palace on a large scale in the height of summer, harming agriculture and defence. Hua He and the Left Chancellor Lu Kai memorialised against the project; Sun Hao did not adopt the advice.
In Jianheng 3 (271), on the last day of the first month, Hua He firmly opposed Sun Hao’s plan to lead a large party to Huali; Sun Hao gave up the trip.
Hua He also recommended Lu Yin (陸胤) and Lu Yi (陸禕) and pleaded for colleagues in trouble: he begged for Lou Xuan’s pardon, submitted a memorial to save Wei Yao (Sun Hao refused and had Wei Yao executed), and asked that Xue Ying be recalled. He was promoted to Director of the Eastern Lodge (東觀令) and Right Director of the Histories (右國史). He asked to decline the post; Sun Hao replied that he “delights in ritual and the Odes” and should apply his talents to glorify the times, and ordered him to take the office.
Dismissal and death
Sun Hao also allowed Hua He to submit draft memorials without a fair copy and once had him draft a response while standing. In Tiance 1 (275), Hua He was dismissed for a minor fault. He died in Tianji 2 (278), aged sixty.
Personality and traits
Chen Shou described him as offering many beneficial proposals and doing his best—“close to a loyal minister.” Sun Hao acknowledged his learning and breadth of reading.
Political achievements
Co-compilation of the Wu shu; Marquis of Xuling (264); memorials on Shu’s fall (263), on the Xianming Palace (267), and on the Huali outing (271); recommendations of Lu Yin and Lu Yi; pleas for Lou Xuan, Wei Yao, and Xue Ying; Director of the Eastern Lodge and Right Director of the Histories; over a hundred memorials; dismissal (275); death (278).
Relationships
Wei Yao
Hua He worked with Wei Yao on the Wu shu. When Sun Hao imprisoned Wei Yao in 273, Hua He repeatedly memorialised to save him; Sun Hao refused and had Wei Yao executed.
Sun Hao
Hua He remonstrated on construction, outings, and policy; recommended and defended officials; and was praised by Sun Hao for his learning but dismissed in 275 for a minor fault.
Lu Kai
Hua He joined Lu Kai in opposing the summer construction of the Xianming Palace in 267.
Achievements
Documented: Wu shu compilation; Che fu (車賦); memorials Biaojian Lu Yin (表薦陸胤), Biaojian Lu Yi (表薦陸禕), Wen Shu wang yue gongmen shangbiao (聞蜀亡詣宮門上表), Jian shengxia xingong shu (諫盛夏興工疏), Shang wunong jinchi shu (上務農禁侈疏), Qishe Lou Xuan shu (乞赦樓玄疏), Shangshu qing zhaohuan Xue Ying (上疏請召還薛瑩), Shangshu jiu Wei Yao (上疏救韋曜), Fengchi caodui (奉敕草對); over a hundred memorials; Marquis of Xuling; Director of the Eastern Lodge, Right Director of the Histories.
Behind the scenes
Historical sources
Hua He’s biography is in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (三國志), “Biographies of Wang Fan, Lou Xuan, He Shao, Wei Yao, and Hua He” (吳書·王樓賀韋華傳), scroll 65. His memorials are cited in the biographies of Lu Kai, Lou Xuan, Wei Yao, and Xue Ying.
Chen Shou’s evaluation
“華覈文賦之才，有過於曜，而典誥不及也。予觀覈數獻良規，期於自盡，庶幾忠臣矣。然處無妄之世而有名位，強死其理，得免為幸耳.”
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In chapter 120, Hua He remonstrates with Sun Hao over plans to avenge Shu and urges focus on internal affairs; Sun Hao has him driven out, and Hua He laments that the realm will soon belong to another and retires.
Historical evaluations
Sun Hao
“聞之，以卿研精墳典，博覽多聞，可謂悅禮樂敦詩書者也。當飛翰騁藻，光贊時事，以越楊、班、張、蔡之疇.”
Chen Shou
“覈前後陳便宜，及貢薦良能，解釋罪過，書百餘上，皆有補益.” “華覈文賦之才，有過於曜，而典誥不及也。予觀覈數獻良規，期於自盡，庶幾忠臣矣.”
Legacy
Hua He is remembered as an Eastern Wu historian who co-compiled the Wu shu, as a remonstrator who submitted over a hundred memorials under Sun Hao, and as an official who pleaded for Lou Xuan, Wei Yao, and Xue Ying.
See also
- Wei Yao — co-compiler of Wu shu; Hua He pleaded for his life
- Sun Hao — lord
- Lu Kai — joined Hua He in opposing Xianming Palace construction
- Xue Ying — co-compiler of Wu shu; Hua He asked for his recall
References
- Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志), “Biographies of Wang Fan, Lou Xuan, He Shao, Wei Yao, and Hua He” (吳書·王樓賀韋華傳).
- Pei Songzhi. Commentary.
- Liu Zhiji. Shitong (史通), “Zhengshi” (正史).