生平

桥玄年轻曾担任县功曹。《后汉书》记载，当时豫州刺史周景到梁国视察，桥玄跪地向周景陈述当时陈国相（封国首长，位阶相当于郡太守）羊昌罪恶。周景觉得他有壮志，任命他办理此案。桥玄上任立即收押羊昌门客，彻查罪行。受大将军梁冀庇护，梁冀发檄文给周景让他收回任命，桥玄收到檄文直接退回，羊昌押解进京。从此桥玄闻名。

举孝廉，担任洛阳左尉。四次升迁到齐国相，因过失受罚。曾任上谷太守和汉阳太守。桓帝末年桥玄被推举为度辽将军，平定了胡虏及伯固等边境之乱。灵帝初年又召回他先后任河南尹、少府、大鸿胪等职。建宁三年（170年）升为司空，后改任司徒。翌年担任尚书令。光和元年（178年），升为太尉，数月后托病辞官。

曹操初出曾拜会桥玄，当时曹操尚未出名，桥玄对他评价颇高，称「天下将乱」，而曹操是能够安定天下的「命世之才」。将他引荐给许劭。后来曹操途经桥玄墓时亲自为他撰文缅怀。

家族

父族

• 桥仁：七世祖，人称「桥君学」，汉成帝时任大鸿胪。

• 桥基：祖父，广陵太守。

• 桥肃：父亲，东莱太守。

子嗣

• 桥羽：长子，官至任城相。

• 桥某：少子，在洛阳被绑匪所杀，得年十岁

• 桥瑁：族子，东郡太守。

登场作品

• 苍天航路（王欣太）

评价

• 刘志：「边谷不得妄动。玄擅出于是，玄有汲黯忧民之心，后不以为常。」（《太尉乔玄碑阴》引）

• 蔡邕：「光禄大夫桥玄，聪达方直。……宜为谋主，数见访问。」「光光列考，伊汉元公。克明克哲，实睿实聪。如渊之浚，如岳之嵩。威壮虓虎，文繁雕龙。抚柔疆垂，戎狄率从。敷教中夏，五教攸通。帝谓我后，朕嘉君功。命君三事，时亮天功。公拜稽首，翼翼惟恭。左右天子，祗厥勋庸。庶绩既熙，黎民时雍。上下谧宁，八方和同。否显伊德，作宪万邦。」（《太尉乔玄碑阴》）「公秉性贞纯，幼有弘姿，刚而不虐，威而不猛，闻仁必行，睹义斯居，文以典术，守以纯固。」（《故太尉桥公庙碑》）「帝命将军，执兹黄钺。威灵振耀，如火之烈。公之莅止，群狄斯柔。齐斧罔设，介士斯休。」（《黄钺铭》）

• 崔烈：「赫矣乔父，秉文握武。内为宗干，出为藩辅。在宪弹枉，竟由厥矩。允牧于凉，刈彼裔土。爰能将度辽，亦用齐斧。敷教四畿，旋统京宇。敦兹五服，众庶是与。膺践七命，翼我哲圣。登空补衮，陟徒训敬。尹尉清宸，熙帝之政。终始为贞，典章以定。遗爱在民，皇哀其命。立石刊铭，莫逸斯听。魂而有灵，万亿其盛。」

• 曹操：「故太尉桥公，懿德高轨，泛爱博容。国念明训，士思令谟。」（《祀故太尉桥玄文》）

• 司马彪：严明有才略，长于人物。（《续汉书》）

• 张璠：玄历位中外，以刚断称，谦俭下士，不以王爵私亲。（《汉纪》）

• 范晔：「庞参躬求贤之礼，故民悦其政；桥玄厉邦君之威，而觽失其情。夫岂力不足欤？将有道在焉。如令其道可忘，则强梁胜矣。语曰：『三军可夺帅，匹夫不可夺志。』子贡曰：『宁丧千金，不失士心。』昔段干木逾墙而避文侯之命，泄柳闭门不纳穆公之请。贵必有所屈，贱亦有所申矣。」「桥公识运，先觉时雄。」（《后汉书》）

Family background

Qiao Xuan was born in the Eastern Han dynasty during the reign of Emperor An ( 106–125 CE). He was from Suiyang County (睢阳县) in the Liang State (梁国; south of present-day Shangqiu, Henan) and came from a scholar-gentry background. His ancestor, Qiao Ren (桥仁), who lived seven generations before him, served as a Minister Herald (大鸿胪) during the reign of Emperor Cheng ( 33–7 BCE). Qiao Ren, who was nicknamed "Scholar Qiao" (桥君学), also wrote 49 volumes of the Li Ji Zhangju (礼记章句; Verses from the Book of Rites). Qiao Xuan's grandfather, Qiao Ji (桥基), served as the Administrator (太守) of Guangling Commandery (广陵郡), while Qiao Xuan's father, Qiao Su (桥肃), served as the Administrator of Donglai Commandery (东莱郡).

Early career

In his youth, Qiao Xuan served as an Officer of Merit (功曹) in the local county office. When Zhou Jing (周景), the Inspector (刺史) of Yu Province, visited the Liang State, Qiao Xuan reported to him the crimes of Yang Chang (羊昌), the Chancellor (相) of the Chen State (陈国; around present-day Zhoukou, Henan). Zhou Jing ordered Qiao Xuan to conduct an investigation so Qiao Xuan detained Yang Chang and wrote a thorough list of Yang Chang's offences. The general Liang Ji, an influential figure in the central government, favoured Yang Chang, so he wrote an urgent letter to Zhou Jing, asking him to release Yang Chang. Zhou Jing feared Liang Ji so he obliged and instructed Qiao Xuan to free Yang Chang. However, Qiao Xuan returned the letter and ordered his men to escort Yang Chang as a prisoner to the imperial capital, Luoyang. Qiao Xuan became famous after this incident.

Qiao Xuan was later nominated as a xiaolian and appointed as a Left Commandant (左尉) in Luoyang. His superior, the Intendant of Henan (河南尹), was Liang Ji's brother, Liang Buyi (梁不疑). Liang Buyi made life difficult for Qiao Xuan because of Yang Chang's case and often found excuses to humiliate Qiao Xuan. Qiao Xuan eventually resigned and returned to his hometown.

Mid career

Qiao Xuan later became the Chancellor (相) of the Qi State (齐国; around present-day Zibo, Shandong). On one occasion, he committed an offence and stripped of his post and sent to perform hard labour. After serving his sentence, he was allowed to rejoin the civil service and appointed as the Administrator (太守) of Shanggu Commandery (上谷郡; around present-day Yanqing District, Beijing) and later as the Administrator of Hanyang Commandery (汉阳郡; around present-day Tianshui, Gansu). While he was in office, Qiao Xuan heard that Huangfu Zhen (皇甫祯), the Prefect (令) of Shanggui County (上邽县; in present-day Tianshui, Gansu), was guilty of corruption. He had Huangfu Zhen arrested, flogged, and head shaved bald. Huangfu Zhen later died in Ji County (冀县; present-day Gangu County, Gansu). This incident shocked everyone in the region. Around the time, Qiao Xuan heard of Jiang Qi (姜岐), a famous man who lived in Shanggui County, and wanted to recruit him to join the civil service. Jiang Qi claimed that he was ill and declined. Qiao Xuan was angered, so he sent Yin Yi (尹益) to pressure Jiang Qi into agreeing. He threatened to make Jiang Qi's mother marry another man if he refused again. Yin Yi conveyed Qiao Xuan's threat to Jiang Qi but Jiang still declined and claimed that he was sick. The Counsellors (士大夫) in the commandery came to see Qiao Xuan and managed to persuade him to stop forcing Jiang Qi. This incident became the subject of jokes at the time. Qiao Xuan resigned on the grounds that he was ill. Shortly after, he joined the civil service again as a Chief Clerk (长史) to the Minister over the Masses (司徒). He was subsequently promoted to Court Architect (将作大匠).

Towards the end of the reign of Emperor Huan ( 146–168), the Xianbei, Southern Xiongnu and Goguryeo often made incursions into Liaodong. Qiao Xuan was appointed General Who Enters Liao(dong) (度辽将军) and put in charge of defending Liaodong. He served there for three years, repelled intrusions by the invaders, and maintained peace in the area.

In the early reign of Emperor Ling ( 168–189), Qiao Xuan was summoned to the imperial capital Luoyang, where he served consecutively as the Intendant of Henan (河南尹), Minister Steward (少府) and Minister Herald (大鸿胪). In 170, he was promoted to Minister of Works (司空) and later to Minister over the Masses (司徒). He could not get along well with Chen Qiu (陈球), the Administrator of Nanyang Commandery (南阳郡; around present-day Nanyang, Henan), but when he was in the two top ministerial positions, he recommended Chen to serve as the Minister of Justice (廷尉). Qiao Xuan saw that the Han dynasty was too weak because the government was plagued by corruption. He despaired as he felt that he could not do anything, so he claimed to be ill and resigned.

Later life and death

In his later years, Qiao Xuan entered office again as the Prefect of the Masters of Writing (尚书令). Around the time, he discovered that Gai Sheng (盖升), to whom Emperor Huan was indebted, had abused his power when he was serving as the Administrator of Nanyang Commandery (南阳郡; around present-day Nanyang, Henan), and had amassed a large fortune from corrupt dealings. Qiao Xuan wrote a memorial to Emperor Ling, requesting the emperor to remove Gai Sheng from office and confiscate his property, but Emperor Ling refused. Qiao Xuan was subsequently reassigned to be a Palace Attendant (侍中), but he delayed the process as he was ill. Emperor Ling then ordered him to be a Household Counsellor (光禄大夫) instead. In 178, he was appointed Grand Commandant (太尉) but he rejected the position because he was sick. He remained as a Household Counsellor while receiving medical treatment.

Qiao Xuan died in 184 at the age of 75 (by East Asian age reckoning).

Kidnap of Qiao Xuans son

When Qiao Xuan's youngest son was ten years old, he ventured out alone and was kidnapped by three robbers. The robbers, holding the boy hostage, broke into Qiao Xuan's house and demanded a ransom but Qiao Xuan refused to pay them. Yang Qiu (阳球), the Colonel-Director of Retainers (司隷校尉), along with the Intendant of Henan (河南尹) and the Prefect of Luoyang (洛阳令), led several soldiers to surround Qiao Xuan's house. Yang Qiu did not order his men to advance further because he was worried that the robbers would harm Qiao Xuan's son. However, Qiao Xuan shouted, "Such criminals have no humanity! I'll not let these criminals have their way just for the sake of my son!" He then instructed the soldiers to force their way in and attack the robbers. The robbers were killed but Qiao Xuan's son also died in the struggle. Qiao Xuan later wrote a memorial to the imperial court, requesting for the following law to be implemented: "Any person who takes another person hostage should be killed. No ransom is to be paid, so as to deny an opportunity for criminals to make pecuniary gains." The imperial court approved. Since after the reign of Emperor An ( 106–125), law enforcement had weakened. Many kidnapping and hostage-taking incidents occurred in the imperial capital and even the family members of government officials and influential persons became victims. However, after the case of Qiao Xuan's son, such incidents never happened again.

Relationship with Cao Cao

When Cao Cao, a warlord who rose to power towards the end of the Han dynasty, was still a relative nobody in his early years, he visited Qiao Xuan on one occasion. Qiao Xuan was surprised to see Cao Cao and he told him, "The world is about to enter a state of chaos. You're the person who will restore peace and order!" At the time, Qiao Xuan and He Yong were the only two persons who recognised Cao Cao's extraordinary talents. Cao Cao later often said that Qiao Xuan was someone who really understood him. The Wei Shu (魏书) recorded that Qiao Xuan told Cao Cao, "I've seen many famous persons but I've never seen someone like you before! You should work hard. I'm old already! I hope to be able to entrust my family to you." Cao Cao's fame increased after his meeting with Qiao Xuan. The Shishuo Xinyu recorded that when Qiao Xuan met Cao Cao, who was still a youth then, he told him, "The world is in chaos and warlords are fighting for supremacy. Aren't you the person who will eliminate all of them and restore order? You're actually a hero in chaotic times but a villain in times of peace. It's a pity that I'm old already because I won't be able to see you become wealthy and powerful. I entrust my descendants to you." Qiao Xuan also recommended Cao Cao to see Xu Shao, a well-known commentator and character evaluator.

After Qiao Xuan's death, whenever Cao Cao passed by Qiao Xuan's tomb, he would mourn Qiao Xuan and pay his respects. He wrote a eulogy for Qiao Xuan:

Family

One of Qiao Xuan's sons, Qiao Yu (桥羽), served as the Chancellor (相) of the Rencheng State (任城国; around present-day Zoucheng, Shandong).

Appraisal

Qiao Xuan was known to be an impatient and impulsive person who did not take the big picture into consideration. However, he led a humble and simple life, and treated people with respect. He did not abuse his status and power by helping any of his family members and relatives gain high-ranking positions in the civil service. When he died, his family did not own much property and no funeral was held for him. His humility earned him praise at the time.

The historian Fan Ye, who wrote Qiao Xuan's biography, commented on him as follows: "Qiao Xuan established his authority and was known for his sternness, but he was lacking in his personal relations with others." When commenting on Qiao Xuan spotting Cao Cao's talent, Fan Ye wrote: "Qiao Xuan had the privilege of being the first to recognise a hero."

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Qiao Xuan is said to be the father of the two Qiao sisters, and is referred to as "Qiao Guolao" (乔国老; literally "State Elder Qiao"). He appears in chapter 54 in the events leading to the marriage between Liu Bei and Sun Shangxiang.

The 3rd-century historical text Records of the Three Kingdoms did not state the name of the Qiao sisters' father, who was simply referred to as "Qiao Gong" (桥公; literally "Elder Qiao"). Historically, Qiao Xuan died in 183 while the Qiao sisters married Sun Ce and Zhou Yu in 200, so it was not possible that Qiao Xuan was still living when the marriages took place. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that Qiao Xuan was the "Qiao Gong" mentioned in the Records of the Three Kingdoms.

The marriage between Liu Bei and Lady Sun took place sometime in 209 or 210, so Qiao Xuan's role in the events leading to the marriage is fictitious as he was already dead for over 20 years then.