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W. Han
First came a charming one who was so cultured he brought the knife killed a White Serpent built the nation and stood tall
1) Gao1 Zu3(great great grandfather) 高祖 Liu2 Bang1(nation, state country) 刘邦 Short: Emperor Gao1 (高帝),
Gao Huangdi (高皇帝)Given Name: Ji 季, 206 ━ 195 BC who arose from the peasant class he looked like a dragon,
there was lightning before born. Did not hurt civilians, but was strict. Beat Xiang yu(Hua's nephew to fight Qin so Xiangyu
tried to kill in a 5 year contention. Then there was the Honggou treaty which Liu broke. Became Confucian after Lu Gu
inspired him. Wanted Liu Ruyi son of a concubine to be next emperor but 4 wise men convinced him to let his son Liu
Ying be emperor. Instituted having a male lover., then came his second son whose kindness had a surplus of 2) Hui4 Di4
惠帝 Liu2 Ying2 刘盈. He tried to protect his younger half brother, Ruyi, Prince Yin of Zhao from being murdered by
Empress Dowager Lu, but failed then engaged in drinking and women and died at a young age. His wife was his niece
Zhang Yan and they had no children..so Empress Dowager Lu installed two of his sons Liu Gong and Liu Hong (known
collectively as Emperors Shao of Han) from concubines. Tried to save Liu Ruyi. 3) Shao Di 少帝 Liu 2Gong 1(respectful)
刘恭 188 ━ 184 BC Liu Gong (刘恭) (d. 184 BC), also referred to as Emperor Qianshao of Han (汉前少帝) made a
mistake that Hui’s wife Zhang Yan, Empress Dowager imprisoned him then LATER had him disposed and put to death. 4)
Shao Di 4 少帝 Liu2 Hong 2(magnificent)刘弘 184 ━ 180 BC Emperor Houshao of Han (d. 180 BC). Was put to death
similarly to Liu Gong for saying Zhang Yan was not his true mother. After Empress Dowager Lu died, the calendar was
not reset and in her will she wanted her nephew’s daughter Lu Chan 吕产,to marry him, but also it stated in her will that
she wanted him disposed. Imperial officials, Chen Ping (陈平) and Zhou Bo (周勃) conspired and killed the Lu clan. After
some dispute, they settled on Emperor Houshao's uncle, Prince Liu Heng of Dai. 5) Wen2 Di4 文帝 Liu
2Heng2(permanent, long lasting) 刘恒 179 ━ 157 BC (Houyuan Era 后元)163 ━ 156 BC Emperor Wen of Han (202
BC━157 BC) He was the son of Gao (Liu Bang) and hi consort Bo, who had no powerful relatives and whose clan was
known for its humility and thoughtfulness. His reign brought much needed political stability. With his Taoist wife Dou he
sought to reduce wasteful expenditures. His grandson Wu brought prosperity and started using era names. Governed with
non-interfference and relaxed laws: 1) no imprisonment for relatives of criminals, 2) instituted government welfare
program. He abolished corporal punishments of cutting off nose and feet and started whipping but that caused more
deaths. Continued heqin to the Xiongnu. Maybe wanted to install wiser ruler by principal of shan4rang4 禅让. Reduced
mourning periods to 3 days, let concubines without children to return home and not guard emperor’s tomb all their lives.
He was one of the most benevolent rulers in Chinese history. Was superstitious with sorcer Xinyuan Ping (新垣平, but he
was found to be a fraud and him and his clan were put to death. 6) Jing3 Di4 景帝 Liu2 Qi 3 刘启 156 ━ 141 BC
(Zhongyuan Era 中元 149 ━ 143 BC, Houyuan Era 后元 143 ━ 141 BC, Jianyuan Era 建元 140 ━ 135 BC,
Yuanguang Era 元光 134 ━ 129 BC, Yuanshuo Era 元朔 128 ━ 123 BC, Yuanshou Era 元狩 122 ━ 117 BC,
Yuanding Era 元鼎
116 ━ 111 BC) Eldest son of Wen. Emperor Jing of Han (188 BC━141 BC) Because of
the curtailment of the power of feudal princes the Rebellion of the Seven States began in 154BC. He crushed them and
took away their ability to have ministers which allowed his son Wu to succeed. He continued noninterference and reduced
taxes but he was ungrateful and harsh to Zhou Yafu and wife Bo. Reduced the whipping that Wen started. Continued
heqin to Xiongnu. He killed Liu Xian son of Liu Pi (nephew of Gao) by throwing the liubo (divination)wood board game at
him and thus created enemies with the state of Wu (S. Jiangsu, N. Zhejiang). Caused Zhou Yafu to commit suicide by
accusing him of treason for his son buying armor and weapons to use for burial reasons. Jing was buried at Yangling
pyramidal mausoleum in Chang'an. He promoted further practice of Taoism (7) Wu3 Di4 武帝 Liu2 Che4 刘彻 140 ━ 87
BC (Yuanfeng Era 元封 110 ━ 105 BC, Taichu Era 太初 104 ━ 101 BC, Tianhan Era 天汉 100 ━ 97 BC, Taishi Era
太始 96 ━ 93 BC, Zhenghe Era 征和 92 BC ━ 89 BC, Houyuan Era 后元 88 ━ 87 BC, Shiyuan Era 始元 86 ━ 80 BC)
Emperor Wu of Han 汉武帝(156 BC━29 March, 87 BC), personal name Liu Che (刘彻) Was called Liu Zhi (刘彘)
before Liu Che because of Jing’s dream of a scarlet boar. Known for vast expansion of land(to Kyrgyzstan , to N. Korea,
to N. Vietnam) and Confucianism. Ordered first census of Chinese history. Reigned the longest until Kangxi (1800 yrs
LATER). Started imperial examination system. He loved his wife, Chen Jiao and wanted to build her a gold house but she
bore no sons. After this he got his favorite concubine Wei Zifu a daughter of one of his sister’s Princess Pingyang
servants. This caused Chen to attempt suicide many times. Defeated Xiongnu in central inner Mongolia and in Gansu due
to WeiQing’s (brother of concubine Weizifu) success. Pursued immortality. Sent Zhangqian to Xiyi 西域(Xin Jiang) who
was captured twice but promoted peace) . Appointed leaders who favored harsh punishment of Xiongnu. Expanded China
to twice its size permanently surpassing that of contemporaneous Rome. Famed historian Sima Qian castrated by Wu.
Wrote poetry. Witchcraft hunts which killed tens of thousands. Crown Prince Ju (oldest son from concubine Wei)Revolt.
8) Zhao1 Di 4 昭帝 Liu2 Fu2ling 2 刘弗陵 86 ━ 74 BC (Yuanfeng Era 元凤 80 ━ 75 BC, Yuanping Era 元平 74 BC)
Emperor Zhao of Han (94 BC━74 BC) Youngest son of Wu. Born by his concubine Zhao. Dies at age 20. created peace
by lowering government spending. Huo Guang was regent. Prince Dan of Yan (second eldest son of Wu after Ju) tried to
cause a rebellion because of chosen prince Fuling. struggle between Shangguan and Huo (regents and coregents).Huo
succeded. 9) The Prince of Chang1yi4 昌邑王 or 海昏侯 Liu2 He4 劉賀 74 BC (Yuanping Era 元平 74 BC, Benshi Era
本始 73 BC – 70 BC, Dijie Era 地節 69 – 66 BC, Yuankang Era 元康 65 – 61 BC) Prince He of Changyi 邑王賀 (d.
59 BC) was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty for 27 days in 74 BC. Did not mourn when emperor Wu died.
Engaged with people of vulgar ways and wasteful spending. Desposed after 27 days for 1127 misconducts for eating
meat, and having sex and playing games in time of mourning. He was exiled back to Changyi. 10) Xuan1(announced)
Di4 宣帝 Liu Xun2(ask/inquire) 刘询 73 – 49 BC (Shenjue Era 神爵 61 – 58 BC, Wufeng Era 五鳳 57 – 54 BC,
Ganlu Era 甘露 53 – 50 BC, Huanglong Era 黃龍 49 BC, Chuyuan Era 初元 48 – 44 BC) Emperor Xuan of Han (91
BC–49 BC) He was son of Liu Jin (劉進) who was son of Prince Liu Ju. Emperor Xuan has been considered a
hardworking and brilliant emperor. Because Xuan grew up as a commoner, he thoroughly understood the suffering of his
people. He lowered taxes, liberalized the government and employed capable ministers to the government. In addition
Emperor Xuan was open to suggestions, was a good judge of character, and consolidated his power by eliminating
corrupt officials, including the Huo family . His wife the empress Xu Pingjun was poisoned and died after she gave birth to
Liu Shi by Huo’s wife Xian then Xian became Empress. LATER this was discovered then Xuan executed all the Huos.
LATER he chose an unpopular childless EmpressListened to generals make decisions. He rewarded all those who helped
in his upbringing. Decided not to attack the Xiongnu after a civil war that broke them into 3 . This was good because they
allied with the Han. Was deathly ill before he died. 11) Yuan2(original) Di4 元帝 Liu2 Shi4 刘□ 48 ━ 33 BC
(Yongguang Era 永光 43 ━ 39 BC, Jianzhao Era 建昭 38 ━ 34 B 48 – 33 BC (Yongguang Era 永光 43 – 39 BC,
Jianzhao Era 建昭 38 – 34 BC, Jingning Era 竟寧 33 BC, Jianshi Era 建始 32 – 28 BC, Heping Era 河平 28 – 25
BC, Yangshuo Era 陽朔 24 – 21 BC) Emperor Yuan of Han (75 BC–33 BC) Father was Xuan. Instituted
Confucianism in government. Trusting corrupt officials which caused fractionalization of Han. Confucianism caused
divison into two factions: court faction and Confucian faction. Made good relations with Xiongnu after conquering the
Chanyu Zhizhi in Kangju. He was a relatively non womanizing emperor. 12) Cheng2(establish/become) Di4 成帝 Liu
Ao4(a good horse/steed 32 – 7 BC (Hongjia Era 鴻嘉 20 – 17 BC, Yongshi Era 永始 16 – 13 BC, Yuanyan Era 元
延 12 – 9 BC, Sui2he Era 綏和 8 – 7 BC Emperor Cheng of Han (51 BC–7 BC) Broke Gao’s rule that only those who
contributed to the empire could appoint Marquesses by appointing 6 uncles (Dowager Wang’s brothers) as marquessses.
Three served as supreme commanders of the armed forces. He was a womanizer. His Empress was Xu (from clan of his
murdered grandmother) and he had many consorts. The Zhao sisters were his consorts and they disposed Xu for
witchcraft. But unfortunately he could not bear a son. Cheng died suddenly in 7 BC, apparently from a stroke (although
historians also report the possibility of an overdosage of aphrodisiacs given to him by Consort Zhao Hede). One Zhao
sister Zhao Hede killed his infant sons after having tacit agreement with him. 13) Ai1(grief/sorow) Di4 哀帝 Liu2
Xin1(glad/happy/joyful) 刘欣 6 – 1 BC (Jianping Era 建平 6 – 3 BC, Yuanshou Era 元壽 2 – 1 BC) Emperor Ai of
Han (27 BC–1 BC) He was nephew of Emperor Cheng. He was intelligent and capable but corruption grew and taxes
were high. He was controlled by Grand Empress Dowager Fu (but she was never an empress before) until 2BC. He was
the highest of homosexuals with Dong Xian (cut off his sleeve rather than wake him). Reduced spending. Infighting
between 4 Dowagers. Ai married Dong Xian and promoted him and his family to high posts and him to supreme
commander taking power from the Fus and Dings. He wanted him to succeed as emperor. But Wang Mang came back
instead. The Wangs which were wiped out LATER were yearned by the people to be returned. Ai died by a sickness he
had most of his life and died childless. 14Ping2(plat/peaceful/calm/average)Di4 平帝 Liu2 Kan4 刘□ 1 BC – 5 AD
(Yuanshi Era 元始 1 BC – 5 AD) Emperor Ping (9 BC – February 3, AD 6) The cousin of Emperor Ai. Wang Mang
appointed the consort to Ping and he LATER poisoned Ping. Wang Mang seized power and wanted a return to the old
Zhou, Shang, and Xia dynasties. Wang Mang hungry for power raised his title to Duke and lowered others titles (Wei’s)
and changed Ping’s name to Kan. He asked that Ping marry his daughter but then denied it while petitioning the people
who then forced it to happen by pressure of the people. His son Wang Yu (王宇) and followers conspired and were caught
and killed. Wang used ancient way of 9 bestowments when throne is usurped. Wang poisoned the peppered wine that
chases away evil spirits and then wrote a petition that he would sacrifice his life for Ping’s in case it didn’t work. Ping died
a few days LATER. 15) Ru2zi3(child) Ying1(infant)孺子婴 Liu2 Ying1(baby/infant) 刘婴刘婴 6 ━ 8 (Jushe Era 居摄 6
━ Oct. 8, Chushi Era 初始 Nov. 8 ━ Dec. 8) Emperor Ruzi of Han (AD 5 ━ AD 25), commonly known as "Ying the
Kid" 孺子婴 and with the personal name of Liu Ying (刘婴) Disposed at a young age by WangMang who formed the
Xin Dynasty and then LATER died when the Han were restored. He was so locked up, he did not even know the names of
common animals. He was known as a victim of circumstances.
Xin Dynasty:
1) Wang Mang (王莽) Nationalized gold. Issued 28 different cions which halted the economy. Dissolved large estates and
gave to taxpayers (Wang2tian2 王田)which caused aristocrat uprising. He was arrogant and faux pas to his tributaries.
Yellow river changed course to flow south. This led to the Chime Rebellion or Red Eyebrow Rebellion. N 23AD Chang’an
was ransacked. WangMang died in battle. He established Zhou system of 5 grades of nobility. He replaced the Earthly
Branches with the Heavenly Stems system to number the years. Abolished slave trading.Instituted sloth tax to give textiles
if lazy. Created problems with the Xiongyu and SW tribes when he refused to be pay them tribute. Created problems with
Koreans by taking soldiers and tricking their leader and killing him and changing their Marquess name from Gaojuli (高句
骊 to Xiajulater Which greatly offended them and they attacked more frequently. Wang also offended the dual kingdom of
the Xiyu which then divided the Xin into two armies with one completely wiped out and the other cutoff in Xinjiang for the
remainder of the dynasty. He had officials research old legends rather than concentrate on current affairs. He did not trust
his subordinates and there was no salary for his officials (compared to the efficient one for the Hans) for the entire dynasty.
Wang’s 2nd son Wang Lin had an affair with the same concubine Yuan2 (original)Bi 4(jade)(原碧) and then after Lin
conspired to kill Wang after he took away his crown status and after Wang’s Empress died., but Wang forced him to
commit suicide. Shortly after his first son Wang An died to, but Wang had two other sons by his servants. Wang defeated
in overwhelming force in Kunyang a small city. Then Emperor Gengshi led a force against Luoyang and Chang’an.
Wang’s body was cut into many pieces
2) 2) Continuation of Han Dynasty Geng4(more) Shi3(start)Di4 更始帝 Liu2Xuan2
(black/profound/unreliable/profound) 刘玄 23 ━ 25 ( Gengshi Era 更始 23 ━ 25) A weak an incompetent ruler who
ruled a brief time and then was LATER strangled after the Chimei conquered the dynasty. Worked together with Liu Yan
and Liu Xiu to attack Wang Mang. After he became emperor , Liu Ji4(holy grain) (刘稷) was so critical of Geng and
wanted Liu Yan to be emperor so Geng executed him and Liu Yan. Moved capital first to Luoyang then to Chang’an but
was generally mistrusted. Chimei decided to attack and divided into two armies. They easily defeated every force Geng
sent to attack them. Liu Xiu turned against Emperor Geng and declared himself emperor in the East. Geng sent a force to
kill Ruzi in Qingyang, Gansu.. When trapped by the Chimei forces many generals , one of which Zhang1(open) Ang2(hold
up one's head) (张昂) tried to kidnap Geng and Geng fleed. The Chimei declared their own emperaor 15-year-old Liu
Penzi, who was a descendant of Liu Zhang the Prince of Chengyang.. Zhang of Chnag’an surrendered with the Chimei
and together easily attacked it. When Liu Xiu heard of Chang’an’s fall he made him the Prince of Huaiyang.. His old
general Yan escorted him back to Chang’an to offer Penzi his sealater Liu Gong who was the oplder brother of Penzi
could persuade them not to kill him for a little while but one of Pensi’s generals Xie4(thank) Lu4(official's salary) (谢禄)
strangled him after persuaded by ZhangAng afraid for his return to power because the people missed him now that the
Chimei were in power.
E. Han Dynasty:
Guang1 Wu3 Di4 光武帝 Liu Xiu4(elegant/beautiful/put forth flowers or ears) 刘秀 25 ━ 57 (Jian4wu3 Era 建武 25
━ 56, Jianwuzhongyuan Era 建武中元 56 ━ 57) Destroyed Chimei and unified all of China in AD 36 The husband of
his sister Liu Yuan (刘元 believed in a prophecy that somebody named Liu Xiu would be emperor.. Liu Xiu, had an
ambitious brother, Liu Yan, who rebelled against the Xin. Liu Xiu descended fro emperor Jing of W. Han 6 generations
ahead. Geng was his third cousin. Liu was instrumental in the success of the battle of Kunyang. Gengshi killed his brother
Liu Yan. When Geng moved the capital to LuoYang he had Liu rebuild the palaces. LATER Geng sent him to pacify rebles
north of the Yellow river. He met Deng4 Yu3 (邓禹 one who LATER would be prime minister who tried to persuade him to
be independent. Geng Yan (耿□ who helped Liu Xiu fight off Wang Lang (王郎),(one who claimed to be Liu
Ziyu2(carriage/territory) (刘子舆) who claimed to be a son of a consort of Emperor Cheng.) also tried to persuade Liu to be
independent, but still Liu refused resolved to pacify the empire. After this he hired only officials loyal to him and not
Gengshi then he proclaimed himself emperor Guangwu. He blocked and then exhausted out the Chimei forces sparing
them afterwards. He was a brilliant strategist and he reunified China first by beggin enemies to submit and then going to
conquer them. He kept the relationships in the military very well by not giving them too much power and also rewarding
them well(unmatched until Emperor Taizu of Song (Zhao Kuangyin. He married his childhood sweetheart Yin Lihua., but
she was not Empress until he first married Guo Shengtong (郭圣通 as a political marriage making her empress having a
son by her then LATER disposing her due to not liking her as well as their son Liu Jiang1(border) (刘疆 who was crown
prince after he agreed. 2) Ming2 Di4 明帝 Liu Zhuang1(serious/village) 刘庄 58 ━ 75 (Yongping 永平 58 ━ 75,
Jianchu 建初 76 ━ 84) Emperor Ming (28-75) Buddhism began spreading at this time after he had a dream of golden
men he sent a delegation to India. Built first Buddhist temple, white horse(for the horse that traveled to India). He was
hardworking and had much integrity and demanded integrity of others , but he punished everybody with death. The killed
10000s of people because of one conspiracy against him. The time of Ming and his son Zhang was considered the golden
age of the E. Han Dynasty. Very intelligent as Duke of Donghai. Ming’s first love Yin Linhua waited while he married
strategically Guo Shengtong. When Guo became jealous of Guangwu’s fondness with Yang Guangwu, the son of Ming
and Yin, he had her disposed. Liu Yangs’s name was changed to Liu Zhuang because there were too many Yangs(
meaning “sun”). Zhuang’s empress would be Ma Yuan’s daughter but never bore him a son. Her niece Jia was a consort
too but she did bore a son, Liu Da. He LATER became crown prince. He honored his brothers. Built a Confucian school,
the first Imperial school, in Luoyang for the children of Marquesses, and high officials. His brother Prince Jing was forced
to commit suicide after rebelling once and using warlocks against Ming. Prince Ying of Chu hired warlocks to make gold
turtles and jade cranes, a big taboo, so was exiled but given a fiefdom. His “conpirators” who were innocent and
numbered in the 10,000s were executed. Prince Yan of Huaiyang also used warlocks against Ming, many of his
associates were killed but he lived. With his general Ban Chao’s help he allied with the S. Xiongnu and Xiyu against the N.
Xiongnu. 3) Zhang1(rules) Di4 章帝 Liu Da2 刘□ 76 ━ 88 Yuanhe 元和 84 ━ 87 (Zhanghe Era 章和 87 ━ 88) He was
hardworking and diligent and reduced taxes. He reduced government spending and promoted Confucianism and the
country prospered as part of the golden E. Han Ming and Zhuang period.. Because he bestowed power for both his
adotive mother Empress Ma’s clan and his wife Empress Dou’s clan the LATER dynasty was in internal strife. He was
created crown prince by Zhuang even though he had 4 brothers older than him. He was more lenient than his father Ming.
Empress Dou, jealous of the elder Song sister who was consort to Zhang and whose son Liu Qing was crown prince,
wanted her adopted son Liu Zhao , son of Consort Liang, to be prince so she falsely accused Song of using cuscuta to do
witchcraft. Zhang was enraged so he expelled Crown Prince Qing then Liu Zhao became emperor. The Dou’s LATER
destroyed the Liangs when they saw they were happy out of jealousy. This marked the beginning of when Empresses had
more power than Dowagers. The Qiangs, mistreated by the Han, first began rebelling at this time and then LATER
rebelled more and more leading to the future Han’s destruction. 4) He Di 和帝 Liu2 Zhao4 (commence)刘肇 89 ━ 105
(Yongyuan Era 永元 89 ━ 105, Yuanxing Era 元兴 105) (79 - February 13, 105) Used help of desposed crown prince
Liu Qing, his brother Liu Kang (刘伉, and eunuch Zheng Zhong to attack Dowager Dou’s brothers and Dou associates
including historian Ban Gu and ordered them to commit suicide, Ban Chao’s brother(in Xiyu). Eunuchs became powerful
at this time. He was kind and gentle with the kingdom free from major corruption, but lacked Zhang’s and Mings ability in
governing. Paper invented in 105 by eunuch Cai Lun, who interrogated the Song sisters. . The Han dynasty had
succession issues with having no male heirs. All but 2 of He’s sons died before he died. Dou Xian, one of the 4 brothers of
Dowager Dou was very arrogant and he defeated the N. Xiongnu. After he discovered Liang was his mother, he rewarded
the clan well and they became the most powerful in Han aristocracy. He created consort Yin (ancestor of Yin Lihua)
empress who was jealous of Consort Deng Sui, who also came from a noble lineage, as the granddaughter of Emperor
Guangwu's prime minister Deng Yu (邓禹). Yin and her grandmother, Deng Zhu (邓朱) were accused of using witchcraft.
Yin was desposed and Deng became empress. His sons never lived long because of illness, but Liu Sheng (刘胜) and Liu
Long (刘隆) were his sons with unknown mothers. Deng made Liu Long emperor but he died at age one. Deng thinking
Liu Sheng would resent her made Prince Qing's son Liu Hu (刘祜) emperor, as Emperor An. 5) Shang1(die young) Di4
殇帝 Liu Long2(prosperous) 刘隆 106 (Yanping Era 延平 9 months in 106, Yongchu Era 永初 107 ━ 113, Yuanchu
Era 元初 114 ━ 120) On the throne at only age 100 days. Died at age one. Dowager Deng also kept Liu Hu4(blessing) (
刘祜), the twelve-year old cousin of Shangdi and future Emperor An of Han in the capital Luoyang as insurance against
the baby emperor's death. Liu Hu ascended to the throne when Emperor Shang died in August or September 106;
however, Dowager Deng still remained as the regent for the teenager Emperor An. A decree by Empress Dowager Deng
during this reign shed light on bureaucratic inefficiency. Prince Hu was the son of Prince Qing of Qinghe─who was once
a crown prince under Emperor He's father Emperor Zhang but was deposed due to machinations of Emperor Zhang's wife
Empress Dou. Therefore, he was viewed by some as the rightful heir. After Emperor Shang died the officials had by this
time realized that Prince Sheng, his older brother, was not as ill as originally thought, and wanted to make him emperor.
However, Empress Dowager Deng was concerned that he might bear a grudge at not being made emperor before his
brother, and therefore insisted on making Emperor Shang's cousin Prince Hu emperor instead, and he took the throne as
Emperor An. 6)An1 Di 4 安帝 Liu Hu4(blessing/bless) 刘祜 106 ━ 125 (Yongning Era 永宁 120 ━ 121, Jianguang
Era 建光 121 ━ 122, Yanguang Era 延光 122 ━ 125) Emperor An of Han (94-125) He was the grandson of Emperor
Zhang. Empress Dowager Deng still remained as the regent until her death in 121. Thereafter, Emperor An removed
many of her relatives from government, and many of them committed suicide, probably under duress. Emperor An did
little to revive the withering dynasty. He began to indulge himself in women and heavy drinking and paid little attention to
affairs of state, instead leaving matters to corrupt eunuchs. Deng considered replacing the emperor with his cousin Liu
Yi4(airplane/wing of a plane/assist a ruler) (刘翼), the Prince of Pingyuan, but then decided against it In this way, he
effectively became the first emperor in Han history to encourage corruption. He also trusted his wife Empress Yan2(gate
of a lane) Ji1 (阎姬) , whom he created empress in 115─even though she had poisoned to death one of his other
consorts, Consort Li, who had given birth to his only son Liu Bao3 (刘保) in 115, and her family deeply, despite their
obvious corruption. At the same time, droughts ravaged the country while peasants rose up in arms. In 125, Emperor An
died while travelling to Nanyang. He was only 31. He was born in 94, to Prince Liu Qing of Qinghe and his concubine,
Consort Zuo3 Xiao3 E2 (左小娥) Xiao E was particularly known for her knowledge in history and poetry and was
beautifulater After she died Prince Hu was raised by Prince Qing's wife, Consort Geng3 (耿姬). Late in 121, he stripped
members of the Deng clan of their posts and fiefs, and many of them committed suicide, probably under duress. LATER,
he relented and allowed some of the survivors to return, but by that time the Deng clan had been decimated. In the place
of the Dengs, the Song clan of Emperor An's grandmother became honored, but wielding much more actual power were
the clan of the empress, the Yans. Empress Yan who did not want Bao to be emperor because he was not her real son
tried to accuse him falsely of crimes and then An demoted him to Prince of Jiyin, Some eunuchs loyal to Prince Bao, led
by Sun Cheng, carried out a coup d'etat and made Prince Bao emperor (as Emperor Shun). The Yans were slaughtered,
except for Empress Dowager Yan. 7) Shao Di, the Marquess of Bei3xiang1 少帝 or 北乡侯 Liu Yi4(exemplary) 刘懿
125 (Yanguang Era 延光 125, Yongjia Era 永建 126 ━ 132, Yangjia1(good/fine/praise) Era
阳嘉 132 ━ 135) A
grandson of Emperor Zhang and Emperor An's cousin, emperor younger than Bao who was 10 at the time. He died
LATER the same year. A eunuch coup led by Sun Cheng2(rule/journey) (孙程)in favour of Emperor Shun overthrew the
regime of Empress Dowager Yan, who put him on the throne and installed Bao(Shun). Born in Beijing. The Yans were
slaughtered, except for Empress Dowager Yan, who was however rendered powerless. 8) Shun4(in same
direction/agreeable) Di4 顺帝 Liu2 Bao3(protect) 刘保 125 ━ 144 (Yong3he Era 永和 136 ━ 141, Hanan Era 汉安
142 ━ 144, Jiankang Era 建康 144) The only son of Emperor An at the age of 10. He was mild and incompetent.
Corruption continued with eunuchs. He trusted his wife Empress Liang Na's father Liang Shang (梁商) -- a mild-mannered
man with integrity but little ability. ─and then Liang Shang's son Liang Ji -- a corrupt and an autocratic man. The eunuch
Sun Cheng was loyal to Prince Bao, but Bao ousted him when he wanted too much reform. After Ban Yong, the son of
general Bao Chao was falsely accused of being late in a military action and removed from his office, the Xiyu situation
became worse. Eunuch –marquesses began having their sons inherit their marches at this time. The Qiang annihilated
force by Ma Xian and set fire to the W. Han tombs. In 144, apparently already ill, Emperor Shun created his only son Liu
Bing (刘炳), born of his concubine Consort Yu, to be crown Prince. Dowager Liang served as regent. 9) Chong D 冲帝
Liu Bing3(bright/splendid/remarkable) 刘炳 144 ━ 145 (Yongjia Era 永嘉 145) Ascended the throne at age one. Liang
Ji (the corrupt commander of Liu Bao’s time persuaded Empress Dowager Liang to make the seven-year-old Prince Zuan
as emperor (as Emperor Zhi) when choosing between him and Liu Suan (刘蒜), the Prince of Qinghe after Chong died at
less than 3 years old. 10) Zhi4(material/nature) Di 质帝 Liu Zuan3(inherit) 刘缵 145 ━ 146 (Benchu Era 本初 146,
Jianhe Era 建和 147 ━ 149, Heping Era 和平 150,
Yuanjia Era 元嘉 151 ━ 153) Greatgrandson of Emperor
Zhang.He was third cousin of Chong. He was only 7 when he became emperor. He was very intelligent and hated Liang ji
for having too much power. Liang Ji poisoned him to death at the age of 3. He was born to Liu Hong (刘鸿), the Prince of
Le'an, and his wife Consort Chen, in 138. Dowager Liang entrusted mush power to honest official Li Gu (李固) who
investigated Zuan’s poisoning. The officials were again largely in favor of Prince Suan, but Liang Ji was still concerned
about how he would be difficult to controlater Rather, he persuaded Empress Dowager Liang to make the 14-year-old Liu
Zhi (刘志), the Marquess of Liwu, a great-grandson of Emperor Zhang, to whom Liang Ji's younger sister Liang Nuying (梁
女莹) was betrothed, emperor (as Emperor Huan) . His mother was Consort Chen. 11) Huan2 Di4 桓帝 Liu
Zhi4(will/mind) 刘志 146 ━ 168 (Yongxing Era 永兴 153 ━ 154, Yongshou Era 永寿 155 ━ 158, Yanxi Era 延熹
158 ━ 167, Yongkang Era 永康 167, Jianning Era 建宁 168 ━ 172) After Emperor Zhi was poisoned to death
by the powerful official Liang Ji in 146, Liang Ji persuaded his sister, the regent Empress Dowager Liang to make the 14year-old Liu Zhi, the Marquess of Liwu, who was betrothed to their sister Liang Nuying2 (lustrous/transparent) (梁女莹),
emperor. Used Eunuchs power to eliminate Liangji and the Liangs, but after this 5 powerful corrupt eunuchs controlled the
empire Corruption reached boiling point and university students protested corruption but Huan put down the protest. Died
at age 36. Liu Zhi was born in 132, to Liu Yi (刘翼), the Marquess of Liwu, and his concubine Yan Ming (□明). Empress
Liang was wasteful in her luxurious living, far exceeding any past empress, and was exceedingly jealous. She did not
have a son, and because she did not want any other imperial consorts to have sons, if one became pregnant, Empress
Liang would find some way to murder her. Emperor Huan did not dare to react to her due to Liang Ji's power, but rarely
had sexual relations with her. In 159, angry and depressed that she had lost her husband's favor, Empress Liang died.
That would start a chain of events that would lead to Liang Ji's downfall LATER that year. After Liang Ji's death, Emperor
Huan created Liang Mengnu empress, but disliked her family name, and therefore ordered her to take the family name Bo
(薄). LATER, he found out that her original family name was actually Deng, and therefore had her family name restored.
LATER that year, apparently tired of Empress Deng and sick of her disputes with a favorite consort of his, Consort Guo,
Emperor Huan deposed and imprisoned her. She died in anger, and several of her family members were executed. He
wanted to create another consort, Tian Sheng (田圣) empress, but officials opposed on the basis that she was of lowly
birth, and recommended that he create Consort Dou Miao (窦妙), the daughter of Dou Wu (窦武), a Confucian scholar and
a descendant of Dou Rong (窦融), who had contributed much to the establishment of the E. Han Dynasty, empress. Even
though he did not favor Consort Dou, Emperor Huan gave in to pressure and created her empress.
12) Ling2(quick/smart) Di4 灵帝 Liu Hong2(great/magnificent) 刘宏 168 ━ 189 (Xi1(dawn/brightness)ping2 熹平 172
━ 178, Guanghe Era 光和 178 ━ 184, Zhongping Era 中平 184 ━ 189) He was a great-great-grandson of Emperor
Zhang. The Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out during Emperor Ling's reign. Emperor Ling's reign saw yet another
repetition of government domination by corrupt eunuchs. Emperor Ling, even after he grew to adulthood, was not
interested in governmental affairs, instead indulged himself in women and a decadent lifestyle. Emperor Ling died in 189
at the age of 34, after reigning for 21 years. When Emperor Huan died in 168 without a son to be heir, his wife Empress
Dou Miao became empress dowager and regent, and she examined the rolls of the imperial clan to consider the next
emperor. For reasons unknown, her assistant Liu Shu (刘□) recommended Marquess Hong, and after consulting with her
father Dou Wu and the Confucian scholar official Chen Fan, Empress Dowager Dou made him emperor, at age 12. The
empress dowager's father Dou Wu and Chen became the most important officials in the imperial government, and they
sought to purge the government of eunuch influences but the eunuchs kidnapped Dowager Dou and the emperor and
killed Chen then Dou Wu committed suicide. Dowager Dou, under house arrest died. A vandal wrote on the place door
after she died: “All that is under the heaven is in upheavalater Cao and Wang murdered the empress dowager. “ The
eunuchs Cao Jie (曹节) and Wang Fu (王甫), became the most powerful individuals in the imperial government and
investigated and wiped out the Liu clan. He made empress Song empress but LATER imprisoned and died because the
Eunuchs accused her of witchcraft against Ling because her aunt was Liu Li (刘悝), the Prince of Bohai, Emperor Huan’s
brother who died in the investigation, In 180, Emperor Ling created Consort He as the new empress and made her brother
He Jin a key official in his government. (According to legends, she was initially selected as an imperial consort because
her family bribed the eunuchs.) She received the empress position because she had given birth to Emperor Ling's son Liu
Bian (刘辩). Ling sold offices to the people for money which greatly weakened the empire. The Yellow Turbans were a
Taoist movement led by Zhangjiao who claimed he could heal the sick and he created a rebellion with 36 military
commanders and set up a shadow government,He said the blue heaven is dead and the yellow heaven is coming into
being. To occur on the first year , Jiazi. The people wore yellow turbans. Emperor Ling sent out a number of military
commanders against the Yellow Turbans, and in these campaigns several of them distinguished themselves -- including
Huangfu Song, Cao Cao, Fu Xie (傅燮), Zhu Jun, Lu Zhi, and Dong Zhuo. 13) Shao Di, the Prince of
Hong2(great)nong2(peasant)少帝 or 弘农王 Liu Bian4(disagree) 刘辩 189 Guangxi Era 光熹 189, Zhaoning Era 昭宁
189, Yonghan 永汉 189, Chuping 初平 190 ━ 193) He came to power in 189 and was deposed and then poisoned by
Dong Zhuo in 190. According to traditional historians, prior to him, Emperor Ling had other sons, but they all died young.
Therefore, based on the superstitutions of the time, Emperor Ling believed that his sons needed to be raised outside the
palace by foster parents. Prince Bian was therefore entrusted to the magician Shi Zimiao (史子眇) He was the oldest son
compared with Xie of Consort Wang but Emperor Ling refused to make him crown prince because of his solemn behavior.
Jian (eunuch) wanted Xie to be emperor so he tried to kill He Jin but was cought. LATER He Jin together with Yuan Shao
and Yuan Shu plotted and killed Jian. Guo Sheng (郭胜) a friend of the Hes persuaded eunuchs Zhao Zhong and Song
Dian (宋典) loyal to Jian to turn against him. Grand Empress Dowager Dong(Emperor Ling’s mother) who confronted with
Empress He threatened to have her nephew Dong Chong decapitate her brother high official He Jin who exiled her to her
hometown and then died which caused the people to despise the Hes. Yuan Shao and He Jin LATER planned to have
Dong Zhuo (disobeys orders and is harsh)leader of the powerful Liang forced to attack the eunuchs. Cao Cao and Yuan
Shaos forces, intimidated by the Liang forces fled the capitalater He Jin was found out and killed. The eunuchs kidnapped
Bian and Xie and fled north while Empress He ran away. They killed themselves by jumping into the Yellow River. Dong
Zhuo impressed with Xie who answered his questions, wanted Bian disposed. He poisoned him when Yuan Shao rebelled
against him. 14) Xian4(present/offer) Di 献帝 Liu Xie2(joint/common) 刘协 189 ━ 220 (Xingping Era 兴平 194 ━ 195,
Jian'an Era 建安 196 ━ 220, Yankang Era 延康 220) Dong Zhuo was assassinated in 192. Xian was a puppet. He
came under control of CaoCao in 196 until CaoCao’s defeat by Sun Quan in the Battle of the Red Cliffs. Xian died at age
53, 14 years after fall of Han Dynasty. Xian was the 15th generation of Liu Bang. Dong Zhuo murdered Empress Dowager
He. Dong Zhuo fearful of Yuan Shao’s collective force moved the capital west to Chang’an and burned Luoyang. Officials
led by Wang Yun and Lu Bu (Dong Zhuo’s adopted son) assassinated him, but Dong’s subordinates revolted and killed
Wang leaving no hope for the return of the Han Dynasty. Dong's F. subordinates, led by Li Jue and Guo Si, held Emperor
Xian and the imperial officials. However, Li and Guo did not have serious ambitions, and their incompetence in
governance furthered the breakdown of the empire into warlord realms. They allowed Emperor Xian to return to Luoyang
which was very poor and some starved. CaoCao took control over Emperor Xian and moved the capital to Xu (in modern
Xuchang, Henan), He shared power with Xian’s generals Dong Cheng and Yang Feng, convincing them of his loyalty, he
entered Luoyang and technically shared power with Dong and Yang, but was in fact in command. Xian entered into a
conspiracy with Liu Bei, Zhong Ji (种辑), and Wang Fu (王服) to assassinate Cao. Late in 199, Liu started a rebellion and
waited for Dong to act in the capital, but in 200, Dong's conspiracy was discovered, and he, along with Zhong and Wang,
were killed. Liu was LATER defeated by Cao and forced to flee to Yuan's camp. Dong's daughter, an imperial consort,
was pregnant, and Emperor Xian personally tried to intercede for her, but Cao had her executed anyway. This would
precipitate the next major incident. Emperor Xian's wife, Empress Fu Shou, angry and fearful about how Consort Dong
died, wrote her father Fu Wan (伏完) a letter accusing Cao of cruelty, and implicitly asking Fu to start a new conspiracy
against Cao. Fu Wan was fearful of Cao and never acted on the letter, in 214, her letter was discovered. Cao was
extremely angry and forced Emperor Xian to have Empress Fu deposed. Emperor Xian was hesitant, and Cao sent his
forces into the palace to force the issue. Empress Fu hid inside the walls, but was finally discovered and dragged out. As
she was led away, she cried out to Emperor Xian for him to save her life, but his only response was that he could not even
know what would happen to him. She was killed, along with her two sons and family. Emperor Xian was not, but his status
as a puppet was by now fully exposed. Cao soon forced Emperor Xian to create his daughter Cao Jie, then an imperial
consort, empress. After CaoCao died in 220, Cao Pi forced Xian to abdicate his throne to him. Xian died buried in Han
tradition in 234.
Three Kingdoms Period
1) Cao Wei
1) Wen2 Di 文帝 Cao2 Pi1(big/great) 曹丕 220━226 (Huangchu Era 黄初 220━226 , Taihe Era 太和 227━233, Ming
Di Era 明帝, Cao Rui Era 曹□ 226━239, Qinglong 青龙 233━237, Jingchu Era 景初 237━239) Cao Ang, the eldest ,
died as an imperial officer of the Han. Cao Pi (曹丕, 187 ━ 29 June 226[1]) Second son of politician and poet CaoCao.
Started 7 syllable per line poetry. Eldest son of Caocao and concubine Princess Bian. Cao Pi was the most shrewd of all
his brothers. He didn’t study hard, only gained official support. Took consort widow Lady Zhen of Yuan Xi son of
YuanShao after defeating Yuan Shao and gave birth to Cao Rui only 8 months LATER. She LATER lost his support due
to Guo accusing Rui of being illegitimate and killed herself then he took favorite Guo Nuwang. Cao Pi forced Xian to
abdicate. Demoted brother Cao Zhi who contended with him as heir and executed two of his friends. Cao Zhi’s two
supporters were Cui Yan and Mao Jie. Shamed Yu Jin for losing to GuanYu which caused him to be ill and die. Younger
brother Cao Xiong killed himself from fear of Cao Pi. Did not take chance to fight Sun which could have won him the
empire. 2) Ming2(bright) Di 明帝 Cao Rui4 (astute)曹叡 226━239 (Qinglong Era 青龙 233━237, Jingchu Era 景初
237━239) Cao Rui (205-22 January 239) He spent all the treasury on 1000s of concubines and projects of building
temples and palaces. Stalemated with Shu Han and Wu. Sima Yi coup d’etated Cao Shuang, who monopolized power,
and Sima Yan took the Wei throne. At deer hunt with father Cao Pi, Cao Pi killed mother, but Rui had not the heart to kill
the young son deer. He desposed his father’s princes which led to downfall of Wei when the Simas took over. His father
had appointed three regents for him -- his distant cousin Cao Zhen, the steady administrator Chen Qun, and the shrewd
strategist Sima Yi. Defeated then Zhuge Liang of ShuHan against Chang’an. When against Wu ManChong was trusted in
the southeast. A good strategy was for him to head east to be close the war while the front was way behind. Zhou Fang
of Wu tricked Cao Xiu that he would surrender but trapped and had a good victory while Jia Kui of Wei saved him.
Warded off joint attack of Wu and Zhuge Liang’s N. Expedition. Had campaign against Liaodong (Gongsun clan) who
betrayed Wu. He ordered that all married women be given to marriage to soldiers but the most beautiful were to be his
concubines. Despite all his women he did not have a son who lived past one year old. He adopted Cao Fang and Cao
Xun making Cao Fang crown prince the day of his death. 3) Qi2(even/neat) Wang 齐王 Cao Fang1（fragrant) 曹芳 239
━254 (Zhengshi Era 正始 240-249, Jinping Era 嘉平 249-254) Cao Fang, 曹芳 (231-274), courtesy name Lanqing (
兰卿 )He was adopted by Cao Rui, a grandson of Cao Zhang, great grandson of CaoCao. He had longest reign of Wei
Dynasty. Cao Shuang as regent grabbed all the power. He failed in an attack against Shuhan running out of food. Sima Yi
who resigned assembled a coup (Incident at Gaoping Tombs)saying Empress Dowager Guo wanted Cao Shuang
executed. Sima Yi had Cao Fang grant him the nine bestowments. Sima removed threats and had habits of reneging on
his promises. Sima Shi had him abdicate. Sima Shi fought Wu’s then Sun Liang with then regent Zhuge Ke and defeated
him. Fang first made Zhen (granddaughter of Zhen) who died LATER then made Zhang then Wang empresses. Fang
planned to use Sima Zhao’s troops to kill Sima Shi, but had not the guts to do it. When news of this reached Sima Shi
Sima Yan, Sima Zhao’s son, ended Wei and began Jin in 265. He forcibly disposed him. Died in 274 as a Duke. 4)
Gao1gui4(noble/privileged)xiang1(village/country)Gong 高贵乡公 Cao Mao2(mane/fashionable) 曹髦 254━260
Grandson of Cao Pi. Tried to defeat Sima Shi and his brother Sima Zhao many times but failed and remained a duke. He
was cousin to Cao Fang. Empress Dowager Guo(the wife of Cao Fang's adoptive father, Cao Rui ) installed him in hope
of overthrowing the Simas. Cao Mao tried to make an edict after Sima Shi died one month after a victory against Guanqiu
Jian to Sima Zhao (Sima Shi’s brother) to remain at Xuhang, who disobeyed and controlled Mao ever since. Made wife
Lady Bian empress. Cao died by a spear by Cheng2 Ji4(cross over) (成济) in a personal assault against Sima Zhao. 5)
Yuan Di 元帝 Cao Huan4(excellent) 曹奂 260━265 A grandson of CaoCao. also known as the Emperor Yuan of Wei (
魏元帝 i). His courtesy name was Jingming (景明; ). His father Cao Yu3(eaves/universe) (曹宇) was rejected as regent for
Cao Fang by Cao Rui. Created wife lady Nian empress. Jiangwei of Shuhan had constant fights with Wei, so Sima sent a
large force to kill Shuhan with 180,000 commanded by Zhong Hu and Deng Ai. They passed Jiang killed Zhuge Zhan then
surrounded Jiang and went to Chengdu to have Liu Shan surrender. Zhong falsely accused Deng of forgery and Sima told
him to arrest Deng. Meanwhile Jiang tried urging Zhong into rebellion and Zhong, and Deng died.Shu Han’s land was
taken into Wei’s. Huan finally granted Sima Yan the 9 bestowments then he abdicated to Sima Yan who became emperor
Wu of Jin.
Shu or Shu Han 221━263 *Romance of the three kingdoms written by Luo Guanzhong.
1)Zhao1(clear)lie4(sacrificing/violent) Di 昭烈帝 Liu Bei4(prepare) 刘备 221━223 He was from Hebei. He started the
latest and lacked the material resources and social status they commanded. He was born iinto a poor family. He met
Gongsun Zan at age 14. Had long arms and long earlobes. Few in words. Joined Zhang Fei and Guan Yu to suppress the
Yellow Turbans, Worked with Gongsun Zan and Tao Qian to fight YuanShao and CaoCao. Lu Bu was defeated by
CaoCao 195 sought refuge under Liu Bei but turned against him when Zhangfei defeated Cao Bao. Then Liu Bei sought
refuge under CaoCao who gave him Xiaohou Dun for support to fight Zhang Liao and Gao Shun but lost the battle then
latter CaoCao defeated Lu Bu at Xiapi.. Liu Bei turned against CaoCao and took back Xiaopei with himself and Xiapi with
Guanyu, but Guanyu as captured by CaoCao who then attacked him causing hi to join Yuanshao where Guanyu (from
Cao) killed Yanliang. LATER Liu Bei joined Liu Biao in Jing Province for some years feeling at one time depressed when
feeling too old and not doing anything. Liu Bei ambushed and defeated Cao’s Xiaohun Dun and Yu Jin at the battle of
Baowang. Jing Province popular with literati at that time. Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong and Xu Shu were there and Li met
Zhuge Liang and Zhuge showed Liu Bei the Longzhong plan long term strategy of competing with Cao. After Liu Biao died
in 208 his younger son Liu Cong surrendered to Cao then Liu went on exodus south with 100,000 men who were defeated
at Battle of Changban. Liu allied with Sun Quan to fight at the Battle of Redcliffs with Cao having 220,000 (not 880,000)
men against the alliance’s 50,000. Cao’s N.ers were not good soldiers in the S. climate and with S. naval warfare. Zhou
Yu and Huanggai’s fire attacks decimated Cao’s navy on the river and Cao retreated with Cao Ren and Xu Huang to
guard Jiangling and Yue Jin to guard Xiangyang. Zhou Yu attacked Cao Ren and had Liu Qi (liu’s son) to gobern it, but
after he died Liu became governor. Lady Sun, Sun Quan’s daughter was married to Liu to cement the alliance. After Zhou
Yu died in 210 Li Su succeeded him as grand viceroy for Sun Quan and they moved east leaving Jing proving for Liu’s
control but Liu would not yield it back to Sun in the future many times upon the advice of Zhuge Liang to give them
excuses every time.Eventually Sun sent Lu Meng and Lu Su to attack where Guan Yu was. Defeated Liu Zhang in 215 in
Yi province on Pang Tong’s advice of first allying with him then betraying him. Li u defeated Liu Zhang’s generals Liu Gui,
Leng Bao, Zhang Ren, Deng Xian, Wu Yi,, Li Yan and Fei Guan. Ma Chao from Gansu province , who submitted to him at
this time, supported hi m in the battle against Liu Xun, Liu Zhang’s son. Defeated Hanzhong in 219 . Declared himself
emperor of ShuHan in 222. Lost Battle of Xiaoting to E. Wu in 222. Died in 223. Cao first captured Hanzhong with Xiahou
Yuan, Zhang He and Xu Huang, where Zhang Fei and Zhang He had a face off with Zhang Fei winning with a surorise
attack to take Baxi. Liu used HuangZhong to win the attack against Yi province killing Cao’s Xiaohuo Yuan and Zhao
Yong his appointed inspector. Cao personally came to Hanzhong to support it but Liu defeated him and declared himself
king of Hanzhong. Liu Shan was appointed heir and Wei Yan became a general in Hangzhong. Guan Yu was appointed
as General of the Vanguard (前将军), Zhang Fei as General of the Right (右将军), Ma Chao as General of the Left (左将军
) and Huang Zhong as General of the Rear (后将军). In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, those four generals, along with
Zhao Yun, were collectively known as the Five Tiger Generals. He died in the battle of Xiaoting against Lu Xun when
avenging Guanyu’s execution at Jing. Lu Xun set fire to the forest and attacked him in the hills. Liu retreated to
Baidicheng where he died then as buried in Chengdu. Liu Bei is worshipped in Chengdu where many shoes are made. 2)
Hou4zhu3 后主 Liu Shan2(prolonged and intense) 刘禅 223━263 Born from concubine lady Gan. He was retarded
and incapable and indulged in pleasures but had good people skills like his father. "A Dou" (阿斗) his name as an infant is
used to describe people who never achieve anything in life even with assistance. At the battle of Changban Zhao Yun
stayed behind to protect the family members of Liu Bei. Holding the infant Liu Shan in his arms, Zhao Yun led the mother
and child to safety. When Zhao Yun made it safe back to camp Liu Bei threw the infant down to say that his generals are
more important than his family. He married Zhang Fei’s daughter Empress Zhang in 223, who died LATER and then her
sister was then made empress Zhang. Zhuge Liang acting as regent made the small empire efficient. He reunited with the
S. Nanman tribes who helped against Cao. Zhuge had 5 campaigns against Cao Wei with only one successful due to food
shortages. He fell ill LATER then Zhuge recommended that Jiang Wan succeed him, and that Fei Yi succeed Jiang
Wan.Li Yan forged a note by Liu Shan that Zhuge retreat but Zhuge caught him and removed him from post. Jiang Wan,
lacking Zhuge’s war ability withdrew from Hanzhong in Shaanxi never having ShuHan again pose a threat to CaoWei.
Jiang fell sick. Fei Yi protected Hanzhong from Cao’s regent CaoShuang at Battle of Xingshi. Fei Yi was assassinated by
ex-Cao general Guo Xun (郭循. Jiang Wei succeeded FeiYi and attacked Cao heavily. With problems of lack of food
supply Shu and Wu with Zhuge Ke’s help attacked Cao together for the last time in 253. Sima Shi then easily attacked
Zhuge Ke whose tremendous loss led him to be assassinated. He nearly captured Didao in Gansu, but was defeated bad
by Deng Ai leaving him demobilized. Jiang Wei suggested Liu Shan to execute Huang Hao a powerful corrupt eunuch but
Liu refused. In 263 Cao Wei ‘s Deng Ai led a massive attack against Shu and Liu Shan tried strategy of leading them to a
trap but they advanced directly to Chengdu catching Shu unaware. The ambitious Zhong Hui, leading the Cao Wei’s
troops was tricked into fighting Deng Ai by Jiang Wei. JiangWei and Zhonghui as well as crown prince Liu Xuan were
killed in the confusion when ZhongHui’s troops rebelled.Liu Shan and his family relocated to Luoyang after Shu’s fall and
he was made Duke of Anle. His family held on to the dukedom until Liuyuan’s time, founder of Hanzhao, of the 16 Wu Hu
kingdoms.
Wu AD 222━280
1)Da Di 大帝 Sun Quan2(right/authority)孙权 222━252 Huangwu 黄武 222━229 Son of Sun Jian. His brother Sun Ce
was a local warlord who was assassinated by Xu Gong retainers. Zhou Yu, Zhang Zhao, Zhang Hong, and Cheng Pu
were Sun Quan’s loyal officers.After the successful battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Pi asked Sun to send his sun Sun Deng to
Luoyang.as a hostage Sun refused and declared Wu an independent state.in 222 then himself as emoeror in 222. Lived
to be the oldest of 3 kingdoms: 70 yrs. Claim that Sun Jian was a descendant of Sun Tzu (military strategist of Warring
States time). Aquired throne after Sun Ce’s death, who he mourned greatly. He had abilities to find men of talent and to
react swiftly to events.He sought to weaken Liu Biao because their official Huang Zu killed Su Jian in battle. Liu Cong the
succeeding king after Liu Biao, surrendered to CaoCao from fear of his brother Liu Qi who did not become king. At the
Battle of Red Cliffs, the strategy was to fake Huang Gai’s surrender by punishing him and sending in a fleet that was on
fire, setting fire to most of Cao’s ships. After Liu’s marriage to Sun’s sister, Zhou Yu was suspicious and considered
putting Liu under house arredt, but Sun refused this,. Zhou Yu suggested Sun take over Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu’s
territories in Shaanxi , but Sun refused this after Zhou Yu died in 210. Sun attacked Jing after a failed return of Jing
Porvince and Sun agrred to have E. Jing while Guanyu kept the W. half divided at Xiang river. While Guanyu seiged
Fancheng where the capital Xu was, beating Cao Ren and seizing Sun’s food sources, Sun angry over his instigations
attacked him from the rear with Lu Meng and then captured and killed GuanYu in 219. After this Liu refused peace talks
and Sun fearful of both sides became a subject of Cao. Sun trusted his officials Liu Xun and Zhuge Jin so much that he
created a separate seal for them to use. Refused Zhang Zhao post of prime minister because of his strong opinions.
Vietnam (N&S), Cambodia and Laos became vassals of Wu. After Sun defeated warlord Shi Hui (士徽. Su had one major
victory over Cao in 228 when Zhou Fang faked being punished and surrendering to Cao Xiu, while creating a trap for him.
LATER Jia Ku from Cao took controlater He moved his capital east leaving son Sun Deng in charge of the west. Sun sent
a navy of 10,000 to defeat island of Yizhou and Danzhou(possibly Japan) in east Chinese Sea, but only succeeded with
Yizhou and lost 90% of men due to illness. He executed his generals rather than admit fault. Tried to buy horses from
Gongsun but Cao intercepted and killed his generals. Tried to ally with Gongsun by sending him 10,000 men but he
betrayed him and killed his men and generals. He as very angry about this but did nothing. Both of these actions were
against the wills of his men. He made a coordinated attack with Zhuge Liang’s final campaign by atakcing Hefiei and
XiangYang..hoping Cao would reinforce Hefie, but Cao saw the plan and let Hefei be besieged.) Again against his officials
will he promoted both Sun He and Sun Ba to crown prince, causing Sun Ba to scheme to be crown prince. Sun Ba
accused Lu Xun of crimes which Sun rebuked causing Lu Xun to die in anger. He forced his son Sun Ba to commit suicide
and disposed Sun He and let his youngest son Sun Liang be crown prince. He ordered levees to be destroyed to cause
floods and stop Cao’s forces. He created Liang’s mother Pan to be empress Liang, the only empress of Sun. She was
murdered because of her anger and ambition. He appointed Zhuge Ke as regent, an arrogant man who was awed by the
entire empire for his victories. He was buried at purple mountain in Nanjing. 2) Kuai4(accounting)ji1(check) Wang 会稽
王 Sun Liang4(bright)孙亮 252━258 He as the youngest son of Sun Quan. When he tried to remove regent Sun Lin
from power , he was removed then Sun Xiu succeeded him and he did execute Sun Lin but was accused of treason and
then demoted to marquess where he commited suicide. Su Quan desposed Sun He because of accusations of his
daughter Sun Dahu against him and consort Wang. Jian Ye (Nanjing) was capital of the Wu empire. Regent Zhuge Ke
resisted a 3 prong attack by Cao Wei, then planned a joint attack with Shu Han against Shouchun (寿春) Anhui) but
changed his plans to attack Hefei, but his troops suffered the plague and he returned to JianYe and killed anyone upset
by his failure. Sun Jun, the one who recommended him to be regent then wanted him and his clan killed and 10 yr. old
Sun Liang consented. Then Sun Jun who wanted to be regent forced Sun He to commit suicide and then killed Sun Ying(
孙英) (son of Sun Deng) and Huanfu(桓虑) , military commander, when he heard of their conspiracy. In a second plot
discovered against Sun Jun many were executed including Sun Xiaohu (孙小虎) daughter and sister of Princess Dahu
who accused her. Sun Jun died from an illness and appointed his cousin Sun Lin to be regent. Sun quickly killed general
Lu Ju (jealous of him) and his proposed regent Teng .Zhuge Dan, a general of Wei, declared a rebellion when he knew
Sima Zhao would usurp the throne from Sima Shi and asked for Wu’s help at Shouchun. Sun Lin ordered Zhu yi to attack
but he was weak and refused so Lin executed him creating anger from the people. Sun Liang created his own guard at his
same age of 14 to grow up with him. Sun Liang conspired with Princess Dahu, the general Liu Cheng (刘丞), his father-inlaw Quan Shang (全尚), and his brother-in-law Quan Ji (全记), to have Sun Lin overthrown. QuanShang told his wife, who
then told Sun Lin, because she was his cousin then Sun Lin killed Quan Shang and Liu then surrounded the palace and
demoted Sun Liang to Prince. Sun Lin then made his brother Sun Xiu emperor but he did set up a trap to arrest and kill
Sun Lin successfully and fearing the return of his brother Su Liang he demoted him to marquess and ordered him to do
his march where he died I Fujian) some say it is where Sun Xiu poisoned him. 3) Jing3(bright/circumstance/scenery)
Di 景帝 Sun Xiu1(rest)孙休 258━264 He was son of Sun Quan. Sun Quan had him marry the daughter of his sister Sun
Xiaohu and her husband Zhu Ju. Sun conspired with general Zhang Bu and Ding Feng to kill Sun Lin at the Laba (腊八)
festivalater Sun Xiu got an illness which didn’t allow him to speak so he wrote instead. Sun Xiu sent ambassador Xue Xu (
薛□) to analyze Shu Han in 261 and said it was in shambles (inferring Wu was in that state as well but not saying it). He
died at age 29 wishing Sun Wan to succeed but his two best officials Puyang and Zhangbu enthroned Sun Hao, son of
Sun He because they didn’t want a young emperor. 4) Wu1(black/crow)cheng2(procedure/rules) Hou2(Marquis) 乌程
侯 Sun1 Hao4(bright/white—teeth/hair) 孙皓 264━280 He was nephew of Sun Xiu and son of Sun He. His cruelty,
superstitions, extravagance and inability to govern domestically doomed Wu. Zhuge Ke was an uncle of Princess Su
Zhang, who wanted Sun He restored. Sun Jun exiled Sun He to Hangzhou, Zhejiang and forced him to commit suicide
then Princess Zhang committed suicide too. Consort He refused to commit suicide because she wanted to raise Sun Hao
and his brothers. In the year Sun Xiu came to the throne, Sun Xiu created Sun Hao and his brothers Sun De and Sun
Qian marquesses. At first he was good because he reduced taxes, gave money to the poor and released many ladies in
wating allowing them to marry. But then he became bad. Puyang and Zhang rebuked him , but he had them and their
clans executed for this. He demoted Empress Dowager Zhu to Empress Jing then LATER had her commit suicide. He
executed his older brothers Su Wan and Gong and exiled 4 others. He moved the capital from Jianye to Wuchang (武昌,
modern Ezhou, Hubei) because of superstition. Zhejiang, unable to withstand heavy taxes, rebelled and captured Sun
Hao’s brother Sun Qian. After Jianye generals Ding Gu (丁固) and Zhuge Jing (诸葛靓) put down the rebellion, Sun Hao
had Sun Qian, his mother, and younger brother Sun Jun killed. After Lu Kai, nephew of Lu Xu died there was no one Sun
Hao would listen to. Lu Kang, son of Lu Xun and a general in the west petitioned but Sun Hao ignored his petitions.. Jiao
(N. Vietnam) returned to Wu. Wang Jun with help from emperor Wu of Jin began building massive fleet in 271 to attack
Wu with. When shavings came down the river, Sun Hao’s general Wu Yan warned him, but he did not listen. Bu Chan (步
阐), from Xiling (Hubei) was summoned by Sun Hao, bu Bu fearing punishment , defected to Jin. LATER Lu Kang
defeated him and Xiling (Hubei) was returned to Sun Hao. When He Shao (贺邵) had a stroke, Sun Hao believed he was
pretending so he had him and his clan executed. The people fearful of him brought him miraculous things to ease his
temper and he became more superstitious. At this time Wu of Jin launched a six-prong attack with the forces led by
Emperor Wu's uncle Sima Zhou, Wang Hun (王浑), Wang Rong, Hu Fen (胡奋), Du, and Wang Jun, with the largest
forces under Wang Hun and Wang Jun's commands. They took out the bordering cities first. Then Sun Hao was forced to
surrender in spring 280. Sun Hao and his family were escorted to Luoyang. Sun in humiliation covered himself with mud
and tied his hands behind his back. Sun Hao was made a marquis and his sons were made junior officials in the Jin
administration and Sun Hao was never punished for his atrocities.
Jin Dynasty Xi (W.) Jin Dynasty 265-317
1) Wu3(military/valiant/fierce)Di 武帝 Sima Yan司马炎 265-290 (Taishi Era 泰始 265-274, Xianning Era 咸宁
275-280, Taikang Era 太康 280-289, Taixi Era 太熙 290) 晋武帝, personal name Si1ma3 Yan2(scorching
hot) (司马炎), courtesy name Anshi (安世) (236-May 17, 290) Was the grandson of Sima Yi, and son of Sima Zhao. He
destroyed the Wu empire of the 3 kingdoms. He was known for his extravagance, generosity and sensuality (known to be
potent with 1000s of concubines. He gave much power to princes whose power ended up created the Wuhu 16 kingdoms
and the war of the 8 princes in the future and continued into the S. dynasties.He was the son of Sima Zhao who was son
of general Sima Yi(usurped regent Cao Shuang). Sima Zhao was addsitant to regent Sima Shi. He made CaoWei’s penal
law more merciful, but he punished the rich less than the poor. The Xianbei and Qiang rebellions in Qin (秦州) and Liang (
凉州) Provinces (modern Gansu) were more difficult to resolve then conquering Wu. Wu honored his mother Wang
Yuanji as empress dowager. Has Yangyan as empress. Made oldest son Sima Zhong crown prince but he was retarded.
And made his wife the daughter of Jia Chong, Jia Nanfeng (a strong willed one who controlled him). After the fall of Wu,
emperor Wu took military power away from provincial governors and disbanded the military. Rejected advice to move nonhan outside the emprire. Took 5000 women from Sun Hao’s palace. Used goat cart to stop at the women to have sex
with. Women planted bamboo and salt to get goats to stop. Set the stage for disaster to come. 2) Hui
Di4(benefit/kindness) 惠帝 Sima Zhong1(inner feelings/heart) 司马衷 290-306 (Yongxi Era 永熙 290, Yongping Era
永平 291, Yuankang Era 元康
291-299, Yongkang Era 永康 300-301, Yongning Era 永宁 301-302, Taian Era
太安 302-303, Yongan Era 永安 304, Jianwu Era 建武
304, Yongan Era 永安 304, Yongxing Era 永兴 304-306,
Guangxi Era 光熙 306) Emperor Hui of Jin, 晋惠帝 (259-poisoned January 8, 307), personal name Sima Zhong (司
马衷), courtesy name Zhengdu (正度), Reigned for some time, then was disposed by granduncle Sima Lun, then reinstalled, then
poisoned by regent Sima Yue. Second son of Sima Yan (Sim a Gui , the older son, died early) Jia NanFeng was violent and jealous.
Jia produced 4 daughters and no sons, but consort Xie, also a consort of Wu to teach him how to have sex, produced a son, Sima Yu,
whom his grandfather Wu favored. Yangjun forged a will by Wu claiming himself to be regent because both him and Sun Liang were
to be regents by Wu’s willater 9 regents: 1) YangJun:autocratic and incompetent. his clan killed by Jia Nanfeng (the empress jealous
of his powers) who conspired with one eunuch and two generals, trying with Sun Liang who refused, 2) Regency of Sima Liang
and Wei Guan Liang rewarded 1000 people of coup against YangJun as marquises. Then Jia jealous of power used Sima
Wei(Emperor Hui’s brother) i to again dispose them and have them killed by writing a false edict then after killed. Fearful
of being discovered, Jia publicly declared that Sima Wei’s edict was false.then SIma Wei troops abandoned him and he
was captured and executed. 3) Regency of Empress Jia: She lacked self contol and was violent and capricious. She did
not accept the official’s decision to remove the Wuhu (5 non-Han nationalities) from China. She got crown prince Yu drunk
and had him write a false statement saying he would kill the emperor and empress. This was she disposed him and
murdered his mother Consort Xie and his concubine Jiang Jun. With Sima Lun’s help, the Prince of Zhao, Emperor Wu's
granduncle, she assassinated Yu , but Sima Lun used this as an excuse to overthrow her (force her to suicide) and kill her
associates and take over with his strategist, Sun Xiu’s help. 4) Regency of and usurpation by Sima Lun Sima Lun
restored late Crown prince Yu’s reputation and made his son Sima Zang (司马臧) crown prince . In spring 301, Sima Lun
had Emperor Hui yield the throne to him, and gave Emperor Hui the honorific title of retired emperor (太上皇).Sima Jiong
(Emperor Hui’s cousin) and Sima Ying (Hui’s brother) and many others declared a rebellion killing Sima Lun and restoring
Hui’s throne. 5) Regency of Sima Jiong Became very arrogant and owned a mansion not associating with Hui. After Hui’s
grandsons Sima Zang and Sima Shang (司马尚) died in childhood, Sima Ying was recommended to succeed but Jiong
recommended Sima Qin (司马覃) , Hui’s nephew who was 7 and controllable. Prince Sima Yong , who still supported
Sima Lun worked with Sima Ai (Hui’s brother to defeat Sima Jiong. Sima Ai succeeded and became the new regent.
6)Regency of Sima Ai Only one loyal to Hui. Had trouble in Yi province against the Lis. Sima Yong who again wanted
control conspired again with Sima Ying to overthrow Sima Ai. Prince Sima Yue(relative of Hui) arrested Ai and brought
him to Sima Yong’s general Shang Fang captured Ai and burnt him to death. Sima Ying became regent. 7) Regency of
Sima Ying He desposed crown prince Qin, then made himself crown prince and deposed Empress Yang (for the first of
four times). He was arrogant and extravagant and the people were disappointed. Sima Yue decided to welcome back Qin
and Empress Yang and to attack him, but he lost. Then Sima Yong came and disposed Qin and Yang again. Wang Jun of
You Province 幽州,(Beijiing) rebelled and recruited Xianbei and Wuhuan forced. Ying sent Liu Yuan ( a siongnu ) to
request help from Xiongyu. Ying’s forces collapsed and Liu Yuan declared the Han Zhaos, claiming to be a descendant of
a Han princess who married a chan-yu. Li xiong from Chnegdu also declared himself independent of Jin establishing
Cheng Han. These are first two of 16 Kingdoms. Sima Ying and Hui returned defeated to Luoyang, 8) Regency of Sima
Yong but Sima Yong declared Sima Chi (a brother of Hui who was studious and humble) to be crown prince and used
Zhang Fang to move Hui forcively to Chang’an (Xi’an). Sima Yue declared another rebellion against Yong. Yong executed
Yong to promote peace between himself and Sima Yue. Then Sima Yue restored Emperor Hui and Empress Yang. Li
Xiong and Liu Yuan declared themselves emperors in 306. 9) Regency of Sima Yue and death Served as regent for
several months until for some reason Hui was poisoned by bread and died. 3) Huai2(keep in mind/cherish) Di 怀帝
Sima Chi4(flaming/ablaze) 司马炽 307-311 (Yongjia Era 永嘉 307-313) Emperor Huai of Jin, sim. ch. 晋怀帝 (284March 14, 313), personal name Sima Chi (司马炽), courtesy name Fengdu (丰度), was an emperor of the Jin
Dynasty (265-420). Captured in 311 by Liu Cong (ruler of the Xiongnu state of Han Zhao and son of Liu Yuan) and
executed. Was prince of Yuzhang and youngest of Emperor Wu and concubine Wang. Prince Chi studied history. He
accompanied Hui when Sima Yong took him to Chang’an. After the more ambitious Sima Ying was demoted back to
Prince of Chengdu by Sima Yong, Sima Chi became crown prince. Emperor Hui’s wife Yang Xianrong wanted Sima Qin
to be crown prince so she could be dowager but Sima Yue didn’t permit this. Sima Chi called her Empress Hui. Huai
created wife Liang Lanbi Empress. Huai was smart and tried to institute reforms but Sima Yue would not let him. He made
Sima Quan2(explain) (司马诠) crown prince( Sima Qin’s brother and son of his brother Sima Yan). Sima Yue abandoned
Luoyang leaving Huai defenseless. Huai used commander Xun2 Xi1(sob) (荀唏) force to coerce Sima Yue to fight but
Sima Yue died in anger. Shi2(rock) Le4(rein in) (石勒), an enemy (Hanzhao general)against Jin burned Smia Yue’s body
for the trouble he caused killed all his sons too. LATER, Huai became trapped at Luoyang where there was a famine and
bandits and where his officials wanted to stay was captured by Han Zhao generals in 311 and moved to Hanzhao capital
Pingyang where he became duke of Ping’a. When in Pingyang F. Jin officials Yu Min (庾玟) and Wang Juan (王隽) could
not were humiliated and cried outloud. Liu Cong, angry, falsely accused them of conspiring and killed them and poisoned
Huai. (p.196) 4) Min3(pity/sympathize) Di 愍帝 Sima Ye4(name of ancient district) 司马邺 313-317 (Jianxing Era 建兴
313-317) 晋愍帝 (300-February 7, 318), personal name Sima Ye (司马邺 or 司马业), courtesy name Yanqi (彦旗) He
surrendered to Liu Yao (a Xiongnu of Han Zhao state). In 318 he was executed by Liu Cong. He was son of Sima
Yan(son of first Emperor Wu). At age 13 he escaped to Zhengzhou Henan in 313 when Luoyang fell to Hanzhao. In 312
Ye and Jia Pi (贾疋) captured Chang’an but it was very weak. Liu Yao conquered Guanzhong and then Chang’an. He
made Min a marquis. Outer Jin forces wanted to capture Liu Can( Han Zhao’s crown prince) to exchange for Min. Upon
hearing this Liu Can asked that Min be executed and Liu Cong did that.
(197) Dong (E.) Jin Dynasty 317 AD - 420 AD (11)
1) Yuan2 Di 元帝 Sima Rui4(farsighted) 司马睿 317-322 (Jianwu Era 建武 317-318, Daxing Era 大兴 318-321,
Yongchang Era 永昌 321-322) Emperor Yuan of Jin Jin Yuandi (晋元帝) Temple name: Zhongzong (中宗) Held Jin
territory south of the Huai river. He was son of Sima Jin4(go on pilgrimage/present oneself before a monarch) (司马觐).
Sima Yue , who executed Sima Rui's uncle Sima Yao (司马繇), commissioned him as military commander of parts of
Yang Province (扬州 south Jiangsu). At this time Jianye’s name was changed to Jiankang (name changed for several
centuries). He created his son Sima Shao crown prince. Wang Dao served as his chief advisor. Dao’s cousin Wang Dun
was a general that helped Rui succeed. Dun gained power in the west and LATER Dun and Rui had a confrontation. Rui got ill in
323 and died. (200)2) Ming2 Di 明帝 Sima Shao4(carry on/continue) 司马绍 322-325 (Yongchang Era 永昌 322-323,
Taining Era 太宁 323-325) Emperor Ming of Jin (晋明帝/晋明帝, pinyin Jin Mingdi, Wade-Giles Chin Ming-ti) (299 ━
18 October , 325), personal name Sima Shao (司马绍), courtesy name Daoji1(territory around the capital) (道畿)
Oldest son of Rui by lady concubine Xun. The younger son (by Lady Xun) was Sima Pou2(collect) (司马裒) whom Rui
favored. Was an emperor of the E. Jin Dynasty (265-420). During his brief reign (323-325), he led the weakened Jin out of
domination by the warlord Wang Dun, but at his early death, the empire was left to his young son Emperor Cheng, and
the fragile balance of power that he created was soon broken, leading to the Su Jun Disturbance and weakening
the Jin state even further. He married Yu Wenjun. He studied literature and martial arts and was known for his filial piety.
Wangdun who disliked Ming, planned to attack Jiankang with a force headed by his brother Wang Han2(harbour in the
mouth) (王含) (Wang Ying’s real father). Wang Ying (王应) was the adopted son of Wan Dun who was to be his crown
prince after he took over Ming. Ming used strong N. Zhao forces and Wen Jiao’s (his trusted assistant) help to defeat him.
Dun died when he heard the news that he was defeated. Wang Dun's other brother Wang Shu1(stretch/leisurely) (王舒)
drowned Wang Han and Wang Ying when they were defeated and running away to show his loyalty to Ming. He ordered
officials Sima Yang (司马□) the Prince of Xiyang, Wang Dao, Bian Kun (卞□), Chi Jian (郗鉴), Lu Ye (陆□), Wen Jiao,
and Empress Yu's brother Yu Liang to keep a balance of power with his crown prince Yan. (202)3) Cheng2(become) Di
成帝 Sima Yan3(spread out/amplify/superfluous) 司马衍 325-342 (Taining Era 太宁 325, Xianhe Era 咸和 326-334,
Xiankang Era 咸康 335-342) Emperor Cheng of Jin 晋成帝/晋成帝 (321 - 26 July 342), personal name Sima Yan (司
马衍), courtesy name Shigen (世根) He was the eldest son of emperor Ming born by crown Princess Yu Wenjun.
During his reign, the administration was largely dominated by a succession of regents─initially his uncle Yu Liang, then
Wang Dao, then the joint administration of He Chong (何充) and another uncle Yu Bing (庾冰). He became emperor at
age four, and soon after his accession to the throne, the disastrous rebellion of Su Jun weakened Jin forces for decades.
He was strict and he alienated public opinion by falsely accusing Sima Yang's brother Sima Zong (司马宗) the Prince of
Nandun of treason and killing him and deposing Sima Yang. He was apprehensive of the generals Tao Kan and Zu
Yue1(arrange) (祖约). Yu Liang who was the first regent tried stripping Su Jun of his military powers(he hired many
criminals to join his forces) but Su instead attacked Jiangkang and captured Cheng and the Empress Dowager Yu, who
died soon from anxiety. The battle waged on between Su and anti Su forces, but the anti –Su prevailed. Cheng was
raised by Lady Xun. Then Wang Dao became regent who was lax in policy. In 336, Emperor Cheng married his wife
Empress Du Lingyang but she died in 341. Both of them were 15, Wang died in the fall of that year, and was succeeded
by his assistant He Chong (何充) and Yu Liang's younger brother Yu Bing (庾冰) as regent. In summer 342, Emperor
Cheng grew gravely illater He had two young sons -- Sima Pi and Sima Yi, then still in cradles, by his concubine Consort
Zhou. Yu Bing, fearful that the Yus would lose power if a young emperor were named, persuaded Emperor Cheng that in
the face of the powerful enemy LATER Zhao that an older emperor should be named. Emperor Cheng agreed and
designated his younger brother, Sima Yue the Prince of Langye be his heir, 4) Kang1(health) Di 康帝 Sima Yue4(high
mountain/wife's parents) 司马岳 342-344 (Jianyuan Era 建元 343-344) Emperor Kang of Jin 晋康帝/晋康帝 (322 ━
17 November 344), personal name Sima Yue (司马岳), courtesy name Shi4tong2 (世同), Younger brother of Cheng.
Son of Ming. Reigned only 2 years. He was the Prince of Langye. Chosen because he was older and could defend
against the LATER Zhao. In early 343, Emperor Kang created his wife Chu Suanzi empress. He grew ill and died. LATER
in 343, Emperor Kang's other uncle, Yu3(granary) Yi4(wing of a bird/airplane/assist a ruler) (庾翼), proposed a major
military campaign against LATER Zhao, in coordination with F. Yan's ruler Murong Huang and F. Liang's ruler Zhang Jun,
both nominal Jin vassals. Most officials feared this large undertaking, but with support from Yu Bing, Huan Wen (Emperor
Kang's brother-in-law, having married his sister Sima Xingnan (司马兴男) the Princess Nankang), and Sima Wuji (司马无
忌) the Prince of Qiao, Emperor Kang approved the plan and mobilized troops. Yu Bing was made a governor to
coordinate with Yu Yi, and He Chong was recalled to replace him, and served in conjunction with Emperor Kang's fatherin-law Chu3 Pou2(collect)(褚裒) (who, however, soon yielded his post). However, Yu Yi eventually, for reasons unknown,
largely did not carry out his campaign, although he made some border attacks. 5) Mu4(solemn) Di 穆帝 Emperor Mu of
Jin 晋穆帝 (343-July 10, 361) Si1ma3 Dan1(ears without rim) 司马聃 345-361 ( Yonghe Era 永和 345-356,
Shengping Era 升平 357-361) personal name Sima Dan (司马聃), courtesy name Peng2zi (彭子) The only son of
Kangdi (Sima Yue). Reigned for 17 years. It was during his reign that Jin's territory temporarily expanded to its greatest
extent since the fall of N. China to Han Zhao, as Huan Wen destroyed Cheng Han and added its territory to Jin's, and
LATER Zhao's collapse allowed Jin to regain most of the territory south of the Yellow River. In 345 after Yu Yi died, the
ambitious general Huan Wen took over probinces in the west (Yunnan, Sichuan, Hubei, Hunnan, and Guixhou). In 349
LATER Zhao switched its allegiance to Jin after its disarray of emperor Shi Hu dying and there was in-fighting between
the sons. Sima Yun (prime minister) and famous official Yin Hao sent Mu’s grandfather, Chu Pou and the general Sima
Xun1(meritorious) (司马勋) were both largely unsuccessfulater Mu became an emperor at age 13 and in late 357,
Emperor Mu married He Fani as his empress. 6) Ai1(grief/sorrow/pity) Di4 哀帝 Sima Pi(big/great) 司马丕 361-365
(Longhe Era 隆和 362-363, Xingning Era 兴宁 363-365 ) Emperor Ai of Jin 晋哀帝 (341-March 30, 365), personal
name Sima Pi (司马丕), courtesy name Qian1ling2(age/length of time) (千龄) he had an obsession with immortality,
which ironically resulted in his death, as he became poisoned by pills that were given him by magicians in 364 and
eventually died in 365. He was Emperor Cheng’s oldest son. Married wife Wang Muzhi who LATER became Empress. He
became emperor at age 20. He died in 365. F. Yan launched an attack against Luoyang and it fellater Ai refused Huan’s
request to move the capital to Luoyang. Ai had no sons. 7) Fei4(give up/waste/useless/disabled) Di 废帝, Sima
Yi4(radiating power and vitality) 司马奕 365-371 (Taihe Era 太和 365-371) Emperor Fei of Jin 晋废帝 (342-November
23, 386), personal name Sima Yi4 (司马奕), courtesy name Yan2ling2(age/length of time) (延龄) Younger brother(by
one year) of Emperor Ai (of the same mother). Became emperor by his aunt Empress Dowager Chu’s(Emperor Kang’s
wife) decree. Was an adult when emperor but had little power. Was LATER deposed by military leader Huan Wen. In
youth, Kang appointed him the Duke of Donghai and at this time he married the daughter of Yubing, Yu Daolian who
LATER became empress. After she died he had no LATER empresses. Huan, who was ambitious launched an attack
against F. Yan but not its capital Yecheng, then F. Murong Chui and F. Qin beat him back . He came back with goals to
usurp the throne by threatening Dowager Chu to issue a false edict saying he was gay impotent and his sons were not his
biological sons. Then Fei was reduced to Prince then Duke. Huan killed his consorts Tian and Meng and his 3 sons. He
then massacred the powerful Yin and Yu clans. Fei showed humility to Huan by indulging in drinking, music, and women,
and not nourishing and strangling every son he had. His wife, Yu Daolian (Yubing’s daughter), was reburied together with
him. (211)8) Jian3(simple)wen2(character) Di 简文帝 Sima Yu4(sunshine) 司马昱 371-372 (Xianan Era 咸安 371-372)
Emperor Jianwen of Jin 晋简文帝 (320-September 12, 372), personal name Sima Yu (司马昱), courtesy name
Dao4(path)wan4(very great/absolutely) (道万) Granduncle of Fei, younger brother of Emperor Ming. Installed by Huan
Wen. He was weak-willed by had strong survival skills and talked much about Taoism and other related philosophies. He
was youngest son of Emperor Yuan by his favorite concubine Consort Zheng4 A1chun1(vitality) (郑阿春). When young
Yuan appointed him as Prince of Langye like Yuan was before. Sima Yu's heir apparent Sima Dao4(path)sheng1(born) (
司马道生), who was described as careless and frivolous, was accused of unspecified crimes, and he was deposed and
imprisoned where he died. Sima Yu's wife and Sima Daosheng's mother, Princess Wang Jian3(simple)ji1(women) (王简姬
), also died in distress. His other sons, one by Princess Wang and three by various concubines, died early, and he was
left without an heir, and his concubines were not conceiving any more. He hired a magician to choose a girl that could
bear him an heir and no concubine was found but then he saw a dark-skinned maid who was working with textiles, who
was nicknamed Malay, named Li Lingrong yelling, "She is the one!" Sima Yu t took her as a concubine, and she bore him
two sons -- Sima Yao in 352 and Sima Daozi in 353. Sima Yao was subsequently named heir apparent. In 371 when
Huan usurped the throne by falsely accusing Fei of being gay, impotent and having no biological sons, he replaced him
with Sima Yu. Sima Yu accepted it with fear knowing he had no choice. Huan, jealous of Yu’s brother Sima Xi1(sob) (司马
唏) who had military power, was requested by Huan to be removed. But when LATER asked to be executed, Yu refused.
After this Yu offered to yield the throne to Huan several times but Huan refused thinking it would be a trap. Huan died in
373 at the end of Yu’s reign. (214)9) Xiao4(filial/mourning)wu3 (valiant/swordplay/fierce/military) Di 孝武帝 Sima
Yao4(sunshine/”born at birth”) Era 司马曜 372-396 (Ningkang Era 宁康 373-375, Taiyuan Era 太元 376-396)
Emperor Xiaowu of Jin 晋孝武帝 (362━396), personal name Sima Yao (司马曜), courtesy name Chang1ming2
(flourinshing /thriving) (昌明) At this time he saw the Jin survive a major attempt by F. Qin to destroy it. He was the last
emperor t exercise power. But, he was killed by his consort Zhang after he insulted her. She bribed the eunuchs with wine
to go away and ordered her servant girls to suffocate him. Noone suspected the crown prince who was mentally disabled.
Huan Chong succeeded Huan Wen. Dowager Chu, Xie An and WangTanzhi acted as regents. In 375 Yao married Wang
Fahui, the daughter of the official Wang Yun4(accumulate) (王蕴), as his empress. He was 13 and she was 16. She died
in 380 and Yao would never again have an empress. He studied Chinese classic texts and poetry. F. Liang (a Jin vassal)
was conquered by F. Qin even with Jin’s help by Huan Ching. Jin moved south of Huai River. In 381 he began to study
budhist sutras. F. Qin suffered defeat at Battle of Fei River (Emperor Fujian’s brother and Prime minister Fu rong died).
When prime minister Xie Xuan died in 385, Sima Daozi replaced him. He feasted and drinked with Sima Daozi. He made
oldest 5yr. old son Sima Dezong crown prince who was disabled (couldn’t talk, walk, dress himself or tell if hungry). He
created his mother consort Li Lingrong Dowager Li, who stopped the feud between him and Daozi. He was a drinker,
eater and womanizer LATER in life. (216)10) An1(peace/harbour/install) Di 安帝 Sima
De2(virtue)zong1(section/purpose) 司马德宗 396-418 (Longan Era 隆安 397-401, Yuanxing Era 元兴 402-404, Yixi
Era 义熙 405-418) Emperor An of Jin 晋安帝 (382-419) He was the oldest son of emperor Xiaowu born of Consort Chen
Guinu.. He was unable to speak, cloth himself, or be able to express whether he was hungry or fullater Sima Daozi the
Prince of Kuaiji took controlater Various governors ravaged the land at this time. In 403 the Jin regime was usurped by
warlord Huan Xuan. Warlord Liu Yu had the actual power in the north. Lu Xun, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi
rebelled and threatened Jiankang before Liu Yu could stop it. Liu Yu strangled Dezong and replaced him with his brother
Gong. LATER Liu Yu took the throne creating the LS Dynasty. Daozi, as the regent, was always dunk and trusted Wang
Guobao (王国宝) and Wang Xu4(order/task/emotional state) (王绪) because of their flattery. Daozi executed them LATER
for almost starting a rebellion with NW governor Wang Gong1 (王恭). After this he trusted noone but his teenage heir
Sima Yuanxian. Used Huan Xiu(桓修), Huan Xuan’s cousin to cause the generals of Yin to dissent. Sima Yuanxian got his
father drunk and used this time to have emperor An issue an edict making himself regent. Yuanxian had unrealistic
ambitions of conquering provincial governors opposed to his rule. He lived luxuriously and arrogantly.Then Sima En,
nephew of Sun Tai ,a magician accused of conspiracy whom Yuanxian betrayed ,attacked Yang province putting it to
waste from Zhoushan, the only province under Jin control then advanced to Jiankang. Liu Laozhi, who was distrustful of
Yuanxian, put down the rebellion. Huan Xuan, gaining in power after defeating Yin Zhongkan and Yang Quanqi, was
declared a renegade by Yuanxian. When Huan advanced to Jiankang he had Liu Laozhi turn against Yuanxian. Huan
executed Yuanxian, exiled and killed Sima Daozi and stripped Liu of his command after which he killed himself. Huan
Xuan as regent at first instituted reform, but then after lived luxuriantly and made laws at whim. Sun En’s brother, Lu2
Xun2 (follow, abide by) (卢循), succeeded En after En killed himself after battle loss in 402. After Huan had An give 9
bestowments and write an edict making Huan Emperor, his general Liu Yu started an uprising and came to Jiankang in a
few days. Huan Xuan fled with An and his brother Sima Dewen to Jingzhou Hubei where he was killed, but his nephew
Huan Zhen captured An again but was attacked so then he fled, then Liu Yu had him return to Jiankang Liu Yu Very
cautious as regent at first. Maoqu’s forces rebelled (after attacking Huan Xuan and Huan Zhen) and killed him supporting
Qiao Zong who established W. Shu in Chengdu, Sichuan. Liu Yu sent general Liu Jingxuan (刘敬宣, Liu Laozhi's son) but
he was stopped by Qiao Daofu (谯道福) and Jingxuan retreated. Lu Xun and XiaoDaofu of Guangdong and Guangxi
attacked Jingkang while Liu Yu was defeating S. Yan at Guanggu. Xun defeated two forces sent by Liu Yi.
Lu, who was scared of Liu’s return escaped to Jiujiang, Jiangxi after not wanting to risk attacking Jiankang. Then Liu Yu
attacked Panyu. They were defeated at Panyu where Lu fled to the N. Vietnam province Jiao (交州) where he was
defeated again by governor Du4(birch/prevent) Hui4(intelligent)du4(degree) (杜慧度) then killed his wife and concubines
and jumped into a river. Liu Yu ambitious after Lu Xun’s demise removed officials in his way to the throne. Out of
suspicion he killed Liu Yi. Liu Yu beat Qiao Zong (W. Shu) in Chengdu taking a long route led by general Zhu
Ling2(years)shi (朱龄石). After suspecting Liu Yi's replacement as the governor of Jing Province, Sima Xiuzhi (司马休之),
who was a member of the imperial clan, he ordered him to kill his son Sima Wensi (司马文思) but was thwarted by him
begging only to strip his title. Then Liu forced suicide to his other son Sima Wenbao (司马文宝), and Sima Xiuzhi's
nephew Sima Wenzu (司马文祖). Then he beat Xiuzhi and Lu Zongzhi (鲁宗之) the governor of Yong Province (雍州, then
modern northW. Hubei) at Jiangling and they fled to LATER Qin. Then Liu captured Luoyang with general
Tan2(wingceltis) Daoji4(cross a river, aid) (檀道济) after which he had An give him the 9 bestowments. Liu Yu's fleet,
commanded by Wang Zhen'e (王镇恶, Wang Meng's grandson), advanced quickly, while Yao Hong(emperor of Qin) tried
to first destroy Liu Yu's flank forces, commanded by Shen Linzi's brother Shen Tianzi but after his huge force was
conquered then he fleed to Chang’an which was conquered too. After this Xia, W. Qin, N. Liang and W. Liang. W. Qin's
prince Qifu Chipan, N. Liang's prince Juqu Mengxun, and W. Liang's prince Li Gao were scared and submitted to Jin's
authority. But Liu returned to Jiankang to take the throne and Xia's emperor Helian Bobo sieged Chang’an with only Liu
Yu’s 11 yr. old son Liu Yizhen trapped inside after Wang Zhen’e, Shen Tianzi, and Wang Xiu killed eachother. Liu sent
Zhu Lingshi to replace Yizhen and have troops withdraw but they couldn’t and saw were crushed and Xia took Chang’an.
Liu, convinced that “there will be two more after Changming” tried to poison An many times but An’s brother Sima Dewen
protected him, but when Dewen stayed home when ill one time, Liu’s assassin Wang Shao2(splendid)zhi (王韶之)
strangled him. (222)11) Gong1(respectful/reverent) Di 恭帝 Sima De2(virtuous)wen2 司马德文 419-420 (Yuanxi Era
元熙 419-420) Emperor Gong of Jin 晋恭帝 386-421 Was last emperor of the E. Jin Dynasty (265-420) in China. He was
controlled by Liu Yu. Dewen yielded the throne to him. Liu founded LS. Dewen married Chu Lingyuan who LATER
became empress. He had two daughters by her, Sima Maoying and Fuyang. Dewen pleaded with Haun Zhen (Huan
Xuan’s nephew) to not kill An when Huan Zhen held them prisoner because Zhen believed it was the rebels who killed
Huan Sheng1(桓升), Huan Xuan’s son. When Li Yu was conquering LATER Qin, Dewen asked to go on a mission to
restore the Jin emperor tombs of Luoyang. Dewen abdicated after Liu Yu sent assistant Fu liang to pressure him. After,
Liu Yu made him a prince of lingling and built him a palace close to Jiankang. Liu Yu, fearing Dewen sent Dewen’s F.
attendant Zhang Wei3(big, great) (张伟) to give him a bottle of poisoned wine which he himself drank. Liu Yu ordered
Princess Chu's brothers Chu Xiuzhi (褚秀之) and Chu Danzhi (褚淡之) to poison any male children that Princess Chu or
Sima Dewen's concubines would bear. LATER, Dewen and his wife Chu lived in fear and then Liu sent Chu’s brothers
Chu Danzhi and Chu Shudu (褚叔度)to make Dewen with some soldiers to poison himself but he refused saying it is
against Buddhist scriptures to kill oneself so they asphyxiated him, in a different house.
Sixteen Kingdoms Period
1) Han Zhao Empire 304-329 AD (addressed separately in traditional texts as Han Empire and F. Zhao Empire)
Han Empire 304-318(4)
1) Gao1 Zu3 高祖 Guang1 Wen2 Di4 光文帝Liu2 Yuan1(deep pool) 刘渊 304-310 (died 310), courtesy name Yuanhai
(元海), formally Emperor Guangwen of Han (Zhao) (汉(赵)光文帝) Was an ancestor of chanyu descent from a Han
princess and Modu Shanyu(the first Xiongnu to marry a Han). He was brought to Luoyang to study Chinese literature
became popular with Wang Hun王浑 (Jin official who defeated Wu) and made commander of the left tribe. After Sima
Ying sent him to gather forces to help at Luoyang from fear of Wang Jun 王浚 and he gathered 50,000 men and returned
to find Sima Ying moved, then he declared the HanZhao state and set up base at Puyi/Pingyang(linfen, shanxi) where he
attacked Luoyang 2 times unsuccessfully using generals Wang Mi and Shi le. He died having Liu He as Crown Prince. He
created second wife Lady Dan Empress.
2) Liang2(roof beam/edge) Wang2 梁王 Liu He |刘和 7 days in 310 Son by first wife of Liu Yuan Empress Huyan. Liu
Yuan assigned troops to Liu He’s 4 brothers, Liu Yu (刘裕) the Prince of Qi, Liu Long (刘隆) the Prince of Lu, and Liu Ai (
刘刈) the Prince of Beihai with substantial troops at the capital, in addition to the large army that another son, Liu Cong
the Prince of Chu had, He was studious, suspicious and miserly and used Liu He's uncle Hu1yan2(prolong)
You1(distant/far) (呼延攸), Liu Cheng2(ride) (刘乘) -- who had prior grudges with Liu Cong─and Liu Rui4(sharp) (刘锐)
the Prince of Xichang to attack his 4 brothers but Tian Mi (田密) and Liu Gui (刘璇) let Liu Ai escape and warn Liu Cong
who then sieged the palace and killed Liu He, Liu Cheng, Liu Rui, and Huyan 3) Lie4(strong/intense) Zong1 烈宗
Zhao1(clear) Wu3 Di 昭武帝 Liu Cong1(acute hearing) 刘聪 310-318 (died 318), courtesy name Xuan2men2 (玄门),
nickname Zai carry/put in writing) (载), formally Emperor Zhao1wu3 of Han (Zhao) A reasonable man but who
became more and more cruel, unstable, extravagant and unable to listen to advice. Controlled S. Shanxi, Shaanxi, E.
Gansu, and much of Shandong, Hebei, and Henan, but Shi Le controlled the East. Cong had a victory over Wang Kuang (
王旷) in Shanxi then tried to capture Luoyang but lost because he was tricked that Huan Yan (桓延) would surrender.He
again with Wang Mi (王弥) besieged Luoyang but was recalled back after Sima Yue made surpeise attacks from inside
the city. He created brother Liu Ai crown prince. Liu did endogamy with daughters of official Liu Yin. Liu captured and
burned Luoyang taking Emperor Huai to Pingyang and making him Duke of Kuiaiji and gave him a concubine to make
duchess. Liu Cong defeated N. and central Shanxi Jin governor Liu Kun1(jade) (刘琨) in Taiyuan, Shanxi but it was
recaptured with assistance from Xianbei chief Tuoba Yilu Duke of Dai. The N. Jin never posed a threat again however to
Han Zhao. LATER Shi Le did defeat Liu Kun. Liu Cong exectuted Huai at a feast when the Jin officials cried. Then Cong
accused falsely the Jin officials of collaborating with Liu Kun. He made 3 empresses from daughter of general
Jin4(stingy)(靳) Zhun Jin Yueguang as Upper Empress, Jin Yuehua as Right Empress, and Consort Liu (might have been
Liu Yin's granddaughter) Left Empress. Had 3 corrupt eunuchs govern Wang Chen (王沈), Xuan Huai (宣怀), and the
servant Guo Yi (郭猗) and Jin Zhun. Liu Cong’s nephew in 316 Li Yao captured Chang’an sending the emperor to
Pingyang making him the Marquis of Huai’an ending W. Jin. When Cong made Liu Can(Cong’s son by empress Huyan)
prime minister Liu Ai’s assistants tried to plot to overthrow Liu Cong. Ai was not part of the plot but Cong heard of it and
put Ai under house arrest. LATER Jin Zhun and Guo Yi, hating Ai, falsely showed Can that Ai planned to overthrow Cong
so Can LATER tricked AI into thinking Pingyang was under attack and preparing for war then telling Cong he was going to
attack him. Then Ai’s 15000 soldiers were massacred. Ai was deposed then executed by Jin. At Liu Can’s crowning
banquet the last W. Jin emperor served as butler and the Jin officials cried.Li Cong executed Sima Ye after Liu Can told
him about the plan to capture Liu Can as barter for Sima Ye. Cong’s son Liu Kang (刘康) the Prince of Kuaiji died in an
imperial hall fire and Cong was grieved became sick and died after that. Liu Can became emperor but was murdered by
Jin Zhun then Liu Yao and Shi Le defeated Jin and Liu Yao became emperor, but Shi Le and Liu Yao split ways forming
two empires Han and LATER Zhao. 4) Yin3(hidden) Di4 隐帝 Liu2 Can4(bright/bearing/smile)刘粲 a month and days
in 318, Liu Can (刘粲) (died 318), courtesy name Shi4guang1(bright, naked) (士光) , Posthumous name (as given
by Jin Zhun) Emperor Yin of Han (Zhao) (汉(赵)隐帝)After becoming Prime minister he was described to have become
arrogant and abusive of his powers. He became close to flatterers, not willing to listen to honest advice, unkind, and busy
with construction of palaces. In 316 general Jin Zhun and Guo Yi falsely convinced Ai and Liu Can’s brothers Liu
Fu1(apply (刘敷) and Liu Mai4(put forth effort) (刘劢) plotted to kill Liu Cong. Ai and his 15000 troops died. In 318 Liu Can
became emperor. He created his wife, Crown Princess Jin, empress, and his son Liu Yuangong (刘元公) crown prince.
Can had affairs with his father’s 4 empresses Jin Zhun's daughter Jin Yuehua (靳月华) and Empresses Fan, Xuan, and
Wang and let Jin control state affairs. At Jin's suggestion, he arrested and executed his brothers Liu Ji4(thorough bred
horse) (刘骥), Liu Cheng3(flaunt, show off, succeed in a scheme) (刘逞), Liu Mai, along with key officials Liu Jing (刘景)
and Liu Yi (刘□)and he also attacked Shi Le’s domain. Then after this Jin started a coup and killed Liu Can and the
imperial Liu clan.
[2] Qian (F.) Zhao Empire 318-329(1)
1) Hou4 Zhu3 后主 Liu2 Yao4(sunlight,shine,illuminate) 刘曜 318-329 (died 329), courtesy name Yong3ming2 (永明
) He was son of Liu Lu (刘绿) who died early, and he was raised by Liu Lu's cousin Liu Yuan. He was known for his great
archery skills and readings of war books. Liu Yao’s son compared him to Guangwu of Han and CaoCao saying Le Yi of
Warring States, Xiao He prime minister of Han and Han general Cao Can 曹参 are beneath him. Yao banished himself to
Pyongyang Korea after commiting an act punishable by death then lived in the mtns. Then Liu Yuan recruited him. He
was successful against Jin, but was repelled twice aginst Luoyang. He took Emperor Huai's sister-in-law, the deceased
Emperor Hui's wife, Yang Xianrong, as his own wife after defeating LuoYang. Yao suffered a great injury while attacking N.
Shanxi (Bing province) and the general Fu Hu (傅虎) sacrificed himself giving him his horse. He captured Chang’an and
W. JinEmperor Min. Liu Yao lost his mother Lady Hu, brother, and (he thought at the time) his son and heir Liu Yin in the
massacre pf the Liu Clan when Jin Zhun killed Liu Can. Afterwards Liu Yao worked together with Shi Le to overthrow Jin.
Then the people chose Yao to be emperor. But Yao spared him until after he was assassinated then after his son Jin Ming
took over Yao killed the whole Jin clan. Yao moved the capital to Chang;an because Pingyang was in ruins.Yao was
brilliant at governing too, but was quick to anger and developed alcoholism. After slaughtering a delegation sent to
Chang’an by Shi le when a young official showed a report that Shi was plotting an attack, Shi declared he would break
from F. Zhao. Yao made Yang empress (making her first to be empress of two empires) Yao created Liu Xi crown prince
and changed the name from HanZhao to Zhao. Liu Yao's impulsiveness led to a major Di and Qiang rebellion in 320. He
killed 50 Di chiefs after hearing of a conspiracy which then caused them to declare an independent Qin state in Gansu.
Chen An (陈安), a general of Yao’s and formal subordinate of Sima Bao’s, thinking Liu Yao dead due to his communicable
disease, decared himself Prince of Liang. Yao defeated and killed him then went west in Gansu to attack the F. Liang
state (Zhang Mao who was a Jin vassal). Liu Yin (a slave in Heiniyuju ally to Chen) waited until Chen defeated to return to
Zhao. Yiin was the oldest but with his consent Yao kept Liu Xi as crown prince. First battle between Zhao and LATER
Zhao occurred at Xin'an 新安(modern Luoyang) in 324. Yao engaged in anoher battle with Luoyang where he lost general
Liu Yue (刘岳) tp LATER Zhao’s Shi Hu. . Zhang Jun, Zhang Mao's nephew and successor as the head of F. Liang,
declared himself again a Jin vassal and pillaged Han Zhao's Qin Province but Yao snet Liu Yin to stop him east of the
Yellow river. Yao beat Shi HU then surrounded Luoyang, but because of too much weight (drinking too much) his horse
fell and he was captured. Shi Le took him and was nice to him, brought him women and asked him to write a letter to Liu
Xi and Liu Yin to surrender but after Liu wrote they should carry on, Shi Le found it and was angry and executed him then
LATER Liu Yin and Liu Xi, ending the F. Zhao.
[3] Hou (LATER) Zhao Empire 319 - 351(7)
1) Gao1 Zu3 高祖 Ming2 Di4 明帝 Shi2 Le4(rein in/coerce) 石勒 319-333 (274-333), courtesy name
Shi4(generation)long2 (世龙), formally Emperor Ming of (LATER) Zhao ((后)赵明帝) First sold by the Han as a slave
then started a rebellion, then worked for the Han Zhao.He was cruel but brilliant. He LATER broke from Han Zhao to form
LATER Zhao. He gave his nephew Shi Hu too much power who was more ambitious and more vicious, taking power from
his son Shi Hong. Born in the Jie tribes of Shanxi in a famine where the Jin sold him as a slave.He befriended Ji Sang (汲
桑)a general of Sima Ying of Chengdu and helped Gongsun rebel against Sima Yong who took power. Gongsun Fan (公
孙藩) died and Ji became leader of the rebellion, but Ying was forced to suicide after going with emperor Hui to Luoyang.
They did capture Yecheng in 307 and killed Sima Teng (司马腾) but were defeated in winter. Ji changed his name from
Fu2le (匐勒) to Shi Le. Then Shi joined Liu Yuan of Han Zhao. Was first a pillaging band not holding territory. Intercepted
and defeated large Jin force at Zhoukou, Henan using cavalry who were having funeral train for Sima Yue and killed many
Jin princes on way to Linli Shandong. Then captured Luoyang together with Huyan Yan4(ease and comfort) 呼延晏),
WangMi2(overflowing) 王弥) and Liu Yao. LATER captured Jin general Gou3(careless)Xi1(sob) (苟唏). He assassinated
HanZhao general Wang. He went south of the S. Yangtze to capture Jianye held by Sima Rui, but was caught in the rain
and followed Zhang Bin’s advice to capture Xiang1guo (襄国, in modern Xintai, Hebei) and fortify it when fearful of a Jin
attack. Wang Jun4(dredge) (王浚) (Jin governor) together with Xianbei Duan chief Duan Jilujuan (段疾陆眷) assaulted
Xiangguo, but Shi’s general Kong Chang (孔苌) made a surprise attack capturing Duan Jilujuan's cousin Duan Mopei (段
末□), but Shi treatied him nicely. Shi, fearful of Wang becoming emperor tricked him by offering the throne then surprise
attacking him at his headquarters executing him at Ji 蓟县You province (Beijing). But loyal to the Jin Duan chief Duan Pidi
(段匹□) controlled You. Defeated Liu Kun of Bing provinve (n. shanxi). After Liu Can and Liu clan was killed by Ji zhun, Ji
was assassinated and cousin Jin Ming (靳明) succeeded but he abandoned Pingyang and surendedered to Liu Yao. Shi
was loyal to Yao, but after Yao being suspicious of Shi killed Shi’s lead delegate, Shi declared independence, Then Shi
defeated Duan Pidi of You province. Duan fleed to Ji province of Jin governor Shao Xu (邵续) (central) Hebei. Shi Hu and
Kong Chang captured Shao and Duan. Shi continued to fight Zu Ti4(far) Jin governor of Yu豫州, E.Henan and NWAnhui.
Captured Jin land between Yellow and Huai rivers. In 323, Shi Hu attacked Cao Ni (曹嶷)a general vacillating between Jin
and Han Zhao. In 324 Han Zhao and LATER Zhao fought for a long time. Sh iHu defeated Han Zhao general Liu Yue (刘
岳) seizing Luoyang. After Liu Yao captured in Luoyang and executed, Liu Xi abandoned Chang’an and went to Shanggui
上□ in Tianshui, Gansu with brother Liu Yin. Liu Yi tried to regain Chang’an but Shi Hu defeated him then went to
Shanggui to kill Liu Xi, Liu Yin and others ending Han Zhao. Han Zhao lands became LATER Zhao lands. Shi Le made
Shi Hong crown prince and another Shi Hong Grand Chanyu(leader of 5 tribes) but this made Shi Hu angry and he killed
all of Shi Le’s descendants(including Le’ wife). Made his wife Liu Princess then empress. Shi Le died from illness then Shi
Hu immediately led his coup. 2) Hai3Yang2Wang2 海阳王 Shi2Hong2(magnificent) 石弘 333-334 (313-334), courtesy
name Daya3(standard/correct/friendship) (大雅) became prince of Hai Yang (海阳王) after Shi Hu deposed him. He
was Shi Le’s second son from Cheng after ShiXing died石兴). He was know for his literary studies and kindness. Shi
Hong offered the throne to Shi Hu after the coup but Shi Hu refused. Shi Le's wife Empress Dowager Liu conspired with
Shi Le's adopted son Shi Kan (石堪to start a rebellion against Shi Hu, but Shi Kan and Liu was defeated and executed
cruelly by burning. Shi Hu also subsequently defeated the efforts by Shi Sheng (石生) the Prince of Hedong, Shi Lang (石
朗), and Guo Quan (郭权) to overthrow him. Shi Hong, his mother Empress Dowager Cheng, and his brothers Shi Hong (
石宏, and Shi Hui (石恢) were executed. 3) Wu3 Di 武帝 Shi Hu 石虎 334-349 courtesy name
Ji4(season)long2(dragon/imperial) (季龙) He ruled the empire with a heavy hand, imposing heavy tax and labor
burdens and spending much on constructing palaces and collecting concubines. His laws were cruel, and he applied them
in a harsh manner, even killing two of his crown princes when they crossed him. While he was alive, his empire remained
intact, but as soon as he died, his sons and adopted grandson Ran Min engaged in an internectine war that destroyed
both the empire and the Jie people. A cousin but raised by same father of Shi Le Zhouhezhu (周曷朱). Shi Hu’s names
were given by Shi Le. Shi Hu enjoyed hunting and hitting people with a sling shot. The whole army feared him. He was so
cruel and brave. He executed oficers for disagreeing, and killed two ex wives. 313 - Shi Hu defeated Liu Kun's son Liu
Yan (刘演), who was then in control of the important city Yechen and he lived in it (3 towers CaoCao had built). Beaten
back by Zu Ti (祖逖 south of Yellow river. 320 - Shi Hu captured Shao Xu (邵续), the Jin governor of Ji Province (冀州)
321 - Shi Hu captured Duan Pidi (段匹□)(governor of You Province (幽) and brother Duan Wenyuan (段文鸳), the Jin.
322 - Shi Hu captured the general Xu Kan (徐龛), 323 - Shi Hu captured the general Cao2 Ni2(mountain in Henan) (曹嶷)
Cao's capital Guanggu (广固 (shandong) where he slaughtered all but 700 people for Liu Zheng (刘征) to govern. In 325
Shi Hu defeated and captured the Han Zhao general Liu Yue (刘岳) and Wang Teng (王腾)(defector from LATER Zhao to
Hanzhao)of Hanzhao. In 328 - Shi Hu attacked Han Zhao, but was defeated by Liu Yao, whence Liu Yao personally came
to defeat Liu Yao in 329. When Liu Yin tried to recapture Chang'an. Shi Hu defeated him, forcing him to flee back to
Shanggui, and then advanced on Shanggui, capturing it and killing Liu Xi and Liu Yin, ending Han Zhao. Cheng Xia (程遐)
uncle of Shi Hong, urged Shi Le to take away the 3 towers, then Shi Hu’s bandits raped and robbed Cheng Xia’s clothing.
Shi Le let Shi Hong and Yan Zhen (严震) make decisions that Shi Hu made before and this angered Shi Hu. After Shi Hu
took throne and killed Cheng and Shu, then killed Dowager Liu and burned Shi Kan for plotting against him. In winter 333,
Shi Sheng (石生) the Prince of Hedong, in defense of Chang'an, and Shi Lang, in defense of Luoyang, declared a
rebellion against Shi Hu and sought assistance from Jin. When Sh Hu’s son Shi Ting (石挺) fought against Chang’an he
was killed. Shi Hu easily killed them and Pu Hong (蒲洪) the Di chief who sought assistance from F. Liang. In 335, Shi Hu
moved the capital from Xiangguo to Yecheng. Shi Hu was a Buddhist at first wanting no commoners to be Buddhists to
escape taxes then advocating freedom of religion. He built 9 palaces made of gold, ivory, pearls,silver and jade in 336
burdening people greatly, In 337, Shi Hu claimed the title Heavenly Prince (Tian Wang), and he created his wife Zheng
Yingtao empress and his son Shi Sui (石邃) crown prince and killed previous crown prince. Shi Sui was more cruelater He
had a woman dress well then beheaded her and ate her body. Shi Hu whipped him and LATER executed him and his wife
Zhang and their 26 children when he refused to apologize for his conspiracy to assassinate him. Shi Hu bured them all in
one huge coffin. Then he made Shi Xuan (石宣) as crown prince and his mother Du Zhu as empress. His brother Shi Tao
fought with him. Shi Xuan assassinated Shi Tao for building a palace using his name 宣光殿 and also planned to
assassinate Shi Hu. Shi Hu then executed him cruelly (pulled out hair and tongue, cut hands and feet, slice abdomen,
then burn). He had Shi Xuan’s wife, concubines,sons, and subordinates executed. Then he made youngest son Shi Shi (
石世) crown prince, and his mother Consort Liu the youngest daughter of the Han Zhao emperor Liu Yao, empress. Then
Shi Hu Allied with F. Yan’s Murong Huang to attack Xianbei Duan and wiped out the Duan then turned and attacked F.
Yan but Murong Huang’s son Murong Ke beat them. Counterattacked Jin’s Yu liang plan to attack LATER Zhao. Failed in
alliance with ChengHan’s Li Shou against Jin. In 342 he built more and conscripted to attack F. Yan, F. Liang and Jin, but
people became corrupt as a result. Wanted sons Shi Bin and Shi Zun to be regents but Shi Bin was put to death and Shi
Zun exiled to Guanzhong by Empress Liu and Zhang Chai(jackal) (张豺). After Shi Shi took throne, Shi Zun deposed him.
Then Shi Jian (another son of Shi Hu) fell to Shi Min who killed Shi Jian, most of the Jie and Xiongnu people and changed
his name to Ran3(slowly) (冉) and usurped the throne. Then Shi Zhi came to reestablish LATER Zhao but died quickly
and that would end LATER Zhao. 4) Qiao2(drum tower) Wang 谯王 Shi2 Shi4 石世 73 days in 349 (339-349)Known as
Prince of Qiao (谯王) after removal as emperor. He was youngest son by Shi Hu’s 3rd empress Liu(daughter of Liu Yao).
Chosen because Shi Hu’s official Zhang Chai2(jackal) (张豺) convinced him to choose a son not from low birth. Empress
Liu and Zhang planned to control government after Shi Hu’s death. Shi Zun returned with some generals and killed Zhang
and detained Liu and ShiShi. He forged an edict from Dowager Liu making deposing ShiShi and making him emperor then
made Shishi a prince of Qiao and Liu a Princess of Qiao then executed them both. ShiShi died at age 105) Peng2
Cheng2(city) Wang 彭城王 Shi Zun1(abide/follow) 石遵 183 days in 349 (died 349) Second of 4 short-lived emperors
after Shi Hu. Known as Prince of Pengcheng (彭城王) before being emperor. He was second son of Zheng Yingtao who
bore Shi Sui (石邃) first rebel son of Shi Hu. Official Zhang Ju3(elect) (张举) told Shi Hu he could choose Shi Zun who had
literary abilities and virtues or Shi Bin (石斌 who knew military strategies but he chose ShShi. Liu and Zhang Chai gave
Zun honored titles to appease him, but he allied with the generals Yao Yizhong (姚弋仲), Pu Hong (蒲洪), Liu Ning (刘宁),
Shi Min the Duke of Wuxing, and Wang Luan (王鸾), none of whom was particularly happy about Shi Shi's selection,
marched to the capital Yecheng 邺城 (Handan, Hebei), capturing it easily and killing Zhang Chai. He created his wife
Princess Zhang empress. Further, he created Shi Bin's son Shi Yan (石衍) crown prince, disappointing Shi Min, his
adoptive nephew, whom he had promised to make crown prince. Despite his disappointment, Shi Min subsequently led
Shi Zun's forces in defeating and killing Shi Zun's brother Shi Chong (石冲) the Prince of Pei, who had declared Shi Zun a
renegade for having murdered the rightful heir Shi Shi. Shi Min was denied greater power after he killing Shi Shi’s and Shi
Chong’s forces. Shi Zun asked Dowager Zheng and some officials to execute Shi Min but Zheng refused. Shi Jian (a
prince) informed Shi Min of this s Min sent a force and killed Shi Zun, Zheng, empress Zhang and crown prince Yan and
others then installed Shi Jian as emperor.Meanwhile F. Yan and Jin were planning invasions against LATER Zhao. 6)
Yi4(righteousness) Yang2 Wang (义阳王 ) Shi Jian4(mirror/scrutinize/warning) 石鉴 103 days 349-350 (died
350)Third after Shi Hu. Refererred to as Prince of Yiyang (义阳王). In 333 he was Prince Dai. In 337 he was Duke of
Yiyang and in 342 he was the commander of the Guanzhong region, and he imposed heavy taxes and labor burdens; he
forced officials with long hair to pull out their hair to be made into hat decorations. After his secretary gave Shi Hu the hair
recalled him and replaced him with his brother Shi Bao (石苞). Shi Jian and Shi Zun were promoted to high positions after
ShiShi was killed. Then Shi Zun took the throne, then Shi Jian plotted with Shi Min to overthrow Zun. But power was in
Shi Min's and his ally Li Nong (李农)'s hands. He sent brother Shi Bao and the generals Li Song (李松) and Zhang Cai (张
才) against Shi Min, but after they were defeated, Shi Jian pretended as if they acted independently and executed them
allater His brother, Shi Zhi the Prince of Xinxing, then rose in the old capital Xiangguo 襄国, Xintai, Hebei), in alliance with
the Qiang chieftain Yao Yizhong (姚弋仲) and the Di chieftain Pu Hong (蒲洪) against Shi Min and Li Nong. Shi Jian tried
to then have the general Sun Fudu (孙伏都), a fellow Jie, attack Shi Min, but Shi Min quickly defeated him, and Shi Jian,
trying to absolve himself, then ordered Shi Min to execute Sun. Shi Min, however, began to realize that Shi Jian was
behind Sun's attack, and he decided that he needed to disarm the Jie, who knew that he was not Jie but ethnically Han.
He ordered that all non-Han not be allowed to carry arms, and most fled Yecheng. Sun Min put Jian under house arrest.
Min issued an order that if a Han killed a non-Han he would be rewarded so 200,000 non-Han died and some Han (a high
nose-structure and full beard was thought as non-Han) Shi Jian changed the name of the state from Zhao to Wei (卫) and
the family name of the imperial clan from Shi to Li (李). Many key officials fled to Shi Zhi. In a final attempt Jian ordered
Zhang Shen (张沈) to attack the capital while Min left, but Jian’s eunuchs reported it to Min who returned and executed
Jian and 28 grandsons of Shi Hu and the Shi clan. Shi Min, restoring his father's name of Ran (冉), then took the throne
as the emperor of a new state, Wei (魏,). LATER Zhao was not over, because Shi Zhi would hold out at Xiangguo until
351, when he would be killed by his general Liu Xian (刘显), finally ending LATER Zhao's last hope. (251) 7) Xin1
Xing1(new and developing)Wang 新兴王 Shi2(rock)Zhi1(respect/venerate) 石祗 350-351 Shi2 Zhi(only,mw for
animals) 石只) (died 351) Last of 4 after Shi Hu. Known as Prince of Xinxing (新兴王). He rose at Xiangguo (襄国
)Xintai,Hebei in alliance with Qiang chief Yao Yizhong (姚弋仲) and the Di chief Pu Hong (蒲洪) when Shi Jian was in
trouble under Shi Min. Shi Zhi, non-Han, and Shi Min (Han) fought eachother while F. Yan seized modern Beijing, Tianjin,
and N. Hebei in 350. Pu Hong’s son, FuJian(PuHong changed name to Fu) seized W. Zhao and established F. Qin. Shi
Zhi who at first declared himself emperor demoted himself when Ran put Xiangguo under siege. F. Yan prince Murong
Jun agreed to help Shi Zhi and Zhi used his general Liu Xian3(display) (刘显) to attack Ran in Yecheng, but LiuXian was
defeated and so in awe with Ran that he agreed to kill Shi Zhi so he arrested and killed Shi Zhi and his officials and gave
Zhi;s head to Ran who burnt in on a public street. LATER Zhao was at its end.
[4] Cheng Han Empire 303-347 AD (addressed separately in traditional texts as Cheng Empire and Han Empire)
Cheng Empire 303-338(5)
1) Shi Zu 始祖 or Shi Zu 世祖 Jing Di 景帝 Li Te 李特 303
2) Qin2 Wen2 Wang2 秦文王 Li3 Liu2 李流 several months in 303
3) Tai 4Zong1 太宗 Wu Di 武帝 Li3 Xiong2(male/grand/imposing) 李雄 303-334 (274 ━ 334), aka
Zhong4juan4(meaningful) 仲隽, Was the first emperor of the Chinese/Ba-Di state Cheng Han. When he declared
himself as the Prince of Chengdu in 304 it is referred to as the start of the 16 Kingdoms Era. He was third son by Li Te’s
wife Lady Luo and became Te’s general in 301. Te defeated a surrise attack by Xin Ran (辛冉) aide of Jin governor Luo
Shang (罗尚) in Yi Province 益州 Sichuan and Chongqingin 301. Qin Province(E. Gansu) refugees asked that Te assume
imperial powers. After Te’s victory over Luo Shang he asked for a truce, but Luo made a surpise attack and killed Li Te,
then Li Liu(Li Xiong’s uncle) became leader but he wanted to surrender after Li Dang4(sway/mop up) (李荡), Li Xiong’s
brother died. But after this Li Xiong made a surprise attack against Jin forces making them withdraw. After this Li Liu was
sick and made Li Xiong successor. Li captured Chengdu in 304 making Luo Shang flee. He asked hermit Fan
Changsheng be emperor but he refused. The generals asked that Li Xiong declare himself emperor, then Xiong declared
himself Prince of Chengdu. He made Fan and some of the Li clan elders and declared the empire "Cheng" (成).Li reigned
the area peacefully, stabilizing the borders but not looking to expand. He did not pay his officials who requisitioned
supplies from the people and led to corruption I the empire LATER. Li Xiong made no attempt to capture Ning 宁州
Yunnan and Guizhou).[in 333 his cousin Li Shou captured Ning] But he did contend with Jin over Liang 梁州 S. Shaanxi.
Zhang Jun (leader of F. Liang) asked him repeatedly to become a Jin vassalater Li said he would if Jin was more revived.
He made trade and kept good relations with F. Liang and ChengHan and let Jin and F. Liang messengers through the
land with some reluctance. In 325 Li made Lady Ren empress but had no sons by her, but he had 10 sons by other
concubines. He made Li Ban(kind and studious) son of Li Dang, who was raised by Ren crown prince saying that Li Te
and Li Dang built the empire.Li Xiong died from an infected head wound which spread to other parts of his wounded body
and his sons avoided him while Li Ban cared for him day and night. LI Ban was assassinated by Xiong’s son Li Yue (李越)
who then made another son Li Qi emperor. 4) Ai Di 哀帝
Li Ban1(shift) 李班 7 months in 334 (288-334), courtesy
name Shi4wen2 (世文), initially Crown Prince Li4(crime/sin) (戾太子) He was Xiong’s nephew, son of Xiong’s brother
Li Dang who died in battle I 303. Xiong was to make Li Han crown prince but he died against Yang Nandi in 323. Two
sons of Xiong Li Yue (李越) and his younger brother Li Qi conspired against Li Ban who was chosen as crown prince but
was not a son. Li Ban’s younger brother Li Wu (李□) suggested Ban send them away but he sent Liu Wu away instead to
stop the friction. Li Yue assassinated Li Ban while he was on mourning watch of Xiong and his older brother Li Du1(big
city) (李都) after forging an edict having Dowager Ren accuse Ban of crimes.He then made Liu Qi emperor. 5)
You1(deep/secret) Gong1 幽公 Li3 Qi1(time) 李期 334-338 (314-338), aka Shi4yun4(move/lucky) (世运), aka Duke
You of Qiongdu (邛都幽公) Was a reign of decadence and deterioration. He was overthrown by his father’s cousin Li
Shou in 338 and committed suicide after being demoted to Duke. He seized the throne and changed the name of the state
from Cheng to Han. When young, known for being intelligent and charismatic. Officials initially offered the throne to Liu
Yue but he refused saying Liu Qi should have it being talented and raised by Dowager Ren. Qi relied on Li Yue, Jing Jian
(景骞), Yao Hua (姚华), Tian Bao1(praise) (田褒), and the eunuch Xu3(praise/allow) Fu2(river name) (许涪) for their
talents and rarely relied on others. Li Ban’s uncle Luo Yan3(perform) (罗演)and Shangguan Dan4(tranquil/placid/quiet) (上
官澹) planned to assassinate Li Qi and replace him with Li Ban’s son, but Li Qi executed them and Li Ban’s mother lady
Luo. Qi executed Li Zai (李载) falsely claiming he did treason when he was jealous of his talents. Li Shou, aware of being
a target of execution since he was the most honored general, promised his advisors he would become a Jin vassal if he
defeated Li Qi. He falsely told his soldiers that Li Qi was planning to execute Li Shou. Shou then caught Chengdu
unprepared and arrested Liu Yue and officials. Shou then forced Li Qi to order their execution. He then forged an edict
from Dowager Ren deposing and demoting Liu Qi to Duke. Li shou took the throne and changed the name of the state to
Han. Liu Qi, depressed , committed suicide.
[5] Han Empire 338-347(2)
1) Zhong Zong1 中宗 Zhao1(clear/obvious) Wen2 Di4 昭文帝Li3 Shou4(longevity)李寿 338-343 (300-343), courtesy
name Wukao (武考), formally Emperor Zhaowen of (Cheng) Han ((成)汉昭文帝), He was cousin of Li Xiong. He set up
a different acncestral temple. Known initially for his lenience and thriftiness but LATER ruled like Shi Hu ruling harshly and
extravagantly. Li Shou was son of Xiong’s trusted uncle and key advisor Li Xiang1(prance as a horse) (李骧), Made a
general at age 18 by Xiong. He conquered Ning(yunan and Guizhou) in 332. Li Qi’s cousin Li Shi3 (李始) asked Li Shou to
depose Li Qi but he refused so Shi accused him of treason, but Li Qi asked Shou to attack Li Wu who warned Li Ban
about Li Yue and Li Qi. But Shou instead persuaded Li Wu to flee to Jin. In 338, Li Shou consulted the hermit Gong1
Zhuang4 (龚壮), who advised him to rebel and to declare himself a Jin vassalater Li Shou then further planned an attack
with his advisors Luo Heng2 (罗恒) and Jie Siming (解思明).Li Qi spied on him and poisoned his adoptive brother Li
You1(far) (李攸). Shou forged a letter to his troops which then agreed to attack Li Qi. Shou captured Chengdu easily and
had Li Qi execute his officials then demoted Li Qi to Duke. Qi then killed himself. Li Shou was dispointed and hoped to
surpass Xiong’s dynasty. Gong1 Zhuang4 (龚壮), a hermit that advised Shou to attack Chengdu and become a Jin vassal,
refused to be an official because Shou declared his own state. He created Princess Yan empress and made Li Shi crown
prince. When in 338 Ren Yan2 (任颜), Dowager Ren’s brother planned a coup, he had him and all Xiong’s sons executed.
ChengHan and Jin fought over Ning province. Shi Hu asked for Shou’s help against Jin so Shou sent a fleet with food
supplies against Jie’s opposition. Due to Gong’s advice, Shou declined to ally against Jin knowing if Jin was defeated
LATER Zhao would take over. So, Shou was arrogant in his reply, but continued to be lenient like Xiong until messengers
to LATER Zhao spoken of citizens obeying the harsh Shi Hu. So, Shou copied Shi Hu being harsh and having many
construction projects hurting the people. 2)Gui1(return) Yi4(justice) Hou 归义侯 Li Shi4(tendency) 李势 343-347 (died 361),
courtesy name Ziren2(humanity) (子仁), historically known by his Jin Dynasty (265-420)-bestowed title Marquess of Guiyi (归
义侯) He was son of Li Shou and Consort Li. He was a cousin of Xiong and an honored general whom Li Qi liked. He
opened the gates for Li Shou when he attacked Chengdu. He honored his father’s wife Yan and Dowager and made his
wife Princess Li empress. He reassociated with Xiong and Te and the name “Cheng” for the state. In 345 with no sons his
brother Li Guang (李广) asked to be crown prince but he denied him even though advisors Ma3 Dang (马当) and
Xie4(understand) Siming (解思明) supported Li Guang. So, Li Shi had them and their clans executed. Also general Li
Yi4(radiating power and ability) (李奕) rebelled and advanced on Chengdu but his rebellion was stopped when an arrow
hit him and he died. Li Shi became arrogant and exceedingly cruel in punishments. At this time the Liao2(fierce/hunt) (獠)
tribe was troublesome. Huawen hearing of this and submitted a report requesting to attack Cheng-Han and before it was
replied he advanced directly to Chengdu where its forces collapsed from fear but Li Shi ordered a counterattack and in
fear Huan ordered a retreat but his single officer who was panicking in a miracle signaled the drums for attack and not the
gong for retreat. Huans forces then prevailed. Li Shi humbly surrendered by binding himself and bringing a coffin so Huan
released him and brought him to Jiankang where Mu pardoned him and made him Marquis of Guiyi.
[6] Qian (F.) Yan Empire 337-370(3)
1) Tai4 Zu3 太祖 Wen2 Ming2(civilization) Di 文明帝 Mu4(admire)rong2(countenance) Huang 慕容□ 337-348 (297348), aka Yuanzhen (元真) He was founder of F. Yan. His father was Murong Hui. Hui was a Xianbei chief who fought Jin
in late Wu’s time (1st emperor), but became a vassal in 289. After fighting with Xianbei Duan chief Jie1(steps) (段阶) he
married one of his daughters to make peace from whom MuHuang was born. He was Duke of Liaodong of Jin in 333 but
in 337 founded Yan. Xianbei Yuwen tribe in 320 and 325. He suspected his younger brothers Murong Ren (慕容仁) and
Murong Zhao (慕容昭) and general Murong Han4(writing brush) (慕容翰). Han fled to the Duan and became a general for
the chief Duan Liao (段辽)..His brothers Murong Ren and Murong Zhao prepared and then attacked the capital Jicheng (
棘城) Jinshou, Liaoning, but Huang was ready and topped it, so Ren captured the ciites in the Liaodong peninsula. Han
allied with Duan Liao's brother Duan Lan (段兰) to attack Liucheng (柳城) Zhaoyang, Liaoning and Huang’s relief forces
were greatly defeated, however, Han retreated. in early 336, Murong Huang made a daring surprise attack, personally
leading his army by a route that Murong Ren did not expect─over the frozen Bohai -- arriving at Pingguo. Murong Ren,
not realizing that it was a major attack, came out of the city to fight Murong Huang, who defeated and captured him,
forcing him to commit suicide.Huang joined forces with LATER Zhao’s Shi Hu to attack Duan Lan at capital Lingzhi,
Tangshan Hebei, but Huang defeated them first then withdrew. Shi Hu unhappy about not meeting him in battle decided
to betray and attack Huang. All cities except capital Jicheng surrendered to LATER Zhao, but Huang withstood the attack
against Jicheng for 20 days, then attacked the retreating LATER Zhao with his son Murong Ke as well as all the rebelling
cities and Duan areas too. Huang peacefully merged with Duan Liao’s forces, but Liao rebelled and Huang killed him. Yan
made yearly raids on LATER Zhao’s border areas and Yuwen and Goguryeo. Huang married his sister to Tuoba Shiyijian,
cementing alliance between the two Xianbei powers. Murong Han in Yuwen at the time agreed to rejoin Huang. Huang
moved capital to the new Longcheng (龙城,Zhaoyang, Liaoning). With Han, Huang made Goguryeo’s King Gogukwon flee
and took as hostage the king’s mother and dead father’s body. He returned the body but not his mother after the king
offered to be a vassalater In 344 Huang and Han greatly defeated Yuwen. Still jealous of Han he forced him to suicide. He
stopped using Jin’s Era names (breaking from Jin). He grew ill and died2) Lie4(strong/sacrifice oneself for a just
cause/intense)Zong1(purpose) 烈宗 Jing3(scene/respect) Zhao1(clear/obvious) Di 景昭帝 Mu4rong2
Jun4(handsome/outstanding talent) 慕容俊 348-360 (319 ━ 360), courtesy name Xuan1(declare)ying1(hero/flower)
(宣英), formally Emperor Jingzhao of (F.) Yan ((前)燕景昭帝)Expanded the Yan territory from some of Hebei and
Liaoning to most of the north of Yellow River and some south. Born while Huang was still heir. He was skilled in literary
and military arts. Huang wanted to crown Jun’s younger brother Murong Ba because of his intelligence but didn’t against
official’s advice. Commisioned by Huang to fight Buyeo (Fuyu (夫余), but the command was held by his brother Murong
Ke. The army was successful in capturing the capital of Buyeo and its king Fuyu Xuan (夫余玄). Reign After LATER Zhao
was weakened by Shi Hu’s death and Murong Ba made the suggestion, Jun commissioned Murong Ke, Murong Ping,
Yang Wu (阳鹜), and Murong Chui(Jun changed it from Ba to Chui) as major generals, preparing for a major attack
against LATER Zhao's border region. In 350 they captured Ji4(thistle)cheng (蓟城, Beijing), then Jun moved the capital
from Longcheng to there.All of You 幽州(Beijing, Tianjin and Nhebei) From there he marched south but was defeated by
the LATER Zhao general Lubo2(suddenly) Zao (鹿勃早). When Shi Zhi was under attack by Ran Min, Zhi sent requested
help from Jun, offering to give the imperial seals(which he didn’t have). So, Jun sent Yue4(happy) Wan3(coil up) (悦绾) to
join Zhi and his general Yao2 Xiang1(assist) (姚襄) and they defeated Ran Min’s forces until Zhi’s gernal Liu Xian (刘显)
betrayed Zhi and attacked and killed him. When Jun and Ran Min forces engaged battle, Murong Ke tricked Min’s infantry
into going into the plains and then used calvary to deal a major defeat. Ran Min was captured after his horse died
suddenly and Min insulted Jun for being a barbarian so Jun whipped him then beheaded him, but concerned Min’s spirit
was causing a draught, he buried him with honors. When Jun attacked the RanWei capital Ye4(name of ancient
capital)cheng2 (邺城 (Handan, Hebei), he captured Ran Zhi and Empress Dong and made them Marquis and Lady,
treating them kindly and claiming that Dong gave the imperial seals(really Jin had them because they were given back as
colLATERal for aiding LATER Zhao after being passed between Han Zhao and LATER Zhao). Because Ran Zhi asked for
Jin assistance, Jun declared himself emperor in 352. Created his wife Princess Kezuhun empress and his heir apparent
Murong Ye (慕容□) crown prince. 4 years LATER Ye died so he made Murong Wei crown prince. He fought and defeated
cousin Duan4(section) Kan1(niche/shrine) (段龛) who was a Jin vassal using Murong Ke and Yangmu. Ke seiged the
walled city then caught Duankan and executed him for reasons unknown. Murong Jun moved the capital from Jicheng to
Yecheng. Conscripted all but one in a household then 3 of every 5 on campaign to fight Qin and Jin. Jun and Murong Chui
held grudges because Chui’s wife Duan was on equal standing with the Murongs, but Jun’s wife Kezuhun was not.
Without orders eunuch Nie4(dye sth black Hao4(vast) (涅浩) falsely accused Duan and Chui’s assistant Gao Bi4(assist) (
高弼) of witchcraft. They denied it well, but Duan died in prison and Chui was exiled to Ping(Liaoning). Jin forces Zhuge
You (诸葛攸) and Xie Wan (谢万) attacked F. Yan but were defeated,then Jun occupied places south of the Yellow River.
When Jun became ill he offered to Let Murong Ke be emperor but Ke refused. Then Jun summoned back Chui. Jun
gathered his conscripted forces at Yecheng to attack Jin but grew illater He summoned Murong Ke, Yang, Murong Ping,
and Muyu Gen (慕舆根) to entrust the crown prince Murong Wei to them then he died. 3) You1(deep/secluded) Di 幽帝
Mu4rong2 Wei3 慕容□ 360-370 (350 ━ 385), aka Jing3 (admire)mao4(luxuriant) (景茂)Was captured by F. Qin's
prime minister Wang Meng in 370, ending F. Yan. After F. Qin's defeat at the Battle of Fei River in 383, he tried to join his
brother Murong Chong in rebellion and was executed by F. Qin's emperor Fu Jian in early 385. He was made crown
prince after brother Murong Ye died. His weaknesses are overindulgence in hunting and music. Ke as regent When Muyu
Gen (official) was unhappy to be under Murong Ke he asked Dong and Wei if he could kill him. Dong agreed but, Wei did
not. Ke then killed Gen and his clan. Ke was able and expanded. Ke captured Luoyang in 365. Ke executed a magician
liked by Wei, Ding Jun, when he tired to persuade him to kill Murong Ping. Ke asked Wei to assume the decisions but Wei
declined so he asked Chui to become regent, but Kezuhun with her grudge would not let him, so Ping became regent.
Ping as regent Ping was far less able then Ke and he was corrupt. Perhaps he assassinated Yue4(happy/pleased)
Wan3(coil up (悦绾) who stopped 200,000 commoners from paying taxes only to nobles and not the government, Ping
refused to quell a rebellion in F. Qin caused by Fu Jian's brother Fu Shuang (苻双) , and cousins Fu Sou (苻叟
)(gatekeeper of gateway city of Shancheng (陕城Sanmenxia, Henan) , Fu Liu (苻柳), and Fu Wu (苻武), Wei made
Kezuhun Yi (可足浑翼) daughter of Kezuhun’s cousin as empress. Huan Wen at this time reaching Fangtou 枋头, in
modern Hebi, Henan). Huan even defeated Wei’s brother Murong Zang (慕容臧). But Chui and another unlce of Wei,
Murong De, dealt Huan a major defeat, then Qin forces came to help and delt Huan a second defeat. Kezuhun refused to
give Chui rewards and apprehensive that she and Ping were going to kill him, he fled to Qin. In, anger, because Yan didn’t
cede Luoyang for helping them against Huan Wen, Wang Meng of the Qin sent 60,000 and they captured Luoyang, then
catured Jinyang晋阳Taiyuan, Shanx. After this Ping sent 300,000. Ping at this time was corrupt asking soldiers to pay to
use wood form the forest or to use the river to fish in. Wei sent a messenger saying to redistribute the wealth, but it was
too late. And Meng wonothe battle. Ping returned alone and they abandoned Yecheng. Wei’s soldiers aboandoned him on
the way to Helong, and Fujian of Qin catured him, but LATER released him having him surrender and thus ending F. Yan.
Fujina and his son Fu Pi opened a massive campaign to defeat the Jin but they lost at the Battle of Fei. Chui decided to
rebel and begin LATER Yan at the same place as F. Yan was. Murong Chong and Murong Hong also chose to rebelater
Wei tried to assassinate Fu Jian by inviting him to a false wedding, but Fu Jian refused due to rain. News of this leaked to
Fu Jian. Then LATER Fu Jian summoned Wei to the palace and Murong Su went with him. Su wanted to refuse and start
the rebellion, but Wei wanted to go. Wei denied the assassination attempt, but Su proudly confessed and Fu Jian
executed both of them.
[7] Hou (LATER) Yan Empire 384-407(4)
1) Shi4(world) Zu3(ancestor) 世祖 Wu3(swordplay) Cheng2(achieved) Di 武成帝 Mu4rong2 Chui2(condescend) 慕
容垂 384-396 (326-396), aka Dao4 (principle)ming2(clever) 道明 F.ly Murong Ba4(hegemon), a brother of Murong
Huang, who had name changed to Que (“missing” but actually meant fortune in ancient script) then changed to Chui by
jealous Jun. After F. Yan was captured by Qin, Chui decided to betray Fujian and form LATER Yan. He was largely
defeated by N. Wei’s founder Emperor Daowu (Tuoba Gui). He was Huang’s 5th son. Mother was Consort Lan (a
concubine of Huang’s). Huang favored him and it created tension with older brother Jun. Chui beat the Yuwen in 344 and
became Marquis. Suceessfully evaded LATER Zhao general Deng4 Heng2(constant) (邓恒), but fell off a horse and lost
one of his teeth. Chui was responsible for taking over LATER Zhao after Shi Hu died. After Jun declared himself emperor,
he made Chui Prince of Wu. Jun made him protector of Longcheng 龙城(Jinzhou, Liaoning) but he became powerful there
and he recalled him to Yecheng (Handan,Hubei) the capitalater His wife, Duan was daughter of Duan Mopei and a royal
princess of the Duan and she harassed Kezuhun, Jun’s wife. Kezuhun, jealous of Duan had eunuch Nie4(dye black)
Hao4(vast) (涅浩) falsely accused Duan of withcraft in which she honorably died under interrogation. Chui then married
Duan’s sister, but she was deposed. Then he was forced to marry Kesuhun’s sister, the princess of Chan’an which he
displeased. He was exiled to Ping Province(E. Liaoning) and recalled when Jun was near death. In 365 with Ke, captured
Luoyang. Chui and his brother Murong De were able to stop Huan Wen from conquering them in 369. Ping, and Kezuhun,
jealous of him, didn’t reward his troops and thought of executing him, so he tried to take over Longcheng, but his son
Murong Lin whom he didn’t favor reported him to Ping who sent an army after him, so he fled to Qin. On the way, another
son, Murong Ma3nu2 慕容马奴, wanted to flee back to Yecheng, but Chui killed him. He fled to Qin with younger Princess
Duan, his sons Murong Ling, Murong Bao, Murong Nong, Murong Long, Murong Kai, Lan Jian, and Gao Bi. Princess
Kezuhun remained at Yecheng. Fu Jian who feared him before when he was with Yan, greatly honored him and made
him a generalater Qin, angry with Yan for not ceding Luoyang after aiding them against Huan Wen, Wangmeng and
Murong Ling, Chui’s heir who acted as guide, took over Luoyang. Ling who was given a false message by Wang Meng
that Kezuhun wanted them back, defected back to F. Yan, and Chui tried to flee too but was captured, but Fu Jian
pardoned him. Ling, when exiled by F. Yan, tried to start a rebellion, but was betrayed by his brother Murong Lin and killed.
In 370 Wang beat Ping conquering F. Yan. Chui suggested Fu Jian execute Ping, but Fu Jian made him governor of a
distant commandery. In 378 Chui with Fujian’s son Furong Pi beat Jin’s big city of Xiangyang. Against Fu Rong’s (Fu
Jian’s brother) advice, Fu Jian, listening to Chui and Yao Chang, made a campaign against Jin having numerical
advantage, but lost at the Battle of Fei. Fu Rong commanded it and was killed. Fu Jian got an arrow wound, and Chui
against Murong De and his son Murong Bao’s advice did not kill him and he returned his soldiers to him. But LATER he
asked Fujian to quell a “rising” rebellion of F. Yan . When Fu Pi’s younger brother Fu Hui was put in charge of quelling
Zhai Bin’s (Dingling chief) attack of Luoyang and Chui was sent by Fu Pi with Fu Feilong 苻飞龙 to stop Zhai, but Chui
killed Feilong on the way. Meanwhile, Pi did not put Chui’s son Murong Nong and his nephews Murong Kai and Murong
Shao (慕容绍) under surveillance so they fled out of Yecheng to start their own rebellions. Hui knew of Feilong’s death, so
Chui allied with Zhai Bin and Chui declared himself Prince of Yan…Chui didn’t give Zhai a ministerial title for helping him
so he thought to switch sides, but Chui killed him, then Zhai Zhen (Bin’s nephew) and others fought with LATER Yan. And
Jin allied with Fu Pi to fight LATER Yan..but LATER Yan controlled most of area N. of Yellow River. Chui made
Zhongshan 中山 (Baoding, Hebei) the new capitalater Chiui sent Murong Lin to help Tuoba Gui(ancestor of Dai and
founder of N. Wei) to help stop rebellions. He personally at age 60 attacked Zhai Liao but he declared himself emperor of
Wei. Murong Bao , the crown prince made trivial decisions for him at age 62. He made Duan Yuanfei -- the niece of two
of his deceased wives -- empress. In 392, Chui personally defeated Zhai Zhao’s Wei state (son of Zhai Liao) in Huatai
(Anyang , Henan) who asked for W. Yan help but got none. Murong Yong massacred descendants of Murong Jun and
Chui from suspision of Murong Rou (Chui’s youngest son) and Murong Bao's sons Murong Sheng and Murong Hui (慕容)
who fleed to join LATER Yan. Chui’s sons held Tuoba Gui’s brother Tuoba Gu ransom, but Gui refused to pay and joined
W. Yan. Chui LATER defeated W.Yan by going through a pass not expected(Taijing not Taihang) and beisieging the
capital Zhangzi (Changzhi,Shanxi). Then Chui went on first campaign against N. Wei (Tuoba Gui) in 395 with 90,000 men
at Shengle(Hohhot, Inner Mongolia), but lost at Battle of Canhe Slope. Then launched 2nd campaign in 396 capturing
Pingcheng 平城(Datong, Shanxi), and headed for Shengle, but the army seeing Canhe Slope began crying and Chui was
embarrassed, enraged, and ill and withdrew back to Zhongshan and died on the way…Bao succeeded and Yan fell to
N.Wei in less than a year2) Lie4(strong) Zong1(purpose) 烈宗 Hui4(favourt) Min3(pity) Di 惠愍帝 Mu4rong2
Bao3(treasure) 慕容宝 396-398 (355-398), aka Dao4 (thinking) you4 (/protect/bless) (道佑) Reined for only 3 yrs.
Became a victim of rebellion and died in 3 yrs time. Not good making decisions militarily and politically. Bao was 4 th son by
Chui’s first wife Duan. Lost mother Duan in 358. Fled with Chui to F. Qin. Became heir after Ling died defecting back to
LATER Yan. Bao was ambitious, a studious learner and a talented writer, but his brothers Nong, and Lin had better
military abilities and Chui’s wife Duan Yuanfei suggested he choose one of them instead. Chui likened her to Lady Li (骊
姬), the wife of the Spring and Autumn Period Duke Xian of Jin, who falsely accused his crown prince Ji Shensheng (姬申
生) of crimes and had him killed. Watched city Zhongshan while Chui went on campaigns. When after ransoming Tuoba
Gui’s(N. Wei) son, Gu, failed, Bao and Lin and Nong sent 80,000 to attack N. Wei who fled Shengle. They crossed the
Yellow R., but Bao’s forces didn’t. N. Wei scouts intercepted Yan messengers telling them Chui died. Lin’s followers tried
to start a coup. After 20 days facin the N. Wei forces across the river, Yan forces fled..Not knowing the river would freeze
in the winter, Bao left no rearguard and N.Wei’s forces attacked them from behind at the Battle of Canhe slope,
slaughtering their prisoners. In 396, concerned that N. Wei would treat Bao’s forces lightly, Chui led a campaign killing
Tuoba Qian2(pious/sincere) (拓拔虔)(Tuoba Gui;s cousin), but Chui got sick at Canhe slope, retreated then died..Bao’s
reign 1st Bao made Duan YuanFei commit suicide because she didn’t want him to be crown prince before. Bao’s son
Murong Hui was capable and Chui put him in charge of Longcheng(old Yan capital) before his last campaign. But Bao
liked Murong Ce4(scheme/plan/strategy) (慕容策) and supported by Murong Sheng, made him crown prince. N. Wei
Tuoba Gui made a surprise attack on Bing Province in 396, making Murong Nong flee back to Zhongshan. Then Gui
came to Zhongshan. Meanwhile, Bao protected only Zhongshan Yicheng and Xindu. Gui controlled the other cities, but
heard of a rebellion in Shenle so offered peace to Bao but Bao rejected it and attacked him in the rear, but Gui attacked
him and Bao suffered great losses. Bao didn’t give back Gu to Gui and made no further attacks on N. Wei. Murong Lin
started a rebellion so Bao fled to join Murong Hui’s forces in Longcheng. Hui, planning to seize power decided to murder
Long and Nong, but only could kill Long. Hui put Longcheng under siege but Gao Yun made a surprise attack against Hui
and Hui went back to Zhongshan where Murong Xiang2(detailed) (慕容详), Bao’s cousin garrisoned there, killed him.Bao
adopted Gao as his own son. Xiang declared himself emperor but was defeated by Lin who was defeated by N. Wei
forces and fled to Yecheng where he persuaded De(Bao’s uncle and defender of Yecheng) to flee to Hua2tai2 滑台 of S.
Yellow R. and declare himself emperor of S. Yan. Bao, form a report from De, started a campaign to recover lost territory
against Nong and Sheng who said the army was worn out. When Bao left his general Duan Sugu (段速骨) started a
rebellion helped by Lan Han(Chui’s uncle) and lost at first but unexplicably Nong surrendered and Lan Han took power
and Bao and Sheng fled south to persue De, but they didn’t know he was an emperor. Bao returned to Longcheng after
finding this out against Sheng’s advice.Lan Han sent his brother Lan Jia'nan (兰加难) as escort, but he killed Bao right
outside of Longcheng. Lan Han then slaughtered most of the Murong Familly and took over power, saving Sheng(who
was husband of a daughter of his). But Sheng would come back 2 months LATER. 3) Zhao1(clear) Wu3(fierce) Di 昭武
帝 Mu4rong2 Sheng4(flourishing) 慕容盛 398-401 (373-401), aka Dao4 (thinking) yun4(luck) (道运) Oldest son of Bao.
He was a talented strategist and general, and he overreacted to being too lenient and weak, and was harsh making
officials insecure and looking to rebelater He died from an injury in 401 caused by a rebel soldier. Born to Lady Ding.
Sheng was born in Chan’an. He traveled with brother Hui and unlce Rou out of Chang’an while Murong Chong captured
Chang’an and declared himself emperor of W. Yan. Chong was killed by general Han2 Yan2 (韩延), then succeded by
Duan Sui, Murong Yi, Murong Yao, Murong Zhong, and Murong Yong in a 2 month journey to Zhangzi(Changzhi, Shanxi).
Sheng urged Hui and Rou to flee to LATER Yan because Yong LATER killed Chui and Jun’s clan. At age 16 Chui put
Sheng in charge of capital Jicheng(Beijing). Sheng went with Chui on final battle against N. Wei. Murong Hui died in an
attempted coup to become crown Prince after killing Long and injuring Nong because he was jealous of Ce, the crown
prince made by Bao. After Lan Han’s successful takeover, he had Bao and Ce killed, then Sheng, his son returned to
mourn his father knowing he would be spared as the husband of Han’s daughter. Murong Qi, was spared because his
mother was a daughter of Lan Han. Lan Ti (兰堤), Lan Han’s brother, and Lan Jia’nan rebelled when Lan Han prayed at
the LATER Han ancestral tombs blaming Lan jia’nan for Bao’s death, but his crown prince Lan Mu stopped their rebellion.
Then Lan Han and Lan Mu got drunk celebrating and Sheng with some officials killed Lan Han, Lan Mu, Lan Ti, Lan
Jia’nan, Lan He (兰和) and Lan Yang (兰扬) (2 sons of Lan Han). Sheng didn’t declare himself emperor until LATER. But
then changed back to “Commoner Heavenly Prince) to show humility. People at first praised him then he became harsh,
thinking to execute his wife Lan because she was of the Lan clan but his mother Ding opposed. He never made her or
anyone empress, but called his mother Ding Empress Xianzhuang (献庄皇后). Sheng did institute a system to hear
criminal appeals rather than use traditional torture to interrogate. In fall 401, the generals Murong Guo (慕容国), Qin Yu (
秦舆), and Duan Zan (段赞) secretly plotted a coup, but their plot was revealed, and more than 500 people were executed.
Five days LATER, the general Duan Ji (段玑), along with Qin Yu's son Qin Xing (秦兴) and Duan Zan's son Duan Tai (段
泰) attacked the palace. Murong Sheng personally fought the rebels, however, just as things appeared to be settling
down, a rebel soldier appeared from his hiding place and stabbed him. 4) Zhao1(obvious) Wen2(cultured) Di4 昭文帝
Mu4rong2 Xi1(bright/sunny/prosperous) 慕容熙 401-407 (慕容熙) (385-407), aka Dao4(road) wen2(culture) (道文) He
was one of the youngest sons of Murong Chui and uncle to SHeng. Became emperor due to his affair with Sheng’s
mother Empress Ding.He was a cruel and capricious ruler acting on his and his wife Fu Xunying’s whims. After Fu died
and Xi left the capital Longcheng to bury her, soldiers rebelled, replaced him with Bao’s adopted son Murong Yun, then Xi
was captured and killed. Yun changed his name to Gao Yun, thus ending LATER Yan and creating N. Yan. Born in 385 to
Chui and Duan after Chui started LATER Yan. He fled with Bao to Longcheng when N. Wei attacked. Bao’s troops
mutinied under Duan Sugu (段速骨) who supported Murong Chong2(esteem/worship) (慕容崇) as figurehead and many
princes were killed but Xi was spared because he was friends with Chong, After Duan and Bao were killed by Lan Han,
Lan Han made Xi Duke of Liaodong so he could worship Murong ancestors. When Sheng took over he made Xi a major
general and when they fought Gorguryeo, Sheng said he was as brave as Chui. After Sheng died, his son Ding was
thought as too young so others wanted Murong Yuan, Sheng’s younger brother to be emperor, but Ding made Xi emperor.
He made Yuan commite suicide a few days LATER. After a plot to put Ding on the throne was discovered, Xi made Ding
commit suicide. After making two daughters of Fu Mo 苻谟 Fu Song'e (苻□娥) and Fu Xunying concubines and favoring
Fu Xunying, Ding became jealous and plotted to make a different son of Bao, Murong Yuan1(deep pool) (慕容渊) emperor,
but Xi found out and Xi executed Yuan and forced Ding to suicide. Xi started some heavy construction projects in 403
building Longteng Chateau (龙腾苑) using 20,000 men and was 2km square. He also built an artificial hill in the Chateau
57m tallater He made Fu Xunying empress. Xi used soldiers to build Xiaoyao Palace (逍遥宫) at the Chateau with 100s of
rooms and over half the soldiers died from heat and exhaustion. Executed Wang Rong (王荣) by drawing and quartering
after he failed to save Fu Rong’e’s from illness. Xi went on huntings and journeys 100s kms away where 5000 soldiers
died from tigers and wolves and the cold. Xi executed officials who couldn’t get jellied fish in the summer and Rehmannia
roots in the winter and other things Fu Xunying demanded. Could not capture Goguryeo because he delayed when
flattening a wall so Fu could inter the city iin an imperial wagon. When attacking Khitan tribes of Goguryeo Fu wanted to
see a battle so Xi used calvary to attack but had to withdraw. Murong Yun (Bao’s adopted son. Originally named Gao Yun)
suffered an arrow wound and stayed home away form Xi’s cruelty. Xi built Chenghuapalace for Fu using so much dirt, dirt
became expensive. In 407 Fu died and he ordered a tomb built. Every solider was ordered to cry or else killed so they put
chilis in their mouths. General Feng Ba and his brother Feng2 Su4(plain/simple)fu2(not) (冯素弗), hidden from execution
from before, conspired with their cousin Feng2 Wan4ni (冯万泥) to start a rebellion. They did so with the help of general
Zhang Xing (张兴) and general Fu2 Jin4 (苻进) and others who failed in a coup earlier that year. Feng Ba, a friend of
Murong Yun’s, persuaded him to become their leader, and they quickly captured the palace. Murong Xi returned to
Longcheng and settled in outside, at Longteng Chateau, preparing to attack. An imperial guard soldier, Chu3 Tou2 (褚头),
fled to him and informed him that the imperial guards were ready to turn against Murong Yun as soon as Murong Xi
attacked. But, Xi panicked at this news and fled. His general Murong Ba2(pull out) (慕容拔) tried to maintain the assault
against Longcheng and was initially successful, but as the troops began to realize that Murong Xi had fled, they collapsed,
and Murong Ba was killed by Feng Ba's soldiers. LATER that day, Murong Xi was found, wearing civilian clothes, in a
forest, and he was captured and delivered to Murong Yun who personally read him his crimes, and then beheaded him
and his sons.
[8] Nan (S.) Yan Empire 398-410 (2)
1) Xian4(offer) Wu3(valiant) Di4 献武帝 Mu4rong2 De2(virtue) 慕容德 398-405 (336 - 405), became Murong
Bei4(fully)De2 (virtuous) (慕容备德) in 400, aka Xuan2(darkness)ming2(distinct) (玄明) Son of Huang and brother to
Jun and Chui. He established S. Yan after Bao retreated from the N. Wei. Son of Huang and Gongsun. Regarded as
studious, talented and handsome when young. De went from being Duke of Liang under Murong Jun to Prince of Fanyang
under Murong Wei to mayor of Yecheng. He made the suggestion to aid Qin’s 4 Duke rebellion problem to Ping (who
refused it). He helped Chui fend off Huan Wen. He was removed from post as mayor of Yecheng when Chui fled to Qin.
Became governor of Zhangye(Gansu) commandery after surrendering to Qin. His brother Murong Na was removed from
his post so he and their mother, Gongsun, joined De at Zhangye. In 383 left Na and Gongsun(with a golden knife) at
home while he went with Fujian to Battle of Fei River. When Fu Jian fled to Chui’s camp, De tried to persuade Chui and
Murong Wei to rebel and both refused. But in 384, Chui founded LATER Yan and made De Prince of Fanyang again. But
at Zhangye, the governor Fu Chang (苻昌) arrested and executed Na and all of De’s sons and Na’s wife Lady Duan who
was pregnant was put in prison. Gongsun was spared (being old). Gongsun and Duan were LATER rescued by De’s F.
subordinate Huyan Ping (呼延平) and brought to the Qiang tribes. During Chui’s LATER Yan reign he gave advice to Chui
and with nephew Murong Long’s help defeated Jin forces Wen Xiang (温详) and the Jin rebel Zhang Yuan (张愿) near
Yellow R. In 388 he married Duan Jifei (younger sister of Duan Yuanfei, Chui’s wife). With nephew Murong Lin attacked
Xianbei Helan (贺兰) tribe, forcing the submission of its chief Helan Na (贺兰讷). Persuaded Chui to attack Murong Yong
of W. Yan. De served at the Battle of Canhe Slope. Also persuaded Chui to attack N. Wei (Chui’s final battle). Under Bao,
De became viceroy of Yecheng and the south. When Bao fled to Longcheng, De was suggested to take imperial title
many times but he refused knowing Bao was alive. From Murong Lin’s(who claimed imperial title) advice that Yecheng
was too big, De fled to Huatai(Anyang, Henan) and claimed himself Prince of Yan.(like Chui did). Soon Lin plotted another
rebellion, so De killed him.When Bao came from the north seeking refuge he sent eunuch ZhaoSi 赵思 to De. De wanted
to abdicate but Zhang Hua (张华) and Mu4yu2 Hu4 (慕舆护) changed his mind to killing Bao, but when Muyu could not
find Bao because he already heard the news and fleed. Zhao cursed De for being an usurper so De killed him. When Fu2
Guang3 (苻广), brother of the F. Qin emperor Fu Deng claimed himself Prince of Qin, De personally attacked Fuguang
and killed him but his nephew Murong He(慕容和) who was left to guard Huatai was assassinated by general Li Bian李辩)
who offered Huatai to N. Wei viceroy SuheBa 素和跋). SuheBa quickly seized the city and other cities and defeated
returning De and De’s cousin’s Murong Zhen (慕容镇) armies. Unable to siege Huaitai, he killed Jin governor of Qing
Province (青州Shandong), Pi4luu2 Hun2 (辟闾浑) at capital Guanggu 广固Qingzhou, Shandong in 399 and made it his
capital, staying in the small and stable empire. In 400 he claimed to be emperor and changed his name to Murong
Beide(naming convention). He made Princess Duan empress. At this time he sent Du4Hong2 to find mother Gongsun and
brother Na, but he died from bandits. When his F. subordinate Zhao Rong2(melt) (赵融 told him they both died he
mourned them so much he became precariously illater Carried out his previous plan to charge no property taxes if people
relocated but it failed(people made fraudulent claims of already having been forcibly moved). Several generals Liu Gui (刘
轨), Sima Xiuzhi (司马休之), Gao Yazhi (高雅之), and Liu Jingxuan (刘敬宣) who fleed from regent of Jin Huan Xuan tried
to persuade BeiDe to attack Huan and seize Jin territory north of Yangtze river. Then Gao and Liu Jingxuan plotted to
assassinate BeiDe, but the plot leaked due to telling Liu Gui who disagreed with the plot. Liu Gui and Gao were executed
and Liu Jingxuan and Sima Xiuzhi fled back to Jin. In 405, Murong Chao (only surviving son of Na) flad from Chang’an to
S. Yan, showed the golden knife, and Beide made him Prince of Beihai(title he had in F. Yan times). Beide with no sons of
his own made Murong Chao corwn Prince then he fell ill the next fallater He requested to be buried at Guanggu with 10
empty caskets so that he could not be easily found. 2) Mu4rong2 Chao1(exceed/surpass) 慕容超 405-410 (385 ━ 410),
aka Zhu3(host/master/signify/manage/master)
ming2(bright/clever/distinct/explicit/understand) (祖明)Trapped under rule of LATER Qin until De(BeiDe) found him.
He was nephew of De. Son of Murong Na(prince of Beihai of F. Yan), who was son of Huang and younger brother of Jun.
Na, when in F. Qin, was removed from his commandery and relocated to live with De along with Gongsun(their mother)
and Lady Duan at Zhangye commandery(Gansu). After De and Chui rebelled, Fu Chang, the new governor, killed Na and
all sons of Na and De, but Gongsun and Lady Duan (pregnant) were spared and rescued by Huyan Ping (呼延平), the
jailer and a F. subordinate of De’s who took them to the Qiang tribes, where Duan gave birth to Chao and Gonsun
died.Then Ping took them to LATER Liang capital Guzang (姑臧Gansu) where F. Qin defeated LATER Liang and Duan
and Chao were taken back to Chang’an. Duan had Chao take Ping’s daughter as wife after Ping died. He pretended to be
a beggar and to be insane to not be found out, but the brother of Yao Xing, Yao Shao (姚绍), saw him and brought him to
YaoXing to whom he continued his charade so Xing saw him off. He departed Chang’an without telling Duan or his wife to
avod being caught, on the way Murong Fa慕容法 governor of Yan Province(w. Shandong) disrespected his nobility. He
gave the golden knife to Bei De. De made him first Prince of Beihai, then crown prince and entrusted talented servants
into his hands. Chao put on a good show of respect to Bei De. Before Bei De died there was an earthquake, then Bei De
couldn’t speak, and Bei De’s wife Duan Jifei summoned Chao so Bei De could crown him. Chao was capricious(sporadic)
and listened to noone. He surrounded himself with flatterers and went hunting and on tours. He restored punishments of
cutting off noses, feet, tattooing, and castration but didn’t put them in action. He didn’t listen to the advisors Murong Zhong
(慕容钟) and Duan Hong (段宏) whom Bei De entrusted him with. He made the unqualified Gongsun Wulou 公孙五楼 a
general who LATER accused Zhong of treason. Then Zhong, Murong Fa, Duan Hong, Feng Song1(high mountains) (封嵩
), and Dowager Duan entered, but Dowager Duan in fear told Chao and Feng was executed and Chao sent Murong Zhen
(慕容镇) and Han Fan (韩范) to attack Zhong, Fa, and Duan Hong. Duan Hong fled to N. Wei and Fa and Zhong fled to
LATER Qin. Chao traded 120 musicians to Yao Xing of LATER Qin for his wife and mother. He made Lady Huyan
empress and mother Lady Duan empress dowager. In 409 on the Lunar New Year at the imperial gathering there were no
musicians so he planned to attack Jin and capture people to be trained as musicians. He sent Murong Xingzong (慕容兴
宗), Hugu Ti (斛谷提), and Gongsun Gui (公孙归, Gongsun Wulou's brother) to attack Jin, capturing Suyu (宿豫Suqian,
Jiangsu) and 2,500 men and women, who were to be taught music. Encouraged, Murong Chao carried more raids against
Jin. Then Liu Yu proposed to attack S. Yan against opposition. Murong Zhen and Gongsun Wulou suggested to defend
the Daxian pass(Weifeng, Shandong) and to burn the crops, but Chao was overconfident and refused and put Zhen in
jailater Liu Yu defeated Linqu(Weifang) making Chao flee to Guanggu. Then he sent Han Fan to LATER Qin for support
and Yao Xing sent Yao Qiang (姚强) but he was stopped by the rebel general Liu Bobo (the emperor of Xia). Chao
executed anyone who said to surrender, then Liu Yu caught him and questioned him but Chao gave no answers. He
entrusted his mother to Liu Jingxuan (刘敬宣) a Jin general who served under De before. Chao was sent to Jiankang
where he and 3000 S. Yan officials were executed.
[9] Bei (N.) Yan Empire 407-436 (3)
1) Hui4(benefit)Yi4(exemplary) Di4 惠懿帝Gao1(tall) Yun2(cloud) 高云 407-409 (died 409), was Murong Yun2(cloud)
(慕容云), aka Zi3(son)yu3(rain) (子雨), Historians question him as last of LATER Yan or first of N. Yan. He was
ethnically Korean and descendant of royal house of Goguryeo. He was adopted into LATER Yan after suppressing
rebellion of Murong Hui against Murong Bao(Hui’s father). When Huang beat and occupied Gorguryeo capital Wandu, he
took many captives to Qingshan (青山Jinzhou, Liaoning). In Chinese, the first character of “Goguryeo is “Gao, “ so many
of the captives got this name. For helping stop siege of Longcheng, Bao adopted Gao Yun as a son made him Duke of
Xiyang and changed his name to Murong Yun. Made friend with general Feng Ba at this time. He served as a major
general under emperor Murong Xi(Bao’s younger brother) in 406. In wreckless battle by Xi against Goguyreo, Yun got an
arrow wound and stayed home away from cruel Xi. Feng Ba and his brother Feng Sufu (冯素弗), hiding from execution,
conspired with their cousin Feng Wani (冯万泥) and Zhang Xing (张兴) and Fu Jin (苻进from a failed attempt earlier that
year) to start a rebellion. Feng Ba persuaded friend, Murong Yun, to become their leader, and they quickly captured the
palace and closed the city gates after Xi left Longcheng to bury Fu Xunying, Yun read Xi his cimes then had him and his
sons beheaded. He changed his name to Gao Yun at beginning of reign. He was insecure and did little. He hired many
guards.He had two jesters Li Ban (离班) and Tao Ren (桃仁) be in charge of security and rewarded them greatly. Power
was in the hands of Feng Ba and his brothers Feng Sufu, Feng Ruchen (冯乳陈), and Feng Hong and cousins Feng Wani,
as well as Sun Hu (孙护) and Wu Yinti (务银提). Made Lady Li empress in 408 and made son Gao Pengcheng (高彭城)
crown prince. He created Murong Gui (慕容归) the Duke of Liaodong and had Murong Gui be in charge of continuing the
worship of the Murong ancestors. Gwanggaeto the Great, king of Goguryeo tried to make peace with Yun, and Yun sent
messengers confirming the peace. Yun was mysteriously assassinated along with his wife(maybe by Li and Tao). Then
Feng Ba readied his troops, but two of his soldiers, Zhang Tai (张泰) and Li Sang (李桑), advanced into the palace and
beheaded Li and Tao. Then Feng Ba became emperor and honored Yun and Empress Li with no reference to crown
prince Gao Pengcheng, 2) Wen2(culture) Cheng2(achieve) Di 文成帝 Feng2 Ba2(cross mountains) 冯跋 409-430
(died 430), aka Wen2(gentleness)qi3(rise) (文起), nickname Qi3(beg)zhi2(continuosly)fa2(strike down) (乞直伐) In
his time N. Yan was much weaker than N. Wei. He had over 100 sons all executed by his brother and LATER emperor
Feng Hong. His father Feng An (冯安) served W. Yan’s Murong Yong as a generalater After Chui destroyed W. Yan they
were forcibly moved to Longcheng(Jinzhou, Liaoning). He had 3 younger borthers who favored heroism and threw off
social restraint, but he was deligent and careful and became a general under Bao and became friends with Gao
Yun(Bao’s adopted son). With brother Feng Sufu (冯素弗) he offended Emperor Xi, then fled and came back to overthrow
Xi when he left Longcheng to bury Fu Xunying. Then Yun became ermperor who made Feng Ba Prime minister. After
Yun’s assassination, Feng Ba readied his troops, while two soldiers beheaded the suspected jesters Li and Tao. As
emperor, Feng made Feng Sufu the prime minister and gave important posts to Sun Hu, Zhang Xing, his brother Feng
Hong , his cousin Feng Wani , and another cousin's son Feng Ruchen (冯乳陈). He honored his mother Lady Zhang as
princess dowager, and he created his wife Lady Sun as princess and his son Feng Yong (冯永) as crown prince. With
Feng Sufu he governed diligently, frugally, and inteliigently. In 410 Feng Wani and Feng Ruchen both who contributed to
Feng Ba's success and jealous they were not in control in Longcheng but rather served as commanding generals at cities
Feiru (肥如 Qinhuangdao, Hebei) and Bailang (白狼Zhaoyang, Liaoning). They rose in rebellion together. Feng Ba sent
Feng Hong and Zhang Xing to attack them, and after they were defeated by Feng Hong and Zhang, they surrendered, but
Feng Hong executed them regardless. In 411, the khan of Rouran, Yujiulu Hulu offered a tribute of 3,000 horses to Feng
Ba and requested to marry Feng Ba's daughter Princess Lelang.ThenFeng gave her cementing the alliance. In 414, Feng
Ba sent his official Chu Kuang (褚匡) to his ancestral home of Changle (长乐 Hengshui, Hebei) to find his clan members,
and Chu Kuang returned with 5,000 households, headed by Feng Ba's cousins Feng Mai (冯买) and Feng Du (冯睹).
Feng Ba also found his brother Feng Pi (冯丕) in Goguryeo and welcomed him back, creating him the Duke of
Changshan. In 414 Yujiulu Hulu, who was about to in turn marry one of his daughters to Feng Ba, was overthrown by his
nephew Yujiulu Buluzhen (郁久闾步鹿真), and the coup leaders sent him and his daughter to N. Yan. Feng Ba treated him
honorably and took his daughter as a concubine. Yujiulu Hulu requested that Feng Ba send an army to escort him home,
and Feng Ba, sent his general Wan Ling (万陵) to escort Yujiulu Hulu, but Wan killed Yujiulu Hulu on the way and
returned. Instead, Feng Ba entered into an alliance with the new khan Yujiulu Datan, who had in turn overthrown Yujiulu
Buluzhen. In 414 Emperor Mingyuan of N. Wei sent a messenger, Hu1niu3(accustomed to /blush)yu Shimen (忽忸于什门
), to try to negotiate peace with N. Yan, but , he refused to enter the N. Yan palace at Helong, demanding that Feng Ba
come and accept submission to the edict. Feng Ba refused and dragged Huniuyu into the palace. Huniuyu refused to bow,
and Feng Ba had his guards press Huniuyu's head down, and then imprisoned him. Huniuyu insulted Feng Ba many times
but Feng Ba refused to execute him. Feng Ba, instead, entered into an alliance with the Xia emperor Helian Bobo. In 415,
Feng Sufu died then Feng mourned his brother 7 times(against custom of 3 times). In 415, Sun Hu's brothers Sun Boren (
孙伯仁), Sun Chizhi (孙叱支), and Sun Yiba (孙乙拔), complained of no promotions so Feng executed them and promoted
Sun Hu, but Sun Hu became depressed, so Feng poisoned him to death. Then the general Wu Yinti (务银提) was also
unhappy that he was not promoted and planned to offer his defense post to Goguryeo, so Feng executed him. In 416, the
N. Yan general Kuruguan Bin (库_官斌), switched from N. Yan to N. Wei to N. Yan again, was attacked by N. Wei's
Emperor Mingyuan, and N. Wei forces killed not only Kuruguan Bin, but also two other N. Yan generals, Kuruguan Chang
(库_官昌) and Kuruguan Ti (库_官提), probably relatives of Bin. In 418, N. Wei's Emperor Mingyuan made a surprise
attack against N. Yan, sieging Helong. Feng Ba defended and held the city. N. Wei forces seized some 10,000
households from N. Yan and withdrew. Then N. Wei changed focus to LS and Xia forgetting about N. Yan. In 426, Feng
Ba's crown prince Feng Yong died, then he made son, Feng Yi (冯翼), crown prince. In 430, Feng Ba was seriously ill,
and he issued an edict to give authority to Feng Yi. But, Feng Ba's favorite Consort Song wanted her son Feng Shouju (冯
受居) to inherit the throne, so Feng Yi agreed and retreated to his palace. Consort Song then falsely issued orders in Feng
Ba's name cutting off the outside. Only Hu Fu (胡福) could enter the palace to be in charge of security. However, Hu
resentful of Consort Song, informed Feng Hong, then prime minister. Feng Hong immediately attacked the palace and
seized control of it. Feng Ba after hearing died in shock. Feng Hong then took the throne himself, defeated Feng Yi's
troops, slaughtered all of Feng Ba's sons. 3) Zhao1(obviously
Cheng2(become) Di4 昭成帝 Feng2 Hong2(great) 冯弘 430-436 (died 438), aka Wen2(character) tong1 (authority) (
文通) He fled to Goguyreo where he became suzerain after repeated N. Wei attacks then king Jangsu killed him in 438
when unable to deal with his antics. He was Feng Ba’s younger brother. In 407, Gao Yun commissioned Hong as a major
general and made Duke of Ji. When Feng Ba became power he promoted him while keeping him as Duke of Ji. Hong and
ZhangXing were sent to stop rebellion from 2 of Feng Ba’s cousins Feng Wani (冯万泥) and Feng Ruchen (冯乳陈). Then
Hong executed them even though they surrendered. Then Feng Ba made him the Duke of Zhongshan. By 430 he became
prime minister. After Feng Ba became ill and made his son Feng Yi crown prince, Consort Song jealous to have her son
Feng Shouju (冯受居), cut off the palace, then when Hong heard of this, he executed all Feng Ba’ 100 sons and defeated
Feng Yi’s troops. Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei annexed all of Xia(it’s only W. rival) then periodically attacked Yan draining it
of food and resources. As Duke of Zhongshan, Hong’s Lady Wang, bore him at least three sons, Feng Chong, eldest, (冯
崇), Feng Lang (冯朗), and Feng Miao (冯邈), but in 431 Hong made Murong princess. He made her son Feng Wangren (
冯王仁) crown prince. In 432 Taiwu made a big attack at Helong (和龙, Jinzhou, Liaoning) while Hong tried to appease
him with gifts of wine and beef to no availater Taiwu captured 10 commanderies, put Helong under siege and moved
30,000 households to You Province(Beijing, Tianjin, N. Hebei). He refused official Guo Yuan’s (郭渊) advice to offer
daughter and vassalage knowing it to be futile. While Helong besieged, N. Wei general Zhu Xiuzhi (朱修之) captured by
LS plotted to kill Taiwu, then join Hong, but when discovered fled to Hong who then sent him back to LS. Then LS became
N. Yan’s (useless) ally. In 433, Feng Lang and Feng Miao, believing N. Yan to fall and that Princess Murong was planning
to kill them, fled to Liaoxi (辽西 Tangshan, Hebei), where Feng Hong had sent their older brother Feng Chong to be
generalater They persuaded Feng Chong to surrender to N. Wei, and Feng Chong sent Feng Miao to N. Wei to offer his
allegiance. Feng Hong then sent his general Feng Yu (封羽) to put Liaoxi under siege. In 433, Emperor Taiwu sent his
younger brother Tuoba Jian (拓拔健) to relieve Liaoxi, and created and honored Feng Chong as the Prince of Liaoxi to try
to encourage other defectors. Tuoba Jian's forces soon forced Fengyu’s surrender, and then withdrew with 3,000 captive
households. In 434 after Hong’s messenger’s failed to achieve peace, Hong begged to be a vassal and offered his
daughter to be Taiwu’s concubine. Taiwu would agree only if Hong sent Feng Wangren to visit him at the capital
Pingcheng( Datong, Shanxi). Hong sent Huniuyu Shimen instead (忽忸于什门)(detained from when Mingyuan was
emperor of N. Wei.) When official Liu Zi1(multiply) (刘滋) warned that N. Wei was worse than Shu Han and Wei under Jin,
Hong executed him.Then Taiwu sent Tuoba Jian who seized crops and more people. In 435 Hong sent a messenger to
Jiankang to offer to be a vassal to LS and Emperor Wu sent a little aid. In 435 he sent general Tang Zhu2(candle) (汤烛)
to offer tributes to Taiwu and to say Feng Wangren couln’t come due to being illater Then Taiwu’s brother Tuoba Pi (拓拔
丕) came to Helong and refused wine, cattle and armor and took 6000 men and women hostages instead. N. Yan now
was no bigger than Helong itself. When general Yang Min (杨岷) suggested to send Feng Wangren, Hong instead
planned to evacuate to Goguryeo and sent messengers to request aid and agree to help evacuate. In 436 when Hong
sent more tributes, he said Feng Wangren would arrive soon. Refusing, Taiwu planned another attack. In 436, N. Wei and
Goguryeo forces arrived at the same time. Offical Guo1(outer city wall) Sheng (郭生) opened the city gate to surrender,
but N. Wei forces thought it was a trap. Hong LATER killed Guo in battle. Hong and Gogyureo forces set fire to Helong as
they evacuated. King Jangsu refused to hand over Hong when N. Wei sent messengers demanding him. Jangsu
relocated them to Pingguo and Beifeng(Liaoning). Hong was disrespectful and thought Goguryeo inferior and pretended
to be a separate state and not obey Jangsu’s laws and demand to be called suzerain and Heavenly Prince, so Jangsu
sent troops to seize some of Hong’s ladies in waiting and seized Feng Wangren as hostage. So angry, in 438 Hong
requested LS to escort N. Yan to him. Wen (LS) sent Wang Baiju (王白驹) to Goguryeo, but Jangsu refused to give Hong,
rather, he executed Hong and all of his sons, then Wang attacked, but Wang was captured and returned to LS where
Jangsu demanded that he be imprisoned, and Wen did so for a time.
[10] Qian (F.) Liang Kingdom 320-376(7)
1) Cheng2(achieve/become/large amounts/capable/one tenth/result/alright)
Gong1(public/common/fair/official/husband's father/male animal) 成公 Zhang1(open/stretch/set
out/display/magnify/exaggerate/opening of a new shop) Mao4(luxuriant) 张茂 320-324 (277-324), courtesy name
Cheng2(achieve/become/large amounts/capable/one tenth/result/alright)
xun4(abdicate/modest/inferior) (成逊), formally Prince Cheng2lie4(strong/sacrifice oneself for a just
cause/intense)
of (F.) Liang ((前)凉成烈王) (posthumous name given by Han Zhao) or Duke Cheng of Xiping (西平成公)
(posthumous name used internally in F. Liang) Known to be first emperor because of his pardon of the people after
separation from the Jin. Started as governor when father Zhang Gui (张轨) had a stroke and couldn’t speak. When Cao
Que (曹怯) tried to take over when Gui was sick, his brother Zhang Shi (张□) came from Chang’an to Liang to kill him. Li
Hong, a magician, was drawn and quartered aby Zhang Mao after using guards Yan She (阎涉) and Zhao Ang (赵昂) to
assassinate Zhangshi. When ruling he appointed Zhangjun(ZhangShi’s son, his nephew) as heir. Built
Lingjun1(weight/your) Tower (灵钧台), but stopped by advice of Yan2(gate of a lane) Zeng (阎曾) due to its cost, then
continued after Liu Yao took beat rebel Chenan陈安 and then had Mao give 9 bestowments and Mao tributed jewels,
horses, and livestock and also strengthened capital Guzang (姑臧 Wuwei, Gansu). Got sick then died, telling Jun to
remain faithful to Jin. 2) Zhong1(loyal/devoted/honest) Cheng2(achieve/become/large amounts/capable/one
tenth/result/alright)
Gong1(public/common/fair/official/husband's father/male animal)
忠成公 Zhang Jun 张骏 324-346 (Jianxing 建兴 324-346) Zhang1(open/stretch/set
out/display/magnify/exaggerate/opening of a new shop) Jun4( fine horse/steed) (张骏) (307-346), courtesy name
Gongting2(front courtyard/front yard/law court) (公庭), formally Duke Zhongcheng of Xiping (西平忠成公,
posthumous name given by Jin Dynasty (265-420)) or Duke Wen2(culture/gentle/tatoo/coverup/writing/character)
of Xiping (西平文公, posthumous name used internally in F. Liang) Was son of ZhangShi, who was assassinated.
Made a general by Zhang Mao then named heir in the same year. He was given the name Prince of Liang by Hanzhao,
but he used Jin vested title, Duke of Xiping. Relocated people from Longxi 陇西and Nan'an 南安( Dingxi, Gansu) to Guang
姑臧. Made friends with LiXiong of Chenghan and tried to persuade him to be a Jin vassalater When news came that
LATER Zhao attacked Han Zhao, Jun used name of Duke of Xiping then attacked Qin 秦, but Han Zhao’s Prince Liu Yin
defeated general Han Pu (韩璞), S. of Yellow river and across the river, but Jun didn’t submit. After LATER Zhao beat Liu
Yao of Han Zhao, LATER Zhao asked F. Liang to submit but Jun refused. But LATER after Shi Sheng (石生) defeated
nearby Xiongnu chieftain Shi Qiang (石羌), then afraid, Jun submitted. After Shihu got control, LATER Zhao left alone F.
Liang and Jun made it powerful, stretching over Xinjiang and soviet central asia, having the Xiyu give tribute. Jun planned
to jointly attack LATER Zhao and Cheng Han jointly with Jin, but Jin emperor Cheng refused. He transferred some
authorities to heir apparent Zhang Chonghua. Shihu was angered when Jun arrogantly offered tribute, but Shipu(石璞)
calmed his anger.n 346 Jun attacked Yanqi (焉耆 Bayin'gholin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang), and Yanqui
submitted to him. Then Zhang Chonghua succeeded. 3) Huan2 Gong1(public/common/fair/official/husband's
father/male animal)
桓公 Zhang1(open/stretch/set out/display/magnify/exaggerate/opening of a new
Chong2(duplicate/repeat/layer)hua2(magnifiscent/prosperous 张重华 346-353 (Jianxing 建兴 346-353) Zhang
Chonghua (张重华) (327-353), aka Tài (safe; peaceful; extreme; most)lín (face; overlook; arrive; be present;
just before; be about to)泰临, formally Duke Jinglie of Xiping (西平敬烈公, posthumous name given by Jin
Dynasty (265-420)) or Duke Huan of Xiping (西平桓公, posthumous name used internally in F. Liang) Mother was
concubine ma. He was a mediocre ruler spending too much time in games and pleasure. He trusted flattering attendants
and rewarded them with money against Suo Zhen’s (索振) wishes. Soon after Zhang Chonghua succeeded his father,
LATER Zhao forces, under the generals Wang Zhuo (王擢) and Ma Qiu (麻秋), made a surprise attack against F. Liang,
seizing territory south of the Yellow River, including the important city of Jincheng (金城 Lanzhou, Gansu). Zhang
Chonghua commissioned Xie Ai to lead his army, and Xie was able to defeat Ma and Wang's forces in 346 and again in
347, forcing them to retreat from their original plans to destroy F. Liang, but the land south of the Yellow River could not
be recovered. Detained Jin emissary Yu Gui (俞归) from 347 to 363, who wished him to change to a Jin name. Didn’t do
anything after LATER Zhao collapsed, but Wang Zhuo(who held the land in E. Gansu; who declared loyalty to F. Yan)
surrendered to him, after being scared of F. Qin who captured LATER Zhao and Chonghua used him as a general against
F. Qin. He commissioned Wang, Zhang Hong (张弘), and Song Xiu (宋修) to lead 15,000 men against F. Qin, but 12,000,
or 80% of the army died. Zhang and Song were captured, while Wang fled back to the capital Guzang (姑臧Wuwei,
Gansu). However, Wang led 20,000 men and attacked Shanggui (上□Tianshui, Gansu), capturing most of Qin Province
(秦州E. Gansu). Zhang Chonghua then petitioned Emperor Mu of Jin,for a campaign against F. Qin who bestowed praise
but didn’t carry it out. Zhang Chonghua grew ill, and he made nine-year-old son Zhang Yaoling to be his heir. His older
brother Zhang Zuo plotted with Zhang Chonghua's attendants Zhao Zhang (赵长) and Wei Qi (尉缉) to take over power,
and Zhao and Wei falsely accused Deng Ai of crimes and had him exiled from the capital to be the governor of Jiuquan
Commandery (酒泉 Gansu). Deng submitted a petition accusing Zhang Zuo and Zhao of plotting, and in winter of that
year, when Zhang Chonghua grew gravely ill, he tried to summon Deng back to the capital to serve as Zhang Yaoling's
regent, but the order was seized by Zhang Zuo and Zhao and never announced. He soon died, and Zhang Yaoling
succeeded him, under the title Duke of Xiping. Zhang Zuo became regent, and in early 354 usurped the title from Zhang
Yaoling. 4) Ai Gong 哀公 Zhang Yaoling 张曜灵 3 months (the ninth to the twelfth month) in 353 (Jianxing 建兴 353)
Zhang Yaoling (张曜灵) (344-355), courtesy name Yuanshu (元舒), formally Duke Ai of Xiping, Yaoling was the
oldest son of his father Zhang Chonghua (Duke Jinglie). Zhang Zuo the Marquess of Changning held the power, because
he confiscated the edict making Deng Ai regent from Chonghua. Zhang Zuo, who had carried on an affair with Zhang
Chonghua's mother Princess Dowager Ma, gained her support to take over as ruler, and Zhang Yaoling was demoted to
the title of Marquess of Liangning. Zhang Zuo was a violent and frivolous ruler, and there was soon much opposition
against him, particularly after he completely broke away from Jin Dynasty (265-420). In 355, the generals Zhang Guan
and Song Hun rebelled against Zhang Zuo and announced that they wished to restore Zhang Yaoling. In response, Zhang
Zuo executed Zhang Yaoling by beating him to death. Zhang Zuo, however, would soon be overthrown and replaced by
Zhang Yaoling's younger brother Zhang Xuanjing. 5) Wei Wang 威王 Zhang Zuo 张祚 353-355 (Jianxing 建兴 353-354,
Heping 和平 354-355) Zhang Zuo (张祚) (died 355), courtesy name Taibo (太伯), formally Prince Wei of (F.) Liang
((前)凉威王) He was the only ruler of F. Liang to formally declare a break from Jin Dynasty (265-420. He was commonly
viewed as a usurper (having seized the throne from his nephew Zhang Yaoling after his brother Zhang Chonghua's death).
He was Zhang Jun's oldest son, but was not designated heir apparent. His younger brother Zhang Chonghua was, even
though neither was born of Zhang Jun's wife Princess Yan. He was praised for being knowledgeable, and either Zhang
Jun or Zhang Chonghua created him the Marquess of Changning. Zhang Zuo was trusted by his brother, and despite
warnings by Chang Ju (常据) and (Deng)Xie Ai, Zhang Chonghua, for a long time, intended for Zhang Zuo to serve as
regent for his son Zhang Yaoling. Zhang Chonghua was gravely ill, he ordered that Xie(Deng Ai) be recalled to be regent - but Zhang Zuo and Zhang Chonghua's attendants Zhao Zhang (赵长) and Wei Qi (尉缉), who had conspired to take over
power, blocked Zhang Chonghua's order and instead forged an order making Zhang Zuo regent. Zhang Chonghua soon
died, and he was succeeded by Zhang Yaoling, at age nine, but real power was in Zhang Zuo's hands. Zhang Zuo, who
had by this point engaged in an affair with Zhang Chonghua's mother Princess Dowager Ma, soon made his move to
formally take over. With Princess Ma's approval, Zhang Yaoling was deposed in early 354 and replaced with Zhang Zuo,
who soon showed his cruel side, as he put Xie(Deng) Ai and Zhang Chonghua's wife Princess Pei to death. He
completely repudiated the Jin era name Jianxing (declared by Emperor Min of Jin and used in at least some facility by
every Zhang patriarch since his grandfather Zhang Shi (张□)) and changed the era name to Heping.
Zhang Zuo nevertheless sent his general Wang Zhuo (王擢) to assist the Jin general Sima Xun (司马勋), who helped Huan Wen
against F. Qin. Wang told Zhang Zuo that Huan was capable and ambitious, which caused Zhang Zuo to panic. After Huan was forced
to withdraw after his food supplies ran out, however, Zhang Zuo attacked Wang, forcing Wang to surrender to F. Qin. Zhang Zuo's
rule, according to traditional accounts, was one filled with debauchery, cruelty, and extravagance. He was said to not only had an
affair with Princess Dowager Ma, but committed incest with all of Zhang Chonghua's daughters. He became apprehensive of his
general Zhang Guan (张□), so he sent Zhang Guan on an expedition, but sent another army to ambush him. The news leaked,
however, and Zhang Guan turned his army against the capital Guzang (姑臧 Wuwei, Gansu). He declared that Zhang Zuo should be
deposed and Zhang Yaoling should be restored. He was soon joined by another major general, Song Hun (宋混). In response, Zhang
Zuo had his young nephew put to death by beating. That action could not save him, however, as Zhang Guan and Song continued their
advances on the capitalater Zhang Zuo ordered that Zhang Guan's brother Zhang Ju (张琚) and son Zhang Song (张嵩) be arrested and
executed, but instead Zhang Ju and Zhang Song started an uprising within Guzang and opened the city gates to welcome in Song's
forces. Zhang Zuo's F. coconspirators Zhao Zhang and Wei Qi became apprehensive and forced Princess Dowager Ma to declare
Zhang Chonghua's younger son Zhang Xuanjing as the new ruler. Guards still loyal to Zhang Zuo killed Zhao and Wei, but soon fell
apart in the confusion, and Zhang Zuo was killed. Song cut off his head and put his two sons to death. 6) Jing Dao Gong 敬悼公 or
Chong Gong 冲公 Zhang Xuanjing 张玄靖 355-363 (Jianxing 建兴 355-361, Shengping 升平 361-363) Zhang Zuo (张
祚) (died 355), courtesy name Taibo (太伯), formally Prince Wei of (F.) Liang ((前)凉威王) Zhang Xuanjing (张玄靓)
(350━363), courtesy name Yuan'an (元安), formally Duke Jingdao of Xiping (西平敬悼公, posthumous name given
by Jin Dynasty (265-420)) or Duke Chong of Xiping (西平冲公, posthumous name used internally in F. Liang) He
became the titular ruler at the young age of five after his violent uncle Zhang Zuo, who had seized the title from his older
brother Zhang Yaoling and subsequently killed him, was himself killed in a coup.The years of his rule were characterized
by political instability, as he went through a progression of regents who overthrew each other -- Zhang Guan (张□), Song
Hun (宋混), Song Cheng (宋澄), Zhang Yong (张邕), and finally his uncle Zhang Tianxi, who eventually had him killed and
took over the title in 363. During Zhang Guan's regency, he temporarily used the title Prince of Liang, but after Song Hun
overthrew Zhang Guan, he again used the Jin-created title of Duke of Xiping. Father Zhang Chonghua (Duke Jinglie). His
mother was likely Zhang Chonghua's concubine Lady Guo He had an older brother, Zhang Yaoling, who was his father's
heir apparent. In 353, Zhang Chonghua died, and Zhang Yaoling became the ruler (as Duke Ai), but actual power was in
the hands of Zhang Chonghua's older brother Zhang Zuo, who was having an affair with Zhang Chonghua's mother
Princess Dowager Ma and received her support to depose Zhang Yaoling and claim the throne himself. After declaring
Liang independence, he made Zhang Xuanjing the Marquess of Liangwu. In 356, the violent and capricious Zhang Zuo
was overthrown and killed by the generals Zhang Guan and Song Hun. Initially, Song had Zhang Xuanjing claim the Jincreated title of Duke of Xiping, a title that his ancestors had carried for generations, but Zhang Guan overruled Song and
had the young ruler claim the title Prince of Liang, a title that Jin had declined to grant previously. Zhang Guan served as
regent. Under the regency of Zhang Guan Despite his having Zhang Xuanjing claim a non-Jin-created title, Zhang Guan
nevertheless continued to claim that F. Liang was a Jin vassalater In 356, however, under diplomatic and implied military
pressure from F. Qin, Zhang Guan, on Zhang Xuanjing's behalf, formally submitted to F. Qin as a vassalater Zhang Guan
governed with a heavy hand, based on his own whim. He became suspicious of Song Hun and wanted to kill him and his
brother Song Cheng (宋澄), and then depose Zhang Xuanjing and take the throne himself. Song Hun received news of
this, however, and started an uprising within the capital Guzang (姑臧 Wuwei, Gansu). Song's and Zhang Guan's forces
battled within the city, but eventually Song prevailed, and Zhang Guan and his brother Zhang Ju (张琚) committed suicide.
Their clan was slaughtered. Song Hun became regent. Under the regencies of Song Hun and Song Cheng Song
emphasized faithfulness and tolerance. He also had Zhang Xuanjing disclaim the title Prince of Liang and return to the
Jin-created title Duke of Xiping. After Song Hun died, his brother Song Cheng became regent, but Song Cheng, not as
skillful as Song Hun, was soon killed by the general Zhang Yong (张邕), and his clan was slaughtered. Zhang Yong and
Zhang Xuanjing's uncle Zhang Tianxi became coregents,but with Zhang Yong having the bulk of power. Under the
regencies of Zhang Yong and Zhang Tianxi After becoming regent, Zhang Yong became arrogant, sexually immoral, and
dictatorial, and he often executed officials, causing the nobles and the officials to be fearfulater Zhang Tianxi's assistants
Liu Su (刘肃), comparing Zhang Yong to Zhang Zuo, persuaded him that he needed to act against Zhang Yong, and
LATER in 361, Zhang Tianxi had Liu Su and another assistant, Zhao Baiju (赵白驹) attempt to assassinate Zhang Yong,
but failed. Zhang Yong then gathered his troops and attacked Zhang Tianxi, but Zhang Tianxi persuaded Zhang Yong's
troops that he was avenging the Song clan and that Zhang Yong's next move was going to be to slaughtered the royal
Zhang clan. Zhang's forces, hearing this, abandoned him, and Zhang Yong committed suicide. His clan was slaughtered,
and Zhang Tianxi became sole regent. Zhang Tianxi ended the practice of using Emperor Min of Jin's era name Jianxing
and instead started using the current era name of Jin Dynasty (at the time, Emperor Ai's Shengping), to show even
greater affinity with Jin. Princess Dowager Ma died, and Zhang Xuanjing honored Lady Guo as princess dowager. She
became concerned that Zhang Tianxi was acting dictatorally, and she conspired with the high level official Zhang Qin (张
钦) to kill Zhang Tianxi, but the news leaked, and Zhang Qin and other conspirators were put to death. Zhang Xuanjing
became fearful and offered to yield the throne to Zhang Tianxi, but Zhang Tianxi refused. A month LATER, however, he
had Liu Su lead soldiers into the palace to assassinate the 13-year-old Zhang Xuanjing, but claimed that Zhang Xuanjing
died of an illness. Zhang Tianxi took the throne himself.Era name * Taishi (太始 tai sh_) 355━356
After 356, the era name of Emperor Min of Jin, Jianxing, was used until 361, when F. Liang switched to using the current
era names used by Jin -- therefore, Emperor Mu's Shengping in 361 and Emperor Ai's Longhe in 362-363.
7) Dao4(mourn/grieve) Gong 悼公 Zhang1(stretch) Tian1 (overhead) xī (tin) 张天锡 364-376 (346 ━ 406) aka
Gongchún( pure) gǔ( good fortune) 公纯嘏 LATER Chungu (纯嘏), nickname Dú (single)
huo (独活), He was the youngest son of Zhang Jun (Duke Zhongcheng), and he seized the throne from his nephew
Zhang Xuanjing (Duke Jingdao) in 363. During his reign, he claimed vassal status with regard to both Jin Dynasty (265420) and F. Qin, but eventually, under F. Qin pressure to completely submit, he tried to resist militarily, but could not and
surrendered in 376, ending F. Liang. He became a F. Qin official (with the title Marquess of Guiyi (归义侯)), but after F.
Qin's failed attempt to conquer Jin in 383 at the Battle of Fei River, he fled to Jin. Emperor Xiaowu, uneasy of changing
the names, nevertheless restored him to the title of Duke of Xiping. He died in 406, 30 years after his state was destroyed.
Early life Zhang Tianxi was born in 346, the same year that his father Zhang Jun died, His mother was Zhang Jun's
concubine Lady Liu. In 354, Zhang Zuo created him the Marquess of Changning. Zhang Tianxi visited the Jin capital
Jiankang, and it was this time that his non-standard, three-character courtesy name Gongchungu was apparently joked
about, so he dropped the initial character "Gong" and made it Chungu. As Zhang Xuanjing's regent
In 361, the capable regent Song Hun died and was replaced by his brother Song Cheng (宋澄), who was then overthrown
in a coup LATER that year by the general Zhang Yong (张邕). He honored his mother Lady Liu as princess dowager, and
he immediately sought out an official Jin commission as the Duke of Xiping, and released the Jin messenger Yu Gui (俞
归), who had been detained by Zhang Chonghua in 347 after offending him by refusing to grant him the Prince of Liang
title that he wanted. Reign Zhang Tianxi's reign was regarded as one that was filled by arbitrariness, as he apparently
allowed Liu Su, Zhao Baiju, and other trusted followers, none of whom was older than 20-years-old at the time of his
ascension, govern as they wished. (He himself was 17 when he became duke.) He even formally adopted Liu and Liang
Jing (梁景) as his own sons, even though they were around the same age as he. The experienced generals did not have
sense of loyalty to him, but didn’t openly defy him. In 364, Fu Jian, the emperor of F. Qin, conferred on Zhang Tianxi the
same Jin-conferred titles that he had claimed, and Zhang Tianxi did not refuse, implicitly submitting as a vassal to F. Qin.
Late in 366, however, he sent messengers to the borders with F. Qin, declaring an end to the states' relations. LATER that
year, Li Yan (李俨), a warlord who had occupied Longxi Commandery (陇西 Dingxi, Gansu) and become a F. Qin vassal
but who had also maintained contact with F. Liang, formally declared independence and cut off relations with F. Qin and F.
Liang, occupying the commanderies around him. In early 367, Zhang Tianxi personally attacked Li and took a number of
cities from him. Li became fearful and apologized to F. Qin, seeking assistance. The F. Qin prime minister Wang Meng led
a force to try to relieve Li's capital Fuhan (□罕 Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu), and Wang and Zhang's forces
came to a stalemate at Fuhan. Wang proposed a compromise─that Zhang would be allowed to capture Li's people and
bring them back to his domain, while Wang would be allowed to carry Li east. Zhang Tianxi accepted, and a major
confrontation with F. Qin was averted. In 371, after having destroyed F. Yan in 370, Fu Jian sent messengers Liang Shu
(梁殊) and Yan Fu (阎负) to F. Liang, along with the previously captured F. Liang general Yin Ju (阴据) and a letter from
Wang Meng, in which Wang tried to intimidate Zhang Tianxi into submission. Impressed with F. Qin's show of force,
Zhang Tianxi became fearful and apologized, again submitting himself as a F. Qin vassalater LATER that year, however,
fearful that F. Qin had based large number of troops at his borders, he built an altar west of the capital Guzang (姑臧
Wuwei, Gansu) and had his subordinates pledge an oath both to himself and to Jin, and then tried to petition the
paramount Jin general Huan Wen to jointly attack F. Qin with him. (Huan's reaction is unknown, but no campaign was
actually carried out.) Under F. Qin threat, however, Zhang Tianxi became more obsessed with drinking and women than
before, ignoring the duties of state. He also deposed his first heir apparent, Zhang Dahuai (张大怀) and made the son of
his favorite concubine Consort Jiao, Zhang Dayu (张大豫), heir apparent. During one illness, he told two other favorite
concubines, Consorts Yuan and Xue, that they should remember how much he favored them. When he fell very ill and
appeared to be on the verge of death, they therefore committed suicide. He LATER recovered and buried them with honor.
In 376, Fu Jian decided to try to conquer or to intimidate Zhang Tianxi into complete submission. He sent a major force of
130,000 men, commanded by the general Gou Chang (苟苌) to head toward Zhang Tianxi's domain, but ahead of the
force sent Yan and Liang again to try to persuade Zhang Tianxi to completely submit and visit the F. Qin capital Chang'an
for an official visit. Zhang Tianxi, believing that he would never be released if he went to Chang'an, decided to resist, and
he cruelly executed Yan and Liang by ordering his officials to fire arrows at them, declaring, "If you cannot hit them, then
you are showing you are not of the same heart as mine." He sent the experienced general Ma Jian (马建) to resist, but Ma,
who had already been unhappy about Zhang Tianxi's rule, surrendered to F. Qin forces. The other armies that Zhang
Tianxi sent were all defeated by F. Qin forces, and the last one commanded by Chang Ju (常据) was annihilated. Zhang
Tianxi himself tried to lead an army to resist, but uprisings in Guzang started as soon as he tried to leave Guzang. He
became fearful and returned to Guzang and then surrendered. F. Liang was at its end. After the fall of F. Liang Fu Jian
spared Zhang Tianxi and gave him a mid-level government post, creating him the Marquess of Guiyi. (Before the
campaign started, Fu Jian had also started building a mansion for Zhang in Chang'an, and by the time that Zhang
surrendered, the mansion was complete.) In 383, Zhang was attending to Fu Jian when F. Qin forces, trying to destroy Jin,
was defeated by Jin forces at the Battle of Fei River. Zhang took this opportunity to flee to Jin along with the captured Jin
generals Zhu Xu (朱序) and Xu Yuanxi (徐元喜). (His son Zhang Dayu, who was unable to flee with him, LATER tried to
reestablish F. Liang, but was defeated and killed by LATER Liang's founder Lu Guang in 387.) Emperor Xiaowu of Jin
made him a mid-level official and restored him to the title of Duke of Xiping, remembering his ancestors' loyalty. He
became known for his literary skills, but the Jin officials largely disrespected him for losing his state and being captured by
F. Qin. At some point, his mental state began to deteriorate (perhaps under Alzheimer's disease or some other illness that
afflicted the mind) and was no longer given important posts. By the time that Sima Yuanxian(11th), the cousin of Emperor
An(10th), was in power (about 390s) he often summoned Zhang to make fun of him, but did consider Zhang's poverty and
made him a commandery governor. LATER, after Huan Xuan overthrew Sima Yuanxian, he wanted to use Zhang's family
reputation for military purposes, and he gave Zhang the title of governor of Liang Province (凉州, modern central and W.
Gansu, F. Liang's domain, but which Jin did not control at the time). Zhang died in 406. Era name * Taiqing (太清 tai
q_ng) 363-376
[11] Hou (LATER) Liang Kingdom 386 AD - 403 AD(4)
1) Tai Zu 太祖 Yi4(exemplary) Wu3(swordplay/valiant/fierce) Wang 懿武王 Lu Guang 吕光 386-399 (Taian 太安 386389, Lunjia 麟嘉 389-396, Longfei 龙飞 396-399) Lu Guang (吕光) (337-400), aka Shi4(lifetime/generation/world)
ming2(bright/clever/distinct/explicit/understand) (世明), He was initially a F. Qin general, but in light of F. Qin's
collapse starting in 384, he decided to found his own state, initially including nearly all of modern Gansu. As his reign
continued, however, his domain dwindled after S. Liang and N. Liang declared independence. His death in 400 left
LATER Liang in an unstable state, and it would be no more by 403. Early life and career as F. Qin general Lu Guang was
ethnically Di (although he claimed ancestry from an ethnically Han man named Lu Wenhe (吕文和) who fled from Pei
County (in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu, the same county that Han Dynasty emperors' ancestors came) from a disaster and
who settled in Di lands). He was born in 337, when his father Lu Polou (吕婆楼) was a follower of the Di chieftain and
LATER Zhao general Pu Hong (蒲洪, who LATER changed his family name from Pu to Fu). Eventually, after Fu Hong's
son Fu Jian founded F. Qin, Lu Polou served on the staff of Fu Jian's nephew Fu Ji_n (notice different tone) the Prince of
Donghai. After Fu Ji_n overthrew Fu Jian's violent and capricious son and successor Fu Sheng in 357, Fu Ji_n claimed
the throne and made Lu Polou one of his senior advisors. Lu Guang, however, was not well-regarded by his father's
colleagues, because he did not study much and instead concentrated his efforts on hunting and riding. However, Fu Ji_n's
prime minister Wang Meng valued him and persuaded Fu Ji_n to make him a generalater He first received renown when
he, while fighting with the army of the warlord Zhang Ping (张平) in 358, defeated and captured Zhang Ping's fierce
adoptive son Zhang Hao (张蚝). When Fu Ji_n's cousins Fu Sou (苻叟) the Duke of Wei, Fu Liu (苻柳) the Duke of Jin, Fu
Wu (苻武) the Duke of Yan, and brother Fu Shuang (苻双) the Duke of Zhao rebelled together in 367, Lu Guang was one
of the generals sent against Fu Shuang and Fu Wu, and he contributed much to defeating the rebellion. LATER, after he
served under Wang Meng in the campaign destroying rival F. Yan in 390, he was created the Marquess of Duting. In 378,
Lu Guang was serving as the assistant to Fu Ji_n's cousin Fu Chong (苻重) the Duke of Beihai, who, as the governor of
Yu Province (豫州, modern Henan) was in charge of the important city Luoyang. Fu Chong planned a rebellion, and Fu
Ji_n learned this and ordered Lu to arrest Fu Chong, which Lu did successfully. (However, Fu Ji_n did not execute Fu
Chong but only relieved him of his posts and not even his ducal title.) In 380, inexplicably, Fu Ji_n made Fu Chong the
defender of Jicheng (蓟城, in modern Beijing), and Fu Chong soon rebelled along with his brother, the powerful general
Fu Luo (苻洛) the Duke of Xingtang. Lu Guang was one of the generals in charge of the campaign against Fu Luo and Fu
Chong, and he defeated Fu Chong and killed him, resulting in Fu Luo's subsequent defeat and capture. In 382, in
response to requests by the kings of two Xiyu states─Xiumiduo (休密驮) the King of Shanshan and Mitian (弥□) the King
of Front Cheshi (roughly modern Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang) -- Fu Ji_n commissioned Lu Guang to lead an army of
100,000 infantry soldiers and 5,000 cavalry soldiers to Xiyu, with the intent to, like Han Dynasty did, establish a governor
general over Xiyu. The army departed the F. Qin capital Chang'an in spring 383, with the two kings as guides. By early
384, most Xiyu kingdoms had submitted, but Bo Chun (帛纯) the King of Qiuzi (or Kucha, 龟兹, in modern Aksu
Prefecture, Xinjiang) resisted, and Lu put Qiuzi under siege, forcing Bochun to flee. He made Bo Chun's brother Bo Zhen (
帛震) the new king, and he also, in a move to show F. Qin suzerainty over Xiyu, ordered the Xiyu kings to turn over the
Han Dynasty imperial rods that they had still possessed and exchanged them for F. Qin ones. By this point, however, F.
Qin was disintegrating in light of rebellions that happened after its defeat at the Battle of Fei River against Jin, and
although Fu Ji_n wanted to make Lu the governor general of Xiyu, he was unable to have the commission delivered to Lu.
While at Qiuzi, Lu met the Buddhist monk Kumarajiva, and when he, in 385, considered settling in Qiuzi (after hearing of
the unrest F. Qin was suffering from), Kumarajiva advised against it, stating that Qiuzi was a land of misfortune and, if he
headed back east, he would find a homeland on the way. Lu therefore started to head back east, carrying the plunder he
had gathered in Xiyu. F. Qin's governor of the rich Liang Province (凉州, modern central and W. Gansu and E. Xinjiang),
Liang Xi (梁熙), was weary of Lu's intentions, and he considered sealing the borders and refusing Lu entry. His advisor
Yang Han (杨翰) suggested that he cut off the Gaowu Valley (高梧谷, in modern Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang) or Yiwu
Passes (伊吾关, in modern Kumul Prefecture, Xinjiang) to defeat Lu by thirst, but Liang refused. Yang then surrendered to
Lu, who quickly advanced on the capital of Liang Province, Guzang (姑臧, in modern Wuwei, Gansu), capturing Liang Xi
and quickly controlling most of Liang Province. For the next several years, he battled local warlords. In winter 386, upon
hearing the news of Fu Ji_n's death (Fu Ji_n having died in 385), he changed the era name to Tai'an -- signifying a
declaration of independence, although at this point he claimed no formal regal or imperial titles─and therefore 386 is
typically considered the date of LATER Liang's founding.
Early reign -- laying LATER Liang's foundation Around the new year 387, Lu Guang claimed the title of Duke of Jiuquan─
the first formal title of nobility that he claimed for himself that showed a claim on his territory. He concentrated on
consolidating his power in Liang Province, while appearing to ignore the deadlock that what remained of F. Qin (under Fu
Deng) and LATER Qin (under Yao Chang) were having, to his southeast. In fall 387, Lu Guang captured and executed
Zhang Dayu (张大豫), the son of F. Liang's last prince Zhang Tianxi, who had tried for several years to reestablish F.
Liang. It appeared that Lu was not a particularly effective governor of his domain, and there were repeated rebellions
against his rule. In response, he instituted strict laws. His official Duan Ye tried to speak against such strict laws in 388,
and while Lu Guang indicated that he agreed with Duan, it appeared that he did not actually make things easier for his
people. In spring 389, Lu Guang claimed the greater title the Prince of Sanhe. Around this time, his wife Lady Shi, son Lu
Shao, and brother Lu Deshi (吕德世) arrived in Guzang after having spent several years in Chouchi. He created Lady Shi
princess and Lu Shao heir apparent. In 391, Lu Guang tried to make a surprise attack against W. Qin while its prince, Qifu
Gangui, was attacking the rebel Mo Yigan (没奕干), but Qifu Gangui quickly responded upon hearing about the attack,
and so Lu Guang withdrew. This appeared to, however, start a series of battles with W. Qin. In 392, Lu Guang sent his
brother Lu Bao (吕宝) against W. Qin and son Lu Zuan against W. Qin's vassal, the Qiang chief Peng Xi'nian (彭奚念),
and both Lu Bao and Lu Zuan were defeated, although Lu Guang then personally attacked Peng, capturing Peng's city
Fuhan (□罕, in modern Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu) and forcing him to flee. In 394, Lu Guang received
nominal submission by the powerful Xianbei chief Tufa Wugu, the words of whose advisor Shizhen Ruoliu (石真若留)
indirectly showed that LATER Liang was in its prime at this point─as Shizhen regarded LATER Liang capable of
destroying the Tufa tribe at willater
In fall 394, Lu Guang sent his son Lu Fu (吕覆) to take up the defense post at Gaochang (高昌, in modern Turpan
Prefecture, Xinjiang), and at this point, LATER Liang appeared to be in control of a substantial part of Xiyu. In fall 395, Lu
Guang made a major attack against W. Qin, and Qifu Gangui submitted as a vassal, sending his son Qifu Chibo (乞伏敕
勃) as a hostage. However, Qifu Gangui soon regretted this arrangement, and executed his officials Mi Guizhou (密贵周)
and Mozhe Gudi (莫者□羝), who suggested it. Presumably, he also repudiated his submission to Lu Guang. In 396, Lu
Guang claimed the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang), signifying a claim to imperial title. He created Lu Shao crown
prince, and created 20 of his brothers, sons, and nephews dukes or marquesses, and he bestowed titles on his officials as
wellater However, when he, as a part of these commissions, he tried to grant titles on Tufa Wugu, Tufa Wugu told Lu
Guang's ambassador: Heavenly Prince Lu's sons are all corrupt and immoralater His nephews are particularly violent
and cruelater People both near and far are angry and ready to rebelater How can I go against the people and accept
these unjust titles? I am about to claim a regal title myself. Tufa therefore rejected the titles, although he kept the
musicians and artisans that Lu Guang sent to him as part of the title bestowment. While Tufa's remarks were intended to
have a propaganda effect, they were probably not inaccurate, based on LATER events. Late reign -- gradual collapse of
LATER Liang LATER Liang's power appeared to start to fall apart in 397, when Lu Guang, determined to punish Qifu
Gangui for his shifting positions, launched a major attack against W. Qin's capital Xicheng (西城, in modern Baiyin,
Gansu). This frightened Qifu Gangui's officials enough that they recommended a retreat to Chengji (成纪, in modern
Tianshui, Gansu) to the east, but Qifu Gangui, seeing weaknesses in LATER Liang's forces despite their numbers, stood
his ground. LATER Liang forces were initially successful, capturing several major W. Qin cities, but Qifu Gangui tricked Lu
Guang's brother and major general Lu Yan (吕延) the Duke of Tianshui into believing that he was retreating, and Lu Yan
fell into a trap Qifu Gangui set and was killed. Lu Guang, in fear, withdrew to Guzang. Soon after Lu Yan's defeat, Tufa
Wugu declared himself independent from LATER Liang, establishing S. Liang and capturing Jincheng (金城, in modern
Lanzhou, Gansu), which LATER Liang had just captured from W. Qin. Lu Guang sent his general Dou Gou (窦苟) to
attack Tufa Wugu, but was defeated. After Lu Yan's death, Lu Guang believed false accusations against Lu Yan's
assistants, the brothers Juqu Luochou (沮渠罗仇) and Juqu Quzhou (沮渠麴粥) and executed them. Their nephew Juqu
Mengxun escorted their caskets back to their home territory of Zhangye (张掖, in modern Zhangye, Gansu) and then
persuaded the various Xiongnu tribes to rebel against LATER Liang. Initially, Lu Guang sent Lu Zuan to attack Juqu
Mengxun and chased him into the mountains, but Juqu Mengxun's cousin Juqu Nancheng (沮渠男成) also rebelled and
sieged the LATER Liang city Jiankang (建康, in modern Zhangye, Gansu, not to be confused with Jin's capital of the same
name). Juqu Nancheng persuaded the governor of Jiankang Commandery, Duan Ye, who was already fearful that Lu
Guang would blame him for the Juqus' rebellion, to join them, and Juqu Nancheng offered the title of Duke of Jiankang to
Duan Ye, thus establishing N. Liang. Lu Zuan attacked the nascent state, but could not destroy it. At this time, the
magician Guo Nen (郭_), whom Lu Guang and his people had trusted greatly, prophesied that LATER Liang was about to
be destroyed, and therefore started a rebellion himself within the capital Guzang, capturing even Lu Guang's eight
grandsons and executing them cruelly. Guo soon supported the general Yang Gui (杨轨) as the leader of the rebellion. Lu
Zuan was forced to abandon his attack against Duan and return to Guzang. Eventually, however, Yang and Guo were
defeated by LATER Liang forces and forced to flee to and submit to S. Liang and W. Qin, respectively. From this point on,
however, LATER Liang, by now highly reduced in size and strength, were subject to constant attacks by S. Liang, N.
Liang, and W. Qin, causing it to be unable to hold its territory. By 398, the W. parts of the LATER Liang (including Xiyu
holdings) had fallen to N. Liang as wellater In 399, Lu Shao and Lu Zuan launched another attack on N. Liang, but with S.
Liang coming to N. Liang's aid, they were forced to withdraw.
Around the new year 400, Lu Guang grew gravely ill, and he ordered Lu Shao to take the throne and the title Heavenly
Prince; he himself claimed the title of retired emperor. Realizing that Lu Shao lacked talents and ability, he spoke to Lu
Shao and his brothers Lu Zuan the Duke of Taiyuan and Lu Hong (吕弘) the Duke of Changshan, telling Lu Shao to trust
his brothers and Lu Zuan and Lu Hong to serve Lu Shao faithfully. He died LATER that day. Soon, however, Lu Zuan and
Lu Hong would turn on Lu Shao, and when they started a coup, Lu Shao committed suicide, and Lu Zuan took the throne,
starting a series of destabilizing internal disturbances that, in combination with the attacks by the surrounding states, led
to LATER Liang's surrender to LATER Qin in 403.
2) Yin3(hidden) Wang 隐王 Lu Shao4(carry on/continue) 吕绍 399 (Longfei 龙飞 399) Lu Shao (吕绍) (died 400),
courtesy name Yong3ye4 (永业), formally Prince Yin of (LATER) Liang ((后)凉隐王), was briefly an emperor (with
the title of "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang)) of the Chinese/Di state LATER Liang. He was a son of the founding
emperor Lu Guang (Emperor Yiwu), but not his oldest son. Rather, he was considered Lu Guang's rightful heir because
he was born of Lu Guang's wife. (His mother is therefore likely Princess Shi, although he could also be born of an even
earlier wife.) His birth year is unknown, but he referred to himself as not yet 19 when he took the throne briefly in 400.
During Lu Guang's reign When Lu Guang founded LATER Liang in 386 (after he had taken over Liang Province (凉州,
modern central and W. Gansu after a return for a military campaign in central Asia on F. Qin's behalf), Lu Shao and Lu
Guang's wife Lady Shi were not with him -- they had remained in the F. Qin capital Chang'an during Lu Guang's
campaign, and had fled to Chouchi when Chang'an subsequently fell to W. Yan in 385. In 389, they, along with Lu
Guang's brother Lu Deshi (吕德世), arrived in LATER Liang territory. Lu Guang, then with the title Prince of Sanhe,
created Lu Shao his heir apparent. In 396, after Lu Guang claimed the title of "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang, roughly
equivalent to emperor), he created Lu Shao crown prince. Lu Shao, however, was not Lu Guang's oldest son -- he had at
least two older brothers, Lu Zuan the Duke of Taiyuan and Lu Hong (吕弘) the Duke of Changshan, both of whom were
regarded for their military abilities. Lu Shao was considered weak and untalented, and LATER Liang's enemies (including
S. Liang and N. Liang) took this into account when they attacked LATER Liang. The only military campaign that Lu Shao
was recorded to have commanded was one in summer 399, when he and Lu Zuan attacked N. Liang's prince Duan Ye.
After Duan Ye sought aid from S. Liang's prince Tufa Wugu, and Tufa Wugu's brother Tufa Lilugu arrived to assist Duan
Ye, Lu Shao and Lu Zuan were forced to withdraw. Around the new year 400, Lu Guang grew seriously illater He ordered
Lu Shao to take the throne as Heavenly Prince, while he himself claimed the title of retired emperor. Lu Zuan was put in
charge of the military forces, and Lu Hong the government. Lu Guang told the three to be united, and that Lu Shao should
trust his brothers. He also told Lu Zuan and Lu Hong that Lu Shao might not be talented, but was the rightful heir, and that
they should assist him faithfully. Lu Guang died LATER that day. Coup and death Initially, Lu Shao was not going to
immediately announce Lu Guang's death, in fear that it might draw enemy attacks, but Lu Zuan broke down the door and
forcibly entered the palace and mourned. Lu Shao became fearful and offered the throne to Lu Zuan, but Lu Zuan
refused. Lu Shao's cousin Lu Chao (吕超) then secretly suggested to Lu Shao that Lu Zuan be arrested and executed, but
Lu Shao refused. However, soon thereafter (either that day or at most several days after), Lu Shao sent his assistant
Jiang Ji (姜纪) to encourage Lu Zuan to seize the throne. At night, then, Lu Zuan led his personal guards to attack the
palace. Lu Hong joined him. Lu Shao's guards initially resisted, and one of them, Qi Cong (齐从), hit Lu Zuan in the head
with a sword but could not kill him. Lu Chao also tried to assist Lu Shao, but their forces were fearful of Lu Zuan and
collapsed. Lu Shao fled to a secondary palace and committed suicide. Lu Zuan took the throne, and when he gave Lu
Shao a posthumous name, he only referred to Lu Shao as prince, not emperor. Personal information
* Father
o Lu Guang (Emperor Yiwu)
* Mother
o Princess/Empress Shi
* Wife
o Lady Zhang
3) Ling2(quick/clever) Wang2(king/great) 灵王 Luu3 Zuan3(compile/edit/woman's hair bun) 吕纂 399-401 (Xianning
咸宁 399-401) Lu Zuan (吕纂) (died 401), courtesy name Yong3xu4(order/mental state/thread/task) (永绪), formally
Emperor Ling of (LATER) Liang ((后)凉灵帝), was an emperor of the Chinese/Di state LATER Liang. He was the oldest
son of the founding emperor Lu Guang (Emperor Yiwu), but was not Lu Guang's rightful heir, as he was not born of Lu
Guang's wife Princess Shi. After Lu Guang died around new year 400, however, he seized the throne from his younger
brother Lu Shao in a coup. Lu Zuan was considered a capable general tactically, but not skilled in general strategy, and
during his reign LATER Liang's strength continued to be sapped, as it was during the late reign of Lu Guang, by attacks of
rivals N. Liang and S. Liang. Despite this, Lu Zuan continued to occupy himself with hunting and other unimportant
matters. In 401, he was assassinated by his cousin Lu Chao (吕超), who then supported his own older brother Lu Long as
emperor. During Lu Guang's reign Lu Zuan was described as favoring exercises in archery, horsemanship, and hunting
when he was young, when he was a university student at the F. Qin capital Chang'an during the reign of Fu Ji_n, where
he was not studious. When F. Qin collapsed in the midst of multiple rebellions in 384 and 385, Lu Zuan fled initially to
Shanggui (上□, in modern Tianshui, Gansu), and then to Guzang (姑臧, in modern Wuwei, Gansu), where his father had
established LATER Liang and placed his capitalater The first actual historical reference to Lu Zuan was in 392, when he
served as one of his father Lu Guang's generals in his campaign against Qifu Gangui, the prince of W. Qin, and Lu Zuan
was unsuccessful in his attack on Qifu Gangui. In 397, Lu Guang, who had by then claimed imperial title, sent his son Lu
Zuan (then referred to as the Duke of Taiyuan) and his brother Lu Yan (吕延) against Qifu Gangui, who had previously
agreed to be a vassal and then changed his mind. Initially, Lu Zuan was successful, capturing the important city Jincheng
(金城, in modern Lanzhou, Gansu), but after his uncle was defeated and killed in a trap laid by Qifu Gangui, Lu Zuan was
forced to withdraw. Throughout the rest of Lu Guang's reign, Lu Zuan became the general that his father relied on the
most. In 397, when the Xiongnu general Juqu Mengxun rebelled, Lu Guang sent Lu Zuan against him, and Lu Zuan was
initially successful in defeating Juqu Mengxun and forcing him to flee. However, after Juqu Mengxun's cousin Juqu
Nancheng (沮渠男成) persuaded the official Duan Ye to join them and establish N. Liang, Lu Guang was faced with a
serious rebellion at Guzang itself─a rebellion by the general Yang Gui (杨轨) and the magician Guo Nen (郭_), and Lu
Zuan, while he had Duan Ye's capital Jiankang (建康, in modern Zhangye, Gansu) under siege, was forced to withdraw to
fight Yang and Guo, allowing Duan Ye's nascent state to survive. In 398, Lu Zuan and his brother Lu Hong (吕弘) joined
forces and defeated Yang and Guo, forcing them to surrender to S. Liang and W. Qin, respectively. In 399, Lu Zuan and
his brother Lu Shao, Lu Guang's heir apparent, attacked N. Liang, and were initially successfully, but after S. Liang's
prince Tufa Wugu sent Yang Gui and his brother Tufa Lilugu to aid N. Liang, Lu Zuan and Lu Shao were forced to
withdraw. Coup against Lu Shao Around the new year 400, Lu Guang grew seriously illater He ordered Lu Shao to take
the throne as "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang), while he himself claimed the title of retired emperor. Lu Zuan was put in
charge of the military forces, and Lu Hong the government. Lu Guang told the three to be united, and that Lu Shao should
trust his brothers. He also told Lu Zuan and Lu Hong that Lu Shao might not be talented, but was the rightful heir, and that
they should assist him faithfully. Lu Guang died LATER that day. Initially, Lu Shao was not going to immediately announce
Lu Guang's death, in fear that it might draw enemy attacks, but Lu Zuan broke down the door and forcibly entered the
palace and mourned. Lu Shao became fearful and offered the throne to Lu Zuan, but Lu Zuan refused. Lu Shao's cousin
Lu Chao (吕超) then secretly suggested to Lu Shao that Lu Zuan be arrested and executed, but Lu Shao refused.
However, soon thereafter (either that day or at most several days after), Lu Shao sent his assistant Jiang Ji (姜纪) to
encourage Lu Zuan to seize the throne. At night, then, Lu Zuan led his personal guards to attack the palace. Lu Hong
joined him. Lu Shao's guards initially resisted, and one of them, Qi Cong (齐从), hit Lu Zuan in the head with a sword but
could not kill him. Lu Chao also tried to assist Lu Shao, but their forces were fearful of Lu Zuan and collapsed. Lu Shao
fled to a secondary palace and committed suicide. Lu Zuan took the throne. Reign Lu Zuan initially entrusted Lu Hong
with all governmental matters, and also tried to show generosity by pardoning Qi Chong and Lu Chao. However, Lu Zuan
and Lu Hong soon became suspicious of each other, and in spring 400, Lu Hong rebelled with his troops. Lu Zuan
defeated Lu Hong's rebellion, and permitted his troops to pillage even the capital city Guzang itself, rewarding the women
of the secondary district Dongwan (东苑, E. half of Guzang) to his soldiers─including Lu Hong's wife and daughters.
While he LATER relented and cancelled those orders under suggestion of Fang Gui (房晷), the damage had been done.
When Lu Hong was subsequently captured during his flight to S. Liang, Lu Zuan had him executed cruelly─by having his
ribs repeatedly bounded. Also in 400, Lu Zuan created his wife Lady Yang empress. Lu Zuan soon started a campaign
against S. Liang, whose prince was by now Tufa Lilugu, but he was quickly defeated by Tufa Lilugu's brother Tufa Rutan.
In summer, he started another campaign against N. Liang, which was initially successful, as he put N. Liang's new capital
Zhangye (张掖, in modern Zhangye, Gansu) under siege, but as the official Jiang Ji (姜纪), who tried to persuade him not
to carry out the campaign, predicted, Tufa Rutan made a major attack and even entered the city of Guzang before
retreating, forcing Lu Zuan to end his campaign against N. Liang.
Despite these military defeats, Lu Zuan spent much of his time drinking and hunting. When his official Yang Ying (杨颖)
tried to persuade him to change his ways, he thanked and apologized to Yang, but could not change his ways.
In 401, Lu Chao, without prior approval from Lu Zuan, attacked the Xianbei chief Sipan (思盘). Sipan sent his brother
Qizhen (乞珍) to file a protest with Lu Zuan, and Lu Zuan summoned Lu Chao and Sipan both to Guzang, which got Lu
Chao nervous. Once Lu Zuan met with both, he threatened Lu Chao with death─but had no intent to carry the threat out;
rather, he intended only to scare Lu Chao. He then held a feast for Lu Chao and Sipan, intending to create peace
between them. During the feast, Lu Chao's brother Lu Long repeatedly offered Lu Zuan wine, and Lu Zuan was soon
drunk. He sat on a man-pulled cart and gave Lu Chao and Sipan a tour of the palace. When the cart came to a threshold
between two palaces, the cart could not roll over the threshold, and Lu Zuan's guards Dou Chuan (窦川) and Luo Teng (骆
腾) left their swords on the side in order to lift the cart across. As they did, Lu Chao took their swords and attacked Lu
Zuan. Lu Zuan tried to combat Lu Chao, unarmed, but Lu Chao quickly pierced him with a sword. Both Dou and Luo tried
to combat Lu Chao but were also killed by him. Lu Zuan's wife Empress Yang tried to mobilize the guards to combat Lu
Chao, but the guards soon abandoned her, and Lu Chao made his brother Lu Long emperor to succeed Lu Zuan. Lu
Zuan's head was cut off and shown to the populace, but Lu Zuan was still LATER given an imperial posthumous name,
albeit an unflattering one. Era name
* Xianning (咸宁 xian ning) 400-401
Personal information
* Father
o Lu Guang (Emperor Yiwu)
* Wife
o Empress Yang (created 400, committed suicide 401)
4) Shang4Shu1(high official)Gong1 尚书公 or Jian4kang1Gong1 建康公 Luu3
Long2(prosperous/swell/intense/deep) 吕隆 401-403 (died 416) aka Yong3ji1(foundation) (永基) He was nephew of
guang. During his reign, LATER Liang was under constant attacks by N. Liang and S. Liang and reduced largely to its
capital Guzang (姑臧Wuwei, Gansu). In 403, Lu Long decided to end the state by surrendering Guzang to LATER Qin's
emperor Yao Xing. He became a LATER Qin official, but after aligning himself with Yao Xing's son Yao Bi (姚弼), who
made unsuccessful attempts to seize the crown prince position from Yao Hong, was executed by Yao Hong after Yao
Xing's death in 416. Yao Bi was forced to commit suicide, and Lu Long, along with other co-conspirators, were arrested.
He was executed by Yao Hong shortly after Yao Xing then died the next day, as was his brother Lu Chao. His father was
Lu Bao. He was handsome and skilled at horsemanship and archery. He was a general under Guang but not as good as
his younger brother Lu Chao (吕超) was. In 401, Lu Chao assassinated Lu Guang's son Lu Zuan and killed his brother Lu
Wei (吕纬) the Duke of Longxi, and then offered the throne to Lu Long. He claimed the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian
Wang), roughly equivalent to emperor. He honored his mother Lady Wei as empress dowager, and created his wife Lady
Yang as empress. He created Lu Chao the Duke of Anding and entrusted most governmental and military affairs to him.
Reign Lu Long, continued Zuan’s violence by slaughtering many strong clans within his state for the purpose of showing
his authority. After hearing this, in summer 401, the LATER Qin emperor Yao Xing sent his uncle Yao Shuode (姚硕德) to
launch a major attack on LATER Liang. The LATER Qin army quickly reached Guzang and put it under siege. Many of the
non-natives in Guzang planned a rebellion to give the city to LATER Qin, but were discovered, and Lu Long slaughtered
them, but with Yao Shuode's pressure, Lu Chao suggested nominal submission to LATER Qin, which Lu Long agreed
with, sending his nephews and some 50 clans to the LATER Qin capital Chang'an as hostages to guarantee his
faithfulness. Per Yao Shuode's recommendation, Yao Xing created him the Duke of Jiankang, although Lu Long
continued to internally use the title of Heavenly Prince. Yao Shuode then withdrew. However, Lu Long continued to be
under constant attack by both S. Liang and N. Liang, then suffered a major defeat from Tufa Rutan. When 100,000
starved form famine and they pled to exit the city, even knowing that they would be captured to be slaves. Lu Long was
angry and therefore executed these people. Lu Long tried to make peace with both S. Liang and N. Liang, and in 402 had
a brief peace with both, even obtaining some famine relief from N. Liang's prince Juqu Mengxun, but the peace did not
last, nor did LATER Qin military assistance stop the attacks. By 403, Lu Long was desperate. Meanwhile, LATER Qin
officials advised Yao Xing to take control of LATER Liang territory directly, believing that if Lu Long somehow survived this
crisis, he would no longer be a vassalater Yao Xing therefore summoned Lu Chao to Chang'an, intending to use his
absence to force Lu Long to submit. When Lu Long received the order, he decided to end the state of siege altogether by
offering his territory─now not much more than Guzang itself─to LATER Qin. Yao Xing sent his general Qi Nan (齐难)
with a large force to protect and escort Lu Long to Chang'an. Lu Long welcomed him and then, after saying farewell to Lu
Guang's temple, left for Chang'an. LATER Qin took over the city, and LATER Liang was no more. Era name * Shending
(神鼎 shen d_ng) 401-403 Personal information
* Father
o Lu Bao (吕宝), posthumously honored Emperor Wen, brother of Lu Guang (Emperor Yiwu)
* Mother
o Lady Wei
* Wife
o Empress Yang
[12] Nan (S.) Liang Kingdom 397 AD - 414 AD(3)
1) Wu Wang 武王 Tufa Wugu 秃发乌孤 397-399 (died 399), formally Prince Wu of Wuwei (武威武王), Was the
founding prince of the Chinese/Xianbei state S. Liang. He was initially a vassal of LATER Liang's emperor Lu Guang, but
seeing how Lu Guang was misruling his people, declared independence in 397. He ruled for only two years before he died
from injuries suffered in a horse-riding accident. Tufa Wugu's father Tufa Sifujian was a great-grandnephew of the early
Jin Dynasty (265-420) Xianbei general Tufa Shujineng (秃发树机能), who had been a menace to Jin forces during the
reign of Emperor Wu. Tufa Sifujian became tribal chief in 356 and was a F. Qin vassalater Tufa Wugu himself was brave
and ambitious, and he considered ways to take over Liang Province (凉州 central and W. Gansu). His general Fen Tuo (
纷陀) advised him that he had to be diligent, encourage agriculture, and rule efficiently and fairly. He strived to follow
Fen's suggestions, and soon became known for his abilities. In 394, Lu Guang, sent messengers to commission Tufa
Wugu as a general, and Tufa Wugu considered whether to accept it. The strategist Shizhen Ruoliu (石真若留) pointed out
that Tufa Wugu was not yet in shape to oppose Lu Guang, and that he should submit to make Lu Guang arrogant. Tufa
Wugu agreed, and accepted the LATER Liang posts. In 395, Tufa Wugu attacked a number of unsubmissive tribes
around his, including Yifu (乙弗) and Zhejue (折掘), forcing them to submit. He built Lianchuan Castle (廉川堡, Haidong
Prefecture, Qinghai) to serve as headquarters. Also in 395, Lu Guang created him the Duke of Guangwu. In 396, when Lu
Guang tried to give titles to Tufa Wugu, but this time Tufa Wugu refused, stating to Lu Guang's ambassador:Heavenly
Prince Lu's sons are all corrupt and immoralater His nephews are particularly violent and cruelaterTufa Wugu rejected the
titles, although he kept the musicians and artisans that Lu Guang sent. In 397, after Lu Guang had suffered a loss on the
battlefield against W. Qin's prince Qifu Gangui, Tufa Wugu declared himself the Prince of Xiping and changed era name,
signifying a declaration of independence for S. Liang. He then captured LATER Liang's city Jincheng (金城, Lanzhou,
Gansu), which LATER Liang had only captured from W. Qin earlier that year. Lu Guang sent his general Dou Gou (窦苟)
to attack S. Liang, but was defeated by Tufa Wugu.Tufa Wugu wanted to weaken LATER Liang and capture its capital
Guzang (姑臧 Wuwei, Gansu), and LATER in 397, when LATER Liang's rebel general, the prophet Guo Nen (郭_), under
attack by Lu Guang's son Lu Zuan, sought help from him, he sent his brother Tufa Lilugu to relieve Guo, although Guo
LATER submitted to W. Qin. In 398, two other LATER Liang rebel generals Yang Gui (杨轨) and Wang Qiji (王乞基)
submitted to Tufa Wugu, and LATER that year Tufa Wugu defeated the powerful Qiang chief Liang Ji (梁饥), and after his
victory, the Qiang and Xiongnu tribes south of the Hongchi Mountain (洪池岭, Wuwei) all submitted to him. Late in the
year, he changed his title from Prince of Xiping to Prince of Wuwei, perhaps signifying his eventual design on Guzang. In
spring 399, Tufa Wugu moved his capital to Ledu (乐都, Haidong Prefecture, Qinghai). He was very effective at judging
talent, and regardless of whether his subordinates were Han or of other ethnicities, he put them all in the right positions in
accordance with their talent. He asked who to attack first, among W. Qin, LATER Liang, or N. Liang. Yang Tong (杨统),
pointed out that Lu Guang was incompetent and that his sons were distrusting of each other, and that Tufa Wugu should
let his troops harass LATER Liang's borders and eventually conquer it. When Lu Guang's sons Lu Shao and Lu Zuan
attacked N. Liang LATER that year, Tufa Wugu went to the N. Liang prince Duan Ye's aid, helping to stave off the LATER
Liang attack. LATER that year, Tufa Wugu fell off his horse while drunk, and he suffered a severe chest injury. He
remarked, while grinning, "I am making Lu Guang and his sons happy!" As his conditions worsened, he ordered that
someone who is old should succeed him, and so his nobles supported his brother Tufa Lilugu as the new prince (as
Prince Kang). Era name * Taichu (太初 tai ch_) 397-400
Personal information
* Father
o Tufa Sifujian (秃发思复犍), Xianbei tribal chief
* Children
1)o Tufa Fudan (秃发赴单)
2)o Tufa Fanni (秃发樊泥)
2) Kang1 Wang2 康王 Tu1(bald)fa(send/hair) Li4(profitable)lu4 (deer) gu1 (alone) 秃发利鹿孤 399-402 (died 402),
formally Prince Kang of He2xi1 (河西康王), He was a younger brother of the founding prince Tufa Wugu (Prince Wu).
He was a capable ruler open to different opinions. He was also, somewhat contradictorily, entrusting most important
affairs of state to his talented brother Tufa Rutan, who was LATER succeed him as Prince Jing. In 397, shortly after Tufa
Wugu established S. Liang in the fall of that year, Tufa Wugu sent him to assist the LATER Liang rebel Guo Nen (郭_). In
summer 398, he, along with another LATER Liang rebel, Yang Gui (杨轨), jointly battled Lu Zuan, the son of the LATER
Liang emperor Lu Guang, but was defeated by Lu Zuan, leading Yang Gui to eventually give up his rebellion and flee to S.
Liang. In 399, as part of Tufa Wugu's realignment of the state's defenses when moving the capital from Jincheng (金城,
Lanzhou, Gansu) to Ledu (乐都 Haidong Prefecture, Qinghai), he was put in charge of Anyi (安夷 Haidong Prefecture). He
had title Duke of Xiping at this point. In summer 399, Tufa Wugu sent him to assist N. Liang's prince Duan Ye when N.
Liang was under attack by Lu Zuan and Lu Guang's crown prince Lu Shao, forcing Lu Zuan and Lu Shao to withdraw.
Soon thereafter, he was put in charge of the city of Xiping (西平Xining, Qinghai). LATER that year, Tufa Wugu suffered a
serious horse-riding accident when drunk, and in his last words ordered that an older person be selected to succeed him.
The S. Liang nobles therefore selected Tufa Lilugu to succeed him. After succeeding Tufa Wugu, Tufa Lilugu moved the
capital from Ledu to Xiping. In early 400, Lu Zuan, who had by that point become the emperor of LATER Liang, planned to
attack him─and Lu Zuan's official Yang Ying (杨颖), in trying to persuade Lu Zuan not to attack, described Tufa Lilugu's
regime as one "with an united heart, with subordinates who faithfully carried out his instructions, with no opportunity to
take advantage of," Lu Zuan attacked anyway and Tufa Wugu sent Tufa Rutan against him and defeated him. In summer
400, when Lu Zuan made a major attack on N. Liang, Tufa Rutan, probably at Tufa Lilugu's instruction, made a surprise
attack on the LATER Liang capital Guzang (姑臧 Wuwei, Gansu), entering Guzang's E. half and then retreating after
successfully pillaging the city, forcing Lu Zuan to abandon his N. Liang campaign. LATER that year, after W. Qin's prince
Qifu Gangui was defeated by LATER Qin, Qifu Gangui surrendered to Tufa Lilugu. Initially, Tufa Lilugu's brother Tufa
Juyan (秃发俱延) suspected Qifu Gangui's sincerity and requested that Qifu Gangui be exiled to west of the Qinghai Lake
-- a suggestion that Tufa Lilugu rejected on the grounds that if he did so, no one else would surrender to him. However,
when Qifu Gangui subsequently redefected to LATER Qin, Tufa Lilugu much regretted the decision not to exile or kill him.
LATER, when Qifu Gangui's son Qifu Chipan tried to defect as well to join his father, Tufa Lilugu was prepared to execute
him, but at Tufa Rutan's urging (that killing a son for wanting to join his father would be seen as narrow-minded), did not
do so. In spring 401, at the urging of many of his officials, Tufa Lilugu considered declaring himself emperor. However, he
accepted the advice from the general Tou Wulun (_勿仑) that such a declaration would make him a target for others, and
did not do so; rather, he only changed his title from Prince of Wuwei (the title that Tufa Wugu also used) to Prince of Hexi,
signifying a claim over the region west of the Yellow River. LATER that year, he personally made a successful attack
against LATER Liang's emperor Lu Long (Lu Zuan's cousin). LATER in 401, there was an exchange between Tufa Lilugu
and his official Shi Gao (史□),where Liligu asked for critique and Gao said that relocating the people was a bad thing.
Tufa Lilugu agreed with Shi. However, there was no record of Tufa Lilugu changing his policies due to Shi's suggestions.
By fall 401, the new prince of N. Liang, Juqu Mengxun, was forced to send his son Juqu Xinian (沮渠奚念) as a hostage to
Tufa Lilugu to show his submission. Tufa Lilugu, however, rejected Juqu Xinian as a hostage, stating that Juqu Xinian was
too young and he wanted Juqu Mengxun to send his brother Juqu Ru (沮渠□) -- a major strategist and general for Juqu
Mengxun. Juqu Mengxun initially refused─stating that he needed Juqu Ru to assist him─which drew anger from Tufa
Lilugu, who sent Tufa Juyan the Marquess of Zhangsong and another brother, Tufa Wenzhi (秃发文支) the Marquess of
Xingcheng against N. Liang and captured Juqu Mengxun's cousin Juqu Shanshan'gouzi (沮渠鄯善苟子). Juqu Mengxun
made a humbler submission after that point and sent his uncle Juqu Kongzhe (沮渠孔遮) to promise to sent Juqu Ru as a
hostage, before Tufa Lilugu would withdraw his troops and return the people they captured. However, Tufa Lilugu himself
was aware of his own power's limitations, and he also nominally submitted to Yao Xing, the emperor of LATER Qin,
sending tributes to Yao Xing, and in 401, when LATER Qin attacked LATER Liang, he ordered his troops to withdraw to
yield a path for LATER Qin troops. Around the new year 402, in response to a request for assistance from the LATER
Liang rebel Jiao Lang (焦朗), Tufa Lilugu sent Tufa Rutan to assist Jiao, and Tufa Rutan and Jiao then attacked Guzang,
dealing LATER Liang a major defeat. Oddly enough, however, when N. Liang attacked LATER Liang in spring 402, Tufa
Lilugu sent Tufa Rutan to aid LATER Liang, although by the time Tufa Rutan arrived, N. Liang had already retreated.
LATER in spring 402, Tufa Lilugu grew ill, and he instructed that the state be entrusted to Tufa Rutan. (Tufa Lilugu's father
Tufa Sifujian had treasured Tufa Rutan's talents greatly─and stated to all of his sons that none was more talented than
Tufa Rutan, an evaluation that Tufa Wugu and Tufa Lilugu agreed with, and therefore both decided to pass the throne to a
younger brother rather than a son.) After Tufa Lilugu died, Tufa Rutan succeeded him as Prince Jing. Era name
* Jianhe (建和 jian he) 400-402
Personal information
* Father
o Tufa Sifujian (秃发思复犍), Xianbei tribal chief
3) Jing3 Wang2 景王 Jing4 Wang2 敬王 Tu1fa Rutan2(wingceltis)|秃发傉檀402-414 (365 ━ 415) He was the son that
his father, the Xianbei chief Tufa Sifujian (秃发思复犍), considered most talented, his older brothers, the founding prince
Tufa Wugu (Prince Wu) and Tufa Lilugu (Prince Kang) both decided to pass the throne to a brother, intending that he
receive the throne. However, Tufa Rutan, while obviously talented as a general, is viewed by as being overly aggressive
in waging military campaigns, and he greatly drained the resources of the S. Liang people while doing so. S. Liang's
strength particularly waned after a major 407 defeat at the hand of the Xia emperor Liu Bobo, and it drew attacks from its
neighbors N. Liang and W. Qin. Eventually, Tufa Rutan was forced to surrender to W. Qin in 414 after W. Qin captured his
capital Ledu (乐都, Haidong Prefecture, Qinghai), and he was poisoned to death a year LATER. After Tufa Wugu founded
S. Liang in 397 by breaking away from LATER Liang, Tufa Rutan immediately began to play a major role in the military
and governmental affairs of the state. In 398, Tufa Wugu sent him to assist the LATER Liang rebels Yang Gui (杨轨) and
Guo Nen (郭_). In spring 399, after Tufa Wugu moved the capital from Lianchuan (廉川 Haidong Prefecture, Qinghai) to
Ledu (乐都 Haidong Prefecture) in a major realignment of his military strengths, Tufa Rutan was put in charge of the
important city of Xiping (西平 Xining, Qinghai), and by this time, he was referred to by the title of Duke of Guangwu, a title
that Tufa Wugu himself had carried earlier. In summer 399, Tufa Wugu recalled him to Ledu to head his government,
while replacing him at Xiping with Tufa Lilugu. LATER in 399, Tufa Wugu suffered a serious injury while horseriding when
drunk, and, because his last words were that the state should be entrusted to someone old, was succeeded by Tufa
Lilugu. Tufa Lilugu entrusted all important governmental matters to him and effectively designated him as the next prince.
In 400, when the LATER Liang emperor Lu Zuan attacked N. Liang, Tufa Rutan launched a raid at the LATER Liang
capital Guzang (姑臧 Wuwei, Gansu), entering the city and, while not staying permanently in the city, held a feast in the
city and forced 8,000 households to relocate back to S. Liang with him. LATER in 400, when, in light of defeats by LATER
Qin, the W. Qin prince Qifu Gangui surrendered to Tufa Lilugu, Tufa Lilugu sent Tufa Rutan to welcome him. Then Tufa
Rutan gave a daughter in marriage to Qifu Gangui's son Qifu Chipan. LATER in the year, Qifu Gangui took flight again
and surrendered to LATER Qin, and when Qifu Chipan tried to join Qifu Gangui but was detained, it was at Tufa Rutan's
suggestion that killing Qifu Chipan for wanting to join his father would appear narrow-minded that Tufa Lilugu did not
execute Qifu Chipan. It was around this time when LATER Liang's general Jiang Ji (姜纪) surrendered to S. Liang. Tufa
Rutan, impressed by Jiang's talent, befriended him and spent much time with him, despite Tufa Lilugu's distrust of Jiang.
Jiang, however, soon turned against S. Liang and fled to LATER Qin, offering its emperor Yao Xing strategies on
conquering LATER Liang and resisting S. Liang. Around the new year 402, the LATER Liang rebel Jiao Lang (焦朗)
sought aid from S. Liang, and Tufa Lilugu sent Tufa Rutan to aid him, but when Tufa Rutan arrived, Jiao would not receive
him. Tufa Rutan initially was angry and wanted to attack Jiao instead, but at the suggestion of his brother Tufa Juyan (秃
发俱延) reconciled with Jiao and jointly attacked Guzang and didn’t capture the city, but dealt the LATER Liang general Lu
Chao (吕超) a major defeat. LATER that year, however, when LATER Liang was attacked by N. Liang's prince Juqu
Mengxun, Tufa Rutan came to LATER Liang's aid. He soon arrested Jiao and delivered him to Tufa Lilugu as wellater
LATER in 402, Tufa Lilugu died from illness, and he left instructions that the throne be passed to Tufa Rutan. Tufa Rutan
accepted, and moved the capital from Xiping (where Tufa Lilugu had moved it) back to Ledu. Tufa Rutan did not relent in
his military pressure against LATER Liang, and his attacks against LATERLiang continued to have a destabilizing effect
on LATER Liang. He nominally agreed to be a LATER Qin vassal, and was created the Duke of Guangwu, although he
continued to internally use the title Prince of Hexi, which Tufa Lilugu used. In summer 402, Qifu Chipan escaped and
joined his father Qifu Gangui. Tufa Rutan delivered Qifu Chipan's wife (possibly Tufa Rutan's daughter) and children to
him. In 403, in light of pressure from Tufa Rutan and Juqu Mengxun, Lu Long decided to end his state, surrendering
Guzang to LATER Qin. Tufa Rutan, afraid of LATER Qin's power, withdrew his troops to allow LATER Qin forces through
to Guzang. In 404, he further ended his nominal independence (but not actual independence) by ending the use of his
own era name and instead using LATER Qin's to show allegiance to LATER Qin. He stopped using his own princely title,
and used only the LATER Qin-created title of Duke of Guangwu. He also made a request to Yao Xing that he be allowed
to have Guzang, but Yao Xing refused. While S. Liang and N. Liang had both become LATER Qin vassals, they warred
with eachother after LATER Liang disappeared. In 406, Tufa Rutan attacked N. Liang but after Juqu Mengxun refused to
engage him, withdrew, and he made a tribute of 30,000 horses to Yao Xing, greatly touching Yao Xing and making him
believing in Tufa Rutan's loyalty, and so he commissioned Tufa Rutan with governorship of Liang Province (凉州, Guzang
and its surroundings at that time), giving him Guzang. LATER that year, Tufa Rutan moved his capital from Ledu to
Guzang. He also entered into an alliance with W. Liang's duke Li Gao, aimed against N. Liang. While Tufa Rutan was
nominally a LATER Qin vassal, he did not actually wish to serve Yao Xing long, and in 407 he proposed to Qifu
Chipan(free while father detained at Chang’an) an alliance, but Qifu Chipan executed his messengers and delivered their
heads to Yao Xing. Still, at this time, S. Liang's power was at its apex. At this time, though, a major defeat would cause S.
Liang's strength to begin to wane. In winter 407, the LATER Qin rebel Liu Bobo, who had earlier that year broken from
LATER Qin and established Xia, requested to marry Tufa Rutan's daughter. Tufa Rutan refused, and in anger Liu Bobo
launched a punitive raid against S. Liang but then retreated. Tufa Rutan gave chase and, believing that he greatly
outpowered Liu Bobo, was careless in his military actions. Liu Bobo led him into a canyon and then blocked the exit with
ice and wagons, and then ambushed him─and the defeat was such that it was said that 60% to 70% of S. Liang's famed
officials and generals died in the battle. Tufa Rutan barely escaped capture. In fear, Tufa Rutan ordered that all of the
people within 150 kilometers of Guzang be moved into the capital, which immediately led to mass panic and a rebellion by
the Xiongnu chief Cheng Qi'er (成七儿). While Cheng's rebellion was defeated, Tufa Rutan's domain had been greatly
wounded. In light of Tufa Rutan's defeat, Yao Xing plotted his destruction, despite the advice of Wei Zong (韦宗), an
official of his who had personal knowledge of Tufa Rutan's ability, against such action. In 408, he commissioned his son
Yao Bi (姚弼) the Duke of Guangping to lead a large force with generals Lian Cheng (敛成) and Qifu Gangui to make a
surprise attack on S. Liang─tricking Tufa Rutan into initially not resisting by informing him that the army was intended to
be part of a pincer movement against Xia. Only when the LATER Qin forces reached Guzang's vicinity did Tufa Rutan
realize what the purpose of the campaign was, and he defended the city against Yao Bi. When a rebellion inside the city
itself, led by Wang Zhong (王钟), threatened to cause the city to fall, Tufa Rutan buried some 5,000 people alive, and he
then defeated Yao Bi. When Yao Xing sent Yao Xian (姚显) the Duke of Changshan to aid Yao Bi, Tufa Rutan defeated
him as well, and Yao Xian, in fear, blamed Lian for the entire campaign and apologized to Tufa Rutan, and then withdrew
with Yao Bi. Tufa Rutan also sent a messenger to Chang'an to request forgiveness. In winter 408, Tufa Rutan again
declared independence, and claimed the title of Prince of Liang, in light of LATER Qin's defeats at his own hands and at
the hands of Liu Bobo. He created his wife Lady Zhejue princess, and his son Tufa Hutai (秃发虎台) crown prince. Qifu
Gangui also redeclared independence from LATER Qin in 409) In 410, one of Tufa Rutan's campaigns would hurt him
greatly. He attacked N. Liang and forced 1,000 households to move to his state. In retaliation, Juqu Mengxun pillaged a
larger number of households from his state, and when Tufa Rutan's brother Tufa Juyan responded, Juqu Mengxun
defeated him. When Tufa Rutan himself followed with a larger force, Juqu Mengxun defeated him as well, and then
advanced on Guzang and put it under siege. The residents of Guzang, remembering the massacre that Tufa Rutan
carried out during Wang Zhong's rebellion, panicked, and a large number surrendered to Juqu Mengxun. With his general
Zhequ Qizhen (折屈奇镇) also rebelling to the south, Tufa Rutan became apprehensive, and moved the capital from
Guzang back to Ledu. The general Jiao Lang quickly rebelled and held Guzang, although Juqu Mengxun conquered it in
411, and then advanced on Ledu, sieging it for more than a month before Tufa Rutan submitted by sending his son Tufa
Anzhou (秃发安周) to Juqu Mengxun as a hostage. However, Tufa Rutan soon again planned revenge, and LATER that
year he launched another attack on N. Liang, which was initially successful, but his army withdrew at an overly leisurely
pace, and when the weather turned against him, Juqu Mengxun caught him and defeated him, again sieging Ledu, forcing
him to then send his son Tufa Rangan (秃发染干) as a hostage so that Juqu Mengxun would withdraw. In 413, Tufa Rutan
launched yet another campaign against N. Liang, and was again defeated. Juqu Mengxun again put Ledu under siege but
could not capture it. However, Tufa Rutan's general Tufa Wenzhi (秃发文支) then rebelled, encouraging Juqu Mengxun to
launch a new attack. Tufa Rutan was forced to send his brother Juqu Juyan to N. Liang as a hostage. In 414, the
Tuoqihan (唾契汗) and Yifu (乙弗) tribes rebelled, and despite the state of desperation S. Liang was in, Tufa Rutan,
leaving his crown prince Tufa Hutai in command at Ledu, launched an attack against Yifu─which was quite
successfulater However, Qifu Chipan, sieged Ledu. Tufa Hutai panicked, and forced the Han in the city into the inner
citadel because he distrusted them and Ledu fellater Tufa Hutai was captured. Tufa Rutan's nephew Tufa Fani (秃发樊尼,
Tufa Wugu's son) escaped and informed Tufa Rutan what had happened. Tufa Rutan informed his troops that his plans
were then to attack the Tuoqihan tribe, and then use the proceeds from the pillaging to ransom the people of Ledu from
W。 Qin. However, the troops, upon hearing the news, collapsed and deserted him. Tufa Rutan was forced to surrender
to W. Qin as wellater Qifu Chipan treated Tufa Rutan as an honored guest. He created Tufa Rutan the Duke of Zuonan
and Tufa Rutan's daughter his princess. However, in 415, he secretly had Tufa Rutan poisoned. After he was poisoned,
Tufa Rutan realized what was happening, and refused all treatment. He died soon thereafter. In 423, Tufa Rutan and
Princess Tufa, who plotted to try to avenge him, were discovered and executed by Chipan as wellater Era names *
Hongchang (弘昌 hong ch_ng) 402-404 * Jiaping (嘉平 ji_ ping) 409-414
[13] Bei (N.) Liang Kingdom 397-439 (as Kings of Gao Chang 442-460)(5)
1) Duan4(section) Ye4(line of business) 段业 397-401 (died 401) Was the first prince of the Chinese state N. Liang. He
was of Han ethnicity, and was originally a commandery governor of LATER Liang, but after Xiongnu generals Juqu
Mengxun and Juqu Nancheng (沮渠男成) rebelled against LATER Liang, Juqu Nancheng persuaded Duan Ye to accept
the leadership role of the rebellion. During his reign, the Juqus were powerful, and eventually, in 401, after Duan Ye was
tricked by Juqu Mengxun into falsely executing Juqu Nancheng, Juqu Mengxun used this as the excuse to start a coup
against Duan Ye, killing him and replacing him as prince. Duan Ye was a kind but weak ruler who was unable to keep his
subjects in check, and who overly trusted witchcraft and magic. He was from Jingzhao Commandery (京兆 Xi'an,
Shaanxi), and was a low-level official that F. Qin sent to Liang Province (凉州 central and W. Gansu) after conquering F.
Liang in 376. His wife and children remained in Jingzhao. In 388, he was one of the officials under the ruler of LATER
Liang, Lu Guang, then carrying the title the Duke of Jiuquan. At a feast, Duan Ye told Lu Guang that he was being overly
harsh in his application of laws. Lu Guang, citing the examples of the legalists Wu Qi and Shang Yang, defended his
harsh applications. Then Duan Ye pointed out that Wu and Shang both died as a result of their use of laws. Lu Guang
solemnly apologized. In 396, when Lu Guang claimed the greater title of Prince of Sanhe, he made Duan Ye one of his
ministers. In 397, by which time Lu Guang, then with imperial title, was facing a rebellion from Juqu Mengxun and Juqu
Nancheng after listening to false accusations and executing their uncles Juqu Luochou (沮渠罗仇) and Juqu Quzhou (沮
渠麴粥), Duan Ye was the governor of Jiankang Commandery (建康 Zhangye, Gansu). Juqu Nancheng put Jiankang
under siege, and sent messengers to try to persuade Duan Ye that the LATER Liang regime was becoming so corrupt as
to be nearing destruction, and that with Duan's talents, he should be a leader. Duan Ye initially refused, but after 20 days
of siege, no aid came from the LATER Liang capital Guzang (姑臧 Wuwei, Gansu). Duan Ye's advisors suggested that he
accept and Duan Ye, afraid of Lu Guang's officials Fang Gui (房晷) and Wang Xiang (王详), agreed. He took the title the
Duke of Jiankang and changed era name, signifying a declaration of independence from LATER Liang and the
establishment of N. Liang. He entrusted most important affairs of state to Juqu Nancheng. Lu Guang's son Lu Zuan soon
arrived and attacked Jiankang, but could not capture it. Soon thereafter, with the sorcerer Guo Nen (郭_) having rebelled
at Guzang, Lu Zuan withdrew from Jiankang, allowing Duan Ye's nascent state to stand. In 398, Duan Ye sent Juqu
Mengxun to attack Xi Commandery (西郡) Zhangye, Gansu), and Juqu Mengxun captured it and its governor, Lu Guang's
nephew Lu Chun (吕纯). Soon thereafter, Jiuquan (酒泉, Gansu) and Dunhuang (敦煌, Gansu) Commanderies submitted
as well, allowing N/ Liang to take over a large portion of F.ly LATER Liang territory. Lu Guang's son Lu Hong (吕弘) then
also withdrew from Zhangye (张掖 ), and Duan Ye moved his capital from Jiankang to Zhangye to further pressure L/
Liang. He trailed Lu Hong to try to attack him, against Juqu Mengxun's advice not to cut off Lu Hong's escape, and was
defeated by Lu Hong, saved from destruction only by Juqu Mengxun. In 399, Duan Ye claimed the title of Prince of Liang.
He made Juqu Mengxun and Liang Zhongyong (梁中庸) key ministers. In summer 399, Lu Zuan and Lu Guang's heir Lu
Shao jointly attacked N. Liang. Duan Ye sought aid from S. Liang's prince Tufa Wugu, and Tufa Wugu sent his brother
Tufa Lilugu and the general Yang Gui (杨轨) to assist him. Duan Ye, because of the S. Liang aid, was set to make a
counterattack against LATER Liang forces, but Juqu Mengxun persuaded him that doing so would give S. Liang an
opening to make a surprise attack, and so Duan Ye merely defended, and Lu Shao and Lu Zuan were forced to withdraw.
In summer 400, Lu Zuan, who had by that point become LATER Liang's emperor, made a major attack against N. Liang,
putting Zhangye under siege. However, S. Liang's general Tufa Rutan then made a major attack on Guzang, forcing Lu
Zuan to withdraw. Also in 400, Duan would lose a major part of his territory. When his governor of Dunhuang
Commandery, Meng Min (孟敏) died that year, the officials there supported Li Gao, a county magistrate, as his successor.
Duan Ye initially agreed, but was then warned by his general Suo Si (索嗣) that Li Gao had greater ambitions. Duan Ye
therefore sent Suo to be the governor of Dunhuang. Li Gao made a surprise attack against Suo and defeated him, and
then demanded that Suo be executed. At the advice of Juqu Nancheng (who also disliked Suo), Duan Ye executed Suo
and apologized to Li Gao, who briefly remained submissive. However, late in 400, Li Gao, along with Tang Yao (唐瑶),
seceded with six commanderies, establishing W. Liang, and Li Gao soon took over modern W. Gansu and E. Xinjiang. In
401, Duan Ye, apprehensive of Juqu Mengxun's military abilities, demoted him and replaced him with Ma Quan (马权), but
soon believed Juqu Mengxun's false accusations against Ma and executed him. Juqu Mengxun then proposed to Juqu
Nancheng that Duan Ye be killed and replaced with Juqu Nancheng because with Suo and Ma dead it would be easy.
Juqu Nancheng refused, stating that such an action would be unjust. Juqu Mengxun then set a trap for both Juqu
Nancheng and Duan Ye. He set a date with Juqu Nancheng to offer sacrifices to the god of Lanmen Mountain (兰门山,
near Zhangye) on a vacation day, but submitting a false report through the official Xu Xian (许咸) that Juqu Nancheng was
set to rebel and would start the rebellion on a day that he requested permission to sacrifice to the god of Lanmen
Mountain. When Juqu Nancheng requested Duan Ye for such permission, Duan Ye arrested him and ordered him to
commit suicide. Juqu Nancheng, realizing this, told Duan Ye that this was a sign that Juqu Mengxun was about to rebel
and that he should keep Juqu Nancheng alive, Duan Ye, not believing in Juqu Nancheng, executed him. Juqu Mengxun
then cited Duan Ye's execution of Juqu Nancheng to ask his people to rise against Duan Ye, and the people indeed rose
in rebellion, because of the high regard they had for Juqu Nancheng. In a last ditch effort, Duan Ye released the general
Tian Ang (田昂), whom he had suspected of treachery earlier and imprisoned, and put Tian in charge of an army against
Juqu Mengxun, along with Liang Zhongyong. Tian, however, quickly surrendered to Juqu Mengxun, and Duan Ye's
remaining troops collapsed. Zhangye fell, and despite Duan Ye's pleas, Juqu Mengxun executed him and took over the
throne. Era names * Shenxi (神玺 shen x_) 397-399 * Tianxi (天玺 ti_n x_) 399-401
2) Wu3 Xuan1(declare/drain) Wang2 武宣王 Ju3(stop/turn gloomy)qu2(canal) Mengxun4(modest/inferior) 沮渠蒙逊
401-433 (368-433) He was the first of the Juqu clan. Nancheng was his cousin. He was considered a capable ruler when
young. But when old he was considered cruel and arbitrary. He served Duan Ye at first but LATER planned to have his
cousin Nancheng and Duan Ye killed. He was a Xiongnu Chanyus who used the title of Juqu to signify an officer of
unclear responsibility. He became known for his broad knowledge of history, military tactics, and humor and was
respected by Liang Xi (梁熙), F. Qin governor, and the LATER Liang emperor Lu Guang. He diverted attention from
himself by drinking heavely and being frivolous. After Guang sent Li Yan to a death trap against Qifu Gangui, Guang killed
Mengxun’s uncles Juqu Luochou (沮渠罗仇) and Juqu Quzhou (沮渠麴粥) who were Yan’s assistants because of false
accusations. Then Mengxun transported their caskets Zhangye. LATER he was made Marquis of Linchi. When Duan
chased Guang’s son Lu Hong, Mengxun saved him. When Prince of Liang, Duan made Mengxun and Liang Zhongyong (
梁中庸)prime ministers. Mengxun had Duan refuse to engage when Tufu Liligu helped against Luu Zuan and Luu Shao.
When general Wang De (王德) rebelled, Duan sent Mengxun who captured his wife and children as he fled. When Duan
thought of replacing Mengxun with Maquan out of fear, Mengxun tried to hide his ambitions and accused Maquan and
Duan executed him. Then Mengxun told Nancheng he thought Duan was a bad ruler, but Nancheng disagreed, so
Mengxun left t obe governor of Xi’an commandery commanding Nancheng to make sacrifices to god of lanmen then
falsely sent Xu Xian (许咸) to Duan saying he would rebel on the day he made sacrifices, so when Nancheng came to
Duan asking for permission to make the sacrificies, Duan arrested him, then Nancheng told him that Mengxun was
planning a rebellion, but Duan executed him anyway. Then Mengxun had the rebellion and Zhangye fell and Duan
pleaded with Mengxun but he was executed. Then he promoted a number of officials he thought were capable. When
under pressure of Jiuquan (酒泉) and Liangning (凉宁) Commanderies (Jiuquan, Gansu) who rebelled against him and
joined W. Liang, who sent Juqu Ru (沮渠□) the Marquess of Dugu and official Zhang Qian (张潜) to meet Yao Xing's
uncle Yao Shuode (姚硕德) for aid, but Zhang asked for surrender, so Mengxun had him executed. Mengxun sent son to
Juqu Xi'nian (沮渠奚念) to Lilugu but Liligu refused asking for Juqu Ru so Mengxun gave in after defeated in battle by
Liligu. When during famine, Mengxnu attacked Guzang, and S. Liang came to help late, so Luu Long beat Mengxun, so
Mengxun gave him some food. When Liang Zhongyong, betrayed N. Liang for W. Liang serving Li Gao, Mengxun sent
him his wife and children saying “he betrayed himself” WHne Luu Long surrendered to LATER Qin he asked that LATER
Qin general Qi Nan (齐难) be sent against N. Liang but Mengxun made friends with him. Then Mengxun decalred
submission to Yao Xing and Xing made him Marquis, so Mengxun complained that Tufa Rutan was made a Duke. His two
uncles and generals Juqu Qinxin (沮渠亲信) and Juqu Kongdu (沮渠孔笃) were corrupt and harmful to the people, he
forced to commit suicide Li Gao moved his capital from Dunhuang (敦煌, Gansu) to Jiuquan, to be closer to Zhangye to
exert pressure on Juqu Mengxun. In 406 Mengxun stopped an attack from Rutan. Mengxun made an attack on Li Gao but
failed to siege Jiuquan. Mengxun repelled another attack from Rutan in 407. In 41o Rutan and brother Tufa Juyan (秃发俱
延) attacked N. Liang, but Mengxun was able to repel and to proceed on Guzang, where it collapsed in fear and 10,000
houses joined N. Liang. Then from fear of rebellion by Zhequ Qizhen (折屈奇镇), Rutan moved capital to Ledu(Haidong,
Qinghai). Then after Rutan left Hou Chen (侯谌) and Jiao Lang (焦朗) rebelled and seized Guzang for N. Liang. Mengxun
defeated Li Gao's heir Li Xin and captured the W. Liang general Zhu Yuanhu (朱元虎), and he made peace with Li Gao
when Li Gao ransomed Zhu with silver and gold. In 411, Mengxun took over Guzang where Jiao Lang was and put Juqu
Ru in charge of Guang then went after S. Liang. Then withdrew after Rutan gave son Tufa Anzhou (秃发安周 as hostage.
Then avenging this Rutan attacked N. Liang then withdrew but Mengxun defeated im while withdrawing and seiged Ledu
again and Rutan gave up another son Tufa Ran'gan (秃发染干). In 411, Mengxun made a surprise attack on Li gao , but
Gao snet Li xin beat him after Mengxun ran out of food. In 412, Mengxun moved the capital to Guzang. Mengxun made
Juqu Zhengde (沮渠政德) heir. In 413 he repelled another attack and then seiged Ledu for 20 days then general Tufa
Wenzhi (秃发文支) surrendered to him, forcing Tufa Rutan to send brother Tufa Juyan as hostage. IN 413 when sleeping
eunuch Wang Huaizu (王怀 tried to assassinate him but only hurt his foot,so his wife Princess Meng beheaded him. From
414 to 416 N. Liang and W. Qin had wars and made peace in 416. IN 417 Mengxun made a trap for Li Xin making general
Juqu Guangzong (沮渠广宗) pretend surrender. Knowing the trap, Xin withdrew then Juqu Guangzong gave chase but Xin
beat him. When Liu Yu defeated LATER Qin, Mengxun was afraid and executed official Liu Xiang (刘祥) who made light
of it. Fear subsided afer Helian Bobo of Xia crushed Liu Yu’s son Liu Yizhen (刘义真)in 418. But Mengxun submitted as a
vassal anyways. In 420 he made another trap for Li Xin. He pretended to attack W. Qin's city Haomen (浩□ Haidong,
Qinghai), but immediately withdrew when there and hid his army at Chuanyan (川岩, near Zhangye). Li Xin, believing
wrongly that Juqu Mengxun's defenses were down, decided to attack Zhangye, against the advice of Song Yao and
Zhang Tishun, as well as his mother Princess Dowager Yin. Then Mengxun intercepted him and defeated him. Humiliated
to return at a loss to his mother, Xin retaliated and fought again and completely lost dying in battle. Then Mengxun took
over most of W. Liang(Jiuquan). He hired capable W. Liang officials including Li Gao’s half-brother, Song Yao (宋繇).
When Li Xin’s brother Li Xun tried to reestablish W. Liang in Dunhuang, Mengxun had all the people there killed against
his policies in Jiuquan, refusing Li Xun’s surrender. When Song Cheng rebelled offering the city to Mengxun, Li Xun killed
himself. Mengxun then atack W. Qin more frequently. He encouraged Tufa Hutai to rebel with his sister, Qifu Chipan’s
wife, but Chipan discovered the plot and executed Hutai and his own wife. Then some of the Tufas fled to N. Liang.
General Tang Qi (唐契), brother in law of Li Xin rebelled in Jinchang (晋昌, Jiuquan, Gansu). In 423 Juqu Zhengde
defeated Tang. Then he and his brother,Tang He (唐和) and nephew Li Bao (李宝, Li Xin's son) fled to Yiwu (伊吾, Kumul
Prefecture, Xinjiang). In 423, Mengxun sent tribut to Liu Yu’s new LS Dynast(after Jin) in which Liu Yu’s son, emperor
Shao affirmed him as Prince of Hexi. When Rouran atacked N. Liang in 423, Juqu Zhangde was killed, then Juqu Xingguo
(沮渠兴国) was made heir. Qifu Chipan and his crown prince Qifu Mumo were launching a major attack on N. Liang. Juqu
Mengxun sent messengers to persuade the Xia emperor Helian Chang (Helian Bobo's son and successor) to make a
surprise attack on the W. Qin capital Fuhan (□罕 Linxia, Gansu). Helian Chang, in response, sent his general Hulu Gu
(呼卢古) to attack Wanchuan and Wei Fa (韦伐) to attack Nan'an (南安, Dingxi, Gansu), and while W. Qin was able to hold
Wanchuan, Nan'an fell, at great loss. In winter 426, Xia forces commanded by Hulu and Wei attacked Fuhan, forcing Qifu
Gangui to move the capital to Dinglian (定连, Linxia), and Hulu and Wei then captured another important W. Qin city,
Xiping (西平 Xining, Qinghai), and while they then withdrew, W. Qin had been dealt a major blow. LATER that year, with
Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei having in turn defeated Helian Chang in battle, capturing Chang'an and nearly capturing the Xia
capital Tongwan (统万Yulin, Shaanxi) as well, Juqu Mengxun sent messengers to N. Wei offering to submit as a
vassalater In 428, when Qifu Chipan died and was succeeded by Qifu Mumo, Juqu Mengxun made a major attack on W.
Qin. Qifu Mumo sent back his general Juqu Chengdu (沮渠成都), whom Qifu Chipan captured in 422, to seek peace, and
they entered into a peace agreement. However, just several months LATER, Juqu Mengxun renewed his attacks on W.
Qin. In 429, Juqu Mengxun launched another major attack on W. Qin, but during the campaign, Juqu Xingguo was
captured, and Juqu Mengxun was forced to withdraw, after his forces, aligned also with Tuyuhun forces commanded by
Murong Muliyan (慕容慕利延), the brother of the khan Murong Mugui (慕容慕_). He soon sent a large amount of grain to
Qifu Mumo, requesting to ransom Juqu Xingguo, but Qifu Mumo refused, so Juqu Mengxun created Juqu Xingguo's
younger brother, by the same mother, Juqu Puti (沮渠菩提), to be heir apparent. (Qifu Mumo kept Juqu Xingguo as an
official and married a sister to him.) In 431, with Xia's emperor Helian Ding (Helian Chang's brother and successor after
Helian Chang was captured by N. Wei in 428) having first destroyed W.Qin and killed Qifu Mumo and then having been
defeated and captured by Murong Mugui), Juqu Mengxun, now with his territory directly in contact with N. Wei, sent his
son Juqu Anzhou to N. Wei as a hostage to show his loyalty. In response, N. Wei's Emperor Taiwu sent his official Li
Shun (李顺) to N. Liang to bestow a number of high titles, including the title of Prince of Liang. By 432, Juqu Mengxun, in
his old age, was said to be arbitrary and cruel, with his subjects suffering the pain henceforth. When Li Shun again arrived
in his territory, he initially refused to bow down to receive the N. Wei emperor's edict, but upon Li Shun's warning that
such disrespect will be punished, did so. In 433, he grew ill, and his nobles and officials believed Juqu Puti to be too
young to succeed him, and so deposed Juqu Puti and replaced him as heir apparent with his older brother Juqu Mujian.
Juqu Mengxun soon died, and Juqu Mujian succeeded him. Era names * Yong'an (永安 y_ng _n) 401-412 * Xuanshi
(玄始 xuan sh_) 412-428 * Chengxuan (承玄 cheng xuan) 428-430 * Yihe (义和 yi he) 430-433
Personal information
* Mother
o Lady Che (d. 413)
* Wife
o Princess Meng
* Children
1)o Juqu Zhengde (沮渠政德), the Heir Apparent (created 413, killed in battle by Rouran forces 423)
2)o Juqu Xingguo (沮渠兴国), the Heir Apparent (created 423), LATER captured and detained by W. Qin's prince
Qifu Mumo 429 (d. 431)
3)o Juqu Puti (沮渠菩提), the Heir Apparent (created 429, deposed 433)
4)o Juqu Mujian (沮渠牧犍), the Heir Apparent (created 433), LATER prince
5)o Juqu Wuhui (沮渠无讳), LATER prince
6)o Juqu Anzhou (沮渠安周), LATER prince
7)o Juqu Yide (沮渠仪德)
8)o Juqu Bing (沮渠秉) (brothers forced by Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei to kill him 444)
9)o Juqu Donglai (沮渠董来)
10)o Princess Xingping, LATER consort to Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei (forced to commit suicide 447)
11)o Another daughter, older than Juqu Mujian
3) Ai1(grief)Wang2 哀王 Ju3qu2 Mu4(herd/tend)jian1(bullock) 沮渠牧犍 433-439 (died 447), named Juqu
Mao4(luxuriant)qian2(pious/sincere) (沮渠茂虔) By the time that Juqu Mujian succeeded his father Juqu Mengxun
(Prince Wuxuan) in 433, N. Liang appeared to be stronger than ever, yet was under the shadow of the much stronger
state N. Wei, to which N. Liang was a vassalater In 439, Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei launched a major campaign against N.
Liang and captured both his capital Guzang (姑臧 Wuwei, Gansu) and Juqu Mujian himself. Juqu Mujian remained an
honored N.Wei subject as Emperor Taiwu's brother-in-law until 447, when Emperor Taiwu, believing him to be trying to
rebel, forced him to commit suicide. Maybe his mother was Princess Meng. He was Juqu Mengxun's third son. In 420,
after Mengxun had destroyed rival W. Liang and captured its capital Jiuquan (酒泉 Jiuquan, Gansu), as Mengxun made
him the governor of Jiuquan Commandery and gave him the deceased W. Liang duke Li Xin's Li Jingshou as his wife.
Juqu Mujian was never named heir by his father's will, as his father initially created Juqu Zhengde (沮渠政德), probably
his oldest brother, as heir apparent, in 413. After Juqu Zhengde was killed in battle against Rouran forces in 423, Juqu
Mengxun created another brother of Juqu Mujian's, Juqu Xingguo (沮渠兴国), as heir apparent. After Juqu Xingguo was
detained by the W. Qin prince Qifu Mumo in 429, and Mengxun failed in his attempt to ransom Juqu Xingguo back from W.
Qin, he created a younger brother of Juqu Mujian's, said to be of the same mother as Juqu Xingguo's, Juqu Puti (沮渠菩
提), as heir apparent. However, as Mengxun was ill in 433, the nobles and the officials considered Juqu Puti too young to
govern, so they deposed Juqu Puti and made Juqu Mujian, who was considered studious and kind, heir apparent instead.
Then Muijian made his son Juqu Fengtan (沮渠封坛) as heir apparent. Mujian's initial policy was one of careful
supplication to the powerful N. Wei and its Emperor Taiwu, and, as Juqu Mengxun had already agreed to do, he sent his
younger sister Princess Xingping to Emperor Taiwu, who created her an imperial consort, and created Juqu Mujian the
Prince of Hexi. Juqu Mujian, however, also carefully cultivated relationships with N. Wei's rivals LS and Rouran, and in
434, after he sent messengers to LS to show submission as well, Emperor Wen of LS also created him the Prince of Hexi.
In 436, after Emperor Taiwu had destroyed N. Yan and seized its territory, he began to consider conquering N. Liang. Still,
in 437, he sent his sister Princess Wuwei to be married to Juqu Mujian. Juqu Mujian, although he was already married to
Princess Li, felt compelled to accept, and Princess Wuwei became his princess. At the same time, Emperor Taiwu also
ordered that Juqu Mujian's mother be honored as the Princess Dowager of Hexi. Juqu Mujian was forced to divorce
Princess Li, who was exiled to Jiuquan from the N. Liang capital Guzang (姑臧 Wuwei, Gansu), and then died soon. By N.
Wei demands, Juqu Mujian also sent Juqu Fengtan to the N. Wei capital Pingcheng (平城 Datong, Shanxi) as a hostage.
However, he also continued to send messengers to LS, offering tributes of books while requesting supplies of other books,
and Emperor Wen granted them without question. (Despite the marriage, Emperor Taiwu considered launching a
campaign against N. Liang, but at the urging of Li Shun (李顺), whoo argued that the army was still tired from conquering
N. Yan and Xia as well as fighting LS and needed rest, Emperor Taiwu postponed the plans.) In 439, Juqu Mujian was
entangled in a scandal that adversely affected his relationship with N. Wei. He and his two brothers were all having affairs
with the wife of another brother, Lady Li, and Lady Li then plotted, with a sister of Juqu Mujian, to poison Princess Wuwei.
Emperor Taiwu sent doctors, who were able to save Princess Wuwei's life, and he then demanded that Juqu Mujian turn
over Lady Li. Juqu Mujian refused, and only sent Lady Li to Jiuquan. Meanwhile, the N. Wei messengers to the Xiyu
kingdoms, who were going through N. Liang frequently, were alleging that Juqu Mujian had informed Xiyu kingdoms that
they should not submit to N. Wei and should submit to Rouran instead. At the encouragement of the prime minister Cui
Hao, Emperor Taiwu again prepared military action. With Yuan He, the son of S. Liang's last prince Tufa Rutan, as guide,
he launched a speedy attack and arrived at Guzang quickly. Juqu Mujian, in shock, refused to surrender, defending the
city against a siege, while seeking immediate military assistance from Rouran's Chilian Khan, Yujiulu Wuti. Yujiulu Wuti
did launch a surprise attack on Pingcheng to try to force Emperor Taiwu to give up the campaign, but after initial
successes, he failed to capture Pingcheng, and his brother Yujiulu Qiliegui (郁久闾乞列归) was captured by N. Wei forces.
After nearly two months of siege, Juqu Mujian's nephew Juqu Wannian (沮渠万年) surrendered to N. Wei forces, and
Guzang collapsed. Juqu Mujian tied his own arms as sign of submission and surrendered. Emperor Taiwu took the city,
but continued to treat Juqu Mujian with respect, as a brother-in-law, and while he took Juqu Mujian to Pingcheng, he
continued to allow him to carry the title of Prince of Hexi. (Allegedly, as he surrendered, he opened up the royal treasury
to let it be pillaged─an action that would have detrimental consequences to him LATER on.) While Juqu Mujian's brothers
Juqu Wuhui, Juqu Yide (沮渠宜得), and Juqu Anzhou and cousin Juqu Tang'er (沮渠唐儿) would continue to hold out at
various N. Liang cities and LATER flee and try to establish a permanent present at Gaochang, Juqu Mujian himself
appeared to have had no ability to participate in those events. It was around this time that his mother died, and she was
buried with honors due a princess dowager. In 447, however, accusations were made that when Juqu Mujian opened up
the royal treasury when Guzang fell, that the treasures ended up back in his possession. Treasures allegedly from the N.
Liang treasury were then found in Juqu Mujian's possession, as were many kinds of poisons and magical items that Juqu
Mujian, Juqu Mengxun, and Juqu Mujian's sisters were said to use. In anger, Emperor Taiwu ordered Consort Juqu to
commit suicide, and executed many members of the Juqu clan. LATER that year, accusations were made that Juqu
Mujian was communicating with his F. subjects and planning a rebellion. Emperor Taiwu sent Cui Hao to the residence
that Juqu Mujian shared with Princess Wuwei, and there forced Juqu Mujian to commit suicide. Era name
* Yonghe (永和 y_ng he) 433-439
Personal information
* Father
o Juqu Mengxun (Prince Wuxuan)
* Wives
1)o Princess Li Jingshou (divorced 437), daughter of Li Gao, prince of W. Liang
2)o Princess Tuoba (married 437), Princess Wuwei of N. Wei, daughter of Emperor Mingyuan of N. Wei
* Children
1)o Juqu Fengtan (沮渠封坛), the Heir Apparent (created 433)
2)o Princess Wuwei
4) Ju3qu2 Wu2hui4(taboo)沮渠无讳 442-444 (died 444) Is viewed by some historians as a prince of the
Chinese/Xiongnu states N. Liang, as after the state's territory was largely seized by N. Wei in 439, and his older brother
Juqu Mujian (Prince Ai) was captured by N.Wei, Juqu Wuhui tried to hold out against N. Wei, initially on N. Liang's old
territory, and LATER, after that attempt failed, at Gaochang. He continued to use the title of Prince of Hexi, a title used by
his brother and previously by his father Juqu Mengxun (Prince Wuxuan). Chinese historians dispute over whether Juqu
Wuhui and his successor and brother Juqu Anzhou should be considered N. Liang rulers or not, and most consider Juqu
Mujian the final prince of N. Liang. In 437, by which time Juqu Mujian had made him the governor of Jiuquan
Commandery (酒泉 Jiuquan, Gansu). After the N. Liang capital Guzang (姑臧 Wuwei, Gansu) was captured by N. Wei
forces, and Juqu Mujian was seized by Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei, in 439, N.Wei forces attacked remaining cities held by
Juqu clan holdouts, and Juqu Wuhui, after he was joined in Jiuquan by his brother Juqu Yide (沮渠宜得), abandoned
Jiuquan and fled initially to Jinchang (晋昌 Jiuquan) and then to Dunhuang (敦煌 Gansu). In spring 440, Juqu Wuhui tried
to recapture Jiuquan. Yuan Jie (元□), the N. Wei general in charge of Jiuquan, viewed Juqu Wuhui lightly, and engaged
him outside the city. Juqu Wuhui captured him and then put Jiuquan under siege, soon capturing it. He then attacked
Zhangye, but could not capture it. N. Wei's Emperor Taiwu issued an edict ordering him to surrender, and in fall 440, after
another general resisting N. Wei, Tufa Baozhou (秃发保周), the son of S. Liang's last prince Tufa Rutan, committed
suicide, Juqu Wuhui sent his general Liang Wei (梁伟) to show submission to N.Wei's general Tuoba Jian (拓拔健) the
Prince of Yongchang and Emperor Taiwu's brother, offering to return Jiuquan to N. Wei control and returning Yuan Jie. In
response, in spring 441, Emperor Taiwu created Juqu Wuhui the Prince of Jiuquan. In summer 441, Juqu Wuhui's cousin
Juqu Tang'er (沮渠唐儿), who was defending Dunhuang, rebelled. Juqu Wuhui left another cousin, Juqu Tianzhou (沮渠天
周), in charge at Jiuquan, while personally attacking Juqu Tang'er, and Juqu Tang'er was killed in battle. However, as he
did so, N. Wei, still viewing him with suspicion, sent its general Daxi Juan (达奚眷) to siege Jiuquan. With food supplies
running out quickly, by winter 441, Jiuquan fell to N. Wei forces, and Juqu Tianzhou was killed. Juqu Wuhui himself lacked
food at Dunhuang, and he feared N. Wei's next attack, and he therefore considered reestablishing his state in Xiyu. He
first sent his brother Juqu Anzhou against Shanshan, but initially Juqu Anzhou was repelled. However, in 442, Juqu
Wuhui abandoned Dunhuang and joined Juqu Anzhou, and the King of Shanshan, in fear, fled, and Juqu Wuhui, half of
whose soldiers died of thirst on the way between Dunhuang and Shanshan, took Shanshan. Meanwhile, however, the F.
W. Liang general Tang Qi (唐契) was attacking another F. N. Liang general, Hei Shuang (阚爽), at Gaochang. Hei sought
help from Juqu Wuhui, but as Juqu Wuhui arrived with aid, Hei had already killed Tang in battle and refused to grant Juqu
Wuhui admission. In fall 442, Juqu Wuhui made a surprise attack on Gaochang, capturing it, and Hei fled to Rouran. Juqu
Wuhui moved his headquarters to Gaochang, and sent messengers to LS's capital Jiankang, submitting as a vassal and
seeking an alliance. Emperor Wen of LS created him the Prince of Hexi. In 444, Juqu Wuhui died, and Juqu Anzhou
succeeded him. Era name
* Chengping (承平 cheng ping) 443-444 Personal information
* Father
o Juqu Mengxun (Prince Wuxuan)
* Children
o Juqu Ganshou (沮渠乾寿)
5) Ju3qu2 An1(peaceful\fix\install)zhou1(circuit) 沮渠安周 444-460 (died 460) N. Liang was seized by N. Wei in 439,
and his older brother Juqu Mujian (Prince Ai) was captured by N.Wei, Juqu Anzhou's brother Juqu Wuhui tried to hold out
against N. Wei, initially on N. Liang's old territory, and LATER, after that attempt failed, at Gaochang. Juqu Anzhou
succeeded Juqu Wuhui after Juqu Wuhui's death in 444, and he continued to use the title of Prince of Hexi, a title used by
his brothers and previously by his father Juqu Mengxun (Prince Wuxuan). In 431, when Juqu Mengxun sent him to visit
the N. Wei capital Pingcheng (平城 Datong, Shanxi). Juqu Anzhou was the governor of Ledu Commandery (乐都
Haidong Prefecture, Qinghai) at this point, and he abandoned Ledu and fled to Tuyuhun. By winter 441, however, he had
joined Juqu Wuhui at Dunhuang, and Juqu Wuhui, who had recently lost Jiuquan to N. Wei, wanted to try to reestablish
his rule in Xiyu (modern Xinjiang and F. Soviet Central Asia). He sent Juqu Anzhou to attack Shanshan, but Juqu Anzhou
could not capture it initially. In 442, however, Juqu Wuhui arrived to join him, and the king of Shanshan, in fear, fled, and
Juqu Wuhui took over Shanshan. LATER that year, they would relocate to Gaochang. In 444, Juqu Wuhui died, and Juqu
Anzhou succeeded him. Late in 444, Emperor Wen of LS officially created Juqu Anzhou the Prince of Hexi. At Gaochang
he continued to use Juqu Wuhui's era name of Chengping, and after he seized the forces under the command of Juqu
Wuhui's son Juqu Ganshou 沮渠乾寿, Juqu Ganshou surrendered to N. Wei. It appeared that Juqu Anzhou tried to
maintain a good relationship with Rouran. However, in 460, for reasons unknown, Rouran attacked Gaochang and killed
Juqu Anzhou, and then his clan. Rouran forces made Kan Bozhou (阚伯周) the King of Gaochang instead. Era name
 Chengping (承平 cheng ping) 444-460
[14] Xi Liang Kingdom 400-421(3)
1) Wu3(swordplay/valiant/fierce) Zhao1(obvious/clear) Wang2 武昭王 Li3(plum) Gao3 李□ 400-417 (351 ━ 417)
aka Xuan2(obscure)sheng4 (flourishing/ energetic/deeply) (玄盛), nickname Chang2(long/strong
point)sheng1(birth) (长生), Was the founding duke of the Chinese state W. Liang. (While he claimed only the title of duke
during his reign, he was posthumoustly honored with the princely title.) He was initially a N. Liang official, but in 400, he
seceded from N. Liang's prince Duan Ye's rule and established his own independent state. His state only lasted for 21
years, but as his descendants would remain key officials and nobles throughout N. Wei, W. Wei, N. Zhou, and Sui
Dynasty, and as one of them, Li Yuan, would found the Tang Dynasty in 618. After the founding of the Tang Dynasty, he
was posthumously honored as Emperor Xingsheng (兴圣皇帝). Li Gao was born in 351, and was a posthumous child of
his father Li Chang (李昶), who traced his ancestry to the Han Dynasty general Li Guang. After Li Chang's death, Li Gao's
mother married a man named Song, and she bore him at least one son, Song Yao (宋繇). In Li Gao's youth, he was
known to be studious, rational, and open-minded. When he grew older, he also studied the military strategies of Sunzi and
Wu Qi. He had, for a time, lived in the same house with his half-brother Song Yao and Guo Nen (郭_), a minister of
LATER Liang's founding emperor Lu Guang known for his magical and prophetic abilities. Guo once told Song, "Your
place will be among the most honored of all subjects, but Mr. Li will one day found an independent state. This will happen
when a mare bears a pony with a white forehead." After Lu Guang's official Duan Ye, with support from the generals Juqu
Nancheng (沮渠男成) and Juqu Mengxun, broke away from LATERLiang and established N. Liang in 397, Li Gao became
a county magistrate under Duan Ye's governor of Dunhuang Commandery (Gansu), Meng Min (孟敏). When Meng died in
400, the officials of Dunhuang Commandery, because Li Gao was popular with the people, asked him to take over. Initially,
Li Gao was hesitant, but Song advised him to accept, stating to him that a pony with a white forehead had just recently
been born. Li Gao therefore accepted and requested confirmation from Duan Ye, and Duan Ye agreed. However, Duan
Ye's official Suo Si (索嗣), a friend of Li Gao's, warned Duan Ye of Li Gao's ambitions and advised Duan Ye not to allow Li
Gao to remain in control of Dunhuang. Duan Ye therefore sent Suo Si to take over Li Gao's post. Li Gao, in fear, initially
was going to receive Suo and turn over authorities to him. At the urging of Song and Zhang Miao (张邈), however, Li Gao
first sent messengers to flatter Suo, and instead made a surprise against Suo, defeating him and forcing him to flee back
to the N. Liang capital Zhangye (张掖, Gansu). Li Gao, angry at what he saw as Suo's betrayal, then sent messengers to
Duan Ye demanding that he execute Suo. Juqu Nancheng, who also disliked Suo, advised Duan Ye to execute Suo to
pacify Li, and Duan Ye did so. LATER in 400, Li Gao's subordinate Tang Yao (唐瑶) declared a general secession by the
six commanderies around Dunhuang and offered the rulership to Li Gao. Li Gao accepted and took the title of Duke of
Liang, thus establishing W. Liang.
Li Gao set his capital at Dunhuang. In 401, the important N. Liang照洞੐怹癕੐∍ 冂豵㄄퓪쑺寔੐쩌늡砑蝎뤍⺽㘬੐ờ੐䭿㘩
狚啎鹗㄄鳪夑覈焚탆 䥏 ੐샪어੐痜頶叾읻황妭㱥暲峼텛ძ ᐸ 笫祶Ϣ⼵粔겊鉰ᵄ姮彑 腘៓៓嘖㋁‫﹉ﰋ‬殫︕ 퀈ၹ柴 賙鰤㄄
੐煸艨댹⩤醪੐੐╳㈮㄄੐딯蒺뢻뫩㟆장ㄪ៓퍴“Ǽ㚕윷䋦៓⒆앎ꒁ 뺓쫛氄㌤Ꭶ ഊ
℃闡ນ੐ᛨ ག 靸텑䨹茟⽘੐੐呵隹ꈏ 㥓瑋㷸馮
Ƌ톟떷궤⼺謯瀾㝞 ੐⌍
钌탧੐苵㝎 썶챾肌턩媈੐攴੐簜鵙怬쏱ਖ깤㄄㄄⍛ 䈜槝 鞣魻䫌༔ 㢣੐ 彯⼪鏢ᗣ੐㄄㄄㄄㭒芝㼲㶟晩
ᛖ 톮鳠σắ뜮牬멱Ộ値ì唳⎏ﾍ떜웬玧鏽㄄慄냦䂚奣쏫䠉岞菵䰥眓酮羏挨 숪㭗⿴璡庅㜼박贈䀦 푃쐳戲੐놵䀈⪯썍뿻만⚈쐣竿뾌
LATER Qin, although Juqu Mengxun LATER decided against it and continued his state's existence. In light of LATER
Qin's advances, however, Li Gao nominally submitted to LATERQin as a vassalater In 404, Li Gao's heir apparent Li Tan
(李谭) died, and he created Li Tan's younger brother Li Xin as the new heir apparent. In 405, Li Gao claimed additional
honorific titles, and at the same time, while not renouncing LATER Qin, also sent messengers to Jin, requesting to be a
vassalater He also moved his capital from Dunhuang to Jiuquan, closer to the N. Liang capital Zhangye, to put additional
pressure on N. Liang. He also wrote a letter to all of his sons, which is still extant, encouraging them to be open-minded
and think logically, and be mild in temperament. In 406, Li Gao entered into a peace agreement with S. Liang's prince
Tufa Rutan, with an implicit understanding of an alliance against N. Liang, but no actual joint military action was ever
taken. LATER that year, Juqu Mengxun made an attack on Jiuquan, and Li Gao suffered a defeat to Juqu Mengxun near
Jiuquan and was forced to return to the city to defend it against a siege, but Juqu Mengxun, not having enough strength to
siege it, withdrew. In 408, not having received response from Jin when he sent messengers in 405, Li Gao sent another
messenger with his petition to the Jin capital Jiankang (建康, Nanjing, Jiangsu). In 410, Juqu Mengxun attacked W. Liang
again and defeated Li Gao's heir apparent Li Xin in battle, capturing the general Zhu Yuanhu (朱元虎). Li Gao ransomed
Zhu with silver and gold, and Juqu Mengxun returned Zhu and made peace with Li Gao. In 411, Juqu Mengxun, despite
the prior peace agreement, made a surprise attack on W. Liang. Li Gao guarded his capital and refused to engage Juqu
Mengxun, who was then forced to withdraw when his army ran out of food supply. Li Gao then sent Li Xin to attack the N.
Liang troops in retreat, and Li Xin had a major victory over Juqu Mengxun, capturing his general Juqu Bainian (沮渠百年).
In 416, Li Gao's subordinate Suo Chengming (索承明) suggested that he attack N. Liang. Li Gao summoned Suo and
explained to him that he had insufficient strength to do so -- and that Suo, if he actually had usable plans, should offer
them rather than simply suggesting an attack. In fear and shame, Suo withdrew from his presence. In 417, Li Gao grew ill,
and he entrusted Li Xin to his brother Song Yao, stating, "After I die, the heir apparent is your son. Please discipline him
accordingly." He then died, and Li Xin succeeded him as duke. Although Li Gao only claimed a ducal title, he was
posthumously honored as a prince. Personal information
* Father
o Li Chang (李昶) (d. 350 or 351), posthumously honored as Duke Jian
* Wives
1)o First wife, name unknown[4]
2)o Lady Yin, mother of Li Xin
* Children
1)o Li Tan (李谭), the Heir Apparent (d. 404)
2)o Li Xin (李歆), the Heir Apparent (created 404), LATER duke
3)o Li Rang (李让), Marquess Mu of Xinxiang
4)o Li Xun (李恂), LATER ruler
5)o Li Fan (李翻)
6)o Li Yu (李预)
7)o Li Hong (李宏)
8)o Li Tiao (李眺)
9)o Li Liang (李亮)
10)o Li Jingshou (李敬受) (d. 437), wife of Juqu Mujian, prince of N. Liang
2) Li3(plum) Xin1(pleased/moved) 李歆 417-420 (died 420) aka Shi4(master/bodyguard/scholar/piece in
chess)ye4(profession) (士业), nickname Tong2(phoenix tree/tung tree/paulownia)zhui1(vertebra) (桐椎), Was a
duke of the Chinese state W. Liang. He succeeded his father Li Gao (Prince Wuzhao) in 417 and aggressively tried to
pursue campaigns against rival N. Liang's prince Juqu Mengxun, but fell into a trap set by Juqu Mengxun in 420 and was
killed in battle, bringing destruction to his state (although his brother Li Xun tried to hold out but was defeated soon as
well). His mother Lady Yin was his father Li Gao's wife or concubine. He was Li Gao's second son, and so after Li Gao
declared independence from N. Liang and founded W. Liang in 400, it was not he, but his older brother Li Tan (李谭), who
was created heir apparent. In 404, when Li Tan died, and Li Gao created him heir apparent to replace Li Tan. In 410, Li
Xin fought a battle with the N. Liang prince Juqu Mengxun when Juqu Mengxun attacked W.Liang, but was defeated by
Juqu Mengxun, and his general Zhu Yuanhu (朱元虎) was captured, forcing Li Gao to use gold and silver to ransom Zhu.
In 411, he returned the favor, as after Juqu Mengxun made another attack on W.Liang but was forced to withdraw after
his food supplies ran out, Li Xin attacked the N.Liang army and dealt Juqu Mengxun a defeat, capturing Juqu Mengxun's
general Juqu Bainian (沮渠百年). In 417, Li Gao grew ill, and after entrusting Li Xin to his own half-brother Song Yao (宋繇)
-- telling him that Li Xin was now his son -- died. Li Xin succeeded him as duke, and Lady Yin was honored as princess
dowager. Li Xin made his uncle Song Yao the prime minister, but meanwhile carried out cruel punishments and favored
palace construction projects, both of which made the people feel burdened. He also made plans to attack N. Liang, further
burdening his state. LATER in 417, Juqu Mengxun tried to trick Li Xin by having his governor of Zhangye Commandery
(张掖 Gansu), Juqu Guangzong (沮渠广宗) pretend to surrender to Li Xin. Li Xin, as requested by Juqu Guangzong,
mobilized forces to try to relieve Juqu Guangzong at Zhangye, and Juqu Mengxun waited to ready to ambush Li Xin.
However, on the way to Zhangye, Li Xin realized that there was a trap, and he withdrew. Juqu Mengxun tried to attack him,
but he defeated Juqu Mengxun. In 418, Juqu Mengxun attacked W. Liang again, and Li Xin was preparing to meet him in
battle. His official Zhang Tishun (张体顺) persuaded him against it, however, and instead he stayed in his capital Jiuquan
(酒泉 Gansu), and Juqu Mengxun, not willing to siege the city, withdrew. LATER that year, because he had previously
sent messengers to Jin, offering to be a vassal, Jin created him the Duke of Jiuquan. In 419, with Li Xin's punishments
and construction projects overburdening his people, his officials Zhang Xian (张显) and Fan Cheng (泛称) advised him to
be more lenient and more thrifty, pointing out that he would otherwise not be able to defeat Juqu Mengxun. Li Xin ignored
their advice. In 420, Juqu Mengxun set another trap for Li Xin. He pretended to attack W. Qin's city Haomen (浩□
Haidong Prefecture, Qinghai), but once reaching Haomen, immediately withdrew and hid his army at Chuanyan (川岩,
near Zhangye). Li Xin, believing wrongly that Juqu Mengxun's defenses were down, decided to attack Zhangye, against
the advice of Song Yao and Zhang Tishun. Princess Dowager Yin also spoke against it, pointing out that he had
insufficient strength to conquer N. Liang and warning him that a defeat would destroy his state. He ignored them, but as
they had predicted, as he approached Zhangye, Juqu Mengxun intercepted him and defeated him. His generals then
advised him to quickly withdraw to Jiuquan, but Li Xin, stating that he had disobeyed his mother and would only be able to
see her again after a victory, engaged Juqu Mengxun again, suffering an even greater defeat, and he was killed in battle.
Juqu Mengxun quickly captured Jiuquan, and by 421 would take over the rest of W. Liang territory. Era name * Jiaxing
(嘉兴 ji_ x_ng) 417-420 Personal information
* Father
o Li Gao (Prince Wuzhao)
* Mother
o Lady Yin
* Children
o Li Chong'er (李重耳), the Heir Apparent, LATER official under LS and N. Wei
3) Li3(plum) Xun2(sincere) 李恂 420-421 (died 421) aka Shi4(master/bodyguard/scholar/piece in chess)Ru2(in
compliance/as if/go to) (士如), He tried to hold out against the conquering N. Liang armies under its prince Juqu
Mengxun, after his brother Li Xin's death in 420. He was only able to hold the city of Dunhuang (敦煌 Gansu) for several
months, before Juqu Mengxun successfully sieged the city, and Li Xun committed suicide. Brief reign Maybe was the son
of his brother Li Xin's mother Princess Dowager Yin. Under his father Li Gao (Prince Wuzhao) and/or Li Xin, Li Xun
successively served as the governor of Jiuquan (酒泉 Gansu) and Dunhuang Commanderies. His rule of Dunhuang was
said to be benevolent and favored by the people. In 420, while trying to attack N.Liang, Li Xin fell into a trap set by Juqu
Mengxun and was killed in battle. Juqu Mengxun then quickly reached the W. Liang capital Jiuquan, and Li Xin's other
brothers abandoned Jiuquan and fled to Dunhuang. Once they reached Dunhuang, they and Li Xun, then the governor of
Dunhuang, abandoned Dunhuang and fled to the hills north of Dunhuang. Juqu Mengxun commissioned Suo Yuanxu (索
元绪) to be the governor of Dunhuang. However, Suo quickly lost favor with the people by being rude, dishonest, and
cruelater Some people of Dunhuang, under the leadership of Song Cheng (宋承) and Zhang Hong (张弘), secretly invited
Li Xun back to Dunhuang, and in winter 420 he did so, forcing Suo to flee. Song and Zhang offered Li Xun the titles of
General Guanjun (冠军将军) and Governor of Liang Province (凉州刺史), and he changed the era name to signify that W.
Liang was still a state. Juqu Mengxun then sent his heir apparent Juqu Zhengde (沮渠政德) to attack Dunhuang, and Li
Xun defended the city, refusing to engage Juqu Zhengde. However, Juqu Mengxun soon arrived, and he built levees to
accumulate water around Dunhuang. Li Xun offered to surrender, but Juqu Mengxun refused. At this point, Song Cheng
betrayed him and offered the city to Juqu Mengxun. Upon hearing this, Li Xun committed suicide, and Juqu Mengxun
slaughtered the city. W. Liang was at its end.
[15] Qian Qin Empire 351 AD - 394 AD(6)
1) Jing3(view/situation/respect)Ming2(bright/clever/distinct/explicit/ understand) Di4 景明帝 Fu2(angelica anomala)
Jian4(healthy/be good at/invigorate) 苻健 351-355 (317-355), originally named Pu2(cattail) Jian (蒲健, name
changed 350)aka Jian4(build/propose/advocate) ye4(trade/propert/already) (建业) Pu Jian was born, as Pu Hong (蒲
洪)'s third son, by Lady Jiang, in 317, while Pu Hong was a Di chieftain under Han Zhao. However, he grew up largely
during the time when Pu Hong served under LATER Zhao's emperor Shi Hu. Shi Hu, while outwardly appreciative of Pu
Hong's service, was deeply apprehensive of the loyalty Pu's Di soldiers had for him, and so secretly killed Pu Hong's two
oldest sons. However, impressed with Pu Jian's bravery, archery, horsemanship, and generosity, Shi Hu favored him
greatly and spared him. In 349, as Shi Hu was gravely ill, he commissioned Pu Hong to be the governor of Yong Province
(雍州 central and N. Shaanxi). However, it appeared that Pu Hong did not immediately proceed to his post, but was slow
in preparing his Di troops for assignment while at his base at Fangtou (枋头Hebi, Henan). After Shi Hu died LATER that
year, he was succeeded by his youngest son Shi Shi, but the power was actually in the hands of Shi Shi's mother
Empress Dowager Liu and her ally Zhang Chai (张豺). Dissatisfied with Empress Dowager Liu and Zhang, Pu, along with
several other generals, persuaded another son of Shi Hu, Shi Zun the Prince of Pengcheng to march on to the capital
Yecheng, overthrowing Shi Shi. Shi Zun became emperor, but he was apprehensive of Pu Hong taking over the
Guanzhong region, and therefore stripped Pu Hong of his title as governor of Yong Province. Pu Hong became angry, and
immediately returned to his troops at Fangtou and sought assistance from Jin. Pu Jian appeared to have been with his
father during this time and supportive of his ambitions. LATER in the year, Shi Zun was overthrown by his adoptive
nephew Shi Min, who supported another son of Shi Hu, Shi Jian the Prince of Yiyang, as the new emperor. As the turmoil
continued, the Di and Qiang that Shi Hu had previously forced to move to E. China began to disregard LATER Zhao laws
and seek to return to their ancestral homes in the west. They supported Pu Hong as their leader. In 350, when after Shi
Min had issued an order for the slaughter of the non-Han, but particularly the Jie and the Xiongnu and began to show
intent to take over the empire, Pu Hong was one of the generals resisting Shi Min. LATER in the year, Jin created him the
Duke of Guangchuan, and created Pu Jian the Duke of Xiangguo. However, Pu Hong did not hold onto the Jin-created
titles for long, and soon declared himself the Prince of Sanqin (i.e., the prince of the Three Qins) and the Grand Chanyu,
and changed his family name from Pu to Fu, in response to a prophecy. He intended to march west to occupy the
Guanzhong region; however, as he was planning, he was poisoned to death by his general Ma Qiu (麻秋); on his death
bed, Fu Hong ordered Fu Jian to take over the Guanzhong region. Fu Jian, as his father's heir apparent, took over his
troops and put Ma to death. He discarded the titles that his father had claimed, and again claimed the Jin-created titles.
LATER that year, Fu Jian readied for a campaign west, but did not want to let the general Du Hong (杜洪), who occupied
Guanzhong's main city Chang'an, know his intention, so he pretended to be ready to permanently settle at Fangtou. Once
Du became relaxed, Fu marched west, dividing his army into two groups, one commanded by his brother Fu Xiong (苻雄)
and himself, and one commanded by his nephew Fu Qing (苻菁) and Yu Zun (鱼遵). Both armies advanced west quickly,
and in winter 350, Chang'an fell to Fu Jian's forces. In spring 351, Fu Jian's advisor Jia Xuanshuo (贾玄硕) suggested that
Fu Jian claim the title the Prince of Qin and request Jin to create him that title. Fu Jian was displeased, because he was
ready to declare independence from Jin. He soon declared himself the "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang), formally breaking
from Jin (and LATER Zhao) and establishing F. Qin. ----As the ruler of F. Qin, Fu Jian appeared to be a diligent and thrifty
ruler, and he abolished many of the harsh LATER Zhao laws and invited able people to join his administration, but he was
also violent and easily offended. For example, LATER in 351, he became increasingly angry that Jia had initially only
suggested that he claim a princely title and not an imperial title, and he falsely accused Jia of conspiring with Jin's general
Sima Xun (司马勋) and put Jia and his sons to death. In 352, Fu Jian claimed the title emperor. He continued to engage
both F. LATER Zhao generals who controlled small fiefdoms and F.Yan and Jin forces, as the three states settle their
borders by force in the aftermaths of LATER Zhao's final destruction in 351 and the subsequent of Ran Min (F.ly known as
Shi Min)'s fall to F. Yan in 352. In 353, Fu Xiong and Fu Qing also repelled an attack by the nominal Jin vassal F. Liang. In
354, the Jin general Huan Wen launched a major attack on F. Qin, in coordination with F. Liang forces. Fu Jian gathered
all of his available forces and put them in the hands of his sons Fu Chang (苻苌) the Crown Prince, Fu Sheng the Prince
of Huainan, Fu Shuo the Prince of Beiping, along with Fu Xiong and Fu Qing, ready to resist Huan. Huan, however, was
able to advance all the way to Chang'an's vicinity, defeating all F. Qin resistance on the way. However, Huan hesitated at
making a final siege against Chang'an, and as Fu Jian, anticipating the Jin attack, had already harvested all of the wheat,
Jin forces began to run out of food supplies and was forced to withdraw in late summer 354. The success against Huan
came at a price, however, as Fu Jian's crown prince Fu Chang suffered an arrow wound in the campaign against Huan,
and died in winter 354. Fu Jian's wife Empress Qiang wanted to create their youngest son Fu Liu (苻柳) the Prince of Jin
crown prince, but Fu Jian, believing in a prophecy that appeared to indicate that he should create Fu Sheng crown prince,
did so in 355 -- notwithstanding Fu Sheng's violent and capricious nature. In summer 355, Fu Jian grew illater During his
illness, his nephew Fu Qing the Prince of Pingchang, believing that Fu Jian had already died, made a surprise attack on
Fu Sheng's palace, intending to kill Fu Sheng and take over as emperor. Fu Jian, in his illness, quickly emerged and
showed himself to the guards; as soon as Fu Qing's army saw Fu Jian as well, the soldiers panicked and abandoned Fu
Qing. Fu Jian executed Fu Qing but no one else. He died five days LATER, leaving his new empire in the hands of his
unstable son. Era name * Huangshi (皇始 huang sh_) 351-355
Personal information
* Father
o Fu Hong (苻洪), originally Pu Hong (蒲洪, name changed 350), self-proclaimed Prince of Sanqin,
posthumously honored as Emperor Wuhui (poisoned by Ma Qiu (麻秋) 350)
* Mother
o Lady Jiang
* Wife
o Empress Qiang (created 351, d. 356)
* Children (note: all of Fu Jian's sons, except where as noted, who were created dukes in 351, were promoted to
princes in 352 and subsequently redemoted to dukes in 357 because Fu Ji_n, who took the throne that year, claimed the
title of "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang) rather than emperor; they will only be referred to here as dukes rather than princes
to avoid repetition)
1)o Fu Chang (苻苌), Crown Prince Xian'ai (created 351, d. 354)
2)o Fu Jing (苻靓), the Duke of Pingyuan (created 351)
3)o Fu Sheng (苻生), initially the Duke of Huainan (created 351), LATER the Crown Prince (created 355), LATER
emperor
4)o Fu Di (苻觌), the Duke of Changle (created 351)
5)o Fu Fang (苻方), the Duke of Gaoyang (created 351)
6)o Fu Shuo (苻硕), the Duke of Beiping (created 351)
7)o Fu Teng (苻腾), the Duke of Huaiyang (created 351, executed 364)
8)o Fu Liu (苻柳), the Duke of Jin (created 351, executed 368)
9)o Fu Tong (苻桐), the Duke of Ru'nan (created 351)
10)o Fu Sou (苻叟), the Duke of Wei (created 351, forced to commit suicide 368)
11)o Fu Wu (苻武), the Duke of Yan (created 351, executed 368)
12)o Fu You (□7b幼), the Duke of Zhao (created 351, killed in battle 365)
2) Li4(severe) Wang2 厉王 Fu2(angelica anomala)
Sheng1(birth/unripe/life/get/have/unfamiliar/stiff/pupil/male character in opera) 苻生 355-357 (335-357), originally
named Pu2(cattail)Sheng (蒲生), aka Chang2(long/regualr/strong point)sheng1(birth/unripe/life/get/have/
unfamiliar/stiff/pupil/male character in opera) (长生), formally Prince Li4(severe) of Yue(overstep) (越厉王) He was
the son of F. Qin's founding emperor Fu Jian, and was a violent, arbitrary, and cruel ruler, and after ruling for only two
years was overthrown by his cousin Fu Jian (note different tone than his father) in a coup and executed, and therefore
was not posthumously recognized as an emperor during the remainder of F. Qin's rule. Pu Sheng was born to Pu Jian in
335, as his third son, by his wife, the LATER Empress Qiang. At that time, both Pu Jian and his father Pu Hong (蒲洪)
were generals for LATER Zhao. Pu Sheng was born blind in one eye. Once, his grandfather Pu Hong teased him, "I heard
that you, my blind boy, only shed tears from one eye; is that true?" Pu Sheng, in anger, stabbed his blind eye and
exclaimed, "This is the other eye shedding tear!" Pu Hong, shocked at his reaction, whipped him and told him, "You are
only deserving to be a slave!" He responded, "That is fine; I'll just be like Shi Le(a slave who became an emperor)." Pu
Hong became concerned at his behavior, which was also manifested by lack of discipline, and told Pu Jian that he should
consider killing his son, lest that his family be destroyed by him. Pu Jian considered it, but was dissuaded from it by his
brother Pu Xiong (蒲雄). As Pu Sheng grew, he became known for his strength and ferocity in battle, as he was strong
enough to battle wild beasts, and was skillful in horsemanship and use of weapons. After his father (who had by then
changed the family name from Pu to Fu) established F. Qin in 351, he was created the Prince of Huainan. In 354, when
the Jin general Huan Wen launched a major attack against F. Qin, nearly destroying it, Fu Sheng was one of the generals
that Fu Jian commissioned to lead the army against Huan. Fu Sheng was personally successful in battles, killing many,
but was not particularly successful as a generalater Eventually, Huan was forced to withdraw when his food supplies ran
out, but Fu Sheng's older brother Fu Chang (苻苌) the Crown Prince suffered an arrow wound during the campaign, and
died in winter 354. Initially, his mother Empress Qiang wanted to create his younger brother Fu Liu (苻柳) the Prince of Jin
crown prince, but Fu Jian, reading a prophecy that contained the phrase "three goats shall have five eyes," believed that
the prophecy indicated that Fu Sheng should succeed him (because one of his eyes was blind), and therefore created Fu
Sheng crown prince. After a failed coup by his cousin Fu Qing (苻菁) the Prince of Pingchang to take over in 355, Fu
Sheng succeeded to the throne when his father died thereafter. He honored his mother Empress Qiang as empress
dowager, and created his wife Princess Liang empress. Fu Sheng almost immediately displayed his violent and cruel
nature, however. Fu Jian's will commissioned a number of high level officials to serve as Fu Sheng's assistants, but all of
them (with the possible exception of his granduncle Fu An (苻安) the Prince of Wudu, who might or might not have been
named in the will) perished rather quickly under his violent rule:
*Yu Zun (鱼遵): executed in 357 along with his sons and grandsons after Fu Sheng dreamed of a large fish (yu 鱼) eating
calamus (pu 蒲)
*Lei Ruo'er 雷弱儿: executed in 355 along with his sons and grandsons after false accusations by Fu Sheng's associates
Zhao Shao 赵韶 and Dong Rong 董荣
* Mao Gui 毛贵, uncle of Fu Sheng's wife Empress Liang: executed in 355 along with Empress Liang, Liang An, and
Liang Leng after astrologers prophesied that there would be a great funeral and high level officials would be killed
* Wang Duo (王堕): executed in 356 after offending Dong, who then advised Fu Jian that a high level official needed to
be executed in accordance with astrological signs
* Liang Leng (梁楞): executed in 355, along with Empress Liang, Mao Gui, and Liang An
* Liang An (梁安): executed in 355, along with Empress Liang, Mao Gui, and Liang Leng
* Duan Chun (段纯): executed in 355, the same day that Fu Jian became emperor, after Fu Sheng was offended at his
suggestion that changing era name in the middle of a year was improper
* Xin Lao (辛牢): killed in 356 by an arrow Fu Sheng launched during the middle of a feast after Fu Sheng became
displeased that he, as the master of ceremony, was not getting everyone drunk
Because Fu Sheng was blind in one eye and apparently apprehensive that people would be making fun at him or be
contemputous of him due to that disability, he ordered that words such as "missing," "lacking," "slanted," "less," and
"without" not be used. He was also engaged in heavy drinking, and he often either ignored officials' petitions altogether or
made irrational decisions on them in the middle of his stupor, allowing his attendants to make random decisions on his
behalf. He also carried out cruel punishment─in addition to frequent executions, he also liked to cruelly treat animals─
including throwing them into boiling water or skinning them alive─the latter he sometimes applied to humans. In 356,
when his uncle Qiang Ping 强平, Empress Dowager Qiang's brother, tried to correct his ways, he broke Qiang Ping's skull
by hammering him, and then executed him, leading Empress Dowager Qiang to die in sorrow and fear. Also in 356, Fu
Sheng's brother Fu Liu the Prince of Jin was able to persuade the F. Liang regent Zhang Guan to have the young F. Liang
ruler Zhang Xuanjing become a vassalater In 357, the F. Jin general Yao Xiang (姚襄), who, after rebelling against Jin in
354, had intended to establish his independent state, attacked F. Qin's N. territory, and the F. Qin generals Deng Qiang
(邓羌) and Fu Huangmei (苻黄眉) the Prince of Guangping fought back and captured and executed him. Fu Sheng, still
respectful of Yao Xiang and his father Yao Yizhong (姚弋仲), whose casket Yao had carried with his army, buried both
with honors. However, he not only did not reward Fu Huangmei but further insulted him, leading Fu Huangmei to plot an
unsuccessful assassination against him, resulting in Fu Huangmei's death. LATER in 357, Fu Sheng became suspicious
of his cousins Fu Jian the Prince of Donghai and Fu Fa (□7b法) the Prince of Qinghe and considered killing them. His
ladies in waiting leaked the news to Fu Jian, who immediately led his private army to attack the palace. The imperial
guards, who had already resented Fu Sheng's ferocity, surrendered without resisting. Fu Jian captured Fu Sheng, who
was still in a drunken stupor, and had him deposed and then executed. Fu Jian then took the throne.
Era name * Shouguang (寿光 shou guang) 355-357
Personal information
* Father
o Fu Jian (Emperor Jingming)
* Mother
o Empress Qiang
* Wife
o Empress Liang (created and executed 355)
3) Xuan1(declare/drain) Zhao1(clear/obvious) Di4 宣昭帝 Fu2(angelica anomala) Jian1(solid/resolute) 苻坚 357-385
(337-385) aka Yong3gu4(solid/originally/resolutley/no doubt) (永固) or
Wen2(culture/gentle/tatoo/coverup/writing/character)yu4(/jade/pure/hansome/your) (文玉) Assisted by his able
prime minister Wang Meng, the F. Qin state reached its greatest glory─destroying F. Yan, F. Liang, and Dai and seizing
Jin's Yi Province (益州, Sichuan and Chongqing), posturing to destroy Jin as well to unite China, until he was repelled at
the Battle of Fei River in 383. For a variety of reasons, the F. Qin state soon collapsed after that defeat, and Fu Jian
himself was killed by his F. subordinate, Yao Chang the founding emperor of LATER Qin, in 385. Fu Jian was born in 337,
when the family name was still Pu (蒲), to Fu Xiong (苻雄) and his wife Lady Gou. His grandfather Pu Hong (蒲洪) was a
Di chieftain and a major general for LATER Zhao, serving under the violent emperor Shi Hu, who did however accord Pu
great respect. LATER, during LATER Zhao's collapse, Pu Hong changed his name to Fu Hong, and planned a conquest
of the Guanzhong region, but was poisoned by the general Ma Qiu (麻秋). He was succeeded by his son, Fu Jian's uncle
Fu Jian, who did advance west and conquer the Guanzhong region and the surrounding provinces. In this, he was ably
assisted by Fu Jian's father Fu Xiong, whom he created the Prince of Donghai. In 354, while on a campaign, Fu Xiong
died. As the son of Fu Xiong's wife, Fu Jian inherited the title of Prince of Donghai, even though he had at least one older
brother, Fu Fa (苻法), who was created the Prince of Qinghe. Fu Jian developed the reputation of being filial and farsighted, as well as being knowledgeable and able. As Fu Jian grew older, he received some military responsibilities under
his cousin Fu Sheng, who succeeded Fu Jian after his death in 355. In 357, when Yao Xiang (姚襄), a major Qiang chief,
attacked F.Qin, hoping to conquer it, Fu Jian was one of the generals who fought him and defeated him, capturing and
executing him on the battlefield. Yao Xiang's brother Yao Chang surrendered. Initially, the lead general Fu Huangmei (苻
黄眉) the Prince of Guangping wanted to put Yao Chang to death, but Fu Jian interceded, and Yao Chang was spared. Fu
Sheng's reign was one filled with violence, caprice, and cruelty. As he killed official after official in his administration, all of
the nobles and officials became fearful of being the next target. A number of officials tried to persuade Fu Jian to
overthrow Fu Sheng, and it was in the planning stages that Fu Jian, under the introduction of the official Lu Polou (吕婆楼),
met Wang Meng, with whom he immediately developed a friendship. Fu Jian planned to act against Fu Sheng but
hesitated, since Fu Sheng was a powerful warrior. However, after news leaked that Fu Sheng had planned to kill Fu Jian
and his brother Fu Fa, Fu Jian and Fu Fa took immediate action and attacked the palace while Fu Sheng was in a
drunken stupor. Fu Sheng's guards surrendered without a fight, and Fu Jian put Fu Sheng to death and took over the
throne. He did not, however, take imperial title as Fu Sheng had, but claimed the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang). He
posthumously honored his father Fu Xiong as an emperor, and he honored his mother Lady Gou as an empress dowager.
His wife Lady Gou was created empress. ---At the start of Fu Jian's reign, in addition to Wang Meng, he had several other
top advisors─his brothers Fu Fa and Fu Rong the Duke of Yangping, his son Fu Pi the Duke of Changle, and his mother
Empress Dowager Gou's lover *Li Wei (李威). It was with Li's support that Wang's position became increasingly important,
eventually becoming one of prime minister status. This was particularly the case when, around new year 358, Empress
Dowager Gou, apprehensive of Fu Fa's growing authority, forced him to commit suicide. Senior officials, mostly of Di
ethnicity, were often jealous of Wang, but whatever conflict they engaged with Wang always resulted in Wang's prevailing
over them, since Wang was favored by Fu Jian. Wang, with Fu Jian's support, established rule of law throughout the
empire, and he even executed the founding emperor Fu Jian's honored but corrupt brother-in-law, Qiang De (强德),
despite Fu Jian's desire to pardon Qiang. It was described that the empire was ruled efficiently and justly during this
period. Fu Jian was also recorded as having the cruel laws of Fu Sheng's reign and the extravagance. He also
encouraged his officials to recommend talented people for posts, and rewarded or punished them based on whether the
people they recommended performed their jobs wellater It was described that F. Qin officials were therefore all highly
competent and responsible. In 364, Fu Jian conferred titles on Zhang Tianxi, the nominal Jin vassal who was the ruler of F.
Liang, making him a F. Qin vassal as wellater In late 365, however, Zhang Tianxi disavowed that status and cut off
relations with F. Qin. LATER in 364, Fu Sheng's brother Fu Teng the Duke of Ru'nan rebelled, but was captured and
executed. Wang, concerned about four other brothers of Fu Sheng (Fu You (苻幼) the Duke of Huai'nan, Fu Liu (苻柳) the
Duke of Jin, Fu Sou (苻叟) the Duke of Wei, and Fu Wu (苻武) the Duke of Yan), suggested to Fu Jian to have all of them
killed. Fu Jian refused. Late in 364, Fu Jian tried to restore the early Jin system by permitting the dukes─his brothers,
sons, and cousins─to commission their own assistants. However, he cancelled the plans when some of the dukes
retained rich merchants to serve as their assistants purely on account of their wealth. In 365, after the F. Yan regent
Murong Ke captured the important Jin city of Luoyang, he postured as if about to attack F. Qin. Fu Jian personally readied
his troops to face Murong Ke, but no attack from Murong Ke actually occurred. Late in 365, Xiongnu chiefs Cao Gu (曹毂)
and Liu Weichen (刘卫辰) rebelled together, and Fu Jian personally attacked them, capturing Liu and forcing Cao's
surrender─but, in the first instance of such actions that would lead to disaster decades LATER, allowed Cao and Liu to
continue to command their troops. LATER that year, Fu You rebelled but was killed in battle by Li, who had stayed at the
capital Chang'an with Fu Jian's crown prince Fu Hong (苻宏, note different character than Fu Jian's grandfather). In 367,
after Murong Ke's death and replacement by the far less capable Murong Ping, Fu Jian began plans to conquer F. Yan.
He would soon, however, have to contend with the possibility that his empire would be the one so conquered, as in winter
of that year, Fu Liu (at Puban (蒲阪 Yuncheng, Shanxi)), Fu Sou (at Shancheng (陕城), in modern Sanmenxia, Henan)),
Fu Wu (at Anding (安定, in Pingliang, Gansu)), and Fu Jian's brother Fu Shuang (苻双) the Duke of Zhao (at Shanggui (上
□ Tianshui, Gansu)), rebelled together, offering to submit to F. Yan and seeking F. Yan aid. However, Murong Ping
refused assistance. Fu Jian sent forces to attack the four rebellious dukes separately. Fu Wu and Fu Shuang were quickly
defeated and killed, followed by Fu Liu and Fu Sou. In 369, the paramount Jin general Huan Wen launched a major attack
against F. Yan, reaching Fangtou (枋头 Hebi, Henan), in the vicinity of F. Yan's capital Yecheng. In panic, F. Yan sought
assistance from F. Qin, promising that if F. Qin launched troops to assist, it would cede the Luoyang region to F. Qin.
Most F. Qin officials opposed, but Wang advised Fu Jian that he had to make sure that Huan would not conquer F. Yan─
because F.Qin would not be able to stand up to Jin if Jin destroyed F. Yan. Fu Jian thus launched troops, which arrived
after F. Yan's general Murong Chui had already dealt Huan one defeat, but the F. Qin forces, in conjunction with F. Yan,
did deal Huan another major defeat. However, F. Yan reneged on its promise to cede the Luoyang region, and Fu Jian put
Wang in charge of a 60,000-men force against F. Yan. Wang's campaign seemed even more promising after Murong Chui,
fearful of Murong Ping's jealousy and the emperor Murong Wei's mother Empress Dowager Kezuhun's hatred toward him,
defected to F. Qin. In spring 370, Wang first advanced on Luoyang and forced its surrender. He then advanced on Hu
Pass (壶关 Changzhi, Shanxi), defeating all F. Yan resistance on the way. He then captured Jinyang (晋阳 Taiyuan,
Shanxi). Murong Ping led a 300,000-men strong force against Wang, but apprehensive of Wang, he stopped at Lu River
(潞川 Changzhi). Wang soon arrived to prepare to face off against him. Meanwhile, Murong Ping made the worst display
of his corruption at this time─keeping guards at forests and streams, disallowing commoners and even his own soldiers
from cutting firewood or fishing unless they paid a usage fee in either money or silk. He soon had a stash of wealth, but
completely lost the morale of his soldiers. Murong Wei, hearing this, sent a messenger to rebuke him and ordering him to
distribute the wealth to the soldiers, but the damage was done. In winter 370, the armies engaged, and despite the
numerical advantage that Murong Ping had, Wang crushed him, and Murong Ping fled back to Yecheng by himself.
Murong Wei abandoned Yecheng and tried to flee to the old capital Helong (和龙 Jinzhou, Liaoning), but was captured on
the way. Fu Jian pardoned him but had him formally surrender with his officials, ending F. Yan. Initially, Fu Jian put Wang
Meng in charge of all of the conquered F. Yan territory, as viceroy. He relocated Murong Wei and his clan, as well as a
large number of his Xianbei people, to the Guanzhong region, in the heart of F. Qin. In 372, he summoned Wang back to
the capital to resume his post as prime minister, while putting Fu Rong in charge of the E. empire. Wang's authority was
described to be so great that Fu Jian himself had little need to worry about the affairs of state. Fu Jian continued to carry
out campaigns that were intended to eventually unite all of China. In 373, he launched a campaign against Jin's W. region,
conquering modern Sichuan, Chongqing, and S. Shaanxi. Meanwhile, many F. Qin officials, including Wang, became
concerned about the large number of Xianbei people that he placed in the heart of the empire and how many Xianbei
officials, including those of F. Yan's imperial Murong clan, he put in charge of important posts, and they largely urged him
to reduce the authority of Xianbei officials. He refused. In 375, Wang became gravely ill, and he, on his death bed,
suggested to Fu Jian to stop the campaigns against Jin while not trusting the Xianbei and Qiang officials as much as he
has done. After Wang died, however, Fu Jian did not agree with his last words and continued to bestow authority on the
Xianbei and Qiang officials. After Wang Meng's death, Fu Jian continued to carry out his campaigns to try to unite the
empire. These campaigns, while largely successful, were, according to historical resources, draining on the resources of
the empire and of the people, and wore out his troops. Further, Fu Jian, who was known for thrifty living in his early years,
began to spend somewhat extravagantly on palace designs. Further, one of Wang's focus areas─to keep the
governmental officials honest and competent─appeared to have been ignored, as one began to see false governmental
reports in historical records. For example, in 382, F. Qin suffered a major locust infestation that required a failed
extermination effort throughout You (幽州, Beijing, Tianjin, and N. Hebei), Qing (青州 central and E. Shandong), Ji (冀
central Hebei), and Bing (并州 Shanxi) Provinces─and yet the governmental records paradoxically recorded that these
provinces, except You Province, received large yields on their crop fields, and that the locusts did not infest the hemp and
bean plants, a fairly impossible scenario. This suggested that government officials were no longer reporting statuses of
their provinces honestly but were only making reports that pleased Fu Jian and the high level officials. This might be
because Fu Jian, after Wang's death, felt that he had to personally oversee everything, and was burdening himself with
too many tasks, as evidenced in an edict that he issued in 376 indicating that his workload was burdening him so much
that half of his hair turned white. In fall 376, Fu Jian launched a major attack against F. Liang, after its ruler Zhang Tianxi
refused to show submission by visiting the F. Qin capital Chang'an and further killed Fu Jian's messengers. Zhang's
generals, who were displeased with the young favorites that he had installed in the regime, either surrendered or were
defeated easily, and in less than a month, Zhang was forced to surrender, and F. Liang's territory (central and W. Gansu,
N. Qinghai, and E. Xinjiang) were annexed to F. Qin. Just two months LATER, Fu Jian launched another major campaign
against Dai and, in light of the recent assassination of its prince Tuoba Shiyijian by his son Tuoba Shijun (拓拔□君),
conquered it as well, although he permitted Tuoba Shiyijian's grandson Tuoba Gui to remain under the care of tribal chief
Liu Kuren (刘库仁) and be the eventual heir presumptive to the Dai throne. In 378, Fu Jian sent Fu Pi, Murong Wei, and
Gou Chang (苟苌) to attack the important Jin border city of Xiangyang (襄阳 Xiangfan, Hubei). At Gou's suggestion, Fu Pi
ordered that Xiangyang be surrounded to force it into submission at minimal losses, but Fu Jian, unhappy at his son's
slow pace in capturing the city, ordered Fu Pi to either capture the city by spring 379 or commit suicide. Fu Pi therefore
launched a major assault on the city, capturing it in spring 379. Weixing (魏兴 Ankang, Shaanxi) also fellater At the same
time, however, another army sent by Fu Jian, commanded by Peng Chao (彭超), after capturing Pengcheng (彭城 Xuzhou,
Jiangsu), was defeated by the Jin general Xie Xuan and forced to abandon Pengcheng. In 380, Fu Jian's cousin Fu Luo
(苻洛) the Duke of Xingtang, who felt slighted by not being sufficiently rewarded for his victories against Dai in 376 and
believed that Fu Jian had worn out his troops, rebelled. He was, however, crushed by the general Lu Guang and captured,
but Fu Jian did not kill him but only exiled him. **(This was heavily criticized by historians, who believed that Fu Jian, by
not executing Fu Luo and several others in similar situations, encouraged future rebellions that eventually brought down
his empire.) Also in 380, Fu Jian carried out a historically controversial decision to distribute his Di people─a small
minority in his empire─to various regions of the empire, under the command of his sons and other generals. He probably
intended to have them serve as a stabilizing force throughout the empire, but the short-term result was that the heart of
the empire, Guanzhong, was left with few Di and filled with Xianbei and Qiang, which would eventually cause a
destabilizing effect. He also summoned his brother Fu Rong back to the capital and take over posts previously held by
Wang Meng. Fu Pi replaced Fu Rong in his responsibilities as viceroy over the E. empire. In late 382, Fu Jian again
planned to conquer Jin. Most of the important officials opposed─including the prime minister Fu Rong. However, the
campaign was supported by Murong Chui and Yao Chang, and Fu Jian became intent to carrying it out, and when an
official raised the point that the Yangtze River was difficult to cross, he made the remarks, "We have so many soldiers that,
if they threw down their whips, it would be enough to stop the flow of the Yangtze." In 383, Fu Jian sent Lu on a campaign
to Xiyu (西域 Xinjiang and F. Soviet central Asia), where some of the kingdoms had submitted to F. Qin as vassals but
some had not. Lu's campaign would last several years and be quite successful─but by the time it was complete, Fu Jian
would be dead and F. Qin would be near destruction. --In 383, Fu Jian launched the campaign, under Fu Rong's command, despite Fu Rong's opposition. After initial victories,
capturing the Jin city of Shouyang (寿阳, Lu'an, Anhui), the F. Qin advance troops would suffer some losses at the hands
of Xie Xuan and Liu Laozhi (刘牢之), and the armies would be stalemated at the Fei River (which no longer exists, but
likely flowed through modern Lu'an, near the Huai River), with the F. Qin forces to the west of the river and the Jin forces
to the east. Xie Xuan suggested to Fu Rong that he retreat west to allow Jin forces to cross, and Fu Jian and Fu Rong
agreed, but as the retreat started, the F. Qin forces panicked and could not be stopped. Fu Rong, trying to calm the troops,
suddenly had his horse fall under him, and he was killed by Jin forces, which further led to a complete collapse of F. Qin
forces. Fu Jian himself was hit by a stray arrow, and was forced to flee to Murong Chui, whose army was one of the few
that did not collapse. Murong Chui's son Murong Bao and brother Murong De tried to persuade him to kill Fu Jian and
reestablish Yan, but Murong Chui refused, escorting Fu Jian safely back to Luoyang. Murong Chui, while not willing to
resort to murder due to Fu Jian's earlier kindness to him, did decide, however, to try to reestablish Yan. Under the
pretense of wanting to calm the people of the E. empire, he persuaded Fu Jian to allow him to lead an army northeast,
despite opposition by Quan Yi (权翼). As Murong Chui arrived at Yecheng, he and Fu Pi suspected each other but each
ruled out suggestions by their respective subordinates to ambush the other. As, at this time, the Dingling chief Zhai Bin (翟
斌) rebelled against F. Qin, with assistance with Murong Chui's nephew Murong Feng (慕容凤), and attacked Luoyang,
and Fu Pi sent Murong Chui south to relieve Luoyang, with the Di general Fu Feilong (苻飞龙) as his assistant. On the
way to Luoyang, Murong Chui ambushed Fu Feilong and slaughtered his Di soldiers, but still wrote an explanation to Fu
Jian. In spring 384, however, Murong Chui would join Zhai and claim the title Prince of Yan, establishing LATER Yan. He
soon captured many cities in the E. empire, although Yecheng and Luoyang held out against him. Meanwhile, Murong
Chui's nephew and Murong Wei's brother Murong Hong, upon hearing news of Murong Chui's uprising, gathered some
Xianbei soldiers and started his own rebellion within Guanzhong, claiming his old F. Yan title of Prince of Jibei and starting
W. Yan. Fu Jian sent his brother Fu Rui (苻□) the Duke of Julu, assisted by Yao Chang, against Murong Hong. Murong
Hong, in fear, was about to leave Guanzhong, and Fu Rui was intent on cutting off his escape route, despite Yao's
suggestion to let the Xianbei leave. Instead, Murong Hong, forced into combat, defeated and killed Fu Rui. When Yao
sent messengers to the capital to report the defeat, Fu Jian, for reasons unknown, got so angry that he killed Yao's
messengers─causing Yao to panic and flee with Qiang soldiers. Yao then declared himself "the Prince of Qin of Ten
Thousand Years" (万年秦王), establishing LATER Qin. Meanwhile, Murong Hong advanced on Chang'an, and he was
joined by another brother, Murong Chong. He demanded that Fu Jian escort Murong Wei to him, and Murong Wei, while
pledging allegiance to Fu Jian, secretly send messengers to Murong Hong urging him to attack Chang'an, although
Murong Hong was then murdered by his own generals and replaced with Murong Chong, who claimed the title of crown
prince. Meanwhile, Fu Jian himself led an army against Yao, but was unsuccessfulater Fu Jian's son Fu Hui 苻晖 the
Duke of Pingyuan then abandoned Luoyang to come to Chang'an's aid, and all of the E. empire was lost except for
Yecheng. Meanwhile, Jin also launched campaigns, and would recapture the modern Chongqing, Sichuan, and S.
Shaanxi region by early 385, as well as capturing much of the F. Qin territory south of the Yellow River, although Jin
forces under Xie Xuan would at times be in temporary alliance with Fu Pi against LATER Yan as wellater In late 384,
Murong Wei tried to kill Fu Jian at a feast, and after this was discovered, Fu Jian put him and the other Xianbei inside
Chang'an to death. Murong Chong, upon hearing this news, declared himself emperor in early 385. He would continue to
deal Fu Hui defeats, and Fu Hui, in anger over the defeats and Fu Jian's rebukes in light of the defeats, committed suicide.
With Murong Chong surrounding Chang'an, Chang'an fell into a terrible famine. Fu Jian decided that he would lead an
army out of the city to try to capture food supplies, and he left his crown prince Fu Hong in charge of the city, but as soon
as he left, the city fell, and Fu Hong fled to Jin. Meanwhile, Fu Jian himself took his army to Wujiang Mountain (五将山
Baoji, Shaanxi), but was surrounded and captured by LATER Qin forces and taken to Xinping (新平 Xianyang, Shaanxi)
and imprisoned there with his concubine Consort Zhang, his son Fu Shen (苻诜) the Duke of Zhongshan, and his
daughter Fu Bao (苻宝) and Fu Jin (苻锦). Yao Chang tried to persuade him to ceremonially pass the throne to him, but
Fu Jian, angry at Yao's betrayal, refused. He also killed Fu Bao and Fu Jin, reasoning that he did not want to let Yao's
followers humiliate them. In fall 385, Yao sent his soldiers to strangle Fu Jian. Consort Zhang and Fu Shen committed
suicide. Even LATER Qin soldiers mourned Fu Jian, however, and Yao, in order to pretend as if he did not put Fu Jian to
death, posthumously honored him as Heavenly Prince Zhuanglie (壮烈天王), although that posthumous name would not
be adopted by Fu Pi, who took the imperial throne upon hearing Fu Jian's death. Era names * Yongxing (永兴 ) 357-359
* Ganlu (甘露 ) 359-364 * Jianyuan (建元 365-385
Personal information
* Father
o Fu Xiong (苻雄), Prince Jingwu of Donghai and brother of Fu Jian, posthumously honored as Emperor
Wenhuan
* Mother
o Empress Dowager Gou
* Wife
o Empress Gou (created 357)
* Major Concubines
1)o Consort Zhang
2)o Consort Murong, daughter of Murong Jun
* Children
3)o Fu Hong (苻宏), the Crown Prince (created 357)
4)o Fu Pi (苻丕), the Duke of Changle (created 357), LATER emperor
5)o Fu Hui (苻晖), Duke Dao of Pingyuan (created 357, committed suicide 385)
6)o Fu Xi (苻熙), the Duke of Guangping (created 357)
7)o Fu Lin (苻琳), the Duke of Hejian (killed by W. Yan forces 384)
8)o Fu Shen (苻诜), the Duke of Zhongshan (committed suicide 385)
9)o Fu Bao (苻宝), Princess (executed 385)
10)o Fu Jin (苻锦), Princess (executed 385)
11)o Princess Shunyang, wife of Yang Bi (杨璧)
4) Ai1(grief/pity) Ping2( flat; level; even; smooth; be on the same level; be on a par; equal; <sports> make the
same score; tie; draw; equal; fair; impartial; calm) Di4 哀平帝 Fu2(angelica anomala) Pi1(big/great) 苻丕 385-386
(died 386) aka Yong3(perpetual)shu1(uncle/sb your father's age) (永叔) Was an emperor of the Chinese/Di state F.
Qin. He was Fu Jian's oldest son, although not his crown prince, and after Fu Jian's death at the hands of Yao Chang, the
founder of LATER Qin, and his brother Fu Hong (苻宏) the Crown Prince was forced to flee to Jin, he claimed imperial title
in 385, but was defeated by the W. Yan prince Murong Yong in 386, and then subsequently killed by the Jin general Feng
Gai (冯该). In 357, when his father Fu Jian overthrew the violent and whimsical emperor Fu Sheng and took the throne
with the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang). Fu Jian created Fu Pi, his oldest son, the Duke of Changle. At that time, Fu
Pi was described to have talent in both governance and military matters, whose talents were only lesser to his uncle Fu
Rong, whose abilities were much praised by historians. In 378, Fu Jian commissioned Fu Pi to command a large army
against the Jin city Xiangyang (襄阳 Xiangfan, Hubei). At the advice of the general Gou Chang (苟苌), Fu Pi chose to
surround the city and cut off its supply route to strangle it into submission, rather than making direct assaults on the city.
However, around the new year 379, Fu Jian, anxious to capture the city, sent him a sword, stating that if by the spring he
had not captured the city, he should kill himself with the sword. After receiving the sword, Fu Pi, in fear, made a fierce
attack on the city and captured it. In 380, Fu Jian recalled Fu Rong, who had served as the viceroy over the E. provinces
(the F. territory of F.Yan, which F. Qin destroyed in 370), back to the capital Chang'an to serve as prime minister in place
of the capable Wang Meng, who died in 375. Fu Pi was made the viceroy of the E. provinces to replace Fu Rong. As Fu
Jian, that year, also implemented a plan to distribute his Di people to various regions of the empire, a substantial number
of Di soldiers and their families accompanied Fu Pi to his command post at Yecheng. Fu Pi was not involved in the
crushing defeat that F. Qin foces suffered at the Battle of Fei River, as he remained at Yecheng. In the aftermaths of the
battle, however, the Xianbei general Murong Chui, a F. Yan prince, plotted a rebellion to reestablish Yan. In late 383, after
persuading Fu Jian to allow him to visit the E. provinces to try to calm the people in light of the defeat at Fei River, Murong
Chui arrived at Yecheng, where Murong Chui continued plotting, and where Murong Chui and Fu Pi considered
ambushing each other but each decided not to do so. When, subsequently, the Dingling chieftain Zhai Bin (翟斌) rebelled
and attacked Luoyang, defended by Fu Pi's brother Fu Hui (苻晖) the Duke of Pingyuan, Fu Jian ordered Murong Chui to
put down Zhai's rebellion, and Fu Pi sent his assistant Fu Feilong (苻飞龙) to serve as Murong Chui's assistant. On the
way to Luoyang, however, Murong Chui killed Fu Feilong and his Di soldiers and prepared to openly rebelater Meanwhile,
despite his suspicions of Murong Chui, Fu Pi did not put Murong Chui's son Murong Nong and nephews Murong Kai (慕容
楷) and Murong Shao (慕容绍) under surveillance, and the three fled out of Yecheng and started a rebellion of their own.
In spring 384, Murong Chui openly declared the establishment of LATER Yan, claiming the title of Prince of Yan. Fu Pi
tried to persuade Murong Chui to end his rebellion, but Murong Chui refused and attacked Yecheng but was unable to
capture it quickly. However, most cities north of the Yellow River and east of Taihang Mountains switched allegiance or
were captured by LATERYan forces, leaving Yecheng isolated. (The F. Qin cities south of the Yellow River were largely
captured by Jin.) With the heart of the empire itself under attacks by rebel regimes LATERQin and W. Yan, Fu Pi could
have no expectation of receiving aid, and the situation soon grew desperate for him and his troops. In late 384, Murong
Chui briefly lifted the siege of Yecheng to try to regroup, but at the same time, Jin forces attacked. Fu Pi sued for peace,
but without his knowledge his assistant Yang Ying (杨膺) also promised on his behalf that he would surrender to Jin. With
that promise, the Jin general Xie Xuan aided him with troops and food supplies, but eventually the temporary alliance
broke up again. Meanwhile, Murong Chui returned and again put the city under siege after defeating Jin troops under Liu
Laozhi (刘牢之). In 385, Fu Pi abandoned Yecheng and headed northwest to Jinyang (晋阳 Taiyuan, Shanxi), where he
received news that his father Fu Jian had been killed by the LATER Qin ruler Yao Chang. He then declared himself
emperor. Fu Pi took measures to try to consolidate his current position─now largely only over modern Shanxi, although
there were still many pockets of territory loyal to F. Qin in modern Shaanxi and Gansu, and there were also still pockets of
resistance even in the middle of LATER Yan territory. His prime minister Wang Yong (王永) (Wang Meng's son) issued a
declaration inviting all those who were still loyal to be prepared to rendezvous at Linjin (临晋 Weinan, Shaanxi) in winter
386. Many local generals answered the call, although the rendezvous would never actually happen. In fall 386, the W.Yan
ruler Murong Yong, whose people had abandoned the Guanzhong region to head east, trying to return to their home land,
requested Fu Pi to grant permission to let them through. Fu Pi refused and tried to intercept them, but suffered a major
defeat, in which Wang Yong and the major general Juqu Jushizi (沮渠俱石子) were killed, and most of Fu Pi's officials and
his wife Empress Yang were captured. The only general under Fu Pi who still had a strong army remaining was his cousin
Fu Zuan (苻纂) the Prince of Donghai, who remained at Jinyang, but Fu Pi was suspicious of Fu Zuan's intentions and
therefore did not dare to return to Jinyang, but instead headed south, wanting to make a surprise attack on Luoyang, then
held by Jin. The Jin general Feng Gai (冯该) intercepted him and killed him in battle. His sons Fu Ning (苻宁) the crown
prince and Fu Shou (苻寿) the Prince of Changle were captured by Jin forces but pardoned and given to their uncle Fu
Hong (苻宏) -- Fu Jian's crown prince, who had surrendered to Jin earlier. His sons Fu Yi (苻懿) the Prince of Bohai and
Fu Chang (苻昶) the Prince of Jibei were escorted by an official to his distant nephew Fu Deng the Prince of Nan'an, who
initially proposed making Fu Yi the emperor, but after his subordinates recommended that he take the throne himself, did
so. Era name
* Tai'an (太安 ) 385-386 Personal information
* Father
o Fu Jian (Emperor Xuanzhao)
* Wife o Empress Yang (created 385, killed by Murong Yong of W. Yan 386)
* Children
1)o Fu Ning (苻宁), the Crown Prince (created 385)
2)o Fu Shou (苻寿), the Prince of Changle (created 385)
3)o Fu Qiang (苻锵), the Prince of Pingyuan (created 385)
4)o Fu Yi (苻懿), initially the Prince of Bohai (created 385), LATER Crown Prince Xian'ai under Fu Deng (created
387, d. 388)
5)o Fu Chang (苻昶), the Prince of Jibei (created 385)
5) Gao1(tall/above the average/loud/expensive) Di4 高帝 Fu2(angelica anomala)
Deng1(ascend/record/publish/tread on) 苻登 386-394 (343 ━ 394) Was an emperor of the Chinese/Di state F. Qin. He
assumed the throne in 386 after the deaths of Fu Jian (Emperor Xuanzhao) and Fu Jian's son Fu Pi (Emperor Aiping),
even though he was only a distant relative of theirs, as by that time F. Qin's territory had largely been reduced to the
territory under his controlater He battled the LATER Qin emperor Yao Chang for years in a stalemate that neither could
conclusively prevail, but in 394, he made a major attack on LATER Qin after Yao Chang's death, seriously
underestimating Yao Chang's son and successor Yao Xing, who captured and executed him. LATER that year, his son Fu
Chong, who succeeded him, would die in battle, ending F. Qin. Fu Deng was born in 343, to Fu Chang (苻敞), a distant
grandnephew of F. Qin's founder Fu Jian, while still under LATER Zhao rule. After Fu Jian founded F. Qin in 351, Fu
Chang served as a general and a commandery governor. During the reign of Fu Jian's cruel and whimsical son Fu Sheng
(r. 355-357), Fu Chang was executed, but he was posthumously honored after Fu Sheng was overthrown by his cousin
Fu Jian. Fu Jian was impressed by Fu Deng's abilities, and when he grew older, Fu Deng was made the county
magistrate of the capital Chang'an. LATER, however, for unspecified faults, he was demoted to be the county magistrate
for Didao (狄道, Dingxi, Gansu). After F.Qin began to collapse in 384 and Fu Jian was killed by the LATER Qin general
Yao Chang in 385, Fu Deng became a subordinate of the general Mao Xing (毛兴), who sought to control all of the
provinces in the west still nominally under F. Qin rule, but his soldiers became weary from all of the battles and
assassinated him in 386, replacing him with Wei Ping (卫平), a very old general who was the head of the clan. However,
these soldiers soon became convinced that Wei was too old to accomplish much, and they deposed Wei and replaced
him with Fu Deng. Fu Deng submitted a report of these events to Fu Jian's son Fu Pi, the new emperor, and Fu Pi
commissioned him as a provincial governor and created him the Prince of Nan'an. LATER in 386, Fu Pi died in battle
against Jin, and the territory under his direct control (modern Shanxi), as well as his officials, fell into the hands of the W.
Yan emperor Murong Yong. His official Kou Qian (寇遣) escorted his sons Fu Yi (苻懿) the Prince of Bohai and Fu Chang
(苻昶, note different character than Fu Deng's father) the Prince of Jibei to Fu Deng's domain. Fu Deng, after mourning for
Fu Pi, proposed to have Fu Yi declared emperor, but his subordinates all stated the state needed an older emperor; at
their suggestion, Fu Deng himself took the throne. He made Fu Yi his crown prince. --- Even before he took imperial title,
Fu Deng battled Yao Chang continuously, and the wars between Fu Deng and Yao Chang's LATERQin intensified after
Fu Deng became F. Qin's emperor. Fu Deng set up a shrine to Fu Jian in his army, and whenever he made a key decision
he would report it to Fu Jian. He was also described as a master of square and circular formations, and initially won a
number of battles over LATER Qin─so much so that Yao Chang, in fear, also set up a shrine dedicated to Fu Jian in his
army, apologizing for his killing of Fu Jian and requesting forgiveness. However, after that failed to yield victories, Yao
Chang cut off the head of the effigy he had made of Fu Jian and delivered to Fu Deng. But Fu Deng's victories over Yao
Chang did not appear to have lasting impact, and the wars between F. Qin and LATER Qin became stalemated.
Meanwhile, Fu Deng's shortcomings became exposed─an inability to take decisive action to deal heavy damage to
LATER Qin, and Yao Chang took advantage of his indecisive tendencies to gradually destroy other semi-independent
generals in the Guanzhong region and consolidate his power base. In 387, Fu Deng created the ruler of W. Qin, Qifu
Guoren, the Prince of Wanchuan, and Qifu Guoren accepted, signifying at least nominal submission to Fu Deng. After
Qifu Guoren died in 388 and was succeeded by his brother Qifu Gangui, the relationship continued. In summer 388, Fu Yi
the Crown Prince died, and Fu Deng created his own son Fu Chong to be the crown prince. In summer 389, a battle
would greatly damage Fu Deng. He had set up a base of operations at Dajie (大界 Xianyang, Shaanxi), guarded by his
wife Empress Mao, while attacking LATER Qin's city of Pingliang and capturing it. Meanwhile, however, Yao Chang made
a surprise attack on Dajie, capturing and killing Empress Mao and Fu Deng's sons Fu Bian the Prince of Nan'an and Fu
Shang the Prince of Beihai. Some 50,000 of Fu Deng's people were captured. After the Battle of Dajie, Fu Deng appeared
to be no longer able to again make major attacks against LATER Qin, although the two states continued to battle
continuously, and Yao Chang appeared to be equally unable to destroy Fu Deng. However, Yao Chang continued the
consolidation process by destroying other semi-independent generals, and LATERQin grew stronger and stronger. In 392,
Fu Deng created one of his concubines, Consort Li, empress. LATER in 392, Yao Chang grew ill, and Fu Deng, hearing
this, made a major attack on the important LATER Qin city Anding (安定, Pingliang, Gansu), but Yao Chang, in his illness,
nevertheless faced him in battle, forcing Fu Deng to withdraw─and then, in the engagement, made a clean evasive
maneuver with his troops and disengaged, to Fu Deng's surprise, and Fu Deng commented: “What kind of a man is Yao
Chang? I could not tell when he would go and when he would come. Everyone thought that he is near death, but he lives
to fight. It is unfortunate that I live at the same time as this old Qiang.”
---Yao Chang died around the new year 394 and was succeeded by his son Yao Xing. While Yao Xing tried to keep news
of Yao Chang's death a secret, the news still got to Fu Deng. Fu Deng, extremely glad to hear about Yao Chang's death,
prepared to launch a major assault against LATER Qin─he had his brother Fu Guang (苻广) defend the base of
Yongcheng (雍城 Baoji, Shaanxi) and Fu Chong defend the base of Hu Kong Castle (胡空堡 Xianyang, Shaanxi), and, in
his anxiety, did not make sure that his army had sufficient water supply. Yao Xing set up his army at Mawei (马嵬
Xianyang, Shaanxi) to prevent F. Qin forces from reaching the river near Mawei, and F. Qin forces collapsed in thirst.
Upon hearing the defeat, Fu Guang and Fu Chong abandoned the two bases that they were holding, and Fu Deng was
unable to recapture them. He instead fled to Pingliang and then into the mountains. He sent his son Fu Zong the Prince of
Ruyin to Qifu Gangui and married his sister the Princess Dongping to Qifu Gangui as his princess, seeking aid from Qifu
Gangui. Qifu Gangui sent his general Qifu Yizhou (乞伏益州) to aid Fu Deng, but as Fu Deng came out of the mountains
to join Qifu Yizhou's forces, Yao Xing ambushed and captured him, and then executed him. He disbanded Fu Deng's
troops and gave Fu Deng's Empress Li to his general Yao Huang (姚晃). Era name
* Taichu (太初) 386-394
Personal information
* Father
o Fu Chang (苻敞), killed by Fu Sheng
* Wives 1)o Empress Mao (created 387, killed by Yao Chang 389), daughter of Mao Xing (毛兴)
2)o Empress Li (created 392, captured by Yao Xing 394 and awarded to Yao Huang (姚晃))
* Children
1)o Fu Chong (苻崇), initially the Prince of Dongping (created 387), LATER the Crown Prince (created 388), LATER
emperor
2)o Fu Bian (苻弁), the Prince of Nan'an (created 388, killed by Yao Chang 389)
3)o Fu Shang (苻尚), the Prince of Beihai (created 388, killed by Yao Chang 389)
4)o Fu Zong (苻宗), the Prince of Ruyin
6) Fu2(angelica anomala) Chong 2(high/lofty/esteem) 苻崇 several months in 394 (?-394) Was an emperor of the
Chinese/Di state F. Qin. He assumed the throne in 394 after the death of his father, Fu Deng (Emperor Gao). He would
LATER die in battle against the W. Qin, ending F. Qin. In 386, His father assumed imperial title of F. Qin after the death of
Fu Pi (Emperor Aiping). In 387, Fu Deng created Fu Pi's son Fu Yi (苻懿) crown prince and created Fu Chong the Prince
of Dongping and made him one of the key officials. After Fu Yi died in 388, Fu Chong was created crown prince. In 394,
after Yao Chang's death, Fu Deng launched a major attack against LATER Qin; he had his brother Fu Guang (苻广)
defend the base of Yongcheng (雍城 Baoji, Shaanxi) and Fu Chong defend the base of Hu Kong Castle (胡空堡 Xianyang,
Shaanxi) and, in his anxiety, did not make sure that his army had sufficient water supply. Yao Xing set up his army at
Mawei (马嵬 Xianyang, Shaanxi) to prevent F. Qin forces from reaching the river near Mawei, and F. Qin forces collapsed
in thirst. Upon hearing the defeat, Fu Guang and Fu Chong abandoned the two bases that they were holding, and Fu
Deng was unable to recapture them. He instead fled to Pingliang and then into the mountains. He sent his son Fu Zong
the Prince of Ruyin to the ruler of W. Qin, Qifu Gangui and married his sister to Qifu Gangui as his princess, seeking aid
from Qifu Gangui. Qifu Gangui sent his general Qifu Yizhou (乞伏益州) to aid Fu Deng, but as Fu Deng came out of the
mountains to join Qifu Yizhou's forces, Yao Xing ambushed and captured him, and then executed him. -- Upon hearing his
father's death, Fu Chong fled to Huangzhong (湟中 Xining, Qinghai), under Qifu Gangui's control, and declared himself
emperor. He created his son Fu Xuan (苻宣) crown prince. However, in winter 394, Qifu Gangui expelled him, and he fled
to one of his father's last remaining generals, Yang Ding (杨定) the Prince of Longxi. Yang led his forces to join Fu
Chong's to attack Qifu Gangui. Qifu Gangui sent Qifu Yizhou and two other generals, Qifu Ketan (乞伏轲弹) and Yuezhi
Jiegui (越质诘归) against Yang and Fu Chong, and Yang was initially successful against Qifu Yizhou. However, the three
W. Qin generals then counterattacked and killed Yang and Fu Chong in battle. This ended F. Qin, as while Fu Chong's
crown prince Fu Xuan then fled to and allied with Yang Ding's cousin and successor Yang Sheng (杨盛), he did not seek
to reestablish F. Qin's governmental structure. Fu Xuan was LATER mentioned in history in 397, when both he and Yang
Sheng were given general titles by Jin, in 407, when he led Yang Sheng's army against LATER Qin, and in 413, when he
was forced by Jin to return to Yang's domain of Chouchi. Era name * Yanchu (延初 Yan Ch_) 394
Personal information
* Father
o Fu Deng (Emperor Gao)
* Children
1)o Fu Xuan (苻宣), the Crown Prince (created 394)
[16] Hou (LATER) Qin Empire 384 AD - 417 AD(3)
1) Wu3(swordplay/valiant/fierce) Zhao1(clear/obvious) Di4 武昭帝 Yao2 Chang2(carambola) 姚苌 384-393 (331-394)
aka Jing3(view/situation/respect) mao4(luxuriant) (景茂) Was the founding emperor of the Chinese/Qiang state
LATER Qin. His father Yao Yizhong (姚弋仲) had been a powerful general and Qiang chieftain under the LATER Zhao
emperor Shi Hu, but after LATER Zhao's collapse after Shi Hu's horses death, Yao Chang's older brother Yao Xiang (姚
襄) tried to start an independent state but was defeated and killed by F. Qin forces. Yao Chang became a F. Qin general,
but after an incident in 384 after the F. Qin emperor Fu Jian's defeat at the Battle of Fei River, Yao Chang feared that Fu
Jian would kill him and therefore rebelled. He subsequently captured and killed Fu Jian, who had saved his life when Yao
Xiang was defeated, causing many historians to view him as a traitor and murderer. Yao Chang was born in 331, while his
father Yao Yizhong (姚弋仲), a major Qiang chief, was a general under the LATER Zhao emperor Shi Le. He was the 24th
of Yao Yizhong's 42 sons. He was described as intelligent and deliberate, but uninterested in detail matters. After LATER
Zhao's collapse, Yao Yizhong submitted to Jin Dynasty (265-420) as a vassal, and, after he died in 351, his son Yao
Xiang took over his troops and headed south to submit to Jin command. After realizing that the Jin general Yin Hao was
greatly suspicious of him, however, Yao Xiang rebelled in 352 and ambushed Yin, and then occupied the cities in the
Luoyang region (although not Luoyang itself), intending on establishing himself as the ruler of the region. During this time,
Yao Chang served as one of his strategists. In a battle in 352, Yao Xiang's horse was killed, and Yao Chang yielded his
horse to Yao Xiang -- telling Yao Xiang that as long as he was still alive, the enemy would not dare to touch Yao Chang.
However, as they were still discussing, they were rescued by their troops. However, before Yao Xiang could strengthen
his rule over the region, the Jin general Huan Wen attacked him in 356 and defeated him, capturing cities that he held and
forcing him to abandon the plans to establish himself in the region. Instead, He was forced to advanced northwest and
then west to face F. Qin, ruled by the ethnically-Di emperor Fu Sheng. In 357, Yao Xiang advanced into F. Qin territory,
and a number of Qiang, Xiongnu, and Han submitted themselves to him. Fu Sheng sent a force commanded by Fu
Huangmei (苻黄眉), Fu Dao (苻道), Fu Jian, and Deng Qiang (邓羌) to resist him. Initially, Yao Xiang refused to engage
them, but after Deng openly insulted him, Yao attacked and fell into a trap and was captured and killed. Yao Chang took
over his troops but knew he could not resist, and so surrendered. Initially, Fu Huangmei wanted to execute Yao Chang,
but at Fu Jian's intercession, Yao Chang was spared. In 357, Fu Jian overthrew the cruel and whimsical Fu Sheng (who
had, in addition to many others, put Fu Huangmei to death even after his great victory) and took the throne himself.
Sometime early in his reign, Fu Jian made Yao Chang a generalater The first campaign in which he was mentioned by
name was in 366, when he assisted Wang Meng in an attack on Jin's Jing Province (荆州 Hunan and central and S.
Hubei). In 367, he again assisted Wang Meng in attacking the rebels in E. Gansu, who were led by the Qiang general Lian
Qi (敛岐), whose subordinates were originally all Yao Yizhong's subordinates and therefore surrendered to him readily. Fu
Jian made him the governor of Longdong Commandery (陇东 Baoji, Shaanxi). In 371, he was part of the campaign
against Chouchi's ruler Yang Cuan (杨篡), and in 373, after F. Qin seized the modern Sichuan, Chongqing, and S.
Shaanxi from Jin, Yao Chang was made the governor of Ning Province (宁州 S. Sichuan). In 376, Yao Chang also
assisted Gou Chang (苟苌) in F. Qin's conquest of F. Liang, and in 378 involved in the sieged against the Jin city
Xiangyang (襄阳 Xiangfan, Hubei). During Fu Jian's reign, Fu Jian created Yao Chang the Marquess of Yidu. In 383, Fu
Jian prepared a major attack on Jin, intending to destroy it and unite China. Yao Chang was one of the few generals who
was in favor of the plan, as the vast majority of Fu Jian's subordinates opposed, including his brother and prime minister
Fu Rong -- who specifically was suspicious of Yao Chang and Murong Chui (a general with F. Yan imperial ancestry),
neither of whom was of Di ancestry and both of whom favored the attack on Jin. Fu Jian proceeded with the plan despite
Fu Rong's opposition, making Fu Rong the commander of the main invasion force. Yao Chang was put in charge of the
armies of the southwest (on a separate front away from the main front), and as Fu Jian was handing out the command
assignments, he gave Yao Chang the title General Longxiang (龙骧将军) -- a title that he himself carried previously when
he overthrew Fu Sheng -- and he commented, apparently in a jocular tone: “Before, I established my rule as the General
Longxiang. I do not easily confer this title on others. You should take good care of the title.” Another general, Dou Chong (
窦冲), immediately objected, stating that it is a bad omen for the emperor to joke, and Fu Jian grew briefly silent. LATER
that year, against the much weaker Jin troops, Fu Rong's forces were nevertheless defeated at the Battle of Fei River -- a
battle that Yao Chang was not involved in -- and Fu Rong was killed. In early 384, Murong Chui rebelled in the E. empire,
hoping to reestablish Yan, and upon hearing Murong Chui's rebellion, Murong Chui's nephew Murong Hong rebelled as
well, near the F. Qin capital Chang'an. Fu Jian sent his brother Fu Rui (苻□) against Murong Hong, assisted by Yao
Chang. Yao Chang advocated letting Murong Hong, who was intent on leaving the Guanzhong region to return to his
homeland, leave, but the brash Fu Rui insisted on intercepting Murong Hong, and was defeated and killed by Murong
Hong. Yao Chang sent messengers Zhao Du (赵都) and Jiang Xie (姜协) to report the bad news to Fu Jian -- and Fu Jian,
inexplicably, executed Zhao and Jiang in anger. Yao Chang became fearful and abandoned his troops, gathered the
Qiang of the region, and rebelled himself, claiming the title of "Prince of Qin of 10,000 Years" (万年秦王), thus establishing
LATER Qin. Yao Chang initially opted to keep his troops mobile, as he anticipated Murong Hong's W. Yan forces to siege
Chang'an and destroy F. Qin and then depart for their homeland, so that he could take Chang'an without major
engagements. In doing this, he hoped to conserve and increase his strength while his rivals battled. He therefore
temporarily placed his capital at Beidi (北地, Tongchuan, Shaanxi), seizing the cities of the modern N.Shaanxi. Despite
this, he had periodic battles with F. Qin and W. Yan forces, as F. Qin and W. Yan also battled each other. In 385, an
incident involving the city of Xinping (新平Xianyang, Shaanxi) helped to further establish Yao Chang's reputation as wily
and treacherous. The people of Xinping had fought extremely hard to preserve their city for F. Qin when Yao Chang first
started sieging the city in late 384. Eventually, when Xinping ran out of food supplies and military equipment, Yao Chang
assured the governor of Xinping commandery, Gou Fu (苟辅), that if he yielded the city, he would be allowed to safely
lead the people of Xinping to Chang'an. Gou believed him, but as soon as he exited the city with the 5,000 remaining
people, Yao Chang surrounded them with his troops and slaughtered them all, with only a single person who escaped. In
fall 385, Fu Jian abandoned Chang'an, long under siege by W. Yan, and he sought to try to find food supplies. When he
arrived at Wujiang Mountain (五将山 Baoji, Shaanxi), Yao Chang sent his general Wu Zhong (吴忠) to surround Fu Jian,
eventually capturing him and delivering him to Xinping to be imprisoned there. Yao Chang tried to persuade him to
ceremonially pass the throne to him, but Fu Jian, angry at Yao's betrayal, refused. LATER in 385, Yao sent his soldiers to
strangle Fu Jian. Even LATER Qin soldiers mourned Fu Jian, however, and Yao, in order to pretend as if he did not put
Fu Jian to death, posthumously honored him as Heavenly Prince Zhuanglie (壮烈天王). W. Yan forces, under its nowemperor Murong Chong, occupied Chang'an, and W. Yan and LATER Qin battled on-and-off. However, the W. Yan
people were unhappy that Murong Chong was not leading them back to their homeland in the east, and, in 386, Murong
Chong was assassinated in a coup and replaced with Deng Sui, who was then assassinated and replaced with Murong Yi,
under whom the W. Yan people abandoned Chang'an and headed east. Briefly, Chang'an was held by the Xiongnu chief
Hao Nu (郝奴), but Yao Chang then advanced on Chang'an, and Hao surrendered. Yao Chang made Chang'an his capital
and claimed the title of emperor. He created his wife Lady She as empress and his son Yao Xing as crown prince. As
emperor For the next few years, Yao Chang would not have complete control over the region, as many Di, Qiang,
Xiongnu, and Han generals were still remaining semi-independent throughout the region. Further, in 386, a distant
member of F. Qin's imperial Fu clan, Fu Deng, rose in modern E. Gansu to oppose him, and after the death of Fu Jian's
son Fu Pi that year, claimed imperial title and became the main adversary for Yao Chang. Fu Deng used Yao Chang's
killing of Fu Jian to good propaganda effect, and for several years was quite successful in battles against Yao Chang,
although the battles were generally inconclusive in their impact, with neither Fu Deng nor Yao Chang being able to
decisively defeat the other. However, Yao Chang was able to gradually subdue the other F. Qin generals of the region,
taking advantage of Fu Deng's cautiousness. In 387, for example, after the F. Qin general Fu Zuan (苻纂) was killed by
his brother Fu Shinu (苻师奴), Yao Chang took the opportunity to quickly advance against Fu Shinu and defeat him,
seizing his troops. He also, at the same time, seized the remaining cities held by W. Yan west of the Yellow River. In 389,
after losing several battles to F. Qin, Yao Chang became apprehensive and thought that it was Fu Jian's spirit aiding F.
Qin, so he, following Fu Deng's lead, made an image of Fu Jian and worshipped it, claiming to it that he had killed Fu Jian
only to avenge Yao Xiang and asking for forgiveness. The image did not help Yao Chang, and he eventually cut off its
head and sent it to Fu Deng. LATER that year, as Fu Deng was pressuring Yao Chang, however, Yao Chang made a
surprise attack at night, around Fu Deng's army, against Fu Deng logistics base Dajie (大界 Xianyang, Shaanxi), capturing
it and Fu Deng's wife Empress Mao and killing his sons Fu Bian (苻弁) and Fu Shang (苻尚). He initially wanted to make
Empress Mao his concubine, but after she cursed him, he executed her. While F. Qin and LATER Qin would continue to
stalemate for the next few years, Fu Deng was unable to again threaten LATER Qin's existence from this point on. In 392,
Yao Chang grew ill, and Fu Deng, hearing this, made a major attack on the important LATER Qin city Anding (安定
Pingliang, Gansu), but Yao Chang, in his illness, nevertheless faced him in battle, forcing Fu Deng to withdraw -- and
then, in the engagement, made a clean evasive maneuver with his troops and disengaged, to Fu Deng's surprise, and Fu
Deng commented: “What kind of a man is Yao Chang? I could not tell when he would go and when he would come.
Everyone thought that he is near death, but he lives to fight. It is unfortunate that I live at the same time as this old Qiang.”
Around the new year 394, Yao Chang died. Yao Xing succeeded him.
Era name * Baique (白雀 bai que) 384-386
* Jianchu (建初 jian ch_) 386-393
Personal information
* Father
o Yao Yizhong (d. 351), posthumously honored as Emperor Jingyuan
* Wife
o Empress She (created 386, d. 397)
* Major Concubines
1)o Consort Sun, posthumously honored as empress dowager, might be Crown Prince Xing's birth mother
* Children
1)o Yao Xing (姚兴), the Crown Prince (created 386), LATER emperor
2)o Yao Chong (姚崇) (note tone difference), the Duke of Qi (created 395)
3)o Yao Xian (姚显), the Duke of Changshan (created 395)
4)o Yao Ch_ng (姚冲) (note tone difference) (forced to commit suicide 409)
5)o Yao Shao (姚绍), initially the Duke of Dongping, LATER the Duke of Lu
(created and d. 417)
6)o Yao Yong (姚邕)
7)o Princess Nan'an
2) Wen2(culture/gentle/tatoo/coverup/writing/character) Huan2 Di4 文桓帝 Yao2
Xing(mood/interest/prosper/excitement/start/encourage/ promote/ permit/maybe) 姚兴 394-416 (366-416) aka
Zi(son/learned scholar/viscount /seed/sth small and hard/copper)lue4(brief/sketchy/slightly
/delete/capture/scheme) (子略) Was an emperor of the Chinese/Qiang state LATER Qin. He was the son of the
founding emperor Yao Chang (Emperor Wucheng). Mostly used the title Heavenly Prince (Tian Wang). He destroyed the
rival F. Qin and proceeded to expand his hegemony over nearly all of W. China, as he temporarily seized all of W. Qin's
territory and forced S. Liang, N. Liang, W. Liang, and Qiao Zong's W. Shu (西蜀) all to at least nominally submit to him,
but late in his reign, defeats on the battlefield, particularly at the hands of the rebel general Helian Bobo (who founded
Xia), and internecine struggles between his sons and nephews greatly damaged the LATER Qin state, and it was
destroyed soon after his death. Yao Xing was an avid Buddhist, and it was during his reign that Buddhism first received
official state support in China. The monk Kumarajiva also visited Chang'an at Yao Xing's request in 401. Yao Xing was
born in 366, when his father Yao Chang was a general under the F. Qin emperor Fu Jian. Yao Chang's wife, the LATER
Empress She, was mentioned as his mother, but when Yao Xing LATER became emperor, he posthumously honored one
of Yao Chang's concubines, Consort Sun, as empress dowager, which allows an inference that he could have been born
of Consort Sun but raised by Empress She. When he grew older, he served as an assistant to Fu Jian's crown prince Fu
Hong (苻宏). When Yao Chang declared a rebellion and established LATER Qin in 384, Yao Xing was at the F. Qin
capital Chang'an, and he immediately fled to his father. For the next several years, as Yao Chang fought with F. Qin and
W. Yan, Yao Xing was often entrusted with guarding the base of operations (initially Beidi (北地 Tongchuan, Shaanxi),
LATER Chang'an after W. Yan captured and then abandoned it), while his father engaged in campaigns. In 386, after Yao
Chang declared himself emperor, he created Yao Xing crown prince. He was considered to be firm and gracious, and he
spent much time studying literature despite the work necessary in maintaining home base. In 392, while Yao Chang was
away on a campaign, Yao Xing, at the suggestion of the general Yao Fangcheng (姚方成), executed a number of F. Qin
generals whom Yao Chang had taken captive earlier. While Yao Chang was angry on the surface, he appeared to be
secretly happy that Yao Xing realized the danger that these generals posed. In 393, when the F. Qin emperor Fu Deng
attacked the LATER Qin vassal Dou Chong (窦冲), Yao Chang, at the suggestion of the prime minister Yin Wei (尹纬),
sent Yao Xing against Fu Deng, in order to establish Yao Xing's authority over the troops. Yao Xing was able to stop Fu
Deng's attack on Dou fairly easily. Around the new year 393, Yao Chang fell seriously illater He told Yao Xing, on his
death bed, to trust the several officials that he entrusted his administration with─Yin, Yao Huang (姚晃), Yao Damu (姚大
目), and Di Bozhi (狄伯支). When Yao Huang asked Yao Chang for strategies to defeat Fu Deng, Yao Chang refused to
answer, merely stating that he trusted that Yao Xing would be able to accomplish it. He soon died, and Yao Xing
succeeded him, although initially not keeping Yao Chang's death a secret and entrusting the troops to his uncles Yao Xu (
姚绪) and Yao Shuode (姚硕德) and his brother Yao Chong (姚崇), while preparing a campaign against F. Qin.--Despite
Yao Xing's hopes of keeping his father's death a secret, Fu Deng received news of it anyway─and immediately prepared
a major attack against LATER Qin. Fu Deng had his brother Fu Guang (苻广) defend the base of Yongcheng (雍城 Baoji,
Shaanxi) and Fu Chong defend the base of Hu Kong Castle (胡空堡 Xianyang, Shaanxi), and, in his anxiety, did not
make sure that his army had sufficient water supply. Yao Xing set up his army at Mawei (马嵬 Xianyang, Shaanxi) to
prevent F. Qin forces from reaching the river near Mawei, and F. Qin forces were stricken by thirst, but still fought harder.
Yao Xing initially ordered Yin to be cautious, but Yin, realizing the trouble the F. Qin forces were already in and believing
that morale would be destroyed if he undertook a cautious strategy, fought back fervently, and the F. Qin forces collapsed.
Then, Fu Deng's brother Fu Guang (苻广) and son Fu Chong abandoned the two bases that they were holding, and Fu
Deng was unable to recapture them. He then sought help from the prince of W. Qin, Qifu Gangui, who sent a relief force
headed by Qifu Yizhou (乞伏益州). As Fu Deng sought to join up with Qifu Yizhou, Yao Xing ambushed and captured him,
and then executed him. He disbanded Fu Deng's troops and gave Fu Deng's Empress Li to Yao Huang. Fu Deng's crown
prince Fu Chong would assume imperial title and attempt to resist LATER Qin a few months longer, but LATER in the
year died in battle against W. Qin after Qifu Gangui turned against him, ending F. Qin. LATER Qin assumed nearly all of
F. Qin's remaining territory. In 395, LATER Qin established peace with LATER Yan, thus obviating likelihood of war on the
E. border─although LATER in 395, when LATER Yan's crown prince Murong Bao carried out a disastrous campaign
against N. Wei's prince Tuoba Gui, LATER Qin sent a relief force to aid N. Wei, although LATER Qin forces did not
actually engage LATER Yan. Further, in 397, with LATER Yan under heavy attack by N. Wei after its founding emperor
Murong Chui died and was replaced by Murong Bao, LATER Qin refused to provide aid to LATER Yan. LATER in 397,
Empress Dowager She died. Yao Xing was described to be in such great mourning that he was unable to handle matters
of state for some time. And then, he continued to wear mourning clothes. Overall, during this period, Yao Xing was
described as diligent and willing to listen to different opinions, ruling the empire efficiently. He engaged in campaigns on
the various borders, enlarging LATER Qin's territories and influence. In 399, Yao Xing sent his brother Yao Chong the
Duke of Qi and the general Yang Foxong (杨佛嵩) to attack the important Jin city of Luoyang, and in winter 399 captured
Luoyang and the surrounding cities. Also in 399, Yao Xing, in response to astrological signs that were considered signs of
disaster, stopped claiming the title of emperor, instead using the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang), to show humility to
the gods. He also accordingly demoted his officials and noble by one rank. In 400, Yao Xing sent his uncle Yao Shuode
the Duke of Longxi to launch a major attack against W. Qin. Despite W. Qin's initial success in cutting of Yao Shuode's
supply line, Yao Xing himself led a force to aid Yao Shuode, defeating W. Qin's prince Qifu Gangui in battle, nearly
capturing Qifu Gangui's entire army and proceeding to take most of W. Qin's cities. Qifu Gangui himself surrendered to S.
Liang's prince Tufa Lilugu, thus temporarily ending W. Qin's existence. In fall 400, believing that he was being suspected
by Tufa Lilugu, Qifu Gangui fled from S. Liang and surrendered to LATER Qin. Yao Xing created him the Marquess of
Guiyi and, in 401, took the unusual action of giving Qifu Gangui his army back and ordering him to defend his old capital
Wanchuan (苑川 Baiyin, Gansu), and while Qifu Gangui was in name a LATER Qin general, he acted independently at
times.
LATER in 401, Yao Xing, under suggestion from Yao Shuode, launched a major attack against LATER Liang. To avoid
conflict, Tufa Lilugu ordered S. Liang forces to yield a path for LATER Qin forces, and Yao Shuode therefore easily
reached the LATER Liang capital Guzang (姑臧 Wuwei, Gansu), sieging the city. S. Liang, N. Liang, and W. Liang all sent
messengers submitting as vassals. After two months of siege, LATER Liang's emperor Lu Long also submitted as a
vassal, and was given the title Duke of Jiankang, although he remained in control of Guzang and continued to use the
Heavenly Prince title internally as wellater N. Liang's duke Juqu Mengxun became so apprehensive that he offered to
yield his territory and relocate his entire army into LATER Qin proper, but LATER reneged on the promise, although he
remained LATER Qin vassal for years. In 402, N. Wei attacked the LATER Qin vassal Mo Yigan (没奕干), and this led to
the breakdown of relations between N. Wei and LATER Qin. When N. Wei's Emperor Daowu (Tuoba Gui) sought
marriage with LATER Qin, Yao Xing, because of this and because he heard that Emperor Daowu already had Empress
Murong as his wife, refused. In summer 402, Yao Xing personally led a major attack against N. Wei, which had by this
point taken over nearly all of LATER Yan's territory north of the Yellow River. In fall 402, Yao Xing's forward commander
Yao Ping (姚平) the Duke of Yiyang was surrounded by N. Wei's Emperor Daowu at Chaibi (柴壁 Linfen, Shanxi), and
despite counterattacks by both Yao Ping and Yao Xing, the N. Wei siege became increasingly tighter, and in winter 402,
Yao Ping and his army were captured following a failed attempt to break out, ending Yao Xing's campaign against N. Wei.
Also in 402, Yao Xing created his concubine Consort Zhang empress. He also created his son Yao Hong as crown prince
and other sons as dukes. (Yao Xing had long wanted to created Yao Hong, described as kind, loving, and studious, as
crown prince, but hesitated because Yao Hong was also regarded as having a weak personality and prone to illnesses.)
Around this time, Yao Xing also appeared to have become a devout Buddhist, under the influence of the monk
Kumarajiva. This appeared to have a major influence on his actions LATER on─as he appeared to avoid decisive actions
that may lead to many deaths, while trying to act gently toward his enemies. This had an unfortunately deleterious effect
on his empire, which, for the most part, stopped expanding. In 405, he gave Kumaraijiva an honorific title, treating him like
a god, and often led his officials in listening to Kumaraijiva's sermons. At his request, Kumarajiva translated more than
300 sutras into Chinese. Yao Xing also built many towers and temples. Because of his influence, it was described that
90% of the population became Buddhists. In 403, with his LATER Liang state continuously under attack by N. Liang and S.
Liang, Lu Long surrendered the Guzang region─the only territory still remaining under LATER Liang control─to LATER
Qin, thus ending LATER Liang. Yao Xing moved Lu Long and his clan to Chang'an and made him and his brother Lu
Chao (吕超) officials. However, because N. Liang and S. Liang were only nominal vassals, Guzang was effectively a lone
island of L, Qin controlater In 404, S. Liang's prince Tufa Rutan (Tufa Lilugu's brother) stopped claiming princely title and
using his own era name, in a further showing of submission to LATER Qin, although internally he remained effectively
independent. In 405, at the request of the Jin general Liu Yu, Yao Xing returned 12 commanderies that had switched their
allegiance from Jin to LATER Qin during the Jin civil war from 398 to 405, despite his officials' opposition. (This gesture,
however, would not be reciprocated by Liu, who would destroy LATER Qin after Yao Xing's death.) In 406, in response to
Tufa Rutan's tribute of 3,000 horses and 30,000 sheep, Yao Xing became so touched that he yielded Guzang to Tufa
Rutan, thus ending LATER Qin's actual control of the Guzang region. In 407, believing that Qifu Gangui was becoming
difficult to control, when Qifu Gangui arrived in Chang'an for an official visit, he detained Qifu Gangui to be a civilian
official, while giving command of Qifu Gangui's army to Qifu Gangui's heir apparent, Qifu Chipan. LATER in 407, LATER
Qin and N. Wei agreed to peace─returning previously captured generals to each other. The LATERQin general Liu Bobo
(who would LATER change his name to Helian Bobo), who was then in charge of Shuofang (朔方 Ordos, Inner Mongolia),
because his father Liu Weichen (刘卫辰) had been killed by N. Wei forces in 391, became angry and declared a rebellion,
establishing Xia. Liu Bobo used guerilla tactics against LATER Qin, wearing LATER Qin's armies and cities down. From
this point on, LATER Qin began to decline. In 407, Murong Chao, the emperor of S. Yan, whose mother and wife were
then in LATER Qin, requested to have them delivered to S. Yan. Yao Xing agreed to do so if Murong Chao would agree to
be a vassal and either deliver F. Qin palatial musicians (who were taken by W. Yan and eventually passed through
LATER Yan and then S. Yan) or 1,000 Jin citizens to LATER Qin, before his request would be agreed. Murong Chao
agreed to yield as vassal, and delivered the musicians to LATER Qin. Yao Xing then delivered his mother and wife to him,
along with gifts. Also in 407, Qiao Zong, who had taken control of Jin's Yi Province (益州 Chongqing and Sichuan) and
declared himself the Prince of Chengdu, became a LATER Qin vassalater In 408, noticing that S. Liang was under severe
attack by its neighbors (including having suffered a terrible defeat to Xia in 407), Yao Xing launched a campaign to try to
destroy S. Liang, despite opposition by his official Wei Zong (韦宗), who felt that Tufa Rutan would not be defeated easily.
He commissioned his son Yao Bi (姚弼) the Duke of Guangping along with Qifu Gangui and Lian Cheng (敛成) to attack
S. Liang, while simultaneously commissioning Qi Nan (齐难) to attack Xia. Both ventures ended badly. Yao Bi and LATER
Yao Xian (姚显) the Duke of Changshan were defeated by Tufa Rutan, and Yao Xing was forced to agree to a new peace
with S. Liang while having lost prestige based on the defeat. Even more disastrous was the Qi's mission, however, as Qi
fell into a trap laid by Liu Bobo and was captured with his entire army, causing all of modern N. Shaanxi to fall into Xia
hands. LATER in 408, Tufa Rutan effectively repudiated his vassal status by again claiming the title Prince of Liang
(instead of the LATER Qin-created title of Duke of Guangwu) and changing era name. There also began to be increasing
tendencies by Yao Xing's brothers and sons to plot to take over power. For example, in 409, his brother Yao Chong (姚冲,
note different tone than another brother) tried to force Di Bozhi to join him in a plot to attack Chang'an, and when Di
refused, poisoned Di to death, but was discovered LATER and forced to commit suicide. Also in 409, Qifu Gangui
escaped and returned to Wanchuan to join his son Qifu Chipan. He soon redeclared independence and reestablished W.
Qin as its prince. He soon launched several campaigns against LATER Qin and inflicted much damage, although he
would apologize in 411 and again declared himself a LATER Qin vassalater However, he resumed his attacks. LATER in
409, the Jin general Liu Yu launched a major attack on S. Yan, which sought aid from LATER Qin. Initially, Yao Xing sent
messengers to try to persuade Liu Yu to withdraw, and also sent a relief force commanded by Yao Qiang (姚强), but was
forced to withdraw Yao Qiang's force when he suffered a major loss at Liu Bobo's hands and was nearly captured.
Without aid from LATER Qin, S. Yan fell to Jin in early 410. LATER in 410, at Qiao Zong's request, Yao Xing sent an army
commanded by Gou Lin (苟林) to join Qiao Zong's army, commanded by Huan Qian (桓谦) and Qiao Daofu (谯道福) to
attack Jin's Jing Province (荆州 Hunan and central Hubei). However, Liu Yu's brother Liu Daogui (刘道规) defeated both
armies, killing Huan Qian and forcing Gou to flee. As of 411, Yao Bi, who was greatly favored by Yao Xing, was deep into
a conspiracy to try to undermine the crown prince Yao Hong. In 412, Qifu Gangui was assassinated by his nephew Qifu
Gongfu (乞伏公府), the son of the founding prince Qifu Guoren. Many LATER Qin officials try to persuade Yao Xing to
take the opportunity, as Qifu Gongfu and Qifu Chipan battled for control of the state, to attack W. Qin. Yao Xing refused,
believing it improper to attack a state that was still mourning. Also in 412, Yao Xing created his concubine Consort Qi
empress (Empress Zhang died). In 413, Liu Yu's general Zhu Lingshi (朱龄石) attacked Qiao Zong's W. Shu state and
destroyed it, reannexing it to Jin. Yao Xing, although W. Shu's suzerain, was unable to aid it. In 414, Yao Bi made several
attempts to be made crown prince by having officials close to him suggesting Yao Xing to replace Yao Hong with him. Yao
Xing refused, but did not rebuke Yao Bi. Yao Xing grew seriously ill that year, and Yao Bi planned a coup to take over. His
brother Yao Yu revealed his plot to the other brothers Yao Yi, Yao Huang, Yao Chen, and Yao Xuan, who mobilized their
own forces to be ready to attack Yao Bi if necessary. Yao Xing was forced to relieve Yao Bi of his posts, and the other
sons demobilized and arrived at Chang'an for an official visit. The sons accused Yao Bi of many crimes, but Yao Xing took
no further action. Indeed, in 415, Yao Bi retailiated by falsely accusing Yao Xuan of crimes, and Yao Xing arrested Yao
Xuan. In summer 415, the Jin general Sima Xiuzhi (司马休之), having been forced to escape after Liu Yu attacked him,
fled to LATER Qin. Yao Xing commissioned Sima Xiuzhi with an army to let him harass Jin borders, despite warnings by
his officials of a prophecy that the Simas would regain Guanzhong and the Luoyang region. In fall 415, Yao Xing fell ill
again, and Yao Bi secretly gathered forces again to plan a coup. Yao Xing found out and arrested Yao Bi, but at Yao
Hong's urging did not execute him but instead released him. In winter 415, Yao Xing sent his daughter, the Princess
Xiping, to N. Wei to be married to Emperor Daowu's son Emperor Mingyuan, in order to affirm the alliance between the
two states. Emperor Mingyuan welcomed her with the ceremony due an empress. However, Princess Xiping was unable
to forge a golden statue, as required by Tuoba Tribe traditions to be a sign of divine favor, to become an empress, so she
was only created an imperial consort, but she was treated with the honors due an empress. In 416, Yao Xing went on a
trip to Huayin (华阴), near Chang'an, and fell ill on the trip and headed back to Chang'an. His attendant Yin Chong (尹冲) - one of Yao Bi's supporters─planned to then assassinate Yao Hong as Yao Hong would come out of the city to welcome
Yao Xing. Yao Hong's supporters received news of this and persuaded Yao Hong not to come out to welcome Yao Xing.
Yin's assistant Yao Shami (姚沙弥) then tried to persuade Yin to take Yao Xing and join with Yao Bi to seize power, but
Yin hesitated and did not do so. Once Yao Xing returned to the Chang'an palace, he transferred power to Yao Hong and
ordered Yao Bi arrested. Meanwhile, Yao Xing's son Yao Geng'er (姚耕儿), believing that Yao Xing had died, persuaded
his brother Yao Yin (姚□) the Duke of Nanyang to start a coup, and Yao Yin joined with Yin Chong (perhaps in
anticipatory support of Yao Bi's claims) to attack the palace, battling with Yao Hong's troops. Yao Xing, despite his illness,
made an appearance and announced an edict ordering Yao Bi to commit suicide. As soon as Yao Yin's troops saw Yao
Xing, they abandoned Yao Yin. That night, Yao Xing entrusted Yao Hong's administration to his brother Yao Shao (姚绍)
the Duke of Dongping, Liang Xi (梁喜), Yin Zhao (尹昭), and Lian Manwei (敛曼嵬), and he died the next day. Yao Hong
succeeded him, but he soon had to face even more challenges from his brothers and cousins as well as attacks by Xia
and Jin, and by 417 LATER Qin had fallen to Jin.
Era names * Huangchu (皇初 huang ch_) 394-399
* Hongshi (弘始 hong sh_) 399-416 Personal information
* Father
o Yao Chang (Emperor Wucheng)
* Mother
o Empress She (but might be Consort Sun)
* Wives
1)o Empress Zhang (created 402)
2)o Empress Qi (created 412)
* Children
1)o Yao Hong (姚泓), the Crown Prince (created 402), LATER emperor
2)o Yao Yi (姚懿), the Duke of Taiyuan (created 402)
3)o Yao Bi (姚弼), the Duke of Guangping (created 402, forced to commit
suicide 416)
4)o Yao Huang (姚咣), the Duke of Chenliu (created 402)
5)o Yao Xuan (姚宣), Duke (created 402)
6)o Yao Chen (姚谌), Duke (created 402)
7)o Yao Yin (姚□), the Duke of Nanyang (created 402, executed by Yao Hong 416)
8)o Yao Pu (姚璞), the Duke of Pingyuan (created 402, executed by Liu Yu 417)
9)o Yao Zhi (姚质), Duke (created 402)
10)o Yao Kui (姚逵), Duke (created 402)
11)o Yao Yu (姚裕), Duke (created 402)
12)o Yao Guoer (姚国儿), Duke (created 402)
13)o Yao Geng'er (姚耕儿)
14)o Yao Huangmei (姚黄眉), Duke of Longxi of N. Wei
15)o Princess Xiping, concubine of Emperor Mingyuan of N. Wei
3) Yao2 Hong2(of water: deep) 姚泓 416-417 (388-417) aka Yuan2(first/basic/component)zi(son/learned
scholar/viscount/seed/sth small and hard/copper) (元子), Was the last emperor of the Chinese/Qiang state LATER
Qin. He was the oldest son and heir of Yao Xing (Emperor Wenzhao), who was already regarded as kind but weak during
his father's reign, and after his father's death, with the state already weakened by attacks by the rebel Xia state and with
his brothers and cousins repeatedly rebelling, the Jin general Liu Yu took advantage of Yao Hong's weaknesses to
conquer LATER Qin. After he surrendered, Liu Yu had him delivered to the Jin capital Jiankang and executed. Yao Hong
was born in 388, during the reign of his grandfather Yao Chang (Emperor Wuzhao), two years after Yao Chang took
Chang'an as his capital and created Yao Hong's father Yao Xing as his crown prince. He was Yao Xing's oldest son. In
402, when Yao Xing, who became emperor in 394, created him crown prince, after much hesitation, as Yao Hong was
loving and kind, but weak in his personality and often illater Yao Hong also favored arts and literature. LATER in 402,
when Yao Xing battled Emperor Daowu of N. Wei, Yao Hong was in charge at the capitalater In 407, Yao Xing transferred
some imperial authorities to him. In 409, when Yao Xing was battling the rebel general Liu Bobo, who had established Xia,
Yao Hong was again in charge of the capital when Liu Jue (刘厥) rebelled, and Yao Hong defeated his rebellion. When his
subordinates suggested that the victory be commemorated on an open bulletin, written on cloth, Yao Hong declined,
reasoning that it was his responsibility to make sure that no rebellion occurred, and that such a victory over a rebel was
nothing to be proud of. By 411, Yao Hong's brother Yao Bi (姚弼) the Duke of Guangping, who was much favored by Yao
Xing for his talents, was conspiring with his associates to seize the crown prince position from Yao Hong. For the next
several years, Yao Bi tried to undermine Yao Hong's authority whenever he could, and in 414, Yao Bi falsely accused Yao
Hong's associate Yao Wenzong (姚文宗) of crimes, causing Yao Xing to force Yao Wenzong to commit suicide. This
caused many imperial officials to fear Yao Bi's power, and many joined his conspiracy. As Yao Xing grew ill that year, Yao
Bi secretly planned a coup, causing his brothers Yao Yi (姚懿), Yao Huang (姚咣), and Yao Chen (姚谌) to mobilize their
forces to prepare to act against him. Yao Xing, who then recovered somewhat, was then advised by his officials Liang Xi (
梁喜) and Yin Zhao (尹昭) to execute or at least strip Yao Bi of his authority. Yao Xing relieved Yao Bi of his posts, and
Yao Yi, Yao Huang, and Yao Chen demobilized. In 412, however, Yao Bi falsely accused another brother, Yao Xuan (姚
宣) (who had spoken against him in 411 as well) of crimes, causing Yao Xuan to be imprisoned. Yao Xing gave Yao
Xuan's forces to Yao Bi, who then returned to his plots. Yao Xing discovered this and executed Yao Bi's associates Tang
Sheng (唐盛) and Sun Xuan (孙玄), but when Yao Xing arrested and was ready to execute Yao Bi as well, Yao Hong pled
for Yao Bi's life, and Yao Xing spared Yao Bi. In 416, Yao Xing went to the vacation palace at Huayin (华阴), and he had
Yao Hong formally serve as regent at Chang'an and stay in the palace. Yao Xing grew gravely ill at Huayin, however, and
was on the way back to Chang'an when his attendant Yin Chong (尹冲), a conspirator with Yao Bi, planned to assassinate
Yao Hong when he comes out of the palace to welcome his father. Yao Hong's associates, however, heard rumors of the
plot and persuaded him not to come out of the palace. Yin Chong's assistant Yao Shami (姚沙弥) then suggested to Yin
that they deliver Yao Xing to Yao Bi's home and start a rebellion there, but Yin hesitated and did not carry this suggestion
out. As soon as Yao Xing returned to the palace, he ordered that Yao Bi's home be searched and that all weapons be
seized. When Yao Yin (姚□) the Duke of Nanyang, another brother who was in alliance with Yao Bi, then attacked the
palace with Yin Chong, planning to put Yao Bi on the throne, Yao Xing publicly ordered that Yao Bi be forced to commit
suicide, causing Yao Yin's force to collapse. The next day, Yao Xing, after entrusting Yao Hong to his brother Yao Shao (
姚绍) the Duke of Dongping, Liang Xi, Yin Zhao, and Lian Manwei (敛曼嵬), died. Yao Hong initially did not announce
news of Yao Xing's death, but did so only after executing Yao Yin and Yao Bi's other associates -- including Lu Long the
Duke of Jiankang and the F. prince of LATER Liang, and Yin Yuan (尹元). Yao Hong then took the throne and, not using
the secondary imperial title that his father had used ("Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang)), directly claimed imperial title. Yao
Hong, who immediately faced threats from both Jin and Xia forces, was heavily dependent on his uncle Yao Shao to face
both these external threats, and the rebellions by his brothers and cousins, who apparently believed him to be an easy
target to seize the throne from. The Jin general Liu Yu, seeing LATER Qin's unrest, launched a major attack in fall 416
and quickly seized the E. half of LATER Qin, including Luoyang. Late 416, Yao Yi, who was in charge of Puban (蒲阪
Yuncheng, Shanxi), rebelled, but with little popular support, Yao Shao was able to quickly capture Puban and arrest him.
However, rebellions continued. In 417, Yao Hong's cousin Yao Hui (姚恢) the Duke of Qi rebelled, abandoning his post of
Anding (安定 Pingliang, Gansu) and using all forces at Anding (a major defense post during LATER Qin) against Yao
Hong. Yao Shao and his son Yao Zan (姚赞), however, were able to capture and kill Yao Hui quickly as wellater
Meanwhile, Jin forces advanced, and when Yao Shao and Yao Zan then engaged Liu Yu's generals Tan Daoji and Shen
Linzi (沈林子), they were unable to stop them, and Yao Shao, humiliated by the defeats, died of illness. Yao Zan tried to
continue to resist, but was continuously defeated. Yao Hong decided to lead an army of several tens of thousands against
Liu Yu's main army, commanded by Tan and Shen, but concerned that a branch force commanded by Shen Linzi's
brother Shen Tianzi (沈田子), which in actuality had less than 1,000 men but had advanced to Qingni (青泥 Xi'an,
Shaanxi), would attack his rear, tried to attack Shen Tianzi first, but was defeated by the heavily outnumbered Shen
Tianzi, causing his army to collapse, and he was forced to return to Chang'an without having faced Liu Yu's main army.
Liu Yu's fleet, commanded by Wang Zhen'e (王镇恶), then arrived at Chang'an, and the soldiers, after landing, attacked
the LATER Qin garrison at the city gates overlooking the Wei River. Yao Hong tried to personally relieve the garrison at
the city gates, but his army and the garrison force trampled themselves and collapsed without engaging Wang, and he
fled back to the palace. Back at the palace, Yao Hong considered surrendering. His 10-year-old son Yao Fo'nian (姚佛念)
believing they would be ececuted anyway opted suicide. Yao Hong declined, and Yao Fo'nian himself climbed up a wall
and jumped to his death. Yao Hong, instead, along with his empress, surrendered to Wang, who arrested him and had
him delivered to the Jin capital Jiankang. Yao Hong was executed there, and most members of the Yao clan who were
captured or who surrendered were also executed. LATER Qin was at its end. Era name * Yonghe (永和 y_ng he) 416417 Personal information
* Father
o Yao Xing (Emperor Wenzhao)
* Wife
o Empress (name unknown)
* Children
o Yao Fo'nian (姚佛念) (b. 407, committed suicide 417)
[17] Xi (W.) Qin Kingdom 385-400,409-431(4)
1)Xuan1(declare/drain) Lie4(strong/sacrifice oneself for a just cause/subside/intense) Wang2 宣烈王
Qi3(beg)fu2(ben over/lie prostrate/hot season/admit guilt/<elec>volt) Guo2(country)ren2(benevolence/kernel) 乞伏
国仁 385-388 (died 388), formally Prince Xuanlie of Wanchuan (苑川宣烈王) Was the founding ruler of the
Chinese/Xianbei state W. Qin. Qifu Guoren's father Qifu Sifan (乞伏司繁) was a Xianbei tribal chief in the modern S./SW.
Gansu region who, after being defeated by the F. Qin general Wang Tong (王统), surrendered in 371 and was allowed to
keep his tribe together as a F. Qin vassalater In 376, Qifu Sifan died, and Qifu Guoren succeeded him. When the F. Qin
emperor Fu Jian sought to conquer Jin Dynasty (265-420) to unite China in 383, Qifu Guoren was initially going to serve
as a general in his advance troops, but at that time, Qifu Guoren's uncle Qifu Butui (乞伏步颓) rebelled, and Fu Jian sent
Qifu Guoren to put down his uncle's rebellion. Instead, Qifu Guoren and Qifu Butui joined forces, and Qifu Guoren
declared that F. Qin had worn out its people and that he was establishing an independent state─although at that time he
didn’t declare any new titles. In 385, after hearing about Fu Jian's death at the hands of another rebel general, Yao Chang
(the founder of LATER Qin), Qifu Guoren did declare himself chanyu and changed the era name, thus effectively
declaring a break from F. Qin, and thus this date was typically considered the founding date of W. Qin. He divided his
domain into 12 commanderies, and he established his capital at Yongshicheng (勇士城 Lanzhou, Gansu). Over the next
two years, he gradually drew the Xianbei and other ethnicities into his state. In 387, however, contrary to his prior stance
against F. Qin, Qifu Guoren accepted the title of Prince of Wanchuan bestowed on him by the F. Qin emperor Fu Deng
and nominally became a F. Qin vassal again, although he did not use the F. Qin era name. In summer 388, Qifu Guoren
died. His son Qifu Gongfu (乞伏公府) was still young, and his subordinates supported his brother Qifu Gangui to succeed
him.
2) Wu3(swordplay/valiant/fierce)Yuan2(first/basic/component) Wang2 武元王 Qi3(beg)fu2fu2(ben over/lie prostrate/hot
season/admit guilt/<elec>volt) (Qian2 male/sovereign)Gangui1(go back to/converge/turn over to) 乞伏乾归 388-400,
409-412 Qifu Gangui or Qifu Qiangui[1] (乞伏乾归) (died 412), formally Prince Wuyuan of Henan (河南武元王) Was a
prince of the Chinese/Xianbei state W. Qin. He was a brother of the founding prince, Qifu Guoren (Prince Xuanlie), who
became prince after Qifu Guoren's death in 388 because Qifu Guoren's son Qifu Gongfu (乞伏公府) was considered too
young for leadership. He expanded the state's power and influence a little and in 400 after military losses to LATER Qin,
his state was annexed by LATER Qin and he himself became a LATER Qin generalater However, after LATER Qin was
weakened by defeats at the hands of its rebel general Liu Bobo's Xia state, Qifu Gangui redeclared independence in 409,
but ruled only three more years before he was killed by Qifu Gongfu in a coup. His son Qifu Chipan (Prince Wenzhao)
defeated Qifu Gongfu and succeeded him as prince. Qifu Gangui was known for using military strategies designed to
expose weaknesses and to mislead enemies into acting in an overly dangerous manner, and then strike when the enemy
became overconfident. In 385 Qifu Guoren named his brother Qifu Gangui a major generalater Gangui defeated the F.
Qin general Wang Guang (王广) in battle. In 388, Qifu Guoren died. His son Qifu Gongfu was considered too young to
take over the leadership, and the officials and generals supported Qifu Gangui to succeed Qifu Guoren, with the titles
Grand Chanyu and Prince of Henan. (This title does not imply dominion over modern Henan; rather, but portions of
modern Gansu and Qinghai that are south of the Yellow River.) Qifu Gangui created his wife Lady Bian princess, and he
also established a governmental structure designed similarly to a Han Chinese governmental structure. Over the next
several years, Qifu Gangui used a variety of military and diplomatic pressure to get the various people around his─
including people of Xianbei, Qiang, and Han ethnicities, to submit to him. LATER in the year, he moved the capital from
Yongshi (勇士城 Lanzhou, Gansu) to Jincheng (Lanzhou). In 389, the F. Qin emperor Fu Deng, to whom Qifu Guoren had
nominally submitted as a vassal, created Qifu Gangui the Prince of Jincheng─a title that signified less dominion than his
original title of Prince of Henan, because Jincheng Commandery only roughly corresponded to modern Lanzhou─but Qifu
Gangui accepted the title. In 390, the khan of Tuyuhun, Murong Shilian (慕容视连), submitted to W. Qin as a vassal, and
Qifu Gangui created him the Prince of Bailan. However, after Murong Shilian died LATER that year and was succeeded
by his more ambitious son Murong Shipi (慕容视罴), Murong Shipi rejected that title. In 391, Qifu Gangui's general Yuezhi
Jiegui (越质诘归) rebelled, but after Qifu Gangui personally led an army against him, Yuezhi surrendered─and Qifu
Gangui married the daughter of a clansman to Yuezhi, showing Qifu Gangui's tendency to try to personally connect with
tribal chiefs to get them to submit to him. However, LATER 391, the strategy could have said to have backfired as the
tribal chief Mo Yigan (没奕干) initially submitted and sent two sons as hostages to him, seeking his aid in a campaign
against another tribal chief, Da Dou (大兜). Qifu Gangui aided him and defeated Da in battle, and then sent Mo's sons
back to him, to try to get Mo to be more grateful of him. However, Mo instead turned against Qifu Gangui and aligned
himself with the Xiongnu chief Liu Weichen (刘卫辰), and Qifu Gangui, in anger, attacked Mo and, in battle, fired an arrow
that struck Mo's eye. During the campaign against Mo, however, Lu Guang the prince of LATER Liang took this
opportunity to attack W. Qin, forcing Qifu Gangui to withdraw to face him. This incident appeared to start several years of
intermittent battles between W. Qin and LATER Liang. In 393, Qifu Gangui created his son Qifu Chipan as crown prince.
In 394, after the death of the LATER Qin emperor Yao Chang, Fu Deng prepared a major offensive against Yao Chang's
son and successor Yao Xing, and as part of the preparation he requested aid from Qifu Gangui and created Qifu Gangui
the Prince of Henan and bestowed on him the nine bestowments. However, Fu Deng's campaign ended in failure, as his
forces were defeated by Yao Xing's, and his brother Fu Guang (苻广) and son Fu Chong abandoned his bases, forcing
him to flee into the mountains. He then married his sister the Princess Dongping to Qifu Gangui as his princess and
created him the Prince of Liang. Qifu Gangui sent his brother Qifu Yizhou (乞伏益州) to aid Fu Deng, but as Fu Deng
came out of the mountains to join Qifu Yizhou's forces, Yao Xing ambushed and captured him, and then executed him.
Qifu Yizhou then withdrew. Fu Deng's son Fu Chong fled to Huangzhong (湟中 Xining, Qinghai), then under Qifu Gangui's
control, and claimed imperial title. However, in winter 394, Qifu Gangui expelled him, and he fled to one of his father's last
remaining generals, Yang Ding (杨定) the Prince of Longxi. Yang led his forces to join Fu Chong's to attack Qifu Gangui.
Qifu Gangui sent Qifu Yizhou and two other generals, Qifu Ketan (乞伏轲弹) and Yuezhi Jiegui against Yang and Fu
Chong, and Yang was initially successful against Qifu Yizhou. However, the three W. Qin generals then counterattacked
and killed Yang and Fu Chong in battle. Around the new year 395, Qifu Gangui claimed the title Prince of Qin─a greater
title that implicitly made himself a rival of LATER Qin, and the state thus became known in history as W. Qin. In the
summer, he sent Qifu Yizhou to attack the unsubmitting Di chief Jiang Ru (姜乳), despite warnings that Qifu Yizhou had
become arrogant from his victories. Qifu Yizhou indeed became unattentive and was defeated by Jiang. LATER in the
year, Qifu Gangui moved his capital from Jincheng to Xicheng (西城 Baiyin, Gansu). In fall 395, Lu Guang made a major
attack on W. Qin. Under the advice of his officials Mi Guizhou (密贵周) and Mozhe Gudi (莫者□羝), Qifu Gangui
submitted to Lu Guang as a vassal and sent his son Qifu Chibo (乞伏敕勃) as a hostage to Lu Guang, and Lu Guang
withdrew. However, Qifu Gangui soon regretted this arrangement and executed Mi and Mozhe. In 397, determined to
punish Qifu Gangui, Lu Guang launched a major attack against Xicheng . This frightened Qifu Gangui's officials enough
that they recommended a retreat to Chengji (成纪 Tianshui, Gansu) to the east, but Qifu Gangui, seeing weaknesses in
LATER Liang's forces despite their numbers, stood his ground. LATER Liang forces were initially successful, capturing
several major W. Qin cities, but Qifu Gangui tricked Lu Guang's brother and major general Lu Yan (吕延) the Duke of
Tianshui into believing that he was retreating, and Lu Yan fell into a trap Qifu Gangui set and was killed. Lu Guang, in
fear, withdrew to his capital Guzang (姑臧 Wuwei, Gansu). In 398, Qifu Gangui sent Qifu Yizhou to attack LATER Liang,
and he recovered some of the territory previously lost. LATER in 398, Qifu Yizhou battled Murong Shipi and defeated him.
Murong Shipi, in fear, sent his son Murong Dangqi (慕容宕岂) as a hostage and sought peace. Qifu Gangui married the
daughter of a clansman to Qifu Dangqi. In 400, Qifu Gangui moved his capital from Xicheng to Wanchuan (苑川 Baiyin).In
summer 400 LATER Qin's general, Yao Xing's uncle Yao Shuode (姚硕德) launched a major attack against W. Qin.
Initially, Qifu Gangui was successful in cutting off Yao Shuode's supply line, but Yao Xing then personally came to Yao
Shuode's aid. Qifu Gangui divided his army to try to ascertain LATER Qin's intentions, but the armies lost communication
in the fog, and LATER Qin attacked them and greatly defeated them, taking nearly the entire W. Qin army captive. Yao
Xing advanced to Fuhan (□罕 Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu), forcing Qifu Gangui to flee back to Jincheng.
With his army lost, however, Qifu Gangui concluded that he could not sustain a state any more, and instructed his officials
to surrender to LATER Qin, while he himself surrendered to S, Liang's prince Tufa Lilugu, who welcomed him as an
honored guest. Tufa Lilugu's brother Tufa Juyan (秃发俱延) suspected Qifu Gangui's intentions, and suggested that Tufa
Lilugu exile him to the Yifu (乙弗) tribe (probably west of the Qinghai Lake), a suggestion that Tufa Lilugu rejected.
However, worried that Qifu Gangui would try to reestablish his state, he sent an army to watch over him. Qifu Gangui,
fearing that he would be executed, then regained trust from Tufa Lilugu by sending Qifu Chipan, his brothers, and their
mother to the S. Liang capital Xiping as hostages. He himself, however, as soon as the S. Liang guard was down, fled to
Fuhan and surrendered to LATER Qin. Upon Qifu Gangui's arrival in the LATER Qin capital Chang'an, Yao Xing created
him the Marquess of Guiyi. In 401, Yao Xing inexplicably gave Qifu Gangui his entire captured army back to him and had
him defend his old capital Wanchuan, effectively putting him back in the position he had before, but now as a LATER Qin
vassalater He quickly put his governmental structure back in place, but now with inferior titles to show submission to
LATER Qin. LATER in 401, Yao Xing sent Qifu Gangui to serve as Yao Shuode's assistant in a major campaign against
LATER Liang's emperor Lu Long (Lu Guang's nephew), forcing Lu Long's submission. In 402, Qifu Chipan, who had
previously made an unsuccessful attempt to escape from S. Liang to join his father, succeeded in fleeing to Wanchuan.
The S. Liang prince Tufa Rutan sent Qifu Chipan's wife (who might be Tufa Rutan's daughter) and children to join him. In
403, Lu Long decided to give up his state (now consisting of little more than the capital city of Guzang) to LATER Qin,
ending LATER Liang, and Qifu Gangui was one of the generals whom Yao Xing sent to escort Lu Long to Chang'an and
to escort his replacement, the LATER Qin general Wang Shang (王尚) to Guzang, which was at the point effectively
surrounded by S. Liang and N. Liang forces. For the next few years, Qifu Gangui appeared to begin to act more
independently again. For example, in 405, apparently without LATER Qin sanction, he attacked Murong Dahai (慕容大孩),
the khan of Tuyuhun, and LATER in the year he battled fellow LATER Qin vassal Yang Sheng (杨盛), the ruler of
Chouchi. In 407, Qifu Gangui went on an official visit to Chang'an. Yao Xing, apprehensive about Qifu Gangui's strength
and independence, detained him and made him a minister, giving his command to Qifu Chipan. In 408, with Tufa Rutan,
who had previously submitted as a LATER Qin vassal, acting independently but yet suffering many internal problems, Yao
Xing became resolved to destroy S. Liang, and Qifu Gangui was one of the generals he sent under the command of his
son Yao Bi (姚弼) to try to destroy S. Liang. However, Yao Bi's campaign resulted in failure, and while Tufa Rutan
nominally continued to submit for a time, he soon declared full independence. In 409, Qifu Gangui himself escaped and
returned to Wanchuan. LATER in the year, he redeclared the W. Qin state with the title Prince of Qin and changed his era
name. After his restoration, Qifu Gangui again created his wife Princess Bian as princess and Qifu Chipan as crown
prince, and he temporarily set his capital at Dujianshan (度坚山 Baiyin, Gansu). In 410, he attacked LATER Qin's
Jincheng Commandery and captured it, and LATER in 410 moved the capital back to Wanchuan. He then captured
several more LATER Qin commanderies. However, in spring 411, he returned the captured officials to LATER Qin and
sought peace, offering to again submit as a vassalater Yao Xing created him the Prince of Henan. However, in winter 411
he again captured several LATER Qin commanderies. In spring 412, he moved the capital to Tanjiao (谭郊 Linxia Hui
Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu), and left Qifu Chipan in charge of Wanchuan. In summer 412, Qifu Guoren's son Qifu
Gongfu killed Qifu Gangui in a coup and also killed more than 10 of Qifu Gangui's sons. After a short campaign between
Qifu Gongfu and Qifu Chipan, Qifu Chipan succeeded and killed Qifu Gongfu. He took the throne as Prince Wenzhao.
Notes It is unclear whether the character 乾 in his name should be pronounced "Gan" or "Qian" (both of which are
common pronunciations for the character in modern Mandarin, depending on context).
Era names * Taichu (太初 tai ch_) 388-400 * Gengshi (更始 g_ng sh_) 409-412
Personal information
* Father
o Qifu Sifan (乞伏司繁), Xianbei tribal chief
* Wives
1)o Princess Bian (created 388 and again in 409)
2)o Princess Fu (created 394)
* Children
1)o Qifu Chipan (乞伏炽磐), the Crown Prince and the Duke of Pingchang,
LATER Prince Wenzhao
2)o Qifu Chibo (乞伏敕勃)
3)o Qifu Muyigan (乞伏木奕干)
4)o Qifu Shenqian (乞伏审虔)
5)o Qifu Zhida (乞伏智达)
6)o Qifu Tanda (乞伏昙达)
7)o Qifu Louji (乞伏娄机)
8)o Qifu Qiannian (乞伏千年)
9)o Qifu Woling (乞伏沃陵)
10)o Qifu Shiyin (乞伏什寅) (executed by Qifu Mumo 429)
11)o Qifu Baiyang (乞伏白养) (executed by Qifu Mumo 430)
12)o Qifu Qulie (乞伏去列) (executed by Qifu Mumo 430)
13)o Princess Pingchang, wife of Juqu Xingguo (沮渠兴国), the heir apparent of Juqu Mengxun, the prince of N.
Liang
3) Wen2(culture/gentle/tatoo/coverup/writing/character) Zhao1(clear/obvious) Wang 文昭王 Qi3(beg)fu2(ben
over/lie prostrate/hot season/admit guilt/<elec>volt) Chi4(flaming/ablaze)pan2(firm/stable/rock) 乞伏炽磐 412-428 (died
428) Was a prince of the Chinese/Xianbei state W. Qin. During his reign, W. Qin reached its prime after he destroyed and
seized the territory of the rival state S. Liang in 414, but it then began a gradual decline under attacks by Xia and N. Liang.
When he died in 428, he left his state in a troubled position, and by 431, his state was destroyed, and his son Qifu Mumo
captured and then killed by the Xia emperor Helian Ding. It is likely that he was born prior to W. Qin's establishment by his
uncle Qifu Guoren (in 383), because he was Qifu Gangui's oldest son, and it also is likely that his mother was Qifu
Gangui's wife Princess Bian. In 388, after Qifu Gangui died, Qifu Chipan became prince. By 393 he was already described
as brave and intelligent, and more capable than his father. He quickly became a key official in his father's administration.
In 400, Qifu Gangui suffered a major defeat at the hands of the LATER Qin emperor Yao Xing, and most of his state was
seized by LATER Qin. Qifu Gangui concluded that he could not sustain a state any more, and instructed his officials to
surrender to LATER Qin, while he himself surrendered to S. Liang's prince Tufa Lilugu, who welcomed him as an honored
guest. Tufa Lilugu's brother Tufa Juyan (秃发俱延) suspected Qifu Gangui's intentions, and suggested that Tufa Lilugu
exile him to the Yifu (乙弗) tribe (probably west of the Qinghai Lake), a suggestion that Tufa Lilugu rejected. However,
worried that Qifu Gangui would try to reestablish his state, he sent an army to watch over him. Qifu Gangui, fearing that
he would be executed, then regained trust from Tufa Lilugu by sending Qifu Chipan, his brothers, and their mother to the
S. Liang capital Xiping as hostages. He himself, however, as soon as the S. Liang guard was down, fled to Fuhan (□罕
Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu) and surrendered to LATER Qin. It might have been around this time that Qifu
Chipan married the daughter of Tufa Lilugu's brother Tufa Rutan, and LATER, when Qifu Chipan tried to flee to LATER
Qin to join his father but was captured on the way, Tufa Rutan urged for his life against Tufa Lilugu's initial desire to
execute him, and Tufa Lilugu agreed with Tufa Rutan. After Tufa Lilugu died in 402 and was succeeded by Tufa Rutan,
Qifu Chipan successfully escaped and fled to his father, who by then had been made a key LATER Qin generalater Tufa
Rutan sent Qifu Chipan's wife and children to him. Qifu Gangui, who was then in control of his old capital Wanchuan (苑川
,Baiyin, Gansu), sent Qifu Chipan to the LATER Qin capital Chang'an to visit the emperor Yao Xing, and Yao Xing made
him a commandery governor. In 407, concerned that Qifu Gangui was becoming stronger and more difficult to control,
Yao Xing detained him while he was visiting Chang'an, and had Qifu Chipan take over his post. LATER that year, when
Tufa Rutan, who had nominally been a LATER Qin vassal, considered renouncing that status, he sent messengers to Qifu
Chipan urging him to join the rebellion. Qifu Chipan beheaded Tufa Rutan's messengers and sent their heads to
Chang'an. In 408, believing that LATER Qin was growing weaker, he built a castle at Kanglang Mountain (_□山 Lanzhou,
Gansu) to both prepare to defend himself against LATER Qin's enemies and against a potential LATER Qin campaign
against him. In 409, he captured Fuhan from the LATER Qin rebel Peng Xi'nian (彭奚念) and secretly sent messengers to
inform Qifu Gangui of this. Qifu Gangui, who was then attending Yao Xing at Pingliang (平凉 Pingliang, Gansu), then
escaped and fled back to Wanchuan to join him. Soon, Qifu Gangui moved his home base to Dujianshan (度坚山 Baiyin,
Gansu) but left Qifu Chipan in command of Fuhan. Late that year, Qifu Gangui redeclared independence with the title
Prince of Qin, and he created Qifu Chipan crown prince again. Qifu Chipan became the person that his father relied on
the most on military matters. He made the scholar Jiao Yi (焦遗) Qifu Chipan's teacher, and told Qifu Chipan to serve Jiao
like a father, and Qifu Chipan did so. In 411, Qifu Gangui, after some campaigns against LATER Qin, agreed to nominally
resubmit at a vassal, and Yao Xing created him the Prince of Henan and Qifu Chipan the Duke of Pingchang. LATER that
year, Qifu Gangui sent Qifu Chipan and his brother Qifu Shenqian (乞伏审虔) on a campaign against S. Liang, and they
had a major victory over Tufa Rutan's crown prince Tufa Hutai (秃发虎台), capturing more than 100,000 animals. In spring
412, Qifu Gangui moved the capital to Tanjiao (谭郊 Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu), leaving Qifu Chipan in
command of Wanchuan. In summer 412, while at Tanjiao, Qifu Gangui was assassinated by Qifu Guoren's son Qifu
Gongfu (乞伏公府), who also killed more than 10 brothers of Qifu Chipan. Qifu Gongfu then took up a defense position at
Daxia (大夏 Linxia ). Qifu Chipan sent his brothers Qifu Zhida (乞伏智达) and Qifu Muyigan (乞伏木奕干) to attack Qifu
Gongfu, while moving the capital to Fuhan. Qifu Zhida, meanwhile, defeated Qifu Gongfu and executed him, his sons, and
his brother Qifu Achai (乞伏阿柴). Qifu Chipan was now the undisputed heir, and he claimed the title Prince of Henan.
Early in his reign, Qifu Chipan continued his state's expansion at the expense of Tuyuhun, S. Liang and LATER Qin, and
he further forced local tribes which were not under his father's rule into submission. In 414, upon receiving news that Tufa
Rutan was attacking rebellious Tuoqihan (唾契汗) and Yifu tribes, leaving Tufa Hutai in command of the S. Liang capital
Ledu (乐都 Haidong Prefecture, Qinghai), Qiifu Chipan decided to make a surprise attack on Ledu putting it under siege.
Soon, Ledu fell, and he relocated Tufa Hutai and his subordinates to Fuhan, while sending his army further to face Tufa
Rutan. Tufa Rutan's troops, hearing that Ledu had fallen, collapsed, and Tufa Rutan surrendered, ending S. Liang and
allowing Qifu Chipan to seize the remaining S. Liang territory. Qifu Chipan welcomed him as an honored guest, creating
him the Duke of Zuonan, and created Tufa Rutan's daughter his princess. However, in 415 he poisoned Tufa Rutan to
death. Having annexed S. Liang into his state, in 414 Qifu Chipan claimed the greater title of Prince of Qin. He also
resumed his attacks on LATER Qin. However, now that there was no longer S. Liang serving as a buffer between them,
he soon got into constant warfare with N. Liang's prince Juqu Mengxun, often at W. Qin's expense. In 416, he made
peace with Juqu Mengxun. Meanwhile, in 416, with LATER Qin under major attack from the Jin general Liu Yu, he sent
messengers to Liu Yu offering to be a vassal, and Liu Yu gave him the title Duke of Henan. By 417, Liu Yu had destroyed
LATER Qin, but he did not further head west to attack W. Qin, which seized a number of LATER Qin cities on the borders.
By 418, however, Jin had against lost the Guanzhong region to Xia's emperor Helian Bobo, and Xia, strengthened by its
victories over Jin, now posed a major threat against W. Qin. In 420, Qifu Chipan created his son Qifu Mumo crown prince.
That year, Qifu Chipan also received a commission as a major general from Liu Yu, who had by now seized the Jin throne
and established LS. In 421, the peace with N. Liang ended, perhaps because N. Liang had destroyed W. Liang in 420 and
now could concentrate on warfare with its S. neighbor W. Qin. The battles were often inconclusive, but the war continued
to wear W. Qin down. In 423, Qifu Chipan made the declaration to his officials that he now believed that N. Wei was the
state favored by the gods, and that its emperors were capable, and so he would offer to be a N. Wei vassalater He then
sent messengers to N. Wei, offering suggestions on how to conquer Xia. In 426, he again requested that N. Wei attack
Xia. (perhaps Xia made attacks on W. Qin) LATER in 426, Qifu Chipan would suffer a major defeat that would debilitate
his state. He was attacking N. Liang when N. Liang's prince Juqu Mengxun persuaded the Xia emperor Helian Chang
(Helian Bobo's son and successor) to attack Fuhan. Helian Chang, in response, sent his general Hulu Gu (呼卢古) to
attack Wanchuan and Wei Fa (韦伐) to attack Nan'an (南安 Dingxi, Gansu), and while W. Qin was able to hold Wanchuan,
Nan'an fell, at great loss. In winter 426, Xia forces commanded by Hulu and Wei attacked Fuhan, forcing Qifu Gangui to
move the capital to Dinglian (定连 Linxia), and Hulu and Wei then captured another important W. Qin city, Xiping (西平
Xining, Qinghai), and while they then withdrew, W. Qin had been dealt a major blow. In 427, Qifu Chipan moved his
capital back to Fuhan, and hearing that N. Wei had captured the Xia capital Tongwan (统万 Yulin, Shaanxi) and forced
Helian Chang to flee to Shanggui (上□ Tianshui, Gansu), he sent his uncle Qifu Wotou (乞伏握头) to offer tributes to N.
Wei. By this point, however, W. Qin was also still under constant attack by N. Liang and Chouchi. In summer 428, Qifu
Chipan, after telling Qifu Mumo to try to make peace with N. Liang by returning Juqu Mengxun's advisor Juqu Chengdu (
沮渠成都), whom he had captured in 422), died, and Qifu Mumo succeeded him.
Era names * Yongkang (永康 ) 412-419 * Jianhong (建弘 jian hong) 419-428
Personal information
* Father
o Qifu Gangui (Prince Wuyuan)
* Wife
o Princess Tufa (created 414, executed 423), daughter of Tufa Rutan, prince of S. Liang
* Major Concubines
1)o Left Consort Tufa, daughter of Tufa Rutan
* Children
1)o Qifu Mumo (乞伏暮末), the Crown Prince (created 420), LATER prince
2)o Qifu Yuanji (乞伏元基)
3)o Qifu Keshuluo (乞伏轲殊罗)
4)o Qifu Chenglong (乞伏成龙)
4) Qi3fu2Mu4(dusk/evening/sunset)mo4(tip/end/minor details/last stage/powder/dust) 乞伏暮末 428-431 (died 431)
乾绉陕绉aka An1(peaceful/ safe/find a place for/install/bring/harbour/ampere)shi2(stone/stone inscription)
ba2(cross mountains/post script) (安石跋) Was the last prince of the Chinese/Xianbei state W. Qin. When he
succeeded his father Qifu Chipan (Prince Wenzhao) in 428, W. Qin was already in a state of decline, under incessant
attack by N. Liang, Xia, Tuyuhun, and Chouchi, but under Qifu Mumo, who had a violent temper, W. Qin declined further,
and in 431 the Xia emperor Helian Ding, his own state nearing destruction, captured and executed Qifu Mumo, ending W.
Qin. His mother was neither his father Qifu Chipan's princess Princess Tufa, nor her sister Consort Tufa. In 420 Qifu
Chipan created him crown prince -- and by that time, he was already a major general, In 424, his father sent him and his
uncle Qifu Muyigan (乞伏木奕干) to attack N. Liang, and they were victorious. A campaign that Qifu Mumo carried out with
his father against N. Liang in 426 would be far more disastrous, however, as the N. Liang prince Juqu Mengxun not only
repelled their attacks but persuaded the Xia emperor Helian Chang to attack W. Qin's capital Fuhan (□罕 Linxia, Gansu).
Helian Chang, in response, sent his general Hulu Gu (呼卢古) to attack Wanchuan (苑川 Baiyin, Gansu) and Wei Fa (韦伐
) to attack Nan'an (南安 Dingxi, Gansu), and while W. Qin was able to hold Wanchuan, Nan'an fell, at great loss. In winter
426, Xia forces commanded by Hulu and Wei attacked Fuhan, forcing Qifu Gangui to move the capital to Dinglian (定连
Linxia), and Hulu and Wei then captured another important W. Qin city, Xiping (西平 Xining, Qinghai), and while they then
withdrew, W. Qin had been dealt a major blow. In 428, Qifu Chipan died, and Qifu Mumo succeeded him. --Immediately
after he took the throne, he, hearing that his uncle Qifu Qiannian (乞伏千年) had been a drunkard and ignoring his duties,
sent messengers to severely rebuke Qifu Qiannian, but the rebukes were such that instead of causing Qifu Qiannian to
change his ways, Qifu Qiannian became so fearful that he fled to N. Liang. Qifu Mumo first had to face a major attack that
Juqu Mengxun launched against W. Qin in light of his father's death. As his father had instructed before death, Qifu Mumo
sent Juqu Chengdu (沮渠成都), a N. Liang general whom Qifu Chipan captured in 422, whom Juqu Mengxun respected,
back to N. Liang, and the states entered into a peace agreement. However, just several months LATER the peace
appeared to be over, for Juqu Mengxun resumed his attacks on W. Qin. In spring 429, Juqu Mengxun captured Xiping.
Also in spring 429, Qifu Mumo created his wife Lady Liang princess, and his son Qifu Wanzai (乞伏万载) crown prince. In
429 Mumo’s mother had, during Qifu Chipan's reign, been accidentally injured by slingshots fired by Qifu Chipan's official
Xin Jin (辛进), while Xin was attending Qifu Chipan on a hunt. The injury disfigured her face. In 429, Qifu Mumo asked his
mother how she got injured, and she told him. In anger, Qifu Mumo not only executed Xin but executed 27 other
individuals related to Xin. In summer 429, Juqu Mengxun launched another major attack on W. Qin, and Qifu Mumo left
his uncle Qifu Yuanji (乞伏元基) in control of Fuhan while temporarily withdrawing himself to Dinglian. He then also had to
contend with rebellions by his generals Zhai Chengbo (翟承伯) and Mozhe Yojuan (莫者幼眷), but when Juqu Mengxun's
heir apparent Juqu Xingguo attacked Dinglian, Qifu Mumo defeated and captured him. He then also fought off another
joint attack by N. Liang and its ally Tuyuhun's general Murong Muliyan (慕容慕利延). Juqu Mengxun sent a large amount
of grain to Qifu Mumo, requesting to ransom Juqu Xingguo, but Qifu Mumo refused. Juqu Mengxun then created Juqu
Xingguo's brother Juqu Puti (沮渠菩提) heir apparent instead, while Qifu Mumo made Juqu Xingguo an official and
married his sister Princess Pingchang to Juqu Xingguo. For some time, Qifu Mumo's brother Qifu Keshuluo (乞伏轲殊罗)
had been having an affair with Qifu Chipan's concubine Consort Tufa. After Qifu Mumo heard rumors, he secured the
palace, and Qifu Keshuluo, in fear that the affair had been discovered, plotted with their uncle Qifu Shiyin (乞伏什寅) to
assassinate Qifu Mumo, and then to take Juqu Xingguo and flee to N. Liang. They therefore had Consort Tufa try to steal
Qifu Mumo's bedchamber keys, but the wrong keys were stolen, and the plot was exposed. Qifu Mumo executed Qifu
Keshuluo's associates but spared Qifu Keshuluo, but also arrested Qifu Shiyin and whipped him. Qifu Shiyin, in anger,
stated, "I owe you a life, but do not owe you a whipping." In anger, Qifu Mumo cut Qifu Shiyin's abdomen open and threw
his body into a river. In 430, having heard that two other uncles, Qifu Baiyang (乞伏白养) and Qifu Qulie (乞伏去列) were
complaining about Qifu Shiyin's death, he executed them as wellater At this time, W. Qin not only had to face N. Liang
attacks, but had suffered a major earthquake in late 429 and a major drought for most of 430 as wellater Most of Qifu
Mumo's people fled. He felt that his state could no longer stand. He sent his officials Wang Kai (王恺) and Wuna Tian (乌
讷阗) to submit to N. Wei, requesting N. Wei troops to escort him to N. Wei territory. Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei was
pleased, and promised that after he can destroy Xia, he would bestow Xia's Pingliang (平凉) and Anding (安定)
Commanderies (Pingliang, Gansu) as Qifu Mumo's domain. Qifu Mumo therefore destroyed his own royal treasury and
set Fuhan ablaze, heading east with the only 15,000 households that remained under him, to try to join N. Wei troops at
Shanggui (上□ Tianshui, Gansu), but the Xia emperor Helian Ding (Helian Chang's brother and successor), upon hearing
this, engaged him and stopped his advances, and he was forced to take up defensive position at Nan'an. By this point,
Nan'an was all he could hold; all of his old territory in the west had been seized by Tuyuhun. In winter 430, N. Wei troops,
commanded by Kuruguan Jie (库_官结), finally arrived at Nan'an, to escort Qifu Mumo to N. Wei territory. However, Qifu
Mumo, persuaded by his general Qifu Jipi (乞伏吉毗) that the situation was still maintainable and that he should not give
up his state easily, refused to follow Kuruguan, who then returned to N. Wei territory. He then had to immediately face a
Qiang rebellion led by Jiao Liang (焦亮), who attacked Nan'an. Qifu Mumo was able to persuade Yang Nandang (杨难当),
the ruler of Chouchi, to come to his aid, and their joint forces defeated Jiao Liang, who was then killed by his uncle Jiao Yi
(焦遗). In spring 431, with his own territories nearly all taken by N. Wei, Helian Ding, after defeating the troops that Yang
sent to aid W. Qin, had his uncle Helian Weifa (赫连韦伐) put Nan'an under siege. Even Qifu Mumo's closest associates
surrendered. Qifu Mumo, with no way to go, exited the city and surrendered to Helian Weifa. Helian Weifa delivered Qifu
Mumo and Juqu Xingguo to Shanggui, where Helian Ding was at the time. Jiao Yi and his son Jiao Kai (焦楷) tried to put
together a resistance to try to revive W. Qin, but Jiao Yi then died of illness, and Jiao Kai fled to N. Liang. In summer 431,
Helian Ding executed Qifu Mumo and 500 members of his clan. W. Qin was at its end. Era name
* Yonghong (永弘 y_ng hong) 428-431
Personal information
* Father
o Qifu Chipan (Prince Wenzhao)
* Wife
o Princess Liang (created 429)
* Children
1)o Qifu Wanzai (乞伏万载), the Crown Prince (created 429)
[18] Xia Empire 407-431(3)
1) Wu3(swordplay/valiant/fierce) Lie4(strong/sacrifice oneself for a just cause/intense)Di4 武烈帝
He4(conspicuous/grand)lian2 (link/join/including /repeatedly/even)Bo2(thriving/suddenly)bo2(thriving/suddenly)
赫连勃勃 407-425 (381-425) nickname Liu2 Bo2(thriving/suddenly) bo2(thriving/ suddenly) (刘勃勃), aka
Qu1(bend/subdue/wrong/injustice) jie2(lonely) (屈孑) Was the founding emperor of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Xia. He
is generally considered to be an extremely cruel ruler, one who betrayed every benefactor that he had, and whose thirst
for killing was excessive even for the turbulent times that he was in. He built an impressive capital for his state at
Tongwan (统万Yulin, Shaanxi) that remained difficult to siege, even hundreds of years LATER during the Five Dynasties
and Ten Kingdoms Period. (Confusingly, the Book of Wei refers to him as Helian Qugai (赫连屈丐), based on a
derogatory term that Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei used to refer to him.) Liu Bobo was born in 381, when his father Liu
Weichen (刘卫辰) was an important Xiongnu chief and a vassal of F. Qin. It is not known whether his mother Lady Fu was
Liu Weichen's wife or concubine. He was one of Liu Weichen's younger sons. After F. Qin collapsed in light of various
rebellions after its emperor Fu Jian's defeat at the Battle of Fei River in 383, Liu Weichen took control of what is now part
of Inner Mongolia south of the Yellow River and extreme N. Shaanxi, and while he nominally submitted to both LATER
Qin and W. Yan as a vassal, he was actually a powerful independent ruler. However, in 391, he sent his son Liu Zhilidi (刘
直力□ ) to attack N. Wei's prince Tuoba Gui, and Tuoba Gui not only defeated Liu Zhilidi, but crossed the Yellow River to
attack Liu Weichen's capital Yueba (悦拔 Ordos, Inner Mongolia), capturing it and forcing Liu Weichen and Liu Zhilidi to
flee. The next day, Liu Weichen was killed by his subordinates, and Liu Zhilidi was captured. Tuoba Gui seized Liu
Weichen's territory and people and slaughtered his clan. However, Liu Bobo escaped and fled to the Xuegan (薛干) tribe,
whose chief Tai Xifu (太悉伏) refused to turn him over despite N. Wei demands. Instead, Tai delivered Liu Bobo to the
Xianbei tribal chief Mo Yigan (没奕干) the Duke of Gaoping, a LATER Qin vassal, and Mo Yigan not only gave Liu Bobo
refuge but also married one of his daughters to Liu Bobo. Liu Bobo, from that point on, became highly dependent on his
father-in-law(Mo Yigan). (Meanwhile, in 393, Tuoba Gui, because of Tai Xifu's refusal to deliver Liu Bobo to him, attacked
Tai and slaughtered his people, although Tai himself escaped and fled to LATER Qin.) Little is known about Liu Bobo's life
during the following years. In 402, Tuoba Gui's brother Tuoba Zun (拓拔遵) the Prince of Changshan attacked Mo's
homebase of Gaoping (高平 Guyuan, Ningxia), and Mo was forced to flee to LATER Qin, abandoning his own people,
who were scattered about, although LATER LATER Qin recaptured Gaoping and gave that city back to Mo.Sometime
before 407, Liu Bobo, who had become known for being handsome, ability to speak well, alertness, and intelligence,
came to the attention of LATER Qin's emperor Yao Xing. Yao Xing was so impressed by Liu Bobo's abilities when he met
Liu Bobo that he wanted to make him a major general to defend against N. Wei. Yao Xing's brother Yao Yong (姚邕),
however, spoke against it, believing Liu Bobo to be untrustworthy, stating: “Liu Bobo is arrogant toward his superiors and
elders. He is cruel to his subordinates and associates. He is also greedy, treacherous, lacking in love, and inattentive to
friendships. He changes his attitude quickly and abandons things quickly. If you overly trust and favor this type of person,
he will surely create a disaster.” Yao Xing initially, at Yao Yong's counsel, did not give Liu Bobo a commission, but
eventually was so seduced by his talent that he made him a general and the Duke of Wuyuan, giving him the
responsibility of defending Shuofang (朔方 Ordos). In 407, after suffering a number of losses against N. Wei, Yao Xing
decided to make peace with N. Wei. Upon hearing this, Liu Bobo became angry, because his father had been killed by N.
Wei, and he planned rebellion. He therefore forcibly seized the horses that Yujiulu Shelun (郁久闾社仑), the khan of
Rouran, had recently offered to Yao Xing as a tribute, and then made a surprise attack on his father-in-law Mo Yigan,
capturing Gaoping and killing Mo, seizing his troops. He then declared himself a descendant of Yu the Great, the founder
of Xia Dynasty, and named his state Xia. He claimed the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang). --Despite Liu Bobo's stated
hatred for N. Wei, however, he concentrated his efforts on undermining L Qin, continually harassing LATER Qin's N.
territories and draining LATER Qin's resources. He therefore did not settle in a capital city; rather, he roved about with his
mobile cavalry, constantly looking for LATER Qin cities to pillage. Also in 407, Liu Bobo sought marriage with a daughter
of the S. Liang prince Tufa Rutan, but Tufa Rutan refused. In anger, Liu Bobo launched a punitive raid against S. Liang
but then retreated. Tufa Rutan gave chase and, believing that he greatly outpowered Liu Bobo, was careless in his military
actions. Liu Bobo led him into a canyon and then blocked the exit with ice and wagons, and then ambushed him -- and the
defeat was such that it was said that 60% to 70% of S. Liang's famed officials and generals died in the battle. Tufa Rutan
barely escaped capture. In 408, Yao Xing sent his general Qi Nan (齐难) to launch a major attack on Liu Bobo. Liu Bobo
initially withdraw to let Qi believe that he feared Qi, and Liu Bobo made a surprise counter-attack and captured Qi.
Subsequently, much of LATER Qin's N. territories fell into Xia hands. In 409, Yao Xing himself launched an attack on Liu
Bobo, but when he reached Ercheng (贰城 Yan'an, Shaanxi), he was nearly trapped by Liu Bobo, and escaped only after
major casualties. This defeat forced Yao Xing to cancel a mission, commanded by his general Yao Qiang (姚强), to try to
save S. Yan from being destroyed by Jin. (Without LATER Qin aid, S. Yan fell in 410.) For the next several years, Xia and
LATER Qin forces battled constantly, often inconclusively, but with the wars becoming much more costly to LATER Qin
than Xia, with S. Liang and W. Qin no longer being willing to be LATER Qin vassals as a result. In 412, when W. Qin's
prince Qifu Gangui was assassinated by his nephew Qifu Gongfu (乞伏公府), Liu Bobo considered attacking W. Qin
despite its status as an ally, but at the counsel of his advisor Wang Maide (王买德) did not do so. By 413, Liu Bobo finally
resolved to build a capital -- one that he wanted to make absolutely impenetrable. He commissioned his cruel general
Chigan Ali (叱干阿利) as the chief architect of the capital, which he named Tongwan -- because, as he stated, he wanted
to unite China and be the lord of 10,000 states. Chigan ordered that the soil used in constructing the wall be steamed, so
that it would be hardened and difficult to attack, and he often tested the walls during its construction; if an iron wedge were
able to insert even one inch deep into the wall, the workmen who were in charge of that section of wall would be
executed, and their bodies would be stuffed into the wallater Further, Liu Bobo himself ordered that when weapons and
armors are made, that some of the metalsmiths would be executed -- because his orders were, for example, that arrows
should be shot at armors; if the arrows could penetrate the armors, the smiths who forged the armors would be executed,
and if the arrows could not penetrate the armors, then the smiths who made the arrows would be executed. As a result of
this bloodshed, however, Tongwan became a highly defensible city, and the weapons and armors that he had were all of
exceedingly high quality. Also in 413, Liu Bobo believed that his family name should be changed -- since his ancestors
took on the Liu family name from the Han Dynasty imperial house, believing that one of their female ancestors was a Han
princess, but Liu Bobo believed this to be improper. He therefore changed his family name to Helian -- intending it to
mean that his might was so great that it would, alas 赫 be connected 连 to the heavens. He also ordered the nobles to
change their family name to Tiefa 铁伐, intending it to mean that they were as strong as iron 铁 and be able to attack 伐
others. In 414, Helian Bobo created his wife Lady Liang "Heavenly Princess." (No further reference to the fate of his wife,
Lady Mo, was recorded in history, after he killed her father.) He created his son Helian Gui (赫连_) crown prince, and
created his other sons dukes. In 415, Helian Bobo entered into an alliance with Juqu Mengxun, the prince of N. Liang. In
416, with LATER Qin, now under the rule of Yao Xing's son Yao Hong, under a major attack by the Jin general Liu Yu,
Helian Bobo believed that LATER Qin would fall to Jin, but that Jin would not be easily able to hold LATER Qin's capital
region -- Guanzhong. He therefore intensified his own attacks on LATER Qin as well, and preparing to use the opportunity
of LATER Qin's destruction to seize more territory. As LATER Qin neared destruction, Helian Bobo seized its W. territory,
centering Anding (安定 Pingliang, Gansu), and then prepared for an eventual confrontation with Jin forces, which
destroyed LATER Qin in 417 and captured its capital Chang'an. In winter 417, Liu Yu, intent on wanting to seize the Jin
throne, left Chang'an under the command of his 11-year-old son Liu Yizhen (刘义真), and while he left several able
generals to assist Liu Yizhen, those generals soon conflicted with each other and were killing each other -- and eventually,
LIu Yizhen, believing that the main assistant Liu Yu left him, Wang Xiu (王修), to be about to rebel, had Wang executed.
Meanwhile, Helian Bobo sent his crown prince Helian Gui, another son Helian Chang, and Wang Maide to command
armies south, not initially engaging Jin forces but isolating Chang'an from the rest of Jin territory -- a task made easier
when Liu Yizhen recalled Jin forces near Chang'an all to Chang'an. Liu Yu, hearing this, sent his general Zhu Lingshi (朱
龄石) to replace Liu Yizhen and recalled Liu Yizhen, but as soon as Liu Yizhen and his troops left Chang'an, they were
intercepted and crushed by Xia forces under Helian Gui. Liu Yizhen barely escaped, but the vast majority of the army was
captured. Helian Bobo stacked the skulls of the Jin dead into a hill-like structure. Meanwhile, the people of Chang'an, who
were angry that Liu Yizhen's forces pillaged the city before leaving, expelled Zhu, allowing Helian Bobo to enter Chang'an
easily. Helian Bobo then claimed the title of emperor.
Most of Helian Bobo's officials suggested that he move the capital to Chang'an, but he, believing that Tongwan was in a
better position to defend against N. Wei, refused and kept his capital at Tongwan, leaving Helian Gui in charge of
Chang'an as viceroy. The campaign against Jin showcased Helian Bobo's abilities, but at this time, he also grew
increasingly cruel in this way: “He was arrogant and cruel, treating the people like wild plants and mustard greens. He
often climbed up towers with bows and arrows, and whenever he had a sudden thought of distrust, dislike, or anger at a
person, he would kill that person personally. If any of his officials looked at him in a gazing manner, he would gouge out
their eyes. Anyone who laughed frivolously would have their lips sliced open with knives. Anyone who dared to offer a
contrary opinion would first have his tongue cut out and then head cut off.”In 424, for reasons lost to history, Helian Bobo
decided to depose Crown Prince Gui and appoint another son, Helian Lun (赫连伦) the Duke of Jiuquan, a crown prince.
Upon hearing this news, Helian Gui commanded his troops north from Chang'an and attacked Helian Lun. Their forces
met at Gaoping, and Helian Gui defeated and killed Helian Lun. However, Helian Lun's brother Helian Chang then made a
surprise attack on Helian Gui, killing him and seizing his troops, leading them back to Tongwan. Helian Bobo was pleased
and created Helian Chang crown prince.
In summer 425, Helian Bobo died. Helian Chang succeeded him.
Era names * Longsheng (龙升 long sh_ng) 407-413 * Fengxiang (凤翔 feng xiang) 413-418 * Changwu (昌武 ch_ng
w_) 418-419 * Zhenxing (真兴 zh_n x_ng) 419-425
Personal information
* Father
o Liu Weichen (刘卫臣), Xiongnu chief, posthumously honored as Emperor Huan
* Mother
o Lady Fu, posthumously honored as Empress Huanwen
* Wives
1)o Lady Mo, daughter of Xianbei chief Mo Yigan (没奕干)
2)o Empress Liang (created 414)
* Children
1)o Helian Gui (赫连_), the Crown Prince (appointed 414, killed in battle by Helian Chang 424)
2)o Helian Yan (赫连延), the Duke of Yangping (appointed 414)
3)o Helian Chang (赫连昌), initially the Duke of Taiyuan (appointed 414), LATER Crown Prince (appointed 424),
LATER emperor
4)o Helian Lun (赫连伦), the Duke of Jiuquan (appointed 414, killed in battle by Helian Gui 424)
5)o Helian Ding (赫连定), initially the Duke of Pingyuan (appointed 414), LATER the Prince of Pingyuan, LATER
emperor
6)o Helian Man (赫连满), the Duke of Henan (appointed 414, killed by N. Wei forces 427)
7)o Helian An (赫连安), the Duke of Zhongshan (appointed 414)
8)o Helian Zhuxing (赫连助兴)
9)o Helian Weiyidai (赫连谓以代)
10)o Helian Shegan (赫连社干), the Duke of Shanggu
11)o Helian Duluogu (赫连度洛孤), the Duke of Guangyang
12)o Helian Wushiba (赫连乌视拔), the Duke of Danyang
13)o Helian Tugu (赫连秃骨), the Duke of Wuling
14)o Princess, LATER Empress Helian of Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei
15)o Princess, LATER consort of Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei
16)o Princess, LATER consort of Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei
2) Qin2(Qin dynasty) Wang2 秦王 He4(conspicuous/grand/ hertz)lian2(join/including/repeatedly/even)
Chang1(prosperous) 赫连昌 425-428 (died 434) aka Huan2(go/give back)guo2(country) (还国) nickname
Zhe(break/snap/lose/bend/twist/turn back/be convinced/be filled with admiration/convert into/amount
to/discount/fold/booklet for keeping accounts/roll over) (折), Was an emperor of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Xia. He
was the successor and a son of the founding emperor Helian Bobo (Emperor Wulie). After his father's death in 425, he
tried to expand Xia further, but soon his state began to collapse in light of pressure from rival N. Wei. In 427, his capital
Tongwan (统万 Yulin, Shaanxi) fell to N. Wei forces, and in 428 he himself was captured. Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei did
not kill him but instead treated him as an honored companion, marrying a sister to him and creating him high titles─
initially the Duke of Kuaiji and LATER the Prince of Qin─but in 434 (after his brother and successor Helian Ding had been
captured and executed, ending Xia), he tried to escape and was killed. In 414, when Helian Bobo, then carrying the title
"Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang), created his brother Helian Gui (赫连_) crown prince and created him and his other
brothers dukes─in Helian Chang's case, Duke of Taiyuan. (perhaps Helian Chang was the third son.) In 416, after Helian
Bobo had captured the LATER Qin city Yinmi (阴密 Pingliang, Gansu), he commissioned Helian Chang as the governor of
Yong Province (雍州 central and N. Shaanxi, but at that point still mostly in LATER Qin hands) to defend Yinmi. In 417,
after the Jin general Liu Yu had already captured the LATER Qin capital Chang'an and destroyed LATER Qin, but who
had then left the Chang'an region (Guanzhong) in the hands of his 10-year-old son Liu Yizhen (刘义真) and several of his
generals, Helian Bobo decided to try to conquer Chang'an. He had Helian Gui, Helian Chang, and his key advisor Wang
Maide (王买德) command the troops. Helian Chang's responsibility was to cut off Tong Gate (潼关 Weinan, Shaanxi), so
that Jin forces could not escape. In 418, Xia forces crushed Liu Yizhen's forces as he tried to withdraw from Chang'an,
capturing or killing most of Liu Yizhen's army. Liu Yizhen's successor, the Jin general Zhu Lingshi (朱龄石) was expelled
by the people of Chang'an and fled to Caogong Castle (曹公垒, Weinan), where Helian Chang besieged him and his
brother Zhu Chaoshi (朱超石) by cutting off the water supply, and then attacking the castle, capturing and killing the Zhu
brothers. In 424, for reasons lost to history, Helian Bobo decided to depose Crown Prince Gui and create another son,
Helian Lun (赫连伦) the Duke of Jiuquan crown prince. Upon hearing this news, Helian Gui commanded his troops north
from Chang'an and attacked Helian Lun. Their forces met at Gaoping (高平 Guyuan, Ningxia), and Helian Gui defeated
and killed Helian Lun. However, Helian Chang then made a surprise attack on Helian Gui, killing him and seizing his
troops, leading them back to the capital Tongwan. Helian Bobo was pleased and created Helian Chang crown prince. In
425, Helian Bobo died, and Helian Chang succeeded him as emperor. Helian Chang was a fierce soldier and he tried to
expand his state's borders. In 426, with W. Qin's prince Qifu Chipan attacking N. Liang, N. Liang's prince Juqu Mengxun
sent messengers to persuade Helian Chang to attack the W. Qin capital Fuhan (□罕 Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture,
Gansu). Helian Chang, in response, sent his general Hulu Gu (呼卢古) to attack Wanchuan (苑川 Baiyin, Gansu) and Wei
Fa (韦伐) to attack Nan'an (南安 Dingxi, Gansu), and while W. Qin was able to hold Wanchuan, Nan'an fell, at great loss.
In winter 426, Xia forces commanded by Hulu and Wei attack Fuhan, forcing Qifu Gangui to move the capital to Dinglian (
定连 Linxia), and Hulu and Wei then captured another important W. Qin city, Xiping (西平 Xining, Qinghai), and while they
then withdrew, W. Qin had been dealt a major blow. However, Helian Chang himself now had a threat on his own hands.
In winter 426, Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei crossed the frozen Yellow River and made a surprise attack at Tongwan. On
winter solstice, Helian Chang was holding a feast for his officials to celebrate, and suddenly, with N. Wei forces on the
horizon, the entire Xia regime was shaken. Helian Chang himself engaged the N. Wei forces but was defeated, and as he
retreated into the city, the city gates could not close quickly, and the N. Wei officer Doudai Tian (豆代田) entered the city
and set the palace on fire, before withdrawing. The N. Wei forces pillaged the area around Tongwan, and then withdrew.
Meanwhile, two other N. Wei forces were attacking two other key Xia cities─the general Daxi Jin (达奚斤) was attacking
Puban (蒲阪 Yuncheng, Shanxi), and the general Pu Ji (普几) was attacking Shancheng (陕城 Sanmenxia, Henan). Pu
was quickly able to capture Shancheng and then advanced into the Chang'an region, but died of an illness on the way,
and so his army withdrew. Meanwhile, when Daxi approached Puban, the Xia general defending Puban, Helian Yidou (赫
连乙斗) sent a messenger to Tongwan requesting help─but when the messenger arrived at Tongwan, he saw N. Wei
forces attacking it, and he ran back to Puban, informing Helian Yidou incorrectly that Tongwan had fallen. Helian Yidou
therefore abandoned Puban and fled to Chang'an, and after he arrived there, he and Helian Chang's brother Helian
Zhuxing (赫连助兴), who was defending Chang'an, abandoned it and fled to Anding (安定 Pingliang, Gansu), and N. Wei
thus captured the S. half of Xia. In spring 427, Helian Chang sent his brother Helian Ding the Duke of Pingyuan south,
hoping to recapture Chang'an. Helian Ding became stalemated with Daxi Jin at Chang'an. Meanwhile, knowing that
Helian Ding was occupied, N. Wei's Emperor Taiwu made another attack on Tongwan, and this time, Helian Chang
initially wanted to recall Helian Ding from Chang'an; instead, Helian Ding advised him to defend Tongwan securely to
wear out the N. Wei forces, and then he, after capture Chang'an, could then return and attack N. Wei forces on two sides.
Helian Chang agreed and did not engage N. Wei forces. However, Helian Chang then received misinformation that N. Wei
forces were out of food supplies and vulnerable. Helian Chang led his army out of the city and attacked the N. Wei forces.
Initially, he was winning the battle, and he almost captured the N. Wei emperor. However, N. Wei forces then fought back
and defeated Xia forces, killing Helian Chang's brother Helian Man (赫连满) and nephew Helian Mengxun (赫连蒙逊).
Helian Chang was so panicked by the loss that he did not retreat back to Tongwan, but fled to Shanggui (上□ Tianshui,
Gansu). N. Wei forces entered Tongwan and captured the nobles and imperial clan members, including Helian Bobo's
and Helian Chang's empresses, as well as Helian Chang's sisters. The N. Wei emperor took three of Helian Chang's
sisters as concubines. Upon hearing the news of Tongwan's fall, Helian Ding abandoned his campaign against Daxi and
joined Helian Chang at Shanggui. Daxi gave chase, intending to destroy Xia. In spring 428, with Daxi's subordinate
Weichi Juan (尉迟眷) sieging Shanggui, Helian Chang withdrew to Pingliang. Meanwhile, Daxi's forces arrived, but were
being afflicted with diseases. Helian Chang took the opportunity to counterattack, forcing N. Wei forces to take refuge in
Anding. Helian Chang attacked on a daily basis, and it appeared that Anding would fall to him. However, Daxi's
subordinate Anchi Jia (安迟颉) and Weichi then, without Daxi's approval, undertook a daring plan─as N. Wei soldiers
were by now familiar with Helian Chang's appearance, one day, when Helian Chang was again attacking Anding, Anchi
and Weichi led soldiers to make a strike intending to capture him. Helian Chang fell off his horse, and Anchi took him
captive. Helian Ding withdrew to Pingliang and took the throne himself. Helian Chang was delivered to the N. Wei capital
Pingcheng (平城 Datong, Shanxi). Instead of killing him, Emperor Taiwu gave him the W. palace as his residence, with
supplies fitting an emperor. He also created Helian Chang the Duke of Kuaiji and gave Helian Chang his sister Princess
Shiping in marriage. He often had Helian Chang attend him on hunts. Because Helian Chang was respected as a mighty
soldier, the N. Wei officials often feared that Helian Chang might assassinate the emperor, but the emperor trusted Helian
Chang and continued to treat him wellater In 429, Helian Chang was effectively used as a witness at the imperial advisory
council, for the prime minister Cui Hao as he confronted astrologers Zhang Yuan (张渊) and Xu Bian (徐辩), who were
advising against a campaign against Rouran, which Cui advocated. The astrologers, who were previously Xia court
astrologers, argued that the stars were favoring Rouran and that a campaign would be fruitless. Cui, himself an
astrologer, pointed out that if Zhang and Xu could predict the future, then they should have warned Helian Chang, who
was present at the council as well, before Tongwan fell─that if they knew what would happen and did not warn Helian
Chang, then they were unfaithful; if they did not know what would happen, then they had no prophetic abilities. With
Helian Chang present, Zhang and Xu knew that he would confirm that they never informed him of impending doom, and
so they withdrew their opposition。 In 430, Emperor Taiwu promoted Helian Chang's title to Prince of Qin. The reason is
unclear, but perhaps he was considering using Helian Chang to counter his brother Helian Ding, against whom Emperor
Taiwu was waging a campaign against─and in winter 430, he did have Helian Chang try to persuade Helian Shegan into
surrendering Pingliang to him; Helian Shegan initially refused, but did surrender after less than two months. In 431,
pressured by N. Wei forces, Helian Ding, after first destroying W. Qin and its prince Qifu Mumo, intended to head west to
attack N. Liang and capture its territory, but on the way was intercepted, defeated, and captured by the Tuyuhun khan
Murong Mugui (慕容慕_). Xia was at its end. In 434, for reasons unknown, Helian Chang turned against Wei and fled west
from Pingcheng. He was intercepted by the Wei generals west of the Yellow River and killed. N. Wei then executed his
surviving brothers. Era name * Chengguang (承光 cheng gu_ng) 425-428
Personal information * Father
o Helian Bobo (Emperor Wulie) * Wives 1)o Empress (name unknown)
2)o Princess Shiping of N. Wei (married 428)
3) Ping2 Yuan2(plains/flatlands) Wang2 平原王 He4Lian2Ding4(calm/decide/fixed/subscribe to a newspaper/book
seats or tickets/surely) 赫连定 428-431 (died 432), aka Zhi2(straight/numb/directly/continuosly/straightforward)fen
(直_), Was the last emperor of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Xia. He was a son of the founding emperor Helian Bobo
(Emperor Wulie) and a younger brother of his predecessor Helian Chang. After Helian Chang was captured by rival N.
Wei's army in 428, Helian Ding took the throne himself and for several years tried to resist N. Wei attacks, but by 430 he
had lost nearly his entire territory. In 431, he attempted to head west to try to attack N. Liang and seize its territory, but on
the way, he was intercepted by Tuyuhun's khan Murong Mugui (慕容慕_) and captured, ending Xia. In 432, Murong Mugui
turned him over to Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei, and Emperor Taiwu executed him. In 414, when Helian Bobo created his
son Helian Gui (赫连_) crown prince and the other sons dukes, Helian Chang was created the Duke of Pingyuan. Helian
Ding was said to have been a delinquent and frivolous youth, and Helian Bobo had low opinions of him and gave him little
authority. After Helian Bobo's death in 425, Helian Ding's older brother Helian Chang (who had replaced Helian Gui as
crown prince in 424) succeeded him. Helian Chang gave Helian Ding more authorities than before, and Helian Ding
quickly became one of the major generals that his brother relied on. After rival N. Wei's general Daxi Jin (达奚斤) captured
the important city of Chang'an in 426, Helian Chang sent Helian Ding south in spring 427 from the capital Tongwan (统万
Yulin, Shaanxi) to try to capture Chang'an. He became stalemated with Daxi at Chang'an. Meanwhile, knowing that Helian
Ding was occupied, Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei made an attack on Tongwan, and Helian Chang initially wanted to recall
Helian Ding from Chang'an; instead, Helian Ding advised him to defend Tongwan securely to wear out the N. Wei forces,
and then he, after capture Chang'an, could then return and attack N. Wei forces on two sides. Helian Chang agreed and
did not engage N. Wei forces. However, subsequently, receiving false information that N. Wei forces had run out of food,
he decided to attack N. Wei forces and was soundly defeated, and he fled to Shanggui (上□ Tianshui, Gansu). N. Wei
captured Tongwan. Upon hearing the news of Tongwan's fall, Helian Ding abandoned his campaign against Daxi and
joined Helian Chang at Shanggui. Daxi gave chase, intending to destroy Xia. It might have been at this time that Helian
Chang promoted Helian Ding to the title of Prince of Pingyuan. In spring 428, after initially withdrawing further from
Shanggui to Pingliang (平凉 Gansu), Helian Chang went back on the offensive and sieged Daxi's army, which was then
afflicted by illnesses, at Anding (安定 Pingliang). However, during the siege, the N. Wei officers Anchi Jia (安迟颉) and
Weichi Juan (尉迟眷) made a surprise attack on him, and he fell of his horse and was captured. Helian Ding gathered the
remaining troops and withdrew to Pingliang. He took the throne himself.
Meanwhile, Daxi, ashamed that he was nearly destroyed by Helian Chang at Anding and was only saved by his officers
Anchi and Weichi's ingenuity, proceeded further, without adequate food supplies, to try to attack Helian Ding at Pingliang,
taking up a dangerous position without adequate water supply as wellater A low-level N. Wei officer who had been
charged with crime then fled to the Xia camp and revealed the lack of food and water supplies that Daxi's forces were
having. Helian Ding then attacked and captured Daxi. Upon hearing this, the N. Wei general Qiudun Dui (丘敦堆), who
was defending Anding, panicked and fled to Chang'an, and then further fled Chang'an with Chang'an's commanding
general Tuoba Li (拓拔礼) to Puban (蒲阪 Yuncheng, Shanxi), allowing Xia forces to recover Chang'an and the
surrounding Guanzhong region. In summer 428, Helian Ding sent an embassy to N. Wei requesting peace. Instead, N.
Wei's Emperor Taiwu issued an edict ordering him to surrender, which he did not do. On a hunt at which he could see the
old capital Tongwan from a distance, Helian Ding lamented that if Helian Bobo had made him crown prince, Tongwan
would not have fallen. However, he himself did not dare to try to recapture Tongwan. In spring 430, LS launched a major
attack against N. Wei, and N. Wei in response temporarily abandoned its territory south of the Yellow River. Helian Ding
then entered into an alliance with Emperor Wen of LS against N. Wei, agreeing to destroy N. Wei and divide its territory
north of the Yellow River -- with provinces east of the Taihang Mountains going to LS and west of Taihang going to Xia.
However, neither party actually intended to attack N. Wei's territory north of the Yellow River first, waiting for the other to
act, and N. Wei's Emperor Taiwu took advantage of this and decided to try to destroy Helian Ding first. In fall 430, he
personally launched a direct assault on Pingliang. Meanwhile, W. Qin's prince Qifu Mumo, unable to stand pressures from
N. Liang and Tuyuhun, sought to surrender to N. Wei, and with N. Wei promising to give Xia's Pingliang and Anding
Commanderies to him as his domain, he abandoned his capital Fuhan (□罕 Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu)
and headed east, intending to join N. Wei forces at Shanggui. Upon hearing this, Helian Ding personally tried to intercept
Qifu Mumo, who was forced to stop at Nan'an (南安 Longxi, Gansu), with his territory having otherwise all fallen to
Tuyuhun. By this time, though, the N. Wei emperor had arrived at Pingliang, and, with Helian Chang (whom he had
created Prince of Qin) with him, he had Helian Chang to try to persuade the defender of Pingliang, Helian Ding's younger
brother Helian Shegan (赫连社干) the Duke of Shanggu to surrender. Helian Shegan initially refused. Helian Ding, hearing
that Pingliang was under attack, tried to return to Pingliang to relieve it, but on the way he encountered the N. Wei general
Tuxi Bi (吐奚弼), who tricked him by pretending to be a weak force, drawing an attack from him. Tuxi then defeated Helian
Ding, who was then forced to withdraw to Chungu Plains (鹑觚原 Pingliang). N. Wei forces surrounded him, and his army
became hungry and thirsty. After several days, he forcibly fought his way out of the siege, but his forces mostly collapsed,
and he himself was badly injured. He gathered the remaining forces and fled to Shanggui. Around the new year 431,
Helian Shegan and another brother, Helian Duluogu (赫连度洛孤) the Duke of Guangyang, surrendered Pingliang to N.
Wei, and Anding fell as wellater The N. Wei emperor seized Helian Ding's empress and gave her to his general Doudai
Tian (豆代田) as a concubine. The other Xia cities' defenders also fled or were captured, allowing N. Wei to take those
cities. Helian Ding himself felt he could not hold Shanggui much further, sent his uncle Helian Weifa (赫连韦伐) the Duke
of Beiping to attack W. Qin's only remaining city, Nan'an. The people of Nan'an suffered from the lack of food so much
that they engaged in cannibalism. Qifu Mumo, unable to do anything else, surrendered. Helian Weifa delivered Qifu Mumo
to Shanggui, and Helian Ding executed Qifu Mumo and his clan. Helian Ding then headed west and crossed the Yellow
River at Zhicheng (治城 Linxia), intending to attack N. Liang and seize its territory. However, the khan of Tuyuhun,
Murong Mugui (慕容慕_), had anticipated this and sent his brothers Murong Muliyan (慕容慕利延) and Murong Shiqian (慕
容拾虔) to intercept Helian Ding, and as the Xia army was crossing the river, Tuyuhun forces attacked and captured
Helian Ding, ending Xia. Murong Mugui did not kill Helian Ding initially. In fall 431, however, he sent messengers to N.
Wei to declare his loyalty and to indicate that he was willing to deliver Helian Ding to N. Wei. In response, N. Wei's
Emperor Taiwu created Murong Mugui the Prince of Xiqin and gave him rewards, and in spring 432 Murong Mugui
delivered Helian Ding to N. Wei. The N. Wei emperor executed Helian Ding. Era name * Shengguang (胜光 sheng
gu_ng) 428-431
Personal information
* Father
o Helian Bobo (Emperor Wulie) * Wife
o Empress (name unknown)
Sovereignties established by Wu Hu ---Sovereignties established by Chinese and Wu Hu but traditionally not
counted in the Sixteen Kingdoms
[1]Ran Wei Kingdom 350-352 (addressed as Wei Kingdom in traditional texts)
1) Wu3 Dao4(mourn/grieve) Tian1 Wang2 武悼天王 Ran3(slowly) Min3 冉闵 350-352 (died 352), aka Shi2Min3 石闵,
((冉)魏悼武天王), aka Yong3zeng1 永曾, aka Ji2(brambles)nu2(slave)棘奴, was a military leader during the era of
Sixteen Kingdoms in China and the only emperor of the short-lived state Ran Wei (冉魏). Ran (冉) is an uncommon
Chinese family name. He was noted for ordering massacres of Jie people under L. Zhao. Family background Ran Min's
father Ran Liang2(very fine) (冉良), who LATER changed his name to Ran Zhan1(look forward) (冉瞻), and from Wei
Commandery (魏郡, roughly modern Handan, Hebei) and was a descendant of an aristocratic family, but one who must
have, in the serious famines circa 310, joined a group of refugees led by Chen2(lay out) Wu3(noon) (陈午). When LATER
Zhao's founder Shi Le defeated Chen in 311, he captured the 11-year-old Ran Zhan as well, and for reasons unknown, he
had his nephew Shi Hu adopt Ran Zhan as his son and change his name accordingly to Shi Zhan. Ran Min's mother was
named Wang (王). It is not known when he was born, but he would have been known as Shi Min. A Shi Zhan was
mentioned to have died in battle when Shi Hu was defeated by Han Zhao's emperor Liu Yao in 328, but it is not clear
whether this Shi Zhan was Shi Min's father. During Shi Hu's reign As Shi Min grew in age, Shi Hu became impressed at
him for his bravery in battle and battlefield tactics, and he treated Shi Min as his own son. The first mention in history of
him as a general was in 338, when Shi Hu unsuccessfully tried to destroy the rival state F. Yan but saw his army collapse
after sieging the F. Yan capital Jicheng (棘城 Jinzhou, Liaoning) for about 20 days but failing to capture it. The only army
group that remained intact was the one commanded by Shi Min. During the remainder of Shi Hu's reign, Shi Min was often
referred to as a general he turned out to be. For example, in 339, when the Jin general Yu Liang considered launching a
major campaign against L. Zhao, Shi Hu chose to react, and he had his general Kui2(one-legged monster/respectful)
An1(peaceful) (夔安) command five generals, one of whom was Shi Min, to attack Jin's N. regions. (Shi Min's LATER ally
Li3Nong2(farmer) (李农) was one of the other generals, while Shi Hu's son Shi Jian the Prince of Yiyang was another.)
Shi Min was successful in his task, and the five generals together inflicted heavy damages, thwarting Yu's plans. For his
accomplishments, Shi Min was created the Duke of Wuxing. During the confusion after Shi Hu's death After Shi Hu's
death in 349, his youngest son and crown prince Shi Shi became emperor, but the government was controlled by Shi
Shi's mother Empress Dowager Liu and the official Zhang1(stretch out) Chai2(jackal) (张豺). Shi Shi's older brother Shi
Zun the Prince of Pengcheng was unhappy about the situation, and a number of generals who were unimpressed with
Empress Dowager Liu and Zhang, including Shi Min, suggested that he march to the capital Yecheng and overthrow them.
Shi Zun did so─and also promised to create Shi Min crown prince if they were victorious. In summer 349, Shi Zun
defeated Shi Shi's forces and deposed and killed him, along with Empress Dowager Liu and Zhang Chai. Shi Zun claimed
the imperial title. However, he did not appoint Shi Min crown prince as promised, but rather appointed another nephew Shi
Yan3(spread out) (石衍) a crown prince. Further, while he gave Shi Min important posts, he did not allow him to have
control of the government, as Shi Min wished. Shi Min became disgruntled. In winter 349, in fear of Shi Min, Shi Zun
summoned a meeting of the princes before his mother, Empress Dowager Zheng, announcing that he would execute Shi
Min. Empress Dowager Zheng opposed, reasoning that Shi Min's contributions during the coup against Shi Shi had to be
remembered. Shi Zun hesitated, and meanwhile, Shi Jian, one of the princes attending the meeting, quickly reported the
news to Shi Min, who acted quickly and surrounded the palace, capturing and executing Shi Zun, Empress Dowager
Zheng, Shi Zun's wife Empress Zhang, Shi Yan, and several key officials loyal to Shi Zun. He made Shi Jian emperor, but
he and Li Nong seized the control of the government. Shi Jian could not endure Shi Min's hold on power, and he sent his
brother Shi Bao the Prince of Leping and the generals Li3 Song1(pine/slacken) (李松) and Zhang Cai2(talent) (张才)
against Shi Min, but after they were defeated, Shi Jian pretended as if they acted independently and executed them
allater Another brother of his, Shi Zhi the Prince of Xinxing, then rose in the old capital Xiangguo (襄国, in modern Xintai,
Hebei), in alliance with the Qiang chieftain Yao Yi4zhong4(2nd) (姚弋仲) and the Di chieftain Pu2 Hong2(vast) (蒲洪)
against Shi Min and Li Nong. Shi Jian then tried to have the general Sun1 Fu2(prostrate)du1(capital) (孙伏都), a fellow
ethnic Jie, attack Shi Min, but Shi Min quickly defeated him, and Shi Jian, trying to absolve himself, then ordered Shi Min
to execute Sun. Shi Min, however, began to realize that Shi Jian was behind Sun's attack, and he decided that he needed
to disarm the Jie people, who knew that he was not a Jie but ethnically a Han. He ordered that all non-Han not be allowed
to carry arms, and most non-Hans fled Yecheng after that. Shi Min put Shi Jian under house arrest with no outside
communication. As the non-Han continued fleeing Yecheng, Shi Min saw that, in particular, the Xiongnu and the Jie
people would never support him, so he issued an order that if a Han killed a non-Han and presented the head, he would
be rewarded. Some 200,000 died in the massacre, including some ethnic Hans who had high noses or thick beards, both
considered to be the indicators of non-Hanness. In 350, under a pressure from Shi Min, still a nominal head of the state
Shi Jian changed the name of his state from Zhao to Wei (卫) and the imperial clan name from Shi to Li (李). Many key
officials fled to Shi Zhi. Local generals throughout the empire effectively became independent, waiting for the conflict to be
resolved. As Shi Min troops were busy against Shi Zhi's, Shi Jian made one final attempt against him, ordering general
Zhang Shen3 (张沈) to attack the capital after Shi Min left it. However, the Shi Jian's eunuchs reported that to Shi Min and
Li Nong, and they quickly returned to Yecheng and executed Shi Jian, along with 28 grandsons of Shi Hu and the rest of
the Shi clan. Shi Min, restoring his father's original family name of Ran (冉), then took the throne as the emperor of a new
state, Wei (魏, note different character from the state name declared previously). As emperor of Ran Wei
See also: Wei-Jie war Ran Min honored his mother Lady Wang with a title of empress dowager. He appointed his wife
Lady Dong an empress, and his oldest son Ran Zhi a crown prince. His other sons and his ally Li Nong were made
princes, Li Nong sons were given titles of dukes. He proclaimed a general amnesty, hoping to have the generals who
became independent abide by his edicts, but few of them accepted, though most Han generals outwardly did not defy him
either. For unknown reasons, he soon killed Li. He sent a letter to Emperor Mu of Jin's court with a mixed message,
appearing to invite Jin to send forces north and agreeing to submit, but the letter could also be read as a defiant challenge.
Jin did not react, although it began to also seek allegiance of the generals in the F. territory of LATER Zhao S. provinces.
Ran Min's brief reign was characterized by rash decisions and massive executions. He would often react violently to
advisors who suggested ideas different from his own, including killing them, and then regret those violent reactions after
he realized that he was wrong. In spring 351, Ran Min set a siege of the Shi Zhi's capital Xiangguo. Shi Zhi sought aid
from F. Yan's prince Murong Jun and was able to deal Ran a major defeat. At this time, the Xiongnu soldiers in Yecheng
rebelled, captured his son Ran Yin, and surrendered to Shi Zhi, who executed Ran Yin. Ran Min was thought to be dead,
but when he appeared in Yecheng, the city was calmed. Shi Zhi had his general Liu2 Xian3(obvious) (刘显) siege
Yecheng, but Ran Min defeated Liu in battle and awed him so much that Liu agreed that once he returned to Xiangguo,
he would kill Shi Zhi and surrender. He did so and sent Shi Zhi's head to Ran Min, and Ran Min had Shi Zhi's head be
burned on a busy street in Yecheng. LATER Zhao was at its final end.
However, wars continued. Liu Xian, after briefly submitting to Ran Min, proclaimed himself emperor. The W. provinces
were taken over by Fu Jian, who established F. Qin. The S. provinces larely switched their allegiance to Jin. Meanwhile, F.
Yan, which had already captured You Province (幽州, modern Beijing, Tianjin, and N. Hebei) and moved its capital to
Jicheng (蓟城, in modern Beijing -- note different character than old capital), continued to advance south. Ran Min, who
captured Xiangguo in early 352 and executed Liu Xian, decided to head north to face the F. Yan army, against advice of
several officials who felt that his army needed a rest. The F. Yan general Murong Ke, Murong Jun's brother, pretended to
lose several skirmishes and then retreat, tricking Ran Min and his infantry into the open field, and then used his cavalry to
surround Ran Min's, inflicting great losses. Ran Min's horse suddenly died, and he fell off and was captured. F. Yan forces
delivered him to Murong Jun, and he insulted Murong Jun. Murong Jun had him whipped 300 times and then executed,
although was soon fearful that his spirit was causing a draught, and therefore honored him with the posthumous name
Daowu. Ran Min's wife Empress Dong and her son Ran Zhi would hold out for several more months, but eventually
surrendered LATER that year, ending Ran Wei's brief existence. Ran Min is mostly known for his famous order to execute
all of the Wu Hu, particularly the Jie, which were reported as a race of caucasians. Then he fought with Hu armies in
Jizhou, lead to several millions of migrants of different races to flee, and in the way they attacked each other and only 23/10 people was able to go back to their origins.[5] Although the North soon again fell under control of the Xianbei, Ran
Min's actions caused them to think twice before adopting cruel policies towards the Han people. Despite its brief existence,
Ran Wei was able to serve as a warning to the N. non-Han tribes who ruled in North China, and played a great role in
their eventual decision to sinocize and give up their F. ways. Personal information
* Father
o Ran Zhan (冉瞻), LATER adopted by Shi Hu and name changed to Shi Zhan (石瞻), likely died 327 in
battle against Han Zhao, posthumously honored as Emperor Gao
* Mother
o Empress Dowager Wang
* Wife
o Empress Dong
* Children
1)o Ran Zhi (冉智), the Crown Prince (created 350), LATER created the Marquess of Haibin by F. Yan
2)o Ran Yin (冉胤) (created prince 350, killed by LATER Zhao emperor Shi Zhi 351)
3)o Ran Ming (冉明) (created prince 350)
4)o Ran Yu (冉裕) (created prince 350)
5)o Ran Cao (冉操)
[2] Xi (W.) Yan Empire 384-394 (7)
1) Wei1Di4 威帝 Mu4rong2Hong2(dep water) 慕容泓 384 (died 384) was the founder of the Chinese/Xianbei state W.
Yan. He was a son of the F. Yan emperor Murong Jun and a younger brother of F. Yan emperor Murong Wei. It is not
known when Murong Hong was born. In 359, he was created the Prince of Jibei. After F. Yan was destroyed by F. Qin in
370, he and his brothers were made local officials throughout the F. Qin realm. By 384, he was the secretary general to
the commandery governor of Beidi (北地, roughly modern Tongchuan, Shaanxi). Early that year, he heard that his uncle
Murong Chui had rebelled against F. Qin rule in light of the F. Qin emperor Fu Ji_n's defeat at the Battle of Fei River in
383. He fled from his post and gathered several thousand Xianbei soldiers and, after defeating the F. Qin general
Qiang2Yong3 (强永), claimed for himself the titles of supreme commander and governor of Yong Province (雍州, modern
central and N. Shaanxi), but did not claim a more honored regal title than the one he had under F. Yan─Prince of Jibei.
Murong Hong, upon hearing that Fu Ji_n's brother Fu Rui4 (苻□) was arriving with F. Qin forces to attack him, wanted to
flee east back to the Yan homeland with his Xianbei soldiers. Fu Rui, instead, rejecting his assistant Yao Chang's
suggestion that Murong Hong be allowed to withdraw, cut off Murong Hong's escape route and attacked him─and
Murong Hong defeated and killed him. Meanwhile, his younger brother Murong Chong had also rebelled against F. Qin,
but after a defeat joined his army. Murong Hong sent a demand to Fu Ji_n at the F. Qin capital Chang'an for him to deliver
his older brother Murong Wei to him, promising to leave Guanzhong and not attack F. Qin any further if that was done. Fu
Ji_n summoned Murong Wei and rebuked him, but spared Murong Wei when Murong Wei pledged allegiance. He also
had Murong Wei write letters to Murong Chui, Murong Hong, and Murong Chong, urging them to surrender. However,
Murong Wei also sent a secret messenger to Murong Hong, stating:
I am a man within an iron cage, and there is no reason for me not to die. Further, I also sinned against Yan, and you
should not mind me. You should earnestly seek to establish yourself.
He also explicitly urged Murong Hong to prepare taking the imperial title if Murong Hong heard that Fu Ji_n had executed
him. Murong Hong therefore advanced on Chang'an and officially broke from F. Qin by changing the era name. However,
in summer 384, his strategist Gao1 Gai4(cover) (高盖) and other officials felt that Murong Hong's reputation was not as
great as his brother Murong Chong's, and that his punishments were overly harsh, killed him and supported Murong
Chong to succeed him, under the title of crown prince. Era name * Yanxing (燕兴 yan x_ng) 384-385
Personal information
* Father
o Murong Jun (Emperor Jingzhao of F. Yan)
* Children
1)o Murong Zhong (慕容忠), LATER emperor
2) Mu2rong4Chong(dash) 慕容冲 384-386 (died 386) ((西)燕威帝), was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state W. Yan.
He was a son of the F. Yan emperor Murong Jun and a younger brother of F. Yan emperor Murong Wei. It is not known
when Murong Chong was born ─ although as his older brother Murong Wei was born in 350,[2] he must have been born
LATER than that, but before 359, when he was created the Prince of Zhongshan.[3] In 368, after his uncle Murong Ke, the
regent for his brother Murong Wei, had died in 367, he scucceeded Murong Ke in his post as the commander of the
armed forces, but there is no evidence that he actually commanded armies. After F. Yan was destroyed by F. Qin in 370,
he and his brothers were made local officials throughout the F. Qin realm. Historical accounts indicate that he had a
sexual relationship with the F. Qin emperor Fu Ji_n -- and that Fu Ji_n's favors for him and his sister Consort Murong,
whom Fu Ji_n took as a concubine, were the talk of the F. Qin capital Chang'an.
By 384, he was the governor of Pingyang Commandery (平阳, roughly modern Linfen, Shanxi). When he heard that his
uncle Murong Chui and his older brother Murong Hong had rebelled against F. Qin in light of Fu Ji_n's defeat at the Battle
of Fei River in 383, he rebelled as wellater He was soon defeated by the F. Qin general Dou4(hole/sinus) Chong(dash)
(窦冲), and he joined his brother Murong Hong. In summer 384, as Murong Hong was advancing on Chang'an, Murong
Hong's strategist Gao1 Gai4(cover) (高盖) and other officials felt that Murong Hong's reputation was not as great as
Murong Chong's, and that Murong Hong's punishments were overly harsh. They therefore killed him and supported
Murong Chong to be the new ruler. As Murong Wei was still alive but under F. Qin control in Chang'an, Murong Chong
took the title of crown prince. Fu Ji_n made a peace overture to him with an apparent sexual undertone─by sending him
a robe and a message reminding him of their personal relationship, but Murong Chong rejected the overture. Around the
new year 385, Murong Wei and his cousin Murong Su4(respectful/solemn) (慕容肃) organized the Xianbei men within
Chang'an, preparing to start an uprising to join Murong Chong, but after Fu Ji_n discovered their plot, he executed them
and slaughtered the Xianbei inside the city. Upon hearing news of his brother's death, Murong Chong declared himself
emperor. After he took the title, he became capricious and handed out rewards and punishments at his whim. However,
he did not let up his pressure against Chang'an, and Chang'an, under his siege, soon fell into a terrible famine. He also
allowed his soldiers to pillage the Guanzhong region at will later In summer 385, Fu Ji_n broke out to try to find food
supplies to relieve Chang'an, leaving his crown prince Fu Hong2(grand) (苻宏) in defense of the city─but as soon as he
left, the city fell to Murong Chong, and Fu Hong fled. Despite his Xianbei people's desire to return east to their homeland,
Murong Chong decided to settle in Chang'an─both because he liked the city and because he feared his uncle Murong
Chui, who had by then established LATER Yan. He therefore sought to get his people to decide to settle as well, but they
resented him for the decision. In spring 386, his general Han2 Yan2(prolong/send for) (韩延) assassinated him in a coup
and supported another general, Duan Sui, as the Prince of Yan.
3) Duan4(section) Sui2(to follow/comply with) 段随 386 (Changping 昌平 386) Duan Sui (段随) (died 386) was a ruler
of the Chinese/Xianbei state W. Yan. He was the only ruler of the short-lived state who was not a member of the Murong
clan, the imperial clan of F. Yan.
He was a general under the emperor Murong Chong, whose people wanted to return east to their homeland but who, after
capturing the F. Qin capital Chang'an, wanted to settle in Chang'an, against the wishes of his people. In spring 386, the
general Han2 Yan2(prolong/ send for) (韩延) assassinated Murong Chong in a coup and supported Duan Sui as the
Prince of Yan. About a month LATER, however, the officials MurongHeng2(permanent) (慕容恒) and Murong Yong
ambushed Duan Sui and killed him. They supported Murong Yi, the son of the F. Yan Prince of Yidu Murong Huan2 (慕容
桓) as the new Prince of Yan.
4) Murong Yi3 慕容□ 386 (died 386) was a ruler of the Chinese/Xianbei state W. Yan. He was a son of the F. Yan
Prince of Yidu, Murong Huan2 (慕容桓), a son of the founder of F. Yan, Murong Huang. In 386, after the temporary ruler
Duan Sui was ambushed and killed by Murong Heng2(permanent) (慕容恒) and Murong Yong, they supported Murong Yi
as the Prince of Yan. The W. Yan people─400,000 men and women─then abandoned Chang'an, which had been the F.
Qin capital but was captured by the prior W. Yan ruler Murong Chong -- to head back to their homeland in the east. While
on the journey, however, Murong Heng's brother Murong Tao1(sheath of bow case/hide/ conceal/ art of war) (慕容韬)
killed Murong Yi at Linjin (临晋, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi). He was replaced by Murong Chong's son Murong Yao.
5) Murong Ya2(precious jade) 慕容瑶 386 (died 386) was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state W. Yan. He was the
son of Murong Chong (Emperor Wei), the son of the F. Yan emperor Murong Jun.
Murong Chong was killed in 386 by his general Han2Yan2(prolong/send for) (韩延) after he, against his people's desire to
return to their homeland, wanted to settle in Chang'an. Two intervening brief reigns by Duan Sui and Murong Yi took place,
but after Murong Tao1(sheath of bow case/conceal/hide/art of war) (慕容韬) killed Murong Yi, Murong Tao's brother
Murong Heng2(permanent) (慕容恒), who did not approve of Murong Tao's actions, supported Murong Yao as emperor.
However, the people did not favor Murong Yao and abandoned him in favor of the general Murong Yong, who then killed
Murong Yao in a coup and replaced him with Murong Zhong, the son of W. Yan's founder Murong Hong the Prince of Jibei.
Era name
* Jianping (建平 jian ping) 386
6) Murong Zhong1(devoted/loyal/honest) 慕容忠 386 ( 386) was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state W. Yan. He
was the son of W. Yan's founder, Murong Hong the Prince of Jibei, a son of the F. Yan emperor Murong Jun. In 386, a
year that had already seen four W. Yan rulers killed, Murong Zhong was made emperor by the general Murong Yong after
Murong Yong had killed Murong Yao. Murong Zhong made Murong Yong the commander of the armed forces and
created him the Duke of Hedong. At that time, the W. Yan people were on an exodus from Chang'an, the F. Qin capital
that they had captured in 385 but abandoned earlier in 386 because they wanted to head east back to their homeland.
After Murong Zhong became emperor, his people reached Wenxi (闻喜, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) when they heard
that Murong Zhong's granduncle Murong Chui had already established LATER Yan as its emperor, and they were hesitant
to proceed further, and the built the city of Yanxi1(bright/gay) (燕熙) at Wenxi to serve as temporary headquarters. Just
three months after he became emperor, Murong Zhong was assassinated in a coup by the general Diao1(tricky/artful)
Yun2(cloud/say) (刁云), who then supported Murong Yong as the ruler. Era name * Jianwu (建武 jian w_) 386
7) Murong Yong3 慕容永 386-394 (died 394), aka Shu1("father"/uncle)ming2 (叔明), was the last emperor of the
Chinese/Xianbei state W. Yan. He was the grandson of Murong Yun4(moce/yield/fate/wield) (慕容运), the uncle of F.
Yan's founder Murong Huang. As a member of F. Yan's imperial clan, he was moved to Guanzhong, F. Qin's capital
region, when F. Qin destroyed F. Yan in 370. He was described as poor, and he and his wife made their living by selling
boots. Murong Yong apparently became a W. Yan general in 384, when its first two rulers Murong Hong and Murong
Chong rose against F. Qin. The first actual historical reference to his actions, however, was in 386, when, after Murong
Chong was assassinated by the general Han2 Yan2(prolong/to send for) (韩延) and replaced by Duan Sui, Murong Yong
and another general, Murong Heng2(permanent) (慕容恒), jointly attacked Duan Sui and killed him, replacing him with
Murong Yi. The Xianbei people then abandoned Chang'an, F.ly F. Qin's capital, and headed east back toward their
homeland. LATER that month, however, after Murong Heng's brother Murong Tao1(sheath for a bow cae/conceal/hide/art
of war) (慕容韬) killed Murong Yi, and Murong Heng supported Murong Chong's son Murong Yao to replace Murong Yi,
Murong Yong, along with another general Diao1(tricky/artful) Yun2(saycloud) (刁云), attacked Murong Tao, forcing him to
flee to Murong Heng. LATER that month, Murong Yong killed Murong Yao and replaced him with Murong Hong's son
Murong Zhong. Three months LATER, however, Diao killed Murong Zhong and supported Murong Yong to replace him.
Murong Yong claimed the title of Prince of Hedong and sought to be a vassal of the LATER Yan emperor Murong Chui.
He also tried to negotiate with the F. Qin emperor Fu Pi, asking Fu Pi to allow him a path back east, but Fu Pi refused and
tried to intercept W. Yan forces. Murong Yong defeated Fu Pi, killing his prime minister Wang2Yong3 王永 and general
Ju3qu2 Ju4(all/complete)shi2zi3(cobblestone) (沮渠俱石子), and while Fu Pi fled, Murong Yong captured most of his
officials and his wife Empress Yang. Fu Pi soon died at the hands of the Jin general Feng2 Gai1(ought/above
mentioned/deserve) (冯该). Murong Yong took over Fu Pi's territory (roughly modern central and S. Shanxi), establishing
a capital at Zhangzi (长子, in modern Changzhi, Shanxi). He also claimed imperial title, thus signifying a break with
Murong Chui. He was ready to make Fu Pi's Empress Yang a concubine, but she tried to stab him with a sword, and he
killed her. In fear of their lives, Murong Chui's son Murong Rou2(soft/supple/yielding/mild) (慕容柔) and grandsons Murong
Sheng and Murong Hui, who had been part of W. Yan's exodus, escaped and fled to LATER Yan's capital Zhongshan (中
山, in modern Baoding, Hebei), perhaps with good reason, for Murong Yong, in 387 or 388, ordered that all descendants
of Murong Chui or the F. Yan emperor Murong Jun be slaughtered. Murong Yong, once he settled in Zhangzi, carried out
few military campaigns and appeared to be content with his domain. In 387, he did briefly engage LATER Qin's emperor
Yao Chang in battle, but did not seriously attack Yao. In 390, he headed for the Jin city of Luoyang, but the Jin general
Zhu1(bright red) Xu4(order/initial) (朱序) defeated him, and he withdrew. He attacked Luoyang again in 391 but was again
repelled by Jin forces. In 392, the Dingling chief Zhai Zhao, whose father Zhai Liao had years earlier rebelled against
LATER Yan and claimed the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang) and established a Wei state, was sieged by Murong Chui
in his capital Huatai (滑台, in modern Anyang, Henan), and sought aid from Murong Yong. Murong Yong, wanting to let
Murong Chui and Zhai Zhao wear each other out─not realizing that Murong Chui, being far stronger than Zhai Zhao,
could crush Zhai Zhao easily─refused to go to Zhai Zhao's aid, and Murong Chui conquered Wei lands easily. Zhai Zhao
fled to W. Yan and was created a prince, but a year LATER, suspecting Zhai of treason, Murong Yong killed Zhai. In 393,
Murong Chui, under advice of his brother Murong De, decided to attack Murong Yong to end any doubt about the Yan
succession. In early 394, he got his forces ready in battle posture, but did not attack for several months. Murong Yong
thought Murong Chui was trying for a trick attack and tried to anticipate it, but Murong Chui then attacked by three
different routes, leading the main army heading for Zhangzi. Murong Yong personally engaged Murong Chui but was
defeated, and he fled back to Zhangzi to try to defend the city. He also sought emergency aid from Jin and N. Wei, but
before Jin and N. Wei forces could arrive, Zhangzi fell, and Murong Chui captured and executed Murong Yong. W. Yan
was at its end, and its territory was annexed to LATER Yan.
Era name * Zhongxing (中兴 zh_ng x_ng) 386-394
[3] Shu Kingdom 405-413
1) Cheng2 Du Wang 成都王 Qiao2(drum tower) Zong4(vertical/indulge/even if) 谯纵 405-413 (died 413) was a Han
Chinese military leader in present-day Sichuan province in China during the E. Jin Dynasty. He proclaimed himself the
Prince of Chengdu (成都王 Chengd_ Wang) in 405 and was given the title "Prince of Shu" (蜀王 Shu Wang) by Yao Xing,
ruler of the LATER Qin, in 409. His state is therefore sometimes known as W. Shu. His self-governing body coordinated
offensive campaigns with LATER Qin along the Yangtze River until Qiao's state was destroyed by a campaign under
military subordinates of Liu Yu in 413. Background and establishment of W. Shu Qiao Zong was from Baxi Commandery
(巴西, roughly modern Nanchong, Sichuan). By 405, he was a mid-level military commander under the command of
Mao2(hair/panicky) Qu2(jade ring) (毛璩), the Jin governor of Yi Province (益州, modern Sichuan and Chongqing). In 404,
the warlord Huan Xuan had usurped the Jin throne from Emperor An, and Mao had, in response, mobilized his forces to
ready to attack Huan Xuan, but Huan Xuan was quickly overthrown by Liu Yu, who restored Emperor An. However, Huan
Xuan's nephew Huan2 Zhen4(shake/flap/rise with spirit/brace up) (桓振) occupied the important city of Jiangling (江陵, in
modern Jingzhou, Hubei) and continued to resist. Mao therefore continued to advance east, ready to attack Huan Zhen.
He divided his forces into two groups, one commanded by his brothers Mao2 Jin3(brilliancy of gems) (毛瑾) and Mao2
Yuan4(large jade ring) (毛瑗), and one commanded by Qiao Zong and Hou2(marquis) Hui1(sunshine/sunlight) (侯晖).
However, the soldiers of Yi Province were not happy at this long-distance campaign, and when the forces commanded by
Qiao and Hou reached Wuchengshuikou (五城水口, in modern Deyang, Sichuan), Hou and another officer,
Yang2(sun/amle) Mo (阳_), plotted a mutiny. Because Qiao Zong was considered a kind and careful man, the soldiers
respected him, and therefore Hou and Yang tried to force Qiao to be their leader. Qiao refused and ran, but as the
soldiers closed in on him, he tried to jump into the river to commit suicide, but he was pulled out of the water, and, with
swords on his neck, forced to assume a place on a royal litter. Qiao pled against it, even prostrating himself on the ground
and bowing to the soldiers, but was tied to the litter and forced to "lead" the muntineers. The mutineers then attacked and
killed Mao Jin. When Mao Qu tried to respond, he was defeated and killed as well, along with Mao Yuan and their clan.
Qiao Zong assumed the title Prince of Chengdu, and set his capital at Chengdu, the capital of Yi Province.
Reign The traditional histories, such as Jin Shu and Zizhi Tongjian, had little to say about Qiao Zong, but it appeared that
he entrusted the important matters of the state and military to his brother Qiao2(drum tower)Ming2zi(pine torch) (谯明子)
and cousins Qiao Hong2(vast/flood) (谯洪) and Qiao Dao4fu2(good fortune) (谯道福). In 406, Liu Yu sent the generals
Mao Xiu1(repair)zhi1(connector) (毛修之, Mao Jin's son), Sima Rong2(luxuriant)qi1(time) (司马荣期),
Wen2Chumao4(luxuriant) (文处茂), and Shi2 Yan2(prolong)zu3(founder/ancestor) (时延祖) to attack W. Shu, but on the
way, Sima Rongqi was assassinated by his subordinate Yang2(poplar) Cheng2(bear)zu3 (杨承祖), and the Jin forces had
to retreat to Baidicheng. In 407, Mao Xiuzhi defeated and killed Yang, but Liu Yu sent another general, Liu
Jing4(respect)xuan1(declare) (刘敬宣), to attack W. Shu. Also around this time, Qiao Zong submitted as a vassal to
LATER Qin's emperor Yao Xing. He also secretly maintained a relationship with Jin's governor of Guang Province (广州,
modern Guangdong and Guangxi), Lu2 Xun2(follow/abide by) (卢循), who was formally a Jin official but had maintained in
reality an independent administration over his domain. In 408, Qiao Zong requested Yao Xing to send Huan Xuan's
cousin Huan2 Qian1(modest) (桓谦) to Chengdu, so that he and Huan Qian could jointly attack Jin. Huan Qian, believing
that the people of the W. provinces of Jin would follow him, went to Chengdu despite Yao Xing's misgivings about Qiao
Zong's intentions, and when Huan Qian arrived in Chengdu and received welcome from many, Qiao Zong became
suspicious and put him under house arrest. In late 408, Liu Jingxuan advanced to Huanghu (黄虎, in modern Suining,
Sichuan), and Qiao Zong sought aid from LATER Qin; Yao Xing sent an army to assist him, but at the same time, Qiao
Daofu was able to resist Liu Jingxuan's advance, and after the armies stalemated for 60 days, Liu Jingxuan's army ran out
of food supplies and grew ill, and was forced to retreat. In 409, Yao Xing created Qiao Zong the Prince of Shu, and
granted him the nine bestowments. In fall 410, after Liu Yu had destroyed S. Yan, Lu Xun took the opportunity to capture
much of Jin territory, but then was forced to retreat when Liu Yu returned from his S. Yan campaign. Qiao Zong then, after
approval from Yao Xing, attacked Jing Province (荆州, modern Hubei and Hunan) with Huan Qian and the LATER Qin
general Gou3(careless) Lin2(forest) (苟林). They were, however, defeated by Liu Yu's brother Liu
Daogui1(dividers/rule/plan/admonish)(刘道规), and Huan Qian was killed. Qiao Zong withdrew back to his domain, but did
manage to, in the process, capture Badong Commandery (巴东, roughly modern Chongqing). In 412, Liu Yu
commissioned the general Zhu1 Ling2(years)shi2 (朱龄石) to command an army of 20,000 men against W. Shu. He
ordered Zhu to take an alternative route than the one that Liu Jingxuan had taken─to bypass Huanghu and head for
Chengdu by the circumlocutous route of Min River (岷江), but to avoid dissension and the news being leaked to W. Shu,
Liu Yu also sealed his orders and publicly stated to Zhu to have them opened when he reaches Baidicheng. Zhu did so in
summer 413, and the orders were as Liu Yu had previously told Zhu. Qiao Zong, not anticipating this, had Qiao Daofu
defend the same route that Liu Jingxuan took─by Fu River (涪江), with his army camped at Fucheng (涪城, in modern
Mianyang, Sichuan). Only when Zhu reached Pingmo (平模, in modern Leshan, Sichuan) did a W. Shu army, commanded
by Hou Hui and Qiao Shen (谯诜) arrive to try to stop Zhu. Zhu attacked and killed Hou and Qiao Shen, and then
abandoned his ships and headed directly toward Chengdu, facing little resistance on the way. Qiao Zong, hearing that
Zhu was about to arrive, abandoned Chengdu and fled toward Qiao Daofu's camp. His daughter suggested that they
commit suicide on the ancestral tombs, but Qiao Zong refused. When he met Qiao Daofu, Qiao Daofu rebuked him for
abandoning Chengdu, and he threw his sword at Qiao Zong. Qiao Zong fled but, believing that he could not escape,
committed suicide by hanging. Qiao Daofu tried to continue to resist, but his army collapsed, and he was captured and
killed by Zhu. W. Shu was at its end.
[4]Chieftains of Tiefu Tribe (mid-3rd century-391) (7)
1) Liu2 Qu4bei1(modest/inferior/humble) 刘去卑 mid 3rd century (?-272) Tiefu chieftain 260-272. Right Prince of
the S. Xiong1nu2. (weishu is the left virtuous king). Nan2Xiong1nu2Zhi1You4Xian2Wang2 南匈奴之右贤王（魏书作
左贤王） There is uncertainty about the lineage of Liu Qubei, some records say that he was the second son of one of the
last Xiongnu chanyus, Yu2(at/in)fu2(support)luo2(bird net/gather/sieve) (于扶罗), that he was the uncle of the Han Zhao
ruler Liu Yuan.
2) Liu2 Gao4(imperial mandate)sheng1(hoist)yuan2(hence/whereupon) 刘诰升爰 mid 3rd century - late 3rd century
3) Liu2 Hu3(tiger/vigorous) 刘虎 early 4th century (309?) - 341
4) Liu2 Wu4affair/devote oneself to)heng2(permanent) 刘务恒 341-356
5) Liu2 E4(shut/stop)lou4(mean/ugly/corrupt)tou2(head) 刘阏陋头 356-358
5) Liu2Xi1(all/be informed of)wu4(do not)qi2(play/entreat) 刘悉勿祈 358-359
7) Liu2 Wei4(protect)chen2(celestial bodies/5th EB/12 2-hour times of day) 刘卫辰 359-391
[5] Chieftains of Yuwen Tribe (late-3rd century-345)
1) Yu3(eaves/universe)Wen2 Mo4(no one/don't)huai2(chinese scholar tree) 宇文莫槐 late 3rd century-293
2) Yu3wen2 Pu3(universal)hui2 宇文普回 or Yuwen Pu Bo1(move with hand or foot/stir) 宇文普拨 293-late 3rd
century
3) Yu3wen2 Qiu1(mound)buqin2(indutrious/regular school, work, etc) 宇文丘不勤 late 3rd century He succeeded
his father Yuwen Pubo as chieftain. He was married to the daughter of Tuoba leader Tuoba Chuo.
4) Yu3wen2 Mo4gui4(elongated, pointed jade) 宇文莫圭 late 3rd century (299?)- early 4th century (302?) . He
succeeded his father Yuwen Qiubuqin as chieftain. In 302, Yuwen Mogui dispatched a force to fight against the Xianbei
chieftain Murong Hui.
5) Yu3wen2 Xi2(all/be informed of)du2(only/single)guan1(government official) 宇文悉独官 early 3rd century
6) Yu3wen2 Qi3degui1(return/converge/give a post to sb.) 宇文乞得归 early 3rd century - 333 chieftain of the Yuwen
tribe (early 4th century-333). He succeeded his father Yuwen Xunniyan as chieftain. In 325, LATER Zhao ruler Shi Le
added Yuwen Qidegui. Yuwen Qidegui dispatched troops to assist Shi Le in attacking Xianbei chieftain Murong Hui.
Murong Hui then dispatched his heir apparent Murong Huang along with the Tuoba and the Duan tribes. Murong Hui
entered as the right wing, Murong Ren was left wing. Qidegui guarded the river (now Xar moron River). Yuwen Qidegui's
nephew Yuwen Xibaxiong resisted Murong Ren in addition. Murong Ren killed Yuwen Xibaxiong, while winning attacks
against Yuwen Qidegui with Murong Huang, breaking Yuwen Qidegui's forces. Yuwen Qidegui abandoned his armed
force to run away, Murong Huang and Murong Ren entered his territory and sent troops to pursue Yuwen Qidegui. In 333
he was killed by Yuwen Yidougui, who succeeded him as chieftain of the Yuwen.
7) Yu3wen2 Yi4(escape/leisurely/outstanding)dou4(beans)gui1(return) 宇文逸豆归 333-345 He succeeded Yuwen
Qidegui as chieftain.
[6] Dukes of Liaoxi 303-338
1) Duan4(section) Wu4(affair/one's devotion)wu4(don't)chen2(dust/this world) 段务勿尘 303-310 or 311
2) Duan4 Ji2(disease/hate)lu4(land/"6")juan4(family dependent/have tender feelings for) 段疾陆眷 310 or 311 - 318
3) Duan4 She4(wade/go thorugh/experience/involve)fu4(duplicate/answer/recover)chen2(celestial bodies) 段涉复
辰 318
4) Duan4 Pi3(be equal to/ be a match to )di1 段匹□ 318-321
5) Duan4 Mo4(tip/end/minor details/last stage)pei1 段末□ 318-325
6) Duan4 Ya2(tooth/ivory thing) 段牙 325
7) Duan4 Liao2(distant/far away) 段辽 326-338
[7] Chieftains, Dukes and Kings of Chouchi, Wuxing and Yinping (late 2nd century- mid 6th century (555?) )
A) First Phase of Chouchi (late 2nd century-371) (12)
1) Yang2(poplar) Teng2(jump up/soar) 杨腾 184-210 chief ofWhite Neck Di (白項氐) in SE Gansu..
2) Yang2 Ju1(colt/foal) 杨驹 210-230 paid tribute to CaoWei. Was made a Prince.
3) Yang2 Qian1wan4(ten million) 杨千万 230-263 paid tribute to CaoWei. Was made a Prince.
4) Yang2 Fei1(fly)long2(dragon) 杨飞龙 263-296 Made center in Lueyang
5) Yang2 Mao4(luxuriant)sou1(search) 杨茂搜 296 - 317 Independent king until the 4th century.
6) Yang2 Nandi2(enemy/oppose/match/equal) 杨难敌 317-334 The Chouchi troops often plundered territories in the Central
Plains to the east and abducted people there, but on the other side the troops of Eastern Jin and F. Zhao deprived the Chouchi empire
of her inhabitants. In 322 Yang Nandi (楊難敵) suffered a defeat against F. Zhao and was degraded to Prince of Wudu (武都王) and
Duke of Chouchi (仇池公).
7) Yang2 Yi4(firm/resolute) 杨毅 334-337 Yang Yi, aka Wei1(impressive)gong1(public) 威公 ---internal struggles
8) Yang2 Chu1(beginning/elementary/rudimentary) 杨初 337-355 ---internal struggles
9) Yang2 Guo2(country/go through/exceed/mistake/wrong/fault) 杨国(过) 355-356, style name
Gai3(transform)zhi1(connect) (改之),
10) Yang2 Jun4(handsome) 杨俊 356-360 ---internal struggles
11) Yang2 Shi4(generation) 杨世 360-370 ---internal struggles
12) Yang2 Cuan4(usurp/seige) 杨篡370-371 In 371 Fu Jiàn, ruler of F. Qin attacked Chouchi, captured the ruler Yang Cuan (楊
篡) and ended the period of F. Chouchi.
B) Second Phase of Chouchi 385-473 (9)
1) Wu3Wang2 武王 Yang Ding4(calm/decide/fixed/subscribe to a newspaper/book seats or tickets/surely) 杨定 385-394
Yang Ding (楊定), a great-grandson of Yang Maosou and grandson of Fu Jiàn, resurrected the Chouchi kingdom in 385 with the
capital at Licheng (歷城).
2) Hui4(favour/benefit/kindness) Wen2(culture/gentle/tatoo/coverup/writing/character) Wang2 惠文王 Yang2
Sheng4(flourishing/energetic/deeply) 杨盛 394-425 His younger brother Yang Sheng (楊盛) was able to conquer the region
Liangzhou (梁州) at the upper course of the Han River, and declared himself governor for the Jin Dynasty. Efforts to occupy the
territory of modern Sichuan failed, but Chouchi controlled a great part of the modern provinces Gansu (east) and Shaanxi (south).
3) Xiao4(filial/mourning) Zhao1(clear) Wang2孝昭王 Yang2 Xuan2(black/profound/unreliable/incredible) 杨玄 425429
4) Yang2 Bao3(protect/maintain)zong1(ancestor/section/modelgreat master/county) 杨保宗 429 and 443
5) Yang2 Nan(difficult/unpleasant)dang4(proper/treat as/pawn/equal/serve as/manage) 杨难当 429-441 (Jianyi 建义
436-440)
6) Yang2 Bao3(protect/maintain/ensure)chi4(ablaze) 杨保炽 442-443
7) Yang2
Wen2(culture/gentle/tatoo/coverup/writing/character)de2(virtue/heart/mind/culture/kindness/morals/favour)
杨文德 443-454 After 443 the lords of Chouchi were only puppet rulers controlled by the N. Wei. Historians talk of the five realms
of Chouchi (Chouchi wuguo 仇池五國): F. and Later Chouchi (Qianchouchi 前仇池, Houchouchi 後仇池), Yinping 陰平, Wudu 武
都, and Wuxing 武興.
8) Yang2 Yuan2(first/basic/component)he(join/mild/harmony/tie/draw) 杨元和 455-466 ---puppet
9) Yang2 Seng1(buddhist monk)si4(succeed/inherit/descendant) 杨僧嗣 466-473 ---puppet
[8] Kings of Wuxing 473-506 and 534-555
1) Yang2 Wen2(culture/gentle/tatoo/coverup/writing/character)du4(degree/limit/extent/mw occasion) 杨文度 473477
2) Yang2 Wen2(culture/gentle/tatoo/coverup/writing/character)hong2(great/grand/magnificent/enlarge) 杨文弘
477-482
3) Yang2 Hou4qi3(people of talent/new arrivals) 杨后起 482-486
4) An1(peace/fix/bring/install) Wang 安王 Yang2 Ji2(gather/anthology)shi3(beginning/start) 杨集始 482-503
5) Yang2 Shao4(carry on)xian1(first/ancestor) 杨绍先 503-506, 534-535
6) Yang2 Zhi4hui4(wisdom) 杨智慧 535-545
7) Yang2 Pi4(open up/refute)xie2(evil/irregular) 杨辟邪 545-553
Note: Yang Zhi Hui and Yang Bi Xie could be the same person
[9] Kings of Yinping 477- mid 6th century
1) Yang2 Guang3xiang1(fragrant/popular) 杨广香 477-483?
2) Yang2 Jiong3(bright/shining) 杨炯 483-495
3) Yang2 Chong2(high/lofty/worship)zu3(grandfather/ancestor/founder) 杨崇祖 495-before 502
4) Yang2 Meng4(1st month/eldest brother)sun1(grandson/2nd growth of plants) 杨孟孙 before 502-511
5) Yang2 Ding4(calm/decide/fixed/subscribe to a newspaper/book seats or tickets/surely) 杨定 511- ?
[10] Chieftains of Tuoba Tribe 219-377 (as Kings of Dai 305?-377)
As a well known fact, Tuoba Family was the ruling family of N. Wei Dynasty, founded by Tuoba Gui. Hence Table
of N. Wei Dynasty will start with him, not as a continuation of this table.
Note: All chieftains were revered as emperors in Weishu and Beishi which they never were. They were denoted
here as 王(wang2) which was inherited by all successors of Tuoba Yi Lu.
1) Shen2 Yuan2(first/basic/component) Wang2 神元王 Tuo4(open up/develop)Ba2(stand
out/raise/choose/surpass/capture) Li4 (power/make best effort) Wei1(minute/tiny) 拓拔力微 219-277
Note: His temple name was Shi3 Zu3|始祖 shi2 zu3. Another column was not created since only he was the only chieftain
before Tuoba Gui revered with a temple name。 Was the first leader of the Tuoba clan of the Xianbei people, from 219277.
2) Zhang1 (chapter/regulations/seal/badge) Wang2 章王 Tuoba Xi1 (all/ to know/learn) Lu4 (deer) 拓拔悉鹿 277-286
His father was the Tuoba chieftain Tuoba Liwei, and he was the brother of Tuoba Shamohan, Tuoba Chuo, and Tuoba
Luguan. In 286, he was succeeded by his younger Tuoba Chuo as chieftain of the Tuoba.
3) Ping2( flat; level; even; smooth; be on the same level; be on a par; equal; <sports> make the same score; tie;
draw; equal; fair; impartial; calm; peaceful; quiet; put down; suppress; average; common) Wang2 平王 Tuoba
Chuo4(ample/spacious) 拓拔绰 286-293 He was the son of Tuoba Liwei, brother of Tuoba Shamohan, Tuoba Xilu,
Tuoba Luguan. In 286 he succeeded his brother Tuoba Xilu as chieftain of the Tuoba. 293 , Yuwen chieftain Yuwen
Mohuai is killed by his younger brother Yuwen Pubo, who usurps the position as chieftain of the Yuwen. Tuoba Chuo
married his daughter to Yuwen Pubo's son Yuwen Qiubuqin. In the same year Tuoba Chuo dies, his nephew Tuoba Fu,
son of his brother Tuoba Shamohan, succeeded him as chieftain of the Tuoba.
4) Si1(think/consider) Wang2 思王 Tuoba Fu2( not) 拓拔弗 293-294 He was the son of Tuoba Sha1mo4
(desert/indifferent) han4(sweat) (拓跋沙漠汗) and the brother of Tuoba Yituo and Tuoba Yilu. In 293, he succeeded Tuoba
Chuo as the chieftain of the Tuoba. His predecessor was his father's younger brother. Upon his death in 294, he was
succeeded by Tuoba Luguan, another one of his uncles.
5) Zhao1(clear) Wang2 昭王 Tuoba Lu4(salary/emolument) Guan1(officer/public) 拓拔禄官 294-307 He is son of
Tuoba Liwei, the brother of Tuoba Shamohan, Tuoba Xilu, Tuoba Chuo. In 294, Tuoba Luguan became chieftain of the
Tuoba upon the death of his nephew Tuoba Fu. In 295, Tuoba Luguan divided the territory under Tuoba control into three
areas: a vast tract of land extending west from White Mountain (northeast of Zhangjiakou), to Dai (Datong, Shanxi); an E.
area from Shengle (south of Hohhot) and beyond; a central area, which included north Shanxi and the region to its north.
Tuoba Luguan would remain in control of the E. area. His nephews Tuoba Yilu and Tuoba Yituo were named chieftains of
the W. area and central areas, respectively.
6) Mu4 (solemn) Wang2 穆王 Tuoba Yi1(interj<>) Tuo 拓拔猗 (_ - 拖 without 手) 295-305 was the chieftain of the
central Tuoba territory from 295-305. He is the son of Tuoba Sha1mo4(desert)han4(sweat) (拓跋沙漠汗) and the
brother of Tuoba Yilu and Tuoba Fu. In 295, Tuoba Luguan the chieftain of the Tuoba (a branch of the Xianbei) divided
the territory under Tuoba control into three areas: in a vast tract of land extending west from White Mountain (northeast of
Zhangjiakou), to Dai (Datong, Shanxi); an area from Shengle (south of Hohhot) and beyond; a central area, which
included north Shanxi and the region to its north. Tuoba Yituo would be named chieftain of the central area. As chieftain of
the central Tuoba territory, Tuoba Yituo in 297 passes through Outer Mongolia and conquers 30 territories, gained the
support of various ethnically Han people, in addition to his own Xianbei people. Tuoba Yituo is said to have rescued Sima
Teng, governor of the Jin province of Bing, from the Xiongnu. In 304, Tuoba Yituo, along with Tuoba Yilu, joined forces
with the Jin armies and defeated Han Zhao leader Liu Yuan. In 305, Tuoba Yituo died, and was succeeded by his son
Tuoba Pugen as chieftain of the central Tuoba territory.
7) Mu4(solemn) Wang2 穆王 Tuoba Yi1(inter<>) Lu2(surname) 拓拔猗卢 295-316 (?-316) was the chieftain of the W.
Tuoba territory from 295-307, supreme chieftain of the Tuoba from 307-316, Duke of Dai from 310-315, first prince
of the Tuoba Dai from 315-316. He is the son of Tuoba Sha1mo4(desert)han4(sweat) (拓跋沙漠汗) and the brother of
Tuoba Yituo and Tuoba Fu. In 295, Tuoba Luguan the chieftain of the Tuoba (a branch of the Xianbei) divided the territory
under Tuoba control into three areas: in a vast tract of land extending west from White Mountain (northeast of
Zhangjiakou), to Dai (Datong, Shanxi); an area from Shengle (south of Hohhot) and beyond; a central area, which
included north Shanxi and the region to its north. Tuoba Yilu would be named chieftain of the W. area. As chieftain of the
W. Tuoba territory, Tuoba Yilu defeated the Xiongnu and Wuhuan to the west, gained the support of various ethnically
Han and Wuhuan people, in addition to his own Xianbei people. In 304, Tuoba Yilu, along with Tuoba Yituo, joined forces
with the Jin armies and defeated Liu Yuan. In 305, Tuoba Yituo died, and in 307 Tuoba Luguan dies, as a result Tuoba
Yilu becomes the supreme chieftain of the Tuoba clan. The name Dai itself originated when Tuoba Yilu was created the
Duke of Dai (代公) and rewarded five commanderies by the W. Jin in 310 as a reward for helping Liu Kun1(jade) (刘琨),
the Governor of Bingzhou (并州) (modern Shanxi province), to fight the Xiongnu Han state. This fief was LATER raised
from a duchy to a principality by the W. Jin court in 315. In 312, Tuoba Yilu assisted Liu Kun in the recapturing of Jinyang
(晋阳, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) from the Han general Liu Yao. When Tuoba Yilu designated his youngest son Tuoba
Bi4(associate/compare/compete/gesticulate/copy/ratio/close together)yan2(prolong/send for) (拓跋比延) as his heir
apparent instead of his eldest son Tuoba Liu4(six)xiu1 (fix/embellish/overhaul/write/construct/prune/tall and slender) (拓跋
六修), this led to a dispute between him and his son Tuoba Liuxiu. He was succeeded by Tuoba Pugen in 316, after his
own son Tuoba Liuxiu killed him a succession dispute.
8) Tuo4ba2 Pu3(universal) Gen1(root/cause/thoroughly) 拓拔普根 316 (?─316) was the chieftain of the central Tuoba
territory from 305 to 316, and in 316 ruled as prince of the Tuoba Dai as the supreme chieftain of the Tuoba clan.
He was the son of Tuoba Yituo, and the brother of Tuoba Heru and Tuoba Gena.
In 305, he succeeded his father Tuoba Yituo, as the chieftain of the central Tuoba territory, under his uncle Tuoba Yilu,
then the Duke of Dai. In 316, Tuoba Yilu, then carrying the title the Prince of Dai, was killed by his son Tuoba
Liu4xiu1(fix/embellish/overhaul/write/construct/prune/tall and slender) (拓跋六修), Tuoba Pugen hears of the news and
attacked Tuoba Liuxiu with an armed force and killing him, and succeeded Tuoba Yilu as the Prince of Dai. In light of
Tuoba Yilu's death, however, much of the ethnically Han and Wuhuan force that Tuoba Yilu commanded left Dai and gave
their allegiance to the Jin official Liu Kun1(jade) (刘琨). Tuoba Pugen died several months LATER and was succeeded by
his infant son, who did not have (and never got) a name.
9) You4 Ba2(stand out/raise/choose/surpass/capture) ?拓拔? 316
10) Ping2 ( flat; level; even; smooth; be on the same level; be on a par; equal; <sports> make the same score; tie;
draw; equal; fair; impartial; calm; peaceful; quiet; put down; suppress; average;
common)Wen2(culture/gentle/tatoo/coverup/writing/character) Wang2平文王 Tuo4ba2 Yu4(strongly fragrant)
Luu4(law/restrain) 拓拔郁律 316-321 (?-321) ruled as prince of the Tuoba Dai 316 to 321. He was the son of Tuoba Fu,
and the father of Tuoba Yihuai and Tuoba Shiyijian. In 310, Tuoba Yulu was ordered by Tuoba Yilu to assist
Liu2Kun1(jade) (刘琨), the Governor of Bingzhou (并州) (modern Shanxi province), to fight the Xiongnu Tiefu chieftain Liu
Hu. In 316 Tuoba Yulu became the Prince of Dai upon the death of Tuoba Pugen's unnamed infant son. In 318, he
defeated the Tiefu chieftain Liu Hu and also captured some territory from the Wusun. In 321 he was killed in a coup d'etat
launched by his cousin Tuoba Heru, who succeeded him as the Prince of Dai.
11) Hui4(favour/benefit/kindness) Wang2 惠王 Tuoba He4(congratulate) Ru4 拓拔贺_ 321-325 (?-325) ruled as
prince of the Tuoba Dai 321 to 325. He was the son of Tuoba Yituo, and the brother of Tuoba Pugen and Tuoba Gena. In
321, when his cousin Tuoba Yulu was the Prince of Dai, Tuoba Heru launched a coup d'etat against his cousin, killing
Tuoba Yulu and becoming the Prince of Dai himself.
12) Yang2(molten/smelt) Wang2 炀王 Tuoba He(Ge1)(knot) Na(that/in that case) 拓拔纥那 325-329 and 335-337
13) Lie4(strong/sacrifice oneself for a just cause/intense) Wang2 烈王 Tuoba Yi4(slight corneal capacity/nebula)
Huai2(Chinese scholar tree) 拓拔翳槐 329-335 and 337-338 (?-338) ruled as prince of the Tuoba Dai 329-335 and 337338. He was the son of Tuoba Yulu and the nephew of Tuoba Gena. When Tuoba Gena was in his first reign as the
Prince of Dai, Tuoba Yihuai lived with his maternal uncle's father He4(congratulate)lan2(orchid)
Ai3(friendly/amiable)tou2(haid/hair/style/top/end/chief/side/aspect/first/leading/previous/prior to) (贺兰蔼头) of the Helan
tribe.
14) Zhao1(clear) Cheng2(achieve/become/large amounts/capable/one tenth/result/alright) Wang2 昭成王 Tuoba
Shi2(assorted/variegated/ten) Yi4 (wing of a bird/airplane/assist a ruler/aid) Jian4(healthy/strngthen/be good at)
拓拔什翼健 338-377 (320-376) was the last prince of the Tuoba Dai and ruled from 338 to 376 when Dai was conquered
by the F. Qin. He was the son of Tuoba Yu4(strongly fragrant/lush/gloomy/depressed)lu4(law/restrain) (拓跋郁律) and the
younger brother of Tuoba Yi4(slight corneal capacity/nebula))huai2(chinese scholar tree) (拓跋翳槐), whom he succeeded
in 338. In 340 he moved the capital to Shengle (盛乐) (near modern Holingol county (和林格尔) of Hohhot, Inner
Mongolia). His grandson Tuoba Gui would go on to found the N. Wei Dynasty. Era name * Jianguo (建国 jian guo) 338376
Personal information
* Father
o Tuoba Yulu (拓跋郁律)
* Wife
o Princess Murong, a princess of F. Yan
* Children
1)o Tuoba Shi (拓跋□), the Heir Apparent (d. 371)[1]
2)o Tuoba Shijun (拓拔□君)
3)o Tuoba Han (拓拔翰)
4)o Tuoba Shoujiu (拓拔寿鸠)
5)o Tuoba Gegen (拓拔纥根)
6)o Tuoba Digan (拓拔地干)
7)o Tuoba Quduo (拓拔屈咄)
N. and Southern Dynasties
Posthumous Names (Shi Hao 谥号) Era Names (Nian Hao 年号)
Bei N. Wei Dynasty 386-535
As a well known fact Tuoba family changed their family name to 元(yuan2) during the reign of Xiao Wen Di in 496
1) Dao4Wu3Di4 道武帝Tuoba Gui1(silicon) 拓拔硅, aka Tuoba Shegui (拓拔涉硅) 386-409 (371-409) Was the
founding emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty N. Wei. He was the grandson of the last prince of Dai, Tuoba Shiyijian,
and after the fall of the Dai state to F. Qin in 376 had been presumed to be the eventual successor to the Dai throne.
After F. Qin fell into disarray in 383 following its defeat by Jin forces at the Battle of Fei River, Tuoba Gui took the
opportunity to reestablish Dai in 386, but soon changing the state's name to Wei and declaring himself a prince. He was
initially a vassal of Later Yan. However, after he defeated the Later Yan emperor Murong Bao in 397 and seized most of
Later Yan's territory, he claimed imperial title in 398. Emperor Daowu was commonly regarded as a brilliant general, but
cruel and arbitrary in his rule, particularly toward the end of his reign. In 409, as he considered killing his concubine
Consort Helan, his son Tuoba Shao4 (拓拔绍) the Prince of Qinghe, by Consort Helan, killed him, but was soon defeated
by the crown prince Tuoba Si, who then took the throne as Emperor Mingyuan. Birth and childhood According to official
accounts, Tuoba Gui was born in 371, after his father Tuoba Shi (拓拔□), the son and heir apparent to Tuoba Shiyijian
the Prince of Dai, had died earlier in the year from an injury suffered when protecting Tuoba Shiyijian from an
assassination attempt by the general Baba Jin (拔拔斤). His mother was Tuoba Shi's wife Heiress Apparent Helan, the
daughter of the powerful tribal chief and Dai vassal Helian Yegan (贺兰野干). Tuoba Shiyijian, while mourning his son's
death, was very pleased by the grandson's birth, and he declared a general pardon in his state and named the child
Tuoba Shegui. (Other than the reference to the naming at birth, however, the name "Shegui" was scantily mentioned in
historical accounts of the rest of his life, and presumably was shortened to "Gui" for simplicity.)
Around the new year 377, F. Qin launched a major attack against Dai. Tuoba Shiyijian temporarily fled his capital
Yunzhong (云中, in modern Hohhot, Inner Mongolia), but returned to Yunzhong after F. Qin retreated. After he returned to
Yunzhong, however, his nephew Tuoba Jin (拓拔斤) convinced his oldest surviving son Tuoba Shijun (拓拔□君) that
Tuoba Shiyijian was considering naming one of the sons of his wife Princess Murong (a F. Yan princess) as heir and
further considering killing him. Tuoba Shijun therefore ambushed his father and brothers and killed them. This led to a
collapse of Dai forces, and F. Qin forces occupied Yunzhong without a fight. In the disturbance, Tuoba Gui's mother Lady
Helan initially fled to her brother Helan Na (贺兰讷), who had taken over as tribal chief after Helan Yegan's death. Later,
the F. Qin emperor Fu Ji_n considered taking Tuoba Gui to the F. Qin capital Chang'an, but Tuoba Shiyijian's secretary
Yan Feng (燕凤) convinced Fu Ji_n to instead allow Tuoba Gui to remain in Dai lands to be groomed as the eventual Dai
prince, arguing that this would be the best way to maintain the tribes' allegiance to F. Qin. Meanwhile, Fu Ji_n divided the
Dai tribes into two groups, commanded by the Xiongnu chiefs Liu Kuren (刘库仁) and Liu Weichen (刘卫辰). Tuoba Gui,
along with his mother, went to live with Liu Kuren, who honored the child as a prince.
Adolescence Little is known about Tuoba Gui's life until 385, by which time F. Qin, which had come close to uniting all of
China, had fallen into great disturbance in light of rebellions throughout the empire. In 384, Liu Kuren had attempted to aid
Fu Ji_n's son Fu Pi, who was then under siege by Murong Chui, the founder of Later Yan, but was assassinated by Muyu
Chang (慕舆常), the son of a Later Yan noble; he was succeeded by his brother Liu Toujuan (刘头眷). In 385, however,
Liu Toujuan was assassinated by Liu Kuren's son Liu Xian (刘显), who took over as chief and viewed Tuoba Gui, now 14,
as a threat. However, his subordinates Balie Liujuan (拔列六眷) and Qiumuling Chong (丘穆陵崇) found out, and at Balie's
instruction Qiumuling escorted Tuoba Gui to his uncle Helan Na, who put Tuoba Gui under his protection. In 386, at the
urging of previous Dai officials, Helan Na supported Tuoba Gui in reassuming the title of Prince of Dai. Alternative version
However, an alternative version of Tuoba Gui's early life was presented in documents such as the Book of Jin and Book of
Song -- the official histories of the rival Jin Dynasty (265-420) and LS Dynasty, which obviously had a motive to be biased,
and yet presented interesting issues. Under this version, Tuoba Gui was not Tuoba Shiyijian's grandson, but his son─and
was born significantly earlier than the official 371 date, of Tuoba Shiyijian's wife Princess Murong. When F. Qin attacked
in 377, it was Tuoba Gui who restrained his father Tuoba Shiyijian and surrendered. Fu Ji_n, offended at this act of
betrayal, exiled Tuoba Gui. When Murong Chui, his uncle, declared Later Yan in 384, Tuoba Gui joined him, and was later
put in charge of his father's tribes through a military campaign waged by Later Yan. Then, later, in order to avoid having
the people know Tuoba Gui's status as a traitor to his father, the official version of his personal history was manufactured.
This version is not well attested but would solve a number of apparent contradictions in early N. Wei history. These
difficulties apparent in the official version include:
* How Tuoba Gui's father, Tuoba Shi, had a nearly identical name to the perpetrator of the patricide, Tuoba Shijun. If
both names were manufactured by Tuoba Gui's later apologists, then the similarity in name could be explained as lack of
creativity.
* How Tuoba Han (拓拔翰), mentioned as Tuoba Shi's younger brother, was also referred to in some official sources as
Tuoba Gui's younger brother; as Tuoba Yi (拓拔仪), Tuoba Han's son, played an important role early in N. Wei history as
a key diplomat and general, he would be too old to be possibly Tuoba Gui's nephew if Tuoba Gui were born in 371.
Obviously, if the official history, which stated that Tuoba Yi was Tuoba Gui's cousin, were correct, then there is no
problem.
* How Tuoba Gui appeared too willing to turn against his maternal uncles the Helans early in his reign. If he was
actually the son of Princess Murong, then he would not be related to the Helans, and his campaigns against them seemed
less problematic. (Of course, it would then render it problematic how he eventually attacked and seized most of Later
Yan's history, as the Later Yan emperor Murong Bao would be his cousin.)
* How Tuoba Gui could have a younger brother─as given and undisputed in official history─Tuoba Gu (拓拔觚) -described as also being a son of his mother Lady Helan, if he himself were born after Tuoba Shi's death. (Two alternative
explanations exist, however─it could be that Tuoba Gu was actually born of a concubine of Tuoba Shi but raised by Lady
Helan, or it could be that Lady Helan remarried after Tuoba Shi's death, to another member of the Tuoba clan─possibly
Tuoba Yi's father Tuoba Han─and therefore her younger son Tuoba Gu would also carry the Tuoba name. The latter
possibility is attested in that another semi-contradictory version of the official history stated that Tuoba Gu was Tuoba Yi's
younger brother. Another possible explanation─that Tuoba Gu was a twin younger brother─appears unlikely, as the
official accounts of Tuoba Gui's birth did not suggest the possibility of twin birth.)
* How Tuoba Gui's oldest son Tuoba Si, born in 392, was said to be a late-arriving son. According to the official
chronology, Tuoba Gui would only be 21 at this point, and it might be difficult to comprehend his being characterized as
having had a late fatherhood. On the other hand, during his life time, particularly among non-Han peoples, marriage and
childbirth often happened during adolescence.
* How Tuoba Gui appeared to begin to show signs of mental deterioration when he was still just in his late 30s, with
signs of paranoia that appeared to be more characteristic of men of much older age. The official version attribute this to
poisoning from powders given him by alchemists, which is not an unreasonable explanation, however, or it also could
have been that the paranoia had nothing to do with mental deterioration.
Whether Cui Hao, the prime minister of Tuoba Gui's grandson Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei, propagated this version, and
whether that contributed to Emperor Taiwu's execution of not only himself but his entire clan, is not completely clear, but
appeared likely. As Prince of Wei Establishment of rule For the first several years of his reign, Tuoba Gui had to endure
constant gravitating of positions by tribal chiefs, and his position was not secure. As he gradually asserted his leadership,
however, the tribal chiefs began to coalesce around him. In spring 386, Tuoba Gui set his capital at Shengle (盛乐, in
modern Hohhot, Inner Mongolia), and was said to encourage agriculture to try to rest his people. In summer 386, he
changed his title to Prince of Wei (and thus the state became known in history as N. Wei). In fall 386, with support of
Western Yan and Liu Xian, Tuoba Gui's youngest uncle Tuoba Kuduo (拓拔窟咄) made a claim to the throne, and there
were many chiefs under Tuoba Gui who secretly conspired with Tuoba Kuduo, causing Tuoba Gui to panic to flee to his
maternal uncles' Helan tribe, while seeking assistance from Later Yan. Later Yan's emperor Murong Chui sent his son
Murong Lin to assist, and together they defeated Tuoba Kuduo, who fled to and was executed by Liu Weichen. Around
the new year 387, Murong Chui offered the titles of Western Chanyu and Prince of Shanggu to Tuoba Gui, but as the title
of Prince of Shanggu was not as honored of one as Prince of Wei, Tuoba Gui refused them. Despite Later Yan's
assistance of him and his status as a Later Yan vassal, Tuoba Gui began to secretly consider whether he could eventually
conquer Later Yan. In 388, he sent his cousin Tuoba Yi the Duke of Jiuyuan to offer tributes to Murong Chui but also to
observe the Later Yan court, to consider whether he would have eventual chance of attacking it. Murong Yi concluded that
Murong Chui was growing old, and that his crown prince Murong Bao was incompetent─and that there were many
potential claimants who would weaken Later Yan. This encouraged Tuoba Gui greatly in his eventual planning. In 391,
Helan Na's brother Helan Rangan (贺兰染干) plotted to kill Helan Na, and the brothers engaged in wars against each
other. Tuoba Gui took this opportunity to request Later Yan to jointly attacked the Helan tribe─notwithstanding Helan Na
and Helan Rangan's status as his uncles. In summer 391, Murong Lin captured Helan Na and Helan Rangan, but allowed
Helan Na to remain free and be in command of his tribe, while taking Helan Rangan as a prisoner. It was after this
campaign that Murong Lin, seeing Tuoba Gui's abilities, suggested to Murong Chui that Tuoba Gui be detained. Murong
Chui refused. In fall 391, an incident that would lead to the break of relations between Later Yan and N. Wei. That year,
Tuoba Gui sent his brother Tuoba Gu to Later Yan to offer tribute, and Murong Chui's sons detained Tuoba Gu and
ordered Tuoba Gui to offer horses to trade for Tuoba Gu's freedom. Tuoba Gui refused and broke off relations with Later
Yan, instead entering into an alliance with Western Yan. Following hostility with Later Yan In 391, Tuoba Gui attacked
Rouran -- which had been a Dai vassal but had never submitted to him─inflicting major damage on Rouran, but was
unable to destroy it. Rouran would remain an annoyance, and often a menace, for the rest of N. Wei's history. In winter
391, Liu Wenchen sent his son Liu Zhilidi (刘直力□) to attack N. Wei, and Tuoba Gui, despite having a much smaller
army than Liu Zhilidi, defeated him, and further crossed the Yellow River to attack Liu Wenchen's capital Yueba (悦拔, in
modern Ordos, Inner Mongolia), capturing it, forcing Liu Wenchen and Liu Zhilidi to flee. The next day, Liu Wenchen was
killed by his subordinates, and Liu Zhilidi was captured. Tuoba Gui annexed Liu Wenchen's territory and people into his
own, and slaughtered Liu Wenchen's clan and associates─more than 5,000 people. Liu Wenchen's youngest son Liu
Bobo, however, fled to the Xuegan (薛干) tribe, whose chief Tai Xifu (太悉伏) refused to turn him over despite N. Wei
demands, and Liu Bobo would eventually marry the daughter of Later Qin's vassal Mo Yigan (没奕干) and became
dependent on him. To punish Tai Xifu, Tuoba Gui attacked him in 393 and slaughtered much of his tribe, although Tai Xifu
himself fled. In 394, Western Yan's emperor Murong Yong, under heavy attack by Murong Chui, sought aid from Tuoba
Gui, but Tuoba Gui, while sending an army by his cousin Tuoba Qian (拓拔虔) the Duke of Chenliu and the general Yu
Yue (庾岳) to distantly try to distract Later Yan, N. Wei forces never actually engaged Later Yan, and Murong Yong was
captured and killed later that year when his capital Zhangzi (长子, in modern Changzhi, Shanxi) fell, and Western Yan was
annexed into Later Yan. In 395, Tuoba Gui led raids against Later Yan's border regions. Later that year, Murong Chui
commissioned an 80,000-men army led by Murong Bao, assisted by his brothers Murong Nong and Murong Lin, to try
punish N. Wei. Tuoba Gui, hearing about Murong Bao's army, abandoned Shengle and retreated west across the Yellow
River. Murong Bao's army quickly reached the river in fall 395 and prepared to cross the river. However, by this point, N.
Wei scouts had cut off the line of communication between Murong Bao's army and the Later Yan capital Zhongshan (中山,
in modern Baoding, Hebei), and N. Wei had the captured Later Yan messengers declare that Murong Chui had already
died, causing great disturbance in the Later Yan army. The Later Yan and N. Wei forces stalemated across the Yellow
River for 20 odd days, when Murong Lin's followers tried to start a coup and support Murong Lin as new leader, and while
the coup failed, uncertainty fell on Later Yan forces. As winter came, Later Yan forces retreated and, not realizing that the
Yellow River would freeze to allow N. Wei forces to cross easily, Murong Bao left no rearguard as he retreated. Tuoba Gui
personally gave chase, catching Later Yan forces unprepared at the Battle of Canhe Slope, killing or capturing nearly the
entire Later Yan army, and only Murong Bao and a number of officers escaped. Tuoba Gui, fearful of the Later Yan
captives, slaughtered them at the suggestion of his brother-in-law Kepin Jian (可频建). In 396, concerned that N. Wei
would then view Murong Bao lightly, Murong Chui personally led another expedition against N. Wei, initially successful
and killing Tuoba Qian. Tuoba Gui became concerned and considered abandoning Shengle again. However, as the army
reached Canhe Slope, the soldiers cried out loud for their fathers and brothers, and Murong Chui became angry and ill,
forcing the Later Yan forces to retreat to Zhongshan. He soon died, and Murong Bao succeeded him as emperor. In fall
396, Tuoba Gui led his N. Wei troops and made a surprise attack on Bing Province (并州, modern central and N. Shanxi),
defeating Murong Nong and forcing him to flee back to Zhongshan. Tuoba Gui then advanced east, ready to attack
Zhongshan. Accepting Murong Lin's suggestion, Murong Bao prepared to defend Zhongshan, leaving the N. Wei forces
free to roam over his territory, believing that N. Wei would retreat once its forces are worn out. However, this had the
effect that all of the cities' garrisons in modern Hebei abandoned them, except for Zhongshan and two other important
cities─Yecheng (in modern Handan, Hebei) and Xindu (信都, in modern Hengshui, Hebei). After making an initial attack
against Zhongshan and failing, Tuoba Gui changed his tactic to establishing his rule over the other cities while leaving
Zhongshan alone. In spring 397, Xindu fell. Meanwhile, however, Tuoba Gui had received news of a rebellion near his
capital Shengle and offered peace─which Murong Bao rejected, and Murong Bao attacked N. Wei forces as Tuoba Gui
prepared to retreat, but instead was defeated by Tuoba Gui at great loss. At this time, concerned about a coup attempt by
Murong Lin, Murong Bao abandoned Zhongshan and fled to the old F. Yan capital Longcheng (龙城, in modern Jinzhou,
Hebei). However, the remaining garrison at Zhongshan supported Murong Bao's nephew Murong Xiang (慕容详) the Duke
of Kaifeng as their leader, and Tuoba Gui was unable to take Zhongshan immediately. Realizing that he had alienated the
Later Yan people by having slaughtered the captives at Canhe Slope, Tuoba Gui changed his policy and tried to be gentle
with the conquered Later Yan territory, and while time would be required, the territories began to abide by his rule. Murong
Xiang, meanwhile, declared himself emperor, and put Tuoba Gu to death to try to show his resolve. In the fall, however,
Murong Lin made a surprise attack on him, killing him and taking over Zhongshan. Murong Lin also claimed imperial title,
but was unable to stand N. Wei military pressure, and Zhongshan fell to Tuoba Gui, who was largely gentle to
Zhongshan's population despite their resistance─although he slaughtered the clans of those who advocated Tuoba Gu's
death. It was around this time, however, that his army suffered a serious plague that might have killed as much as half of
the army and livestock. When his generals tried to persuade him to suspend the campaign, Tuoba Gui gave a response
that might be quite demonstrative of his personality:
This is the will of Heaven, and I can do nothing about it. A state can be established anywhere on earth where there are
people. It only depends on how I govern it, and I am not fearful that the people would die.
Around the new year 398, with Tuoba Gui ready to attack Yecheng, Yecheng's defender Murong De abandoned it and
fled south of the Yellow River, to Huatai (滑台, in modern Anyang, Henan), where he declared an independent Southern
Yan state. With resistance north of the Yellow River largely gone, Tuoba Gui left Tuoba Yi and Suhe Ba (素和跋) as
viceroys over the F. Later Yan territory, and returned to Shengle. In order to enhance communications and control, Tuoba
Gui constructed a highway between Wangdu (望都, in modern Baoding, Hebei) and Dai (代, in modern Zhangjiakou,
Hebei), over the Taihang Mountains. He soon, however, recalled Tuoba Yi to be his prime minister and replaced him with
his cousin Tuoba Zun (拓拔遵) the Duke of Lueyang. In summer 398, Tuoba Gui considered restoring the old name of the
state, Dai, but at the suggestion of Cui Hong (崔宏), he kept the name Wei. He moved the capital from Shengle south to
Pingcheng (平城, in modern Datong, Shanxi), to be in greater proximity with the conquered territories. He also issued
edicts to standardize weights and measures throughout the state, and to establish standard ceremonies based on
Chinese and Xianbei traditions. Around the new year 399, Tuoba Gui declared himself emperor. He also claimed descent
from the mystical Yellow Emperor, to legitimize his reign over the Han. Early reign as emperor In 399, Emperor Daowu
made a major attack on the Gaoche tribes near and in the Gobi Desert, inflicting great casualties and capturing many
Gaoche tribesmen. In a display of cruelty and power, he had the captured Gaoche men to use their bodies as a wall on a
hunt he carried out months later, to stop animals from escape. He also had the Gaoche slaves build a deer farm for him.
Later that year, he reorganized his government, expanding from 36 bureaus to 360 bureaus, and he also established a
university at Pingcheng and ordered that books be collected throughout the empire and be delivered to Pingcheng.
In summer 399, the Southern Yan general Li Bian (李辩) surrendered the Southern Yan capital Huatai to N. Wei, forcing
the Southern Yan emperor Murong De to instead attack Jin and take over its Qing Province (青州, modern central and
eastern Shandong) as his territory. Later in 399, because Emperor Daowu was angry that, on a letter to Jin's general Chi
Hui (郗恢), the official Cui Cheng (崔逞) insufficiently deprecated the status of Emperor An of Jin (and also because he
had been offended by a previous remark made by Cui in which he thought Cui compared him to an owl), he ordered Cui
to commit suicide. This incident caused Emperor Daowu's reputation among the states to suffer, as for the next few years,
some important Jin officials who lost out in Jin civil wars declined to flee to him for refuge because of the incident.
In 400, Emperor Daowu considered creating an empress. Of his consorts, he most favored Consort Liu, the daughter of
Liu Toujuan, who bore his oldest son Tuoba Si. However, according to Tuoba tribe customs, he was required to make the
potential candidates try to forge golden statues, to try to discern divine favor. Consort Liu was unable to complete her
statue, while Consort Murong, the youngest daughter of Murong Bao, whom he captured when he took Zhongshan in 397,
was able to complete her statue, and so Emperor Daowu created her empress. Around this time, Emperor Daowu
became increasingly superstitious and became trusting of astrologers and alchemists, seeking immortality. He also began
to use strict laws against his subordinates, punishing them harshly if they carried out what he perceived to be
disrespectful actions. In 401-402, Emperor Daowu made an attempt to attack Later Yan, by now limited to modern
Liaoning, but was unable to make gains against Later Yan's emperor Murong Sheng. Around this time, Emperor Daowu
also sought marriage and peace with Later Qin. However, Later Qin's emperor Yao Xing, hearing that he already had
Empress Murong, refused, and because around this time Emperor Daowu constantly attacked several Later Qin vassals,
the states' relations broke down. Emperor Daowu therefore began to prepare for a confrontation with Later Qin. Later in
the year, Yao Xing did make a major attack against N. Wei. In fall 402, Yao Xing's forward commander Yao Ping (姚平)
the Duke of Yiyang was surrounded by N. Wei's Emperor Daowu at Chaibi (柴壁, in modern Linfen, Shanxi), and despite
counterattacks by both Yao Ping and Yao Xing, the N. Wei siege became increasingly tighter, and in winter 402, Yao Ping
and his army were captured following a failed attempt to break out, ending Yao Xing's campaign against N. Wei.
Late reign In the last few years of Emperor Daowu's reign, he became increasingly harsher in his treatment of his officials.
For example, in 406, as he planned the expansion of Pingcheng with intent to make it into an impressive capital, he
initially had his official Mo Ti (莫题), an accomplished civil engineer, plan the city's layout, but over a relatively minor issue
where Mo was not very careful, ordered Mo to commit suicide─and then used Mo's layout anyway. He also made
increasing visits to Chaishan Palace (豺山宫, in modern Shuozhou, Shanxi), often spending months there at a stretch.
Other key officials that he killed during this period included his cousin Tuoba Zun the Prince of Changshan, Yu Yue,
Monalou Ti (莫那娄题), and Tuoba Yi the Prince of Wei.
In 407, N. Wei and Later Qin entered into a peace treaty, returning previously captured generals to each other. This would
have a disastrous consequence on Later Qin, however, as Liu Bobo, then a Later Qin general, became angry because his
father Liu Weichen had been killed by N. Wei, and therefore rebelled, establishing his own state Xia. However, he spent
much more of his energy conducting guerilla warfare against Later Qin, gradually sapping Later Qin's strength, and did not
actually conduct warfare against N. Wei. By 409, Emperor Daowu, who was said to be under the effect of poisonous
substances given him by alchemists, was described to be so harsh and paranoid in his personality that he constantly
feared rebellion, particularly because fortunetellers had been telling him that a rebellion would happen near him. He
occasionally would not eat for days, or would not sleep overnight. He often mumbled about his past accomplishments or
defeats, and he suspected all of his officials. Sometimes when officials made reports to him, he would suddenly think of
their past faults and punish or even kill them. Occasionally, when others would behave even slightly inappropriately, he
would be so angry that he would kill them personally and display their bodies outside the palace. The entire government
came under a spell of terror. The only persons immune from this treatment were said to be the minister Cui Hong and his
son Cui Hao, who were said to avoid the disaster by never offending or flattering the emperor─both of which could have
brought disaster. In fall 409, Emperor Daowu resolved to create Tuoba Si crown prince. Because of the Tuoba traditional
custom of executing the designated heir's mother, he ordered Tuoba Si's mother Consort Liu to commit suicide. He
explained his reasons to Crown Prince Si, who, however, could not stop mourning for his mother, and Emperor Daowu
became very angry, and he summoned the crown prince. Crown Prince Si, in fear, fled out of Pingcheng. At this time,
however, Emperor Daowu would suffer death at another son's hand. When he was young, when he had visited Helan
tribe, he saw his maternal aunt (Princess Dowager Helan's sister), who was very beautiful, and he asked to have her as a
concubine. Princess Dowager Helan refused─but not under the rationale that it would be incest, but rather that the
younger Lady Helan had already had a husband and was too beautiful─citing a saying that beautiful things were often
poisonous. Without Princess Dowager Helan's knowledge, he assassinated the younger Lady Helan's husband and took
her as a concubine, and in 394 she bore him a son, Tuoba Shao (拓拔绍), whom he later created the Prince of Qinghe.
Tuoba Shao was said to be a reckless teenager, who often visited the streets in commoner disguises, and often robbed
travelers and strip them naked for fun. When Emperor Daowu heard this, he punished Tuoba Shao by hanging him upside
down in a well, only pulling him out as he neared death. In fall 409, Emperor Daowu had an argument with Consort Helan,
and he imprisoned her and planned to execute her, but it was dusk at the time, and he hesitated. Consort Helan secretly
sent a messenger to Tuoba Shao, asking him to save her. At night, Tuoba Shao, then 15, entered the palace and killed
Emperor Daowu. The next day, however, the imperial guards arrested and killed Tuoba Shao and Consort Helan, and
Tuoba Si took the throne as Emperor Mingyuan.
Era names
* Dengguo (登国 d_ng guo) 386-396
* Huangshi (皇始 huang sh_) 396-398
* Tianxing (天兴 ti_n x_ng) 398-404
* Tianci (天赐 ti_n ci) 404-409
Personal information
* Father
o Tuoba Shi (拓拔□), the heir apparent and son of Tuoba Shiyijian (拓拔什翼犍), the Prince of Dai
* Mother
o Heiress Apparent Helan (d. 396)
* Wife
o Empress Murong, daughter of Murong Bao
* Major Concubines
o Consort Liu, daughter of Xiongnu chief Liu Toujuan (刘头眷), mother of Crown Prince Si (forced to commit suicide
409), posthumously honored as Empress Xuanmu
o Consort Helan, mother of Prince Shao
o Consort Wang, mother of Prince Xi
o Consort Wang, mother of Princes Yao
o Consort Duan, mother of Princes Lian and Li
* Children
o Tuoba Si (拓拔嗣) (b. 392), initially the Prince of Qi (created 403), later the Crown Prince (created 409), later
Emperor Mingyuan of N. Wei
o Tuoba Shao (拓拔绍) (b. 394), the Prince of Qinghe (created 403, executed 409)
o Tuoba Xi (拓拔熙) (b. 399), the Prince of Yangping (created 403, d. 421)
o Tuoba Yao (拓拔曜) (b. 401), the Prince of Henan (created 403, d. 422)
o Tuoba Xiu (拓拔修), the Prince of Hejian (created 407, d. 416)
o Tuoba Chuwen (拓拔处文) (b. 394), the Prince of Changle (created 407, d. 416)
o Tuoba Lian (拓拔连), the Prince of Guangping (created 407, d. 426)
o Tuoba Li (拓拔黎), the Prince of Jingzhao (created 407, d. 428)
o Tuoba Hun (拓拔浑), died early
o Tuoba Cong (拓拔聪), died early
o Princess Huayin
o Princess Huoze
2) Ming2Yuan2Di4 明元帝 Tuoba Si4(succeed/heir) 拓拔嗣 409-423 Emperor Mingyuan of N. Wei ((北)魏明元帝) (392
━423 AD), personal name Tuoba Si (拓拔嗣), was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty N. Wei. He was the oldest
son of the founding emperor Emperor Daowu. During his reign, N. Wei's territory did not expand as much as it did under
either his father's reign or the reign of his son Emperor Taiwu, but he helped the state stabilize over N. China, and started
the tradition of meeting with important imperial officials to listen to their advice and make final decisions. He is generally
regarded by historians to be an intelligent and rationale ruler. Early life Tuoba Si was born in 392 after his father Tuoba
Gui had founded N. Wei in 386 but before he had conquered most of rival Later Yan's territory and claimed imperial title in
399. His mother was Tuoba Gui's favorite consort, Consort Liu, the daughter of the Xiongnu chief Liu Toujuan4(have
feelings for/family dependant) 刘头眷. He was born at the capital Yunzhong (云中, in modern Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.) He
was Tuoba Gui's oldest son, and his father was said to be so pleased by this late arrival of a son that he declared a
general pardon. (It should be noted that based on N. Wei's official history, Tuoba Gui would only be 21 at this point; this
might be further evidence corroborating the alternative version of his life history.) As Tuoba Si grew, he was said to be a
wise and kind young man, whose actions were all in accordance with proper protocol. In contrast, his oldest younger
brother Tuoba Shao (拓拔绍) was a frivolous and violent young man, and often received punishment from Emperor
Daowu, and Tuoba Si tried to correct his brother's behavior by rebukes, but this made Tuoba Shao angry at him. In 403,
Tuoba Gui, by this point emperor (as Emperor Daowu), created him the Prince of Qi. In 409, Emperor Daowu was intent
on creating Tuoba Si crown prince, but based on the Tuoba tradition that when an heir is decided upon, his mother must
be put to death, Emperor Daowu forced Consort Liu to commit suicide. Either before or after he did so, he summoned
Tuoba Si to explain to him that this tradition was also in accordance with Emperor Wu of Han's rationale to put his favorite
concubine, Consort Zhao (Emperor Zhao of Han's mother) to death, to avoid overly great maternal influence on a young
emperor. After Tuoba Si left his father's presence, because of the affection that he had for his mother, he mourned
greatly. Hearing this, Emperor Daowu summoned him back to the palace─and, because Emperor Daowu, in his late
reign, often displayed great paranoid and violent tendencies, the new crown prince's attendants suggested that he not go
to the palace but hide in the country. Tuoba Si agreed and did so, fleeing the capital Pingcheng, where Emperor Daowu
had moved the capital in 398. Meanwhile, Emperor Daowu had, because of Tuoba Shao's crimes, imprisoned Tuoba
Shao's mother Consort Helan and planned to execute him. Consort Helan sent her son a message, asking him to save
her. In response, Tuoba Shao assassinated Emperor Daowu and then tried to take over as emperor, and he tried to seize
the troops. Tuoba Si, upon hearing this news, returned to Pingcheng but hid himself, while trying to gather supporters
gradually. Tuoba Shao tried to seek him out to kill him, but the imperial guards gradually shifted to Tuoba Si's side, and
the imperial guards arrested Tuoba Shao and presented him to Tuoba Si. Tuoba Si executed Tuoba Shao, Consort Helan,
and Tuoba Shao's associates. He then took the throne as Emperor Mingyuan. Early reign Emperor Mingyuan, contrary to
his father's dictatorial style, instituted a council of eight officials to advise him on all important decisions, with the intent to
hear different opinions and then take informed actions. The council mostly constituted of ethnic Xianbei from his tribe, but
also included Han and other ethnicities. This became a tradition that was followed by his descendants as well. However,
while he was known as being much more lenient than his father, he also did not tolerate wrongdoing on his advisors' part.
For example, in 413, one of his key advisors, Tuoba Qu1(submit) (拓拔屈) the Marquess of Yuancheng, suffered a major
defeat at the hands of Xia forces, and then, once demoted to governorship of Bing Province (并州, modern central and
southern Shanxi), failed to carry out his task competently, and Emperor Mingyuan executed him. In 410, Emperor
Mingyuan sent one of his advisors, Baba Song1(high/lofty) 拔拔嵩 the Duke of Nanping to attack the Rouran, and when
Baba was surrounded by Rouran troops, Emperor Mingyuan personally led an army to relieve Baba. For the next years,
he often left the capital Pingcheng to examine the defenses on the N. and eastern fronts (with Rouran and N. Yan), to
make sure that his state would be properly defended against enemies. He also often sent armies to pacify rebelling tribes.
Middle reign In 414, Emperor Mingyuan sent ambassadors to Later Qin, N. Yan, Jin, and Rouran, to try to establish
peaceful relationships. The Later Qin and Jin missions were apparently largely successful, but his ambassador
Hu(ignore)niu3(accustomed to/blush)yu2(at) Shi2(assorted)men2(door) 忽忸于什门 had a conflict with the N. Yan
emperor Feng Ba over Feng Ba's insistence that Huniuyu kneel to him, and Feng Ba detained Huniuyu and refused to
establish relations with N. Wei. How successful the Rouran mission was is harder to gauge, for although initially it
appeared to be successful, by new year 415 the Rouran Khan Yu4(luxuriant/fragrant/depressed)jiu3(loong time)luu3(gate
to alley/neighborhood) Da4tan2(wingceltis) 郁久闾大檀 invaded, and Emperor Mingyuan was forced to respond, chasing
Yujiulu Datan back to his territory, but when Emperor Mingyuan sent his advisor Daxi Jin (达奚斤) to pursue Yujiulu Datan,
the N. Wei forces ran into severe weather and suffered many casualties based on frostbite. This would start a theme that
would last for centuries─often, Rouran would attack, and N. Wei would counter-attack successfully, but then become
unable to have decisive victories over Rouran. Late in 414, Emperor Mingyuan began to have his official Cui Hao (the son
of his key advisor Cui1(surname) Hong2(grand) (崔宏)) teach him the ancient texts of I Ching and Hong Fan (洪范) -- both
mystical texts. He also often asked Cui Hao to make predictions based on those texts, which often came true. Cui Hao
therefore became increasingly trusted and consulted by Emperor Mingyuan for important decisions. In 415, the N. regions
of N. Wei suffered a major famine, causing Emperor Mingyuan to consider moving the capital southward to Yecheng (邺城
, in modern Handan, Hebei), but at the advice of Cui Hao and the official Zhou Dan4(tranquil) 周澹, who believed that
such a move would quickly expose the actual numerical inferiority of the Xianbei to the Han, he kept the capital at
Pingcheng, but also pursuant to Cui and Zhou's suggestion, moved a number of impoverished Xianbei to the modern
Hebei region. In winter 415, pursuant to a peace agreement they had reached earlier, Later Qin's emperor Yao Xing sent
his daughter the Princess Xiping to N. Wei to be married to Emperor Mingyuan. He welcomed her with ceremony fitting an
empress. However, Tuoba customs dictated that only a consort who was able to craft a gold statue by her hands could be
empress, and Princess Xiping was unable to, so Emperor Mingyuan only created her an imperial consort, but within the
palace honored her as wife and empress. In 416, the Jin general Liu Yu launched a major attack on Later Qin, intending
to destroy it. As part of Liu Yu's force, a fleet commanded by the general Wang Zhongde (王仲德), approached N. Wei's
only main outpost south of the Yellow River, Huatai (滑台, in modern Anyang, Henan), the N. Wei general
Wei4(surname)chi2Jian4 (尉迟建), apprehensive of the Jin forces, abandoned Huatai and fled back north of the Yellow
River. Emperor Mingyuan executed Weichi and then sent messengers to rebuke Liu Yu and Wang Zhongde, both of
whom restated that the target was Later Qin, not N. Wei, and that the city would be returned as soon as the campaign
was over. (However, Jin did not actually return Huatai, and N. Wei would not have a major presence south of the Yellow
River again until 422.) Jin forces quickly captured Later Qin's major city Luoyang and then headed toward the Later Qin
capital Chang'an. In spring 417, The Later Qin emperor Yao Hong (Yao Xing's son) requested emergency assistance.
Emperor Mingyuan summoned his council to consider whether to launch armies to try to stop Jin advances to try to save
Later Qin. Most of his advisors, apprehensive at whether Liu Yu actually intended to attack N. Wei as well, suggested that
Emperor Mingyuan try to intercept Liu Yu's forces. However, Cui Hao opined that this would precisely make N. Wei the
target of Jin attacks, and Emperor Mingyuan partially agreed, but still sent some 100,000 men, commanded by Baba
Song, to guard the N. bank of the Yellow River to prepare for battle. If a Jin ship were blown by the wind to the N. bank, N.
Wei forces would seize the ship and kill or capture its crew, and when Jin forces then landed on the N. banks, N. Wei
forces would temporarily retreat, and then re-establish the N. bank defensive posture as soon as Jin forces reboarded
their ships. Angry at this harassment, Liu Yu sent his general Ding Wu (丁_) to land on the N. bank and deal N. Wei forces
a major defeat. This ended Emperor Mingyuan's attempts to save Later Qin, and there were no further Jin/N. Wei battles
throughout the campaign, as while Emperor Mingyuan still planned to cut off Liu Yu's path if he were stopped by Later Qin
forces, Liu Yu was able to capture Chang'an and destroy Later Qin by fall 417, and Emperor Mingyuan's planned attacks
never materialized. Many F. Jin officials who opposed Liu Yu who had taken refuge with Later Qin fled to N. Wei, and
Emperor Mingyuan further ordered that anyone who could save and deliver members of the Yao imperial clan to
Pingcheng would be greatly rewarded. (How effectively this order was is not known, and most members of the Yao clan
were captured and killed by Liu Yu.) Late reign In 418, Emperor Mingyuan launched a major attack on N. Yan and put the
N. Yan capital Helong (和龙, in modern Jinzhou, Liaoning) under siege, but was unable to capture Helong and forced to
retreat. In 420, Emperor Mingyuan's wife Consort Yao died, and he posthumously honored her as an empress. In 422,
Emperor Mingyuan suffered a major illness, apparently caused by medicines that alchemists had given him that were
supposedly capable of extending lifespans. He consulted Cui Hao on what he should do to prepare for events after his
death. Cui Hao predicted that he would recover, but advised him to create his oldest son, 14-year-old Tuoba Tao the
Prince of Taiping, crown prince, and then transfer some of the authorities to the crown prince so that his own burdens
could be lessened. Baba Song also agreed, and Emperor Mingyuan created Tuoba Tao crown prince, and further had
Crown Prince Tao take the throne to serve as the secondary emperor. He commissioned his key advisors Baba, Cui, Daxi
Jin, An1chi2Tong (安迟同), Qiumu4(solemn)ling2(hill) Guan4(look at) 丘穆陵观, and Qiudun1(honest/sincere) Dui1(pile) (
丘敦堆) to serve as the Crown Prince's advisor. From this point on, most matters, particularly domestic matters, were
ruled on by Crown Prince Tao, while Emperor Mingyuan himself only ruled on important matters. Later in 422, after
hearing about the death of Liu Yu (who had seized the Jin throne in 420 and established LS), Emperor Mingyuan broke off
relations with LS and called his council, informing the advisors that he planned to attack and seize three major cities south
of the Yellow River from LS─Luoyang, Hulao, and Huatai. Cui Hao opposed the action, and commissioned Daxi as the
commander of the forced to attack LS. Daxi first put Huatai under siege, but after he was unable to capture it quickly,
Emperor Mingyuan personally led an army south to aid Daxi. He also had Crown Prince Tao lead an army to the N.
border, to guard against a Rouran attack. Huatai then fell, and Daxi then approached Hulao and Luoyang. Meanwhile,
Emperor Mingyuan also sent the generals E2(good/beautiful) Qing1(clear) 娥清, Luu3(gate to alley/neighborhood)
Da4fei2(fat/fertile/loose/large) 闾大肥, Pu3(general) Ji 普几, and Yi3(2nd)zhan1(felt/silken banner) Jian4 乙旃建 east,
capturing several commanderies in modern western Shandong. However, while other cities in Song's Qing Province (青州
, modern central and eastern Shandong) fell as well, the N. Wei forces were unable to capture the capital of Qing
Province, Dongyang (东阳, in modern Qingzhou, Shandong), and were eventually forced to withdraw after food supplies
ran out and a large number of soldiers grew ill. N. Wei forces also stalled in their siege of Hulao, defended by the capable
LS general Mao2 De2zu3 毛德祖, but were meanwhile able to capture Luoyang and Xuchang (许昌, in modern Xuchang,
Henan) in spring 423, cutting off the path of any LS relief force for Hulao. In summer 423, Hulao fell. The campaign then
ceased, with N. Wei now in control of much of modern Henan and western Shandong. In 423, Emperor Mingyuan also
started a major building project─the building of a wall on the N. borders to defend against Rouran attacks. In winter 423,
Emperor Mingyuan died. Crown Prince Tao took the throne as Emperor Taiwu.
Personal information
* Father
o Emperor Daowu of N. Wei
* Mother
o Consort Liu, posthumously honored as Empress Xuanmu
* Wife
o Consort Yao, daughter of Yao Xing (Emperor Wenhuan of Later Qin), originally Princess Xiping of Later Qin
(married 415, d. 420), posthumously honored as Empress Zhao'ai
* Major Concubines
o Consort Duguhun, mother of Crown Prince Tao (d. 420), posthumously honored as Empress Mi
o Consort Murong, mother of Prince Pi
o Consort Murong, mother of Prince Fan
o Consort Yin, mother of Prince Jian
* Children
o Tuoba Tao (拓拔焘), initially the Prince of Taiping (created 422), later the Crown Prince (created 422), later
Emperor Taiwu
o Tuoba Pi (拓拔丕), Prince Li of Leping (created 422, d. 444)
o Tuoba Mi (拓拔弥), Prince Shang of Anding (created 422, d. 424)
o Tuoba Fan (拓拔范), Prince Xuan of Le'an (created 422, d. 444)
o Tuoba Jian (拓拔建), Prince Zhuang of Yongchang (created 422, d. 447)
o Tuoba Chong (拓拔崇), the Prince of Jianning (created 422, forced to commit suicide 453)
o Tuoba Jun (拓拔俊), initially the Prince of Xinxing (created 422), later demoted to the Duke of Xinxing (demoted
and forced to commit suicide 441)
o Princess Yangzhai, later married Yao Huangmei, son of Yao Xing
o Princess Changle
o Princess Shiping, later married Helian Chang, Duke of Kuaiji and F. emperor of Xia
o Princess Wuwei, later married Juqu Mujian, Prince of N. Liang
3) Tai4Wu3Di 4(太武帝) Tuoba Tao4(cover over/envelope) (拓拔焘 ) 424-452 (408━452), aka
Fo2(buddha)li2(racoon dog) 佛狸 was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei. He was generally
regarded as a capable ruler, and during his reign, Northern Wei roughly doubled in size and united all of northern China,
thus ending the Sixteen Kingdoms period and, together with the southern dynasty LS, started the Southern and Northern
Dynasties period of Chinese history. He was a devout Taoist, under the influence of his prime minister Cui Hao, and in
444, at Cui Hao's suggestion and believing that Buddhists had supported the rebellion of Gai4(lid) Wu2(1 of 3 kngdoms)
盖吴, he ordered the abolition of Buddhism, at the penalty of death. This was the first of the Three Disasters of Wu for
Chinese Buddhism. Late in his reign, his reign began to be cruel, and his people were also worn out by his incessant wars
against LS. In 452, he was assassinated by his eunuch Zong Ai, who put his son Tuoba Yu on the throne but then
assassinated Tuoba Yu as well. The other officials overthrew Zong and put Emperor Taiwu's grandson Tuoba Jun (son of
Tuoba Huang the Crown Prince, who predeceased him) on the throne as Emperor Wencheng. Early life Tuoba Tao was
born in 408, while his father Tuoba Si was still the Prince of Qi under his grandfather, Emperor Daowu, without having
officially been made crown prince but was the heir presumptive, as the oldest and most favored son of Emperor Daowu.
(Tuoba Tao's mother was later referred to in history as Consort Du4(birch/prevent)Gui4Pin2(concubine) 杜贵嫔, but was
likely actually named Duguhun, as by the time that Wei Shu (the official history of Northern Wei) was written, the
Duguhuns had had their name changed to Du by Emperor Xiaowen.) He was Tuoba Si's oldest son. After Tuoba Si
became emperor in 409 (as Emperor Mingyuan) following Emperor Daowu's assassination by his son Tuoba Shao (拓拔
绍) the Prince of Qinghe, Tuoba Tao was assumed to be the eventual heir, but not given that title for a while. In Tuoba
Tao's childhood, he was given the nickname Foli. In 420, Consort Du died, and he was thereafter raised by his wet nurse
Lady Dou. In 422, Emperor Mingyuan created Tuoba Tao the Prince of Taiping. Later that year, when he suffered a major
illness, at Cui Hao's suggestion, he not only created Tuoba Tao crown prince, but further had Crown Prince Tao take the
throne to serve as the secondary emperor. He commissioned his key advisors Baba Song1(lofty) (拔拔嵩), Cui,
Da2(attain)xi1(why/where/how/what) Jin1 (达奚斤), An1chi2(tardy) Tong2(same) (安迟同),
Qiu1(mound/grave)mu4(solemn)ling2(mausoleum) Guan(taoist temple/look/concept) (丘穆陵观), and Qiu1dun1(honest)
Dui1(heap) (丘敦堆) to serve as the Crown Prince's advisor. From this point on, most matters, particularly domestic
matters, were ruled on by Crown Prince Tao, while Emperor Mingyuan himself only ruled on important matters. Later that
year, when Emperor Mingyuan led a major attack on rival LS, Tuoba Tao headed north to guard against a possible
Rouran attack. In 423, soon after capturing most of modern Henan from LS, Emperor Mingyuan died. Tuoba Tao
succeeded to the throne as Emperor Taiwu. Early reign Almost immediately after Emperor Taiwu took the throne, Rouran
attacked after its Mouhanheshenggai Khan, Yujiulu Datan heard about Emperor Mingyuan's death. Emperor Taiwu
engaged Rouran troops, and on the very first engagement became surrounded by Rouran troops, but he fought his way
out of danger, and subsequently, he made nearly yearly attacks against Rouran, and each year, Rouran forces would
elude him by retreating north, only to return south after he withdrew. Meanwhile, in 425, he reestablished peaceful
relations with LS. He, also in an action that later became a Northern Wei tradition, honored his wet nurse Lady Dou as
"nurse empress dowager". Also soon after he took the throne, Emperor Taiwu became a devout Taoist. It was around this
time that the Taoist Kou Qianzhi became famed, and Cui Hao became Kou's follower and often praised Kou before
Emperor Taiwu. Emperor Taiwu was pleased by prophecies that Kou was making, which implied that he was divine in
origin, and he officially endorsed Kou's proselytization of his state. In 426, Emperor Taiwu began to look for a target to
make a concentrated attack─asking his officials for their opinions on whom to attack between Xia and Rouran, and his
officials were divided in their opinions, and some proposed yet another third target, Northern Yan, although after the death
of the Xia emperor Helian Bobo later that year, he settled on making Xia his target. When Baba Song opposed this,
Emperor Taiwu showed his fierce temper by having his guards pound Baba's head on the floor, but he also showed how
quickly that temper went away by not demoting Baba. He then sent Daxi Jin to attack Puban (蒲阪, in modern Yuncheng,
Shanxi) and Pu3(general) Ji (普几) to attack Shancheng (陕城 Sanmenxia, Henan), while himself making a fast, cavalrybased attack on the Xia's heavily fortified capital Tongwan (统万, in modern Yulin, Shaanxi). Catching the Xia emperor
Helian Chang by surprise, the Northern Wei troops intruded into Tongwan before withdrawing with much loot, while in the
south, Helian Chang's generals Helian Yi3(2nd)dou (赫连乙斗) and Helian Zhu4xing4(liven things up) (赫连助兴)
abandoned not only Puban, but also Chang'an, allowing Daxi to occupy the Guanzhong region. In spring 427, Helian
Chang sent his brother Helian Ding south to try to recapture Chang'an, but Helian Ding's forces became stalemated with
Daxi's. In response, Emperor Taiwu made another attack on Tongwan. Helian Chang initially took Helian Ding's
suggestion to try to defend Tongwan until he could defeat Daxi, but misinformation that Helian Chang received then
induced him to come out of Tongwan to engage Northern Wei forces. Emperor Taiwu defeated him in battle, causing him
to be unable to return to Tongwan and forcing him to flee to Shanggui (上□, in modern Tianshui, Gansu), allowing
Emperor Taiwu to capture Tongwan. In the start of what would be a string of marriages that could be characterized as
either politically- or trophy-taking-related, he took three of Helian Bobo's daughters as his concubines. Upon hearing of
Tongwan's fall, Helian Ding disengaged from Daxi and joined Helian Chang at Shanggui as well. In 428, Daxi and Qiudun
Dui, trying to capture Helian Chang, instead became trapped by Helian Chang in the city of Anding (安定, in modern
Pingliang, Gansu). However, Daxi's subordinates Wei4(surname)chi2(late) Juan4(feel for) (尉迟眷) and Anchi Jia2(fly
up/neck) (安迟颉) made a surprise attack and captured Helian Chang. Helian Ding took over as the emperor of Xia.
Meanwhile, Emperor Taiwu treated Helian Chang as an honored guest, supplying Helian Chang with the same supplies
that he himself used, and he married his sister Princess Shiping to Helian Chang and created him the Duke of Kuaiji; he
also rewarded Weichi and Anchi greatly and created them dukes. Subsequently, Daxi, humiliated that his subordinates
captured Helian Chang and he himself appeared helpless, aggressively pursued Helian Ding, but instead was defeated
and captured by Helian Ding. In fear, Qiudun and Tuoba Li3(rite) (拓拔礼) the Prince of Gaoliang abandoned Chang'an as
well and fled to Puban, allowing Xia to recapture Chang'an. In anger, although Qiudun had been a high level official for
him since the days that he was crown prince, he had Anchi execute Qiudun and take over his position. For the time being,
Emperor Taiwu left Helian Ding alone, while preparing an assault on Rouran instead, since Rouran had been harassing
the northern border region. In light of the Xia campaign, the historian Sima Guang wrote this commentary about Emperor
Taiwu, in his Zizhi Tongjian: “The emperor of Wei was strong and brave, and calm and settled. Regardless of whether it
came to defending a city or fighting on the battlefield, he was always at the frontline. His guards might suffer casualties,
but his expressions would be the same, and therefore his generals and soldiers were all fearful of and impressed by him,
and willing to fight hard to their death. He was also frugal, and he was satisfied with his clothing and food as long as they
were sufficient. When his officials requested to strengthen the defenses of the capital and remodel the palace, arguing
that I Ching said, "Princes and dukes establish defenses to secure their home and states," and that Xiao He said, "An
emperor may be at home throughout his empire, but if his home were not sufficiently grand and luxurious, he could not
show his strength," he responded, "The ancient also said, 'What counts is grace, not secure defenses.' Helian Bobo used
boiled earth to build his city, and I destroyed his state; it was not because it was not secure enough. Right now, the land is
not in peace, and we need human power, and I loathe construction projects. What Xiao He said was incorrect." He also
felt that money was the capital for affairs of the military and the state, and should not be easily wasted. He issued
monetary awards only to the families of those who had died for the state or who had contributed greatly, never to his own
relatives. When he sent generals out, he always personally advised them, and those who disobeyed his advice usually
ended in failure. He was also a good judge of character, and was able to select generals from among soldiers, and he
only commissioned officials who were capable, not those who were well-connected. He was sharp in his observations and
could see hidden things, and his subjects could not deceive him. He awarded those of humble ranks if they deserved
them, and he punished those of high ranks if they deserved them. He also did not protect those whom he usually favored,
and often said, "I, along with the people, obey the laws, and how do I dare to view them lightly?" However, he was cruel
and often punished by execution, and he often regretted executions deeply.” In 429, with only Cui Hao in support and
most other officials opposing, Emperor Taiwu launched a major attack on Rouran. (The officials who opposed largely
worried that Emperor Wen of LS, who had for years wanted to regain the provinces south of the Yellow River that
Emperor Mingyuan captured in 422 and 423, would attack.) Emperor Taiwu pointed out that even if LS could attack, it
became even more crucial to defeat Rouran first, lest that Rouran attacked at the same time that LS did. He surprised
Yujiulu Datan, whose people scattered, forcing him to flee. However, as he chased Yujiulu Datan, he himself became
hesitant to advance further, and he withdrew. Only later did he hear that he was in fact very close to Yujiulu Datan's
position and could have captured the Rouran khan had he chased further, and he regretted his withdrawal. On the way
back, he also attack Gaoche tribes, and along with the Rouran tribes that he captured, he resettled them south of the Gobi
Desert and had them exercise agriculture. From this point on, Northern Wei's northern provinces became rich and no
longer lacked livestock and leather. He greatly rewarded Cui, and from this point Cui's advice became what he accepted
at all times. In spring 430, LS launched a major attack, and Emperor Taiwu, judging his own defenses south of the Yellow
River to be unable to withstand a LS attack, withdrew them north, judging correctly that LS forces would stop at the Yellow
River, planning to counterattack in the winter after the river froze. Meanwhile, hearing that LS and Xia had subsequently
entered into a treaty to attack him and divide Northern Wei lands, he judged correctly that despite the treaty LS had no
intention to cross the Yellow River north, and he decided to destroy Xia once and for all. In fall 430, he made a surprise
attack on the new Xia capital Pingliang (平凉, also in modern Pingliang), while Helian Ding was engaging Western Qin's
prince Qifu Mumo, putting Pingliang under siege, but although he then sent Helian Chang to Pingliang to try to persuade
its defender, Helian Shegan (赫连社干, younger brother to both Helian Chang and Helian Ding), to surrender, Pingliang
would not fall quickly. However, the Northern Wei general Tuxi Bi4(assist) (吐奚弼) engaged Helian Ding as Helian Ding
was trying to relieve Pingliang, defeating him and surrounding him at the Chungu Plains (鹑觚原, in modern Pingliang).
Northern Wei forces surrounded him, and his army became hungry and thirsty. After several days, he forcibly fought his
way out of the siege, but his forces mostly collapsed, and he himself was badly injured. He gathered the remaining forces
and fled to Shanggui. Around the new year 431, Helian Shegan surrendered. Nearly all former Xia territory was now in
Northern Wei hands. (Upon recovering Daxi Jin from Xia captivity, Emperor Taiwu punished him for his failures by
temporarily making him the imperial porter in charge of serving meals, but soon pardoned him and restored him to his
princely title.) (By 432, Helian Ding was no longer able to hold Shanggui, and he, after destroying Qifu Mumo's Western
Qin, tried to head west to attack Northern Liang, but was intercepted by the khan of Tuyuhun, Murong Mu4(admire)gui (慕
容慕_), defeated, and captured. In 433, Murong Mugui, with promises of rewards, turned Helian Ding over to Emperor
Taiwu, and he had Helian Ding executed.) While Emperor Taiwu was on his Xia campaign, his generals, as he instructed,
crossed the Yellow River when it froze in winter 430, and quickly recaptured Luoyang and Hulao. They soon forced the
retreat of the main LS force, under the command of the LS general Dao Yan4(virtuous man)zhi (到彦之), and trapped the
remaining LS troops at Huatai (滑台, in modern Anyang, Henan). A relief mission by the LS general Tan Daoji could not
reach Huatai, and by spring 431, Huatai fell. All of the lands lost to LS a year earlier had been regained. (Emperor Taiwu,
in another action typical of him, rewarded the LS general Zhu1(red) Xiu1(fix)zhi (朱修之), who had held Huatai for months
faithfully, by giving him a daughter of an imperial clan member in marriage.) In summer 431, Emperor Taiwu made his first
proposal of a marriage between the two imperial families to LS. (Based on subsequent events, it appeared to be a
proposal of marriage between a son of his and a daughter of Emperor Wen's, but by this point it was not completely clear.)
Emperor Wen responded to it ambiguously. From this point on, Emperor Taiwu would repropose the marriage on a nearly
yearly basis, with the same kind of response from Emperor Wen. At the same time, however, he did enter into peaceful
relations with Rouran, by returning a number of captured Rouran generals. Middle reign In spring 432, Emperor Taiwu
honored his wet nurse, Nurse Empress Dowager Dou, empress dowager. He also created one of Helian Bobo's daughters
as his empress, and his oldest son Tuoba Huang, by his deceased concubine Consort Helan, crown prince. In summer
432, Emperor Taiwu, with Xia destroyed, began to attack Northern Yan in earnest. By fall 432, he had put Northern Yan's
capital Helong (和龙, in modern Jinzhou, Liaoning) under siege. While he had several victories over Northern Yan forces,
he chose to withdraw at the start of winter, after seizing a large number of Northern Yan's people and forcibly resettling
them in his own state. For the next few years, he would launch yearly attacks against Northern Yan with the same pattern
─seeking to weaken Northern Yan gradually. While Emperor Taiwu was concentrating on Northern Yan, he also had
Northern Liang on his mind, but at the advice of his minister Li Shun4(agreeable) (李顺), he decided to wait until Northern
Liang's long-time prince, Juqu Mengxun, died. In winter 432, the Northern Yan emperor Feng Hong's son Feng
Chong2(lofty) (冯崇), who had feared that his father would put him to death because of false accusations by his
stepmother Princess Murong, surrendered the important Northern Yan city of Liaoxi (辽西, in modern Tangshan, Hebei) to
Northern Wei. To reward Feng Chong, Emperor Taiwu not only sent his brother Tuoba Jian4(healthy) (拓拔健) the Prince
of Yongchang to save Feng Chong from his father's siege, but created him the Prince of Liaoxi with 10 commanderies as
his fief. In 433, Juqu Mengxun died, and Emperor Taiwu began to consider conquering Northern Liang. Still, initially, he
continued to accept Juqu Mengxun's son Juqu Mujian as a vassal, and he took Juqu Mujian's sister as an imperial consort.
In spring 434, Helian Chang, for reasons lost to history, fled out of Pingcheng and apparently tried to start a rebellion. He
was killed in battle, and Emperor Taiwu had Helian Chang's brothers put to death. Also in spring 434, after initially
refusing a peace offer from Northern Yan, Emperor Taiwu accepted after Feng Hong made an offer to give his daughter to
Emperor Taiwu as a consort and returned the detained Northern Wei ambassador Hu1(ignore)niu3(accustomed/shy)yu2
Shi2(various/ten)men2 (忽忸于什门), who had been imprisoned by Feng Hong's brother and predecessor Feng Ba in 414
after being commissioned by Emperor Mingyuan. Emperor Taiwu, however, ordered Feng Hong to also send his crown
prince Feng Wangren2(kind) (冯王仁) to Pingcheng to meet him, and Feng Hong refused, ending the brief peace, and by
summer 434, Northern Wei resumed its periodic attacks on Northern Yan. Meanwhile, around this time, he also took the
sister of Rouran Chilian Khan Yujiulu Wuti as an imperial consort and married his sister or cousin Princess Xihai to Yujiulu
Wuti, to further cement the peaceful relations. In fall 434, while attacking the Xiongnu rebel Bai2Long2 (白龙), Emperor
Taiwu took Bai's forces lightly, and was nearly captured in an ambush, saved only by the efforts of his guard
Hou2(marquis)mo4(noone/don't/nothing)chen2(display)Jian4(build) (侯莫陈建). He subsequently defeated Bai and
slaughtered Bai's tribe. In 436, Feng Hong sent another embassy, offering to send Feng Wangren as a hostage. Emperor
Taiwu, not believing in Feng Hong's offer, refused, and prepared a final assault. When he arrived at Helong, however,
Feng Hong had already requested assistance from Goguryeo, which sent troops to assist Feng Hong's plans of relocating
his people to Goguryeo soil, and because Emperor Taiwu's general Tuxi Bi was drunk, the Northern Wei forces could not
give chase, and in anger, Emperor Taiwu imprisoned and then demoted both Tuxi and his deputy, the general
E2(good/pretty) Qing1(clear) (娥清) to being common soldiers, although he subsequently made them generals again. He
then sent messengers to Goguryeo, demanding that Goguryeo turn Feng Hong over. Goguryeo's King Jangsu refused,
albeit humbly requesting to serve Emperor Taiwu together with Feng Hong. Emperor Taiwu, at the suggestion of his
brother Tuoba Pi1(big) (拓拔丕) the Prince of Leping, did not immediately carry out a campaign against Goguryeo. (By
438, however, Feng Hong and Goguryeo would have a fall out, and King Jangsu would have Feng Hong executed.) In
late 436, the peaceful relations that Northern Wei had with Rouran since 431 ended, for reasons no longer known. Rouran
continued its harassment of Northern Wei's northern border regions. In 437, the marriage negotiations that Emperor Taiwu
had with LS's Emperor Wen appeared to reach some fruition, as Emperor Wen sent his official Liu
Xi1(bright/gay)bo2(uncel/earl/count) (刘熙伯) to Northern Wei to discuss details of how one of his daughters would be
married into the Northern Wei imperial household, but at this time, Emperor Wen's daughter died, and the negotiations
ended. Also in 437, exasperated by the rampant corruption that his local officials were engaging in (which was somewhat
necessary for them because at this point, no Northern Wei officials received a salary), he issued an edict creating
incentives for low-level officials and commoners to report officials for corruption. However, the edict did not have its
calculated effect, as the people who had evidence of the officials' corruption instead used the knowledge to blackmail the
officials, and the officials continued to be corrupt. Later in 437, Emperor Taiwu married his sister Princess Wuwei to Juqu
Mujian, and Juqu Mujian sent his heir apparent Juqu Feng1(seal/confer)tan2(platform/circles/world/jug) (沮渠封坛) to
Pingcheng to be a hostage. Despite this, he continued to consider conquering Northern Liang, but at Li Shun's urging,
delayed it.
In 438, Emperor Taiwu launched a major attack on Rouran, but Rouran forces largely eluded his, and he made little gain.
In 439, aggravated that Juqu Mujian's sister and sister-in-law Lady Li (with whom Juqu Mujian was having an affair) had
tried to poison Princess Wuwei, and also unhappy that Juqu Mujian had friendly relations with Rouran, decided to launch
a major attack on Northern Liang. Li Shun, who had previously advised him to attack Northern Liang, by this point had
somehow switched positions and, along with Tuxi Bi, opposed such military actions, stating falsely that there was so little
water and grass for grazing in Northern Liang that Northern Wei troops would suffer from thirst and hunger. At Cui Hao's
insistence, however, Emperor Taiwu believed that he could conquer Northern Liang, and he launched the campaign. He
quickly reached the Northern Liang capital Guzang (姑臧, in modern Wuwei, Gansu) in the fall, capturing it after a short
siege. Meanwhile, Yujiulu Wuti had launched a surprise attack on Pingcheng to try to save Northern Liang, but was
repelled. (Cui Hao, who was a political enemy of Li Shun's, would attribute Li's switch in position to bribes by Juqu Mujian,
and later Emperor Taiwu would force Li to commit suicide.) Northern Liang territory was largely in Northern Wei's control,
and although both Juqu Mujian's brother Juqu Wuhui and Tufa Bao3(protect)zhou1(all/thoughtful/circuit/relieve) (秃发保
周), a son of Southern Liang's last prince Tufa Rutan, would try to hold various parts of Northern Liang territory, by 440
Tufa Baozhou would be dead by suicide after failures, and by 441 Juqu Wuhui had fled to Gaochang. Northern China was
now united under Emperor Taiwu's reign, ending the Sixteen Kingdoms era and starting the Southern and Northern
Dynasties era. He continued to treat Juqu Mujian as a brother-in-law, and Juqu Mujian was allowed to continue carry the
title of Prince of Hexi. Late reign In 442, at Kou Qianzhi's urging, Emperor Taiwu ascended a platform and formally
received Taoist amulets from Kou, and changed the color of his flags to blue, to show his Taoist beliefs and to officially
approve Taoism as the state religion. From that point on, it became a tradition for Northern Wei emperors, when they took
the throne, to receive Taoist amulets. Also at Kou and Cui Hao's urging, he started building Jinglun Palace (静轮宫),
intended to be so high that it would be quiet and close to the gods. (Crown Prince Huang, a Buddhist, opposed the
construction project on the basis of cost, but Emperor Taiwu disagreed with him.) In fall 443, while attacking Rouran,
Emperor Taiwu suddenly encountered Yujiulu Wuti, and Crown Prince Huang, who was with him, advised an immediate
attack, but Emperor Taiwu hesitated, allowing Yujiulu Wuti to escape. From that point on, Emperor Taiwu began to listen
to Crown Prince Huang's advice in earnest, and in winter 443, he authorized Crown Prince Huang to carry out all imperial
duties except the most important ones, under assistance from Qiu1mu4(solemn)ling2 Shou4(age/BD) (丘穆陵寿), Cui,
Zhang Li2(multitude/host) (张黎), and Tuxi Bi. Crown Prince Huang soon instituted a policy to encourage farming─by
mandatorily requiring those who had extra cattle to loan them to those without, to be animals of burden, with the lease
being paid for by those without cattle by tilling the grounds of the cattle owners, increasing the efficiency of the farmlands
greatly. In 444, the first major incident of much political infighting during Emperor Taiwu's late reign occurred.
Du2(only)gu1(alone) Jie2 (独孤□), a high level official, who had opposed attacking Rouran, was accused by Cui Hao of
being so jealous of Cui, whose suggestions of attacking Rouran were accepted by Emperor Taiwu, that he sabotaged
Emperor Taiwu's war efforts by giving the generals the wrong times for rendezvous, and then further planning to have
Emperor Taiwu captured by Rouran and then making Emperor Taiwu's brother Tuoba Pi emperor. Emperor Taiwu put
Dugu to death, and Tuoba Pi died from anxiety. Further, because Dugu implicated them while being interrogated, fellow
officials Zhang1 Song1(lofty) (张嵩) and Ku4(warehouse)di2(surname) Lin2(near) (库狄邻) were also put to death. In
summer 444, eight nephews of the Tuyuhun khan Murong Mu4(admire/yearn)li4
(sharp/advantage)yan2(prolong/engage/send for) (慕容慕利延), after their brother Murong Wei3(latitude)shi4(era/world)
(慕容纬世) had been put to death by their uncle, surrendered to Northern Wei and suggested that he attack Tuyuhun. In
response, Emperor Taiwu sent his son Tuoba Fu2(prostrate/dog days/volt)luo2(net/gather/sift/dozen/display) (拓拔伏罗)
the Prince of Jin to attack Tuyuhun and defeated Tuyuhun forces, forcing Murong Muliyan to flee into the Bailan
Mountains (白兰山, in modern southwestern Qinghai). In 445, with Emperor Taiwu's distant cousin Tuoba Na4(that) (拓拔
那) the Prince of Gaoliang in pursuit, Murong Muliyan fled west and occupied Yutian (Khotan). (However, after a few years,
Tuyuhun would return to its original position.) In 445, angry that Zhen1da2(extend/express) (真达), the king of Shanshan
had refused Emperor Taiwu's messengers passage through Shanshan to other Xiyu kingdoms, Emperor Taiwu sent his
general Tu(vomit/spit/say)wan Du4(degree)gui1(return/order) (吐万度归) to attack Shanshan, and by fall 445 Zhenda had
surrendered. Northern Wei occupied Shanshan. In fall 445, responding to prophecies that "Wu" would destroy Wei, a
Xiongnu man, Gai Wu, started an uprising against Northern Wei at Xingcheng (杏城, in modern Yan'an, Shaanxi), and he
was quickly joined by a large number of other Xiongnu and Han people. Gai also submitted as a vassal to LS, seeking LS
aid. Initial attempts by local officials to stamp out Gai's rebellion failed, and Gai became stronger and stronger, claiming
the title of Prince of Tiantai. In spring 446, Emperor Taiwu personally attacked and defeated Gai's ally, the Han rebel
Xue1(surname) Yong3zong1(ancestor/aim/clan/model) (薛永宗), before facing Gai. Gai fled into the mountains, and
Emperor Taiwu carried out harsh reprisals against those who had supported Gai, slaughtering them without mercy. After
Emperor Taiwu reached Chang'an, he found a number of Buddhist temples with weapons in them, and he believed that
the monks must be working with Gai, so he slaughtered the monks in Chang'an. Cui used this opportunity to encourage
Emperor Taiwu to slaughter all monks throughout the empire and destroy the temples, statues, and sutras, and
notwithstanding Kou's opposition, Emperor Taiwu proceeded to slaughter the monks in Chang'an, destroy the statues,
and burn the sutras. He then issued an empire-wide prohibition of Buddhism. Crown Prince Huang, however, used
delaying tactics in promulgating the edict, allowing Buddhists to flee or hide, but it was said that not a single Buddhist
temple remained standing in Northern Wei. This was the first of the Three Disasters of Wu. In spring 446, believing
incorrectly that the LS governor of Qing Province (青州, modern central and eastern Shandong), Du4(birch/shut-off)
Ji4(thorughbred horse) (杜骥), was about to defect to him, Emperor Taiwu sent Tuoba Na and Tuoba Ren2(kind) (拓拔仁,
Tuoba Jian's son) the Prince of Yongchang to try to escort Du, and to attack LS's Qing, Yan (兖州, modern western
Shandong) and Ji4(hope) (冀州, modern northwestern Shandong) Provinces, and while Northern Wei forces did not
capture or hold those provinces, those provinces were greatly disturbed by the attack. In summer 446, Gai returned to
Xingcheng and restrengthened himself quickly. Emperor Taiwu sent Tuoba Na and Tuoba Ren to attack him, and Tuoba
Na captured Gai's two uncles. Initially, Gai's uncles were to be delivered to Pingcheng, but the general
Bu4(pace)liu4gu1(alone) Qi4(wait) (步六孤俟) suggested instead to make an oath with Gai's uncles and have them
assassinate Gai. Tuoba Na agreed, and Gai's uncles assassinated him, ending Gai's rebellion. In 447, believing that Juqu
Mujian had secretly hidden Northern Liang treasures that he had claimed to be lost to pillaging troops, Emperor Taiwu first
slaughtered nearly the entire Juqu clan, and then forced Juqu Mujian and Consort Mujian to commit suicide. In 448,
Emperor Taiwu created his general Chu1da4han4 Ba2(pull/select/surpass/catch) (出大汗拔) the Prince of Shanshan,
effectively making Shanshan a part of his emprie. He also had Tuwan Dugui attack a number of other Xiyu kingdoms,
forcing their submission. In winter 448 and spring 449, Emperor Taiwu and Crown Prince Huang attacked Rouran
together, but Rouran's Chuluo Khan, Yujiulu Tuhezhen eluded them and did not engage them. In fall 449, however, Tuoba
Na was able to inflict heavy losses on Rouran, and for several years Rouran did not attack. In 450, Emperor Taiwu,
accusing LS's Emperor Wen of having fostered Gai's rebellion, attacked LS, putting Xuanhu (悬瓠, in modern Zhumadian,
Henan) under siege for 42 days but could not capture it, and he withdrew.
Later in 450, a major political mystery occurred in Northern Wei─for reasons not completely clear now, Emperor Taiwu
had Cui Hao put to death, along with his entire clan and any other person named Cui from Cui's home commandery of
Qinghe (清河, roughly modern Xingtai, Hebei), as well as several other clans with marital relations to Cui's. The publicly
announced reason was that Cui had unduly revealed imperial infamy, when he wrote and published an official history, but
what Cui did was never fully stated. The modern historian Bo Yang speculated that Cui had revealed that Emperor
Taiwu's grandfather Emperor Daowu had been a traitor, and also that Cui was then in a major political confrontation with
Crown Prince Huang, who manufactured part of the charges against Cui. (See here for details.) However, Bo's
speculation, while having some evidentiary support, is not close to being conclusively shown, and why Emperor Taiwu
suddenly so rashly and so severely punished the man that he had trusted for decades is fairly unclear. (It should be
further noted that during the entire incident, Cui was described as being so fearful that he could not speak a single word,
which appeared highly inconsistent with Cui's personality and character, suggesting that Cui had himself been poisoned; it
should be further noted that immediately after executing Cui, Emperor Taiwu expressed regret of having done so.) In fall
450, LS's Emperor Wen launched a major attack on Northern Wei, again hoping to regain the provinces south of the
Yellow River, making a two-pronged attack─with the eastern prong attacking Qiaoao (□□, in modern Liaocheng,
Shandong) and Huatai, and the western prong attacking Shancheng and Tong Pass. Under Emperor Taiwu's orders,
Northern Wei forces abandoned Qiaoao while defending Huatai, and he himself headed south to relieve Qiaoao while
having Crown Prince Huang head north to defend against a potential Rouran attack. The LS general Wang
Xuan2(profound)mo2(plan) (王玄谟), whose army was strong, initially received popular support among the people near
Huatai, but lost that popularity when he demanded that those who joined his forces to provide a large supply of pears─
800 per household. With the popular support lost, he was unable to capture Huatai quickly, and as Emperor Taiwu arrived,
the LS forces collapsed. Upon hearing this, although the western LS forces, under command of the general Liu3(willow)
Wen2jing3(scene/admire/condition) (柳文景), were successful in capturing Shancheng and Tong Pass and preparing to
descend into the Guanzhong region, Emperor Wen withdrew them. In retaliation for the LS attack, Emperor Taiwu
launched an all-out attack against LS's northern provinces. Tuoba Ren quickly captured Xuanhu and Xiang4(neck/sum of
money)cheng (项城, in modern Zhoukou, Henan) and pillaging his way to Shouyang. Emperor Taiwu himself advanced on
Pengcheng, but did not put that heavily fortified city under siege; rather, he advanced south, claiming that he would cross
the Yangtze River and destroy the LS capital Jiankang. Both his main army and the other branch armies that he sent out
carried out heavy slaughters and arsons, laying LS's Huai River region to waste. Around the new year 451, Emperor
Taiwu had reached Guabu (瓜步, in modern Nanjing, Jiangsu), across the river from Jiankang, but at this point he
reproposed the marriage-peace proposal he made earlier─that if Emperor Wen married a daughter to one of his
grandsons, he would be willing to marry a daughter to Emperor Wen's son, Liu Jun (who was then defending Pengcheng),
to establish long-term peace. Emperor Wen's crown prince Liu Shao favored the proposal, but Jiang3
Dan4(profound/crystal clear) (江湛) opposed, and the marital proposal was not accepted. In spring 451, worried that his
forces were being overstretched and would be attacked in the rear by the LS forces garrisoned at Pengcheng and
Shouyang, Emperor Taiwu began a withdraw, and on the way, insulted by the LS general Zang1(good/right)
Zhi4(nature/substance/plain) (臧质), he put Xuyi (盱眙, in modern Huai'an, Jiangsu) under siege, and, after both sides
suffered heavy losses but with the defense holding, quickly withdrew. This campaign appeared to heavily wear out both
empires and demonstrated the cruel parts of Emperor Taiwu's personality well, as Sima Guang described it in this manner:
“The Wei forces laid South Yan, Xu, North Yan, Yu, Qing, and Ji Provinces to waste. The Song deaths and injuries were
innumerable. When Wei forces encountered Song young men, the forces quickly beheaded them or cut them in half. The
infants were pierced through with spears, and the spears were then shaken so that the infants would scream as they were
spun, for entertainment. The commanderies and counties that Wei forces went through were burned and slaughtered, and
not even grass was left. When sparrows returned in the spring, they could not find houses to build nest on, so they had to
do so in forests. Wei soldiers and horses also suffered casualties of more than half, and the Xianbei people were all
complaining.” Another part of Emperor Taiwu's personality that was revealed as how, even as the states were engaging
wars, he was maintaining formal protocols of detente. For example, when he was outside of Pengcheng, he requested Liu
Jun supply him with wine and sugercanes, while offering Liu Jun a gift of camels, mules, and coats. Later, he requested
oranges and gambling supplies from Liu Jun, while offering Liu Jun blankets, salts, and pickled beans. Similar things
happened as he was at Guabu, as he requested and sent gifts to and from Emperor Wen. (How Zang aggravated him
was by sending him urine when he requested wine, thus breaking the pattern of formal exchanges of gifts.) In 451, there
would be further political turmoil, with Crown Prince Huang and his associates being the victims. Crown Prince Huang had
been considered able and all-seeing, but overly trusting of his associates, while privately managing farms and orchards
and receiving profits from them. Crown Prince Huang greatly disliked the eunuch Zong Ai, and Zong decided to act first,
accusing Crown Prince Huang's associates Chou2(enemy)'ni4(dab/obstinate) Dao4sheng4(vigorous) (仇泥道盛) and
Ren4(appoint/without matter)) Ping2cheng2 (任平城) of crimes, and Chou'ni and Ren were executed. Further, many other
associates of Crown Prince Huang were dragged into the incident and executed. Crown Prince Huang himself grew ill in
anxiety, and died in summer 451. Soon, however, Emperor Taiwu found out that Crown Prince Huang was not guilty, and
became heavily regretful of his actions in pursuing the crown prince's associates. He did not create a new crown prince,
although he briefly created Crown Prince Huang's son Tuoba Jun the Prince of Gaoyang─but then cancelled that
creation, figuring that the heir of the crown prince should not be created a mere imperial prince, suggesting that he
intended for Tuoba Jun to inherit the throne. Because of how much Emperor Taiwu missed Crown Prince Huang, Zong Ai
became anxious, and in spring 452 he assassinated Emperor Taiwu. Initially, a number of officials were going to make
Emperor Taiwu's son Tuoba Han4(writing brush/writing) (拓拔翰) the Prince of Dongping emperor, but Zong also had bad
relations with Tuoba Han, and so falsely issued orders in the name of Empress Helian to make another son of Emperor
Taiwu's, Tuoba Yu the Prince of Nan'an, emperor, while putting Tuoba Han to death.
Personal information
* Father
o Emperor Mingyuan of Northern Wei
* Mother
o Consort Duguhun (d. 420), posthumously honored as Empress Mi
* Wife
o Empress Helian, daughter of Helian Bobo, emperor of Xia (married 427, created empress 432)
* Major Concubines
o Consort Juqu, daughter of Juqu Mengxun, prince of Northern Liang (married 433, forced to commit suicide 447)
o Consort Helian, sister of Empress Helian
o Consort Helian, sister of Empress Helian
o Consort Yujiulu, sister of Yujiulu Wuti, Chilian Khan (敕连可汗) of Rouran (married 434), mother of Prince Yu
o Consort Helai or Helan (d. 428), mother of Crown Prince Huang, posthumously honored as Empress Jing'ai
o Consort Yuele or Yueqiang, mother of Prince Fuluo
o Consort Shu, mother of Prince Han
o Consort Fu, mother of Prince Tan
o Consort Fu, mother of Prince Jian
o Consort Feng, daughter of Feng Hong, emperor of Northern Yan
* Children
o Tuoba Huang (拓拔晃), the Crown Prince (created 432, d. 451)
o Tuoba Fuluo (拓拔伏罗), the Prince of Jin (created 442, d. 447)
o Tuoba Han (拓拔翰), initially the Prince of Qin (created 442), later the Prince of Dongping (created 452, killed by
Zong Ai 452)
o Tuoba Tan (拓拔谭), initially the Prince of Yan (created 442), later Prince Xuan of Linhuai (created and d. 452)
o Tuoba Jian (拓拔建), initially the Prince of Chu (created 442), later Prince Jian of Guangyang (created and d. 452)
o Tuoba Yu (拓拔余), initially the Prince of Wu (created 442), later Prince of Nan'an (created 452), later emperor
o Tuoba Xiao'er (拓拔小儿), died early
o Tuoba Mao'er (拓拔猫儿), died early
o Tuoba Zhen (拓拔真), died early
o Tuoba Hutou (拓拔虎头), died early
o Tuoba Longtou (拓拔龙头), died early
o Princess Nan'an
o Princess Shanggu
4) NanAnWang 南安王 Tuoba Yu 拓拔余 452
Chengping (承平 cheng ping) 452 Tuoba Yu (拓拔余) (died 452),
formally Prince Yin of Nan'an (南安隐王), was briefly an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei. He was
placed on the throne by the eunuch Zong Ai after Zong assassinated his father Emperor Taiwu in spring 452, and Zong
was largely in control of the regime during his reign. Later in the year, when Tuoba Yu tried to assert his own authority,
Zong had him assassinated as well, but then was overthrown by a group of officials, who put Tuoba Yu's nephew Tuoba
Jun (the son of Tuoba Yu's older brother, Tuoba Huang the Crown Prince, who had predeceased their father) on the
throne as Emperor Wencheng. Background
It is not known when Tuoba Yu was born, but it is known that he was the youngest of Emperor Taiwu's six sons who
survived childhood. His mother Consort Yujiulu was a sister of Rouran's Chilian Khan Yujiulu Wuti, who had become an
imperial consort of Emperor Taiwu's as part of a peace-marriage arrangement in 434, whereby he married Consort Yujiulu
while marrying his sister or cousin Princess Xihai to Yujiulu Wuti. He was created the Prince of Wu in 442, and 450, when
his father was counter-attacking after a major LS attack, and Crown Prince Huang was defending the northern borders
against a potential Rouran attack, Prince Yu was left in charge of the capital Pingcheng (平城, in modern Datong, Shanxi),
a sign that Emperor Taiwu trusted his abilities. In 452, his title was changed to Prince of Nan'an. Sometime late in
Emperor Taiwu's reign, Tuoba Yu became friendly with Emperor Taiwu's eunuch Zong Ai, who in 451 had falsely accused
Crown Prince Huang's associates Chouni Daosheng (仇尼道盛) and Ren Pingcheng (任平城) of crimes, causing many
members of Crown Prince Huang's staff to be executed and Crown Prince Huang himself to fall ill in fear and die. In spring
452, in fear that Emperor Taiwu would punish him, Zong assassinated Emperor Taiwu. The officials initially did not
announce Emperor Taiwu's death, but were debating between whether to make Crown Prince Huang's oldest son Tuoba
Jun or Emperor Taiwu's oldest surviving son Tuoba Han (拓拔翰) the Prince of Dongping emperor. Zong, who was also on
poor terms with Tuoba Han, summoned Tuoba Yu to the palace instead, and forged an edict of Emperor Taiwu's wife
Empress Helian to ambush and put the officials in favor of either Tuoba Jun or Tuoba Han to death. He then executed
Tuoba Han as well and made Tuoba Yu emperor. Brief reign
Tuoba Yu honored Empress Helian as empress dowager, and he bestowed Zong a number of high level posts, including
prime minister, making it clear that Zong was actually in control of the regime, as well as creating him the Prince of
Fengyi. Tuoba Yu's ascension to the throne was apparently largely without major opposition, but he knew that he
bypassed his older brothers, as well as his nephew (who by Confucian principles of succession should have been
emperor), and therefore tried to gather officials' support by giving them rewards so large that the treasury was exhausted.
It was also described that Tuoba Yu drank often, and often spent time on entertainment and hunting, with little time for
important matters of state. Zong, as prime minister, was in charge of imperial guards as well, and he became extremely
arrogant. Eventually, Tuoba Yu grew tired of Zong's antics and planned to strip him of his authority. Zong heard about this,
and in winter 452, while Tuoba Yu was making a sacrifice to his great-grandfather Emperor Daowu at night, Zong sent his
assistant Jia Zhou (贾周) to assassinate him. He was on the throne for only slightly over seven months. Several officials
subsequently overthrew Zong and made Tuoba Jun emperor (as Emperor Wencheng). Emperor Wencheng buried Tuoba
Yu with honors due an imperial prince, but not due an emperor, and gave him a posthumous name.
Era name
* Chengping (承平 cheng ping) 452
Personal information
* Father
o Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei
* Mother
o Consort Yujiulu, sister of Yujiulu Wuti, Chilian Khan of Rouran
5) Wen Cheng Di 文成帝 TuobaJun 拓拔浚452-465
Xingan (兴安 x_ng _n) 452-454 Xingguang (兴光 x_ng
gu_ng) 454-455 Tai'an (太安 tai _n) 455-459
Heping (和平 he ping) 460-465 Emperor Wencheng of Northern Wei ((北)魏文成帝) (440[1]━465), personal name Tuoba
Jun (拓拔浚), was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei. He became emperor in the aftermaths of the
eunuch Zong Ai's assassination of his grandfather Emperor Taiwu and uncle Tuoba Yu, and he was generally described
by historians as a ruler who sought foremost to allow his people to rest after his grandfather's expansionist policies and
extensive campaigns, who also reformed the laws to become more lenient. Background
Tuoba Jun was born in 440, when his father Tuoba Huang was the crown prince of his grandfather, Emperor Taiwu.
(Some historical sources give his birthdate as 448, a date that appears rather unlikely because that would make him only
six years older than his son, Emperor Xianwen.) His mother Consort Yujiulu was the sister of the general Yujiulu Pi (郁久
闾毗), who had been a member of the Rouran royal house but who had surrendered to Northern Wei. When he was little,
he was much favored by his grandfather Emperor Taiwu, and often accompanied Emperor Taiwu, even on military
campaigns. While he carried no official titles, he was known as the Prime Imperial Grandson (嫡皇孙). Around the new
year 452, after his father Tuoba Huang had died in 451 after falling ill over his fear of false accusations by the eunuch
Zong Ai, Emperor Taiwu created him the Prince of Gaoyang, but then reconsidered, believing that a princely title was
inappropriate for his oldest grandson, and therefore cancelled the title─signifying strongly that he intended for Tuoba Jun
to succeed him.
However, Zong Ai, in fear that Emperor Taiwu would punish him over his false accusations against Crown Prince Huang,
assassinated Emperor Taiwu in spring 452, and, skipping over Tuoba Jun, made Tuoba Huang's younger brother Tuoba
Yu the Prince of Nan'an emperor. Zong controlled all important matters of state, and when Tuoba Yu, displeased about
Zong's arrogance, tried to strip him of power in fall 452, Zong assassinated him as well. The officials Dugu Ni (独孤尼),
Yuan He, Baba Kehou (拔拔渴侯), and Buliugu Li, however, then overthrew Zong and executed him, making Tuoba Jun
emperor at the age of 12, as Emperor Wencheng. Early reign Immediately following Emperor Wencheng's taking the
throne, it appeared that the high level officials began internecine struggles against each other, as for several years
officials would be put into honored positions, only to be executed days or months later. These included senior officials
held over from Emperor Taiwu's administration as well as those who had accomplished much in putting Emperor
Wencheng on the throne, and included:
* Tuoba Shoule (拓拔寿乐), chief commander (winter 452)
* Baba Kehou, a major participant in the coup bringing Emperor Wencheng to the throne (winter 452)
* Tuxi Bi (吐奚弼), prime minister under Tuoba Yu (winter 452)
* Zhang Li (张黎), chief commander under Tuoba Yu (winter 452)
* Tuoba Zhouniu (拓拔周忸) the Prince of Leling, chief commander (winter 452)
* Duguhun Yuanbao (独孤浑元宝) the Prince of Jingzhao (spring 453)
* Tuoba Chong (拓拔崇) the Prince of Jianning, Emperor Wencheng's granduncle, and his son Tuoba Li (拓拔丽) the
Prince of Ji'nan (spring 453)
* Yujiulu Ruowen (郁久闾若文) the Prince of Puyang (fall 453)
* Tuoba Ren (拓拔仁) the Prince of Yongchang, Emperor Wencheng's distant uncle (fall 453)
* Tuoba Ba (拓拔拔) the Prince of Leping, Emperor Wencheng's distant uncle (spring 455)
It appeared that Yuan He and Buliugu Li were the key victors out of these struggles, for not only did they not suffer during
the infighting, but became exceedingly honored late in Emperor Wencheng's reign. Both they and Dugu Ni were created
princes. Whether Emperor Wencheng himself was involved in these internecine struggles is unclear, although the edicts
were issued in his name. Yuchi Juan (尉迟眷), already a decorated general during Emperor Taiwu's reign, also became
powerful. Another characteristic of Emperor Wencheng's reign was that he often toured the provinces throughout his
empire. In winter 452, Emperor Wencheng's mother Consort Yujiulu died, and he subsequently posthumously honored his
parents as emperor and empress.
Around the new year 453, Emperor Wencheng, a Buddhist, officially ended the prohibitions against Buddhism that
Emperor Taiwu had instituted in 445 (which became known as the first of Three Disasters of Wu), and he personally
performed tonsure on five monks. However, as per the traditions instituted by Emperor Taiwu, he also publicly received
Taoist amulets in spring 454. In spring 453, Emperor Wencheng honored his wet nurse Lady Chang as empress dowager,
and treated her brothers as if they were his biological uncles. In fall 454, Emperor Wencheng's concubine Consort Li gave
birth to his oldest son Tuoba Hong. In 456, he created another imperial consort, Consort Feng, empress and created
Tuoba Hong crown prince─and then, pursuant to Northern Wei tradition, ordered Tuoba Hong's mother Consort Li to
commit suicide. In winter 458, Emperor Wencheng launched a major attack against Rouran, but considered abandoningit
when his troops encountered a snow storm. At Weichi Juan's urging (arguing that a withdrawal would unduly signal
weakness to Rouran), however, Emperor Wencheng continued, and while he was not able to deal a major defeat to
Rouran's Chuluo Khan Yujiulu Tuhezhen, a number of Rouran tribesmen surrendered. Meanwhile, in his absence, his
generals Feng Chiwen (封敕文) and Pi Baozi (皮豹子) engaged LS forces near the Ji River (济水, the route of which had
been overtaken by the Yellow River in modern times), with inconclusive results.
Late reign In summer 460, Emperor Wencheng's wet nurse Empress Dowager Chang died. Also in summer 460, based
on advise given by Cao An (曹安) the Marquess of Dingyang, Emperor Wencheng launched a major attack on Tuyuhun's
khan Murong Shiyin (慕容拾寅), who had drawn Northern Wei officials' ire by accepting commissions by both Northern
Wei and LS and by showing off his wealth. The commanding generals were Emperor Wencheng's brother Tuoba
Xincheng (拓拔新成) the Prince of Yangping and Li Hui (李惠) the Duke of Nan Commandery. However, while the armies
were able to capture a large number of livestock, Murong Shiyin received advance warning and was able to flee into the
mountains, and the armies also suffered from illnesses. In 464, while on one of his tours to various parts of the empire,
Emperor Wencheng personally attended a Gaoche tribal ceremony to sacrifice to the heavens, and the Gaoche people
were very pleased. In summer 465, Emperor Wencheng died and was succeeded by his son Tuoba Hong (as Emperor
Xianwen). Power soon fell into the hands of the official Yifu Hun, who tried to monopolize power and executed a number
of other officials, including Buliugu Li, but in 466 was in turn ambushed by Emperor Wencheng's wife Empress Dowager
Feng.
Era names
* Xing'an (兴安 x_ng _n) 452-454
* Xingguang (兴光 x_ng gu_ng) 454-455
* Tai'an (太安 tai _n) 455-459
* Heping (和平 he ping) 460-465
Personal information
* Father
o Tuoba Huang, Crown Prince Jingmu, posthumously honored as Emperor Jingmu, son of Emperor Taiwu of
Northern Wei
* Mother
o Consort Yujiulu, sister of Yujiulu Pi (郁久闾毗) the Prince of Hedong, posthumously honored as Empress Gong
* Wife
o Empress Feng (created 456), daughter of Feng Lang (冯朗) the Duke of Liaoxi, son of Feng Hong the emperor of
Northern Yan. Burial: Empress Dowager Wenming tomb.
* Major Concubines
o Consort Li, mother of Crown Prince Hong (forced to commit suicide 456)
o Consort Li, mother of Prince Changle
o Consort Cao, mother of Prince Lue
o Consort Juqu, mother of Prince Jian
o Consort Yifu, mother of Prince Ruo
o Consort Yue, mother of Prince Meng
o Consort Xuan, mother of Prince Anping
* Children
o Tuoba Hong (拓拔弘), the Crown Prince (created 456), later Emperor Xianwen of Northern Wei
o Tuboa Changle (拓拔长乐), initially the Prince of Jianchang (created 470), later Prince Li of Anle (created 475,
forced to commit suicide 479)
o Tuoba Lue (拓拔略), Prince Zhuang of Guangchuan (created 472, d. 480)
o Tuoba Jian (拓拔简), Prince Shun of Qi Commandery (created 481, d. 499)
o Tuoba Ruo (拓拔若), died early, posthumously created Prince Xiao of Hejian
o Tuoba Meng (拓拔猛), Prince Kuang of Anfeng (created 481, d. 489)
o Tuoba Anping (拓拔安平), Prince Ai of Han, died early
o Princess Dunqiu
o Princess Wuyi
o Princess Jianxing
o Princess Pingyang
6) XianWenDi 献文帝 TuobaHong 拓拔弘 466-471
Tian'an (天安 ti_n _n) 466-467 Huangxing (皇兴 huang
x_ng) 467-471 Emperor Xianwen of Northern Wei ((北)魏献文帝) (454━476), personal name Tuoba Hong, was an
emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei. He was the first emperor in Chinese history who, after retiring in
favor of his son Emperor Xiaowen to become Taishang Huang (retired emperor) in 471, continued to hold onto power until
his death in 476 -- when he was killed by his stepmother Empress Dowager Feng over his having executed a lover of
hers. Family background Tuoba Hong was born in 454, as Emperor Wencheng's oldest son. His mother was Consort Li,
who had previously been captured in war and had become a concubine of Tuoba Ren (拓拔仁) the Prince of Yongchang,
a distant relative of Emperor Wencheng, who was executed in 453 after having been accused of crimes. After Tuoba
Ren's death, she was seized and taken into the palace, where she became Emperor Wencheng's concubine. In 456,
Emperor Wencheng created Tuoba Hong crown prince -- and, at the same time, according to Northern Wei customs,
ordered Consort Li to commit suicide. Reign Under Yifu Hun's regency In 465, Emperor Wencheng died, and the 11year-old Crown Prince Hong ascended the throne as Emperor Xianwen. Emperor Wencheng's wife Empress Feng was
honored as empress dowager, and Emperor Xianwen's deceased mother Consort Li was posthumously honored as
Empress Yuan. Power soon fell into the hands of the official Yifu Hun, who assumed dictatorial powers and killed a large
number of other officials, including Yang Baoping (杨保平), Jia Airen (贾爱仁) the Duke of Pingyang, and Zhang Tiandu (
张天度), Qiumuling Duohou (丘穆陵多侯), Tuoba Yu (拓拔郁) the Duke of Shunyang, and Emperor Wencheng's prime
minister Buliugu Li. However, in 466, Empress Dowager Feng staged a coup and had Yifu arrested and executed. She
assumed regency herself. Under Empress Dowager Feng's regency Empress Dowager Feng engaged Jia Xiu (贾秀), Gao
Yun, and Gao Lu (高闾) as her assistants in the regency. Later, she also incorporated her brother Feng Xi (冯熙) into the
decision-making circle. Empress Dowager Feng was soon presented with a major opportunity to expand Northern Wei
territory, as also in 466, rival LS had a major dynastic succession struggle after Emperor Qianfei of LS was assassinated
in 465. Emperor Qianfei's uncle Emperor Ming of LS was declared emperor in the capital Jiankang, while his brother Liu
Zixun the Prince of Jin'an was declared emperor in early 466 in Xunyang (寻阳, in modern Jiujiang, Jiangxi). After
Emperor Ming's forces defeated Liu Zixun's and captured and executed Liu Zixun in fall 466, the LS general Xue Andu (薛
安都), the governor of Xu Province (徐州, modern northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui), who had initially declared for Liu
Zixun, was apprehensive that he would be punished by Emperor Ming, and so decided to surrender to Northern Wei, and
soon, he was joined by Bi Zhongjing (毕众敬) the governor of Yan Province (兖州, modern western Shandong) and Chang
Zhenqi (常珍奇) the governor of Ru'nan Commandery (汝南, roughly modern Zhumadian, Henan). Empress Dowager
Feng sent the general Weichi Yuan (尉迟元) to accept the surrenders of these LS generals and to secure the region just
north of the Huai River, and Weichi subsequently defeated two attempts by Emperor Ming to recapture those provinces.
She also sent the general Murong Baiyao (慕容白曜) to attack and try to capture LS's Qing (青州, modern central and
eastern Shandong) and Ji (冀州, modern northwestern Shandong) Provinces, which were cut off from the rest of LS after
Xue's defection, and by 469, both provinces fell into Northern Wei hands, and all of the regions north of the Huai River
was by now Northern Wei territory. In 467, Emperor Xianwen's concubine Consort Li -- a daughter of his uncle Li Hui (李
惠) and therefore his cousin -- bore his oldest child Tuoba Hong (different character than his own), and Empress Dowager
Feng personally raised the young prince. She soon terminated her regency and returned imperial powers to Emperor
Xianwen, who was 13 years old at this point. After assuming imperial authority As emperor, Emperor Xianwen was
described as hardworking and appropriate in his awards and punishments -- in particular, in promoting honest officials and
demoting corrupt ones, and it was said that only starting in his reign were Northern Wei officials praised for being honest.
He was also said to be heavily into studies of religions and philosophies, including both Taoism and Buddhism. In 469,
Emperor Xianwen created Tuoba Hong crown prince. As Tuoba Hong's mother Consort Li died the same year and was
described in traditional histories to be missed by all in the palace, she was probably forced to commit suicide pursuant to
Northern Wei customs. In 470, resentful that Murong Baiyao had flattered Yifu Hun while Yifu was in power, Emperor
Xianwen, in an act that appeared to be uncharacteristic for his reign, falsely accused Murong Baiyao of treason and put
him and his son Murong Ruyi (慕容如意) to death. Also in 470, an event would damage Emperor Xianwen's relationship
with his stepmother Empress Dowager Feng. Empress Dowager Feng had taken the official Li Yi (李奕) as her lover. In
470, the official Li Xin (李欣), who was a close friend of Li Yi's brother Li Fu (李敷), was accused of corruption, and
Emperor Xianwen became aware of the accusations even though Li Fu tried to suppress the reports. He had known about
his stepmother's relationship with Li Yi and, while he had not taken any actions against it at that point, disapproved of it.
He sented Li Xin to death, but then informed Li Xin that if he could report on crimes that Li Fu and Li Yi had committed, he
would be spared. After initial reluctance, Li Xin did so, and another man named Fan Biao (范标) also did so. Emperor
Xianwen then executed Li Fu and Li Xin. Empress Dowager Feng became resentful of Emperor Xianwen after that point.
In 471, because of Emperor Xianwen's philosophical interests, he wanted to leave the throne to spend more time on his
studies. He wanted to pass his throne to his uncle Tuoba Zitui (拓拔子推) the Prince of Jingzhao, who was highly praised
by all officials. He therefore summoned an imperial council to discuss the matter. The officials largely opposed Emperor
Xianwen's proposal, and suggested instead that if Emperor Xianwen wanted to leave the throne, he should pass the
throne to Crown Prince Hong. He therefore did so, and the four-year-old crown prince took the throne as Emperor
Xiaowen. Emperor Xianwen himself took the title of Taishang Huangdi (retired emperor). As retired emperor As retired
emperor, however, Emperor Xianwen continued to be in control of the imperial regime, and all important matters were still
submitted to him. He spent much time on criminal law matters, and during this time, the criminal cases generally were
paid more attention, and while they took longer to process, the results were considered more just. In 476, still resentful of
Emperor Xianwen, Empress Dowager Feng killed him. (Most historians, including Sima Guang, believed that she
poisoned him, but another version indicated that Empress Dowager Feng readied assassins who, when Emperor Xianwen
came to her palace to greet her, seized and smothered him.) She assumed regency over Emperor Xiaowen.
Era names
* Tian'an (天安 ti_n _n) 466-467
* Huangxing (皇兴 huang x_ng) 467-471
Personal information
* Father
o Emperor Wencheng of Northern Wei
* Mother
o Consort Li (forced to commit suicide 456), posthumously honored as Empress Yuan
* Major Concubines[1]
o Consort Li (d. 469[2]), mother of Prince Hong, daughter of Li Hui (李惠) the Prince of Nan Commandery,
posthumously honored as Empress Si
o Consort Feng or Shiben, mother of Prince Xi
o Consort Han or Budahan, mother of Princes Gan and Yong
o Consort Meng, mother of Prince Yu
o Consort Poduolo or Pan, mother of Prince Xie
o Consort Gao, mother of Prince Xiang
* Children
o Tuoba Hong (拓拔宏), the Crown Prince (created 469), later Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei
o Tuoba Xi (拓拔禧), the Prince of Xianyang (created 485, forced to commit suicide 501)
o Tuoba Gan (拓拔干) (b. 469), initially the Prince of Henan (created 485, later Prince Ling of Zhao Commandery
(created 494, d. 499)
o Tuoba Yu (拓拔羽) (b. 470), Prince Hui of Guangling (created 485, died from injuries inflicted by lover's husband
501)
o Tuoba Yong (拓拔雍), initially the Prince of Yingchuan (created 485), later Prince Wenmu of Gaoyang (created
494, killed by Erzhu Rong 528)
o Tuoba Xie (拓拔勰), initially the Prince of Shipping (created 485), later Prince Wuxuan of Pengcheng (created
496, forced to commit suicide 508), posthumously honored as Emperor Wenmu
o Tuoba Xiang (拓拔详), Prince Ping of Beihai (created 485, d. 504)
o Princess Changshan
o Princess Leliang
o Princess Pengcheng
o Princess Le'an
1. ^ Despite the substantial length of his reign, Emperor Xianwen never created an empress. The reason is unknown.
2. ^ Consort Li was probably forced to commit suicide pursuant to Northern Wei customs as the mother of the crown
prince, as it was that year that her son was created crown prince, but historical accounts are not conclusive on the matter.
7) Xiao4(filial) Wen(culture) Di 孝文帝 Yuan2 Hong2(great)元宏471-499 Yanxing (延兴 yan x_ng) 471-476
Chengming (承明 cheng ming) 476 Taihe (太和 tii he) 477-499 Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei ((北)魏孝文帝) (467
━499), personal name ne Tuoba Hong (拓拔宏), later Yuan Hong (元宏), was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty
Northern Wei.
Emperor Xiaowen implemented a drastic policy of sinicization, intending to centralize the government and make the multiethnic state more easy to govern. These policies included changing artistic styles to reflect Chinese preferences and
forcing the population to speak the language and to wear Chinese clothes. He compelled his own Xianbei people and
others to adopt Chinese surnames, and changed his own family surname from Tuoba to Yuan. He also encouraged
intermarriage between Xianbei and Han. In 494, Emperor Xiaowen moved the Northern Wei capital from Pingcheng (平城,
in modern Datong, Shanxi) to Luoyang, a city long acknowledged as a major center in Chinese history. The shift in the
capital was mirrored by a shift in tactics from active defense to passive defense against the Rouran. While the capital was
moved to Luoyang, the military elite remained centered at the old capital, widening the differences between the
administration and the military. The population at the old capital remained fiercely conservative, while the population at
Luoyang were much more eager to adopt Xiaowen's policies of sinicization. His reforms were met with resistance by the
Xianbei elite. In 496, two plots by Xianbei nobles, one centered around his crown prince Yuan Xun, and one centered
around his distant uncle Yuan Yi (元颐). By 497, Xiaowen had destroyed the conspiracies and forced Yuan Xun to commit
suicide. Unfortunately for Emperor Xiaowen, his sinicization policies had their downsides─namely, he adopted the Jin
Dynasty social stratification methods[citation needed], leading to incompetent nobles being put into positions of power
while capable men of low birth not being able to advance in his government. Further, his wholesale adoption of Han
culture and fine arts caused the nobles to be corrupt in order to afford the lifestyles of the Han elite, leading to further
erosion to effective rule. By the time of his grandson Emperor Xiaoming, Northern Wei was in substantial upheaval due to
agrarian revolts, and by 534 had been divided into two halves, each of which would soon be taken over by warlords. One
of Xiaowen's enduring legacies was the establishment of the equal-field system in China, a system of government-allotted
land that would last until the An Shi Rebellion in the mid Tang Dynasty (618-907). Early life and regency of Emperor
Xianwen Tuoba Hong was born in 467, when his father Emperor Xianwen was himself young─at the age of 13, and not
yet ruling by himself, but instead was emperor under the regency of Emperor Xianwen's stepmother Empress Dowager
Feng. Tuoba Hong was Emperor Xianwen's oldest son. His mother Consort Li was the daughter of Li Hui, a mid-level
official at the time, who was a brother of Emperor Xianwen's mother. Empress Dowager Feng, following Tuoba Hong's
birth, ended her regency and returned power to Emperor Xianwen, while spending her time raising Tuoba Hong. In 469, at
age two, Tuoba Hong was created crown prince. That same year, his mother Consort Li died─and while traditional
histories did not describe how she died, it appeared likely that she was forced to commit suicide according to the Northern
Wei tradition of forcing crown princes' mothers to commit suicide, for it was written that the entire palace mourned her
bitterly.
In 471, Emperor Xianwen, who favored Taoist and Buddhist philosophies, tired of the throne, and considered passing the
throne to his uncle Tuoba Zitui (拓拔子推) the Prince of Jingzhao. After opposition by virtually all high level officials,
however, Emperor Xianwen was still resolved to pass the throne to someone else, but decided to instead yield the throne
to Crown Prince Hong. He subsequently did so, and Crown Prince Hong took the throne as Emperor Xiaowen, while
Emperor Xianwen took the title of Taishang Huang (retired emperor), although, due to Emperor Xiaowen's young age,
Emperor Xianwen continued to be in actual control of important matters. When needed on the frontlines against Rouran,
he conducted military campaigns himself, while leaving important officials in charge of the capital Pingcheng (平城, in
modern Datong, Shanxi) with Emperor Xiaowen. In 476, Empress Dowager Feng, resentful that Emperor Xianwen had put
her lover Li Yi (李奕) to death in 470, had him assassinated. (Most historians, including Sima Guang, believed that she
poisoned him, but another version indicated that Empress Dowager Feng readied assassins who, when Emperor Xianwen
came to her palace to greet her, seized and smothered him.) She assumed regency over Emperor Xiaowen and assumed
the title of Grand Empress Dowager.
Regency of Grand Empress Dowager Feng After Grand Empress Dowager Feng reassumed regency, she was said to be
more dictatorial than she was before, but intelligent in her decisions and frugal in her living. Not only was she highly
literate, but she also was capable in mathematics. However, she trusted several eunuchs and permitted them to interfere
in governmental matters. Further, she greatly promoted her lovers Wang Rui (王□) and Li Chong (李冲) -- both of whom
were apparently talented officials, but whose promotions were beyond what their talents and contributions called for. She
balanced her reputation by also promoting some honored officials who were not her lovers. Because she was concerned
that she would be criticized for what was seen as immoral conduct, she punished those whom she perceived to be
criticizing her or parodying her behavior with severe punishment, including death. One of her victims was Li Xin, who had
contributed to her prior lover Li Yi's death, as she had Li Xin put to death in 477. Fearful that Emperor Xiaowen's mother's
clan would try to take power, she falsely accused his grandfather Li Hui (李惠) the Prince of Nan Commandery of treason
in 478 and had him and his clan slaughtered. She apparently accelerated the policy of Sinicization, which included social
stratification, as she issued an edict in 478 requiring people to marry in their social classes. In 479, after rival LS's throne
was usurped by the general Xiao Daocheng, who established Southern Qi as its Emperor Gao, Northern Wei
commissioned Liu Chang (刘昶) the Prince of Danyang, a LS prince who had fled to Northern Wei in 465, with an army
and promising him support to rebuild LS. However, Liu Chang's abilities were not up to task, and he was never able to
gain much following in the border regions to mount a major drive to reestablish LS. By 481, the campaign had fizzled. Also
in 481, the Buddhist monk Faxiu (法秀) tried to start a popular uprising at Pingcheng, but was discovered, captured, and
executed. Some officials advocating the execution of all Buddhist monks, but Grand Empress Dowager Feng refused.
Also that year, she started the building of her future tomb at Fang Mountain (方山), near Pingcheng, leaving instructions
that after she died that it would be unnecessary for her to be buried with her husband Emperor Wengcheng, who was
buried near the old Northern Wei capital Shengle (盛乐, in modern Hohhot, Inner Mongolia). Later that year, a new
criminal code that she commissioned Gao Lu to write was completed─with 832 sections, 16 of them prescribing clanslaughter as penalty, 235 of them prescribing personal death penalty, and 377 prescribing other forms of punishment. He
also introduced to China the cultures of South Korea, including constellation creation and pop music. As the years went
by, as Emperor Xiaowen grew in age, he appeared[weasel words] to gradually assume more and more power. Sometime
during the process, Grand Empress Dowager Feng apparently became apprehensive of his abilities and therefore had
him detained and considered deposing him in favor of his brother Tuoba Xi (拓拔禧), but after her attendants persuaded
her otherwise, she did not carry out such actions. While Grand Empress Dowager Feng never formally returned imperial
powers to him, by about 483 he appeared to be fairly in control of the government, although Grand Empress Dowager
Feng continued to retain substantial powers. Indeed, it was by her order that that year, after Emperor Xiaowen's
concubine Consort Lin bore his oldest son, Tuoba Xun, that Consort Lin was forced to commit suicide pursuant to
Northern Wei customs. She raised Tuoba Xun herself. In 485, after Emperor Xiaowen created his younger brothers
princes, Grand Empress Dowager Feng established an imperial school for these princes. In 486, perhaps as both a sign
of Sinicization and demonstration of Emperor Xiaowen's authority, he began to assume traditional Chinese imperial
clothing, including a robe with dragon patterns and a tassled hat. As Emperor Xiaowen was raised by Grand Empress
Dowager Feng, he also became very close to the family of her brother Feng Xi (冯熙). For some time, he took two of his
daughters as concubines, but one of them soon died of illness, and the other, Consort Feng Run, also suffered a major
illness and was sent back to her father house, where she became a Buddhist nun. The power-sharing arrangement
between stepgrandmother and stepgrandson could perhaps be illustrated by an incident in 489, when Emperor
Wencheng's younger brothers Tuoba Tianci (拓拔天赐) the Prince of Ruyin and Tuoba Zhen (拓拔桢) the Prince of Nan'an
were accused of corruption, a death offense. Grand Empress Dowager Feng and Emperor Xiaowen jointly convened an
imperial council to discuss their punishment. Grand Empress Dowager Feng opened by asking the officials, "Do you
believe that we should care about familial relations and destroy law, or to disregard familial relations and follow the law?"
The officials largely pleaded for the princes' lives. After Grand Empress Dowager Feng fell silent, Emperor Xiaowen
stated: "What the two princes committed is unpardonable, but the Grand Empress Dowager takes after the brotherly love
that Gaozong [Emperor Wengcheng's Temple name] had. Further, the Prince of Nan'an is filially pious toward his mother.
Therefore, the two will be spared the death penalty, but their offices and titles will be stripped from them, and they will be
reduced to commoner status with no political rights." In 490, Grand Empress Dowager Feng died, and she was buried with
magnificent honors. Emperor Xiaowen was so distraught that he was unable to take in food or water for five days, and
subsequently observed a three-year mourning period for her, notwithstanding officials' pleas for him to shorten the
mourning period in accordance with rules that Emperor Wen of Han had set. Early personal reign After Grand Empress
Dowager Feng's death, Emperor Xiaowen not only continued the sinicization campaign, but carried it out in earnest,
changing many laws and customs of the Northern Wei states to conform with Han, particularly Confucian, customs. While
he sought out his mother Consort Li's cousins (Consort Li's brothers had been executed with their father Li Hui) and
rewarded them with relatively low offices, he later retracted the rewards, bringing criticism that he was treating the Fengs
with too much kindness and not treating the Lis with sufficient kindness. in 492, in conformance with past dynasties'
tradition, Emperor Xiaowen demoted the many princes in the state, unless they were descendants of the dynasty founder
Emperor Daowu, to the titles of duke, with two exceptions: Baba Guan (拔拔观) the Prince of Shangdang, because of the
great accomplishments of his grandfather Baba Daosheng (拔拔道生), was allowed to remain prince; and the former LS
prince Liu Chang the Prince of Danyang, while having his own rank reduced to Duke of Qi Commandery, was given a
special title, which appeared to be non-inheritable, of Prince of Song. In 493, Emperor Xiaowen married another daughter
of Feng Xi, Feng Qing, as empress. Also in 493, Emperor Xiaowen began the first of a number of campaigns that he
would conduct against Southern Qi -- although in the case of this campaign, it was intended to instead allow him to move
the capital from Pingcheng south to the Han heartland of Luoyang, to further his sinicization campaign. As he reached
Luoyang in the late fall, he ordered a continued advance despite heavy rains, and then, when the Xianbei officials who
opposed the campaign tried again to stop him, he offered a compromise─that the capital be moved to Luoyang, and the
campaign be abandoned. The officials agreed. He also entrusted the matters of changing Xianbei ceremonies and music
to Han ceremonies to the official Wang Su (王肃), who had only recently defected from Southern Qi. in 494, Emperor
Xiaowen made a return to Pingcheng, and, for reasons that are not clear, reopened the discussions on whether to move
the capital to Luoyang. This time, the Xianbei officials largely opposed the move, but Emperor Xiaowen overruled them
and continued moving the governmental agencies to Luoyang, although maintaining a fairly substantial governmental
presence at Pingcheng for it to serve as the secondary capital. To alleviate the concerns that the move from Pingcheng to
Luoyang would cause a supply shortage of horses and other livestock, he had the general Yuwen Fu (宇文福) set up a
large livestock grazing zone at Heyang (河阳, in modern Jiaozuo and Xinxiang, Henan).
Late personal reign Late in 494, under the stated reason that Southern Qi's Emperor Ming had usurped the throne (from
his grandnephew Xiao Zhaowen), Emperor Xiaowen prepared a major campaign against Southern Qi, departing Luoyang
about new year 495. He initially put the important cities Shouyang (寿阳, in modern Lu'an, Anhui) and Yiyang (义阳, in
modern Xinyang, Henan) under siege, but could not capture them easily, and battles that his armies conducted against
Southern Qi armies were largely indecisive. By late spring 495, he abandoned the campaign. In summer 495, Emperor
Xiaowen issued a number of edicts that made what was stated policy official law─that Xianbei clothing and language be
prohibited, and that the Han clothing and language be used instead. (An exemption was given to those over 30.) In spring
496, he also ordered that the Xianbei family names be changed to Han ones, changing his own clan's name from Tuoba
to Yuan. He also strengthened the social stratefication that had already been underway for some time, making eight
Xianbei clans and five Han clans particularly honored, and ordering that all political offices be given by clan status, not by
abilities, despite heavy opposition by his official Li Chong. The particularly honored clans were:
* Xianbei
o Mu (穆, originally Qiumuling)
o Lu (陆, originally Buliugu)
o He (贺, originally Helai)
o Liu (刘, originally Dugu)
o Lou (楼, originally Helou)
o Yu (于, originally Wuniuyu)
o Xi (奚, originally Daxi)
o Yu (尉, originally Yuchi)
* Han
o Lu (卢)
o Cui (崔)
o Zheng (郑)
o Wang (王)
o Li (李)
Emperor Xiaowen went as far as ordering his six younger brothers to demote their current wives to concubine status, and
taking the daughters of officials from the five Han clans to be their new wives, an action heavily criticized by historians.
Sometime prior to fall 496, Emperor Xiaowen had, perhaps due to recommendation from Empress Feng, welcomed her
older sister Feng Run back to the palace to again be his concubine, and Feng Run, believing herself to be the older sister,
refused to yield to Empress Feng and began to find ways to undermine her position. In summer 496, Emperor Xiaowen
deposed Empress Feng, who then went to Yaoguang Temple (瑶光寺) and became a Buddhist nun. Also in fall 496, the
crown prince Yuan Xun, who did not adjust well to Han customs or the much hotter weather in Luoyang, plotted with his
followers to flee back to Pingcheng, perhaps to hold that city against his father. His plot, however, was discovered, and
Emperor Xiaowen, after asking his brother Yuan Xi (元禧) the Prince of Xianyang to cane Yuan Xun with him, deposed
Yuan Xun. However, a second plot quickly arose, organized by the officials Mu Tai (穆泰) and Lu Rui (陆□), who intended
to again hold the northern regions against the emperor. However, their plot was revealed by Emperor Xiaowen's distant
uncle Yu Yi (元颐) the Prince of Yangping, whom they had intended to make their leader but who had only pretended to
go along with their plot. Emperor Xiaowen sent a force commanded by his cousin Yuan Cheng (元澄) the Prince of
Rencheng to Pingcheng, putting down the plot before it started in earnest, and putting Mu and Lu to death. In spring 497,
Emperor Xiaowen created another son, Yuan Ke, crown prince. Believing in reports by the official Li Biao (李彪), who then
had the former Crown Prince Xun under house arrest, that Yuan Xun was still plotting rebellion, he forced Yuan Xun to
commit suicide. In fall 497, Emperor Xiaowen created Feng Run to be empress, and when Yuan Ke's mother Consort Gao
subsequently died, common bellief was that Empress Feng had her secretly poisoned so that she could raise Yuan Ke
herself. Also in fall 497, Emperor Xiaowen launched another major attack against Southern Qi, this time first concentrating
on the city Wancheng (宛城, in modern Nanyang, Henan). While he was able to capture Wancheng and Xinye (新野, also
in modern Nanyang), the battles were still largely indecisive. During his absence, a major conflict erupted between Li
Chong and Li Biao in the capital Luoyang, and Li Chong, after putting Li Biao under arrest, died in anger. Partly because
of this and partly because, once Southern Qi's Emperor Ming died in fall 498, that he should not continue to attack a
country that was mourning for its emperor, he ended the campaign in fall 498. At that same time, he himself was falling ill,
and he entrusted the important matters to his brother Yuan Xie the Prince of Pengcheng, although he subsequently
recovered and was able to return to Luoyang. Meanwhile, however, in Emperor Xiaowen's absence, Empress Feng had
been carrying on an affair with the attendant Gao Pusa (高菩萨). When she, also in Emperor Xiaowen's absence, tried to
force Emperor Xiaowen's sister Princess Pengcheng, whose husband Liu Chengxu (刘承绪, Liu Chang's son) had died
earlier, to marry her brother Feng Su (冯夙) the Duke of Beiping, Princess Pengcheng fled out of Luoyang and arrived at
Emperor Xiaowen's camp, accusing Empress Feng of adultery. Once Emperor Xiaowen arrived back in Luoyang, he
arrested Gao and Empress Feng's assistant Shuang Meng (双蒙) and interrogated them. He then interrogated Empress
Feng personally as well, concluding that she had in fact committed adultery. However, claiming that he did not want to
shame the Feng clan, he did not depose her, but refused to see her again and also ordered Crown Prince Ke to not to see
her again either. Emperor Xiaowen, despite his own weakened physical state, then decided to again advance south to
react against a retaliation campaign by the Southern Qi general Chen Xianda (陈显达). He was able to repel and defeat
Chen, but while on the campaign, he died. Yuan Xie and Yuan Cheng kept his death secret until his body could be
returned to Luoyang, and then announced his death. Yuan Ke succeeded to the throne as Emperor Xuanwu. By Emperor
Xiaowen's will, Empress Feng was forced to commit suicide.
8) XuanWuDi 宣武帝 Yuan Ke 元恪 499-515 Jingming (景明 j_ng ming) 500-503
Zhengshi (正始 zheng sh_) 504-508 Yongping (永平 y_ng ping) 508-512
Yanchang (延昌 yan ch_ng) 512-515 Tuoba Ke (拓拔恪), later Yuan Ke (元恪) (483 ━ February 9, 515[1]) was known as
Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei ((北)魏宣武帝) during the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei. During Xuanwu's
reign, Northern Wei appeared, outwardly, to be at its prime, but there was much political infighting and corruption,
particularly by Xuanwu's uncle Gao Zhao. Xuanwu was an avid Buddhist, and during his reign Buddhism effectively
became the state religion, as Xuanwu himself often personally lectured on the Buddhist sutras. Background Tuoba Ke
was born in 483, as the second son of Emperor Xiaowen. His mother was Xiaowen's concubine Consort, Gao Zhaorong.
(As he was born the same year as his older brother Tuoba Xun, he was probably born just briefly after Tuoba Xun, whose
mother was Consort Lin.) Little is known about his childhood, including whether he was raised by his mother Gao or not.
In 496, Xiaowen changed the name of the imperial clan from Tuoba to Yuan, and thereafter he would be known as Yuan
Ke. In fall 496, Yuan Xun, who was then crown prince, but who could not endure the hot weather of the capital Luoyang
after Xiaowen moved the capital there from Pingcheng (平城, in modern Datong, Shanxi) in 494, plotted to flee back to
Pingcheng with his followers, but his plot was discovered. Xiaowen deposed him, and in 497 created Yuan Ke crown
prince to replace Yuan Xun. (The creation was in Luoyang, but it is unclear whether prior to his creation, Yuan Xun was at
Luoyang or Pingcheng.) Later that year, Gao, who was in Pingcheng, travelled south to rejoin her son in Luoyang, but she
died on the way. Historians generally believe that she was murdered by Xiaowen's wife, Empress Feng Run, who wanted
to raise Yuan Ke herself. Whether she was actually able to do so is unclear, but after she was discovered to have carried
on an affair with her attendant Gao Pusa (高菩萨) in 499, she was put under house arrest, and Xiaowen ordered Yuan Ke
to have no more contact with her. Later in 499, Xiaowen, while on a campaign against rival Southern Qi, grew ill and died.
Xiaowen's brother Yuan Xie the Prince of Pengcheng was put into command of the withdrawing army on an emergency
basis, and Yuan Xie kept Xiaowen's death a secret while summoning Yuan Ke to join the army. Yuan Ke's attendants
largely suspected Yuan Xie of wanting to take the throne himself, but Yuan Xie, once he met Yuan Ke, showed great
deference to Yuan Ke, convincing Yuan Ke of his loyalty. Yuan Ke, at age 16, then took the throne as Xuanwu at Luyang (
鲁阳, in modern Pingdingshan, Henan), before the army could return to Luoyang.
[edit] Early reign Xuanwu initially wanted to make Yuan Xie, who was popular and well-regarded, prime minister, but Yuan
Xie refused, and was made a provincial governor instead. The governmental affairs were largely in the hands of six
officials: Xiaowen's brothers Yuan Xi (元禧) the Prince of Xianyang and Yuan Xiang (元详) the Prince of Beihai, Xiaowen's
cousin Yuan Cheng (元澄) the Prince of Rencheng, Xiaowen's distant uncle Yuan Jia (元嘉) the Prince of Guangyang,
and the officials Wang Su (王肃) and Song Bian (宋弁), although Yuan Cheng was soon stripped of his post because he
falsely arrested Wang on suspicion of treason. By 500, Xuanwu recalled Yuan Xie to be prime minister. Xuanwu, once he
returned to Luoyang, posthumously honored his mother Gao as an empress, and he created his maternal uncles Gao
Zhao and Gao Xian (高显), as well as his cousin Gao Meng (高猛), none of wom he had previously met, dukes. Gao
Zhao, in particular, became increasingly powerful during Xuanwu's reign. In 500, with Southern Qi in disarray because of
the tyrannical rule of its emperor Xiao Baojuan, Northern Wei annexed the important city of Shouyang (寿阳, in modern
Lu'an, Anhui) when the Southern Qi general Pei Shuye (裴叔业) surrendered the city to Northern Wei in fear of adverse
actions by Xiao Baojuan. However, Northern Wei did not take further actions when Southern Qi was subsequently thrown
into civil war during the rebellions of the generals Cui Huijing (崔慧景) and Xiao Yan. In 501, the general Yu Lie (于烈) and
Yuan Xiang warned Xuanwu that Yuan Xi was growing corrupt and Yuan Xie was growing too popular, and suggested
that they be relieved of their posts. Xuanwu did so, and formally personally took over governmental matters, but at his
age, he could not actually properly handle governmental affairs himself, so his trusted attendants and Gao Zhao began to
become growingly powerful and corrupt. Traditional historians generally regard this as the starting point of Northern Wei's
decline. Late in 501, Yuan Xi, displeased that his power wa being stripped and fearful that he would be killed, plotted a
rebellion to secede with the provinces south of the Yellow River. His plot was discovered, however, and he was executed.
From this point on, Xuanwu grew increasingly suspicious of members of the imperial clan. Later in 501, Xuanwu created
Yu Lie's niece, Consort Yu, empress. Later that year, with Xiao Yan's forces crushing Xiao Baojuan's, Xuanwu's general
Yuan Ying (元英) suggested that a major attack be launched against Southern Qi to take advantage of Southern Qi's civil
war. However, Xuanwu only authorized small scale attacks, which were generally fruitless. Xiao Yan soon defeated Xiao
Baojuan and by 502 had overthrown Southern Qi and established Liang Dynasty as its Emperor Wu. The Liang general
Chen Bozhi (陈伯之) subsequently tried to surrender Jiang Province (江州, modern Jiangxi and Fujian) to Northern Wei,
but Liang forces defeated both Chen and the Northern Wei forces sent to reinforce him, and Chen fled to Northern Wei.
For the next few years, however, there would continually be war between the two rivals, particularly with Northern Wei
creating Southern Qi's prince Xiao Baoyin, who fled Southern Qi as Xiao Yan was beginning to kill members of the
Southern Qi imperial clan, as the Prince of Qi and announcing that it would help him reestablish Southern Qi.
In 504, Xuan Xiang, who had taken over Yuan Xi's posts, was accused by Gao Zhao of corruption. He was demoted to
commoner rank, and died soon thereafter. At Gao's suggestion and despite Yuan Xie's opposition, Xuanwu subsequently
put the imperial princes under heavy guard, effectively putting them under house arrest. Meanwhile, the wars with Liang
continued, and while both sides had gains and losses, Northern Wei made a substantial gain in 505 when the Liang
general Xiaohou Daoqian (夏侯道迁) surrendered Nanzheng (南郑, in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi), as well as the
surrounding region, to Northern Wei, which further annexed the semi-independent state Chouchi in spring 506. In winter
505, Liang launched a major counterattack on the eastern part of the border, commanded by Emperor Wu's brother Xiao
Hong (萧宏) the Prince of Linchuan, but with Xiao Hong being an incompetent general, who mishandled a night terror
situation in summer 506, while his army was at Luokou (洛口, in modern Bengbu, Anhui), the Liang forces collapsed by
themselves without engaging Northern Wei forces. Yuan Ying and Xiao Baoyin followed up by attacking the Liang fortress
Zhongli (钟离, in modern Chuzhou, Anhui), but were dealt a crushing defeat by the Liang general Wei Rui (韦□) in spring
507. The two states largely stopped their military activities against each other after that point. In winter 507, Empress Yu
died suddenly, and in early 508, her young son Yuan Chang (元昌), Xuanwu's only son by that point, died suddenly as
well. Because Gao Zhao was exceeding powerful by that point, and his niece Consort Gao was Xuanwu's favorite
concubine, it was largely suspected that Gao Zhao and Gao murdered them, but there was no conclusive proof. In 508,
Xuanwu created Gao empress to replace Yu, despite opposition by Yuan Xie, and from this point on Gao Zhao became
resentful of Yuan Xie. Late reign In fall 508, Xuanwu's younger brother Yuan Yu (元愉) the Prince of Jingzhao, who had
just been demoted by Xuanwu for corruption, became angry at both his demotion and that his favorite consort Lady Li had
been severely battered by Empress Yu briefly before Empress Yu's death (because Yuan Yu's wife was Empress Yu's
sister but was unfavored by him), declared a rebellion at his provincial post of Xindu (信都, in modern Hengshui, Hebei)
and proclaimed himself emperor. Gao Zhao used this opportunity to falsely accuse Yuan Xie of acting in concert with both
Yuan Yu (because Yuan Yu had forced Yuan Xie's uncle Pan Senggu (潘僧固) into joining his rebellion) and Liang
Dynasty. Xuanwu believed Gao, and forced Yuan Xie to commit suicide. The populace and the officials greatly mourned
Yuan Xie's death, and grew increasingly resentful of Gao. Soon, Yuan Yu's rebellion was defeated, and while Xuanwu
contemplated not putting Yuan Yu to death, Yuan Yu was killed on Gao's orders. In 510, Xuanwu's concubine Consort Hu
gave birth to a son, Yuan Xu. Because Xuanwu had lost multiple sons in childhood by that point, he carefully selected
several experienced mothers to serve as Yuan Xu's wet nurses, and disallowed both Gao and Hu from seeing him. In
winter 512, Xuanwu created Yuan Xu crown prince, and, abolishing the Northern Wei custom that the crown prince's
mother must be forced to commit suicide, he did not force Hu to commit suicide. During these years, Northern Wei and
Liang continued to have relatively minor border battles, with each side having gains and losses. In 514, however, Xuanwu
commissioned Gao Zhao to launch a major attack against Liang's Yi Province (益州, modern Sichuan and Chongqing).
Soon thereafter, however, in spring 515, he died suddenly, and Yuan Xu succeeded him (as Emperor Xiaoming). Yuan
Cheng, Xuanwu's brother Yuan Yong the Prince of Gaoyang, and Yu Lie's son Yu Zhong seized power and, after recalling
Gao, put him to death, and Gao was removed. Xiaoming's mother Hu became empress dowager and regent. Burial
Xuanwu was buried north of Luoyang. His tomb is now open to the public as part of the Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum.
9) Xiao Ming Di 孝明帝 Yuan Xu 元诩 516-528 Xiping (熙平 x_ ping) 516-518 Shengui (神龟 shen gu_) 518-520
Zhengguang (正光 zheng gu_ng) 520-525
Xiaochang (孝昌 xiao ch_ng) 525-527 Wutai (武泰 w_ tai) 528 Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei ((北)魏孝明帝) (510
━ March 31, 528[1]), personal name Yuan Xu (元诩), was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei. Due
to his young age (five) when he ascended the throne at 515, governmental matters were dominated by his mother
Empress Dowager Hu (with an intervening regency by the official Yuan Cha from 520 to 525), whose overly lenient
attitude toward officials' corruptions spurred many agrarian rebellions that threw essentially the entire state into war. In
528, Emperor Xiaoming tried to curb his mother's powers and kill her lover Zheng Yan (郑俨) by conspiring with the
general Erzhu Rong, and Empress Dowager Hu killed him. Soon, Erzhu overthrew her, and from that point on, Northern
Wei emperors no longer had full actual authority. Background Yuan Xu was born in 510. He was the only son of Emperor
Xuanwu to be alive at that point. (Emperor Xuanwu had other sons before him, but each died in infancy or childhood, and
only one of them, Yuan Chang (元昌), the son of Emperor Xuanwu's first wife Empress Yu, had a name known to
historians.) Yuan Xu's mother was Emperor Xuanwu's concubine Consort Hu. Because Emperor Xuanwu had lost other
sons previously, he paid special attention to Yuan Xu's rearing, and he selected several experienced mothers to be Yuan
Xu's wet nurses, forbidding his second wife Empress Gao and Consort Hu to be near him, perhaps because popular
opinion at the time believed Yuan Chang to have been murdered by Empress Gao's (and Emperor Xuanwu's) uncle, Gao
Zhao. In winter 512, Emperor Xuanwu created Yuan Xu crown prince. Contrary to Northern Wei's tradition of putting the
crown prince's mother to death at the time of creation, Emperor Xuanwu spared Consort Hu.
In 515, Emperor Xuanwu died suddenly, and Yuan Xu succeeded him (as Emperor Xiaoming). The official Yu Zhong and
the imperial princes Yuan Yong the Prince of Gaoyang and Yuan Cheng (元澄) the Prince of Rencheng seized power
from Empress Gao and, after ambushing and killing Gao Zhao, replaced Empress Gao as empress dowager with Consort
Hu. Empress Dowager Hu became regent over the five-year-old emperor. First regency of Empress Dowager Hu
Empress Dowager Hu was considered intelligent, capable of understanding many things quickly, but she was also overly
lenient and tolerant of corruption. For example, in winter 515, the corrupt governor of Qi Province (岐州, roughly modern
Baoji, Shaanxi), Yuan Mi (元谧) the Prince of Zhao, provoked a popular uprising when he killed several people without
reason, and while he was relieved from his post, as soon as he returned to the capital Luoyang, Empress Dowager Hu
made him a minister because his wife was her niece. In Yuan Xu's childhood, Empress Dowager Hu's power, during these
few years, were unchallenged, and while she tolerated -- and, in certain circumstances, encouraged -- criticism, including
rewarding such officials as Yuan Kuang (元匡) the Prince of Dongping and Zhang Puhui (张普惠) for their blunt words, she
was slow to implement suggestions that would curb corruption. Empress Dowager Hu was a fervent Buddhist, and during
this part of the regency, she built magnificent temples in Luoyang. One she built, dedicated to her father Hu Guozhen (胡
国珍) the Duke of Qin, after his death in 518, was particularly beautiful. Because of her influence, Emperor Xiaoming also
became a dedicated Buddhist. In his youth, however, he also favored spending time in imperial gardens rather than
studies or learning about important affairs of state.
In 519, a serious riot occurred in Luoyang, after the official Zhang Zhongyu (张仲□) proposed that the civil service
regulations be changed to disallow soldiers to become civilian officials. The soldiers became angry and stormed both the
ministry of civil service and the mansion of Zhang Zhongyu's father, Zhang Yi (张彝), killing Zhang Yi and serious injuring
Zhang Zhongyu and his brother Zhang Shijun (张始均). Empress Dowager Hu arrested eight leaders of the riot and
executed them, but pardoned the rest, to quell the unrest. She also rejected the proposal to change the civil service
regulations. This event is often seen as the turning point and the start of the unrest that would eventually tear Northern
Wei apart. Despite these events, Empress Dowager Hu continued to tolerate corruption, and she often gave exuberant
awards to officials, draining the treasury; the pressure on the treasury and the burden on the people were further
increased by her orders that each province was to build a tower dedicated to Buddhas. Sometime before 520, Empress
Dowager had forced Emperor Xiaoming's uncle Yuan Yi (元怿) the Prince of Qinghe, who was popular with the people
and the officials because of his abilities and humility, to have an affair with her. Yuan Yi thereafter became the effective
leader of government, and he tried to reorganize the administration to decrease corruption. He particularly tried to curb the
powers of Empress Dowager Hu's brother-in-law Yuan Cha and the eunuch Liu Teng (刘腾). Yuan Cha therefore falsely
accused him of treason, but he was cleared after an investigation. Fearful of reprisals, Yuan Cha and Liu convinced
Emperor Xiaoming that Yuan Yi was trying to poison him and carried out a coup against Empress Dowager Hu and Yuan
Yi, killing Yuan Yi and putting Empress Dowager Hu under house arrest. Yuan Yong became titular regent, but Yuan Cha
became the actual power.
Regency of Yuan Cha Yuan Cha was not particularly able as a regent, and he and Liu multiplied their corruption once
they were in power. Yuan Cha himself was not dedicated at all to the affairs of state, but spent much of his time on
feasting, drinking, and women. He put his father Yuan Ji and his brothers into positions of power, and they were just as
corrupt. Yuan Cha's incompetence and corruption, together with the level of corruption that Empress Dowager Hu herself
tolerated while in power, led to popular dissatisfaction with the regime and many agrarian revolts, although the first revolt
was by a non-agrarian -- Yuan Xi (元熙) the Prince of Zhongshan, who was friendly with both Empress Dowager Hu and
Yuan Yi -- in fall 520, trying to avenge Yuan Yi and restore Empress Dowager Hu. Yuan Cha quickly had Yuan Xi's
rebellion suppressed.
In late 520, Yuan Cha spent much of Northern Wei's energy on trying to restore Rouran's khan Yujiulu Anagui, who had
been overthrown by his cousin Yujiulu Shifa (郁久闾示发), despite warnings that doing so would either be fruitless or
counterproductive. The restoration was successful, but by 523 Yujiulu Anagui had rebelled and an enemy to Northern Wei
again. In spring 521, the general Xi Kangsheng (奚康生) made an attempt to restore Empress Dowager Hu, but failed.
Yuan Cha had him put to death. In 523, the official Li Chong (李崇) saw that the people of the six northern military
garrisons, largely ethnic Xianbei, who had for generations been forced to stay at those garrisons to defend against Rouran
attacks, were stirring with discontent, and he suggested to Yuan Cha and Emperor Xiaoming that the garrisons be
converted into provinces and that the people be given the rights of the people of other provinces. Yuan Cha refused. Later
that year, the people of Huaihuang (怀荒, in modern Zhangjiakou, Hebei) and Woye (沃野, in modern Baynnur, Inner
Mongolia) Garrisons rebelled -- rebellions that Northern Wei forces could not quickly quell, and the rebellions soon spread
throughout not only the six garrisons but throughout virtually the entire empire. The more important rebels included:
* Poliuhan Baling (破六韩拔陵), with his rebellion concentrated around Woye
* Hu Chen (胡琛), Chile tribal chief, with his rebellion concentrated around Gaoping Garrison (高平, in modern Guyuan,
Ningxia)
* Mozhe Dati (莫折大提), with his rebellion concentrated around Qin Province (秦州, roughly modern Tianshui, Gansu),
later succeeded by his son Mozhe Niansheng (莫折念生), who declared himself Emperor of Qin
In 525, Yuan Faseng (元法僧), the governor of Xu Province (徐州, modern northern Jiangsu), who had been a close
associate of Yuan Cha, believing that Yuan Cha would soon fall, rebelled as well, declaring himself emperor. After some
initial defeats at the hands of Northern Wei forces sent against him, he surrendered his post of Pengcheng (彭城, in
modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu) to Northern Wei's southern rival Liang Dynasty.
By this point, Yuan Cha's precautions against Empress Dowager Hu had been greatly relaxed, particularly after Liu Teng's
death in 523, as he no longer saw her as a threat. Empress Dowager Hu, Emperor Xiaoming, and Yuan Yong therefore
took the chance to conspire against Yuan Cha. Empress Dowager Hu first threw Yuan Cha's guard off by often discussing
about his overly trusting of Yuan Faseng, which caused Yuan Cha to be an apologetic mood. Then, with his agreement,
she relieved him of his command of the imperial guards, replacing him with his associate Hou Gang (侯刚). In summer
525, she took sudden action and declared herself regent again, killing most of Yuan Cha's and Liu's associates and
putting Yuan Cha under house arrest. However, she was initially hesitant to take further action against Yuan Cha,
because of her relationship with her sister. Eventually, however, with popular opinion favoring Yuan Cha's death, she
forced him and his brother Yuan Gua (元瓜) to commit suicide, but still posthumously awarded him much honor. Second
regency of Empress Dowager Hu
Empress Dowager Hu, after resumption of her regency over Emperor Xiaoming, allowed her lover Zheng Yan to assume
great power, and while Yuan Yong and Yuan Lue (元略) the Prince of Dongping (Yuan Xi's brother) were trusted and had
high ranks, Zheng and Zheng's associate Xu Ge (徐纥) were more powerful than they were. The agrarian and other
revolts continued, and during these years, the more chief rebels included:
* Xianyu Xiuli (鲜于修礼), with his rebellion centering Ding Province (定州, roughly modern Baoding, Hebei. After
Xianyu's death, his general Ge Rong (葛荣) took over and became very strong, proclaiming himself the Emperor of Qi
* Xiao Baoyin, son of Emperor Ming of Southern Qi, who sought to reestablish Southern Qi, with his rebellion centering
Chang'an
* Xing Gao (邢杲), with his rebellion centering Beihai (北海, roughly modern Weifang, Shandong)
* Moqi Chounu (万俟丑奴), who took over Hu Chen's army after Hu was killed by Poliuhan Baling
Empress Dowager Hu sent a number of generals against these rebels without much success, and while Xiao Baoyin was
defeated by his own subordinates and forced to flee to Moqi, no other major rebels were defeated by Northern Wei
generals. Exacerbating the situation was the fact that Empress Dowager Hu did not like to hear about news of rebel
successes, and therefore her attendants often made up good news, causing her to often refuse generals' requests for
reinforcements. Several times, Emperor Xiaoming publicly declared that he would personally lead armies against the
rebels, but each time he failed to actually do so. Meanwhile, during these internal troubles that Northern Wei, Liang took
advantage by capturing a number of border cities, including the important city Shouyang (寿阳, in modern Lu'an, Anhui).
The only real military success that Northern Wei had during this time happened in late 525, when it was able to recapture
Pengcheng from Liang -- and the success was fortuitous, as the Liang prince Xiao Zong (萧综), the son of Emperor Wu of
Liang and his concubine Consort Wu, who was previously the concubine of Southern Qi emperor Xiao Baojuan, became
convinced that he was actually Xiao Baojuan's posthumous son, and surrendered to Northern Wei, causing his own army
to collapse and allowing Northern Wei to reenter Pengcheng. During this period, Emperor Xiaoming, by now a teenager,
was said to spend much of his time drinking. He was also said to favor his concubine Consort Pan greatly, to the
exclusion of his wife Empress Hu (his cousin) and the other concubines. Death in 528, Emperor Xiaoming's favorite
concubine Consort Pan bore him a daughter. However, Empress Dowager Hu falsely declared that Consort Pan's child
was a son, and ordered a general pardon. By this time, Emperor Xiaoming, aged 18, was tired of the hold that his mother
had on his administration, and he further despised Zheng Yan and Xu Ge. He therefore sent secret messengers to the
general Erzhu Rong, who controlled the region around Bing Province (并州, modern central Shanxi), ordering him to
advance on Luoyang to force Empress Dowager Hu to remove Zheng and Xu. After Erzhu advanced to Shangdang (上党,
in modern Changzhi, Shanxi), Emperor Xiaoming suddenly changed his mind and sent messengers to stop him, but the
news leaked. Zheng and Xu therefore advised Empress Dowager Hu to have Emperor Xiaoming poisoned. She did so,
and after initially announcing that Emperor Xiaoming's "son" by Consort Pan would succeed him, admitted that the "son"
was actually a daughter, and instead selected Yuan Zhao the son of Yuan Baohui (元宝晖) the Prince of Lintao, two-years
in age, to succeed Emperor Xiaoming. Erzhu Rong refused to recognize this arrangement, and soon arrived at and
captured Luoyang, throwing Empress Dowager Hu and Yuan Zhao into the Yellow River to drown.
10) Youzhu 幼主 Yuan Zhao 元钊 528 None Yuan Zhao (元钊) (526 ━ May 17, 528[1]), also known in history as
Youzhu (幼主, literally "the young lord"), was briefly an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei. Yuan Zhao
was a son of Yuan Baohui (元宝晖) the Prince of Lintao, who was a grandson of Emperor Xiaowen and therefore cousin
to Emperor Xiaoming, the reigning emperor at the time of Yuan Zhao's birth in 526. In 528, Emperor Xiaoming was
poisoned to death by his mother Empress Dowager Hu after trying to curb her power and trying to kill her lover Zheng Yan
(郑俨). Emperor Xiaoming was sonless, and while Empress Dowager Hu initially tried to pretend that Emperor Xiaoming's
daughter, by his concubine Consort Pan, was actually a son, she soon realized that she could not carry on the deception,
and she named Yuan Zhao emperor -- selecting him due to his young age so that she could control him. The general
Erzhu Rong, with whom Emperor Xiaoming had conspired against Empress Dowager Hu, refused to recognize Yuan
Zhao as emperor, quickly descending on the capital Luoyang with his troops and declaring a son of Emperor Xiaowen's
brother Yuan Xie, Yuan Ziyou, emperor (as Emperor Xiaozhuang). Less than two months after Yuan Zhao was declared
emperor, Erzhu had captured Luoyang and put Empress Dowager Hu and Yuan Zhao under arrest. After Empress
Dowager Hu tried, unsuccessfully, to defend her actions before Erzhu, Erzhu had her and Yuan Zhao thrown into the
Yellow River to drown. Traditional historians treat Yuan Zhao ambiguously, and subsequent Northern Wei emperors never
explicitly officially declared whether he was an emperor or not. He was not given an imperial posthumous name or temple
name, but nor was his imperial status declared null. The official history of Northern Wei, the Book of Wei, written during
the succeeding Northern Qi, did not list Yuan Zhao in its imperial biographies (and indeed, did not have a biography for
him or his father at all), listing the events during his brief reign under the biography of Emperor Xiaoming, but used the
term beng (崩) to describe his death,[2] a term reserved for the deaths of emperors and empresses. ^ Empress Dowager
Hu initially declared Emperor Xiaoming's "son" (actually a daughter) emperor, but almost immediately after admitted that
she was actually female and declared Yuan Zhao emperor instead. Emperor Xiaoming's unnamed daughter was therefore
arguably an "emperor" and Yuan Zhao's predecessor, but is not commonly regarded as one.
11) XiaoZhuangDi 孝庄帝 Yuan Ziyou 元子攸
528-530 Jianyi (建义 jian yi) 528 Yongan (永安 y_ng _n) 528-530
Xiaozhuang of Northern Wei ((北)魏孝庄帝) (507━531), personal name Yuan Ziyou (元子攸), was an emperor of the
Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei. He was placed on the throne by the general Erzhu Rong, who refused to
recognize the young emperor Yuan Zhao that Emperor Xiaoming's mother Empress Dowager Hu placed on the throne
after she poisoned Emperor Xiaoming. During his reign, Erzhu largely controlled the military and acted in a violent
manner, leading Emperor Xiaozhuang to believe that he would usurp the throne. In 530, Emperor Xiaozhuang ambushed
Erzhu and killed him in the palace, but Erzhu's cousin Erzhu Shilong and nephew Erzhu Zhao subsequently defeated
Emperor Xiaozhuang, capturing and killing him. Early life Yuan Ziyou was born in 507, during the reign of his cousin
Emperor Xuanwu, as the third son of the highly regarded imperial prince, Emperor Xuanwu's uncle Yuan Xie the Prince of
Pengcheng. His mother was Yuan Xie's wife Princess Li, the daughter of the honored official Li Chong (李冲). Of his two
older brothers, the oldest, Yuan Zizhi (元子直), was not Princess Li's son, and the other, born of Princess Li, was Yuan
Shao (元劭). In 508, Princess Li was again pregnant and due to give birth, when Emperor Xuanwu, believing in false
accusations of his maternal uncle Gao Zhao that Yuan Xie was plotting rebellion, forced Yuan Xie to commit suicide.
Princess Li soon gave birth to Yuan Ziyou's younger brother, Yuan Zizheng (元子正). It appeared that Yuan Ziyou was
close to his brothers. Yuan Shao, as the oldest son of Yuan Xie's wife, inherited Yuan Xie's title of Prince of Pengcheng.
Yuan Ziyou and his brothers Yuan Zizhi and Yuan Zizheng were created dukes─in Yuan Ziyou's case, the Duke of
Wucheng.[1] Yuan Ziyou, in his youth, served as an attendant to Emperor Xuanwu, and was praised for his intelligence
and handsome looks. He held increasingly higher offices during the reigns of Emperor Xuanwu and his son and successor
Emperor Xiaoming. In 526, Emperor Xuanwu's son and successor Emperor Xiaoming promoted Yuan Ziyou to be the
Prince of Changle. In 527, however, he lost all actual authority (although he retained honorific offices) when Yuan Shao
was suspected of plotting a rebellion and was reported by Yuan Yanming (元延明) the Prince of Anfeng. Emperor
Xiaoming and his mother, Empress Dowager Hu, however, did not kill either Yuan Ziyou or his brothers. In 528, Emperor
Xiaoming, who was having increasing friction with Empress Dowager Hu, conspired with the general Erzhu Rong to have
Erzhu advance on the capital Luoyang to force Empress Dowager Hu to yield power and to kill her lover Zheng Yan (郑俨)
and Zheng's associate Xu Ge (徐纥). The conspiracy was discovered, and Empress Dowager Hu poisoned the emperor
and made Yuan Zhao, a two-year-old son of an imperial prince, emperor. Erzhu refused to recognize Yuan Zhao as
emperor and advanced on Luoyang. Because Yuan Xie's memory remained highly regarded by the people, and Yuan
Ziyou was renowned for his abilities, Erzhu sent secret messengers to make overtures to him, offering to make him
emperor. Yuan Ziyou agreed, and when Erzhu advanced to Luoyang's vicinity, Yuan Ziyou, along with Yuan Shao and
Yuan Zizheng, fled Luoyang and joined Erzhu's army. Erzhu proclaimed him emperor (as Emperor Xiaozhuang), and
there was much rejoicing in the army ranks. Reign in coordination with Erzhu Rong The Heyin Massacre and aftermath
Emperor Xiaozhuang made Yuan Shao the Wushang Prince (无上王, meaning "prince without anyone greater") and Yuan
Zizheng, who was Duke of Bacheng, the Prince of Shiping. He invested Erzhu Rong with a variety of supreme military and
civilian titles, and created him the title Prince of Taiyuan. Upon hearing of Emperor Xiaozhuang's ascension, Empress
Dowager Hu's generals Zheng Xianhu (郑先护), a friend of Emperor Xiaozhuang, and Fei Mu (费穆), quickly surrendered,
while another general, Li Shengui (李神轨), fled. Zheng Yan and Xu Ge also deserted Luoyang. Empress Dowager Hu
became desperate; after ordering Emperor Xiaoming's consorts to all become Buddhist nuns, she took tonsure herself
although she did not declare herself a nun. Erzhu ordered the imperial officials to welcome Emperor Xiaozhuang into
Luoyang, while sending cavalry to arrest Empress Dowager Hu and Yuan Zhao. After a meeting with Empress Dowager
Hu, in which she tried to defend her actions but drew no sympathy from Erzhu, Erzhu had her and Yuan Zhao thrown into
the Yellow River to drown. Empress Dowager Hu and Yuan Zhao would not be Erzhu's only victims, however. Fei
suggested to Erzhu that since his army was actually small, as soon as the imperial officials realized the situation, they
would resist him. He suggested that Erzhu carry out a massacre of the imperial officials, and Erzhu, despite the opposition
of his strategist Murong Shaozong (慕容绍宗), proceeded. Erzhu ordered the imperial officials to his camp at Heyin (河阴,
near Luoyang) under the pretense that Emperor Xiaozhuang was going to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth there, and
then surrounded the imperial officials and slaughtered them, killing more than 2,000 of them, including Emperor
Xiaozhuang's uncle, the prime minister Yuan Yong the Prince of Gaoyang. Erzhu also sent soldiers to assassinate Yuan
Shao and Yuan Zizheng, while putting Emperor Xiaozhuang under effective arrest in the army camp. Emperor
Xiaozhuang, in fear and anger, sent a messenger to Erzhu, suggesting that he would be willing to yield the throne either
to Erzhu or to another person that Erzhu designated. Erzhu, under suggestion of his general Gao Huan, toyed with the
idea of taking the throne himself or offering it to his close associate Yuan Tianmu (元天穆), a distant relative of Emperor
Xiaozhuang. Subsequently, however, his sorcerer Liu Lingzhu (刘灵助) predicted that neither Erzhu himself nor Yuan
Tianmu was favored to be an emperor by the gods, and that only Emperor Xiaozhuang was favored. Erzhu therefore
stopped these plans and offered a deep apology to Emperor Xiaozhuang, claiming that the massacre was a result of the
soldiers going out of control. However, the people of Luoyang and the surviving imperial officials, fearful of further
massacre, fled Luoyang, which was then left nearly empty, particularly because Erzhu publicly pondered the idea of
moving the capital to Jinyang (晋阳, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi). It was not until Erzhu offered offices to the heirs of the
officials who died and publicly renounced the idea of moving the capital that the people began to return to Luoyang.
Nevertheless, Erzhu, while publicly returning authority to Emperor Xiaozhuang, retained command of the armed forces,
while putting several officials closely aligned with him, including Yuan Tianmu and his cousin Erzhu Shilong, into high
positions. He kept a close watch on Emperor Xiaozhuang even though he was largely away from the capital. He also
wanted Emperor Xiaozhuang to marry his daughter Erzhu Ying'e, who had previously been Emperor Xiaoming's
concubine, as his empress. Because this match constituted incest under Confucian traditions, Emperor Xiaozhuang
hesitated, but under the suggestion of the official Zu Ying (祖莹), who advised that this marriage would be advantageous,
Emperor Xiaozhuang agreed. Subsequent reunification of the empire Emperor Xiaozhuang was said to be diligent in
governmental matters, and even though Erzhu was not particularly pleased with the development, Emperor Xiaozhuang
proceeded to take much interest in criminal matters, as well as refusing to comply with all of Erzhu's recommendations for
officials. He did not dare to directly cross Erzhu, however, and Erzhu continued to install officials close to him in the
imperial administration. Meanwhile, Erzhu proceeded to try to reunify the empire, which had been largely divided by
agrarian rebellions that rose during the reign of Emperor Xiaoming. At that time, the more major rebels included:
* Ge Rong (葛荣), with an army largely of Xianbei soldiers from the six garrisons on the northern borders, with the title
of Emperor of Qi and controlling most of the provinces in modern Hebei
* Xing Gao (邢杲), with an army largely consisting of refugees from Ge Rong's and other associated rebellions, with the
title of Prince of Han and controlling most of the provinces in modern Shandong
* Moqi Chounu (万俟丑奴), with the title of emperor and controlling most of the provinces in Shaanxi and eastern Gansu
Erzhu's first target was Ge, who had put the important city Yecheng under siege and was getting close to the Yellow
River. With just 7,000 cavalry soldiers, Erzhu caught the much larger Ge army by surprise and crushed it, capturing Ge
and delivering him to Luoyang, where Ge was executed in winter 528. Ge's general Han Lou (韩楼) took party of his army
and took over modern Beijing and Tianjin. In spring 529, Emperor Xiaozhuang posthumously honored his father Yuan Xie
as Emperor Wenmu and his mother Princess Li as Empress Wenmu, and enshrined them in the imperial ancestral
temple, despite opposition by Yuan Yu (元□) the Prince of Linhuai as being inappropriate since Yuan Xie was never
actually emperor. He further also posthumously honored his brother Yuan Shao as Emperor Xiaoxuan and Yuan Shao's
wife Princess Li as Empress Wengong, although he did not enshrine them in the imperial temple.
Around the same time, rival Liang Dynasty's Emperor Wu created Emperor Xiaozhuang's cousin Yuan Hao the Prince of
Beihai, who had fled to Liang following the Heyin Massacre, the Prince of Wei and sent an army commanded by the
general Chen Qingzhi to escort him, with an intent to install Yuan Hao as Northern Wei's emperor as a vassal state to
Liang. Emperor Xiaozhuang's administration did not consider Yuan Hao a serious threat at the moment, and instead sent
a large army, commanded by Yuan Tianmu and Erzhu Rong's nephew Erzhu Zhao, to attack Xing first. Xing was captured
and executed in summer 529, but Chen and Yuan Hao, who declared himself the emperor of Northern Wei upon entering
Northern Wei territory, took the opportunity to capture Yingyang (荥阳, in modern Zhengzhou, Henan), defeating Yuan
Tianmu as he returned from the campaign against Xing, and approached Luoyang. Emperor Xiaozhuang decided to flee
Luoyang, and he crossed the Yellow River to rendezvous with Erzhu Rong and Yuan Tianmu at Zhangzi (长子, in modern
Changzhi, Shanxi). Meanwhile, Yuan Hao entered Luoyang unopposed, and the provinces south of the Yellow River
largely declared allegiance to Yuan Hao. Yuan Hao, however, believed that he had already succeeded and began to plot
against Chen and his Liang forces, wanting to throw off Liang's control. He therefore sent messengers to persuade
Liang's Emperor Wu not to send any additional reinforcements. Erzhu's forces, meanwhile, were stymied against Chen,
but eventually Erzhu made an attack at night and crossed the Yellow River, causing Yuan Hao's forces to collapse, and
while Chen tried to withdraw, his army was defeated as well. Yuan Hao was killed in flight, and Emperor Xiaozhuang
again entered Luoyang to assume the throne. In spring 530, Erzhu Rong sent his nephew Erzhu Tianguang, assisted by
the generals Heba Yue (贺拔岳) and Houmochen Yue (侯莫陈悦), to attack Moqi Chounu. Erzhu Tianguang, after tricking
Moqi into believing that an attack would not come quickly, made a surprise attack, defeating Moqi and capturing him. He
then captured Moqi's capital Gaoping (高平, in modern Guyuan, Ningxia), capturing Moqi's general Xiao Baoyin -- a
former major Northern Wei general and Southern Qi prince who had, during Emperor Xiaoming's reign, unsuccessfully
tried to reestablish Southern Qi. Moqi was executed, and while many officials friendly with Xiao tried to plead for Xiao's
life, Emperor Xiaozhuang ordered Xiao to commit suicide. Erzhu Tianguang subsequently defeated another major rebel,
Wang Qingyun (王庆云), and Moqi Chounu's general Moqi Daoluo (万俟道洛), largely pacifying the western empire. Soon
thereafter, Erzhu Rong's generals Hou Yuan (侯渊) and Liu Lingzhu defeated and killed Han Lou, and the empire became
basically reunified. Killing of Erzhu Rong However, Emperor Xiaozhuang was secretly unhappy about these victories by
the Erzhu forces, believing that this made an usurpation by Erzhu Rong closer to reality. Inside his own palace, he felt
under pressure by the jealous Empress Erzhu. Erzhu Rong gave hints that he wanted to be awarded the nine
bestowments -- symbols of great honor that usually preceded usurpations─but Emperor Xiaozhuang pretended not to
understand, and did not bestow the nine bestowments on Erzhu. Yuan Hui (元徽) the Prince of Chengyang, the husband
of Emperor Xiaozhuang's cousin, and Li Yu (李□), Emperor Xiaozhuang's brother-in-law, both wanted more power, and
saw the Erzhus as in their way, and therefore persuaded Emperor Xiaozhuang that one day Erzhu Rong would indeed
usurp the throne. Emperor Xiaozhuang also feared a repeat of the Heyin Massacre, and therefore engaged his officials
Yang Kan (杨侃) and Yuan Luo (元罗) in the conspiracy as well. In autumn 530, with Empress Erzhu pregnant, Erzhu
Rong requested to come to the capital to attend to his daughter for childbirth. Emperor Xiaozhuang's associates were
divided in their opinions─some wanted to assassinate Erzhu when he came to the palace, and some wanted to slaughter
Erzhu's associates in the capital and militarily resist. Emperor Xiaozhuang hesitated and did not take any actions initially.
Meanwhile, Erzhu Shilong heard rumors of Emperor Xiaozhuang's conspiracy and reported them to Erzhu Rong, but
Erzhu Rong did not believe that Emperor Xiaozhuang would dare to turn against him and therefore went to Luoyang
anyway. The populace of Luoyang expected that either Erzhu Rong would carry out a coup or Emperor Xiaozhuang would
act against him, and many fled. When Erzhu arrived at the capital, however, he entered the palace with minimal guards
and without weapons, and so Emperor Xiaozhuang considered not acting against him. Yuan Hui, however, persuaded
Emperor Xiaozhuang that even if Erzhu Rong was not planning a coup, that he still should not be allowed to be left alive.
Emperor Xiaozhuang feared, however, that Yuan Tianmu, who was then at Jinyang, would be a latent threat, and
therefore summoned Yuan Tianmu to the capital as well. Meanwhile, with rumors that Erzhu was planning to arrest
Emperor Xiaozhuang and move the capital to Jinyang, Emperor Xiaozhuang became even more apprehensive and
anxious to carry out the plot. He studied the historical accounts of the Han Dynasty general Dong Zhuo, and concluded
that Wang Yun's failure, after he killed Dong, was in not pardoning Dong's associates, forcing them into rebellion. He
therefore prepared first to kill Erzhu Rong and then to declare a general pardon. Under pretense that Empress Erzhu had
given birth, he summoned Erzhu Rong and Yuan Tianmu into the palace and surprised and killed them. Also killed were
Erzhu Rong's son Erzhu Puti (尔朱菩提) and Erzhu's attendants. The populace rejoiced at the news of Erzhu Rong's
death, but Erzhu Rong's wife the Princess Beixiang[2] and Erzhu Shilong fought their way out of the capital, initially
camping at Heyin and demonstrating their military strength. The campaign against the Erzhus Emperor Xiaozhuang sent
messengers to Erzhu Shilong, declaring a general pardon, and issuing an "iron certificate" (铁券, tie quan, which could be
used against a death-eligible crime) to Erzhu Shilong if he would be willing to give up resisting. Erzhu Shilong refused,
declaring that if Erzhu Rong could be killed after accomplishing so much, the certificate was meaningless. While Emperor
Xiaozhuang's army was larger than Erzhu Shilong's, it was not as well-trained and could not decisively defeat Erzhu
Shilong's. During this campaign, Empress Erzhu bore a son, and Emperor Xiaozhuang declared a general pardon. Erzhu
Shilong eventually withdrew from Luoyang and joined the army of Erzhu Zhao, which advanced south from Jinyang after
Erzhu Zhao heard of Erzhu Rong's death. They rendezvoused at Zhangzi and declared a distant relative of Emperor
Xiaozhuang's, Yuan Ye the Prince of Changguang, emperor. Meanwhile, Erzhu Tianguang also headed toward Luoyang,
while claiming to be still supportive of Emperor Xiaozhuang. Meanwhile, Erzhu Zhao, after meeting Erzhu Shilong, quickly
advanced on Luoyang. Around the new year 531, he had his army ride on horseback across the Yellow River, catching
Emperor Xiaozhuang, who did not expect Erzhu Zhao to be able to cross the river easily, by surprise. Emperor
Xiaozhuang's imperial guards collapsed, and he was captured by Erzhu Zhao's cavalry soldiers and imprisoned, less than
three months after he killed Erzhu Rong. Erzhu Zhao killed Emperor Xiaozhuang's infant son, while allowing his soldiers to
pillage Luoyang, killing many officials and raping many honored women.
Death 12 days after capturing Emperor Xiaozhuang, Erzhu Zhao had him delivered to Jinyang. While he was on the way,
Gao Huan, who had been considering rebelling against Erzhu Zhao, considered a rescue mission to intercept Emperor
Xiaozhuang's train, but missed the timing. Gao sent a letter to Erzhu Zhao, advising him not to kill the emperor, lest that
he gain the ruinous reputation for having murdered an emperor. Erzhu Zhao, in anger, refused to accept Gao's advice.
Emperor Xiaozhuang was imprisoned in a Buddhist temple in Jinyang, and 10 days after he left Luoyang, Erzhu Zhao had
him strangled. He was not given a proper imperial burial until Gao overthrew the Erzhus in 532. Notes 1. ^ In Emperor
Xiaozhuang's biography in the Book of Wei, it was said that it was Emperor Xuanwu who created Yuan Ziyou (and thus,
implicitly, Yuan Zizhi and Yuan Zizheng) duke, but in Yuan Xie's biography, it was said that it was Empress Dowager Hu.
2. ^ The Princess Beixiang was not the daughter of an emperor, but was created princess in recognition of Erzhu's
achievements.
12) ChangGuangWang 长广王
YuanYe 元晔 530-531 Jianming (建明 jian ming) 530-531 Yuan Ye (元晔) (died
532), courtesy name Huaxing (华兴), nickname Penzi (盆子), often known as the Prince of Changguang (长广王), was
briefly an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei. He was declared emperor by members of the paramount
general Erzhu Rong's clan in 530 after Emperor Xiaozhuang had killed Erzhu Rong, and he carried imperial title for
several months. However, as a member of the imperial clan who was distant from the lineage of recent emperors (as a
descendant of Emperor Wencheng's brother Yuan Zhen (元桢) the Prince of Nan'an, he was not a credible emperor, and
in 531, after the Erzhus had prevailed over Emperor Xiaozhuang and put him to death, they forced Yuan Ye to yield the
throne to Emperor Xiaozhuang's cousin Yuan Gong the Prince of Guangling, who took the throne as Emperor Jiemin.
Emperor Jiemin treated Yuan Ye with respect and created him the Prince of Donghai, a higher title than his prior title of
Prince of Changguang, but after Emperor Jiemin and the Erzhus were in turn overthrown by a coalition led by the general
Gao Huan and replaced with Emperor Xiaowu, Emperor Xiaowu forced Yuan Ye to commit suicide. Background Relatively
not much is known about Yuan Ye's early life. His father Yuan Yi (元怡) was a son of Tuoba Zhen (拓拔桢) the Prince of
Nan'an, a brother of Emperor Wencheng and son of Tuoba Huang, Emperor Taiwu's crown prince. Tuoba Zhen's line was
dishonored after Tuoba Zhen participated in a plot against Emperor Xiaowen's sinicization regime, but Yuan Yi's older
brother Yuan Ying (元英) was eventually created the Prince of Zhongshan after he achieved much in the battlefield. Yuan
Yi himself was said to be corrupt and violent when serving as the commanding general of the garrison at remote
Shanshan (鄯善, in modern Turpan, Xinjiang), and who fled and hid after accusations of such corruption was made
against him, dying while in flight sometime between 512 and 515. One of Yuan Yi's sisters married the general Erzhu
Rong, and after Erzhu became the paramount general of the empire during the reign of Emperor Xiaozhuang, Yuan Yi
was posthumously honored as the Prince of Fufeng.
Yuan Ye himself was not Yuan Yi's oldest son, as he had at least one older brother, Yuan Su (元肃). His mother was Lady
Wei, and it is unclear whether she was Yuan Yi's wife or not. Early in Emperor Xiaozhuang's reign, probably on account of
his aunt, Yuan Ye was created the Prince of Changguang and made the acting governor of Bing Province (并州, modern
central Shanxi), deep in Erzhu Rong's power base. According to the Book of Wei (whose author, Wei Shou, however,
might have had an incentive to defame him), he was frivolous and impatient, but physically strong, in his youth.
Becoming emperor In fall 530, Emperor Xiaozhuang, fearful that Erzhu Rong would eventually seize the throne,
ambushed him inside the palace in the capital Luoyang and killed him. Erzhu Rong's wife (Yuan Ye's aunt), along with
Erzhu Rong's cousin Erzhu Shilong, fought their way out of Luoyang and headed back north, meeting up with Erzhu
Rong's nephew Erzhu Zhao at Zhangzi (长子, in modern Changzhi, Shanxi). They decided to make Yuan Ye emperor, as
a competing candidate for the throne against Emperor Xiaozhuang. Yuan Ye created a daughter of Erzhu Zhao empress
(although it is not clear whether he had already married her previously, or only married her at that point). Less than two
months later, the Erzhu forces captured Luoyang and arrested Emperor Xiaozhuang. Emperor Xiaozhuang was
subsequently delivered to Jinyang (晋阳, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) and killed. Meanwhile, Erzhu Shilong, believing that
Yuan Ye's mother Lady Wei would exert political influence, had her assassinated, but staging the assassination to appear
as a robbery. Meanwhile, Yuan Ye himself was escorted south toward Luoyang, apparently to take over the throne
formally. However, Erzhu Shilong and his brothers secretly believed that Yuan Ye was too distant in lineage from the
recent emperors and lacked sufficient good reputation to be emperor. They made overtures to Yuan Gong the Prince of
Guangling, a son of Emperor Xiaowen's brother Yuan Yu (元羽), forcing Yuan Gong to cooperate. When Yuan Ye arrived
in Luoyang's vicinity, Erzhu Shilong forced him to yield the throne to Yuan Gong, who took the throne as Emperor Jiemin.
(Erzhu Zhao, who was not involved in Erzhu Shilong's plot to replace Yuan Ye with Emperor Jiemin, was initially angered
and considered attacking Erzhu Shilong, but calmed down after Erzhu Shilong sent his brother Erzhu Yanbo (尔朱彦伯) to
explain the reasoning, and Erzhu Zhao did not carry out any further actions to try to restore Yuan Ye as emperor.) After
removal Emperor Jiemin created Yuan Ye the Prince of Donghai, a greater title than his original title of Prince of
Changguang, and generally treated him with respect. However, Emperor Jiemin lacked much actual power, and the
Erzhus remained in control of most of governmental and military affairs, drawing ire from the people for their corruption.
The general Gao Huan declared a rebellion against the Erzhus in 531 and declared another member of the imperial clan,
Yuan Lang, emperor. By 532, Gao had defeated the Erzhus and imprisoned Emperor Jiemin. Because Yuan Lang was
also distant from the lineage of recent emperors, Gao then removed him and replaced him with Yuan Xiu the Prince of
Pingyang, a son of Yuan Huai (元怀), a son of Emperor Xiaowen, and Yuan Xiu took the throne as Emperor Xiaowu. In
summer 532, Emperor Xiaowu first put Emperor Jiemin to death by poisoning. In winter 532, he similarly put Yuan Ye and
Yuan Lang to death, probably by forcing them to commit suicide by poison. Yuan Ye died without a son, and his title of
Prince of Donghai was not inherited by anyone.
13) JieMinDi 节闵帝 YuanGong 元恭 531-532
Putai (普泰 p_ tai) 531-532 Emperor Jiemin of Northern Wei ((北)魏节
闵帝) (498 ━ 21 June 532[1]), also known as Emperor Qianfei (前废帝)[2], at times referred to by pre-ascension title
Prince of Guangling (广陵王), personal name Yuan Gong (元恭), courtesy name Xiuye (修业), was an emperor of the
Chinese dynasty Northern Wei. He became emperor after the clan members of the paramount general Erzhu Rong, after
Erzhu Rong was killed by Emperor Xiaozhuang, overthrew Emperor Xiaozhuang. Emperor Jiemin tried to revive the
Northern Wei state, but with his power curbed by the Erzhus, was not able to accomplish much. After the general Gao
Huan defeated the Erzhus in 532, Emperor Jiemin was imprisoned by Gao and subsequently poisoned to death by
Emperor Xiaowu, whom Gao made emperor. Background Yuan Gong was born in 498, during the reign of Emperor
Xiaowen. His father was Yuan Yu (元羽) the Prince of Guangling, a son of Emperor Xianwen and a brother of Emperor
Xiaowen. His mother was Yuan Yu's concubine Lady Wang. In 501, during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen's son Emperor
Xuanwu, Yuan Yu died from injuries he suffered when he was attacked by his lover's husband, the low level official, Feng
Junxing (冯俊兴), and for reasons unclear, Yuan Gong inherited Yuan Yu's title even though he had one older brother,
Yuan Xin (元欣), and neither he nor Yuan Xin was the son of Yuan Yu's wife Princess Zheng. Yuan Gong also had one
younger brother, Yuan Yongye (元永业). Yuan Gong was described to be confident and strong-willed, and also filiially
pious toward his grandmother Princess Dowager Meng and his father's wife Princess Dowager Zheng (whom, under
Confucian doctrines, he was required to treat as a mother). During Yuan Cha's regency over Emperor Xuanwu's son
Emperor Xiaoming (i.e., sometime between 520 and 525), Yuan Gong, because of Yuan Cha's corruption and violent
tendencies, pretended to be ill and unable to speak, living in the Buddhist Longhua Temple (龙花寺). During the reign of
his cousin Emperor Xiaozhuang, someone made a report to Emperor Xiaozhuang that Yuan Gong was only pretending to
be unable to speak, and had treasonous intent. When Yuan Gong was informed of this, he, in fear, fled to Shangluo
Mountain (上洛山, in modern Shangzhou, Shaanxi), but was captured and returned to Luoyang. Interrogations and
investigations, however, yielded no proof that Yuan Gong plotted treason, so he was released. In 530, Emperor
Xiaozhuang, in fear that the paramount general Erzhu Rong would seize the throne, killed Erzhu Rong. Erzhu Rong's clan
members rose and declared Erzhu Rong's wife Princess Beixiang's nephew Yuan Ye the Prince of Changguang emperor.
Around the new year 531, Erzhu Rong's nephew Erzhu Zhao captured Luoyang and seized Emperor Xiaozhuang,
subsequently killing him. Yuan Ye traveled toward Luoyang to take the throne. However, Erzhu Rong's cousin Erzhu
Shilong was uncomfortable with Yuan Ye's lineage being distant from that of recent emperors, and wanted to find an
emperor with closer imperial lineage. Erzhu Rong's nephew Erzhu Tianguang suggested Yuan Gong, and after Erzhu
Shilong sent his brother Erzhu Yanbo (尔朱彦伯) to visit Yuan Gong to force him to accept and to ascertain that he was
not truly unable to speak, Yuan Gong agreed, and Erzhu Shilong, when Yuan Ye arrived at Luoyang, forced him to yield
the throne to Yuan Gong. Yuan Gong, after making three submissions to Yuan Ye declining the throne, took the throne as
Emperor Jiemin. Reign During Emperor Jiemin's reign, the Erzhu clan members controlled much of the functions of the
central government, the provinces, and the military, with Erzhu Shilong controlling the central government, Erzhu Zhao
controlling the northern provinces, Erzhu Tianguang controlling the western provinces, and Erzhu Zhongyuan (尔朱仲远)
controlling the southeastern provinces. Despite this, Emperor Jiemin himself tried to exert influences on policy in subtle
ways, and at times he refused to following Erzhu Shilong's wishes. For example, when Erzhu Shilong had the official Xing
Zicai (邢子才) author Emperor Jiemin's general pardon edict, describing the death of Erzhu Rong in detail as an extremely
wrongful act by Emperor Xiaozhuang, Emperor Jiemin refused to promulgate the edict as written, but instead wrote a brief
edict himself, using humble language and not getting into details. He also removed the character huang (皇) from his title,
going from huangdi (皇帝) to just di (帝). He treated Yuan Ye with honor, creating him the Prince of Donghai. He also, in
an unprecedented action, ordered that rival Liang Dynasty no longer be referred to as "false" (伪, wei) Liang.
(Traditionally, in Chinese history, the rival states referred to each other as "false.") He posthumously honored his father
Yuan Yu as emperor, but only honored his mother Lady Wang as princess dowager, perhaps out of respect to Yuan Yu's
wife Princess Zheng. He also created his brother Yuan Yongye the Prince of Gaomi and his son Yuan Shu (元恕) as
Prince of Bohai. The Erzhus, however, engaged in violence and corruption, and Emperor Jiemin was unable to curb them.
As a result, in succession, the generals Liu Lingzhu (刘灵助) and Gao Huan rebelled. Liu was easily defeated, but Gao,
with many disaffected generals joining him, proved to be a formidable opponent, and Gao, who initially acknowledged
Emperor Jiemin's position as emperor, soon had another distant member of the imperial Yuan clan, Yuan Lang, declared
emperor. In late 531, with the Erzhu clan in internal dissent from rumors that Gao spread, Gao defeated Erzhu Zhao and
captured the important city Yecheng.
In spring 532, Erzhu Shilong, in order to end the dissension within the Erzhu clan, requested that Emperor Jiemin marry
Erzhu Zhao's daughter as his empress. Soon, the Erzhu forces, commanded by Erzhu Zhao, Erzhu Tianguang, Erzhu
Zhongyuan, and Erzhu Shilong's brother Erzhu Dulu (尔朱度律), converged at Yecheng to face Gao Huan, but despite
their numerical advantage, Gao defeated them. Erzhu Zhao and Erzhu Zhongyuan fled back to their headquarters, while
Erzhu Tianguang and Erzhu Dulu fled back toward Luoyang. At this time, the general Husi Chun rose against the Erzhus
at Luoyang, and he killed Erzhu Shilong and Erzhu Yanbo, while capturing and delivering Erzhu Tianguang and Erzhu
Dulu to Gao, who executed them. After the defeat of the Erzhus Emperor Jiemin tried to take initiative by sending the
official Lu Bian (卢辩) to greet Gao. Gao, who was then accompanying Yuan Lang and heading toward Luoyang,
considered allowing Emperor Jiemin to keep the throne, as Yuan Lang's lineage was distant from recent emperors. He
sent the general Wei Lan'gen (魏兰根) to calm the imperial officials and to observe Emperor Jiemin. After Wei returned to
Gao, Wei opined that Emperor Jiemin was intelligent and decisive and would be difficult to control in the future. Gao
therefore arrested Emperor Jiemin and imprisoned him at Chongxun Temple (崇训寺). Gao instead forced Yuan Lang to
yield the throne to Yuan Xiu the Prince of Pingyang, and Yuan Xiu took the throne as Emperor Xiaowu.
During Emperor Jiemin's imprisonment at Chongxun Temple, he wrote a poem that is still extant:
A red door [sign of an honored household] brings disaster in the end;
The imperial purple is not something to be accustomed to;
Falls can be expected;
Things change three times a year;
And this is what fortune brings;
It is better to study the true path.
About 10 days after Emperor Xiaowu took the throne, he sent messengers to poison Emperor Jiemin. He did not bury
Emperor Jiemin with imperial honors, but did give him a burial that was greater than ordinary for imperial princes, and
ordered the imperial officials to attend the funeral.
14) An Ding Wang (安定王 _n ding wang)
Yuan Lang (元朗 yuan l_ng) 531-532 Zhongxing (中兴 zh_ng
x_ng) 531-532 Yuan Lang (元朗) (513━532), courtesy name Zhongzhe (仲哲), frequently known by his post-removal title
of Prince of Anding (安定王), at times known as Emperor Houfei (后废帝, "later removed emperor"), was briefly an
emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei. He was proclaimed emperor by the general Gao Huan, who
rebelled against the clan of the paramount general Erzhu Rong in 531, as a competing candidate for the imperial throne
against Emperor Jiemin, who had been made emperor by Erzhu Rong's cousin Erzhu Shilong. In 532, after Gao's victory
over the Erzhus, he believed Yuan Lang, whose lineage was distant from the recent emperors, to be unsuitable to be
emperor, and instead made Emperor Xiaowu emperor. Emperor Xiaowu created Yuan Lang the Prince of Anding, but
later that year put him to death. Background Yuan Lang was born in 513, as the third son of Yuan Rong (元融) the Prince
of Zhangwu, a key official in the Northern Wei imperial government who was a distant relative of the then-reigning
Emperor Xuanwu. His mother was Lady Cheng. (It is unclear whether she was Yuan Rong's wife or concubine.) In 526,
while fighting the agrarian rebel leader Ge Rong (葛荣), Yuan Rong was killed in battle, and Yuan Lang's older brother
Yuan Jingzhe (元景哲) inherited the title of Prince of Zhangwu. Yuan Lang was said to be intelligent in his youth. In 529, at
age 16, Yuan Lang became an army officer, serving on the staff of Yuan Su (元肃) the Prince of Lu Commandery, who
was the governor of Si Province (肆州, roughly modern Xinzhou, Shanxi). In spring 531, he became the governor of Bohai
Commandery (勃海, in modern Cangzhou, Hebei). At the time that Yuan Lang became the governor of Bohai
Commandery, the imperial government was dominated by members of the paramount general Erzhu Rong, who, after
Emperor Xiaozhuang had killed Erzhu Rong in 530, overthrew and killed Emperor Xiaozhuang, installing Yuan Ye and
Emperor Jiemin successively. In summer 531, the general Gao Huan, believing the Erzhus to be corrupt and to have lost
the support of the people, rose in rebellion at Xindu (信都, in modern Hengshui, Hebei), and while initially he claimed to be
merely wanting to overthrow the Erzhus and still recognizing Emperor Jiemin, he soon, at the urging of his general Sun
Teng (孙腾), came to believe that he needed to have an emperor under his control who could issue edicts as he wished.
In winter 531, he therefore declared Yuan Lang, whose Bohai Commandery was under his control by that point, emperor,
even though Yuan Lang's lineage was distant from that of recent emperors and was not even an imperial prince himself.
Reign There is little evidence that the 18-year-old Yuan Lang exerted any real influence on Gao Huan's policy decisions
as he battled the Erzhus. He initially remained at Xindu, but after Gao captured the important city Yecheng (邺城, in
modern Handan, Hebei) in spring 532, Yuan Lang was placed in Yecheng. Gao soon prevailed in a major battle against
the joined forces of Erzhu Zhao, Erzhu Tianguang, Erzhu Dulu (尔朱度律), and Erzhu Zhongyuan (尔朱仲远), and in light
of Gao's victory, the general Husi Chun rebelled at the capital Luoyang and executed the prime minister Erzhu Shilong
and Erzhu Shilong's brother Erzhu Yanbo (尔朱彦伯), delivering their heads, as well as Erzhu Tiangguang and Erzhu
Dulu, whom Husi captured, to Gao. Erzhu Zhao fled back to his domain, while Erzhu Zhongyuan fled to rival Liang
Dynasty. The victorious Gao, along with Yuan Lang, approached Luoyang. Gao, now believing that Yuan Lang's lineage
was too distant, making him an inappropriate choice for emperor, initially considered still permitting Emperor Jiemin to
remain on the throne, but after his generals Wei Lan'gen (魏兰根) and Cui Ling (name not in Unicode) persuaded him that
Emperor Jiemin would be difficult to control, imprisoned Emperor Jiemin, while instead deciding on making Yuan Xiu the
Prince of Pingyang, a grandson of Emperor Xiaowen, emperor. Gao then forced Yuan Lang to yield the throne to Yuan
Xiu, who took the throne as Emperor Xiaowu. Death Emperor Xiaowu created Yuan Lang the Prince of Anding. However,
in winter 532, about six and a half months after taking the throne, Emperor Xiaowu ordered Yuan Lang to commit suicide.
Yuan Lang was buried without imperial honor, but it is not clear whether he was buried with any honor or not. Eventually,
Yuan Lang's son Yuan Huangtou was permitted to inherit the title of Prince of Anding. After Northern Wei's branch
successor state Eastern Wei ended and was replaced by Northern Qi, its first emperor Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi
carried out a major slaughter of Northern Wei's imperial Yuan clan in 559. One of the victims was mentioned as one of his
close associates Yuan Huangtou, who was starved to death, but it is not known for sure whether that Yuan Huangtou was
Yuan Lang's son.
15) XiaoWuDi 孝武帝 or ChuDi 出帝 YuanXiu 元修532-535 Taichang (太昌 tai ch_ng) 532 Yongxing (永兴 y_ng x_ng)
532 Yongxi (永熙 y_ng3 x_) 532-535 Emperor Xiaowu of Northern Wei ((北)魏孝武帝) (510 ━ February 3, 535[1]),
personal name Yuan Xiu (元修 or 元修), courtesy name Xiaoze (孝则), at times known as Emperor Chu (出帝, "the
emperor who fled"),[2] was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei. After the general Gao Huan
rebelled against and defeated the clan of the deceased paramount general Erzhu Rong in 532, he made Emperor Xiaowu
emperor. Despite Gao's making him emperor, however, Emperor Xiaowu tried strenuously to free himself from Gao's
control, and in 534, he, aligning with the general Yuwen Tai, formally broke with Gao. When Gao advanced south to try to
again take control of the imperial government, Emperor Xiaowu fled to Yuwen's territory, leading to Northern Wei's
division into two (as Gao then made Yuan Shanjian the Heir Apparent of Qinghe emperor (as Emperor Xiaojing),
establishing Eastern Wei). Emperor Xiaowu's relationship with Yuwen, however, soon deteriorated over Yuwen's refusal
to condone his incestuous relationships with his cousins, and around the new year 535, Yuwen poisoned him to death.
Emperor Xiaowu's successor Emperor Wen of Western Wei is typically regarded, then, as the first emperor of Western
Wei, formalizing the division of the empire. Background Yuan Xiu was born in 510, as the third son of Yuan Huai (元怀)
the Prince of Guangping, a son of Emperor Xiaowen and a younger brother of the then-reigning Emperor Xuanwu. His
mother Lady Li was likely Yuan Huai's concubine, not his wife, although historical records were not clear on the issue. In
517, Yuan Huai died. In Yuan Xiu's youth, he was considered to be quiet and peaceful, and he was interested in military
matters. In 527, Emperor Xuanwu's son Emperor Xiaoming created Yuan Xiu the Duke of Ruyang. In 530, Emperor
Xiaozhuang promoted him to the title of Prince of Pingyang. In 532, the general Gao Huan defeated the members of the
clan of the paramount general Erzhu Rong (who had overthrown and killed Emperor Xiaozhuang after Emperor
Xiaozhuang killed Erzhu Rong in 530). During the campaign, Gao had declared Yuan Lang, a distant member of the
imperial Yuan clan, emperor, to compete with Emperor Jiemin, whom Erzhu Rong's cousin Erzhu Shilong had made
emperor. Gao, after victory, considered Yuan Lang an inappropriate choice to be emperor, given his distant relationship to
the recent emperors. He considered keeping Emperor Jiemin on the throne, but decided against it when his generals Wei
Lan'gen (魏兰根) and Qiu Ling (name not in Unicode) opined that Emperor Jiemin would be difficult to control in the future;
he therefore had Emperor Jiemin imprisoned. He also considered making Yuan Yue (元悦) the Prince of Ru'nan, the only
surviving son of Emperor Xiaowen, whom he welcomed back from rival Liang Dynasty (where Yuan Yue had fled earlier),
emperor, but later changed his mind after hearing that Yuan Yue was violent and arbitrary. At that time, the imperial
princes were all largely in hiding, and Yuan Xiu was hiding at a farm. Gao's ally, the general Husi Chun, located Yuan Xiu,
and Gao wanted to make Yuan Xiu emperor. After a meeting with Gao, in which Gao vowed allegiance, Yuan Xiu decided
to agree. Gao therefore forced Yuan Lang to yield the throne to Yuan Xiu, who then took the throne as Emperor Xiaowu.
Reign in Luoyang One thing Emperor Xiaowu immediately started doing -- for which he was criticized by historians -- was
eliminating potential claimants to the throne. Less than 10 days after taking the throne, he poisoned the deposed Emperor
Jiemin to death. Six months later, he forced Yuan Lang and another former emperor, Yuan Ye, to commit suicide. He also
executed his uncle Yuan Yue. Although Gao made him emperor, Emperor Xiaowu also almost immediately tried to do
what he could to avoid being controlled by Gao. Although he married Gao's oldest daughter as his empress around the
new year 533, he, after initially appearing to show deference to Gao, began to rule with Husi Chun and his associate
Wang Sizheng (王思政) as his assistants, making decisions contrary to Gao's opinion, particularly after Gao had defeated
the final major member of the Erzhu clan, Erzhu Zhao. He secretly communicated with Heba Yue (贺拔岳), who controlled
the western provinces, and also commissioned Heba Yue's brother Heba Sheng (贺拔胜) as the commander of the
southern provinces, wanting to depend on the Heba brothers to resist Gao's hold. Tensions also increased over Gao's
desire to control more provinces and Emperor Xiaowu's corresponding desire to wrest control of the provinces from Gao.
In spring 534, Heba Yue's friend and lieutenant, Houmochen Yue (侯莫陈悦), due to Gao's instigation, assassinated Heba
Yue. Heba Yue's troops supported Heba Yue's assistant Yuwen Tai to replace him, and Yuwen soon defeated
Houmochen, who committed suicide. Emperor Xiaowu continued to engage in talks with Yuwen (whom Heba Yue had
previously sent to Emperor Xiaowu as a liaison) with an eye of depending on Yuwen to face off against Gao. In summer
534, Emperor Xiaowu prepared his troops and, believing he could catch Gao by surprise, issued secret edits to Gao
pretending that he was suspecting Yuwen and Heba Sheng of rebellion and planning to attack them with Gao. Gao saw
through Emperor Xiaowu's plot, however, and instead marched toward Luoyang. Wang Sizheng, believing that the
imperial troops were not strong enough to resist Gao's, suggested Emperor Xiaowu to flee to Yuwen's territory, and
Emperor Xiaowu decided to do so, rejecting Husi Chun's offer to take one final stand at Luoyang, particularly when Heba
Sheng failed to come to the emperor's aid and when Yuwen's troops failed to arrive quickly. It took Gao only a month to
reach Luoyang, and Emperor Xiaowu fled west, encountering Yuwen's troops on the way, and had them escort him back
to Yuwen's headquarters at Chang'an, where he reestablished the imperial government and made Yuwen prime minister.
He also married his sister Princess Fengyi to Yuwen. Flight to Chang'an and death Meanwhile, Gao Huan took over the
Luoyang region, and soon also defeated Heba Sheng, taking over his territory and forcing him to flee to Liang. Gao then
wrote repeated petitions to Emperor Xiaowu, requesting that he return to Luoyang and indicating that he was willing to
return to the status quo ante. Emperor Xiaowu did not respond to any of Gao's overtures. Gao therefore made Yuan
Shanjian, the son and heir apparent of Emperor Xiaowu's cousin Yuan Dan (元□) the Prince of Qinghe emperor (as
Emperor Xiaojing) and moving the capital from Luoyang to Yecheng, thus formally dividing the empire into two (Eastern
Wei under Emperor Xiaojing and Western Wei under Emperor Xiaowu), albeit with each claiming to be the rightful one.
Meanwhile, Emperor Xiaowu's relationship with Yuwen Tai was deteriorating. While at Luoyang, he had previously
entered into incestuous relationships with three of his cousins -- Yuan Mingyue (元明月) the Princess Pingyuan, the
Princess Ande, and Yuan Jili (元蒺藜), who was also created princess. Yuan Mingyue accompanied him on his flight to
Chang'an, but Yuwen disapproved of the relationship, and persuaded the imperial princes to arrest and kill her. Emperor
Xiaowu was very angry, and he often used his bow or pounded his table inside the palace as demonstrations of his
displeasure. Around the new year 535, he drank wine spiked by poison -- in all likelihood placed by Yuwen's assassins -and died. Yuwen made his cousin Yuan Baoju the Prince of Nanyang (Yuan Mingyue's brother) emperor (as Emperor
Wen).
* Wife
o Empress Gao (created 532), daughter of Gao Huan
# ^ Emperor Xiaowu's posthumous name of "Xiaowu" was bestowed by Western Wei. Eastern Wei did not recognize it,
and instead referred to him as Emperor Chu. The official history of Northern Wei, the Book of Wei, written during Eastern
Wei's successor state Northern Qi, thus referred to him as Emperor Chu. However, Chinese historians, following the lead
of the History of Northern Dynasties, generally refer to him as Emperor Xiaowu.
# ^ Little is known about the rest of Yuan Xiu's family, as the biographies of Yuan Huai were inexplicably lost from extant
editions of both the Book of Wei (zh:s:魏书/卷22) and the History of Northern Dynasties[1].
Dong (Eastern) Wei Dynasty 534-550
1) XiaoJingDi 孝静帝 YuanShanjian 元善见 534-550
Tianping (天平 ti_n ping) 534-537 Yuanxiang (元象 yuan
xiang) 538-539 Xinghe (兴和 x_ng he) 539-542 Wuding (武定 w_ ding) 543-550 Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei ((东)
魏孝静帝) (524━552), personal name Yuan Shanjian (元善见), was the only emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty
Eastern Wei ━ a branch successor state to Northern Wei. In 524, Northern Wei's paramount general Gao Huan, after
Emperor Xiaowu had fled the capital Luoyang to reestablish the imperial government at Chang'an, made Emperor
Xiaojing emperor as Emperor Xiaowu's replacement, and moved the capital from Luoyang to Yecheng, thus dividing
Northern Wei into two, and Emperor Xiaojing's state became known as Eastern Wei. Although Gao Huan treated him with
respect, real power was in the hands of Gao Huan, and then Gao Huan's sons Gao Cheng and Gao Yang. In 550, Gao
Yang forced Emperor Xiaojing to yield the throne to him, ending Eastern Wei and establishing Northern Qi (as its Emperor
Wenxuan). Around the new year 552, the former Emperor Xiaojing was poisoned to death on the orders of the new
emperor. Background Yuan Shanjian was born in 524. His father Yuan Dan (元□) the Prince of Qinghe was a son of the
well-regarded Yuan Yi (元怿), also Prince of Qinghe and a son of Emperor Xiaowen. His mother Princess Hu was Yuan
Dan's wife and was a granddaughter of Hu Zhen (胡真), an uncle of Emperor Xiaoming's mother Empress Dowager Hu.
Yuan Shanjian was Yuan Dan's oldest son, and was his heir apparent.
In 534, Emperor Xiaowu, a cousin of Yuan Shanjian's father Yuan Dan, seeking to resist the control of the paramount
general Gao Huan, entered into an alliance with independent generals Yuwen Tai and Heba Sheng (贺拔胜). When Gao,
in response, marched toward the capital Luoyang, Emperor Xiaowu fled to Yuwen's territory. Yuan Dan initially joined
Emperor Xiaowu on his flight, but quickly abandoned Emperor Xiaowu and returned to Luoyang. After Gao entered
Luoyang, he had Yuan Dan assume acting imperial powers, and Yuan Dan began to become arrogant, viewing himself as
the next emperor. Gao, who was in fact looking for a new emperor to replace Emperor Xiaowu, felt that Yuan Dan was
inappropriate, and therefore, under the excuse that a cousin should not succeed another, chose Yuan Shanjian and
declared him emperor (as Emperor Xiaojing). (Yuan Dan, in embarrassment and fear, tried to flee south, presumably to
rival Liang Dynasty, but Gao tracked him down and brought him back to Luoyang.) This formally divided Northern Wei into
Eastern Wei (with Emperor Xiaojing as emperor) and Western Wei (with Emperor Xiaowu as Emperor).
During Gao Huan's lifetime Gao Huan, believing that Luoyang was too close to the borders of Western Wei and Liang,
moved the capital to Yecheng, an important city firmly under his control. Viewing Emperor Xiaowu's flight as a blot on his
person, Gao publicly showed Emperor Xiaojing the utmost respect for the rest of his life, and Gao's subordinates did not
dare not to follow suit, although actual authority rested in the hands of Gao and other officials Gao delegated authority to.
Gao also made repeated attempts to conquer Western Wei to reunify Northern Wei, but each time was repelled by Yuwen
Tai or other Western Wei generals. Gao mostly remained at his headquarters in Jinyang (晋阳, in modern Taiyuan,
Shanxi), but made occasional visits to Yecheng. In 536, Gao put his son, Gao Cheng, in charge of the Eastern Wei
government. Late that year, Emperor Xiaojing's father Yuan Dan died, and according to some historians (but not all), Gao
assassinated him. Emperor Xiaojing, was he grew, was described to be handsome and strong, capable of jumping over a
fence while holding a stone lion. He was also said to be skillful at horseriding, archery, and literature. People compared
him to his famed ancestor, Emperor Xiaowen.
In 539, Emperor Xiaojing took Gao Huan's second daughter as his empress.
In 544, Gao Cheng, wanting to place a trusted official to keep watch on Emperor Xiaojing, made his associate Cui Jishu (
崔季舒) Emperor Xiaojing's secretary. However, Emperor Xiaojing had a cordial relationship with Cui, who often revised
submissions Gao made to Emperor Xiaojing and edicts Emperor Xiaojing issued to Gao Huan and Gao Cheng, to improve
the style and content. Emperor Xiaojing frequently made the comment, "Cui is my wet nurse." In 545, pursuant to Gao
Huan's request, Emperor Xiaojing took the cousin of the khan of Tuyuhun, Murong Kualu (慕容夸吕), as a concubine, to
try to enhance the relationship with Tuyuhun. In 547, Gao Huan died, and Gao Cheng took over full power of the
government. During Gao Cheng's regency In light of Gao Huan's death, the general Hou Jing, who did not respect Gao
Cheng, first surrendered the 13 provinces he controlled (the region between the Huai River and Yellow River to Western
Wei, and then to Liang. Gao Cheng's general Murong Shaozong (慕容绍宗), however, defeated both Xiao Yuanming ━
nephew of Liang's Emperor Wu, whom Emperor Wu sent to assist Hou ━ and Hou, capturing Xiao Yuanming and forcing
Hou to flee to Liang. By 548, all but four provinces (which Western Wei took) were back under Eastern Wei control, and
by 549, Eastern Wei had recaptured those provinces as well, after Gao Cheng captured Changshe (长社, in modern
Xuchang, Henan). Meanwhile, during the campaign against Hou, a conflict between Gao Cheng and Emperor Xiaojing
would erupt. Gao Cheng was not as respectful to Emperor Xiaojing as Gao Huan was, and he ordered Cui Jishu to
intensify his surveillance of Emperor Xiaojing. On one occasion, when Gao Cheng was attending a feast, he flashed a cup
before Emperor Xiaojing as a toast ━ a very disrespectful gesture, as a subordinate, when toasting the emperor, was
supposed to kneel. Emperor Xiaojing became angry, and remarked, "There is no such thing as an everlasting empire.
Zhen [(朕, an imperial self-appellation comparable to the pluralis majestatis)] do not necessarily treasure my life!" Gao
Cheng angrily responded, "Zhen, zhen, zhen! You are a zhen with dog feet!" He ordered Cui to punch Emperor Xiaojing
three times, and then left abruptly. Emperor Xiaojing thereafter entered into a conspiracy with his teacher Xun Ji (荀济),
Yuan Jin (元瑾), Liu Siyi (刘思逸), Yuan Daqi (元大器) the Prince of Huashan, Yuan Xuanhong (元宣洪) the Prince of
Huainan, and Yuan Hui (元徽) the Prince of Jibei to consider overthrowing Gao Cheng. They dug a tunnel from within the
palace to the outside of the city, intending to create a secret passage for imperial guards to go through, but the tunnel was
discovered, and Gao Cheng entered the palace with his troops, arresting Emperor Xiaojing, putting him under house
arrest, and executing the other members of the conspiracy. In spring 549, Emperor Xiaojing was forced to create Gao
Cheng the greater title of Prince of Qi, and give him the honorific office of Xiangguo (相国), both signifying a move toward
Gao's taking of the throne. Gao Cheng formally declined these honors, and further made a formal request for Emperor
Xiaojing to create a son as crown prince. Subsequently, in fall 549, Emperor Xiaojing created his son Yuan Zhangren (元
长仁) crown prince. (It is not known whether Yuan Zhangren's mother was Empress Gao.) Also in fall 549, Gao Cheng
was meeting Chen Yuankang (陈元康), Yang Yin, and Cui Jishu, to secretly discuss the timeframe in which to take the
throne, when his servant Lan Jing (兰京) ━ a son of the Liang general Lan Qin (兰钦) Gao Cheng captured in battle, and
whom Gao Cheng had repeatedly threatened to kill ━ assassinated Gao Cheng and Chen. Gao Cheng's brother Gao
Yang the Duke of Taiyuan, who was also in Yecheng at the time, killed Lan Jing and his associates, and publicly declared
only that Gao Cheng had been wounded. Emperor Xiaojing, however, believed that Gao Cheng was dead, and secretly
made the remark, "It is heaven's will that the Grand Marshall [(大将军, Da Ji_ngj_n, Gao Cheng's title at that time)] is
dead. The power to rule should return to the imperial clan." During Gao Yang's regency Gao Yang, however, quickly
moved to consolidate power. He made a quick show of force, marching his personal guards of 8,000 men into the palace,
and stating to Emperor Xiaojing that he was going to Jinyang ━ where the military headquarters were. Emperor Xiaojing,
seeing Gao Yang's intent on keeping power, turned pale and stated, "This man does not appear any more tolerant of me.
I do not know when I will die." Gao Yang set up his headquarters in Jinyang, intending to control the military, and in spring
550, Gao Yang had Emperor Xiaojing create him the Prince of Qi Commandery ━ a slightly lesser title than the one that
his brother declined before his death. Just two months later, Gao Yang's title was changed to Prince of Qi. Meanwhile,
Gao Yang's associate Gao Dezheng (高德政) was trying to persuade him to seize the throne. In summer 550, Gao Yang
agreed, and he started advancing toward Yecheng, while sending Gao Dezheng to Yecheng to try to force the issue.
Emperor Xiaojing bestowed Gao Yang the nine bestowments ━ the traditional penultimate step before abdication. After
Gao Yang arrived in Yecheng, with the officials Pan Le (潘乐), Zhang Liang (张亮), and Zhao Yanshen (赵彦深) sent by
Gao Yang to request his abdication, Emperor Xiaojing did so, yielding the throne to Gao Yang, who established Northern
Qi (as its Emperor Wenxuan). After removal
The new Emperor Wenxuan created the former emperor the Prince of Zhongshan, and gave him the special treatment of
not having to declare himself a subject of the new emperor. He created his sister, the former empress, the Princess
Taiyuan. The former emperor resided with the princess, and the princess, worried that her brother might do her husband
harm, kept close watch on her husband, often tasting his food to make sure that it was not poisoned. However, Emperor
Wenxuan was apprehensive of the former emperor. Around the new year 552, Emperor Wenxuan invited the Princess
Taiyuan to a feast inside the palace. As soon as she left her residence, Emperor Wenxuan sent assassins to force the
former emperor to drink poisoned wine, and also killed his three sons. Emperor Wenxuan gave the former emperor the
posthumous name of Xiaojing, and also buried him with imperial honors. However, at a later time, for reasons unknown,
Emperor Wenxuan opened up the tomb and threw Emperor Xiaojing's casket into the Zhang River (漳水).
Bei (Northern) Qi Dynasty 550-577
1) Wen Xuan Di 文宣帝 Gao Yang 高洋 550-559 Tianbao (天保 ti_n b_o) 550-559 Emperor Wenxuan of (Northern) Qi ((
北)齐文宣帝) (529━559), personal name Gao Yang (高洋), courtesy name Zijin (子进), was the first emperor of the
Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. He was the second son of Eastern Wei's paramount general Gao Huan, and the death of
his brother and Gao Huan's designated successor Gao Cheng in 549 became the regent of Eastern Wei. In 550, he
forced Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei to yield the throne to him, ending Eastern Wei and starting Northern Qi. Early in
Emperor Wenxuan's reign, he was known for attentiveness to military matters, and the strength of the Northern Qi military
was at its prime. He also tried to equalize the tax burden and reduce corruption by offering officials sufficient salary. He
entrusted most governmental matters to the capable Yang Yin, and for a while, the government was effective, and the
military was strong. However, Emperor Wenxuan eventually turned cruel, and his erratic behavior, fueled by alcoholism,
plunged his administration into chaos. Early life Gao Yang was born in 529, while his father Gao Huan was a general
under Northern Wei's paramount general Erzhu Rong. His mother Lou Zhaojun was Gao Huan's wife, on whose financial
support Gao's early career had relied on. He was their second son, after his older brother Gao Cheng. After Erzhu Rong's
death in 530, Gao Huan overthrew Erzhu's family and became Northern Wei's paramount general, and after Northern Wei
divided into Eastern Wei and Western Wei in 534 became the actual power controlling Eastern Wei. Gao Yang thus grew
up in a household of power. In 535, he was created the Duke of Taiyuan. Gao Yang was not well-regarded as a child, as
he was awkward in interpersonal skills and at times considered developmentally disabled, being unable to carry out many
tasks common for children. However, it appeared that he was actually of fairly high capability in many areas, and once,
when Gao Huan tried to test his children's intelligence by giving them tangled balls of yarn to untangle, Gao Yang took out
his sword and sliced the ball open, stating that that was the only solution. As Gao Huan's sons grew older, on one
occasion, Gao Huan wanted to test their military abilities by having his general Peng Le (彭乐) launch a mock attack on
them. All of Gao Huan's sons, including the older Gao Cheng, were fearful, but Gao Yang reacted calmly and actually
captured Peng. As he grew, he continued to be awkward and appearing to be unintelligent, and Gao Cheng, in particular,
often looked down on him. Gao Huan died in 547, and thereafter, Gao Cheng, who had already controlled many aspects
of Eastern Wei imperial government's operations, took over as regent. He moved to consolidate his power further, and
when Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei tried to form a plot to kill him, he discovered the plot and put Emperor Xiaojing
under effective house arrest. He then planned taking the throne himself, but at a meeting in 549 at the capital Yecheng (邺
城, in modern Handan, Hebei), with his officials Chen Yuankang (陈元康), Cui Jishu (崔季舒), and Yang Yin, to discuss
the procedure for doing so, he was assassinated by his servant Lan Jing (兰京), who was angry at his wrongful treatment.
At that time, Gao Yang happened to be in Yecheng, and he quickly gathered the guards and killed Lan and his coconspirators. He chose not to announce Gao Cheng's death immediately, while moving to consolidate power. As Eastern
Wei regent Initially, Emperor Xiaojing, who had received rumors that Gao Cheng had died, thought he might have a
chance to regain power. However, upon meeting Gao Yang, who made a display of force by having more than 200 guards
accompany him, Emperor Xiaojing saw that Gao Yang could not be easily dealt with. Meanwhile, Gao Yang headed for
the Gaos' stronghold of Jinyang (晋阳, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), and consolidated his military command there, quickly
impressing the generals who had previously looked down on him with quick and careful decisions. In fall and winter 549,
with rival Liang Dynasty under internal turmoil after the rebellion of Hou Jing (a former Eastern Wei general who had
defected to Liang in 547), Gao Yang sent Peng Le to attack the Liang border provinces, taking over the region between
the Huai River and Yangtze River with ease. In spring 550, Gao Yang had Emperor Xiaojing convey on him the greater
title of Prince of Qi Commandery. Two months later, his title was made the even greater title of Prince of Qi.
In summer 550, under advice from the officials Gao Dezheng (高德政), Xu Zhicai (徐之才), and Song Jingye (宋景业), Gao
Yang decided to take the throne, despite reservations from Gao Yang's mother Princess Dowager Lou. He therefore
headed from Jinyang to Yecheng, but even as he was on the way and had reached the halfway city of Pingdu (平都, in
modern Jinzhong, Shanxi), the officials largely pretended to ignore his overtures at taking the throne, so he returned to
Jinyang. Soon thereafter, he had Emperor Xiaojing issue an edict conferring the nine bestowments on him, further
displaying his posture of taking the throne. He then proceeded to Yecheng again, and Emperor Xiaojing yielded the throne
to him, ending Eastern Wei and establishing Northern Qi, with Gao Yang as its Emperor Wenxuan. He created the former
Emperor Xiaojing the Prince of Zhongshan. He posthumously honored Gao Huan and Gao Cheng as emperors, while
honoring his mother as empress dowager. Early reign
Early in Emperor Wenxuan's reign, he was known for being attentive to important matters of state, particularly military
matters. He revised Eastern Wei laws, and he selected elite soldiers from both Xianbei and Han ethnicities to form the
border defense corps. To equalize the tax and labor burden, he divided the households under his rule into nine classes
based on their wealth, requiring the wealthy to pay more taxes and the poor to contribute more labor. Continuing a trend
set by both his father Gao Huan and his brother Gao Cheng, he divided his time between Yecheng and Jinyang,
effectively making Jinyang a second capital. While Emperor Wenxuan was ethnically Han, like his father Gao Huan, he
viewed himself as Xianbei rather than Han. Further, more than his father did, he looked down on Han traditions, not willing
to follow them. Because of this, Gao Dezheng and another official, Gao Longzhi (高隆之), who wanted to ingratiate
themselves with Emperor Wenxuan's cousin and powerful general Duan Shao (段韶), suggested he make Duan Shao's
sister Lady Duan, a concubine of his, empress. Emperor Wenxuan did not follow their advice and, pursuant to expected
norm, created his wife Princess Li Zu'e empress and created her son Gao Yin crown prince. In response to the
establishment of Northern Qi, Yuwen Tai, the paramount general of rival Western Wei, launched a major attack on
Northern Qi. Emperor Wenxuan personally led troops to defend against Yuwen's attack. When Yuwen saw that Emperor
Wenxuan's troops were well-organized, he sighed and stated, "Gao Huan is not yet dead." He was unable to overcome
Emperor Wenxuan's defense and so was forced to withdraw, and in fact lost some border commanderies to Northern Qi in
the campaign.
Around the new year 552, Emperor Wenxuan wanted to put the former emperor, the Prince of Zhongshan, to death. He
first invited his sister and the prince's wife, the Princess Taiyuan, to a feast. As soon as she left the prince's household, he
sent assassins to force the prince to drink poison, and also killed his three sons. He buried the former emperor with
imperial honors, but at a later point, for reasons unknown, he dug out the former emperor's casket and threw it into the
Zhang River (漳水, flowing near Yecheng). In spring 552, Emperor Wenxuan himself led troops against the Kumo Xi tribe
(in the upper Liao River drainage area) and achieved a great victory. Around the same time, he also sent generals to
seize certain border cities with Liang, as Liang troops continued to battle Hou Jing, who declared himself the Emperor of
Han in 551 but was subsequently defeated by Emperor Yuan of Liang in 552. The campaigns of seizing Liang cities
continued even after Hou's defeat, although he did not at this point launch a single major attack on Liang. The campaigns
appeared to end in winter 552, and Emperor Wenxuan in fact promised the Liang generals Wang Sengbian and Chen
Baxian, whom Emperor Yuan put in charge of the eastern half of Liang territory, to return the cities of Guangling (广陵, in
modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) and Liyang (历阳, in modern Chaohu, Anhui). Also in winter 552, Emperor Wenxuan
personally led troops from Jinyang to Lishi (离石, in modern Luliang, Shanxi), and he ordered the construction of a great
wall from Huanglu Mountain (黄栌岭, also in modern Luliang) to Sheping Fortress (社平戍, in modern Xinzhou, Shanxi),
apparently to defend against Western Wei and Tujue. In winter 553, Khitan tribes were attacking Northern Qi's northern
borders, and Emperor Wenxuan himself led troops to attack Khitan─and on this campaign, he was described as
personally exposing himself to the dangers and contributing much personally to defeating the Khitan. Also in winter 553,
Emperor Wenxuan, wanting to put Northern Qi-friendly emperor on the Liang throne, commissioned an army commanded
by Guo yuanjian (郭元建) to escort Emperor Yuan's cousin Xiao Tui (萧退), who had surrendered to Eastern Wei in 548,
back to Liang territory. However, Northern Qi forces were defeated by the Liang general Hou Tian (侯□), and Xiao Tui
returned to Yecheng. Around the new year 554, the remnants of Rouran, which by that point was near its end,
surrendered to Northern Qi to seek protection from Tujue attacks. Emperor Wenxuan personally attacked the Tujue,
fighting its army off, and then created Yujiulu Anluochen as the new khan of Rouran, settling the Rouran people within
Northern Qi territory, at Mayi (马邑, in modern Shuozhou, Shanxi). In spring 554, Emperor Wenxuan, assisted by the
senior general Hulu Jin (斛律金) and his brother Gao Yan the Prince of Changshan, launched a major attack on the
Shanhu (山胡) tribe (in modern Luliang). After victory, he ordered that all 11-year-old and older males of the Shanhu be
slaughtered, and that the females and the young males be awarded as spoils of war to the soldiers. When one of his
commanders died because that commander's lieutenant, Lu Huili (路晖礼), was unable to save him, Emperor Wenxuan
ordered that Lu's internal organs be cut out of his body and that the soldiers consume them. Many traditional historians,
including Li Yanshou (李延寿), the author of the History of Northern Dynasties, and Sima Guang, the author of the Zizhi
Tongjian, saw this battle as the turning point of Emperor Wenxuan's rule─that thereafter, he began to act violently and
capriciously. For example, in spring 554, when Rouran rebelled and he personally led troops to defeat Yujiulu Anluochen,
he felt that warhorses offered by the general Heba Ren (贺拔仁) the Prince of Anding were not of sufficient quality─and
he punished Heba by plucking out Heba's hair and demoting to commoner status, and further ordering Heba to serve as a
worker in a coal processing facility. In another example, in fall 554, after he had put the official Yuan Xu (元旭), a former
Northern Wei prince, to death, he remembered the snubs that Gao Longzhi, who was a friend of Yuan Xu's, had shown
him before he became Eastern Wei's regent, and he had Gao Longzhi battered so severely that Gao Longzhi died several
days later─and at a later point, still angry at Gao Longzhi, arrested Gao Longzhi's 20 sons and, with 20 executioners
lined up, had the sons beheaded simultaneously, and then threw their bodies and Gao Longzhi's body thrown into the
Zhang River. Starting in 551, Emperor Wenxuan had ordered his official Wei Shou to compile a history of Northern Wei.
Wei Shou completed the work in 554, but his work (Book of Wei) was criticized by many to be defamatory to ancestors of
many political enemies (so much so that they referred to the work as Huishu (秽书─the Book of Filth)), and several
officials filed reports condemning Wei Shou. Wei Shou submitted a petition to Emperor Wenxuan defending himself, and
Emperor Wenxuan, in an act that he believed to be protecting the integrity of history, jailed the officials who condemned
Wei Shou. In late 554, Western Wei launched a major attack on Jiangling (江陵, in modern Jingzhou, Hubei), then the
capital of Liang. Emperor Wenxuan commissioned an army commanded by Gao Huan's cousin Gao Yue (高岳) the Prince
of Qinghe to attack Western Wei's An Province (安州, roughly modern Xiaogan, Hubei) to try to relieve pressure from
Jiangling, but by the time that Gao Yue arrived, Jiangling had already fallen, and Western Wei captured and then
executed Emperor Yuan.
Late reign Western Wei declared Emperor Yuan's nephew Xiao Cha the Emperor of Liang, but the declaration was not
recognized by most Liang generals, and the chief of those generals, Wang Sengbian, welcomed Emperor Yuan's son
Xiao Fangzhi the Prince of Jin'an to the old Liang capital Jiankang, declaring him the Prince of Liang in spring 555 and
preparing to make him emperor. Emperor Wenxuan had other ideas, however, and he created Emperor Yuan's cousin
Xiao Yuanming the Marquess of Zhenyang, whom Eastern Wei captured in 547 during Liang's attempt to aid Hou Jing's
rebellion against Eastern Wei, emperor, commissioning his brother Gao Huan (高涣, note tone difference with his father)
the Prince of Shangdang to command an army to escort Xiao Yuanming back to Liang territory. Emperor Wenxuan wrote
letters to Wang recommending Xiao Yuanming as emperor, arguing that Xiao Fangzhi (who was 12 years old) was too
young. Wang initially rejected Xiao Yuanming, but after Gao Huan won a few battles over Wang's generals, Wang decided
to submit and, after Northern Qi escorting troops agreed to limit their presence to 1,000 men, and Xiao Yuanming agreed
to make Xiao Fangzhi crown prince, accepted Xiao Yuanming as emperor. To show his good faith, Wang sent his son
Wang Xian (王显) and nephew Wang Shizhen (王世珍), as well as Wang Xian's mother Lady Liu, to Yecheng as
hostages. Xiao Yuanming became Liang's emperor, and there was peace between Northern Qi and Liang, with Liang now
a vassal. Just four months later, however, the situation changed. Wang Sengbian's lieutenant Chen Baxian, displeased
over Xiao Yuanming's ascension (as he saw Xiao Yuanming's claim as being too attenuated), make a surprise attack on
Jiankang from his headquarters of Jingkou (京口, in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu), killing Wang Sengbian and forcing Xiao
Yuanming to yield the throne to Xiao Fangzhi (who took the throne as Emperor Jing). Initially, Chen claimed that Liang
would still agree to be a vassal, and Emperor Wenxuan sent the official Sima Gong (司马恭) to swear an oath with Liang
officials. However, with several generals loyal to Wang Sengbian rising against Chen following Wang's death, Emperor
Wenxuan's mind changed, particularly after two, Xu Sihui (徐嗣徽) and Ren Yue (任约) submitted to him, making a
surprise attack on the near-Jiankang fortress Shitou and capturing it. Emperor Wenxuan sent the general Xiao Gui (萧轨)
to reinforce Xu and Ren. Chen defeated Northern Qi troops and Xu and Ren, however, and Xiao Gui's assistant Liu Damo
(柳达摩), sieged by Chen in Shitou, sought peace. Chen agreed, and sent his nephew Chen Tanlang (陈昙朗), Emperor
Jing's nephew Xiao Zhuang the Prince of Yongjia, and Wang Min (王玟), the son of the key official Wang Chong (王冲), to
serve as hostages to Northern Qi, allowing Liu to withdraw. (Upon Liu's return to Northern Qi, however, Emperor
Wenxuan had him executed.) During the campaign against Liang, Emperor Wenxuan made another display of his
increasing instability, as he, jealous over the fact that his concubine Consort Xue had previously had a sexual relationship
with Gao Yue, ordered Gao Yue to commit suicide. Thereafter, he beheaded Consort Xue and hid her head in his sleeves.
At a banquet later that day, he tossed her head onto a platter and cut her body into pieces, beginning to play with her leg,
surprising all of the banquet attendants. At the end of the banquet, he packed her body parts and began crying, following
the cart carrying her body on foot. In fall 555, Emperor Wenxuan became convinced that Buddhism and Taoism should be
but one religion, and that one of them should be merged into the other. He had the leading Buddhist and Taoist monks
debate before him, and he declared the Buddhists the victors, ordering Taoism merged into Buddhism and Taoist monks
to become Buddhist monks. Some Taoist monks initially rejected this edict, but after he executed four monks, the others
submitted, and Taoism became banned within Northern Qi. In spring 556, border battles between Northern Qi and Liang
resumed, and Northern Qi prepared another campaign against Liang. In summer 556, Northern Qi forces were again
south of the Yangtze, operating in Jiankang's vicinity, but they were stalemated against Liang troops, eventually defeated
by Chen and his generals after they ran out of food. A number of Northern Wei generals were captured and executed by
Liang, and in response, Emperor Wenxuan put Chen Tanlang to death. By this point, Emperor Wenxuan's erratic behavior
became even greater in scope, fueled by his alcoholism. As described by Sima Guang in his Zizhi Tongjian:
... [Emperor Wenxuan] drank heavily and lived immorality, carrying out cruel and barbarous act at his on whim.
Sometimes he sang and danced day and night. Sometimes he spread his hair and wore barbarian clothing with colorful
sashes. Sometimes he bared his body and put on makeup. Soemtimes he rode donkeys, cows, camels, or elephants
without using saddles. Sometimes he ordered Cui Jishu or Liu Taozhi (刘桃枝) to carry him and a large drum to allow him
to beat the drums. He was accustomed to making surprise charges into the nobles' and imperial officials' private
residences. he often crossed streets, sometimes sitting in the streets and sometimes even sleeping on them. Sometimes
when it is warm, he would be naked to bask in the sun, but even in the coldest winter, he would strip naked as well and
run around. His attendants could not stand his behavior, but he himself did not care. ... Once, he asked a woman on the
street, "How is the Son of Heaven like?" The woman responded, "He is so crazy that he really cannot be considered a
Son of Heaven." He beheaded her.
Once, when he was drunk and acting irrationally, Empress Dowager Lou rebuked him, and he threatened to marry her to
an old barbarian. When she became angry, he became fearful, and he wanted to induce her to smile again, so he crawled
on the ground under her seat, but in doing so, he flipped the seat over, and she was injured. After he sobered up, he
realized how he had been injured, and he set a large fire, intending to jump in to die, causing her to have to grab him to
save him. He thereafter pledged not to drink any more, but was only able to do so for 10 days before he began drinking
again. He also once shot an arrow at Empress Li's mother Lady Cui and whipped her. Further, it was described that most
women of the imperial Gao clan were forced to have sexual relations with him at one point or another. When Gao Huan's
concubine Erzhu Ying'e, the Princess Dowager of Pengcheng, refused, he killed her with his own hands. Emperor
Wenxuan also became homicidal when he drank, and he always wanted to kill people when he was drunk. Yang Yin, who
was prime minister at this point, therefore set up a group of condemned prisoners to be available to the palace guards─if
Emperor Wenxuan wanted to kill someone, a condemned prisoner would be brought out for him to kill, and if a prisoner
was able to survive for three months without being killed, he would be set free. However, even in his erratic behavior,
Emperor Wenxuan was still attentive to many important matters, and because of his harshness, his officials did not dare
to be corrupt. Further, Yang was a capable prime minister, and Emperor Wenxuan gave him full authorization to carry out
laws properly. Therefore, it was said at the time that while the emperor was violent and insane, the government was
nevertheless efficient. In winter 557, believing prophecies that Gao Huan would be emperor, he ordered Gao Huan
arrested. Gao Huan tried to resist, but was nevertheless captured and delivered to Yecheng. When another brother, Gao
Jun (高浚) the prince of Yong'an, sent petitions urging him to change his behavior, he had Gao Jun arrested as well, and
the two princes were imprisoned in a dungeon. Also in winter 557, Chen Baxian had Liang's Emperor Jing yield the throne
to him, establishing Chen Dynasty, and subsequently had Emperor Jing killed in 558. The general Wang Lin, then in
control of modern Hunan and eastern Hubei, refused to submit to Chen and sought to continue Liang's lineage. He
therefore requested Northern Qi to return Xiao Zhuang the Prince of Yongjia to be emperor. In spring 558, Northern Qi
troops escorted Xiao Zhuang to Wang's territory, and Wang declared Xiao Zhuang emperor, as a Northern Qi vassal, with
his capital at Jiangxia (江夏, in modern Wuhan, Hubei). By this point, Emperor Wenxuan's military campaigns and other
wasteful behavior had caused the imperial treasury to be drained. He had also become unhappy with his son Gao Yin,
believing that Gao Yin was too Han-like in behavior, and he considered deposing Gao Yin. Once, he ordered Gao Yin to
personally execute a prisoner, but Gao Yin could not bring himself to do so, and Emperor Wenxuan battered him with a
whip handle, causing Gao Yin to thereafter have a panic disorder and at times unable to speak. When Emperor Wenxuan
became drunk, he would often state that he might eventually pass the throne to his brother Gao Yan, and he stopped
stating as such only after urging by Yang and Wei Shou, who believed that his words were causing an unstabling effect in
causing a doubt as to who would succeed him. Around the new year 559, Emperor Wenxuan visited the imprisoned Gao
Jun and Gao Huan. He initially took pity on them and considered releasing them, but, at the urging of another brother,
Gao Dan the Prince of Changguang, did not do so, and further started to pierce them with spears. He also ordered that
torches be thrown at them, burning them to death. He rewarded the princes' wives to the soldiers who delivered the death
blows. In summer 559, Emperor Wenxuan, suspecting that the members of the Northern Wei imperial Yuan clan would
eventually try to return to power, ordered the Yuans to be slaughtered, regardless of age or gender, and had the bodies
thrown into the Zhang River. Only several households who were particularly close to the Gaos were spared. In fall 559,
Emperor Wenxuan suffered a major illness that historians believed to be alcoholism-driven. He stated to Empress Li, "A
person will live and die, and there is nothing to regret, other than that our son Gao Yin is still young, and someone else
will take his throne." He stated to Gao Yan, "Go ahead and take the throne, but do not kill him!" However, he did not
change the succession order, and after his death, Gao Yin took the throne as Emperor Fei. The officials tried to mourn at
his death, but no one was actually able to shed a tear other than Yang Yin.
2) Fei Di 废帝 Gao Yin 高殷 559-560 Qianming (乾明 qian ming) 560
Emperor Fei of Northern Qi ((北)齐废帝) (545━561), personal name Gao Fei (高殷), courtesy name Zhengdao (正道),
posthumously Prince Mindao of Ji'nan (济南闵悼王), was briefly an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. He was
the oldest son of the first emperor, Emperor Wenxuan (Gao Yang), and he became emperor after Emperor Wenxuan's
death in 559. However, in his young age, the officials fought over power, and in 560, Emperor Fei's uncle Gao Yan the
Prince of Changshan killed the prime minister Yang Yin and took over power, soon deposing Emperor Fei and taking the
throne himself as Emperor Xiaozhao. in 561, fearful of prophecies that Emperor Fei would return to the throne, Emperor
Xiaozhao had him put to death. Background
Gao Yin was born in 545, when his father Gao Yang, then the Duke of Taiyuan, was not viewed as an important figure in
Eastern Wei's governmental structure, as while Gao Yang's father Gao Huan was the paramount general of the state,
Gao Huan's heir apparent was not Gao Yang but Gao Yang's older brother Gao Cheng. Gao Yin's mother was Gao
Yang's wife, the ethnically Han Li Zu'e, who carried the title the Duchess of Taiyuan, who subsequently gave birth to
another son, Gao Shaode (高绍德). In 547, Gao Huan died, and Gao Cheng became effective regent of Eastern Wei,
dominating the political scene, and he soon considered taking the throne from Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei. However,
while preparing, he was assassinated by his slave Lan Jing (兰京) in 549. In the aftermaths of Gao Cheng's death, Gao
Yang, as the next oldest son of Gao Huan, took control of the Eastern Wei government. In 550, then bearing the title of
Prince of Qi, had Emperor Xiaojing yield the throne to him, ending Eastern Wei and establishing Northern Qi as its
Emperor Wenxuan. Despite the opposition of some officials (based on her Han ethnicity), Emperor Wenxuan created his
wife Princess Li empress and created Gao Yin crown prince.
Gao Yin was considered intelligent and considerate as a child. For example, when he held feasts at the North Palace, he
would invite his cousins, but he would not invite Gao Cheng's son Gao Xiaowan (高孝琬), because Gao Cheng died in the
North Palace, and so he did not want Gao Xiaowan to feast at his father's death place. Another episode mentioned by the
Book of Northern Qi involved Gao Yin's being greatly impressed by the sexually moral official Xu Sanchou (许散愁) that
he awarded Xu a great amount of silk. (It may very well be that the story was recorded as a veiled praise for Gao Yin's
being himself sexually moral, as compared to his sexually promiscuous father and uncles.) However, Emperor Wenxuan,
who was violent and military-minded and who disfavored Han ways, felt that Gao Yin was too meek and considered
deposing him. On one occasion, Emperor Wenxuan, who was accustomed to personally executing condemned prisoners
inside the palace, ordered Gao Yin to carry out the execution. Gao Yin could not bring himself to do so, and, in anger,
Emperor Wenxuan battered him with the handle of a whip. Since that incident, Gao Yin was recorded as suffering from a
panic disorder, at times unable to speak and at times behaving erratically. At times, when the alcoholic Emperor Wenxuan
was drunk, he would declare that he might eventually give the throne instead to Gao Yin's uncle Gao Yan the Prince of
Changshan, further leading to questions of succession. In fall 559, Emperor Wenxuan suffered a major illness that
historians believed to be alcoholism-driven. He stated to Empress Li, "A person will live and die, and there is nothing to
regret, other than that our son Gao Yin is still young, and someone else will take his throne." He stated to Gao Yan, "Go
ahead and take the throne, but do not kill him!" However, he did not change the succession order, and after his death,
Gao Yin took the throne as Emperor Fei. Reign Pursuant to Emperor Wenxuan's will, the government was in the hands of
several of his trusted officials -- Yang Yin the Prince of Kaifeng, Gao Guiyan (高归彦) the Prince of Pingqin, Yan Zixian (燕
子献), and Zheng Yi (郑颐). Gao Yan, while respected by the people, was not given great power, and while his (and
Emperor Wenxuan's) mother Empress Dowager Lou Zhaojun had some desire to have Gao Yan made emperor instead,
there was insufficient support at the time, and Yang, in fear that Gao Yan and another brother of Emperor Wenxuan, Gao
Dan the Prince of Changguang, would try to take power, took steps to curb their authorities. Emperor Fei honored his
grandmother Empress Dowager Lou as grand empress dowager and mother Empress Li as empress dowager. Pursuant
to his edicts, the palace construction projects that Emperor Wenxuan started, which caused much misery for his people in
the latter years of his reign, were halted. As Emperor Fei took the throne while he was attending to his father's deathbed
at the secondary capital Jinyang (晋阳, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), when he proceeded to the capital Yecheng in spring
560, it was initially believed that Gao Yan or Gao Dan would be put in charge of Jinyang -- then perhaps the most militarily
secure city in the empire; instead, by the arrangements of Yang and his associates, the two princes were ordered to
accompany the young emperor to Yecheng. Once the imperial train arrived at Yecheng, the situation became even more
tense, as an associate of Yang's, Kezhuhun Tianhe (可朱浑天和), was convinced that Emperor Fei would not be safe in
his reign unless his two uncles were killed, and alternatively, Yan Zixian considered putting Grand Empress Dowager Lou,
who still wielded much power as the clan matriarch, under house arrest, and forcing her to turn her authorities to Empress
Dowager Li. Meanwhile, the ambitious Yang was carrying out a governmental reorganization scheme to trim unnecessary
offices and titles and to remove incompetent officials. The officials who were hurt by Yang's actions became disaffected
and largely hoped that Gao Yan and Gao Dan would take action and began to encourage them to do so. Yang considered
sending Gao Yan and Gao Dan outside the capital to be provincial governors, but Emperor Fei initially disagreed. Yang
wrote a submission to Empress Dowager Li to ask her to consider, and she consulted her lady in waiting Li Changyi (李昌
仪), who leaked the news to Grand Empress Dowager Lou. She informed the two princes, and they set up an ambush,
with Gao Guiyan and the generals Heba Ren (贺拔仁) and Hulu Jin (斛律金), at a ceremony where Gao Yan was to be
named to a ceremonial post. Yang, Kezhuhun, Yan, Zheng, and Song Qindao (宋钦道) were all severely battered and
captured. Gao Yan and Gao Dan then entered the palace and publicly accused Yang and his associates of crimes; Yang
and his associates were executed, and Gao Yan took control of the government. He soon went to take up post at Jinyang,
controlling the government remotely. Removal and death In fall 560, after Gao Yan convinced Grand Empress Dowager
Lou the action is necessary, Grand Empress Dowager Lou issued an edict deposing Emperor Fei and making Gao Yan
emperor (as Emperor Xiaozhao). The former emperor was created the Prince of Ji'nan. He was moved out of the main
palace but was given a subsidiary palace at Yecheng. With Emperor Xiaozhao largely spending his time at Jinyang, Gao
Dan was in charge of Yecheng, and the prince was under his guard. In fall 561, sorcerers informed Emperor Xiaozhao
that the imperial aura was still at Yecheng, making Emperor Xiaozhao concerned. Meanwhile, Gao Guiyan, who was
concerned that Gao Yin would one day take the throne again and retaliate against him, persuaded Emperor Xiaozhao that
his nephew had to be removed, and so Emperor Xiaozhao issued an edict to summon Gao Yin to Jinyang. Gao Dan, who
at this time was disappointed at Emperor Xiaozhao not created him crown prince (instead creating his own son Gao
Bainian crown prince), briefly considered redeclaring Gao Yin emperor and starting a rebellion against Emperor Xiaozhao,
but ultimately chose not to do it, as his own sorcerers informed him that they believed that he would become emperor one
day anyway. He therefore sent Gao Yin to Jinyang. Soon, Emperor Xiaozhao sent assassins to deliver poisoned wine to
Gao Yin. Gao Yin refused to drink it, and the assassins strangled him. He was buried with honors due a prince, not an
emperor .
3) XiaoZhaoDi 孝昭帝 GaoYan 高演560-561
Huangjian (皇建 huang jian) 560-561 Emperor Xiaozhao of Northern
Qi ((北)齐孝昭帝) (535━561), personal name Gao Yan (高演), courtesy name Yan'an (延安), was an emperor of the
Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. He was generally considered a capable ruler, but ruled only less than two years before
dying from injuries suffered from falling off a horse. Northern Qi would not have another capable ruler after his death.
Early life Gao Yan was born in 535, as the third of six sons that Gao Huan, then the paramount general of Eastern Wei
and the Prince of Bohai, had with his wife Princess Lou Zhaojun, after his older brothers Gao Cheng and Gao Yang, and
Gao Huan's sixth son overall. He was said to be intelligent in his childhood, and was much favored by his mother Princess
Lou. At age three, in 538, he was created the Duke of Changshan. He was said to be studious, particularly favoring the
Book of Han in his studies. During Emperor Wenxuan's reign In 550, Gao Yang, who had become regent of Eastern Wei
following the deaths of Gao Huan in 547 and Gao Cheng in 549, had Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei yield the throne to
him, ending Eastern Wei and starting Northern Qi as its Emperor Wenxuan. As the new emperor's brother, Gao Yan was
created the Prince of Changshan. He received a number of official posts during Emperor Wenxuan's reign, and was said
to have distinguished himself in his ability to govern despite his youth, and was known for his solemnity. However, he was
also said to be so stern in his ways that if subordinates carried out incorrect actions, he would cane them severely. At
times, he participated in military campaigns that Emperor Wenxuan personally commanded. Emperor Wenxuan ruled
Northern Qi diligently early in his reign, but later in his reign, perhaps starting 554 or so, he began to act erratically and
cruelly toward his officials and members of his own household. On one occasion, when invited to one of Emperor
Wenxuan's feasts, his face showed sadness and anxiety, and Emperor Wenxuan deduced that he must have disapproved
Emperor Wenxuan's preoccupation with drinking and women, and he declared that he would stop drinking─although his
abstension from alcohol only lasted for several days. Emperor Wenxuan also favored irreverent and sometimes immoral
games within his palace, but when Gao Yan was present he would curb his behavior, and while Emperor Wenxuan was
known for often visiting nobles' households and having sexual relations with their women, regardless of their relationships
to him, he did not do so as to Gao Yan's household. During this period of Emperor Wenxuan's reign, then, Gao Yan
became one of the only few individuals who would dare to try to get the emperor to change his behavior, although often
only with temporary effect. On one occasion, Gao Yan offered a petition listing a number of behaviors that he believed
Emperor Wenxuan should change─and this caused Emperor Wenxuan to be exceedingly angry at him, threatening to kill
him and sentencing Gao Yan's chief advisor, Wang Xi (王唏), whom Emperor Wenxuan suspected to have contributed to
the petition, to hard labor. In a later incident, Emperor Wenxuan, after having awarded Gao Yan a lady in waiting while
drunk, forgot about the award after he became sober, and accused Gao Yan of stealing the lady in waiting, battering Gao
Yan severely with a sword hilt. Gao Yan became angry and went on a hunger strike. Emperor Wenxuan, in order to
placate Gao Yan, then agreed to release Wang Xi from hard labor and return him to Gao Yan's headquarters. Meanwhile,
Emperor Wenxuan, who distrusted Eastern Wei's Yuan imperial household, of whom Gao Yan's wife Princess Yuan was a
member, tried to get Gao Yan to divorce Princess Yuan, but Gao Yan refused, and when Emperor Wenxuan carried out a
massacre of the Yuans in 559, it was at Gao Yan's earnest intercession that Emperor Wenxuan spared Princess Yuan's
father Yuan Man (元蛮) and his family. Emperor Wenxuan's crown prince was his son Gao Yin, who was known for his
studiousness, but Emperor Wenxuan, who, despite his Han ethnicity, favored Xianbei warrior ways, felt that Gao Yin was
too Han in his thinking and repeatedly considered deposing him. Particularly when he was drunk, Emperor Wenxuan often
stated that he would pass the throne to Gao Yan, and he stopped doing so only after being warned by his prime minister
Yang Yin that his statements was potentially causing instability. In fall 559, Emperor Wenxuan suffered a major illness that
historians believed to be alcoholism-driven. He stated to his wife Empress Li Zu'e, "A person will live and die, and there is
nothing to regret, other than that our son Gao Yin is still young, and someone else will take his throne." He stated to Gao
Yan, "Go ahead and take the throne, but do not kill him!" However, he did not change the succession order, and after his
death, Gao Yin took the throne as Emperor Fei.
During Emperor Fei's reign Pursuant to Emperor Wenxuan's will, the government was in the hands of several of his
trusted officials -- Yang Yin, Gao Guiyan (高归彦) the Prince of Pingqin, Yan Zixian (燕子献), and Zheng Yi (郑颐). Gao
Yan, while respected by the people, was not given great power, and while Grand Empress Dowager Lou had some desire
to have Gao Yan made emperor instead, there was insufficient support at the time, and Yang, in fear that Gao Yan and
another brother of Emperor Wenxuan, Gao Dan the Prince of Changguang, would try to take power, took steps to curb
their authorities. Meanwhile, Gao Yan's own supporters, citing the example of the Duke of Zhou, were suggesting to him
that he should take power as the young emperor's uncle, and while Gao Yan initially rejected such overtures, he was
watching the political scene carefully. As Emperor Fei took the throne while he was attending to his father's deathbed at
the secondary capital Jinyang (晋阳, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), when he proceeded to the capital Yecheng (邺城, in
modern Handan, Hebei) in spring 560, it was initially believed that Gao Yan or Gao Dan would be put in charge of Jinyang
─then perhaps the most militarily secure city in the empire; instead, by the arrangements of Yang and his associates, the
two princes were ordered to accompany the young emperor to Yecheng. Once the imperial train arrived at Yecheng, the
situation became even more tense, as an associate of Yang's, Kezhuhun Tianhe (可朱浑天和), was convinced that
Emperor Fei would not be safe in his reign unless his two uncles were killed, and alternatively, Yan Zixian considered
putting Grand Empress Dowager Lou, who still wielded much power as the clan matriarch, under house arrest, and
forcing her to turn her authorities to Empress Dowager Li. Meanwhile, the ambitious Yang was carrying out a
governmental reorganization scheme to trim unnecessary offices and titles and to remove incompetent officials. The
officials who were hurt by Yang's actions became disaffected and largely hoped that Gao Yan and Gao Dan would take
action and began to encourage them to do so. In spring 560, Yang considered sending Gao Yan and Gao Dan outside the
capital to be provincial governors, but Emperor Fei initially disagreed. Yang wrote a submission to Empress Dowager Li to
ask her to consider, and she consulted her lady in waiting Li Changyi (李昌仪), who leaked the news to Grand Empress
Dowager Lou. She informed the two princes, and they set up an ambush, with Gao Guiyan and the generals Heba Ren (
贺拔仁) and Hulu Jin (斛律金), at a ceremony where Gao Yan was to be named to a ceremonial post. Yang, Kezhuhun,
Yan, Zheng, and Song Qindao (宋钦道) were all severely battered and captured. Gao Yan and Gao Dan then entered the
palace and publicly accused Yang and his associates of crimes; Yang and his associates were executed, and Gao Yan
took control of the government. He soon went to take up post at Jinyang, controlling the government remotely. Gao Yan's
advisors, headed by Wang Xi and Zhao Yanshen (赵彦深), then suggested that he take the throne himself─noting to him
that his actions in killing Yang and his associates meant that when Emperor Fei was grown, he would never be able to
have a cordial relationship with Emperor Fei. Gao Yan agreed, and although initially Grand Empress Dowager Lou found
the action inadvisable, she finally agreed. In fall 560, she issued an edict deposing Emperor Fei and making Gao Yan
emperor (as Emperor Xiaozhao); however, in the edict, she sternly warned Emperor Xiaozhao to make sure that nothing
would happen to Emperor Fei, who was demoted to the rank of Prince of Ji'nan. Grand Empress Dowager Lou became
again known as Empress Dowager Lou, while Empress Dowager Li was given the title of Empress Wenxuan. Reign
Emperor Xiaozhao was said to be diligent in his actions, and after he became emperor, he spent all day looking at laws
and regulations of Emperor Wenxuan, seeking to revise the laws that were inappropriate or too harsh. He was praised for
his diligence, but also criticized for being overly obsessed with details. He was also said to be filial pious toward Empress
Dowager Lou and loving to his brothers. One brother who was dissatisfied with him, however, was Gao Dan, whom
Emperor Xiaozhao had previously agreed to make crown prince─but who was passed over in favor of Emperor
Xiaozhao's own son Gao Bainian, whom Emperor Xiaozhao created crown prince in winter 560, when he also created
Princess Yuan empress. He also started long-term strategic planning against rival Northern Zhou, planning to gradually
seize Northern Zhou territory east of the Yellow River bit by bit. He entrusted much of his decision-making to Wang Xi,
Yang Xiuzhi (阳休之), and Cui Jie (崔□), often having them stay in the palace all day to examine the laws and
regulations. In spring 561, Emperor Xiaozhao had the former Liang Dynasty general Wang Lin, who had fled to Northern
Qi in 560 after his failed attempt, supported by Northern Qi, to let Xiao Zhuang rule as Liang's emperor, against Chen
Dynasty and the Northern Zhou-supported Emperor Xuan of Western Liang, take up position at Hefei (合肥, in modern
Hefei, Anhui), to plan a campaign against Chen. Later, he made Wang the governor of Yang Province (扬州, modern
central Anhui). Emperor Xiaozhao, throughout his reign, stayed at the secondary capital Jinyang and did not stay at
Yecheng, leaving Yecheng in Gao Dan's control. In fall 561, Emperor Xiaozhao, concerned that Gao Dan was becoming
too powerful, tried to transfer some of Gao Dan's authority to the general Hulu Xian (斛律羡, Hulu Jin's son), but Gao Dan
refused to transfer any of his authority. Meanwhile, sorcerers informed Emperor Xiaozhao that the imperial aura was still
at Yecheng, making Emperor Xiaozhao concerned. Gao Guiyan, who was concerned that Gao Yin would one day take
the throne again and retaliate against him, persuaded Emperor Xiaozhao that his nephew had to be removed, and so
Emperor Xiaozhao issued an edict to summon the Prince of Ji'nan to Jinyang. Gao Dan, was disappointed at Emperor
Xiaozhao not created him crown prince, briefly considered redeclaring Gao Yin emperor and starting a rebellion against
Emperor Xiaozhao, but ultimately chose not to do it, as his own sorcerers informed him that they believed that he would
become emperor one day anyway. He therefore sent Gao Yin to Jinyang. Soon, Emperor Xiaozhao sent assassins to
deliver poisoned wine to Gao Yin. Gao Yin refused to drink it, and the assassins strangled him. Emperor Xiaozhao soon
regretted killing his nephew. In winter 561, while hunting, Emperor Xiaozhao's horse was spooked by a rabbit, and he fell
off the horse and suffered broken ribs. When Empress Dowager Lou came to see him, she asked him where Gao Yin
was, and he could not answer. Empress Dowager Lou angrily stated, "Did you not kill him? Because you did not listen to
me, you should die!" and left without seeing him again. Soon, believing himself to be near death, he issued an edict
stating that Gao Bainian was too young to take the throne, and that the throne was instead to be passed to Gao Dan. He
also wrote a letter to Gao Dan, stating, "Bainian is innocent. You can do anything with him, but please do not kill him!" He
died later that day, while lamenting that he was unable to serve his mother for the rest of her life. Gao Dan soon arrived at
Jinyang and took the throne (as Emperor Wucheng).
4) Wu Cheng Di 武成帝 Gao Dan 高湛 561-565 Taining (太宁 tai ning) 561-562
Heqing (河清 he q_ng) 562-565 Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi ((北)齐武成帝) (537━569), personal name Gao
Dan[1] (高湛), nickname Buluoji (步落稽), was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. During his reign, he
devoted much of his time to feasting and pleasure-seeking, neglecting the affairs of the state and causing Northern Qi's
political system to degrade quickly. In 565, he passed the throne to his young son Gao Wei, taking the title Taishang
Huang (retired emperor), but continued to make key decisions. After his death in 569, the Northern Qi political system
would grow even more corrupt and inefficient, leading to its fall in 577. Background Gao Dan was born in 537, as the
fourth of six sons of Eastern Wei's paramount general Gao Huan and his wife Lou Zhaojun (and Gao Huan's ninth son
overall). In 544, Gao Huan, in order to try to form an alliance with Rouran, took, as a wife for Gao Dan, a daughter of
Rouran's Khan Yujiulu Anluochen, who carried the title of Princess Linhe. At their public wedding ceremony, Gao Dan was
said to be appropriate in his actions despite his young age, surprising the guests.[2] He was later created the Duke of
Changguang. After the deaths of Gao Huan and Gao Dan's oldest brother Gao Cheng, another brother Gao Yang
became regent, and in 550, he had Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei yield the throne to him, ending Eastern Wei and
establishing Northern Qi as its Emperor Wenxuan. Gao Dan, as a younger brother to the emperor, was created the Prince
of Changguang. During Emperor Wenxuan's reign Emperor Wenxuan's reign was initially a diligent one, but eventually
turned violent and degenerate. When he was drunk, he was accustomed to battering his brothers, including Gao Dan, and
two of his brothers, Gao Jun (高浚) the Prince of Yong'an and Gao Huan (高涣, note different character than their father)
the Prince of Shangdang, were imprisoned and later killed cruelly. (It was said that Gao Dan had a hand in their deaths,
as Gao Yang considered releasing them around the year 559, but Gao Dan, who had a hateful relationship with Gao Jun,
told Emperor Wenxuan, "How can you let fierce tigers out of their cages?" Emperor Wenxuan agreed and had them
killed.) During this period, Gao Dan closely associated with He Shikai and Zu Ting, even calling them brothers -- and both
of them would eventually have key roles in his administration. During Emperor Fei's and Xiaozhao's reigns In late 559,
Emperor Wenxuan died and was succeeded by his son Gao Yin (as Emperor Fei). Pursuant to Emperor Wenxuan's will,
the government was in the hands of several of his trusted officials -- Yang Yin the Prince of Kaifeng, Gao Guiyan (高归彦)
the Prince of Pingqin, Yan Zixian (燕子献), and Zheng Yi (郑颐). These officials (except for Gao Guiyan) were distrustful of
Gao Dan and his older brother Gao Yan the Prince of Changshan, believing that, as the young emperor's honored uncles,
they posed a threat to the emperor. Meanwhile, the ambitious Yang was carrying out a governmental reorganization
scheme to trim unnecessary offices and titles and to remove incompetent officials. The officials who were hurt by Yang's
actions became disaffected and largely hoped that Gao Yan and Gao Dan would take action and began to encourage
them to do so. Yang considered sending Gao Yan and Gao Dan outside the capital to be provincial governors, but
Emperor Fei initially disagreed. Yang wrote a submission to Emperor Fei's mother Empress Dowager Li to ask her to
consider, and she consulted her lady in waiting Li Changyi (李昌仪), who leaked the news to Grand Empress Dowager
Lou. She informed the two princes, and in summer 560, they set up an ambush, with Gao Guiyan and the generals Heba
Ren (贺拔仁) and Hulu Jin (斛律金), at a ceremony where Gao Yan was to be named to a ceremonial post. Yang,
Kezhuhun, Yan, Zheng, and Song Qindao (宋钦道) were all seized and severely battered (at Gao Dan's order). Gao Yan
and Gao Dan then entered the palace and publicly accused Yang and his associates of crimes; Yang and his associates
were executed, and Gao Yan took control of the government. He soon went to take up post at the secondary capital
Jinyang (晋阳, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), controlling the government remotely, leaving the capital Yecheng in Gao
Dan's control.
Later in 560, Gao Yan, after his advisors persuaded him that if he allowed Emperor Fei to remain emperor, his
relationship with the young emperor would never be healed and he would be in danger, persuaded Grand Empress
Dowager Lou of the same. She issued an edict deposing Emperor Fei and making Gao Yan emperor (as Emperor
Xiaozhao). Emperor Xiaozhao continued to take up residence at Jinyang, again leaving Gao Dan in control at Yecheng.
The relationship between the brothers began to sour, however, because while Emperor Xiaozhao had promised Gao Dan
that he would be made crown prince, soon created his own son Gao Bainian crown prince instead. In 561, Emperor
Xiaozhao tried to transfer some of Gao Dan's authorities at Yecheng to Hulu Jin's son Hulu Xian (斛律羡), but Gao Dan
refused to transfer that authority. Meanwhile, sorcerers informed Emperor Xiaozhao that the imperial aura was still at
Yecheng, making Emperor Xiaozhao concerned. Gao Guiyan, who was concerned that Gao Yin would one day take the
throne again and retaliate against him, persuaded Emperor Xiaozhao that his nephew had to be removed, and so
Emperor Xiaozhao issued an edict to summon the Prince of Ji'nan to Jinyang. Gao Dan, was disappointed at Emperor
Xiaozhao not created him crown prince, briefly considered redeclaring Gao Yin emperor and starting a rebellion against
Emperor Xiaozhao, but ultimately chose not to do it, as his own sorcerers informed him that they believed that he would
become emperor one day anyway. He therefore sent Gao Yin to Jinyang, and soon, Emperor Xiaozhao had Gao Yin
killed. Emperor Xiaozhao himself did not live long after. In winter 561, while hunting, Emperor Xiaozhao's horse was
spooked by a rabbit, and he fell off the horse and suffered broken ribs. Soon, believing himself to be near death, he
issued an edict stating that Gao Bainian was too young to take the throne, and that the throne was instead to be passed
to Gao Dan. He also wrote a letter to Gao Dan, stating, "Bainian is innocent. You can do anything with him, but please do
not kill him!" He died later that day. Gao Dan, after first sending close associates to make sure that Emperor Xiaozhao
was in fact dead, soon arrived at Jinyang and took the throne (as Emperor Wucheng). Reign as emperor In spring 562,
Emperor Wucheng created his wife Princess Hu empress and her son Gao Wei crown prince. Also in spring 562, Emperor
Wucheng, agreeing with his officials Gao Yuanhai (高元海), Bi Yiyun (毕义云), and Gao Qianhe (高乾和) that Gao Guiyan
was unreliable, removed Gao Guiyan from his position and made him the governor of Ji Province (冀州, roughly modern
Hengshui, Hebei). When Gao Guiyan got to Ji Province, his subordinate Lu Sili (吕思礼) reported him as planning a
rebellion, and Emperor Wucheng sent the senior generals Duan Shao (段韶) and Lou Rui (娄□) against him; they quickly
defeated him, and he was executed along with his sons and grandsons. In summer 562, Empress Dowager Lou died, but
Emperor Wucheng refused to wear white mourning clothes and continued to wear his red robe and continued to feast and
play music. When He Shikai advised him to stop the music, Emperor Wucheng was angry enough that he slapped He
Shikai, normally a close confidant. Sometime after Emperor Wucheng assumed the throne, he began to force Empress Li
to have a sexual relationship with him -- threatening her that he would kill her son Gao Shaode (高绍德) the Prince of
Taiyuan if she did not agree. Eventually, she became pregnant, and in shame, she began to refuse seeing Gao Shaode.
Gao Shaode found out that she was pregnant and became indignant. In shame, when she bore a daughter around the
new year 563, she threw the infant away, causing the child's death. When Emperor Wucheng found out, he became
angry, and he stated, "Because you killed my daughter, I will kill your son." He summoned Gao Shaode and, in her
presence, beat him to death with the hilt of a sword. She cried bitterly, and Emperor Wucheng, in anger, stripped her and
pounded her. She suffered severe injuries, but eventually recovered, and Emperor Wucheng expelled her from the palace
to be a Buddhist nun. By 563, He Shikai had become so favored and trusted by Emperor Wucheng that Emperor
Wucheng could not bear not seeing him, often requiring him to stay at the palace. Whenever He Shikai would go home,
Emperor Wucheng would soon summon him to the palace again, and he rewarded He Shikai with great wealth. They
participated in what were described as "immoral games" together, lacking boundaries between emperor and subject. He
Shikai thereafter started an affair with Empress Hu. He Shikai stated to Emperor Wucheng:
Ever since ancient times, all kings and emperors have turned to dust. What difference is there between Emperors Yao
and Shun [two mythical kind emperors] and Jie of Xia and King Zhou of Shang [two legendary cruel kings]? your Imperial
Majesty should, while you are still young and strong, enjoy life as much as possible and do whatever you wish. One day of
extraordinary happiness is as great as one thousand years of ordinary living. Entrust the affairs of the state to the high
level officials, and do not worry that they would not be done. Do not mistreat yourself and make yourself unable to do
anything.
Emperor Wucheng, persuaded, entrusted the civil service system to Zhao Yanshen (赵彦深), financial matters to Gao
Wenyao (高文遥), the civilian administration over military affairs to Tang Yong (唐邕), and the education of Crown Prince
Wei to Empress Hu's brother-in-law Feng Zicong (冯子琮) and cousin Hu Changcan (胡长璨). He himself only attended
meetings with his ministers every three to four days, and he would often make short appearances and make several quick
approvals and then end the meeting. When Gao Cheng's son Gao Xiaoyu (高孝瑜) tried to get him to look into He Shikai's
relationship with Empress Hu, He Shikai and Gao Rui (高□) the Prince of Zhao Commandery (Emperor Wucheng's
cousin) -- whom Gao Xiaoyu had also advised Emperor Wucheng to distance himself from since Gao Rui's father Gao
Chen (高琛) had died from Gao Huan's caning after he had an affair with Gao Huan's concubine Lady Erzhu -- jointly
accused Gao Xiaoyu falsely of plotting rebellion. In summer 563, when Emperor Wucheng received report that Gao
Xiaoyu had a secret conversation with Emperor Wucheng's concubine Consort Erzhu, he poisoned Gao Xiaoyu to death.
In winter 563, rival Northern Zhou launched a major two-prong attack on Northern Qi, with the southern prong,
commanded by Daxi Wu (达奚武), attacking Pingyang (平阳, in modern Linfen, Shanxi) and the northern prong,
commanded by Yang Zhong (杨忠), attacking Northern Qi from the north, in alliance with Tujue. Emperor Wucheng sent
the general Hulu Guang (Hulu Jin's son) to resist the southern prong of the Northern Zhou attack, and personally went to
Jinyang to resist the northern prong, but when he got to Jinyang, he was surprised by how strong the Northern Zhou and
Tujue forces were, and he considered fleeing, stopping his flight only after opposition by Gao Rui and Gao Xiaowan (高孝
琬) the Prince of Hejian. In spring 564, however, Duan Shao was able to defeat Yang, forcing him to flee, and the Tujue
forces and Daxi soon withdrew. Still, the Northern Qi territory north of Jinyang had been pillaged by Tujue. Also in spring
564, the one major accomplishment of Emperor Wucheng's reign -- a revision of Northern Wei's criminal code -- was
completed, allowing greater fairness in the application of laws. Further, Emperor Wucheng was interested in greater
promulgation of the laws, and he ordered the children of officials' households to study them, leading to a wider base of
legal knowledge than previously had been the case. He further formalized the tax code as well, not only trying to make the
tax burden fairer, but also created a system where adults without land ownership were distributed lands to farm on, to
encourage food production. In summer 564, there were astrological signs that portended ill fortune for the emperor, and
Emperor Wucheng thought of deflecting that ill fortune on his nephew Gao Bainian. At that same time, Gao Bainian's
teacher Jia Dezhou (贾德胄) submitted several instances of the character chi (敕) -- a character that meant "imperial
edict," and which only the emperor was supposed to use -- that Gao Bainian had written, to Emperor Wucheng. Emperor
Wucheng summoned Gao Bainian to the palace, and, after ordering him to write chi to make certain that the handwritting
fit what Jia submitted, had his guards batter Gao Bainian severely, beheading him after he was already severely injured.
Meanwhile, the Northern Zhou regent Yuwen Hu had sent the official Yin Gongzheng (尹公正) to offer peace in return for
his mother Lady Yan and his aunt (the younger sister of his father Yuwen Hao (宇文颢) and uncle Yuwen Tai). Emperor
Wucheng, fearful that Northern Zhou and Tujue would launch another attack, agreed, and first sent Lady Yuwen to
Northern Zhou. However, he initially detained Lady Yan and had her and Yuwen Hu exchange letters, trying to extract
promises from Yuwen Hu. Despite Duan's suggestion that he negotiate formal concessions, Emperor Wucheng, in fear of
Yuwen Hu's anger, released Lady Yan in fall 564. However, in winter 564, when Tujue launched an attack on Northern
Qi's northern provinces, Yuwen Hu, fearful that Tujue would believe that he was duplicitous, launched an attack on
Northern Qi anyway, against the key city Luoyang. Around the new year 565, Duan and Gao Changgong (高长恭) the
Prince of Lanling defeated Northern Zhou forces sieging Luoyang, and Northern Zhou forces withdrew. Around this time,
Zu Ting had been persuading He Shikai that his fortunes were tied to the emperor's -- and that if the emperor shall die, he
would be in a desperate situation -- and that he could solve this by suggesting Emperor Wucheng to pass the throne to
Crown Prince Wei, so that both the crown prince and Empress Hu would be grateful to him as well. He Shikai agreed, and
both he and Zu offered the suggestion to Emperor Wucheng -- stating to him that astrological signs indicating that the
imperial position would be changed was a sign that he should pass the throne, particularly because it would be even more
honored to be the father of an emperor than to be an emperor. Emperor Wucheng agreed, and in summer 565, he passed
the throne to the eight-year-old Crown Prince Wei, creating Gao Wei's wife Crown Princess Hulu (Hulu Guang's daughter)
empress. Emperor Wucheng took the title Taishang Huang (retired emperor). As retired emperor Due to Gao Wei's young
age, Emperor Wucheng continued to be in control of major decisions, despite his "retirement." Favoring another son of his
and Empress Hu's, Gao Yan (note different character than Emperor Xiaozhao) the Prince of Dongping greatly, even
though Gao Yan was even younger than Gao Wei, he piled many honors and titles on Gao Yan, and Gao Yan, who was
considered more intelligent and resolute than Gao Wei, at times questioned why Gao Wei was the emperor. Emperor
Wucheng and Empress Hu considered deposing Gao Wei and replacing him with Gao Yan, but ultimately did not do so. In
566, with He Shikai and Zu Ting falsely accusing Gao Xiaowan (his nephew, through Gao Cheng) of plotting rebellion,
Emperor Wucheng arrested Gao Xiaowan and tortured him, eventually breaking his legs. Gao Xiaowan died from the
injuries, and when Gao Xiaowan's younger brother Gao Yanzong mourned Gao Xiaowan, Emperor Wucheng arrested
and tortured Gao Yanzong as well, but did not kill him. In 567, Zu, hungry for greater power, accused Zhao Yanshen, Gao
Wenhao, and He Shikai of corruption and factionalism, but Zhao, Gao, and He Shikai received word of this prior to Zu's
submission and make defenses of themselves first. Emperor Wucheng arrested Zu and interrogated him. During the
interrogation, Zu offended Emperor Wucheng by pointing out that he should not be hoarding as many ladies in waiting as
he had been and by comparing him to Xiang Yu -- although as Zu then pointed out, Emperor Wucheng's accomplishments
paled in comparison to Xiang's. Emperor Wucheng, angry, whipped Zu 200 times and had him imprisoned in a dungeon -and during that imprisonment, Zu's eyes, smoked by smoke from the lamp (which was burning Chinese cabbage seed as
the light source) went blind. In spring 568, Emperor Wucheng suffered a major illness, and the official Xu Zhicai (徐之才),
who was an accomplished physician, treated him back to health. After Emperor Wucheng recovered, however, He Shikai,
whose position was lower than Xu's, wanted to be promoted, and so had Xu sent out to Yan Province (兖州, roughly
modern Jining, Shandong) to be governor. In winter 568, Emperor Wucheng suddenly fell ill again, and he summoned Xu.
Before Xu could arrive, however, around the new year 569, he died, while holding He Shikai's hands and entrusting the
important matters to him.
5) Hou Zhu 后主 Gao Wei 高纬 565-577 Tiantong (天统 ti_n t_ng) 565-569
Wuping (武平 w_ ping) 570-576 Longhua (隆化 long hua) 576 Gao Wei (高纬) (557━577), often known in history as
Houzhu of Northern Qi ((北)齐后主), courtesy name Rengang (仁纲), sometimes referred to by his later Northern Zhoucreated title of Duke of Wen (温公), was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. During his reign, Northern Qi's
imperial administration was plunged into severe corruption and wastefulness, with the military suffering after Gao Wei
killed the great general Hulu Guang in 572. Rival Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou launched a major attack in 576, and
Northern Qi forces collapsed. Gao Wei, who formally passed the throne to his son Gao Heng, was captured while trying to
flee to Chen Dynasty, and later that year, the Northern Zhou emperor executed him and almost all members of his clan.
Background
Gao Wei was born in 557, when his father Gao Dan was the Prince of Changguang under Emperor Wenxuan, Gao Dan's
older brother. Gao Wei's mother was Gao Dan's wife Princess Hu, and he was her first son, but not his father Gao Dan's
first son─as Gao Dan's concubine Lady Li also gave birth several hours earlier on the same day Princess Hu did, to Gao
Chuo (高绰). However, as Princess Hu was his wife, Gao Dan publicly announced that Gao Wei was born first and treated
him as the first-born. Thereafter, he was named Gao Dan's heir apparent. In 561, another older brother of Gao Dan,
Emperor Xiaozhao, died, leaving instructions for the throne to be passed to Gao Dan. Gao Dan therefore took the throne
(as Emperor Wucheng). In 562, he created his wife Princess Hu empress and created Gao Wei crown prince. While Gao
Wei was crown prince, he married the daughter of the key general Hulu Guang as his wife and crown princess. In 565,
with astrological signs indicating that the imperial position should be changed, Emperor Wucheng's favored officials He
Shikai and Zu Ting, wanting to ingratiate themselves with Empress Hu and Gao Wei as well, suggested that Emperor
Wucheng avoid the ill fortune by passing the throne to Gao Wei. Emperor Wucheng agreed, and Gao Wei, at age eight,
became emperor, although Emperor Wucheng, carrying the title of Taishang Huang (retired emperor), retained the actual
powers. Emperor Wucheng created Gao Wei's wife Crown Princess Hulu empress. Early reign (with Emperor Wucheng
as regent) In spring 567, Gao Wei celebrated his rite of passage. Gao Wei was considered a young man of weak
personality, and while Gao Wei was emperor, Emperor Wucheng and Retired Empress Hu both greatly favored his
younger brother, Gao Yan the Prince of Dongping, honoring Gao Yan with many high offices and making sure that Gao
Yan received all of the same supplies as his emperor brother did. Gao Yan was considered intelligent and decisive, and
he once asked Emperor Wucheng, "My brother is weak in personality. How can he lead the empire?" Both Emperor
Wucheng and Retired Empress Hu considered deposing Gao Wei and making Gao Yan emperor, but did not actually do
so. Around the near year 569, Emperor Wucheng suffered a major illness and died suddenly, after entrusting the
important matters to He Shikai. He Shikai, after initially not announcing Emperor Wucheng's death, did after several days.
Retired Empress Hu now carried the title of empress dowager. Middle reign After Emperor Wucheng's death, while Gao
Wei formally took on imperial authorities himself, the government was led by a group of eight high-level officials─He
Shikai, Lou Dingyuan (娄定远), Zhao Yanshen (赵彦深), Gao Wenyao (高文遥), Tang Yong (唐邕), Qilian Meng (綦连猛),
Gao Anagong, and Empress Dowager Hu's cousin Hu Changcan (胡长粲). However, infighting soon developed, as by
spring 569, Emperor Wucheng's cousin Gao Rui (高□) the Prince of Zhao Commandery, Emperor Wucheng's brother
Gao Run (高润) the Prince of Fengyi, Emperor Wucheng's nephew Gao Yanzong the Prince of Ande, Lou, and Gao
Wenyao, were all recommending that He Shikai, who was clearly the most powerful of the eight, be made a provincial
governor. Gao Rui, in particular, was most critical of He Shikai for being corrupt and immoral, as it was an open secret
that He Shikai was having an affair with Empress Dowager Hu. Faced with the officials' pressure, He Shikai agreed to be
sent out to the provinces (along with Gao Wenyao), and it was announced that after Emperor Wucheng's burial, He Shikai
would be made the governor of Yan Province while Gao Wenyao would be made the governor of Western Yan Province (
西兖州, roughly modern Anyang, Henan). After Emperor Wucheng's burial, Gao Rui pressured He Shikai to leave
Yecheng as quickly as possible, despite Empress Dowager Hu's desire to keep He Shikai for 100 days after Emperor
Wucheng's burial. He Shikai bribed Lou and was permitted to meet Empress Dowager Hu and Gao Wei once more─and
he persuaded them that the high level officials were intending harm to them and that they could only trust him. Gao Wei
thus issued an edict rebuking Gao Rui. When Gao Rui nevertheless entered the palace to try to pressure Empress
Dowager Hu and Gao Wei to remove He Shikai. Empress Dowager Hu, instead, arrested Gao Rui and had the guard
commander Liu Taozhi (刘桃枝) strangle Gao Rui. Thereafter, He Shikai's power went unchecked. The other favorite
associates of Gao Wei─including Gao Wei's wet nurse Lu Lingxuan and her son Mu Tipo, as well as Zu Ting. In summer
570, Gao Wei's concubine Consort Mu Sheli gave birth to his first son, Gao Heng, and Gao Wei declared a general
pardon. Lady Lu, who was also Consort Mu's adoptive mother, wanted Gao Heng to eventually be crown prince and
emperor, but was afraid that Empress Hulu would oppose the plan, so she gave Gao Heng to Empress Hulu for her to
raise. In winter 570, Gao Wei created Gao Heng crown prince. During much of Emperor Wucheng's and Gao Wei's reign
up to this point, rival Northern Zhou had gradually encroached on Northern Qi territory, making minor gains on the
borders. In winter 570, Hulu Guang launched a counterattack and captured significant amounts of territory north of the
Fen River (汾水, flowing through modern Linfen, Shanxi). He then also defeated Northern Zhou troops at Yiyang (宜阳, in
modern Luoyang, Henan). On his way back to the capital Yecheng (邺城, in modern Handan, Hebei), Gao Wei ordered
his troops demobilized even though many of the soldiers had not received rewards. however, he received an order to
demobilize his troops. Hulu Guang submitted a secret petition to Gao Wei, requesting the emperor to send imperial
messengers to the army to honor the soldiers. Gao Wei did not act immediately, however, and the army approached
Yecheng without receiving any words from the emperor. Gao Wei was displeased that Hulu Guang brought the army
close to the capital, and he summoned Hulu to the palace before sending messengers to honor the soldiers and
demobilizing them. Later in 571, Gao Wei's brother Gao Yan, now the Prince of Langye, angry at the hold that He Shikai
had on power, killed him, and further mobilized his troops to consider seizing power and killing Lady Lu and her son Mu
Tipo, who had also become powerful. Hulu, while he approved of Gao Yan's killing of He Shikai, was still loyal to the
emperor, and he intervened on the emperor's side, ordering Gao Yan's troops to disband, and they collapsed. Hulu seized
Gao Yan and took him to the palace. At Hulu's urging, Gao Wei spared Gao Yan initially, although in winter 571 he
nevertheless had Liu Taozhi suffocate Gao Yan, and Gao Yan's four posthumous sons were also killed. Also in winter
571, after discovering that Empress Dowager Hu had been conducting an affair with the Buddhist monk Tanxian (昙献),
he executed Tanxian and put Empress Dowager Hu under house arrest, disallowing the nobles from visiting her. In spring
572, in order to placate her, however, he posthumously honored Gao Yan with the unusual title "Emperor Gong'ai of Chu"
and honored Gao Yan's wife Princess Li "Empress of Chu." Zu and Lady Lu tried to have Lady Lu made empress
dowager to replace Empress Dowager Hu, but Gao Wei did not do so. Empress Dowager Hu, in order to please her son,
summoned the daughter of her brother Hu Changren (胡长仁) to the palace and dressed her in the best clothes. Gao Wei
saw her and was infatuated with her, and he took her as a concubine. In 572, Empress Hulu gave birth to a daughter, and
Gao Wei, wanting to please Hulu Guang, initially claimed that she gave birth to a son, but eventually had to admit that the
child was a daughter. By this point, Hulu Guang was in serious conflict with the powerful officials Zu and Mu. He disliked
Zu, and he often complained to his generals that Zu rarely consulted military generals. Once, when he was resting at a
governmental building, Zu, who had blinded during a period of imprisonment during Emperor Wucheng's reign, rode past
him without realizing that Hulu was there, and never got off the horse as demanded by customs of the time. Hulu angrily
stated, "Who does he think he is?" Zu, realizing that Hulu disliked him, bribed Hulu's servant and asked the servant about
Hulu's opinion of him. The servant stated, "Ever since you came into power, the Minister Prince [a reference to Hulu, as
Hulu carried the title of Prince of Xianyang] each night sighed and stated, "With a blind man in power, the empire will
surely be destroyed." Meanwhile, Mu had once requested to marry Hulu's daughter by a concubine, but Hulu refused.
Further, when Mu requested that Gao Wei grant him the public fields at Jinyang, Hulu publicly opposed the action as
being detrimental to the grazing of the army's horses. Zu and Mu therefore both despited Hulu. They therefore fostered
suspicion of Hulu in the emperor's mind, and that suspicion was exacerbated by the fact that Empress Hulu was not
favored by Gao Wei. At the same time, the Northern Zhou general Wei Xiaokuan, wanting to try to exploit Gao Wei's
suspicions, decided to try to create a sense that Hulu would rebel. He wrote two songs in couplets, one of which read:
A hundred sheng [(升, a measurement unit -- and 100 sheng made up one hu (斛))] will fly up to the heavens,
A bright moon [(明月, mingyue, Hulu's courtesy name)] will shine over Chang'an [Northern Zhou's capital].
The other read:
The high [(高, gao)] mountain will collapse on its own,
The daimyo oak [(槲, hu)] will stand straight on its own.
He sent spies to spread the songs near Yecheng, and the songs soon became popular. Zu, exploiting the situation
himself, added two more lines:
The blind man will bear a great axe,
The talkative woman will be unable to speak.
Both Zu and Lady Lu then reported the song to Gao Wei to further foster his suspicion of Hulu. Gao Wei consulted
another favorite, Han Zhangluan, who believed that he should not suspect Hulu, so Gao Wei initially took no action. Zu,
however, would not relent, and he had Hulu's subordinate Feng Shirang (封士让) make a secret submission indicating that
when Hulu had brought the army close to Yecheng in 571, he was plotting a coup. Gao Wei believed it this time, and
under Zu's suggestion, he awarded Hulu a horse, and then, as Hulu arrived at the palace to thank the emperor, he had
Liu Taozhi seize Hulu and strangle him to death. Hulu's clan was nearly all slaughtered─including his brother and fellow
general Hulu Xian (斛律羡) and his sons Hulu Wudu (斛律武都), Hulu Shixiong (斛律世雄), and Hulu Hengqie (斛律恒伽).
Only his youngest son Hulu Zhong (斛律钟), who was only a few years old, was spared. Empress Hulu was deposed and
confined to a subsidiary palace.
Late reign After Empress Hulu was deposed, Lady Lu wanted Consort Mu to be empress, but Empress Dowager Hu
wanted her niece Empress Hu to be empress. She, however, did not believe she had enough persuasive power, and so
she had to flatter Lady Lu and give her gifts. Lady Lu also saw that Gao Wei favored Empress Hu, and so agree to jointly
suggest, with Zu Ting, that Consort Hu be created empress, and Gao Wei did so. He favored Empress Hu so greatly that
he made clothes for her out of pearls, although those clothes were later destroyed in a fire. However, Lady Lu did not
relent in her hopes of making Consort Mu empress, stating to Gao Wei, "How can a son be crown prince and a mother be
a servant girl, a concubine?" But as Gao Wei favored Empress Hu, she could not carry out her wishes. She therefore
engaged witches to use witchcraft on Empress Hu. It was said that within a month, Empress Hu began to show symptoms
of psychosis, often mumbling to herself or laughing without cause. Gao Wei began to fear and dislike her. In winter 572,
Lady Lu put Consort Mu in empress clothing and put her in a tent, surrounded with magnificent jewelry, and then told Gao
Wei, "Let me show you a holy woman." When Gao Wei saw that it was Consort Mu, Lady Lu stated, "For a woman this
beautiful not to be empress, who would be qualified to be empress?" Gao Wei agreed with her, and he created Consort
Mu "Right Empress" and gave Empress Hu the title "Left Empress. Around the new year 573, Lady Lu further falsely told
Empress Dowager Hu that Empress Hu had denigrated Empress Dowager Hu's moral character─and Empress Dowager
Hu, in anger, without verifying the information, ordered Empress Hu expelled from the palace, and then had Gao Wei
depose her. Thereafter, it was said that Lady Lu and Mu Tipo were so powerful and so corrupt that they were openly
taking bribes and selling the imperial offices, and all that they wished were carried out. By spring 573, Mu Tipo, Gao
Anagong, and Han Zhanglauan were referred to as "the Three Nobles", and they controlled the government. The issue of
corruption became severe, and with Gao Wei himself living in luxury and waste, constantly building palaces and tearing
them downand rebuilding them, the Northern Qi imperial treasury was at a state of exhaustion.
In spring 573, Gao Wei created Right Empress Mu sole empress. Also in spring 573, Zu Ting, knowing that Gao Wei had
a love of literature, with Gao Wei's approval, established the Wenlin Hall (文林馆), headed by the officials Li Delin and Yan
Zhitui (颜之推). They retained a group of literarily-capable men and authored one of the great compendia of the era, the
Xiuwendian Yulan (修文殿御览). In summer 573, rival Emperor Xuan of Chen launched a major attack across the Yangtze
River, commanded by the general Wu Mingche. Gao Wei went against the advice of the officials Wang Hong (王□), who
advocated passive resistance while reducing tax burdens to strengthen the people's resolve, and Zhao Yanshan, who
advocated commissioning the Liang Dynasty general Wang Lin, who had long wanted to reestablish Liang at Chen's
expense, with an army. Rather, Gao Wei sent reinforcements to the attacked provinces─but only in small amounts, not
sufficient to resist Chen forces─with the main force commanded by Wei Pohu (尉破胡) and Zhangsun Honglue (长孙洪略
) defeated by Wu's troops. Wang, who accompanied Wei as a consultant, was then ordered to go to Shouyang (寿阳, in
modern Lu'an, Anhui) to defend that city against attack─but with severe limitations on his authority. Soon, Shouyang fell,
and Wang was captured and executeed by Wu. All of Northern Qi's territory between the Yangtze and the Huai River fell
into Chen control. Despite the losses, however, Mu Tipo and Han advocated continued epicurean lifestyle on Gao Wei's
and their own parts, with Mu famously stating, "Even if we lost all territory south of the Yellow River, we can still be like
Qiuzi (龟兹, a city state in modern Xinjiang). But what is more piteous is that a human life is like borrowed time, and we
should use all this short period to seek pleasure. Why worry about Shouyang?" Gao Wei agreed, and continued to spend
his days feasting. During the Chen attack, Zu, who had become embroiled in conflict with Lady Lu, Mu Tipo, and Han, was
expelled from the central government over his attempt to impose a reform regime to streamline the government and
reduce expenses. He would not return, and after his departure, the government became even more inefficient than before.
Further, also during the campaign, Gao Wei became suspicious of his cousin Gao Changgong (高长恭) the Prince of
Lanling, a capable general, and poisoned Gao Changgong to death. Also during the Chen attack, another major wrongful
massacre was carried out at Gao Wei's orders. Gao Wei was intending to visit the secondary capital Jinyang (晋阳, in
modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), which he and his predecessors did on a regular basis. The senior officials Cui Jishu (崔季舒)
and Zhang Diao (张雕) -- who had been Gao Wei's teacher previously and respected by him─believed that for Gao Wei
to go to Jinyang would be misinterpreted by the populace as a flight to Jinyang, and would lead to popular panic, so they,
with a number of other officials─including Feng Xiaoyan (封孝琰), Liu Ti (刘逖), Pei Ze (裴泽), and Guo Zun (郭遵) -submitted a joint petition requesting Gao Wei to stay at Yecheng. Han suggested that these officials were in fact intending
to rebel, and Gao Wei agreed, executing Cui, Zhang, Feng, LIu, Pei, and Guo. He further exiled their clan members,
confiscated their women, and castrated their boys. In spring 574, Gao Sihao (高思好) the Prince of Nan'an and governor
of Shuo Province (朔州, roughly modern Shuozhou, Shanxi), angry that he had been disrespected by Gao Wei's servant
Zhuogu Guangbian (斫骨光弁), rebelled. Gao Wei sent Tang Yong to resist Gao Sihao while personally leading the next
army north, but before he could get there, Gao Sihao was defeated, and he committed suicide by drowning. Meanwhile,
around this time, Gao Wei had become less attracted to Empress Mu, instead becoming more infatuated with Empress
Mu's servant girl Feng Xiaolian, making her an imperial consort. They went everywhere together, and they swore to live
and to die together. The historian Sima Guang, in his Zizhi Tongjian, had this to say about Gao Wei and his reign:
The ruler of Qi was not a good speaker and could not speak clearly, and so he did not like to meet with governmental
officials. He spoke nothing to anyone except his jesters and servants. He was weak in his personality and was fearful of
people staring at him. Even the most honored officials or the head of the government were not allowed to look at him, and
therefore the officials could only make summary reports and then withdraw in panic. He inherited the luxurious and
wasteful living habits of Emperor Wucheng and thought that this was proper. All of the women and eunuchs of the palace
dressed in the best silk and ate delicacies. It sometimes took 10,000 pi [匹, a measurement unit for textile] to make one
skirt for them. Each of them competed with each other for the newest and most wonderful things, and clothes made in the
morning may be considered old and out of style that same evening. He spent much effort on building palaces and gardens
of the greatest splendor, but his affections for them could not last, so all buildings were torn down and rebuilt and torn
down again. These construction activities went around the clock without ceasing, with great torches used for illumination
at night, and water boiled to mix with the dirt in the winter. In order to carve Buddha images in the western hills of Jinyang,
over 10,000 torches were used for one night, bright enough to shine on the Jinyang Palace like it was the day. Whenever
there were natural disastrous, ill omens, or agrarian rebellions, he never blamed himself, but would only hold great
vegetarian feasts to treat the Buddhist and Taoist monks, believing that this would bring divine blessings so that difficulties
would pass. He liked to play the pipa and sing, and he wrote a song entitled, Song of No Worries (无愁曲), with several
hundred servants singing with him, leading to the people referring to him as "the Son of Heaven with no worries." He
established "the Pauper Boy's Village" within the Hualin Garden (华林园), where he would put on pauper clothes and beg
in the village, believing that this was great joy. He also built models of the important border cities and had soldiers act like
Northern Zhou soldiers to attack them, and with him resisting the attacks with the eunuchs.
His favorite servants Lu Lingxuan, Mu Tipo, Gao Anagong, and Han Zhangluan controlled the government. The
eunuchs Deng Changyong (邓长□) and Chen Dexin (陈德信), and the Xiongnu He Hongzhen (何洪珍) also participated in
the important decisionmaking. Each of them brought their friends and relatives into the government and promoted them
beyond proper bounds. The officials' promotions were all dependent on the amount of bribes they paid; those who
submitted bribes were promoted and those who did not were demoted. The judges issue their verdicts depending on
bribes as well, with the rich allowed to live and the poor sentenced to death. The officials compete in their corruption and
flattery, to the detriment of the people. The servants, such as Liu Taozhi, were promoted to great honors and created
princes. Almost 10,000 of such persons as eunuchs, Xiongnu, singers, dancers, magicians, and slaves, received honors
beyond propriety. Hundreds of non-members of the imperial Gao clan received creations as princes. The high rank of
Kaifu (开府) included more than 1,000, and the rank of Yitong (仪同) was filled innumerably. There were more than 20
generals of the imperial guards. There were tens of imperial attendants. Even dogs, horses, eagles, and hunting cocks
received official posts, and were allowed to enjoy the food portions of their salaries. The servants attended the emperor at
all times and think of nothing but to please the emperor. A musical can cost over 100 million coins. Later, after the imperial
treasury was exhausted, he used the commanderies and counties as awards, giving two to three commanderies or six to
seven counties at each time, to allow the servants to auction off the governor and magistrate posts and pocket the
proceeds. Therefore, the commandery governors and county magistrates were largely wealthy merchants who find ways
to extract and extort from the people, and the people could not live. Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou had long wanted to
destroy Northern Qi, and he launched a major attack in fall 575. Several of his generals suggested attacking Jinyang, but
he instead attacked Luoyang. However, when he laid siege to the fortress Zhongtan (second character not in Unicode), it
was well-defended by the Northern Qi general Fu Fu (傅伏), and Emperor Wu became ill during the siege and withdrew.
During the meantime, however, Chen forces, commanded by Wu, commenced a new attack, putting Pengcheng (彭城, in
modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu) under siege. (For the rest of Northern Qi's existence, however, Wu would not be able to actually
capture Pengcheng.) In winter 576, Northern Zhou's Emperor Wu again launched another major attack on Northern Qi,
putting Pingyang (平阳, in modern Linfen, Shanxi) under siege and then capturing it. At the time the news of Northern
Zhou's attack on Pingyang arrived, Gao Wei was hunting at Qilian Lake (祁连池, in modern Xinzhou, Shanxi) with Consort
Feng, and Gao Anagong, not believing the matter to be serious, did not report the news to Gao Wei. Only after Pingyang
fell did Gao Anagong give Gao Wei the news. Gao Wei gathered his troops and headed for Pingyang, and Emperor Wu,
believing Gao Wei's troops to be still strong, withdrew but put the general Liang Shiyan (梁士彦) in charge of defending
Pingyang against the Northern Qi counterattack. The Northern Qi forces sieged Pingyang with all effort─and after several
days, were able to breach the wall─but at this point, Gao Wei stopped his attack and summoned Consort Feng so she
could witness the fall of the city. When she arrived, however, Northern Zhou forces had already filled in the breach, and
therefore held the city. With Pingyang under siege, Emperor Wu launched another attack to try to lift the siege on
Pingyang. Gao Anagong advised against direct faceoff with Emperor Wu's troops, but Gao Wei, egged on by eunuchs,
chose to directly engage Emperor Wu, and the armies engaged in a battle around the time of near year 577. A minor
fallback by some of Gao Wei's troops caused Consort Feng and Mu Tipo to panick, and they suggested an immediate
retreat─and Gao Wei abandoned his troops and fled to Jinyang, causing his army to collapse. Once at Jinyang, instead
of preparing for resistance, Gao Wei instead planned to have his cousins Gao Yanzong the Prince of Ande and Gao
Xiaoheng (高孝珩) the Prince of Guangning defend Jinyang, planning to himself flee north to Shuo Province, against Gao
Yanzong's advice. He first sent Empress Dowager Hu and Gao Heng to Shuo Province. When Northern Zhou forces
arrived at Jinyang, he left Jinyang under Gao Yanzong's command and fled, initially intending to flee to Shuo Province or
Tujue, but after persuasion by the general Mei Shenglang (梅胜郎), headed back to Yecheng, accompanied by Gao
Anagong. Meanwhile, Mu Tipo abandoned Gao Wei and surrendered to Northern Zhou. His mother Lady Lu committed
suicide, and his family members were all either executed or sentenced to hard labor. Meanwhile, Tang Yong, still at
Jinyang, along with other generals, persuaded Gao Yanzong to take the throne himself─stating to him that if he did not,
they could not die for him. When Gao Wei heard this news, he commented, "I would rather that Bing Province [the
province containing Jinyang] fall into Zhou's hands than Ande's hands." Soon, Northern Zhou forces put Jinyang under
siege, and they were able to breach the defenses at the east gate─but a counterattack by Gao Yanzong's troops lead to
a major rout against Northern Zhou forces, in which Emperor Wu almost died. However, Gao Yanzong's troops went into
celebration and could not regroup. The next day, another Northern Zhou attack finally captured the city. Once Gao Wei
arrived at Yecheng, he ordered that high rewards be posted for people who would join the army, but he himself was
unwilling to contribute treasures from his own palace holdings. Further, when he was giving a speech intending to raise
morale, his irreverent attitude instead infuriated the generals. The generals and the officials all lost the will to fight. The
official Gao Mai (高劢), who had escorted Empress Dowager Hu and Crown Prince Heng back from Shuo Province,
suggested making one last stand at Yecheng, but Gao Wei did not accept his suggestion. When astrologers indicated that
the imperial seat is about to be changed, he decided to pass the throne to Gao Heng and did so in spring 577, even
though Gao Heng was only seven years old. Gao Wei himself took the title of Taishang Huang. As retired emperor Gao
Wei continued to exercise imperial authority, even though Gao Heng was emperor. He honored his mother Empress
Dowager Hu as Grand Empress Dowager, while Empress Mu took the title of empress dowager. Meanwhile, the offiical
Moduolou Jingxian (莫多娄敬显) and the general Wei Xiangyuan (尉相愿) plotted to try to have Gao Anagong killed, and
then declare Gao Xiaoheng emperor, but the plot dissolved when the ambush they set in place for Gao Anagong could
not be carried out. Meanwhile, Gao Xiaoheng requested an army so that he could resist Northern Zhou, but Gao Anagong
and Han Zhangluan, suspecting him of plotting a coup, sent him out to be the governor of Cang Province (沧州, roughly
modern Cangzhou, Hebei). Meanwhile, Gao Wei, receiving news that Northern Zhou forces were about to arrive at
Yecheng, decided to abandon Yecheng and head to the provinces south of the Yellow River to organize a resistance─but
that if the resistance would fail, to flee to Chen. He left the general Murong Sanzang (慕容三藏) in charge of Yecheng and
fled toward Ji Province (济州, roughly modern Liaocheng, Shandong), where had earlier sent Grand Empress Dowager
Hu, Empress Dowager Mu, and the emperor Gao Heng. Once Gao Wei left, Murong Sanzang was unable to defend the
city, and it fell. When Gao Wei arrived at Ji Province, he issued an edict in Gao Heng's name further passing the throne to
Gao Wei's uncle Gao Jie (高□) the Prince of Rencheng, sending the edict and the imperial seal to Gao Jie at Ying
Province (瀛州, roughly modern eastern Baoding, Hebei) with the official Hulu Xiaoqing (斛律孝卿), where Gao Jie was
governor. However, instead of delivering the edict and the imperial seals to Gao Jie, Hulu surrendered to Northern Zhou.
Meanwhile, Gao Wei left Grand Empress Dowager Hu and Gao Anagong at Ji Province while further fleeing with Empress
Dowager Mu, Consort Feng, Gao Heng, Han, and Deng Changyu further east to Qing Province (青州, roughly modern
Qingzhou, Shandong). He planned to further flee to Chen, but Gao Anagong, who had been in communications with
Northern Zhou forces and was planning to offer Gao Wei as a prize, fed him false information to slow him down. When
Northern Zhou forces arrived at Ji Province, Gao Anagong surrendered, allowing Northern Zhou forces to quickly descend
on Qing Province. Gao Wei quickly tried to flee, but was captured by the Northern Zhou general Weichi Qin (尉迟勤) and
delivered back to Yecheng, to Emperor Wu. Death Emperor Wu initially treated Gao Wei with respect, personally greeting
him and treating him as an honored guest. Meanwhile, Gao Jie and Gao Xiaoheng made an attempt to resist Northern
Zhou at Cang Province, and when Emperor Wu had Gao Wei send an edict to Gao Jie to order his surrender, Gao Jie
refused. However, Emperor Wu's brother Yuwen Xian the Prince of Qi quickly defeated Gao Jie and Gao Xiaoheng,
capturing them and largely ending resistance, although Gao Wei's cousin Gao Shaoyi the Prince of Fanyang (Emperor
Wenxuan's son) fled to Tujue, and Tujue's Tuobo Khan put Gao Shaoyi under his protection and soon had him declare
himself Northern Qi's emperor, albeit in exile. In summer 577, Emperor Wu returned with Gao Wei, as well as the princes
and officials of Northern Qi, putting Gao Wei at the front of the victory procession. He also ceremonially offered Gao Wei
and the other captives to the ancestors at the ancestral temple, but did not harm them at this point. He created Gao Wei
the Duke of Wen.
In winter 577, Emperor Wu, apprehensive of the Gao clan, falsely accused Gao Wei of plotting rebellion with Mu Tipo, and
then ordered him and other members of the Gao clan to commit suicide. Only Gao Wei's developmentally disabled brother
Gao Renying (高仁英) and mute brother Gao Renya (高仁雅) were spared, but were exiled to modern Sichuan. Only
during the regency of Yang Jian over Emperor Wu's grandson Emperor Jing of Northern Zhou were members of the Gao
clan, including Gao Wei, properly buried north of Chang'an.
6) You Zhu 幼主 Gao Heng 高恒
577
Chengguang (承光 cheng gu_ng) 577 Gao Heng (高恒) (570━577),
often known in history as the Youzhu of Northern Qi ((北)齐幼主), was briefly an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Northern
Qi. In 577, with Northern Qi under a major attack by rival Northern Zhou, Gao Heng's father Gao Wei, then emperor,
wanted to try to deflect ill omens that portended a change in imperial status, and therefore passed the throne to Gao
Heng. Later that year, after they fled in face of Northern Zhou forces' arrival, they were captured and taken to the Northern
Zhou capital Chang'an, where, in winter 577, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou ordered them, as well as other members of
the Gao clan, to commit suicide. Northern Qi territory was seized by Northern Zhou, although for several years Gao Wei's
cousin Gao Shaoyi claimed imperial title in exile under Tujue's protection. Background
Gao Heng was born in summer 570, as the oldest son of the emperor Gao Wei. His mother was Gao Wei's thenconcubine Consort Mu Sheli. To celebrate his birth, Gao Wei declared a general pardon. Gao Wei's powerful wet nurse Lu
Lingxuan, who was also Consort Mu's adoptive mother, wanted Gao Heng to be crown prince and eventually inherit Gao
Wei's throne, but was afraid of opposition by Gao Wei's wife Empress Hulu. She therefore, with Gao Wei's approval, gave
Gao Heng to Empress Hulu to raise. Later that year, when Gao Heng was only three months old, Gao Wei created him
crown prince. After Empress Hulu's father, the general Hulu Guang, was executed under false charges of treason,
Empress Hulu was deposed, and while initially Consort Mu was not created empress, in winter 572 she was first created
"Right Empress," and then became sole empress in 573 after Left Empress Hu was deposed.
In 576, rival Northern Zhou launched a major attack on Northern Qi. Gao Wei initially personally led troops to battle
Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, but after suffering a great defeat at Pingyang (平阳, in modern Linfen, Shanxi), he fled
back to the secondary capital Jinyang (晋阳, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) and lost the will to fight. In order to prepare for
flight first to Shuo Province (朔州, roughly modern Shuozhou, Shanxi) and then possibly Tujue, Gao Wei first sent his
mother Empress Dowager Hu and Gao Heng to Shuo Province. After he changed his mind and fled back to the capital
Yecheng (邺城, in modern Handan, Hebei) around the new year 577 in the face of Northern Zhou attack on Jinyang,
however, the general Gao Mai (高劢) escorted both Empress Dowager Hu and Crown Prince Heng back to Yecheng as
well. Believing the words of his astrologers that the omens showed that the imperial seat was about to be changed, Gao
Wei decided to pass the throne to Gao Heng, and spring 577, the young crown prince took the throne as emperor, but
with his father Gao Wei still in control as Taishang Huang (retired emperor). Reign The young emperor's reign did not last
long, as Northern Zhou forces approached Yecheng soon thereafter. Instead of taking a last stand at Yecheng as Gao
Mai suggested, Gao Wei decided to flee from Yecheng to the provinces south of the Yellow River, to try to regroup the
troops, and if that could not be done, to flee to Chen Dynasty. With that in mind, Gao Wei first sent Grand Empress
Dowager Hu, Retired Empress Mu, and Gao Heng to Ji Province (济州, roughly modern Liaocheng, Shandong). He soon
abandoned Yecheng and joined them there as well. Once he arrived, he issued an edict in the young emperor's name
further passing the throne to Gao Wei's uncle Gao Jie (高□) the Prince of Rencheng─although the edict appeared to
have never reached Gao Jie, as the official that Gao Wei sent to deliver the edict and the imperial seal to Gao Jie, Hulu
Xiaoqing (斛律孝卿), surrendered to Northern Zhou after leaving Ji Province. (The edict also gave Gao Heng an
alternative title, but what that alternative title was is disputed among historical sources. The Book of Northern Qi gave it as
"Heavenly Prince Protector" (守国天王, Shouguo Tian Wang). Zizhi Tongjian gave it as Heavenly Prince of Song (宋国天
王, Songguo Tian Wang), and Zizhi Tongjian's commentator Hu Sansheng believed that it should be "Heavenly Prince of
the Primary Line" (宗国天王, Zongguo Tian Wang). Whether that alternative title was actually used, however, is unclear.)
Meanwhile, Northern Zhou forces continued their pursuit, and Gao Wei, leaving Grand Empress Dowager Hu at Ji
Province, fled further south with Retired Empress Mu, Consort Feng Xiaolian, Gao Heng, and some of his other close
followers to Qing Province (青州, roughly modern Qingzhou, Shandong). Northern Zhou forces, however, soon arrived at
Qing Province as well, and Gao Wei's party tried to flee south to Chen, but were captured and delivered back to Yecheng,
where they were initially treated with respect by Northern Zhou's Emperor Wu. Soon, Northern Zhou took control of nearly
all of Northern Qi territory, and when Emperor Wu returned to the Northern Zhou capital Chang'an, he took Gao Wei and
the members of the Gao clan, including Gao Heng, with him. (This traditionally marked the end of Northern Qi, with Gao
Heng as its last emperor, although Gao Wei's cousin Gao Shaoyi the Prince of Fanyang fled to Tujue and later claimed
the Northern Qi throne in exile.) Death Emperor Wu initially created Gao Wei the Duke of Wen, but in winter 577, he,
apprehensive of the Gao clan, falsely accused Gao Wei of plotting rebellion with his former official Mu Tipo, and then
ordered him and other members of the Gao clan to commit suicide. Gao Heng died in the massacre. Only during the
regency of Yang Jian over Emperor Wu's grandson Emperor Jing of Northern Zhou were members of the Gao clan,
including Gao Heng, properly buried north of Chang'an.
7) Fan Yang Wang (范阳王 fan yang wang)
Gao Shaoyi (高绍义 g_o shao yi)
577-579? Gao Shaoyi (高绍义
), often known by his princely title of Prince of Fanyang (范阳王), was an imperial prince of the Chinese dynasty Northern
Qi, who claimed the Northern Qi throne in exile under the protection of Tujue after rival Northern Zhou seized nearly all of
Northern Qi territory and captured the emperors, Gao Shaoyi's cousin Gao Wei and Gao Wei's son Gao Heng in 577. In
580, Tujue, after negotiating a peace treaty with Northern Zhou, turned Gao Shaoyi over to Northern Zhou, and he was
exiled to modern Sichuan, ending his claim on the Northern Qi imperial title. Most traditional historians do not consider
Gao Shaoyi a true emperor of Northern Qi. Background Gao Shaoyi was the third son of Emperor Wenxuan, Northern
Qi's first emperor. His mother was Emperor Wenxuan's concubine Consort Feng, who carried the title of Shifu (世妇), a
title for third class imperial consorts. It is not known when he was born. In 559, Emperor Wenxuan created him the Prince
of Guangyang. After Emperor Wenxuan's death later that year, Gao Shaoyi's older brother Gao Yin became emperor (as
Emperor Fei), and around the new year 560, Emperor Fei changed Gao Shaoyi's title to Prince of Fanyang. During
Emperor Fei's reign and the subsequent reigns of Gao Shaoyi's uncles Emperor Xiaozhao and Emperor Wucheng, Gao
Shaoyi was gradually promoted through the official ranks, and, during Emperor Wucheng's reign, he was the mayor of the
capital Yecheng. He was said to like drinking with his associates, and he was accused of having his eunuchs kill his
teacher Ren Fangrong (任方荣). Emperor Wucheng caned him 200 times, and then sent him to Emperor Wenxuan's wife
Empress Li Zu'e, who further caned him 100 times. Nothing is known about Gao Shaoyi's activities in the following years.
In 577, with rival Northern Zhou having launched a major attack on Northern Qi, then-emperor Gao Wei (Emperor
Wucheng's son) fled from the secondary capital Jinyang (晋阳, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) back to Yecheng, and he
made Gao Shaoyi the governor of Ding Province (定州, roughly modern Baoding, Hebei). Subsequently, after Gao Wei
was captured by Northern Zhou forces, most Northern Qi provinces surrendered. However, Zhao Mu (赵穆), the former
gubernatorial secretary of Northern Shuo Province (北朔州, roughly modern Shuozhou, Shanxi), captured the Northern
Zhou general (and former Northern Qi general) Feng Fuxiang (封辅相), whom Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou had made
the military governor of the Northern Shuo Province and tried to welcome Gao Shaoyi's uncle Gao Jie (高□) the Prince of
Rencheng to Northern Shuo Province to head the resistance, but could not do so. He therefore welcomed Gao Shaoyi
instead, and when Gao Shaoyi arrived at Mayi (马邑), the capital of Northern Shuo Province, the people of the local region
supported his resistance movement. He led his troops south to try to recapture Jinyang, but was unsuccessful in first
sieging Xinxing (新兴, in modern Xinzhou, Shanxi), and Northern Zhou's counterattack was successful in capturing Lu
Qiong (陆琼), the governor of Xian Province (显州, part of modern Xinzhou), and Gao Shaoyi retreated to Mayi. As the
Northern Zhou general Yuwen Shenju (宇文神举) approached Mayi and defeated Gao Shaoyi, Gao Shaoyi decided to flee
to Tujue. At this time, he still had about 3,000 men, and he issued an order, "If you want to return, do so." More than half
took up his offer and left him. When Gao Shaoyi arrived at Tujue, Tujue's Tuobo Khan, who had long admired Emperor
Wenxuan, saw that Gao Shaoyi, like Emperor Wenxuan, had a particularly large ankle, and therefore particularly favored
and respected Gao Shaoyi. He transferred the former Northern Qi subjects, whether they fled to or were captured to
Tujue, to be under Gao Shaoyi's command.
Imperial claim in exile Almost all of Northern Qi territory fell into Northern Zhou hands, but Gao Baoning (高宝宁), a distant
relative of the Gao imperial line and governor of Ying Province (营州, roughly modern Zhaoyang, Liaoning), refused to
surrender. Around the new year 578, Gao Baoning, sent a petition to Gao Shaoyi, requesting that he take imperial title.
Gao Shaoyi therefore declared himself emperor, with military assistance from Tujue. In summer 578, Northern Zhou's
Emperor Wu died, and Gao Shaoyi believed this to be a good opportunity to reestablish Northern Qi. At the same time, Lu
Changqi (卢昌期), the leader of an agrarian rebellion at You Province (幽州, roughly modern Beijing) captured Fanyang (
范阳, in modern Baoding) and welcomed Gao Shaoyi to join him. Gao Shaoyi, commanding Tujue forces, sought to aid Lu
by attacking Jicheng (蓟城, in modern Beijing), and he defeated Yuwen Shenju's subordinate Yuwen En (宇文恩), but
meanwhile, Yuwen Shenju captured Fanyang and killed Lu. Gao Shaoyi took up mourning clothes and publicly mourned
Lu, but then withdrew back to Tujue. Gao Baoning, who had also tried to come to Lu's aid, also withdrew back to Ying
Province. In spring 579, Tuobo Khan sought peace with Northern Zhou. Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou created the
daughter of his uncle Yuwen Zhao (宇文招) the Prince of Zhao the Princess Qianjin, offering to give her to Tuobo Khan in
marriage if Tuobo Khan would be willing to surrender Gao Shaoyi. Tuobo Khan refused. Death In 580, after Emperor
Xuan's death, Yang Jian, the regent for Emperor Xuan's son Emperor Jing of Northern Zhou, nevertheless sent Princess
Qianjin to Tujue to marry Tuobo Khan. After the marriage, Yang then sent the official Heruo Yi (贺若谊) to Tujue to bribe
Tuobo Khan to give up Gao Shaoyi. Tuobo Khan agreed, and as a ruse, he invited Gao Shaoyi to a hunt, but instead had
Heruo Yi capture Gao Shaoyi. In fall 580, Gao Shaoyi was delivered to Northern Zhou's capital Chang'an, and he was
exiled to modern Sichuan. Meanwhile, his wife Princess Feng had fled back from Tujue, and while they were not able to
reunite, Gao Shaoyi sent her a letter that stated, "The barbarians were faithless, and they sent me here." He eventually
died in exile, but the year of his death is not known.
Xi (Western) Wei Dynasty 535-556(3)
1) Wen Di 文帝 Yuan Baoju 元宝炬 535-551
Datong (大统 da t_ng) 535-551 Emperor Wen of Western Wei ((西)魏
文帝) (507━551), personal name Yuan Baoju (元宝炬), was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Wei -- a
branch successor state to Northern Wei. In 534, Yuan Baoju, then the Prince of Nanyang, followed his cousin Emperor
Xiaowu in fleeing from the capital Luoyang to Chang'an, after a fallout between Emperor Xiaowu and the paramount
general Gao Huan. However, Emperor Xiaowu's relationship to the general that he then depended on, Yuwen Tai, soon
deteriorated as well, and around the new year 535, Yuwen Tai poisoned Emperor Xiaowu to death, making Yuan Baoju
emperor (as Emperor Wen). As Gao Huan had, late in 534, made Yuan Shanjian the son of Emperor Wen's cousin Yuan
Dan (元□) the Prince of Qinghe emperor (as Emperor Xiaojing), thus establishing Eastern Wei, Emperor Wen was known
as Western Wei's first emperor, formalizing the division. Emperor Wen's relationship with Yuwen appeared cordial, but he
was unable to exercise much real power. Background Yuan Baoju was born in 507. His father Yuan Yu (元愉), the Prince
of Jingzhao, was the son of Emperor Xiaowen and a younger brother of the reigning Emperor Xuanwu. His mother was
recorded as Yuan Yu's concubine Lady Yang. (Some historical records indicate that Lady Li was initially surnamed Yang,
and only became known as Lady Li after Yuan Yu, wanting her to be part of a prominent family, had the aristocratic family
Li adopt her.) He had three other brothers, at least one of whom, Yuan Baoyue (元宝月), was older, and born of Ladi Li.
Yuan Yu favored Lady Li but not his wife, Princess Yu, a sister to Emperor Xuanwu's wife Empress Yu. Consequently,
Empress Yu once summoned Lady Li to the palace, beat her severely, and then forced her to become a Buddhist nun.
Only after the intercession of Empress Yu's father Yu Jing (于劲) was Lady Li returned to Yuan Yu. Meanwhile, in 508,
Yuan Yu himself was punished by Emperor Xuanwu for corruption. He was caned 50 times and demoted to the
governorship of Ji Province (冀州, modern central Hebei). In anger, he rebelled at the capital of Ji Province, Xindu (信都,
in modern Hengshui, Hebei), alleging falsely that Emperor Xuanwu's uncle Gao Zhao had murdered the emperor and
declaring himself emperor. Yuan Yu's rebellion was soon defeated by the general Li Ping (李平), and during his being
delivered to the capital Luoyang, Gao had him killed. At that time, Lady Li was pregnant, and she was permitted to give
birth and then was executed. Emperor Xuanwu did not execute any of Yuan Yu's sons, but had them, including Yuan
Baoju, put under arrest at Zongzheng Temple (宗正寺). Assuming that Lady Li and Lady Yang were in fact the same
person, this also meant that Yuan Baoju grew up without either parent. He and his brothers remained at Zongzheng
Temple and were released only after Emperor Xuanwu's death in 515. During the reign of Emperor Xuanwu's son
Emperor Xiaoming, Emperor Xiaoming's mother Empress Dowager Hu posthumously recreated Yuan Yu the Prince of
Lintao, and Yuan Baoju and his brothers then observed a mourning period for their parents. Yuan Baoyue inherited the
title, but Yuan Baoju did not possess any titles at the moment, although he was made a general. Despite Empress
Dowager Hu's rehabiilitation of Yuan Yu, however, Yuan Baoju was not impressed at her toleration of corruption,
particularly by her lovers, and he secretly plotted with Emperor Xiaoming to have her lovers killed. When this plot was
discovered, he was stripped of the office he held. In 525, he married his wife Lady Yifu, the daughter of a moderately
prominent aristocratic family. (In his youth, Yuan Baoju was described by the Book of Wei as frivolous, alcoholic, and
sexually immoral, but this description is highly suspect in that the Book of Wei was written by Wei Shou, an official of
Eastern Wei, the rival of Western Wei, for which Yuan Baoju would eventually become emperor.) In 528, Emperor
Xiaoming created him the Marquess of Shao County, and in 530, Emperor Xiaozhuang created him the Prince of
Nanyang. In 532, after several years of civil war, the victorious general Gao Huan made Yuan Baoju's cousin Yuan Xiu
the Prince of Pingyang emperor (as Emperor Xiaowu). Emperor Xiaowu was not happy about Gao's hold on the military,
and he entered into alliances with the independent generals Yuwen Tai and Heba Sheng (贺拔胜), seeking to resist Gao's
control. Yuan Baoju served in Emperor Xiaowu's administration as a general. In 534, Emperor Xiaowu planned to act
against Gao, but Gao discovered his plan and instead marched on Luoyang. Emperor Xiaowu decided to flee to Yuwen's
territory, and Yuan Baoju accompanied Emperor Xiaowu in doing so, arriving at Chang'an in late 534. Also accompanying
Emperor Xiaowu was Yuan Baoju's sister Yuan Mingyue (元明月) -- who was in an incestuous relationship with Emperor
Xiaowu. Yuwen did not tolerate Emperor Xiaowu's incestuous relationships with Yuan Mingyue and two other cousins,
and eventually he had Yuan Mingyue killed. Emperor Xiaowu became angry, and his relationship with Yuwen
deteriorated. Around the new year 535, Yuwen poisoned him to death. Initially, Yuwen was poised to make Emperor
Xiaowu's nephew Yuan Zan (元赞) the Prince of Guangping the new emperor. However, under suggestion of Yuan Shun (
元顺) the Prince of Puyang, who argued that Yuan Zan was too young, Yuwen changed his mind and made Yuan Baoju,
then 27, emperor instead (as Emperor Wen). As Gao had earlier declared Yuan Shanjian, the son of Yuan Baoju's cousin
Yuan Dan (元□) the Prince of Qinghe, emperor, Gao's territory became known as Eastern Wei, with Yuan Shanjian
(Emperor Xiaojing) as emperor, and Yuwen's territory became known as Western Wei, with Emperor Wen as emperor.
Reign Yuwen Tai publicly deferred to Emperor Wen on most matters, but Yuwen held actual power, with Emperor Wen
not being able to exercise much independent authority. Throughout the early years of his reign, there were serious doubts
as to whether Western Wei would survive, as Eastern Wei was then the much stronger state, and Gao Huan made
repeated attempts to conquer Western Wei. However, with Yuwen and other generals capably defending the territory,
Western Wei was able to withstand Gao's assaults. In 535, Emperor Wen posthumously honored his father Yuan Yu as
Emperor Wenjing, and he posthumously honored his mother Lady Yang as empress. He created his wife Princess Yifu
empress, and her son Yuan Qin crown prince. His marriage with Empress Yifu was said to be a happy one, as she was
virtuous and beautiful, and Emperor Wen respected her greatly. She bore him 12 children, although only Yuan Qin and
Yuan Wu (元戊) the Prince of Wudu survived infancy. In 538, with Western Wei under the threat of attack by Rouran,
Yuwen first tried to alleviate the situation by marrying a daughter of a member of the imperial clan to Yujiulu Tahan (郁久
闾塔寒), the brother of Rouran's Chiliantoubingdoufa Khan Yujiulu Anagui, but then, believing that to be insufficient, he
asked Emperor Wen to divorce Empress Yifu and marry Yujiulu Anagui's daughter. Emperor Wen agreed, and divorced
Empress Yifu, making her a Buddhist nun. He then married Yujiulu Anagui's daughter and created her empress. For a
while, this brought peace with Rouran. Later in 538, with Western Wei then (temporariily) controlling the old Northern Wei
capital Luoyang, but with Luoyang under attack, Emperor Wen (who had wanted to visit the imperial ancestral tombs in
Luoyang) and Yuwen led troops to reinforce Luoyang's defenses, leaving the official Zhou Huida (周惠达) and Crown
Prince Qin in Chang'an. However, with the forces engaged in battle, Emperor Wen eventually became stuck at Hengnong
(恒农, in modern Sanmenxia, Henan), when Chang'an was taken by rebelling former Eastern Wei troops who had been
taken captive previously by Western Wei, forcing Zhou and Crown Prince Qin to flee as well. Yuwen was eventually able
to disengage after abandoning Luoyang, and he put down the rebellion, allowing Emperor Wen to return to Chang'an.
Although the former Empress Yifu had been deposed and made a Buddhist nun, Empress Yujiulu was still not happy
about her presence in the capital. in 540, Emperor Wen therefore made Yuan Wu the governor of Qin Province (秦州,
roughly modern Tianshui, Gansu), and had Empress Yifu accompany Yuan Wu to Qin Province. However, because he
still hoped to welcome her back to the palace one day, he secretly told her to keep her hair uncut, rather than shaved like
a Buddhist nun. At this time, however, Rouran made a major attack on Western Wei, and many officials thought that the
attack was on behalf of Empress Yujiulu. Emperor Wen felt compelled to order Empress Yifu to commit suicide, and he
did. Soon thereafter, Empress Yujiulu, who was pregnant, died during childbirth. In 548, Yuwen and Yuan Qin were on a
grand tour of the provinces when Emperor Wen grew ill, and when they heard the news, Yuwen returned to Chang'an
quickly, although by the time they returned, Emperor Wen had recovered. In 549, Emperor Wen issued an edict -probably as Yuwen requested -- ordering that the names of the ethnic Xianbei, changed to Han names during the reign of
Emperor Xiaowen, be changed back to the original Xianbei names. In 550, Gao Huan's son Gao Yang forced Eastern
Wei's Emperor Xiaojing to yield the throne to him, ending Eastern Wei and starting Northern Qi (as its Emperor Wenxuan).
Emperor Wen therefore became the only claimant to the Northern Wei throne. Yuwen, declaring Northern Qi a rebel state,
launched a major attack, but Gao Yang himself commanded a large army to defend against the attack, and Western Wei
not only did not make gains, but lost a number of provinces to Northern Qi. In 551, Emperor Wen died and was buried
with honors due an emperor, with Empress Yujiulu, although eventually Empress Yifu was buried with him. (It is not clear
whether she displaced Empress Yujiulu or not.) Yuan Qin succeeded him (as Emperor Fei).
2) Fei Di (废帝 fei di)
Yuan Qin (元钦 yuan q_n) 552-554 Emperor Fei of Western Wei ((西)魏废帝) (died
554), personal name Yuan Qin (元钦), was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Wei -- a branch successor
state of Northern Wei. He, even more so than his father Emperor Wen, held little actual power in the face of overwhelming
control of power by the paramount general Yuwen Tai. In 554, he tried to plot to have Yuwen killed, but his plot was
discovered, and Yuwen deposed him, and soon had him killed. As crown prince It is not known when Yuan Qin was born.
What is known is that he was the oldest son of Yuan Baoju the Prince of Nanyang, a grandson of Emperor Xiaowen of
Northern Wei, by his wife Princess Yifu, and that he had one younger brother by Princess Yifu, Yuan Wu (元戊). Around
the new year 535, Emperor Xiaowu of Northern Wei -- a cousin of Yuan Baoju and the final emperor of the undivided
Northern Wei state but who by now was only emperor over the western part of the state (i.e., Western Wei) -- was
poisoned by the paramount general Yuwen Tai over a dispute developed when Yuwen disapproved of his incestuous
relationship with Yuan Baoju's sister Yuan Mingyue (元明月). Yuwen Tai made Yuan Baoju the new emperor (as Emperor
Wen). Emperor Wen created Princess Yifu empress, and created Yuan Qin crown prince. In 538, while both Emperor
Wen and Yuwen Tai were away on a campaign against Eastern Wei, Yuan Qin was nominally put in charge of the capital
Chang'an, although the official Zhou Huida (周惠达) was actually in charge. When former Eastern Wei captives, upon
hearing initial news of Eastern Wei victories, rebelled within Chang'an with Zhao Qingque (赵青雀), Zhou and Li Hu (李虎)
were forced to escort the crown prince out of Chang'an to flee the rebellion. Eventually, when Yuwen returned, Zhao's
rebellion collapsed, and Emperor Wen and Yuan Qin were both able to return to Chang'an. Emperor Wen had little actual
power, and also in 538, over Yuwen's desire for an alliance with Rouran, he was forced to depose Empress Yifu and
marry the daughter of Rouran's Chiliantoubingdoufa Khan Yujiulu Anagui as his empress. In 540, he was further forced to
initially send Empress Yujiulu away from Chang'an (to live with Yuan Qin's younger brother Yuan Wu), and then forced to
order her to commit suicide. Sometime during Emperor Wen's reign, Yuan Qin married Yuwen Tai's daughter as his crown
princess. It was said that he favored her greatly, and that he had no concubines. In 542, during an assault that Eastern
Wei's paramount general Gao Huan launched on the border city Yubi (玉壁, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), Yuan Qin was
made the defender of the important city Puban (蒲阪, in modern Yuncheng as well), while Yuwen launched an army to try
to catch up with Gao as he retreated. It is not known how much responsibility or authority Yuan Qin actually had during
this campaign. In 551, Emperor Wen died. Yuan Qin took the throne (as Emperor Fei). As emperor Emperor Fei appeared
to have even less actual power than his father, to whom Yuwen Tai paid formal deference. He was able to rebury his
mother Empress Yifu with his father Emperor Wen. He created his wife, Crown Princess Yuwen, empress. Apparently
because Yuwen wanted to restore many Zhou Dynasty customs and traditions, Emperor Fei did not use an era name;
rather, the years of his reign were merely referred to as "the first year," "the second year," and so on. In 553, Yuwen Tai's
nephew Weichi Jiong conquered the western provinces of Liang Dynasty, which had been previously under the control of
the Liang pretender to the throne, Xiao Ji, and added them to Western Wei territory. In late 553, the official Yuan Lie (元烈
) plotted killing Yuwen, but his plot was discovered, and Yuwen killed him. After Yuan Lie's death, Emperor Fei became
angry at Yuwen and often spoke against him. He also secretly plotted killing Yuwen, despite advice from Yuan Yu (元育)
the Prince of Linhuai and Yuan Zan (元赞, the nephew of Emperor Xiaowu) the Prince of Guangping that plotting was
dangerous. Emperor Fei's plot, however, was eventually discovered by Yuwen's other sons-in-law. Yuwen deposed and
imprisoned Emperor Fei, making his younger brother Yuan Kuo emperor (as Emperor Gong). Soon thereafter, Emperor
Fei was put to death. According to the History of Northern Dynasties, his wife Empress Yuwen "also suffered death
because she was faithful to Wei's imperial house," although it is unclear exactly how she died or whether she died the
same year he did.
3) Gong Di 恭帝 Tuoba Kuo (拓拔廓 tuo ba kuo) 554-556 Emperor Gong of Western Wei ((西)魏恭帝) (537━557),
personal name ne Yuan Kuo (元廓), later changed to Tuoba Kuo (拓拔廓), was the last emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei
state Western Wei -- a branch successor state to Northern Wei. He was made emperor in 554 after his older brother
Emperor Fei was deposed by the paramount general Yuwen Tai. He carried little actual power, and in 556, after Yuwen
Tai's death, Yuwen Tai's nephew Yuwen Hu, serving as guardian to Yuwen Tai's son Yuwen Jue, forced Emperor Gong to
yield the throne to Yuwen Jue, ending Western Wei and starting Northern Zhou. The former emperor was killed in 557.
Because Northern Wei's other branch successor state, Eastern Wei, had fallen in 551, Emperor Gong can be regarded as
Northern Wei's final emperor as well. Background Yuan Kuo was born in 537, as the fourth son of Emperor Wen. His
mother's name is not recorded in history. In 548, Emperor Wen created him the Prince of Qi. However, nothing else is
known about his activities during his father's reign, during which the paramount general Yuwen Tai largely controlled
power. Yuwen's hold on power appeared to be even firmer after Emperor Wen died in 551 and was succeeded by Yuan
Kuo's older brother Yuan Qin (as Emperor Fei). During Yuan Kuo's stint as the Prince of Qi, he married the daughter of
the general Ruogan Hui (若干惠) as his wife and princess. In 554, Emperor Fei, angry over Yuwen Tai's execution of the
official Yuan Lie (元烈) in 553, plotted to have Yuwen killed. However, the news was leaked, and Yuwen deposed him. He
selected Yuan Kuo to succeed Emperor Fei (as Emperor Gong). Contemporaneously, Yuwen changed the imperial clan's
surname from Yuan back to Tuoba, reversing the change that Emperor Xiaowen ordered in 496. Reign Emperor Gong
appeared to be even more powerless than his father and brother, and the power remained in Yuwen's hands. He created
his wife, Princess Ruogan, empress. Later in 554, Yuwen poisoned the deposed Emperor Fei to death. Later that year, an
army dispatched by Yuwen and commanded by Yu Jin (于谨) captured rival Liang Dynasty's capital Jiangling (江陵, in
modern Jingzhou, Hubei), capturing and executing Liang's Emperor Yuan. In spring 555, Emperor Gong created Xiao
Cha, a nephew of Emperor Yuan, the Emperor of Liang (as Emperor Xuan), but Xiao Cha was not recognized by most of
Liang generals and officials, who instead recognized Xiao Yuanming, a candidate supported by Northern Qi, as emperor.
Later in 555, Yuwen required Tuoba Yu (拓拔育) the Prince of Huai'an to submit to Emperor Gong a propose to have the
imperial princes reduced in rank to dukes, a proposal that Emperor Gong approved. In spring 556, pursuant to Yuwen's
desire to reorganize the governmental structure in accordance with the Zhou Dynasty governmental structure, the imperial
government was reorganized into six departments. In fall 556, while Yuwen Tai was on a tour of the norther provinces, he
became ill at Qiantun Mountain (牵屯山, in modern Guyuan, Ningxia). He summoned his nephew Yuwen Hu to Qiantun
and entrusted the affairs of the state as well as his sons to Yuwen Hu. He soon died, and Yuwen Tai's 14-year-old son
Yuwen Jue took over his titles, while Yuwen Hu took the reins of the state. Emperor Gong was subsequently forced to
create Yuwen Jue the greater title of Duke of Zhou. In spring 557, Yuwen Hu, believing that Yuwen Jue's youth meant that
he needed to take imperial title to affirm his authority, forced Emperor Gong to yield the throne to Yuwen Jue, ending
Western Wei and starting Northern Zhou. Death Yuwen Jue (Emperor Xiaomin) initially created Tuoba Kuo the Duke of
Song. However, less than two months after Tuoba Kuo yielded the throne, he was killed. His wife, the former Empress
Ruogan, became a Buddhist nun.
Bei (Northern) Zhou Dynasty 557-581
1) Xiao Min Di 孝闵帝 Yuwen Jue 宇文觉 557 Emperor Xiaomin of Northern Zhou ((北)周孝闵帝) (542━557), personal
name Yuwen Jue (宇文觉), nickname Tuoluoni (陀罗尼), was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Zhou
(although he used the alternative title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang). He was the heir of Western Wei's paramount
general Yuwen Tai, and after Yuwen Tai's death in 556, his cousin Yuwen Hu, serving as his guardian, forced Emperor
Gong of Western Wei to yield the throne to Yuwen Jue in spring 557, establishing Northern Zhou. Later in 557, however,
Yuwen Jue, wanting to assume power personally, plotted to kill Yuwen Hu, who in turn deposed him and replaced him
with his brother Yuwen Yu (Emperor Ming). Later that year, Yuwen Hu had Yuwen Jue executed. Background Yuwen Jue
was born in 542 as the son of Yuwen Tai, then the paramount general of Western Wei, and Yuwen Tai's wife Princess
Fengyi, the sister of Emperor Xiaowu of Northern Wei. He was Yuwen Tai's third son, but was largely viewed as Yuwen
Tai's likely heir because his mother was both of royal birth and Yuwen Tai's wife, while his older brothers Yuwen Yu and
Yuwen Zhen (宇文震) were sons of concubines. In 550, he became the Duke of Lueyang. He later married Emperor
Wen's daughter Yuan Humo the Princess Jin'an as his wife and duchess. In spring 556, Yuwen Tai was pondering the
issue of succession. Yuwen Jue was born of the Princess Fengyi, but Yuwen Yu was older and married to the daughter of
one of his chief generals, Dugu Xin (独孤信). On the advice of Li Yuan (李远), who argued that the son of a wife always
had precedence over the son of a concubine, Yuwen Tai made Yuwen Jue his heir apparent. In fall 556, while Yuwen Tai
was on a tour of the norther provinces, he became ill at Qiantun Mountain (牵屯山, in modern Guyuan, Ningxia). He
summoned his nephew Yuwen Hu the Duke of Zhongshan to Qiantun and entrusted the affairs of the state as well as his
sons to Yuwen Hu. He soon died, and Yuwen Jue took over his titles (among them, Duke of Anding), while Yuwen Hu
took the reigns of the state. Yuwen Jue set up his headquarters at Tong Province (同州, roughly modern Weinan,
Shaanxi), where Yuwen Tai's headquarters had been. Around the new year 557, Yuwen Jue gained the greater title of
Duke of Zhou. In spring 557, Yuwen Hu, believing that Yuwen Jue's youth meant that he needed to take imperial title to
affirm his authority, forced Emperor Gong to yield the throne to Yuwen Jue (as Emperor Xiaomin), ending Western Wei
and starting Northern Zhou. Reign and death Emperor Xiaomin took the throne, but did not use the title "emperor" (皇帝,
huang di), but used the Zhou Dynasty-style title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang). He posthumously honored Yuwen Tai as
Prince Wen and the Princess Fengyi as Princess Wen. He created the former Emperor Gong the Duke of Song, but soon
thereafter, the duke was executed. The governmental structure and ceremonies were largely imitative of Zhou Dynasty,
but also incorporated many Xianbei elements, largely abandoning Han customs originated in the post-Zhou centuries. He
created his wife, Duchess Yuan, princess. With Yuwen Hu as regent, The political situation was unstable. About a month
after Emperor Xiaomin took the throne, two of the most senior officials, Zhao Gui (赵贵) the Duke of Chu and Dugu Xin
the Duke of Wei, showed displeasure about Yuwen Hu's hold on power. Zhao wanted to kill Yuwen Hu, an action that
Dugu tried to persuade him against. Soon thereafter, however, Zhao's plans were revealed by another official, Yuwen
Sheng (宇文盛), and Yuwen Hu had Zhao executed and removed Dugu from his office. Soon, he also forced Dugu to
commit suicide. When another official, Qi Gui (齐轨), criticized Yuwen Hu's regency, he was also executed. Meanwhile,
Emperor Xiaomin himself, wanting to take power, was engaging in a plot to kill Yuwen Hu. His plot included two of Yuwen
Tai's key associates, Li Zhi (李植) and Sun Heng (孙恒), as well as the other officials Yifu Feng (乙弗凤) and Heba Ti (贺
拔提), each of whom was ambitious and therefore further tried to fan Emperor Xiaomin's suspicions against Yuwen Hu.
After Li tried to engage another official, Zhang Guangluo (张光洛) in the plot, however, Zhang revealed the plot to Yuwen
Hu. Yuwen Hu, not wanting to take drastic actions at first, sent Li and Sun away to be provincial governors. When
Emperor Xiaomin wanted to summon Li and Sun back to the capital Chang'an, Yuwen Hu urged against it, pledging his
loyalty. However, Yifu and Heba became fearful and plotted to carry out the plot anyway. Zhang again informed Yuwen
Hu, who discussed the matter with the generals Helan Xiang (贺兰祥) and Weichi Gang (尉迟纲). Helan suggested to him
to depose Emperor Xiaomin, and Yuwen Hu had Weichi arrest Yifu and Heba and disband the imperial guards. Emperor
Xiaomin, surprised by the move, barricaded himself in the palace and armed his ladies in waiting and eunuchs. Yuwen Hu
sent Helan into the palace to force Emperor Xiaomin to leave the palace and put him under house arrest at his old
residence as the Duke of Lueyang.
Yuwen Hu summoned the high level officials and informed them the situation, proposing to depose Emperor Xiaomin and
replace him with Yuwen Yu. The high level officials, not daring to oppose Yuwen Hu, agreed. Emperor Xiaomin's
coconspirators were executed, while he himself was demoted to the rank of Duke of Lueyang. A month later, Yuwen Hu
executed him and forced his wife, Princess Yuan, to become a Buddhist nun. After another brother of Emperor Xiaomin,
Emperor Wu killed Yuwen Hu in 572, he posthumously honored Emperor Xiaomin as emperor and reburied him with
honors due one.
2) Ming Di 明帝 or Xiao Ming Di 孝明帝 Yuwen Yu 宇文毓 557-560 Wucheng (武成 w_ cheng) 559-560 Emperor
Ming of Northern Zhou ((北)周明帝) (534━560), personal name Yuwen Yu (宇文毓), nickname Tongwantu (统万突), was
an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Zhou, although at the start of his reign he used the alternative title
"Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang). He was made emperor after his younger brother Emperor Xiaomin was deposed and
killed by the regent Yuwen Hu. Emperor Ming himself assumed some, but not all, powers from Yuwen Hu, and was
generally considered able. Because of this, Yuwen Hu became apprehensive, and in 560, he poisoned Emperor Ming to
death. While near death, however, Emperor Ming appointed his brother Yuwen Yong (Emperor Wu) as his successor,
believing Yuwen Yong to be intelligent and capable, and in 572, Yuwen Yong was finally able to kill Yuwen Hu and
assume full imperial powers. Background
Yuwen Yu was born in 534, as the oldest son of the then-Northern Wei general Yuwen Tai. His mother was Yuwen Tai's
concubine Lady Yao. His nickname of Tongwantu was derived from the fact that Lady Yao gave birth to him at the
important city of Tongwan (统万, in modern Yulin, Shaanxi) while accompanying Yuwen Tai on an inspection of the city.
Also in 534, Northern Wei divided into two rival states, Western Wei and Eastern Wei, with Yuwen Tai as the paramount
general of Western Wei. In 548, Emperor Wen of Western Wei, to further honor Yuwen Tai, created Yuwen Yu the Duke
of Ningdu. In 550, he was made a provincial governor, and for the next several years, he was rotated between several
provinces. During his term as a provincial governor, he married the daughter of the key general Dugu Xin (独孤信) as his
wife.
In spring 556, Yuwen Tai was pondering the issue of succession. His wife Princess Fengyi, the sister of Emperor Xiaowu
of Northern Wei, had one son, Yuwen Jue, but he considered the fact of whether making Yuwen Jue heir apparent over
Yuwen Yu would trouble Dugu Xin. On the advice of Li Yuan (李远), who argued that the son of a wife always had
precedence over the son of a concubine, Yuwen Tai made Yuwen Jue his heir apparent. Yuwen Tai died later that year,
and Yuwen Jue inherited his titles, under the guardianship of Yuwen Tai's nephew Yuwen Hu. In early 557, Yuwen Hu
forced Emperor Gong of Western Wei to yield the throne to Yuwen Jue, ending Western Wei and establishing Northern
Zhou (with Yuwen Jue as its Emperor Xiaomin but using the alternative title of "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang)). Later in
557, the 15-year-old Emperor Xiaomin, wanting to exercise full imperial powers, plotted to have Yuwen Hu killed. When
Yuwen Hu discovered the plot, he deposed and then killed Emperor Xiaomin. Yuwen Hu welcomed Yuwen Yu to the
capital Chang'an to take over the throne, still with the Heavenly Prince title. Reign In spring 558, Emperor Ming created
his wife Duchess Dugu the title of princess (as he was still using the Heavenly Prince title at this point). Three months
later, however, she died. (The historian Bo Yang speculated that because Yuwen Hu had in 557 forced her father Dugu
Xin to commit suicide after Dugu Xin was implicated in a plot to overthrow Yuwen Hu, that Yuwen Hu had her murdered,
but had no concrete evidence to show that that happened.) In spring 559, Yuwen Hu formally returned his authorities to
Emperor Ming, and Emperor Ming began to formally rule on all governmental matters, but Yuwen Hu retained authority
over the military. Emperor Ming was generally credited with making sensible decisions and being humble toward elders,
honoring them appropriately and listening to their advice. In fall 559, Emperor Ming formally began to use the title of
emperor and started using an era name -- which Yuwen Tai had earlier abolished during the time of Western Wei's
Emperor Fei. In spring 560, with Xiao Zhuang -- a rival claimant to the Liang Dynasty throne to Emperor Xuan of Western
Liang, who was a Northern Zhou vassal and whom Northern Zhou supported─attacking Chen Dynasty territory with his
paramount general Wang Lin, Northern Zhou sent its general Shi Ning (史宁) to attack Xiao Zhuang's capital Jiangxia (江
夏, in modern Wuhan, Hubei). Soon, however, after Xiao Zhuang and Wang were defeated by the Chen general Hou Tian
(侯□) and forced to flee to Northern Qi and Chen forces subsequently approaching Jiangxia, Northern Zhou abandoned
the campaign on Jiangxia, but were able to seize part of Xiao Zhuang's former territory─modern Hunan, which Northern
Zhou turned over to Western Liang but sent forces to help defend. In spring 560, Chen made peace overtures to Northern
Zhou, which Northern Zhou accepted. in summer 560, Yuwen Hu, apprehensive of Emperor Ming's intelligence and
abilities, instructed the imperial chef Li An (李安) to poison sugar cookies that were submitted to the emperor. Emperor
Ming ate them and became ill. Knowing that he was near death, he instructed that, because his sons were young, the
throne should be passed to his younger brother Yuwen Yong the Duke of Lu. He died soon thereafter, and Yuwen Yong
took the throne as Emperor Wu.
3) Wu Di 武帝 Yuwen Yong 宇文邕561-578
Baoding (保定 b_o ding) 560-565
Tianhe (天和 ti_n he) 566-572 Jiande (建德 jian de) 572-578 Xuanzheng (宣政 xu_n zheng) 578 Emperor Wu of
Northern Zhou ((北)周武帝) (543━578), personal name Yuwen Yong (宇文邕), nickname Miluotu (祢罗突), was an
emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Zhou. As was the case of the reigns of his brothers Emperor Xiaomin
and Emperor Ming, the early part of his reign was dominated by his cousin Yuwen Hu, but in 572 he ambushed Yuwen Hu
and seized power personally. He thereafter ruled ably and built up the power of his military, destroying rival Northern Qi in
577 and annexing its territory. His death the next year, however, ended his ambitions of uniting China, and under the reign
of his erratic son Emperor Xuan (Yuwen Yun), Northern Zhou itself soon deteriorated and was usurped by Yang Jian in
581. Background Yuwen Yong was born in 543, as the fourth son of the Western Wei paramount general Yuwen Tai. His
mother was Yuwen Tai's concubine Lady Chinu. He was born at Yuwen Tai's then-headquarters at Tong Province (同州,
roughly modern Weinan, Shaanxi). He was considered filially pious, respectful, and intelligent in his youth. In 554,
Emperor Fei of Western Wei created him the Duke of Fucheng.
Yuwen Tai died in 556, and in spring 557, Yuwen Yong's cousin Yuwen Hu, entrusted with the governing authority by
Yuwen Tai, forced Emperor Gong of Western Wei to yield the throne to Yuwen Yong's older brother Yuwen Jue, ending
Western Wei and establishing Northern Zhou. Yuwen Jue took the throne as Emperor Xiaomin, but used the alternative
title of "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang). Yuwen Hu served as regent, and later that year, when Emperor Xiaomin tried to
seize power from him, Yuwen Hu deposed Emperor Xiaomin and then killed him, replacing him with another older brother
of Yuwen Yong's, Yuwen Yu, who took the throne as Emperor Ming. Emperor Ming created Yuwen Yong the greater title
of Duke of Lu and often consulted Yuwen Yong on important matters. Although Yuwen Yong did not speak much,
Emperor Ming made the observation, "He did not often speak, but whatever he spoke was always right." In 559, Yuwen
Hu formally returned his authorities to Emperor Ming, and Emperor Ming began to formally rule on governmental matters,
but Yuwen Hu retained the command of the military. In 560, Yuwen Hu, apprehensive of Emperor Ming's abilities, had the
imperial chef Li An (李安) poison him with sugar cookies. Emperor Ming, realizing that he was near death, designated
Yuwen Yong as his successor, and after he soon died, Yuwen Yong took the throne as Emperor Wu. However, the control
of the government again fell into Yuwen Hu's hands. Early reign Emperor Wu was said to be largely a silent emperor
early in his reign, giving Yuwen Hu free rein over the government, although he appeared to start cultivating a group of
officials who would be loyal to him as the years went by. He formally bestowed Yuwen Hu with not only the military
authorities, but also authority over all six ministries. With the Liang Dynasty general Wang Lin and the throne claimant that
he supported, Xiao Zhuang, having been defeated by Chen Dynasty in spring 560 and having fled to Northern Qi,
Northern Zhou (and its vassal Western Liang, with Emperor Xuan of Western Liang as its emperor) contended for control
of Xiao Zhuang's former territory with Chen, precipitating a confrontation. Starting in winter 560, the Northern Zhou
generals Heruo Dun (贺若敦) and Dugu Sheng (独孤盛) began a drawn-out stalemate with the Chen general Hou Tian (侯
□), initially being successful in thwarting Hou's attacks. Around the new year 561, however, Dugu was forced to withdraw,
and Heruo was isolated. In spring 561, Hou agreed to let Heruo withdraw if Heruo would yield, and so Heruo withdrew; the
modern Hunan region thus became Chen territory. (Yuwen Hu, believing Heruo to be at fault for losing the region,
removed him from his posts.) Also in 561, Emperor Wu honored his mother Lady Chinu empress dowager. In spring 562,
to foster a peaceful relationship with Chen, Northern Zhou returned the brother of Emperor Wen of Chen, Chen Xu, as
well as Chen Xu's wife Liu Jingyan and son Chen Shubao, to Chen. In exchange, Chen gave the city of Lushan (鲁山, in
modern Wuhan, Hubei) to Northern Zhou. In summer 562, Emperor Wu, seeing that previously, nobles were not receiving
any material benefits from their titles, began to have the nobles receive stipends based on the size of their fiefs. In spring
563, while on a visit to Yuan Province (原州, roughly modern Guyuan, Ningxia), Emperor Wu suddenly returned to the
capital Chang'an without explanation. One of his attendants, Houmochen Chong (侯莫陈崇) the Duke of Liang, speculated
to his associates that Yuwen Hu had died. When Houmochen's speculations became known, Emperor Wu publicly
rebuked Houmochen, and the same night, Yuwen Hu sent troops to surround Houmochen's mansion, forcing him to
commit suicide. Soon thereafter, he publiclly bestowed Yuwen Hu the honor of having his name be subject to naming
taboo, an honor that Yuwen Hu declined. Also in spring 563, Emperor Wu promulgated a new 25-volume criminal code
drafted by the official Tuoba Di (拓拔迪), which divided the criminal punishment into 25 classes. In fall 563, Northern Zhou
entered into an alliance treaty with Tujue against Northern Qi, part of which involved a promise that Emperor Wu would
marry the daughter of Ashina Qijin, Tujue's Mugan Khan. In winter 563, the joint forces of Northern Zhou and Tujue
launched a two-prong attack on Northern Qi, with the northern prong attacking Northern Qi's secondary capital Jinyang (
晋阳, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) and the southern prong attacking Pingyang (平阳, in modern Linfen, Shanxi). The
northern prong, commanded by the general Yang Zhong (杨忠), put Jinyang under siege, but was soon defeated by the
Northern Qi general Duan Shao (段韶) and forced to withdraw. In response, the southern prong, commanded by Daxi Wu
(达奚武), also withdrew. Still, the attack demonstrated the growing Northern Zhou strength -- as previously, in the winter
months, Northern Zhou forces would break the ice on the Yellow River to prevent possible Northern Qi attacks, but around
this time and thereafter, Northern Qi forces broke the ice on the river to prevent possible Northern Zhou attacks. In fall
564, in order to placate Yuwen Hu, Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi returned Yuwen Hu's mother Lady Yan and his (and
Emperor Wu's) aunt (Yuwen Tai's sister), who had been trapped in Northern Qi territory several decades earlier, to
Northern Zhou. In order to celebrate Lady Yan's return, Emperor Wu issued a general pardon, and prostrated himself
before her as an ordinary nephew would. In turn, Yuwen Hu considered calling off planned joint attacks with Tujue against
Northern Qi, but was fearful that Tujue would believe that Northern Zhou was abandoning the alliance, and therefore
launched another joint attack with Tujue in winter 564. The assault, the main brunt of which was against Luoyang,
however, was unsuccessful, and soon was abandoned. In spring 565, Emperor Wu sent his brother Yuwen Chun (宇文纯)
the Duke of Chen, Yuwen Gui (宇文贵) the Duke of Xu, Dou Yi (窦毅) the Duke of Shenwu, and Yang Jian (杨荐, different
person than the more-known Yang Jian, referenced above and below) the Duke of Nanyang, to lead a ceremonial guard
corps to Tujue to welcome back Ashina Qijin's daughter for marriage to him. However, when they arrived at Ashina Qijin's
headquarters, he turned against the treaty and detained Yuwen Chun and his attendants. Middle reign In 566, the nonChinese tribes of Xin Province (信州, modern eastern Chongqing) rebelled and captured Baidicheng, under the leadership
of the chieftains Ran Lingxian (冉令贤) and Xiang Wuziwang (向五子王). The general Lu Teng (陆腾), however, was able
to persuade some of Rang's subjects to turn against him, and he subsequently defeated Rang and Xiang, killing them and
suppressing the revolts. In 567, in light of the death of Chen's Emperor Wen and succession by his son Emperor Fei of
Chen in 566, the high level Chen officials engaged in infighting, and Emperor Wen's brother Chen Xu was victorious. The
general Hua Jiao (华皎), the governor of Xiang Province (roughly modern Changsha, Hunan), felt uneasy, and therefore
sought aid from Northern Zhou and Western Liang. Yuwen Hu, over the opposition by the official Cui You (崔猷), sent an
army commanded by Emperor Wu's brother Yuwen Zhi (宇文直) the Duke of Wei to assist Hua and Western Liang, which
was also aiding Hua. The Chen general Wu Mingche, however, quickly defeated the joint forces of Northern Zhou,
Western Liang, and Hua, forcing Hua and Yuwen Zhi to both give up the war and flee to the Western Liang capital
Jiangling. Chen was able to retain all of Hua's territory and further make minor territorial gains against both Northern Zhou
and Western Liang as well. Yuwen Hu relieved Yuwen Zhi from his posts, and while Yuwen Zhi was eventually restored to
them, Yuwen Zhi, who had previously had a cordial relationship with Yuwen Hu, bore a grudge against Yuwen Hu and
secretly encouraged Emperor Wu to act against Yuwen Hu. In spring 568, a major storm at Tujue's headquarters inflicted
substantial damage, and Ashina Qijin took it as a sign of divine displeasure at his rescission of the marriage agreement
with Northern Zhou. He therefore returned Yuwen Chun, along with the daughter he promised Emperor Wu, back to
Northern Zhou. Emperor Wu personally welcomed her and created her empress. Perhaps in light of the new adversarial
relationship with Chen, when Northern Qi made peace overtures in fall 568, Northern Zhou accepted, and there was
peace between the states for about a year, until fall 569, when Emperor Wu's brother Yuwen Xian the Prince of Qi led an
army to siege Northern Qi's city of Yiyang (宜阳, in modern Luoyang, Henan) -- and for more than a year, the two states
would engage in struggle for the control of Yiyang. Meanwhile, in fall 570, the Chen general Zhang Zhaoda (章昭达) put
siege to Jiangling, nearly capturing it, but was eventually fought off by Northern Zhou and Western Liang's joint forces. In
winter 570 -- as forewarned by the Northern Zhou general Wei Xiaokuan, who advised against the Yiyang campaign -- the
famed Northern Qi general Hulu Guang left Yiyang and instead advanced onto Northern Zhou territory north of the Fen
River (汾水, flowing through modern Linfen), building forts and capturing substantial territory from Northern Zhou. While a
counterattack by Yuwen Xian subsequently fought Hulu to a stalemate, damage had been done, and Northern Zhou was
further forced to give up on the Yiyang campaign in fall 571 to concentrate against Hulu. Also in 571, Hua went to
Chang'an, and on the way, he met Yuwen Zhi at Xiang Province (襄州, roughly modern Xiangfan, Hubei), suggesting to
Yuwen Zhi that Western Liang was in such a desperate shape that if Northern Zhou wanted to see it preserved, Northern
Zhou should lend some land to Western Liang. Yuwen Zhi agreed and made the proposal to Emperor Wu; in response,
Emperor Wu gave three provinces -- Ji (基州), Ping (平州), and Ruo (□州) (together making up about modern Jingmen
and Yichang, Hubei) to Western Liang. By 572, Yuwen Hu had controlled the military for 16 years and the government for
nearly as long. Emperor Wu had long wanted him out of the way, although he showed few outward signs of it. He
conspired with Yuwen Zhi, distant relatives Yuwen Shenju (宇文神举) and Yuwen Xiaobo (宇文孝伯), and Wang Gui (王轨
) against Yuwen Hu. In spring 572, he made his move. After Emperor Wu and Yuwen Hu had a meeting, he invited Yuwen
Hu into the palace to meet with Empress Dowager Chinu. On the way to her palace, he told Yuwen Hu that Empress
Dowager Chinu was having problem with alcoholism and not listening to his advice to stop her drinking, so he wanted
Yuwen Hu to advise her to change her ways as well. He further gave Yuwen Hu the text of the Jiu Gao (酒诰) -- an antialcoholism declaration written by King Cheng of Zhou -- and suggested that he read the Jiu Gao to Empress Dowager
Chinu. Once they reached her palace, Yuwen Hu, pursuant to Emperor Wu's request, started reading the Jiu Gao. Before
he could finish it, Emperor Wu stepped behind him and used a jade tablet to stike the back of his head. Yuwen Hu fell to
the ground, and Yuwen Zhi, who was hiding nearby, jumped out, and cut off Yuwen Hu's head, ending Yuwen Hu's hold
on power. Yuwen Hu's sons, brothers, and key associates were all executed. Late reign Having been instrumental in
Yuwen Hu's death, Yuwen Zhi sought to take over Yuwen Hu's post, but Emperor Wu, who wanted to directly control the
government, divided the authority between several officials, retaining most authorities in himself. He took the opportunity
posthumously to honor his brother Emperor Xiaomin emperor (Yuwen Hu had refused to do so previously) and create his
son Yuwen Yun the Duke of Lu crown prince. He also began to oppose overt luxury and destroyed several palaces that
he found overly luxurious as well as other items that he considered ornately decorated. Also in summer 572, Emperor Wu
learned that Northern Qi's emperor Gao Wei, apprehensive of Hulu Guang, had executed Hulu. Being glad, Emperor Wu
declared a general pardon. By 573, it had come to Emperor Wu's attention that Crown Prince Yun was not paying
attention to matters of state but instead associated with immoral people. In response, Emperor Wu selected staff
members for Crown Prince Yun who were known for their strict conduct. This made the crown prince unhappy. Around the
new year 574, Emperor Wu gathered Confucian scholars, Taoist monks, and Buddhist monks, and had them debate
about their philosophies. He ranked Confucianism the highest, then Taoism, and then Buddhism. Subsequently, in
summer 574, he banned both Taoism and Buddhism, ordering their monks to return to civilian life. He also banned the
worship of minor deities whose cults were not registered with the government. (This became known as the second of the
Three Disasters of Wu -- three major persecutions against Buddhism in Chinese history.) In spring 574, Empress
Dowager Chinu died. Emperor Wu mourned for more than a month, eating only a small amount of rice during this period.
In fall 574, while Emperor Wu was at Yunyang (云阳, in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi), Yuwen Zhi, who had long resented
not receiving more authority, rebelled at Chang'an. The official Yuchi Yun (尉迟运), one of the officials in charge of the
capital along with Crown Prince Yun, defeated Yuwen Zhi, forcing him to flee. Yuwen Zhi was soon captured and
executed.
Believing Northern Qi to have been substantially weakened not only by Hulu's death but also by the successful campaign
that Chen waged against it in 573 (capturing the provinces between the Yangtze River and the Huai River), by 575,
Emperor Wu was seriously considering a major campaign against Northern Qi. However, he kept the matter secret,
consulting only Yuwen Xian, Wang Yi (王谊), and Yu Yi (于翼). Only until he was ready in fall 575 did he announce it
generally. He aimed his attack at Luoyang, but he spent about 20 days sieging it and could not capture it, and became ill.
He withdrew, with virtually no gain. In spring 576, pursuant to Emperor Wu's orders, Crown Prince Yun launched a
campaign against Tuyuhun; a campaign that appeared to be moderately successful. Yet the campaign would bring
another deterioration of the relationship between father and son, as Wang Gui, who officially served as the crown prince's
lieutenant (along with Yuwen Xiaobo) but was in charge of the operation, reported a matter of immoral acts that the crown
prince and his associates Zheng Yi (郑译) and Wang Duan (王端) engaged in. Emperor Wu himself caned the crown
prince and his associates, expelling the associates from the crown prince's palace. (Crown Prince Yun, however, soon
recalled his associates.) Emperor Wu was also exceedingly strict with Crown Prince Yun, disallowing him from resting or
drinking. Whenever he had faults, Emperor Wu would batter him or whip him, and further warn him that he would be
deposed. Emperor Wu further ordered the crown prince's staff to report all of his actions to the emperor. Fearful of his
father, Crown Prince Yun learned to feign upright behavior, and the emperor thought that the crown prince had changed.
In winter 576, Emperor Wu again attacked Northern Qi; this time, changing strategy and attacking Pingyang instead. He
was able to capture Pingyang quickly, before Northern Qi troops could arrive. The Northern Qi emperor Gao Wei soon
advanced toward Pingyang with a large army, and Emperor Wu, not wanting to engage Gao Wei's army directly,
withdrew, leaving the general Liang Shiyan (梁士彦) in charge of defending Pingyang. Gao Wei put Pingyang under siege,
and at one point nearly captured it. Emperor Wu, after reorganizing his forces, relaunched his army and headed for
Pingyang, seeking to lift the siege. Around the new year 577, he arrived near Pingyang and Gao Wei chose to engage
him -- but, once the battle began, panicked when his favorite concubine Consort Feng Xiaolian falsely believed that the
army had been defeated -- and he abandoned the army, causing its collapse. Gao Wei fled to Jinyang, and Emperor Wu
gave chase. No longer having the will to fight Emperor Wu, Gao Wei further fled back to the Northern Qi capital Yecheng,
leaving his cousin Gao Yanzong in charge of Jinyang. Gao Yanzong launched a counterattack, catching Emperor Wu by
surprise and nearly killing him. However, after the victory, Gao Yanzong's army went into a celebration, and he was
unable to reorganize it, and Emperor Wu soon defeated and captured him, and headed for Yecheng.
Gao Wei, after passing the throne to his young son Gao Heng to deflect ill omens, considered resisting, but instead
decided to flee southeast across the Yellow River, planning to regroup and see if he could make a last stand -- but if not,
to flee to Chen. In spring 577, Emperor Wu entered Yecheng. With Gao Wei's official Gao Anagong feeding him
intelligence on Gao Wei's location, he was able to capture Gao Wei. After Gao Wei was returned to Yecheng, he treated
Gao Wei with respect and created Gao Wei the Duke of Wen. Gao Wei's uncle Gao Jie (高□) and cousin Gao Xiaoheng (
高孝珩), making one last stand at Xindu (信都, in modern Hengshui, Hebei), were also soon defeated and captured.
Another of Gao Wei's cousins, Gao Shaoyi, after making a failed bid to resist, fled to Tujue and came under the protection
of Ashin Qijin's successor Tuobo Khan. Other than Ying Province (营州, roughly modern Zhaoyang, Liaoning), held by the
official Gao Baoning (高宝宁), a distant relative to Northern Qi's imperial Gao clan, all of Northern Qi's territory came
under Northern Zhou rule.
In summer 577, Emperor Wu returned to Chang'an with Gao Wei and other members of the Gao clan in tow. In winter
577, apprehensive of the Gao clan members, he falsely accused Gao Wei of conspiring with the former Northern Qi
official Mu Tipo and killed Mu and ordered Gao Wei and the other members of the Gao clan to commit suicide.
In light of Northern Qi's defeat, Chen, then ruled by Chen Xu (who had deposed Emperor Fei and took the throne himself
as Emperor Xuan), launched an attack on Pengcheng -- an important city on the former Chen/Northern Qi border -commanded by Wu Mingche. Emperor Wu sent Wang Gui to relieve Pengcheng, and in spring 578, Wang defeated Wu,
capturing him. By summer 578, Emperor Wu was engaging in military campaigns on two fronts: against Tujue in the north
and against Chen in the south. However, he suddenly grew ill and, after stopping at Yunyang, ended the attack against
Tujue. He entrusted the important matters to Yuwen Xiaobo, and he soon died at the age of 35. Crown Prince Yun
succeeded him (as Emperor Xuan), and by 581 Northern Zhou had fallen, its throne having been seized by Emperor
Xuan's father-in-law Yang Jian. Relation with Xiangqi Yuwen Yong is a great fan of Xiangqi,who had written a book Xiang
Jing in 569 AD
4) Xuan Di 宣帝 Yuwen Yun 宇文□ 578-579
Dacheng (大成 da cheng) 579 Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou ((北)
周宣帝) (559━580), personal name Yuwen Yun (宇文□), courtesy name Qianbo (乾伯), was an emperor of the
Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Zhou. He was known in history as an erratic and wasteful ruler, whose actions greatly
weakened the Northern Zhou regime. As part of that erratic behavior, he passed the throne to his son Emperor Jing in
579, less than a year after taking the throne, and subsequently entitled not only his wife Empress Yang Lihua empress,
but four additional concubines as empresses. After his death in 580, the government was taken over by his father-in-law
Yang Jian, who soon deposed his son Emperor Jing, ending Northern Zhou and establishing Sui Dynasty. Background
Yuwen Yun was born in 559, as the oldest son of Yuwen Yong, then the Duke of Lu and younger brother of Emperor
Ming. He was born at Tong Province (同州, roughly modern Weinan, Shaanxi), as Yuwen Yong was at that time the
governor of Tong Province. His mother Li Ezi was Yuwen Yong's concubine. (Yuwen Yong had not yet officially married a
wife by that point.) In 560, Emperor Ming was poisoned to death by his cousin, the regent Yuwen Hu. Before he died, he
willed that Yuwen Yong succeed him, and Yuwen Yong took the throne (as Emperor Wu). In 561, he created Yuwen Yun
the Duke of Lu but did not create him crown prince. Only after Emperor Wu ambushed Yuwen Hu and killed him in 572 did
he create Yuwen Yun crown prince. (Yuwen Yun's mother Consort Li was not created empress, as Emperor Wu married
Empress Ashina, the daughter of Tujue's Mugan Khan Ashina Qijin in 568.) As crown prince Emperor Wu often sent
Yuwen Yun on tours of the provinces─and when he himself would go on tours of the provinces or go on military
campaigns, he would have Yuwen Yun guard the capital Chang'an. In 573, Yuwen Yun married Yang Lihua, the daughter
of the general Yang Jian the Duke of Sui, as his wife and crown princess. It was around this time that it came to Emperor
Wu's attention that most of Yuwen Yong's associates were men of low character. At the suggestion of the superintendent
of the crown prince's palace, Yuwen Xiaobo (宇文孝伯), Emperor Wu made Yuchi Yun (尉迟运), the well-regarded
nephew of the general Yuchi Jiong (a cousin of Emperor Wu's), Yuwen Xiaobo's deputy. He also chose a number of men
whose characters he had high regard for to serve in other posts as the crown prince's assistance─but Yuwen Yun
resented these personnel changes. In 574, when Emperor Wu's mother Empress Dowager Chinu died, Emperor Wu
observed a mourning period for her, and during that period, Yuwen Yun served as regent. In spring 576, Emperor Wu sent
Yuwen Yun on a campaign against Tuyuhun as its nominal commander, but put Yuwen Xiaobo and Wang Gui (王轨) in
actual command of the army. In fall 576, the army completed its campaign against Tuyuhun after reaching Tuyuhun's
capital Fuqi (伏俟, in modern Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai). Upon return to Chang'an,
Wang Gui reported to Emperor Wu that Yuwen Yun and his trusted associates Zheng Yi (郑译) and Wang Duan (王端)
had committed many immoral activities together. In anger, Emperor Wu battered Yuwen Yun and Zheng with a baton and
removed Zheng from his post. Soon, however, Yuwen Yun reinstated Zheng to his post. Historians also noted that
Emperor Wu was very strict with the crown prince, treating him no easier than he did the officials. When he heard that
Yuwen Yun liked drinking, he issued an edict forbidding any alcohol from entering the crown prince's palace, and
whenever the crown prince had faults, he would whip or batter the crown prince, warning him, "Do you not know how
many crown princes had been deposed in history? Is it that my other sons are unworthy of being crown prince?" He also
ordered the officials at the crown prince's palace to watch the crown prince closely and submit reports on his actions. In
reaction, Yuwen Yun suppressed his own behavior and pretended to have learned his lesson. Nevertheless, Wang Gui
repeatedly suggested that Emperor Wu find a better heir, but Emperor Wu declined, because he believed his second son,
Yuwen Zan (宇文赞) the Prince of Han to be even less competent than Yuwen Yun, and the other sons to be too young to
be considered. In 577, Emperor Wu destroyed rival Northern Qi, seizing its territory. In summer 578, however, he grew ill
suddenly while preparing a campaign against Tujue, and he, after entrusting the important matters to Yuwen Xiaobo, died.
Yuwen Yun took the throne as Emperor Xuan. Reign Emperor Xuan honored his father Emperor Wu's wife Empress
Ashina as empress dowager and created his wife Crown Princess Yang empress. Other than those proper acts, however,
he began to carry out a number of inappropriate ones─including immediately promoting of Zheng Yi and having sexual
relations with the ladies in waiting in his father's palace. It was also said that not only did he not mourn his father's death,
but as he approached his father's casket, he touched the scars from the wounds his father had previously inflicted, and
cursed, "Old man, you died too late!" He soon also honored his mother Consort Li as empress dowager (with the
secondary title of Di Taihou (帝太后) to distinguish Empress Dowager Ashina's title Huang Taihou (皇太后)). Upon hearing
Emperor Wu's death, Gao Shaoyi, a Northern Qi prince who had claimed Northern Qi's imperial title in exile in Tujue, tried
to launch an attack to reestablish Northern Qi, but was quickly repelled and forced to retreat to Tujue territory.
Emperor Xuan then turned to killing people that he feared or had grudges against. The first target was his uncle Yuwen
Xian the Prince of Qi, due to the respect that Yuwen Xian commanded on account of his military abilities, along with
Yuwen Xian's friends, the generals Wang Xing (王兴), Dugu Xiong (独孤熊), and Doulu Shao (豆卢绍). He then turned
against Wang Gui, Yuwen Xiaobo, and Yuwen Shenju (宇文神举) -- all close associates of Emperor Wu─as he suspected
all of them of having spoken ill of him before Emperor Wu. Yuchi Yun died in fear. Emperor Xuan was obsessed with
reestablishing changing the customary protocols that his father had established, and in spring 579, he changed the official
uniforms that Emperor Wu had standardized, to instead use the uniforms styled after Eastern Han Dynasty and Cao Wei.
He also abolished the penal code that his father had promulgated in 577 and declared several pardons, stating that he
believed that Emperor Wu's punishments were too severe─but soon imposed an even more severe penal code. Also
contrary to his father's prohibition of Buddhism and Taoism, he made public gestures to honor Taoism. Also in spring 579,
Emperor Xuan created his oldest son Yuwen Chan -- then six-years-old─the Prince of Lu, and then crown prince. He also
promoted Luoyang to the status of secondary capital, moving the subsidiary branches of the six central government
departments from Northern Qi's old capital Yecheng (邺城, in modern Handan, Hebei) to Luoyang. Meanwhile, around this
time, Tujue's Tuobo Khan (Empress Dowager Ashina's uncle) sought peace. Emperor Xuan, in response, created his
cousin (the daughter of his uncle Yuwen Zhao (宇文招) the Prince of Zhao) Princess Qianjin, offering to marry Princess
Qianjin to Tuobo Khan, but with the demand that Tuobo Khan surrender Gao Shaoyi. Tuobo Khan refused. Less than a
month after creating Yuwen Chan crown prince, Emperor Xuan formally passed the throne to Yuwen Chan (as Emperor
Jing). Emperor Xuan himself claimed the atypical title of "Emperor Tianyuan" (天元皇帝, Tianyuan Huangdi), rather than
the expected retired emperor title of Taishang Huang. He changed the name of his palace to Tian Tai (天台, "heavenly
tower"), and doubled the number of tassels on his crown, as well as the number of imperial vehicles, litters, clothing,
banners, and drums. He changed the name of the young emperor's palace to Zhengyang Palace (正阳宫), with the same
complement of staff as his own palace. Empress Yang's title was changed to "Empress Dowager Tianyuan" (天元皇太后,
Tianyuan Huang Taihou). As retired emperor Historians described that after Emperor Xuan passed the throne to Emperor
Jing, he became particularly wasteful, megalomanic, and unrestrained. He referred to himself as "Heaven," and required
officials who were to visit him to have vegetarian diets for three days and bathe─then customary for the days spent
before worshipping a god. He disallowed officials from using belts or decorations for their clothing, and he forbid the use
of such characters as "heaven" (天), "high" (高), "upper" (上), and "grand" (大), except by himself. He forbid women, other
than the women of the palace, from using cosmetics, and for reasons unknown, he ordered that all wheels be made from
single pieces of wood, disallowing assembling. It was further recorded that whenever Emperor Xuan met with officials, he
only discussed with them how to change customs or how to build palaces, disregarding the affairs of state. He spent his
days in games and tours, wearing out his attendants. The officials often were caned─initially, 120 times per caning, and
later increased to 240 times. The terror imposed on the officials and even the women of the palace was so great that no
one dared to say anything. In summer 579, Emperor Xuan created Emperor Jing's mother Consort Zhu Manyue "Empress
Tianyuan" (天元帝后, Tianyuan Di Hou). He also set up fiefs for his uncles Yuwen Zhao, Yuwen Chun (宇文纯) the Prince
of Chen, Yuwen Sheng (宇文盛) the Prince of Yue, Yuwen Da (宇文达) the Prince of Dai, and Yuwen You (宇文□) the
Prince of Teng, and sent them away from Chang'an, to their fiefs. In fall 579, in a highly unorthodox action, Emperor Xuan
created two more empresses -- Consort Yuan Leshang as "Heavenly Right Empress" (天右皇后, Tian You Huanghou)
and Consort Chen Yueyi as "Heavenly Left Empress" (天左皇后, Tian Zuo Huanghou), changing Empress Zhu's title to
"Heavenly Empress" (天皇后, Tian Huanghou). Also around this time, when Yuchi Chifan the daughter-in-law of his cousin
Yuwen Liang (宇文亮) the Duke of Qi was at the palace to greet him, he raped her. In winter 579, Emperor Xuan officially
ended the prohibitions against Taoism and Buddhism that Emperor Wu had declared, and he personally sat with the
statues of Buddhist and Taoist deities. He also launched a major attack on rival Chen Dynasty. By spring 580, the
Northern Zhou army had taken the territory between the Yangtze River and the Huai River from Chen. As the army was
withdrawing, Yuwen Liang, serving as a general on the campaign, tried to ambush his commander Wei Xiaokuan and
seize Wei's troops, and then declare a rebellion to support one of his uncles as emperor. Wei found out about Yuwen
Liang's plot and was able to repel his attack, and was able to kill him. Emperor Xuan then also killed Yuwen Liang's son
Yuwen Wen (宇文温) the Duke of Xiyang, and then took Yuwen Wen's wife Duchess Yuchi as a consort. Then, against
opposition that he already had too many empresses, he created her as another empress. By this point, Emperor Xuan
was becoming even more erratic in his behavior, and at one point, he became suddenly angry at Empress Yang and
wanted to punish her. She, however, remained calm but firm in defense of herself, which made him more angry, and he
ordered her to commit suicide. Empress Yang's mother, Duchess Dugu Qieluo, had to plead earnestly for Empress
Yang's life, before he finally spared Empress Yang. Meanwhile, however, Emperor Xuan was suspicious of the abilities of
Empress Yang's father Yang Jian, and he considered killing Yang Jian but ultimately did not do so. As Yang Jian and
Zheng Yi were friends, Yang Jian made a secret request to Zheng to give him a post away from the capital, and soon, by
Zheng's recommendation, Emperor Xuan made Yang Jian the commander of the forces against Chen (as he then
prepared another attack against Chen). Before the army could depart, however, Emperor Xuan suddenly grew ill in
summer 580. He summoned his associates Liu Fang (刘□) and Yan Zhiyi (颜之仪) to try to entrust the affairs to them, but
when they arrived, he was already unable to speak. Liu, after consulting with fellow attendants Zheng, Liu Qiu (柳裘), Wei
Mo (韦谟), and Huangfu Ji (皇甫绩), decided to summon Yang Jian to attend to Emperor Xuan and to serve as regent if
Emperor Xuan should die─against Yan's attempt to have Yuwen Zhao made regent. Yang initially declined, apparently
fearing that it was a trap, but eventually arrived at the palace. That night, Emperor Xuan died, and Yang seized the control
of the palace and the imperial troops. Within a year, Yang would seize the throne, ending Northern Zhou and establishing
Sui Dynasty.
5) Jing Di (静帝 jing di)
Yuwen Chan (宇文阐 y_ wen ch_n)
579-581 Daxiang (大象 da xiang) 579-581
Dading (大定 da ding) 581 Emperor Jing of Northern Zhou ((北)周静帝) (573━581), personally name ne Yuwen Yan (宇
文衍), later Yuwen Chan (宇文阐), was the last emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Zhou. He became
emperor at the age of six, after his father Emperor Xuan formally passed the throne to him, but Emperor Xuan retained
the imperial powers. After Emperor Xuan's death in 580, the official Yang Jian, the father of Emperor Xuan's wife Empress
Yang Lihua, seized power as regent. Yang soon defeated the general Weichi Jiong, who tried to resist him, and in 581
had the young Emperor Jing yield the throne to him, ending Northern Zhou and establishing Sui Dynasty. Yang soon had
the young emperor, as well as other members of Northern Zhou's imperial Yuwen clan, put to death. Background Yuwen
Chan was born in 573, initially with the name Yuwen Yan. (It is not known when the name was changed to Yuwen Chan.)
His father Yuwen Yun was then crown prince under Yuwen Chan's grandfather Emperor Wu, and Yuwen Chan was his
oldest son. Yuwen Chan's mother Zhu Manyue was Yuwen Yun's concubine, who, on account of her low birth, was not
made Yuwen Yun's wife. Rather, nine months after Yuwen Chan's birth, Yuwen Yun married Yang Lihua, the daughter of
the general Yang Jian the Duke of Sui, as his wife and crown princess. Emperor Wu died in summer 578, and Yuwen Yun
took the throne as Emperor Xuan. In spring 579, Emperor Xuan created Yuwen Chan, then six-years-old, as the Prince of
Lu -- echoing the title of Duke of Lu that both Emperors Wu and Xuan carried prior to their becoming emperor. 14 days
later, Emperor Xuan created Yuwen Chan crown prince. Less than a month later, Emperor Xuan formally passed the
throne to Yuwen Chan (as Emperor Jing), Emperor Xuan himself becoming retired emperor (with the atypical title of
"Emperor Tianyuan" (天元皇帝, Tianyuan Huangdi). Emperor Jing's palace became known as Zhengyang Palace (正阳宫
), and he received the same complement of staff as his father Emperor Xuan. As emperor Emperor Xuan, even though
he formally passed the throne to Emperor Jing, retained imperial powers, and there was no indication that the young
Emperor Jing exercised any actual authority. In summer 579, because Emperor Jing was now emperor, Emperor Xuan
created Emperor Jing's mother Consort Zhu the special title of "Empress Tianyuan" (天元帝后, Tianyuan Di Hou), slightly
subordinate to the title of Emperor Xuan's wife Empress Yang. In fall 579, Emperor Jing formally married Sima Lingji, the
daughter of the general Sima Xiaonan (司马消难) as his wife and empress, and she carried the semi-official title of
"Empress Zhengyang" (正阳皇后) to distinguish her from Emperor Xuan's empresses. In summer 580, the erratic Emperor
Xuan died. Empress Yang's father Yang Jian quickly took control of power and served as regent. The general Weichi
Jiong, believing that Yang's intentions were to seize the throne, rose in rebellion, and he was joined by Sima Xiaonan and
Wang Qian (王谦). The central government forces, following Yang's orders under the command of the general Wei
Xiaokuan, quickly defeated Weichi, forcing Weichi to commit suicide. Wang was also defeated and killed, while Sima
Xiaonan fled to rival Chen Dynasty. On account of Sima Xiaonan's resistance of Yang Jian, Emperor Jing's wife Empress
Sima was deposed. Prior to Weichi's rebellion, Yang Jian, apprehensive that Emperor Jing's granduncles Yuwen Zhao (宇
文招) the Prince of Zhao, Yuwen Chun (宇文纯) the Prince of Chen, Yuwen Sheng (宇文盛) the Prince of Yue, Yuwen Da
(宇文达) the Prince of Dai, and Yuwen You (宇文□) the Prince of Teng, whom Emperor Xuan had sent to their fiefs,
would resist him, summoned them to the capital Chang'an. Soon, believing that the princes would act against him, he first
executed Yuwen Xian (宇文贤) the Prince of Bi (Emperor Xuan's cousin). When Yuwen Zhao did subsequently carry out
an attempted assassination of Yang, Yang had Yuwen Zhao and Yuwen Sheng put to death. Following Weichi's defeat,
Yang continued to execute the princes in earnest. Around the new year 581, he had Emperor Jing create him the Prince
of Sui and bestow the nine bestowments on him. Two months later, he had Emperor Jing yield the throne to him, ending
Northern Zhou and establishing Sui Dynasty, with Yang taking the throne as its Emperor Wen.
Death Emperor Wen created the young emperor the Duke of Jie. However, he had all of close male clansmen of the duke
-- all grandsons of Emperor Jing's great-grandfather Yuwen Tai -- put to death, as well as Emperor Jing's brothers Yuwen
Kan (宇文□) the Duke of Lai and Yuwen Shu (宇文术) the Duke of Yan. About three months later, Emperor Wen had the
Duke of Jie secretly assassinated as well, but pretended to be shocked and declared a mourning period, and then buried
him with honors due an emperor. The dukedom was passed to a distant relative, Yuwen Luo (宇文洛).
Southern dynasty 420-589
Song Dynasty (420-479)
1) Wu Di 武帝 Liu Yu 刘裕 420-422
Yongchu (永初 y_ng ch_) 420-422 Emperor Wu of (Liu) Song ((刘)宋武帝) (363
━422), personal name Liu Yu (刘裕), courtesy name Dexing (德兴), nickname Jinu (寄奴), was the founding emperor of
the Chinese dynasty LS. He came from a humble background, but became prominent after leading a rebellion in 404 to
overthrow Huan Xuan, who had usurped the Jin throne in 403. After that point, using a mixture of political and military
skills, Liu Yu gradually concentrated power in his own hands while expanding Jin's territory. In 420, he forced Emperor
Gong of Jin to yield the throne to him, thus ending Jin and establishing Song. He ruled only briefly, for two years, before
dying and passing the throne to his son, Emperor Shao of LS. Early life Liu Yu was born in 363, to his father Liu Qiao (刘
翘) and mother Zhao Anzong (赵安宗), while they were living at Jingkou (京口, in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu). His great
grandfather Liu Hun (刘混) was originally from Pengcheng (彭城, in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), before moving to
Jingkou.[1] Liu Qiao was said to be a 20th generation descendant of Han Dynasty's Prince of Chu, Liu Jiao (刘交), a
younger brother of Han's founder Emperor Gaozu of Han. Liu Qiao was a police officer, while Zhao Anzong was the
daughter of a commandery governor. They had married in 360, and lived in fair poverty. Lady Zhao died immediately after
giving birth to Liu Yu, and Liu Qiao, unable to take care of the child financially or otherwise, considered abandoning the
child. Upon hearing this, Liu Yu's aunt, who had given birth to his cousin Liu Huaijing (刘怀敬) less than a year ago, went
to Liu Qiao's house and took Liu Yu, weaning Liu Huaijing and giving her milk to Liu Yu instead. At some point, Liu Qiao
remarried, and his new wife Xiao Wenshou bore him two sons, Liu Daolian (刘道怜) and Liu Daogui (刘道规). Liu Yu was
said to be respectful to his stepmother and treated her as his own mother. It is not known when Liu Qiao died, but in any
case, Liu Yu grew up with great ambitions and was said to be strong and brave, but he was poor and uneducated,
knowing only a few characters. He maintained himself by selling straw sandals, and he liked gambling. The people in his
village all looked down on him. At some point, he became an officer under the general Sun Wuzhong (孙无终). When the
magician Sun En (孙恩) rebelled against Jin rule in 399, Liu Yu joined the army of the general Liu Laozhi (刘牢之), and he
became friends with Liu Laozhi's son Liu Jingxuan (刘敬宣). On one occasion, he led some tens of soldiers on a scouting
mission, when they suddenly encountered several thousand of Sun's soldiers. All of Liu Yu's soldiers were killed, and Liu
Yu fell onto a riverbank, but he stood his position there and killed all of Sun's soldiers who dared to approach. Liu
Jingxuan, meanwhile, realizing that Liu Yu had been away from camp for too long, went to try to find him, and saw him
alone trying to hold off Sun's soldiers. He greatly praised Liu Yu. Both because of his bravery and his friendship with Liu
Jingxuan, Liu Yu rose through the ranks of Liu Laozhi's army. Liu Laozhi, at the time, was a powerful warlord who
controlled modern Jiangsu and Zhejiang except for the region around the capital Jiankang. In 401, with Sun En, who had
fled to Zhoushan Island in late 399, trying to launch a comeback and attacking Haiyan (海盐, in modern Jiaxing, Zhejiang),
Liu Yu fought him, winning several victories over him despite being outnumbered. However, eventually Sun En was able
to regroup and head toward Jiankang, which he could not capture and was forced to withdraw from. He regrouped on a
sea island. By imperial edict (probably at Liu Laozhi's wishes), Liu Yu was made the governor of Xiapei Commandery (下
邳, roughly modern eastern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), and he was ordered to attack Sun En on his island, winning victories over
him. Sun En began to grow weaker and headed south on the coast, with Liu Yu following. In winter 401, Liu Yu defeated
Sun En again at Haiyan, forcing Sun to flee far from the coast. In 402, as the regent Sima Yuanxian and the warlord Huan
Xuan prepared to battle, Sima Yuanxian believed that he had Liu Laozhi's support, and Liu Laozhi postured in support of
Sima Yuanxian by bringing his forces to Jiankang. However, when Liu Yu requested to engage Huan Xuan, Liu Laozhi
refused to give permission. Huan Xuan then sent messengers to try to persuade Liu Laozhi to switch sides, despite the
oppositions of his nephew He Wuji (何无忌) and Liu Jingxuan, as well as Liu Yu. Without support from Liu Laozhi, Sima
Yuanxian's forces collapsed in face of Huan Xuan's attack, and Sima Yuanxian and his father Sima Daozi were killed by
Huan Xuan. Huan Xuan, who did not trust Liu Laozhi, immediately stripped Liu Laozhi of his military command, and Liu
Laozhi, upon receiving the order, considered resisting it. He requested Liu Yu's opinion, and Liu Yu found the idea foolish,
left Liu Laozhi's army, and returned to Jingkou as a civilian; He Wuji joined him as well. With the rest of the army not
willing to go with his plan either, Liu Laozhi committed suicide, and Liu Jingxuan fled to Later Qin and then to Southern
Yan.
By summer 402, however, LIu Yu was again in the army, and by 403 he carried a general rank, when Sun En's nephew
Lu Xun (卢循), who succeeded him after his death in battle in 401, attacked Dongyang (东阳, in modern Jinhua, Zhejiang),
and Liu Yu repelled Lu's attack. He then counterattacked and won several battles over Lu, forcing Lu to head south on the
sea. At this time, He Wuji tried to persuade him to declare a rebellion at Shanyin (山阴, in modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang)
against Huan Xuan, but at the advice of Kong Jing (孔靖), he declined at this time, waiting for Huan Xuan to seize the
throne so that he would have a reason to. When Huan Xuan's cousin Huan Qian (桓谦) asked Liu Yu's opinion on whether
Huan Xuan should receive the throne, Liu Yu pretended to be a Huan clan loyalist and encouraged Huan Xuan to receive
the throne. In winter 403, Huan Xuan forced Emperor An of Jin to yield the throne to him, establishing the new state of
Chu. Liu Yu initially continued to feign loyalty, and Huan Xuan, believing in him and his talents, considered giving him
greater authorities, despite counsel from his wife Empress Liu that Liu Yu could not be trusted and should be executed.
Campaign against Huan Xuan Meanwhile, Liu Yu and He Wuji, now at Jingkou, continued their planning to rebel against
Huan Xuan now that Huan Xuan had seized the throne. They were soon joined in their plans by Liu Yi (刘毅) and Meng
Chang (孟昶), and soon a number of other disaffected individuals joined their plan, with Liu Yu as the leader. Their plan
was to simultaneously start several uprisings:
* Liu Yi, Liu Yu's brother Liu Daogui, and Meng would surprise and kill Huan Xuan's cousin Huan Hong (桓弘), then the
governor of Qing Province (青州, then with its headquarters at Guangling (广陵, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu)), and
seize Guangling.
* Zhuge Zhangmin (诸葛长民) would surprise and kill Diao Kui (刁逵), the governor of Yu Province (豫州, then modern
central Anhui) and seize Liyang (历阳, in modern Chaohu, Anhui).
* Wang Yuande (王元德), Xin Huxing (辛扈兴), and Dong Houzhi (董厚之) would rise in Jiankang and attack Huan Xuan
directly.
* Liu Yu, He Wuji, and the other conspirators would surprise and kill Huan Xuan's cousin Huan Xiu (桓修) the Prince of
Ancheng, then the governor of Xu (徐州) and Yan (兖州) Provinces, then with their headquarters at Jingkou, and seize
Jingkou.
The conspirators put their plans into action. Liu Yu and He Wuji were able to surprise Huan Xiu and seize Jingkou, and
Liu Yu then persuaded the capable administrator and writer Liu Muzhi (刘穆之) to join him as his propaganda specialist
and assistant. Liu Yi, Liu Daogui, and Meng Chang persuaded Huan Hong to go on a hunt, and as Huan Hong opened the
city gates to let his hunters out, they surprised him and killed him. However, Zhuge Zhangmin's plans were leaked, as
were those of the conspirators at Jiankang. All were arrested, and the conspirators at Jiankang were executed. (Zhuge
Zhangmin was subsequently rescued before he could be executed.) Liu Yu quickly headed for Jiankang, and Huan Xuan,
hesitant to engage him directly, waited at Jiankang, trying to see if he could wear Liu Yu down, although, at Huan Qian's
insistence, he sent a detachment to try to stop Liu Yu. However, Liu Yu quickly defeated Huan Xuan's generals Wu Fuzhi
(吴甫之) and Huangfu Fu (皇甫敷) and arrived at Jiankang. He then defeated Huan Qian, and Huan Xuan, in panic, fled
west, intending to go back to his power base at Jiangling (江陵, in modern Jingzhou, Hubei). Liu Yu entered Jiankang and
declared the reestablishment of Jin, even though at this time Emperor An and his brother Sima Dewen were both still in
Huan Xuan's control. Liu Yu entrusted most administrative matters to Liu Muzhi while dealing severe punishment to
corrupt officials and those who had supported Huan Xuan, and quickly the government was cleaned up. (The only Huan
Xuan supporter who was spared was Huan Xuan's prime minister Wang Mi (王谧), who, when Liu Yu was poor, had
helped him and paid off his gambling debts, and therefore Liu Yu not only spared but entrusted him with high posts.) Liu
Yu, however, prepared for the contingency that Emperor An would not be recovered by making Sima Zun (司马遵) the
Prince of Wuling (a grandson of Emperor An's great-grandfather Emperor Yuan) acting emperor.
Liu Yu sent Liu Yi, He Wuji, and Liu Daogui west to attack Huan Xuan. They quickly defeated Huan Xuan's general He
Danzhi (何澹之) and took Jiang Province (江州, modern Jiangxi and Fujian), and then continued to head toward Jiangling.
They encountered Huan Xuan's much larger force at Chenghong Island (峥嵘洲), in modern Ezhou, Hubei), and despite
the numerical disadvantage, they crushed Huan Xuan's forces. Huan Xuan fled back to Jiangling with Emperor An, while
Huan Xuan's brother-in-law Yin Zhongwen (殷仲文) turned against him and took Emperor An's wife Empress Wang
Shen'ai and Emperor Mu's wife Empress Dowager He to Jiankang.
Once Huan Xuan arrived back in Jiangling, he tried to prepare to flee to his distant relative, Huan Xi (桓希) the governor of
Liang Province (梁州, modern southern Shaanxi and northwestern Hubei). His forces collapsed, however, refusing to
follow his orders. At the inducment of his subordinate Mao Xiuzhi (毛修之), whose uncle Mao Qu (毛璩) was the governor
of Yi Province (益州, modern Sichuan and Chongqing), he decided to try to flee to Yi Province instead, but on the way, he
was intercepted by Mao Qu's subordinates Mao Youzhi (毛佑之) and Fei Tian (费恬), who attacked him, and the officer
Feng Qian (冯迁) beheaded him. The officials Wang Tengzhi (王腾之) and Wang Kangchan (王康产) then declared
Emperor An's restoration at Jiangling.
However, with Liu Yi's forces still on the way to Jiangling, Huan Qian and Huan Xuan's nephew Huan Zhen (桓振) made a
surprise attack on Jiangling, capturing it and seizing Emperor An and Sima Dewen. Huan Zhen and Huan Qian did not try
to redeclare Chu; rather, they tried to hold Emperor An as collateral while trying to maintain their status as Jin officials.
They initially defeated He Wuji's forces, but by 405, with the other members of the Huan clan (including Huan Xi and Huan
Wei (桓蔚) the governor Yong Province (雍州, then southwestern Henan and northwestern Hubei)) defeated, Jiangling fell
to Liu Yi, and Huan Qian and Huan Zhen fled. He Wuji escorted Emperor An back to Jiankang, and Liu Yu effectively
became regent, even though the government was at this point still a coalition of near equals. As regent Early years
Liu Yu, although he had ambitions to be emperor, learned from Huan Xuan's failures that he could not act too quickly, but
must establish his authority through further victories first, particularly since because he led a coalition of generals and
officials with different agendas in his victory over Huan. He therefore proceeded cautiously, initially sharing power with He
Wuji and Liu Yi, among others. For the next few years, he also made several offers to resign his posts, judging correctly
that the imperial officials would not dare to accept them, to further establish the image that he was indispensable.
In spring 405, Mao Qu's soldiers unhappy that Mao sent them on long-distance campaigns initially against Huan Xuan
and then against Huan Zhen, rebelled, supporting the military officer Qiao Zong as their leader. They defeated and killed
Mao and captured Chengdu (成都, in modern Chengdu, Sichuan), and Qiao Zong established his independent Western
Shu state there. Also in 405, Lu Xun, who had in 404 marched south and captured Panyu (番禺, in modern Guangzhou,
Guangdong) during the wars relating to Huan Xuan, offered peace to the imperial government by paying a tribute. Liu Yu,
believing that he had no abilities to defeat Lu by this point, made Lu the governor of Guang Province (广州, modern
Guangdong and Guangxi) and Lu's brother-in-law and lieutenant Xu Daofu (徐道覆) the governor of Shixing Principality (
始兴, roughly modern Shaoguan, Guangdong). In 407, Liu Yu commissioned his friend Liu Jingxuan to launch a major
attack on Qiao Zong's Western Shu, but in 408, LIu Jingxuan's forces became stalled against the Western Shu general
Qiao Daofu (谯道福) and was forced to retreat when food supplies ran out.
Campaigns against Southern Yan and Lu Xun In 409, the Southern Yan emperor Murong Chao began a campaign of
attacking and pillaging the Jin northern borders, intending to capture men and women to be trained as musicians. In
response, Liu Yu decided to launch a campaign to destroy Southern Yan, over the objections of most imperial officials, but
was supported by Meng Chang. While Liu Yu was quickly able to defeat Southern Yan main forces in late 409 and put the
Southern Yan capital Guanggu (广固, in modern Qingzhou, Shandong) under siege, Guanggu did not fall quickly. While
Liu Yu was sieging Guanggu, Xu Daofu persuaded a reluctant Lu Xun (who was afraid of a confrontation with Liu Yu) to
attack north, reasoning that eventually when Liu Yu was ready, Liu Yu would attack first, and that with Liu Yu sieging
Guanggu, they could capture the rest of the empire together. In spring 410, Liu Yu, captured Guanggu, ending Southern
Yan, and considered further readying a campaign against Later Qin, was informed that Lu and Xu were attacking north,
and therefore quickly returned south toward Jiankang. Meanwhile, He Wuji led a fleet against Xu at Yuzhang (豫章, in
modern Nanchang, Jiangxi), but was defeated and killed by Xu. A second force commanded by Liu Yi was also defeated
by Xu and Lu. However, Liu Yi's captured soldiers informed Lu that Liu Yu was on his way back to Jiankang, and Lu,
intimidated, considered ending his campaign, but continued to Jiankang at Xu's insistence. A number of imperial officials,
including Meng, suggested that Emperor An be taken across the Yangtze River to evade Lu's forces, but Liu Yu refused,
choosing to defend Jiankang. Once at Jiankang, Lu refused several strategies that Xu offered that were risky but offered
chances of success, instead trying to intimidate Liu Yu's forces into collapsing, which he could not do. Soon he ran out of
food supplies and withdrew to Xunyang (寻阳, in modern Jiujiang, Jiangxi). Liu Yu gave chase, but also ordered his
generals Sun Chu (孙处) and Shen Tianzi (沈田子) to take a fleet by sea to attack Panyu, fully confident that he can
defeat Lu and make it impossible for Lu to then retreat to his home base. Meanwhile, Xu attacked Jing Province (荆州,
modern Hubei and Hunan), but was defeated by Liu Daogui, and rejoined Lu, preparing for a confrontation with Liu Yu.
Around the new year 411, they engaged Liu Yu at Dalei (大雷, in modern Anqing, Anhui), but Liu Yu destroyed their fleet
with fire. Lu and Xu fled toward Panyu, which had however been captured by Sun at this point. Lu put Panyu under siege,
but Shen, who was then trying to capture other commanderies, returned to Panyu and defeated Lu along with Sun. Lu fled
toward Jiao Province (交州, modern northern Vietnam). The governor of Jiao Province, Du Huidu (杜慧度), defeated Lu,
and Lu killed his wife and concubines, and then committed suicide by jumping into a river. Campaigns against Western
Shu and Later Qin With the state having been stabilized after Lu Xun's destruction, Liu Yu again turned his attention
outward, hoping to use military victories to propel himself into sufficiently high public standing that he can take the throne
for himself. At the same time, however, he began to remove members of his coalition who stood or might stand in his way.
In 412, believing that Liu Yi, then governor of Jing Province, was about to act against him along with Liu Yi's cousin Liu
Fan (刘藩) the governor of Yan Province , he arrested Liu Fan and his friend Xie Hun (谢混), and then made a surprise
attack against Liu Yi, defeating Liu Yi's forces easily. Liu Yi was killed in flight. In 413, Liu Yu also surprised and killed
Zhuge Zhangmin, whom he suspected of considering to act against him when he was away from Jiankang attacking Liu
Yi. Meanwhile, in late 412, Liu Yu commissioned the general Zhu Lingshi (朱龄石) to attack Qiao Zong's Western Shu,
secretly instructing him to take the long route to Qiao Zong's capital Chengdu by Min River (岷江), rather than the short
route by Fu River (涪江). Zhu's forces were able to surprise Qiao Zong's main general Qiao Daofu and Qiao Zong himself,
capturing Chengdu in 413 and annexing Western Shu back into Jin. In 414, Liu Yu began to suspect Liu Yi's replacement
as the governor of Jing Province, Sima Xiuzhi (司马休之), who was a member of the imperial clan and whose son Sima
Wensi (司马文思) had been created the Prince of Qiao and had gathered many adventurers around him. In spring 414, Liu
Yu had Sima Wensi's confederates arrested and executed, while delivering Sima Wensi to Sima Xiuzhi, intending for
Sima Xiuzhi to show submission by executing Sima Wensi himself. Instead, Sima Xiuzhi only requested that Sima Wensi's
princely title be stripped. In spring 415, Liu Yu arrested another son of Sima Xiuzhi, Sima Wenbao (司马文宝), and Sima
Xiuzhi's nephew Sima Wenzu (司马文祖), ordering the two to commit suicide, and then launched an attack on Sima
Xiuzhi, who was joined by Lu Zongzhi (鲁宗之) the governor of Yong Province. Initially, Sima Xiuzhi and Lu Zongzhi
enjoyed some successes, defeating Liu Yu's son-in-law Xu Kuizhi (徐逵之), but after Liu Yu himself arrived, he defeated
Sima Xiuzhi's forces, capturing Jiangling and forcing Sima Xiuzhi and Lu Zongzhi to flee to Later Qin. Liu Yu now no
longer had significant opposition in Jin. In 416, Liu Yu launched a major attack against Later Qin, in light of the recent
death of the Later Qin emperor Yao Xing, entrusting the capital to his assistant Liu Muzhi, with his teenage heir apparent
Liu Yifu being nominally in charge. In winter 416, the important city Luoyang fell to Liu Yu's general Tan Daoji (檀道济). In
light of Luoyang's fall, Liu Yu had Emperor An create him Duke of Song and bestow him the nine bestowments, showing
his intentions to take the throne eventually, although he declined both honors at that point. In spring 417, Tan Daoji and
another general, Shen Linzi (沈林子), engaged in a major campaign with Later Qin's most prominent general, Yao Shao (
姚绍) the Duke of Lu, the uncle of the emperor Yao Hong. After a month of battles, Yao Shao was defeated, and he died
in anger. With Yao Shao dead, the other Later Qin generals could not resist Jin forces. Liu Yu's fleet, commanded by
Wang Zhen'e (王镇恶, Wang Meng's grandson), advanced quickly, while Yao Hong tried to first destroy Liu Yu's flank
forces, commanded by Shen Linzi's brother Shen Tianzi. Despite Yao Hong's large advantage in numbers, Shen Tianzi
crushed him, forcing him to flee back to his capital Chang'an. Wang Zhen'e's fleet then arrived and defeated Later Qin's
final resistance, entering Chang'an. Yao Hong surrendered, and Liu Yu had him delivered to Jiankang and executed,
ending Later Qin.
Steps toward usurpation With Later Qin destroyed, there was an expectation that Liu Yu would next advance northwest
and either destroy or force the subjugation of the several states in the northwest still -- Xia, Western Qin, Northern Liang,
and Western Liang. Indeed, at this point, Western Qin's prince Qifu Chipan, Northern Liang's prince Juqu Mengxun, and
Western Liang's prince Li Gao were all sufficiently intimidated that they nominally submitted to Jin's authority. However,
Liu Muzhi then died at this time, and Liu Yu, intending on taking the throne, decided to return to Jiankang himself, leaving
his 11-year-old son Liu Yizhen (刘义真) and the generals Wang Zhen'e, Shen Tianzi, Mao Dezu (毛德祖), and the official
Wang Xiu (王修) in charge of Chang'an.
With Liu Yu having left Chang'an, Xia's emperor Helian Bobo was intent on taking Chang'an himself. He had his sons
Helian Gui (赫连_) and Helian Chang, along with his general Wang Maide (王买德), make a three-pronged advance
toward Chang'an while cutting off the supply route between Luoyang and Chang'an. Meanwhile, with Wang Zhen'e and
Shen Tianzi being previously envious of each other, Shen Tianzi suspected Wang Zhen'e of being ready to rebel, and so
killed him. Wang Xiu then executed Shen Tianzi, but then Liu Yizhen believed the accusations that Wang Zhen'e was in
fact about to rebel and that Wang Xiu was ready to as well, and so executed Wang Xiu. Once Wang Xiu was executed,
Liu Yizhen himself was without supervision, and he, in fear of Xia forces, withdrew all of his forces inside Chang'an, and
Xia forces then sieged the city. Liu Yu, hearing this, sent Zhu Lingshi to replace Liu Yizhen and ordered Liu Yizhen to
withdraw. Liu Yizhen's forces, however, having pillaged Chang'an, could not withdraw quickly, and they were crushed by
Xia forces at Qingni (青泥, in modern Xi'an, Shaanxi), with nearly the entire army killed or captured. Liu Yizhen barely
escaped with his life, and the Chang'an region became Xia possession, although Jin retained the Luoyang region. Liu Yu,
initially not knowing whether Liu Yizhen had survived, prepare a campaign to attack Xia, but once he heard of Liu Yizhen's
survival, he stopped those plans. He continued to bestow great power (even if at times nominal) in his brother Liu Daolian
and in his sons, to try to further affirm his authority. Meanwhile, Liu Yu, having accepted the Duke of Song title and the
nine bestowments in summer 418, had Emperor An create him the Prince of Song, but then publicly declined it.
Meanwhile, he became convinced of the truth of a prophecy that stated, "There will be two more emperors after
Changming." (Changming, which meant "dawn," was the courtesy name of Emperor An's father Emperor Xiaowu.) He
therefore became resolved to kill Emperor An, and he tried several times to have Emperor An's servants poison him, but
because Emperor An's brother Sima Dewen continuously attended to him, the servants had no chance to poison him.
However, around the new year 419, Sima Dewen was himself ill and had to be at his house. Liu Yu's assassin Wang
Shaozhi (王韶之) then took the opportunity to kill Emperor An─according to Zizhi Tongjian, by twisting clothes into a rope
and then using it to strangle Emperor An. Liu Yu then made Sima Dewen emperor (as Emperor Gong). Emperor Gong's
reign was a brief and powerless one. In fall 419, Liu Yu accepted the title Prince of Song. In spring 420, Liu Yu, then at
Shouyang (寿阳, in modern Lu'an, Anhui) sent his assistant Fu Liang to Jiankang to pressure Emperor Gong to yield the
throne. Emperor Gong responded by summoning Liu Yu back to the capital in summer 419, and Fu then offered him a
draft of an abdication edict, requesting that he write it personally. Sima Dewen did so, and then left the palace and went to
his old house while he was Prince of Langye. Three days later, Liu Yu took the throne and established LS (as Emperor
Wu), ending Jin. Reign Emperor Wu created the former Jin emperor the Prince of Lingling. He honored his stepmother
Princess Dowager Xiao as empress dowager. He created his brother Liu Daolian, his sons, and his nephews princes. In
fall 420, he posthumously honored his wife Zang Aiqin (臧爱亲), who had died in 408, empress, and created his oldest
son Liu Yifu crown prince. Also, having seen how much damage bad reputation can do to people first hand, he ordered
that those who had been labeled undesirables by public opinion be allowed new chances to show their worth. Soon,
Emperor Wu, still believing Sima Dewen to be a threat, sent Sima Dewen's former attendant Zhang Wei (张伟) a bottle of
poisoned wine, ordering him to poison Sima Dewen. Zhang, not wanting to carry out the order, drank the wine himself and
died. Meanwhile, however, in order to prevent any likelihood that Sima Dewen would have a male heir, Liu Yu ordered
brothers of Sima Dewen's wife Princess Chu, Chu Xiuzhi (褚秀之) and Chu Danzhi (褚淡之,) to poison any male children
that Princess Chu or Sima Dewen's concubines would bear. Sima Dewen himself feared death greatly, and he and
Princess Chu remained in the same house, cooking their own meals, with Princess Chu paying for the material herself.
Assassins that Emperor Wu sent initially could find no chance to kill the former emperor. In fall 421, Emperor Wu sent Chu
Danzhi and his brother Chu Shudu (褚叔度) to visit their sister. As Princess Chu came out to meet her brothers in a
different house, soldiers that Liu Yu sent intruded into Sima Dewen's house and ordered Sima Dewen to take poison. He
refused, stating that Buddhist doctrines prohibited suicide and that those who committed suicide could not receive human
bodies in the next reincarnation. The assassins therefore used a blanket to cover his head and asphyxiated him. In 422,
having been warned by his official Xie Hui that Crown Prince Yifu was often spending his time with people lacking in
wisdom, Emperor Wu considered making Liu Yizhen the Prince of Luling crown prince instead. Xie, however, after
meeting with Liu Yizhen, had an even worse opinion of Liu Yizhen, and so Emperor Wu stopped considering so. In
summer 422, Emperor Wu became extremely ill, and he entrusted Crown Prince Yifu to Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, Xie Hui,
and Tan Daoji. He then died, and Liu Yifu took the throne as Emperor Shao. Legacy
Liu Yu is mostly remembered as one of greatest generals of the Northern and Southern dynasties. Under him, the
Southern Chinese empire came the closest to reconquering the North. Although the territory which he won in the
Northwest was quickly lost, his campaigns allowed the Southern dynasties the advantage of defending along the Yellow
River, and preserved an independent Southern Chinese state long enough for the Xianbei states in the North to be
assimilated, sparing China the fate of Rome, whose population was killed or enslaved by the Germans who raged across
the Rhine untamed. Notes 1. ^ Song Shu, chp. 1 (The Chronicle of Emperor Wu, Part 1).
2) Shao Di (少帝 shao di)
Liu Yifu (刘义符 liu yi fu)
423-424 Jingping (景平 j_ng ping) 423-424 Emperor
Shao of (Liu) Song ((刘)宋少帝) (406━424), also known by his post-removal title Prince of Yingyang (营阳王), personal
name Liu Yifu (刘义符), nickname Chebing (车兵), was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty LS. He was the oldest son of
the founding emperor, Emperor Wu, and became emperor after his father's death in 432. The officials that his father left in
charge of the government became convinced that he was unfit to govern, and so deposed and killed him in 424, making
his more-capable younger brother Liu Yilong emperor (as Emperor Wen). During Jin Dynasty Liu Yifu was born in 406,
when his father Liu Yu was already a paramount general of Jin and effectively regent. His mother was Liu Yu's concubine
Consort Zhang. He was Liu Yu's oldest son. As Liu Yu consolidated his power, he began to bestow on Liu Yifu
increasingly more nominal authority, although Liu Yu had his subordinates actually carry out the duties that Liu Yifu would
otherwise be expected to carry out. In 415, he was officially made heir apparent of Liu Yu's dukedom of Yuzhang and
made the governor of Yan Province (兖州, then modern central Jiangsu). In 416, he was made the governor of Yu
Province (豫州, then modern central Anhui). Later that year, he was again made the governor of Yan Province, but also
the governor of Xu Province (徐州, modern northern Jiangsu). Then, in the fall, as Liu Yu launched a major campaign to
attack Later Qin, Liu Yifu was made the defender of the capital Jiankang, even though it was Liu Muzhi (刘穆之) who had
actual authority. In 417, after Liu Yu had destroyed Later Qin and annexed its territory, Liu Muzhi died. Liu Yu then
withdrew, leaving the former Later Qin capital Chang'an in the hands of Liu Yifu's younger brother Liu Yizhen (刘义真) the
Duke of Guiyang, but again with generals and officials actually in charge. In 418, after he had reached Pengcheng (彭城,
in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), he considered making Liu Yifu the governor of Jing Province (荆州, roughly modern Hubei),
but at the counsel of Zhang Shao (张邵) that Liu Yifu, as the heir, should not be sent away from Jiankang, that post was
given to Liu Yilong instead. When Liu Yu accepted the greater title of Duke of Song that year, Liu Yifu became the heir
apparent to his dukedom, and in 419, after he was created the Prince of Song, Liu Yifu was given the special honor to be
known as Crown Prince of Song. It was also around this time that he married Emperor Gong of Jin's daughter Sima
Maoying the Princess Haiyan. During Emperor Wu's reign After Liu Yu seized the throne from Emperor Gong and
established LS (as its Emperor Wu) in 420, he created Liu Yifu crown prince. By 422, Emperor Wu was ill. His official Xie
Hui saw that Crown Prince Yifu was often spending time with people lacking in abilities and virtue, and warned Emperor
Wu about it. Emperor Wu considered making Liu Yizhen the Prince of Luling crown prince instead. Xie, however, after
meeting with Liu Yizhen, had an even worse opinion of Liu Yizhen, and so Emperor Wu stopped considering so. As
Emperor Wu grew seriously ill later that year, he entrusted Crown Prince Yifu to Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, Xie Hui, and Tan
Daoji. At the same time, however, he secretly warned Crown Prince Yifu that Xie was such a quick thinker that he could
not be trusted greatly. He then died, and Crown Prince Yifu took the throne as Emperor Shao. Reign Emperor Shao
honored his stepgrandmother Empress Dowager Xiao Wenshou as grand empress dowager, and he created his wife
Crown Princess Sima Maoying as empress. The matters of the central government were largely in the hands of Xu
Xianzhi, Fu Liang, and Xie Hui. One immediate matter that needed to be dealt with was that Emperor Mingyuan of
Northern Wei, hearing of Emperor Wu's death, launched a major attack on LS and crossed the Yellow River. In winter
422, Northern Wei forces captured Huatai (滑台, in modern Anyang, Henan). In spring 423, they captured Luoyang. Tan
Daoji was dispatched to try to save the northern cities, and he was able to save Shandong Peninsula from falling, but by
summer 423, the last major LS outpost on the Yellow River, Hulao (虎牢, in modern Zhengzhou, Henan), had fallen, along
with Xuchang. Only then did Northern Wei stop its advances. In fall 423, Emperor Shao honored his mother Consort
Zhang as empress dowager. By 424, Xu, Fu, and Xie had grown increasingly dissatisfied with Emperor Shao as an
emperor, as Emperor Shao had failed to follow the proper behavior during the three-year mourning period for his father,
but spent most of his time on games and pleasure rather than on studies and important matters of state, despite
encouragement from his official Fan Tai (范泰). They therefore considered deposing him, but they were also dissatisfied
with the next ranked son of Emperor Wu, Liu Yizhen, who was talented but was even more frivolous than Emperor Shao
in his behavior, often spending time with other talented but frivolous men, including Xie Lingyun and Yan Yanzhi (颜延之)
and often requesting the imperial government to supply him with more and more money. They therefore stoke the rivalry
that Emperor Shao already had with Liu Yizhen and then accused Liu Yizhen of crimes, and Emperor Shao reduced Liu
Yizhen to commoner status and exiled him to Xin'an Commandery (新安, roughly modern Hangzhou, Zhejiang). With Liu
Yizhen out of the way, Xu, Fu, and Xie prepared to remove Emperor Shao as well. Because they were apprehensive
about the powerful armies that Tan and Wang Hong had, they summoned Tan and Wang to the capital and then informed
them of the plot. They then sent soldiers into the palace to arrest Emperor Shao, after first persuading the imperial guards
not to resist. Before Emperor Shao could get up from bed in the morning, the soldiers were already in his bedchamber,
and he made a futile attempt to resist, but was captured. He was sent back to his old palace. The officials then, in the
name of Empress Dowager Zhang, declared Emperor Shao's faults and demoted him to Prince of Yingyang, offering the
throne to his younger brother Liu Yilong the Prince of Yidu instead. After removal Liu Yifu was exiled to Wu Commandery
(吴郡, roughly modern Suzhou, Jiangsu) and kept under secure guard. One month later, Xu Xianzhi sent the assassin
Xing Antai (邢安泰) to assassinate the former emperor. Liu Yifu was still a strong man, and he fought his way out of the
capital of Wu Commandery, but he was eventually chased down and knocked to the ground with a doorknob, and then
killed.
3) Wen Di 文帝 Liu Yilong 刘义隆 424-453
Yuanjia (元嘉 yuan ji_) 424-453 Emperor Wen of LS ((刘)宋文帝,
(Liu) Song Wen-di) (407━453), personal name Liu Yilong (刘义隆), nickname Che'er (车儿), was an emperor of the
Chinese dynasty LS. He was the third son of the dynastic founder Emperor Wu (Liu Yu). After his father's death in 422,
Liu Yilong's eldest brother Liu Yifu took the throne as Emperor Shao. In 424, a group of officials, believing Emperor Shao
to be unfit to be emperor, deposed Emperor Shao and placed Liu Yilong on the throne as Emperor Wen.
In his 29 years of rule, Emperor Wen largely continued the grand plan of his father and some of the land policies of the Jin
Dynasty. The period, called the "Yuanjia administration" (元嘉之治), is seen as a period of prosperity and strength,
because of the emperor's diligence and ability to find capable and honest officials to serve in his administration. However,
Emperor Wen was faulted for making repeated failed attempts to attack rival Northern Wei and using the wrong strategies
in doing so, weakening his state toward the end of his rule. In 453, angry that his crown prince Liu Shao was using
witchcraft to curse him, he planned to depose Liu Shao; when this plan was leaked, Liu Shao staged a coup and
assassinated him, replacing him on the throne, although less than a year later Liu Shao's younger brother Liu Jun
defeated him and took the throne as Emperor Xiaowu. Early life Liu Yilong was born at Jingkou (京口, in modern
Zhenjiang, Jiangsu) in 407, to Liu Yu and his concubine Hu Dao'an (胡道安), as Liu Yu's third son; at that time, Liu Yu was
already the paramount general for Jin, and so Liu Yilong was born into a household of power and wealth. For reasons lost
to history, in 409, Liu Yu put Consort Hu to death. Liu Yilong's maternal grandmother Lady Su was involved in his
upbringing, and he was particularly close to her as he grew up. In 410, while the Jin capital Jiankang was under attack by
the warlord Lu Xun (卢循), Liu Yu had his assistant Liu Cui (刘粹) accompany the three-year-old Liu Yilong to serve as the
defender of Jingkou. In 415, he was created the Duke of Pengcheng. In 417, while Liu Yu was attacking Later Qin, he had
Liu Yilong, again assisted by his staff, remain at Pengcheng to serve as the governor of Xu Province (徐州, modern
northern Jiangsu and Anhui), to guard his rear. In 418, after Liu Yu conquered Later Qin, Liu Yilong was made the
governor of the important Jing Province (荆州, modern Hubei and Hunan), and commander of armed forces of the western
empire. Those who served on his staff included Dao Yanzhi (到彦之), Zhang Shao (张邵), Wang Tanshou (王昙首), Wang
Hua (王华), and Shen Linzi (沈林子), with Zhang actually in charge of headquarters due to Liu Yilong's young age. After
Liu Yu seized the JIn throne in 420, establishing LS (as Emperor Wu), he created a number of his sons princes, and Liu
Yilong was created the Prince of Yidu at that time. Around this time, he became known as studious in the Confucian
classics and histories, and was also a good calligrapher.
In 424, believing Liu Yilong's older brother Emperor Shao (who had succeeded Emperor Wu after Emperor Wu's death in
422) to be frivolous and incapable of governing the empire, the high level officials Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, and Xie Hui
deposed and subsequently killed him, as well as another older brother of Liu Yilong's, Liu Yizhen (刘义真) the Prince of
Luling, since they believed Liu Yizhen to be even less suitable than Emperor Shao. Believing Liu Yilong to be capable and
lenient, they offered the thrown to Liu Yilong, with Fu personally arriving with other officials at Liu Yilong's headquarters at
Jiangling. Liu Yilong's associates, hearing of Emperor Shao's and Liu Yizhen's deaths, were largely suspicious and
suggested that he not head east to the capital Jiankang to accept the throne. However, Wang Hua pointed out that the
coup leaders were in a collective leadership, and the balance of power ensured that they could not commit treason. Wang
Tanshou and Dao also agreed, and Liu Yilong decided to accept the throne, taking the throne later that year as Emperor
Wen.
Early reign Initially, Emperor Wen pacified the high level officials who were involved in deposing Emperor Shao (including
not only Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, Xie Hui, but also Wang Tanshou's brother Wang Hong and Tan Daoji) by leaving them in
power and further giving them higher offices. Indeed, he initially left most affairs of state in the hands of Xu and Fu, but
gradually acquainted himself in those matters. He also hinted at disapproval of their actions by recalling the wives and
mothers of Emperor Shao and Liu Yizhen to the capital and treating them with honor. He posthumously honored his
mother Consort Hu as an empress dowager, and created his wife Princess Yuan Qigui as empress. In 425, Xu and Fu
offered to resign, and Emperor Wen approved and began to handle important matters of state himself. However, Xu's
nephew Xu Peizhi (徐佩之) and his associates Cheng and Wang Shaozhi (王韶之) persuaded him that he did not need to
resign, and thereafter he reassumed his post. (While it was not explicitly stated in history, it appeared that Fu then did so
as well.) However, Emperor Wen was resentful that Xu, Fu, and Xie had killed his two older brothers, and in late 425
planned to destroy them, particularly at the urging of Wang Hua and the general Kong Ningzi (孔宁子). He therefore
mobilized troops and publicly declared that he was going to attack rival Northern Wei, but was privately preparing to arrest
Xu and Fu while engaging in a military campaign against Xie, then the governor of Jing Province. In spring 426, rumors
had leaked of such a plan, and so Xie began to prepare for armed resistance. Soon, Emperor Wen publicly issued an
edict ordering that Xu, Fu, and Xie be arrested and killed, while issuing a separate edict summoning Xu and Fu to the
palace. Believing that Wang Hong and Tan had not been involved initially in the plot against Emperor Shao, he recalled
them to the capital, and put Tan in charge of the army against Xie and Wang Hong in charge of the imperial government.
Meanwhile, Xie Hui publicly mourned Xu and Fu and declared that all they did was for the empire, blaming Wang Hong,
Wang Tanshou, and Wang Hua for falsely accusing them, and demanding their execution. Xie Hui had a powerful army,
but while he thought that several other provincial governors would join him, they refused. He was initially able to defeat
Dao's army, but soon Tan arrived, and Xie, fearful of Tan, did not know what to do. Tan quickly attacked him and defeated
his fleet, and Xie fled back to Jiangling, and then fled with his brother Xie Dun (谢□), but Xie Dun was so overweight that
he could not ride a horse, and so they slowed down and were captured. He was then delivered to Jiankang and executed
with Xie Jiao and Xie Dun, along with all of his nephews and major associates, although many of his associates were
spared. Emperor Wen became quickly known for his diligence in governing the state and his frugality, as well as his caring
for the welfare of the people. He set up a system where officials, both at the capital and in provinces, were given relatively
long office terms, but carefully monitored for their progress. He was particularly attentive to his brothers' ability to govern,
offering them much advice while carefully fostering proper experience for them. One of them, Liu Yikang the Prince of
Pengcheng, soon became known for his skills at governing Jing Province after replacing Xie, and in 428, Wang Hong,
who was fearful of drawing attacks for having been prime minister for too long, offered to resign and give his authority to
Liu Yikang. Emperor Wen declined at this point, but did transfer most of Wang Hong's authorities to Liu Yikang in 429.
Also in 429, Emperor Wen created his oldest son by Empress Yuan, Liu Shao, crown prince. That year, Emperor Wen's
maternal grandmother Lady Su died, and he mourned her greatly, wanting to posthumously create her titles, but because
of opposition by the key official Yin Jingren (殷景仁), he did not do so. Around this time, Emperor Wen also started
preparing for a campaign against rival Northern Wei, seeking to recover several provinces lost to Northern Wei during the
reign of Emperor Shao. In spring 430, he put Dao Yanzhi in command of a 50,000-man army to attack Northern Wei.
Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei, when informed by Emperor Wen's messengers that all Emperor Wen was interested in
was to recover the provinces south of the Yellow River, retorted angrily that he would withdraw but return in the winter
once the Yellow River froze, and that was what he initially did─withdrawing his armies south of the Yellow River to areas
north, allowing LS to recover the four key cities of Luoyang, Hulao, Huatai (滑台, in modern Anyang, Hunan), and Qiao'ao
(□□, in modern Liaocheng, Shandong) without a fight. Instead of advancing further north against Northern Wei proper,
however, Emperor Wen stopped, and stretched his troops to become a Yellow River defense force, even though he had
entered into an alliance with Xia's emperor Helian Ding to conquer and divide Northern Wei. With Emperor Wen's forces
inactivte, Northern Wei's Emperor Taiwu was able to attack Helian Ding and greatly damage Xia (eventually leading to its
destruction in 431), while his other generals, even in Emperor Taiwu's absence, prepared to counterattack. In winter 430,
Emperor Wen's general Du Ji (杜骥), unable to defend Luoyang, abandoned it. Hulao soon also fell. Upon hearing this,
Dao retreated, leaving the general Zhu Xiuzhi (朱修之) defending Huatai alone. In spring 431, Emperor Wen sent Tan
north to try to relieve Zhu at Huatai, but with Northern Wei forces cutting Tan's supply route off, Tan was unable to reach
Huatai and forced to withdraw as well. Zhu, without support, was soon captured when Huatai fell. Emperor Wen's first
attempt to regain the provinces south of the Yellow River had resulted in failure. In 432, Wang Hong died, and Liu Yikang
was, alone, prime minister after that point. Also in 432, angry over the misgovernance of Liu Daoji (刘道济) the governor
of Yi Province (益州, modern Sichuan and Chongqing), the people of Yi Province rose, under the command of Xu Muzhi (
许穆之), who changed his name to Sima Feilong (司马飞龙) and claimed to be a descendant of the Jin imperial clan. Liu
quickly defeated and killed Sima Feilong, but the Buddhist monk Cheng Daoyang (程道养) soon rose in succession and
claimed to be the real Sima Feilong, threatening Chengdu the capital of Yi Province, and while the general Pei Fangming (
裴方明) was able to repel the siege, Cheng remained a threat for several years, carrying the title of the Prince of Shu.
While the campaign was ongoing, Yang Nandang (杨难当) the ruler of Chouchi, who had been a nominal vassal to both
LS and Northern Wei, also attacked and occupied Liang Province (梁州, modern southern Shaanxi) in 433.
Middle reign In spring 434, Emperor Wen's general Xiao Sihua (萧思话) was able to defeat Yang Nandang's forces and
recapture Liang Province. Yang Nandang soon apologized, and not willing to lose a potential ally against Northern Wei,
Emperor Wen accepted his apology. In 435, Feng Hong the emperor of Northern Yan, under constant Northern Wei
attack, offered to be a vassal to LS to try to obtain assistance, and Emperor Wen created Feng Hong the Prince of Yan.
However, Emperor Wen was unable to provide actual assistance, and Feng Hong evacuated his state and fled to
Goguryeo in 436. Around that time, a severe political infighting began to develop within Emperor Wen's administration.
Jealous of Emperor Wen's bestowing of great powers to Yin Jingren, Liu Zhan (刘湛) became to try to defame Yin
Jingren, and he ingratiated himself with Liu Yikang to try to use the prime minister's powers to expel Yin from government.
Yin, not willing to fight Liu Zhan, offered to resign under the excuse he was ill, and while Emperor Wen refused, he
permitted Yin to take an extended sick leave. The imperial government, however, became divided into a Liu Zhan-led proLiu Yikang faction and an anti-Liu Yikang faction. In 436, Emperor Wen grew extremely ill. In his illness, Liu Zhan
persuaded Liu Yikang that if Emperor Wen died, no one would be able to control Tan Daoji, and therefore recalled Tan to
the capital from his post at Jiang Province (江州, modern Jiangxi and Fujian). After Tan arrived at Jiankang, Emperor Wen
became better in his conditions and was ready to return Tan to his post, when he suddenly turned ill again. At that time,
Tan was already on the dock ready to depart for Jiang Province, and Liu Yikang summoned him back to Jiankang and
arrested him. Emperor Wen then issued an edict falsely accusing Tan of preparing treason and executed him with his
sons, but spared his grandsons. (When Tan was arrested, he angrily threw his scarf on the ground and stated bitterly,
"You have destroyed your Great Wall." When Northern Wei officials heard of Tan's death, they celebrated. The traditional
account appeared to minimize Emperor Wen's involvement in Tan's death, but subsequent events appear to show that Liu
Yikang acted with Emperor Wen's full approval in this matter.) In spring 437, Emperor Wen seriously considered the
proposal that Northern Wei's Emperor Taiwu had made, initially in 431 and then in 433, that the two imperial clans enter
into a marital relationship─specifically, to marry one of his daughters to Emperor Taiwu's crown prince Tuoba Huang, and
he sent his official Liu Xibo (刘熙伯) to Northern Wei to negotiate the terms of the marriage. However, soon thereafter, the
daughter who was to marry Tuoba Huang died, and the proposal died with her. Later in 437, the long-term rebel Cheng
Daoyang the Prince of Shu was finally captured and killed, ending a seven-year rebellion. In 438, Emperor Wen built a
university to encourage students to study famous works. He set up four disciplines at the university:
* Mysticism, taught by the official He Shangzhi (何尚之)
* History, taught by the official He Chengtian (何承天)
* Literature, taught by the official Xie Yuan (谢元)
* Confucianism, taught by the hermit Lei Cizong (雷次宗)
The historian Sima Guang, author of Zizhi Tongjian, made the following commentary about Emperor Wen with regard to
the status of his state at this time:
Emperor [Wen] was kind and honest, humble and frugal, diligent and law-abiding, not overly critical of others and willing
to accept others, but he also did not overly relax them. The officials all remained in their offices for long terms. The
commandery governors and the county magistrates had set terms of six years. He did not frivlolously remove officials
from their posts, and the people had the sense of security. During his 30 years of reign, his empire was peaceful, the
population increased, and the taxes were limited to the proper amounts, with no additional levies. The men were able to
leave their homes to till their fields in the morning and return home to rest at night, without excessive labor, and they were
content. The sounds of book-reading could be heard throughout even the countryside. The learned men cared for their
virtues, and even the countryfolk felt that carelessness was a disgrace. The customs of the area south of the Yangtze
River were the most beautiful at his time. In later ages, when discussions of prior administrations were made, the rule of
Yuanjia [Emperor Wen's era name] was all greatly praised.
Emperor Wen's attention to imperial officials' abilities could be seen partly in 439, when, according to an edict that
Emperor Wu had left that his sons were to serve as the governor of Jing Province in rotation by age, he was supposed to
make his brother Liu Yixuan (刘义宣) the Prince of Nanqiao the governor of Jing Province. However, because he believed
Liu Yixuan to be incompetent, he refused, skipping him and giving the post to the more capable brother Liu Yiji (刘义季)
the Prince of Hengyang, the governor of Jing Province. (Several years later, after Liu Yiji's death, and with much urging
from his older sister Liu Xingdi (刘兴弟) the Princess Kuaiji, he finally did make Liu Yixuan the governor of Jing Province,
but only after much advice on how to properly govern the province.) By 440, however, Liu Yikang, a major part of the
success of Emperor Wen's government due to his diligence and abilities, had become so flattered by Liu Zhan that he
appeared to blur the distinction between himself, as a subject, and the emperor. When Emperor Wen grew ill again, Liu
Zhan and Liu Yikang's associates Liu Bin (刘斌), Wang Lu (王履), Liu Jingwen (刘敬文), and Kong Yinxiu (孔胤秀) secretly
plotted to have Liu Yikang succeed Emperor Wen, against Emperor Wen's wishes to have Crown Prince Shao be
emperor and Liu Yikang serve as regent. When Emperor Wen grew better, he began to suspect Liu Yikang of wanting to
usurp the throne. In winter 440, he put Liu Yikang under house arrest, while arresting and executing Liu Zhan and a
number of other associates of Liu Yikang. He then removed Liu Yikang from his prime minister post and made him the
governor of Jiang Province, while restoring Yin Jingren to power. He replaced Liu Yikang with another younger brother,
Liu Yigong (刘义恭) the Prince of Jiangxia, but Liu Yigong, realizing the danger in wielding too much power, did not
involve himself much in actual decision-making. Later that year, Yin Jingren died, and the important responsibilities
became split between several officials. In 441, Yang Nandang, not willing to give up his grandiose designs on Liang and
Yi Provinces, attacked LS. Emperor Wen sent Pei Fangming and another general, Liu Zhendao (刘真道), to attack
Chouchi, and in the only instance at which a southern dynasty army occupied Chouchi, took it over in 442, forcing Yang
Nandang to flee to Northern Wei. However, by 443, Chouchi had fallen to Northern Wei forces, and Pei and Liu Zhendao
were executed for having embezzled treasures and horses from Chouchi during the 441 to 442 campaign.
Late reign In 445, in a famous incident, while waiting to send his brother Liu Yiji off to his new post as governor of
Southern Yan Province (南兖州, modern central Jiangsu), Emperor Wen ordered his sons not to eat until dinner is served
at the sendoff, but the intentionally had dinner served late, so that his sons would suffer from hunger, and then telling
them, "You grew up in a rich household and do not see the people being poor. I intended that you understand the pain
from hunger so that you would learn to be frugal and caring for the people." However, while this incident general drew
praise from historians, some historians, including Pei Ziye (裴子野), the commentator to the Song Shu, found it
hypocritical in that he was putting his sons in high offices at young age without being properly trained. After that feast, an
alleged plot involving the official Fan Ye was exposed─as it was alleged that Fan had plotted with his nephew Xie Zong (
谢综) and the deposed prime minister Li Yikang's associate Kong Xixian (孔熙先) to assassinate Emperor Wen at the
feast for Liu Yiji and then making Liu Yikang emperor. One of the coconspirators, Emperor Wen's nephew Xu Danzhi (徐
湛之), after the assassination failed to occur at the feast, informed on his coconspirators, and other than Xu, the
conspirators were all executed. (The historian Wang Mingsheng (王鸣盛) found the alleged plot far-fetched, and believed
instead that Fan had been the victim of false accusations by Xu, Yu Bingzhi (庾炳之), and He Shangzhi.) In the aftermaths
of the plot, Liu Yikang, whose connection to the plot appeared tenuous at best, was stripped of his title, demoted to
commoner rank, and put under house arrest. (There would be repeated plots by others to put Liu Yikang on the throne,
and by 451, fearful that such a plot would again develop during the midst of a Northern Wei invasion, Emperor Wen
would, against promises he made to his older sister Liu Xingdi the Princess Kuaiji, have Liu Yikang killed.) In 446, when
Northern Wei was facing a rebellion from the ethnically-Xiongnu Gai Wu (盖吴), Emperor Wen commissioned Gai as a
duke and a general, although he provided no actual military support for Gai. This, however, aggravated Northern Wei's
Emperor Taiwu, and after Emperor Taiwu put down Gai's rebellion, the relationship between the two states turned sour,
particularly in light of a horrific raid that Northern Wei troops carried out against LS's Qing (青州, modern central and
eastern Shandong), Ji (冀州, modern northwestern Shandong), and Yan (兖州, modern western Shandong) Provinces
later that year. By 449, Emperor Wen was preparing a second campaign to recover the provinces south of the Yellow
River, and many generals and officials, in response, submitted battle plans, and the general Wang Xuanmo (王玄谟)
submitted plans that Emperor Wen particularly liked. In preparation, Emperor Wen moved the troops stationed and
supplies stored in the internal provinces to the boundary provinces. Meanwhile, however, before he could launch the
campaign, Northern Wei's Emperor Taiwu invaded first in spring 450, putting Xuanhu (悬瓠, in modern Zhumadian,
Henan) under siege for 42 days, and after much loss on both sides, Emperor Taiwu withdrew without having captured
Xuanhu. This made Emperor Wen believe that Northern Wei's military power was waning, and he decided to launch his
attack late in 450, despite oppositions by the generals Liu Kangzu (刘康祖), who believed that the campaign should begin
in spring 451, Shen Qingzhi (沈庆之), who opined that LS was not in shape to fight a war against Northern Wei, Xiao
Sihua, and Crown Prince Shao. The LS forces, under the commands of Xiao Bin (萧斌) and Wang Xuanmo, quickly took
Qiao'ao and Le'an (乐安, in modern Tangshan, Hebei), as Northern Wei forces abandoned those two cities quickly, and
then put Huatai under siege. The Han people around Huatai were initially gladly supporting the LS campaign, but Wang
ordered them to submit a large number of pears, causing them to be angry and turn against LS. LS forces, as a
consequence, could not capture Huatai quickly, and in winter 450, Emperor Taiwu crossed the Yellow River, and Wang's
forces collapsed, forcing him to flee back to Qiao'ao. Xiao considered defending Qiao'ao against the coming Northern Wei
assault, but Shen persuaded him that doing so was futile, and despite orders from Emperor Wen to defend Qiao'ao, Xiao
led the main forces back to Licheng (历城, in modern Ji'nan, Shandong) to preserve the strength of the army. Meanwhile,
due to Wang's defeat at Huatai, although the general Liu Wenjing (柳文景) was able to capture Tong Pass in the west and
threaten Northern Wei's Guanzhong region, Emperor Wen chose to recall Liu and abandon the western advances as well.
In retaliation for the LS attack, Emperor Taiwu launched an all-out attack against LS's northern provinces. Emperor
Taiwu's nephew Tuoba Ren (拓拔仁) quickly captured Xuanhu and Xiangcheng (项城, in modern Zhoukou, Henan) and
pillaging his way to Shouyang. Emperor Taiwu himself advanced on Pengcheng, but did not put that heavily fortified city
under siege; rather, he advanced south, claiming that he would cross the Yangtze River and destroy the LS capital
Jiankang. Both his main army and the other branch armies that he sent out carried out heavy slaughters and arsons,
laying LS's Huai River region to waste. Around the new year 451, Emperor Taiwu had reached Guabu (瓜步, in modern
Nanjing, Jiangsu), across the river from Jiankang, but at this point he reproposed the marriage-peace proposal he made
earlier─that if Emperor Wen married a daughter to one of his grandsons, he would be willing to marry a daughter to
Emperor Wen's son, Liu Jun (who was then defending Pengcheng), to establish long-term peace. Crown Prince Shao
favored the proposal, but Jiang Dan (江湛) opposed, and the marital proposal was not accepted. In spring 451, worried
that his forces were being overstretched and would be attacked in the rear by the LS forces garrisoned at Pengcheng and
Shouyang, Emperor Taiwu began a withdraw, and on the way, insulted by the LS general Zang Zhi (臧质), he put Xuyi (盱
眙, in modern Huai'an, Jiangsu) under siege, and, after both sides suffered heavy losses but with the defense holding,
quickly withdrew. This campaign appeared to heavily wear out both empires and demonstrated the cruel parts of Emperor
Taiwu's personality well, as Sima Guang described it in this manner:
The Wei forces laid South Yan, Xu, North Yan, Yu, Qing, and Ji Provinces to waste. The Song deaths and injuries were
innumerable. When Wei forces encountered Song young men, the forces quickly beheaded them or cut them in half. The
infants were pierced through with spears, and the spears were then shaken so that the infants would scream as they were
spun, for entertainment. The commanderies and counties that Wei forces went through were burned and slaughtered, and
not even grass was left. When sparrows returned in the spring, they could not find houses to build nest on, so they had to
do so in forests. Wei soldiers and horses also suffered casualties of more than half, and the Xianbei people were all
complaining.
Sima Guang further attributed Emperor Wen's military failures to his command style:
Every time Emperor [Wen] sent generals out on battles, he required them to follow the complete battle plans that he
had drafted, and even the dates for battles needed approval from the emperor. Therefore, the generals all hesitated and
could not make independent decisions. Further, the non-regular troops that he conscripted were not trained, and they
rushed to advance when they were victorious and scattered when they were defeated. These were the two reasons why
he failed, and from this point on, the state was in recession, and the Reign of Yuanjia was in decline. As another historian,
Shen Yue, pointed out, Emperor Wen modelled his military planning on those of Emperor Guangwu of Han, but lacked
Emperor Guangwu's military command abilities, and therefore could not draft proper military plans the way that Emperor
Guangwu did.
In 452, after hearing that Northern Wei's Emperor Taiwu had been assassinated by his eunuch Zong Ai, Emperor Wen
prepared another campaign, with his army commanded by Xiao Xihua─but not realizing that his micromanaging had
greatly contributed to the failure of the prior campaign, he made the micromanaging even more complete. After Xiao's
assisting general Zhang Yong (张永) was defeated at Qiao'ao, however, he abandoned the campaign. Meanwhile,
though, Emperor Wen himself was facing a crisis within his household. It had been discovered that Crown Prince Shao
and another son of Emperor Wen's, Liu Jun the Prince of Shixing (a different son than the Liu Jun referred to above), had
secretly retained the witch Yan Daoyu (严道育) to curse Emperor Wen to death so that Crown Prince Shao could become
emperor. Emperor Wen, while angry, only strongly rebuked his sons and was unwilling to take further punitive actions
against them. By 453, however, Emperor Wen's hopes that his sons had reformed themselves was shattered─as he
found evidence that they continued to associate with Yan even after the rebukes. He therefore discussed with his high
level officials Xu Danzhi, Jiang Dan, and Wang Sengchuo (王僧绰) his planned punishment of deposing Crown Prince
Shao and ordering Liu Jun to commit suicide. However, he made the mistakes of discussing the plans with Liu Jun's
mother, Consort Pan, and Consort Pan quickly informed Liu Jun, who then informed Crown Prince Shao. In spring 453,
Crown Prince Shao carried out a coup, sending his own guards to secure the palace while sending his close associate
Zhang Chaozhi (张超之) into the palace to assassinate Emperor Wen. When Zhang entered Emperor Wen's
bedchambers with a sword, Emperor Wen's guards were asleep, and Emperor Wen tried to hold a small desk to hold off
Zhang's attack. Zhang's first swing, however, cut off Emperor Wen's fingers, and he then swung again, killing Emperor
Wen. After some confusion, Liu Shao killed Xu and Jiang as well, and then falsely declared that Xu and Jiang had
assassinated Emperor Wen; he then took the throne himself, although later that year he was defeated and killed by
another brother of his, Liu Jun the Prince of Wuling (different character than the Liu Jun who was Liu Shao's confederate),
who took the throne as Emperor Xiaowu. Liu Shao initially gave his father the posthumous name Emperor Jing (景帝) with
the temple name Zhongzong (中宗). After Emperor Xiaowu took the throne, he changed the posthumous name to
Emperor Wen and the temple name to Taizu (太祖).
4) Xiaowu (孝武帝 xiao w_ di)
Liu Jun (刘骏 liu jun)
454-464 Xiaojian (元嘉 xia_ jian 454-456
Daming (大明 da ming) 457-464 Emperor Xiaowu of LS ((刘)宋孝武帝) (430━464), personal name Liu Jun (刘骏),
courtesy name Xiulong (休龙), nickname Daomin (道民), was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty LS. He was a son of
Emperor Wen. After his older brother Liu Shao assassinated their father in 453 and took the throne, he rose in rebellion
and overthrew Liu Shao. He was generally regarded as a capable, but harsh and sexually immoral emperor. He curtailed
the powers of the officials and imperial princes greatly during his reign. Background Liu Jun was born in 430, as Emperor
Wen's third son. His mother, Consort Lu Huinan, was not one of Emperor Wen's favorite consorts, and he was also not
much favored by his father. In 435, he was created the Prince of Wuling. In 439, at age nine, he was made the governor
of Xiang Province (湘州, modern Hunan), and for the next several years he was rotated through the provinces, although
he did not appear to be actually at all in charge until 445, when he was made the governor of Yong Province (雍州,
modern northwestern Hubei and southwestern Henan), an important province militarily due to its location on the border
with rival Northern Wei, and with Emperor Wen interested in recovering provinces lost to Northern Wei during the reign of
his brother Emperor Shao, Yong was considered a key post. As his mother was not favored by the Emperor, she mostly
accompanied him rather than stay at the palace in the capital Jiankang. In 448, Liu Jun was made the governor of the
equally important Xu Province (徐州, modern northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui), with its capital at Pengcheng, and it
was there that he was involved in a major war between LS and Northern Wei. In 450, with Emperor Wen's northern
advances not only repelled by Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei, but with Northern Wei troops under Emperor Taiwu
attacking south in retaliation, Northern Wei troops quickly reached Pengcheng. Liu Jun's uncle Liu Yigong (刘义恭) the
Prince of Jiangxia, the commander of the northern troops, wanted to abandon Pengcheng, at the suggestion of Zhang
Chang (张畅), Liu Jun insisted on defending Pengcheng, and Liu Yigong gave up his plan to flee. Emperor Taiwu, after
diplomatic parlaying at Pengcheng, continued advancing south, all the way to the Yangtze River, before withdrawing in
451. Despite holding Pengcheng, Liu Jun was slightly demoted after the war. (During the war, at the instigation of Liu Jun,
his older brother Liu Shao the Crown Prince, and He Shangzhi (何尚之), Emperor Wen put his brother Liu Yikang, the
former prime minister who had been deposed in 440, to death.) In 452, Liu Jun was sent to be the governor of South Yan
Province (南兖州, modern central Jiangsu), and then of Jiang Province (江州, modern Jiangxi and Fujian). Uprising
against Liu Shao In 452, Liu Shao and another brother, Liu Jun the Prince of Shixing (different character), were caught in
a scandal where they had engaged a witch to curse Emperor Wen to death so Liu Shao could become emperor faster,
and Emperor Wen was set on deposing them. Liu Shao, in 453, then led a coup d'etat and assassinated Emperor Wen,
taking over as emperor himself. At this time, Liu Jun the Prince of Wuling was at Wuzhou (五洲, a small island on the
Yangtze River in modern Huanggang, Hubei) preparing to attack rebellious aborigines in the region. His communications
officer Dong Yuansi (董元嗣) arrived from Jiankang and informed him how Liu Shao had assassinated Emperor Wen, and
he in turn had Dong inform it to his subordinates. Meanwhile, Liu Shao wrote a secret letter to the general Shen Qingzhi (
沈庆之), who at the time was with Liu Jun. However, Shen had no intentions of following Liu Shao's orders, and after
showing the letter to Liu Jun, ordered his troops to enter a state of emergency, preparing a major rebellion against Liu
Shao. Meanwhile, Liu Jun's uncle Liu Yixuan (刘义宣) the Prince of Nanqiao and governor of Jing Province (荆州, modern
Hubei), and Zang Zhi (臧质) the governor of Yong Province both refused Liu Shao's promotions as well and sent
messengers to Liu Jun, requesting that he declare himself emperor. Liu Jun first returned to the capital of Jiang Province,
Xunyang (寻阳, in modern Jiujiang, Jiangxi), and then issued declarations requesting other governors to join him. Liu
Yixuan and Zang Zhi soon arrived with their troops, and they quickly advanced toward Jiankang. Meanwhile, Liu Jun's
brother Liu Dan (刘诞) the Prince of Sui, the governor of Kuaiji Commandery (会稽, roughly modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang)
also declared support for Liu Jun. In less than a month, Liu Jun arrived in the vicinity of Jiankang; during the journey,
however, he suffered a major illness, during which his assistant Yan Jun (颜竣) had to impersonate him to avoid public
knowledge that he was ill. Initially, Liu Shao's troops had minor success over his, but one of Liu Shao's major generals, Lu
Xiu (鲁秀), soon sabotaged his efforts and then fled to Liu Jun's camp. Liu Jun soon declared himself emperor (as
Emperor Xiaowu), while the battle was continuing to be waged. Seven days later, the palace fell, and Liu Shao and Liu
Jun the Prince of Shixing were captured and executed. Emperor Xiaowu settled in Jiankang, welcoming his mother
Consort Lu and his wife Princess Wang Xianyuan to the capital, honoring his mother as empress dowager and his wife as
empress. He also created his oldest son Liu Ziye crown prince.
Early reign One major issue with Emperor Xiaowu's personal conduct immediately became a political issue as well─as
he was said to have engaged in incest with all of Liu Yixuan's daughters who remained in Jiankang, drawing Liu Yixuan's
ire. Further, because of both Liu Yixuan's and Zang Zhi's contributions to his cause, they expected to be able to act with
absolute powers within their domains (Jing and Jiang Province, respectively), and yet Emperor Xiaowu was trying to
establish his personal authority and therefore often overrode and questioned their actions. Liu Yixuan and Zang therefore
resolved to rebel. In spring 454, they sent messengers to persuade Lu Xiu's brother Lu Shuang (鲁爽) the governor of Yu
Province (豫州, modern central Anhui) to join them in rebellion in the fall─but when the messengers arrived, Lu Shuang
was so drunk that he misunderstood the messengers and declared a rebellion immediately, declaring Liu Yixuan emperor,
and he was joined by Xu Yibao (徐遗宝) the governor of Yan Province (兖州, modern western Shandong). Upon hearing
Lu Shuang's premature actions, Liu Yixuan and Zang had to quickly declare rebellion as well, although they fell short of
declaring Liu Yixuan emperor. Emperor Xiaowu, hearing of the four provinces' rebellion, initially felt that he was unable to
withstand them and considered offering the throne to Liu Yixuan, but at earnest opposition by his brother Liu Dan the
Prince of Jingling, decided to resist. Most of the other provinces quickly declared their support for Emperor Xiaowu, and
Yuan Huzhi (垣护之) the governor of Ji Province (冀州, modern northwestern Shandong), along with Ming Yin (明胤) and
Xiahou Zuhuan (夏侯祖欢) quickly defeated Xu, forcing him to flee to Lu Shuang. Lu's ferocity in battle was feared by
many, but he continued to drink heavily throughout the campaign, and when he encountered the troops of Emperor
Xiaowu's general Xue Andu (薛安都), he fell off his horse and was killed, greatly discouraging Liu Yixuan's and Zang's
troops. Liu Yixuan also did not personally trust Zang, and declined Zang's strategy of attacking Jiankang directly, instead
choosing to engage Emperor Xiaowu's troops at Liangshan (梁山, in modern Chaohu, Anhui), and after some initial
losses, Liu Yixuan's troops collapsed, and he fled. Zang was forced to flee as well, and soon was killed in flight. Liu
Yixuan was captured and executed, ending this episode of opposition against Emperor Xiaowu. In response to the
rebellion, Emperor Xiaowu decided to cut down on the strengths of the major provinces (Jing, Jiang, as well as the capital
province Yang Province (扬州, modern Zhejiang and southern Jiangsu) by reducing them in size, carving East Yang
Province (东扬州, modern central and eastern Zhejiang) out of Yang and Ying Province (郢州, modern eastern Hubei) out
of Jing and Jiang Provinces, which had the side effect, however, of adding administrative expenses due to the multiplicity
of provinces.
In 455, Emperor Xiaowu's 16-year-old younger brother Liu Hun (刘浑) the Prince of Wuchang, the governor of Yong
Province, in jest, wrote a declaration in which he referred to himself as the Prince of Chu and changed era name -- but Liu
Hun had no intention whatsoever to rebel. However, when this document was brought to Emperor Xiaowu's intention,
Emperor Xiaowu stripped Liu Hun of his title and reduced him to commoner rank, and then further forced Liu Hun to
commit suicide. This would start a trend in which Emperor Xiaowu suppressed the authority of his brothers. In addition,
the authority of the provincial communication officers, because they served as liaisons between the emperor and the
provincial governors and doubled as the emperor's watchdogs on the provincial governors, began to expand greatly.
Emperor Xiaowu, after he had completed the mourning period for his father Emperor Wen, began to spend his energy on
various pleasures and construction projects. Yan Jun the mayor of Jiankang, who had assisted him greatly during his
campaign against Liu Shao and who had been a long-time subordinate of his, repeatedly urged him to change his ways,
and Emperor Xiaowu became displeased at him, and sent him away to be the governor of East Yang Province.
Meanwhile, Emperor Xiaowu also became suspicious of his brother Liu Dan the Prince of Jingling, then the governor of
South Yan Province, who was capable and who had gathered many warriors about him, and he set up military safeguards
between Liu Dan's post at Guangling (广陵, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) and the capital.
In 458, a coup plot by Gao Du (高□) and the Buddhist monk Tanbiao (昙标) was discovered, and Emperor Xiaowu issued
an edict reducing the number of monks and nuns greatly, but because members of Emperor Xiaowu's households often
associated with nuns, the edict never actually took effect. (Emperor Xiaowu also took this opportunity to falsely accuse the
official Wang Sengda (王僧达), who had disrespected Empress Dowager Lu's nephew Lu Qiongzhi (路琼之), of being
involved in Gao's rebellion, after being urged to kill Wang by Empress Dowager Lu.) With Emperor Xiaowu being
distrustful of high level officials, he often consulted his long-time associates Dai Faxing (戴法兴), Dai Mingbao (戴明宝),
and Chao Shangzhi (巢尚之). The three became therefore very powerful and wealthy, not withstanding their actual
relatively low rank. Late reign By 459, there were many rumors that Liu Dan was going to rebel or that Emperor Xiaowu
was going to act against Liu Dan, and Liu Dan built strong defenses around Guangling in response. Meanwhile, upon
reports of Liu Dan's crimes (which appeared to have been instigated by Emperor Xiaowu himself), Emperor Xiaowu
issued an edict demoting Liu Dan to marquess, and at the same time sent the general Yuan Tian (垣阗) and Dai Mingbao
to make a surprise attack on Guangling. When they approached, however, Liu Dan realized it and counterattacked, killing
Yuan Tian. Liu Dan made public declarations of Emperor Xiaowu's incestuous relationships (including an allegation, which
some historians believed to be true, that he had an incestuous relationship with his mother Empress Dowager Lu),
infuriating Emperor Xiaowu, who proceeded to slaughter the families of all of Liu Dan's associates─many of whom had
not been aware of Liu Dan's plans and had in fact fled out of Guangling back to Jiankang upon the battle being waged,
only to find their families already dead.
Emperor Xiaowu sent Shen Qingzhi against Liu Dan, and Shen put Guangling under siege after cutting off Liu Dan's
potential path of fleeing to Northern Wei. Liu Dan briefly abandoned Guangling and tried to flee, but upon urging by his
associates returned to Guangling and defended it. Meanwhile, Emperor Xiaowu, also believing that Yan Jun had revealed
his personal indiscretions, falsely accused Yan of having been a part of Liu Dan's rebellion, and first broke Yan's legs and
then forced him to commit suicide, killing all male members of Yan's household after Yan had died. Shen soon captured
Guangling and killed Liu Dan; upon Emperor Xiaowu's orders, most of Guangling's population was slaughtered in
inhumane manners. In 461, Emperor Xiaowu's impulsive younger brother Liu Xiumao (刘休茂) the Prince of Hailing, the
governor of Yong Province, angry that his communications officers Yang Qing (杨庆) and Dai Shuang (戴双) and military
officer Yu Shenzhi (庾深之) curbed his powers, started a rebellion that was quickly put down by Liu Xiumao's own
subordinates. Knowing that Emperor Xiaowu had become increasingly suspicious of all of his brothers, his uncle Liu
Yigong, now prime minister, suggested that imperial princes be prohibited from having weapons, from being governors of
border provinces, and from associating with people other than members of their household. At the urging of Shen
Huaiwen (沈怀文), however, Liu Yigong's suggestions were not acted upon. In 462, Emperor Xiaowu's favorite concubine
Consort Yin died. (Most historians believe that Consort Yin was actually a daughter of Liu Yixuan, whom Emperor Xiaowu
officially made a consort after Liu Yixuan's death but covered up the incestuous relationship by claiming that she was from
the household of his official Yin Yan (殷琰), although some believe Consort Yin to have actually been from Yin's
household and been given to Liu Yixuan before Emperor Xiaowu took her as his own after Liu Yixuan's death.) He
mourned her so greatly that he was unable to carry on the matters of state, and he built a magnificent tomb and temple for
her, forcing many commoners into laboring for these projects. In 464, Emperor Xiaowu died, and was succeeded by his
son Liu Ziye (as Emperor Qianfei). The historian Sima Guang, in his Zizhi Tongjian, made the following comments about
the late years of Emperor Xiaowu's reign:
Late in his reign, [Emperor Xiaowu] was particularly greedy. Whenever provincial or commandery governors left their
post and returned to the capital, the emperor ordered them to submit sufficient amounts of tributes, and also gambled with
them without ceasing until he would win over their wealths. He was often drunk everyday and was rarely sober, but his
reactions were quick. He often slept in stupor on his desk, but if there were emergency submissions from the officials, he
could wake himself quickly and be alerted without sign of intoxication. Therefore, his officials were all fearful of him and
did not dare to be idle.
5) Qian Fei Di 前废帝 Liu Ziye 刘子业 465
Yongguang (永光 y_ng gu_ng) 465
Jinghe (景和 j_ng he) 465 Emperor Qianfei of LS ((刘)宋前废帝) (449━465), personal name Liu Ziye (刘子业), nickname
Fashi (法师), was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty LS. His brief reign as a teenager was known for his violent and
impulsive acts, including the slaughter of many high level officials and his sexually immoral behavior. He was
assassinated just a year after becoming emperor. Background Liu Ziye was born in 449, when his father Liu Jun was still
the Prince of Wuling under his grandfather Emperor Wen. His mother Princess Wang Xianyuan was Liu Jun's wife. While
his father was rotated through several provincial governorships, Liu Ziye remained at the capital Jiankang, and was
imprisoned by his uncle Liu Shao after Liu Shao assassinated Emperor Wen and assumed the throne himself in 453 and
Liu Jun rose to oppose him. Liu Shao considered executing Liu Ziye but did not do so. After Liu Jun defeated and killed
Liu Shao later that year and took the throne as Emperor Xiaowu, Liu Ziye was rescued out of captivity, and in 454 was
created crown prince. In 456, Emperor Xiaowu married He Lingwan (何令婉), the daughter of his official He Yu (何□), to
Liu Ziye as crown princess. In 458, Emperor Xiaowu set up a household for Crown Prince Ziye, at a separate palace as
was customary for crown princes. In 460, he gave a public reading of the Xiao Jing, and in 463 he assumed adult clothing.
During his years as a crown prince, he was said to be constantly making mistakes and often drew rebukes from Emperor
Xiaowu, causing him to be resentful to both Emperor Xiaowu and his younger brother Liu Ziluan (刘子鸾) the Prince of
Xin'an, whom Emperor Xiaowu at times considered replacing Liu Ziye with. However, the official Yuan Yi (袁□) praised
him for his studiousness, and this stopped Emperor Xiaowu from the idea of replacing Liu Ziye with Liu Ziluan. In 461,
Crown Princess He died. In 464, Emperor Xiaowu died, and Liu Ziye took the throne as Emperor Qianfei. When the official
Cai Xingzong (蔡兴宗) offered the imperial seal to him, he did so with an arrogant and careless attitude, without any
expression of sadness, and Cai commented to others that this was a bad sign for his reign. He honored his grandmother
Empress Dowager Lu as grand empress dowager, and his mother Empress Wang as empress dowager. He also
posthumously honored Crown Princess He as an empress. Reign Upon assuming the throne, apparently because of his
resentment toward his father Emperor Xiaowu, Emperor Qianfei immediately ordered that all of Emperor Xiaowu's
changes to the laws established during his grandfather Emperor Wen's reign be rescinded. Another sign of his resentment
toward Emperor Xiaowu could be seen in that after he commissioned new imperial portraits for the ancestral temples, he
went to look at them. Upon seeing the founder (his great-grandfather) Emperor Wu's portrait, he commented, "He was a
great hero who captured several emperors." Upon seeing Emperor Wen's portrait, he commented, "He was also pretty
good, but it was unfortunate he lost his head to his son." Upon seeing Emperor Xiaowu's portrait, he, displeased, made
the comment, "He had such a big nose from overdrinking. Where was the nose?" and he ordered that the portrait be
withdrawn to exaggerate Emperor Xiaowu's nose. Late in 464, Empress Dowager Wang grew extremely ill, and she
summoned Emperor Qianfei to see her. He refused─stating that in sick people's rooms there would be ghosts, and he
could not go. In anger, she told her servant girls: "Bring a sword and cut me open, to see how it is this animal came out of
me!" She soon died. In Emperor Qianfei's administration, his granduncle Liu Yigong (刘义恭) the Prince of Jiangxia was
the highest ranked official, and other high level officials included Yan Shibo (颜师伯) and Liu Yuanjing (柳元景). However,
initially, actual power was held by Emperor Xiaowu's close associates Dai Faxing (戴法兴) and Chao Shangzhi (巢尚之).
Dai often curbed Emperor Qianfei's impulsive actions, warning him about the fate of his granduncle Emperor Shao, who
was deposed and killed because of his incompetence. In fall 465, Emperor Qianfei acted─ordering Dai to commit suicide
and relieving Chao of his posts. These actions shocked the high level officials, and Liu Yuanjing and Yan planned to
depose Emperor Qianfei and support Liu Yigong as the replacement emperor. When Liu consulted with the general Shen
Qingzhi (沈庆之), Shen, who had no prior friendship with Liu Yigong and was resentful of disrespect by Yan, informed on
them. Just 12 days after forcing Dai to commit suicide, Emperor Qianfei personally led the imperial guards to attack and
kill Liu Yigong and his four sons. Liu Yuanjing and Yan, and their sons, were all killed as well. Emperor Qianfei cut off Liu
Yigong's limbs, cut his abdomen open, and pulled out the entrails to be cut to pieces. He also gouged out Liu Yigong's
eyes and put them in honey, calling them, "pickled ghost eyes." From this point on, the people that Emperor Qianfei
trusted included Yuan Yi, Xu Yuan (徐爰), Shen, his brother Liu Zishang (刘子尚) the Prince of Yuzhang, and his sister Liu
Chuyu the Princess Kuaiji. In an action that was considered highly immoral at the time, upon Princess Chuyu's
pronouncement that it was unfair that Emperor Qianfei could have thousands of concubines but she could only have one
husband, Emperor Qianfei selected 30 handsome young men and gave them to her to serve as her lovers. Emperor
Qianfei also, still resentful of his brother Liu Ziluan, not only forced Liu Ziluan to commit suicide, but also killed Liu Ziluan's
mother Consort Yin's other two children, Liu Zishi (刘子师) the Prince of Nanhai and a sister of theirs. At this time,
Emperor Qianfei also stated that he wanted to get a chance to declare a state of emergency. When his uncle Liu Chang (
刘昶) the Prince of Yiyang and governor of Xu Province (徐州, modern northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui) requested
permission to return to Jiankang, he falsely accused Liu Chang of planning a rebellion, and sent Shen Qingzhi to
command troops against Liu Chang. In fear, Liu Chang initially tried to resist, but when he saw he could not, fled to
Northern Wei. Meanwhile, in winter 465, Emperor Qianfei continued his killing streak. He had been carrying on an
incestuous relationship with his aunt Liu Yingmei (刘英媚) the Princess Xincai, and, resolved to keep her as a concubine,
killed a lady in waiting and delivered her body to Liu Yingmei's husband He Mai (何迈, who was also his brother-in-law),
informing him that his wife had died. He Mai knew what the truth was, and, not able to bear this humiliation, considered
deposing Emperor Qianfei and making his brother Liu Zixun the Prince of Jin'an emperor. The plot was leaked, and
Emperor Qianfei personally attacked He and killed him. When Shen Qingzhi tried to urge Emperor Qianfei to change his
ways in light of what happened with He Mai, Emperor Qianfei had him poisoned. Meanwhile, Emperor Qianfei created
Grand Empress Dowager Lu's niece Lady Lu as empress. Emperor Qianfei was very suspicious of his uncles─that they
would rebel against him─so he gathered them in Jiankang and put them under house arrest in his palace. He often
battered them and treated them as less than human. He, in particular, put Liu Yu the Prince of Xiangdong, Liu Xiuren (刘
休仁) the Prince of Jian'an, and Liu Xiuyou (刘休佑) the Prince of Shanyang, all of whom were overweight, into cages and
measured their weight as if weighing pigs. He referred to Liu Yu as the Prince of Pigs, Liu Xiuren as the Prince of
Murderers, and Liu Xiuyou as the Prince of Thieves. Because another uncle, Liu Hui (刘□) the Prince of Donghai, was
considered obstinate and unintelligent, he referred to Liu Hui as the Prince of Donkeys. He often wanted to kill Liu Yu, Liu
Xiuren, and Liu Xiuyiu, but each time Liu Xiuren flattered him and caused him to change his mind. In one particular
incident, he tied Liu Yu up like how a pig would be tied up, and had him delivered to the kitchen, stating, "Today is pigkilling day." Liu Xiuren, however, stated, "This is not the pig-killing day." He angrily asked Liu Xiuren why that was the
case, and Liu Xiuren stated, "After your son is born, then kill the pig and take out his entrails!" Emperor Qianfei liked Liu
Xiuren's joke and did not kill Liu Yu. Fearful that he would be assassinated, Emperor Qianfei entrusted the defense of the
palace to a number of fierce warriors, including Zong Yue (宗越), Tan Jin (谭金), Tong Taiyi (童太一), and Shen
Youzhi.Emperor Qianfei also saw his brother Liu Zixun as a threat─particularly because he saw that Emperor Wen,
Emperor Xiaowu, and Liu Zixun were all third sons of their fathers. He therefore used the He Mai plot as an excuse,
sending his attendant Zhu Jingyun (朱景云) to deliver poison to Liu Zixun to force him to commit suicide, but as Zhu
approached Liu Zixun's defense post at Xunyang (寻阳, in modern Jiujiang, Jiangxi), he intentionally slowed down and
leaked the news. Liu Zixun's assistant Deng Wan (邓琬) then had an opportunity to declare a rebellion, although at this
stage Deng was not yet declaring Liu Zixun an emperor. At the same time, Emperor Qianfei continued his immoral
behavior. He summoned the princesses to the palace and ordered them to lie down and allow his attendants to have
sexual intercourse with them. When his aunt Princess Dowager Jiang of Nanping (the wife of his deceased uncle Liu
Shuo (刘铄)) refused, he had her whipped and had her three sons, Liu Jingyou (刘敬猷) the Prince of Nanping, Liu
Jingxian (刘敬先) the Prince of Luling, and Liu Jingyuan (刘敬渊) the Marquess of Annan put to death. He also ordered his
ladies in waiting to strip and chase each other naked. When one lady in waiting refused, he beheaded her. That night, he
dreamed of a woman cursing him, "You are so violent and immoral that you will not live to see the wheat harvest next
year." After he woke up, he found a lady in waiting whose appearance was similar to the woman he saw in the dream, and
beheaded her. He then had another dream in which the executed lady in waiting cursed him. He therefore decided to hold
a ghost-killing ceremony the next night. At the ceremony, one of Emperor Qianfei's attendants, Shou Jizhi (寿寂之), who
had often been rebuked by Emperor Qianfei, who had entered into a plot with a number of people to assassinate Emperor
Qianfei, unleashed his conspirators and surrounded Emperor Qianfei. Emperor Qianfei tried to flee, but was unable to,
and Shou killed him. He was buried with his deceased wife, Crown Princess He. Liu Yu took the throne as Emperor Ming.
6) Ming Di 明帝 Liu Yu 刘□ 465-472 Taishi (泰始 tai sh_) 465-471
Taiyu (泰豫 tai yu) 472 Emperor Ming of LS ((刘)宋明帝) (439━472), personal name Liu Yu (刘□), courtesy name
Xiubing (休炳), nickname Rongqi (荣期), was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty LS. He became emperor after his violent
and impulsive nephew Emperor Qianfei was assassinated in 465, as he was regarded as more lenient and open-minded,
but he soon turned cruel and suspicious as well after becoming emperor, and during his reign, his nephews and brothers
were nearly all slaughtered on his orders, greatly weakening the LS state and contributing to its fall in 479, just seven
years after his death. Background Liu Yu was born in 439, as Emperor Wen's 11th son. His mother Consort Shen Rongji (
沈容姬) was a low-ranked imperial consort with the title Meiren (美人). For reasons unknown, Emperor Wen once wanted
to put her to death, but she convinced him that killing her would offend the spirit of his deceased wife, Empress Yuan
Qigui, and she was spared. In 448, Liu Yu was created the Prince of Huaiyang. In 452, his title was changed to Prince of
Xiangdong. Consort Shen died in 453, the same year that Emperor Wen was assassinated by his crown prince Liu Shao,
who took over as emperor and subsequently put a number of his brothers, including Liu Yu, under house arrest, but Liu
Yu and the other brothers were released when another older brother, Liu Jun the Prince of Wuling, defeated and killed Liu
Shao and took the throne himself (as Emperor Xiaowu). Emperor Xiaowu posthumously honored Liu Yu's mother Consort
Shen as Princess Dowager of Xiangdong, and Emperor Xiaowu's mother Empress Dowager Lu Huinan took over the
duties of raising Liu Yu to adulthood. As he grew, as was customary for LS imperial princes, he was rotated through
governorships of commanderies and provinces. Liu Yu was regarded as a kind and open-minded man, with substantial
literary abilities. He was also said to be grossly overweight. During Emperor Qianfei's reign In 464, Emperor Xiaowu died,
and was succeeded by his son Emperor Qianfei. Emperor Qianfei was impulsive and violent, and he, after discovering
and brutally suppressing a plot to depose him in favor of his granduncle Liu Yigong (刘义恭) the Prince of Jiangxia,
suspected his uncles as well, and had them returned to the capital and confined. Of his uncles, he particularly suspected
Liu Yu, Liu Xiuren (刘休仁) the Prince of Jian'an, and Liu Xiuyou (刘休佑) the Prince of Shanyang, since they were the
oldest. (Another even older uncle, Liu Hui (刘□) the Prince of Donghai, was considered so unintelligent that Emperor
Qianfei did not view him as much of a threat.) Because these three princes were all overweight, he had them put in cages
and weighed as pigs would, and because Liu Yu was the heaviest, he called Liu Yu the Prince of Pigs, Liu Xiuren the
Prince of Murderers, and Liu Xiuyou the Prince of Thieves. He often humiliated Liu Yu by putting him in stables and
feeding him the way that pigs would be fed. He often wanted to kill Liu Yu, Liu Xiuren, and Liu Xiuyiu, but each time Liu
Xiuren flattered him and caused him to change his mind. In one particular incident, he tied Liu Yu up like how a pig would
be tied up, and had him delivered to the kitchen, stating, "Today is pig-killing day." Liu Xiuren, however, stated, "This is
not the pig-killing day." He angrily asked Liu Xiuren why that was the case, and Liu Xiuren stated, "After your son is born,
then kill the pig and take out his entrails!" Emperor Qianfei liked Liu Xiuren's joke and did not kill Liu Yu. In winter 465,
around the time that Emperor Qianfei created his second wife, Lady Lu, empress, the palace eunuchs were of insufficient
number to prepare for the ceremony, so Emperor Qianfei had the eunuchs from the princes' mansions conscripted to help,
and Liu Yu had his own eunuch, Qian Lansheng (钱蓝生), observe Emperor Qianfei's actions and report to him.
Meanwhile, some attendants of Emperor Qianfei were plotting to kill him, and when he was carrying out a ghost-shooting
ceremony (after dreaming of the spirit of a lady in waiting that he had killed), the attendant Shou Jizhi (寿寂之) killed him.
(Traditional historians generally hint that Liu Yu was involved in the plot, but not having conclusive evidence, they did not
state so conclusively.) With support from the officials and particularly with his brother Liu Xiuren as a major advocate, Liu
Yu was declared emperor (as Emperor Ming). Early reign: victory over Liu Zixun and loss of northern provinces Emperor
Ming posthumously honored his mother Consort Shen as Empress Dowager Xuan but, because he was raised by
Emperor Xiaowu's mother Grand Empress Dowager Lu, he continued to honor her as empress dowager. He also tried to
pacify the empire by promoting the various officials, his brothers, and some of his nephews. (However, he forced Emperor
Qianfei's oldest younger brother Liu Zishang (刘子尚) the Prince of Yuzhang, and his sister Liu Chuyu the Princess Kuaiji,
both born also of Empress Wang Xianyuan and both of whom participated in his ill-fated governance, to commit suicide.)
He created his wife Princess Wang Zhenfeng empress. One of the nephews that he tried to promote, Liu Zixun the Prince
of Jin'an, whose chief of staff Deng Wan (邓琬) had just prior to Emperor Qianfei's death declared a rebellion against
Emperor Qianfei, refused, and instead declared a rebellion against Emperor Ming, in association with Yuan Yi (袁□) the
governor of Yong Province (雍州, modern northwestern Hubei and southwestern Henan) and Liu Zisui's chief of staff Xun
Bianzhi (荀卞之). They accused Emperor Ming of being an usurper and having unduly killed Liu Zishang. Jing Province (
荆州, modern central and western Hubei) and Kuaiji Commandery (会稽, roughly modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang), governed
by Liu Zixun's brothers Liu Zixu (刘子顼) the Prince of Linhai and Liu Zifang (刘子房) the Prince of Xunyang, also quickly
rose in support. In spring 466, Deng Wan, claiming to have received a secret edict from Liu Zixun's grandmother Empress
Dowager Lu Huinan, declared Liu Zixun emperor. Upon the declaration, nearly the entire empire declared for Liu Zixun,
with Emperor Ming only in control of the region immediately around the capital Jiankang. However, Liu Zixun's generals
proceeded slowly, believing that Jiankang would collapse on its own due to the lack of food supply. Emperor Ming's
general Wu Xi (吴喜) was quickly able to advance east and capture Liu Zifang, taking the commanderies around Kuaiji
that had declared for Liu Zixun and securing a food supply. The troops of Liu Zixun and Emperor Ming stalemated for
months in the Chaohu region, until Emperor Ming's general Zhang Xingshi (张兴世) built a defense post at Qianxi (钱溪, in
modern Chizhou, Anhui), upstream from Liu Zixun's main troops commanded by Yuan Yi and Liu Hu (刘胡), cutting off
their food supplies. As Liu Hu then tried to capture Qianxi to reopen food routes, he was defeated by Zhang and Shen
Youzhi, and Liu Hu and Yuan then fled, with their troops collapsing. Liu Hu fled back to Xunyang, but then left under guise
that he was going to set up perimeter defenses while instead fleeing. Xunyang was left without a defense, and Deng Wan
contemplated killing Liu Zixun to save himself, but instead was killed by another staff member Zhang Yue (张悦). Shen
then arrived and executed Liu Zixun, ending his rival claim. However, Emperor Ming then grew arrogant in light of his
victory. Instead of his initial policy of pardoning those who had declared for Liu Zixun, he began to deal with those who
had not surrendered by this point harshly. In particular, at Liu Xiuren's suggestion, he put to death all of the still living sons
of Emperor Xiaowu, accusing them (the oldest of whom was 10) of treason, along with several other officials whom he
suspected of covertly supporting Liu Zixun, including Empress Dowager Lu's nephews. (Empress Dowager Lu herself had
died during the war under suspicious circumstances. A rumor that the Nan Shi found reliable but indicated was not
conclusively proven indicated that she had been secretly pleased about Liu Zixun's rebellion, and had tried to poison
Emperor Ming so that Liu Zixun could be successful, but Emperor Ming, realizing her intend, poisoned her instead.) Late
in 466, Emperor Ming created his oldest son, Liu Yu (different character than his own name), crown prince. Emperor
Ming's reprisals brought an immediate heavy toll for LS. When Xue Andu (薛安都) the governor of Xu Province (徐州,
modern northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui), who had earlier declared for Liu Zixun, tried to surrender to him, Emperor
Ming, instead of just pardoning Xue, sent a force toward Xue's defense post at Pengcheng, Xue became fearful that
Emperor Ming had no intent of pardoning him. (Indeed, Emperor Ming did not, and was intending to lead Xue into
resisting, and then wiping him out.) Instead of simply resisting, however, Xue surrendered Xu Province to rival Northern
Wei. He was joined in this action by Bi Zhongjing (毕众敬) the governor of Yan Province (兖州, modern western
Shandong), Shen Wenxiu (沈文秀) the governor of Qing Province (青州, modern central and eastern Shandong), and Cui
Daogu (崔道固) the governor of Ji Province (冀州, modern northwestern Shandong), although Shen and Cui soon
changed their allegiance back to Emperor Ming. Northern Wei forces quickly joined Xue's, and they took up defense
position against the attacking forces sent by Emperor Ming, commanded by the generals Zhang Yong (张永) and Shen
Youzhi. With LS forces unable to siege Pengcheng effectively, Zhang and Shen Youzhi were forced to withdraw in spring
467, and on their retreat, Northern Wei forces commanded by Yuchi Yuan (尉迟元) sandwiched them with Xue, leading to
a major rout. Against Shen Youzhi's protestations, Emperor Ming ordered him to attack Pengcheng again in fall 467, and
Yuchi again defeated Shen Youzhi, ending Emperor Ming's efforts at recapturing Xu and Yan Provinces. With Ji and Qing
Provinces now completely isolated from the rest of LS, they could not be supplied with fresh troops, and the Northern Wei
general Murong Baiyao (慕容白曜) forced Cui's surrender in spring 468 and captured Shen Wenxiu's defense post at
Dongyang (东阳, in modern Weifang, Shandong), annexing those provinces for Northern Wei. (While Pengcheng would
temporarily be taken by Emperor Wu of Liang, the rest of the territory was lost to Southern Dynasties forever.) Emperor
Ming also began to be suspicious of his brothers, and in 469, when a plot to make Liu Hui emperor was discovered,
Emperor Ming had his brother demoted and then forced him to commit suicide. He also became displeased at the
increasing authorities of Liu Xiuren, and Liu Xiuren, realizing that he was being suspected, surrendered part of his
authorities but could not regain Emperor Ming's trust. Late reign Meanwhile, Emperor Ming's own conduct also began to
decay. For example, in 470, he ordered officials and governors to offer him gifts, and when Sun Fengbo (孙奉伯) the
governor of Shixing Commandery (始兴, roughly modern Shaoguan, Guangdong) only offered Guqin and books, and not
the treasures that Emperor Ming was hoping for, he sent poison to Sun to order him to commit suicide, although he soon
retracted that order. Also on one occasion, he held an imperial feast inside the palace, and ordered his ladies in waiting to
strip for the guests. Empress Wang, embarrassed, covered her eyes with a fan. In anger, Emperor Ming said, "Your
household is so naive and unaware of the world. Today everyone is trying to have fun, so why are you covering your
eyes?" She responded, "There are many ways to have fun. What kind of a scene is it for aunts and sisters to gather to
watch naked ladies in waiting and laugh about it? The fun that our household has is different." He became angrier and
chased her away. Historical accounts, written during the succeeding Southern Qi Dynasty, indicate that Emperor Ming
was impotent, and that although he had 12 sons, those were the results of his having seized his brothers' pregnant
concubines and kept the children if they bore males, or his having had his concubines have sexual relations with others.
(However, the fact that Empress Wang had two daughters, although no sons, may argue against such allegations,
because it appeared rather unlikely that Emperor Ming would do this over female children─indeed, the allegations stated
that he would only do this if his brothers' concubines bore males─or that the morally upright Empress Wang would
engage in sexual relations with others, thus suggesting that the allegations were made to delegitimize Emperor Ming's
sons Emperor Houfei and Emperor Shun vis-a-vis Southern Qi.) In addition, Emperor Ming was said to be suspicious,
jealous, cruel, and violent. In addition, he was also superstitious, and his officials and attendants were forced to observe a
number of taboos in both language and acts. Whoever violated these taboos would be executed, often in cruel manners,
including having their hearts cut open or their entrails pulled out.
In 471, Emperor Ming grew ill, and as Crown Prince Yu was only eight, he was fearful that his brothers would seize the
throne, and therefore turned against them. His first target was Liu Xiuyou the Prince of Jinping, who was considered
arrogant and violent and often offended Emperor Ming. Emperor Ming therefore, when he was out on a hunt with Liu
Xiuyou, found an opportunity to have his guards push Liu Xiuyou off his horse and then pounded to death. When this
news reached his youngest brother, Liu Xiuruo (刘休若) the Prince of Baling, the governor of Jing Province, Liu Xiuruo's
staff members suggest that he start a rebellion, particularly in light of orders for him to return to Jiankang and then take up
Liu Xiuyou's old post at governor of South Xu Province (南徐州, modern western central Jiangsu), but the cautious Liu
Xiuruo did not rebel, but instead reported to South Xu. Meanwhile, because the public believed that Liu Xiuren would
become regent if Emperor Ming died, the mid-level officials were all trying to ingratiate themselves with Liu Xiuren and his
staff, drawing Emperor Ming's anger and suspicion, and he forced Liu Xiuren to commit suicide. He then summoned Liu
Xiuruo back to Jiankang and forced him to commit suicide as well. The only brother who was spared with Liu Xiufan (刘休
范) the Prince of Guiyang, who was considered to be unvirtuous and incompetent, and therefore not viewed as a threat.
Emperor Ming's suspicions soon turned to other officials as well. In order to test the attitude of Xiao Daocheng the
governor of South Yan Province (南兖州, modern eastern central Jiangsu), he had his strategist Wu Xi deliver a pot of
wine to Xiao. Xiao, believing that wine was poisoned, was about to flee to Northern Wei, when Wu revealed that the wine
was not poisonous and that Emperor Ming was merely trying to test him, and Wu drank some of the wine first to show
Xiao. Xiao then drank the wine, and Wu returned to the capital and vouched for Xiao's loyalty, but his leaking of the nonpoisonous nature of the wine was soon revealed. Emperor Ming, who was already suspicious of Wu's abilities, forced him
to commit suicide. In fear, Empress Wang's brother Wang Jingwen (王景文), the commander of the armed forces, tried to
resign. Emperor Ming would not let him do so, and then, suspecting that Wang would take power after Emperor Ming's
death, forced Wang to commit suicide in spring 472. Emperor Ming himself died in summer 472, and was succeeded by
Crown Prince Yu (as Emperor Houfei).
7) Houfei Di 后废帝 or Cangwu Wang 苍梧王
Liu Yu 刘昱
473-477 Yuanhui (元徽 yuan hu_) 473-477
Emperor Houfei of LS ((刘)宋后废帝) (463━477), also known by posthumous demoted title of Prince of Cangwu (苍梧王),
personal name Liu Yu (刘昱), courtesy name Derong (德融), nickname Huizhen (慧震), was an emperor of the Chinese
dynasty LS. During his brief reign as a boy emperor, he showed a knack for violence and arbitrariness, and in 477 he was
killed by his general Xiao Daocheng, who made Emperor Houfei's brother Liu Zhun emperor but seized the throne in 479,
ending LS and starting Southern Qi. Background Liu Yu was born in 463, when his father Liu Yu (different character) was
the Prince of Xiangdong under his uncle Emperor Xiaowu. He was the oldest son of the Prince of Xiangdong, and his
mother was the concubine Chen Miaodeng. (The Prince of Xiangdong had earlier disfavored Lady Chen and given her to
his attendant Li Dao'er (李道儿) and then taken her back, and therefore there was constant rumor that his son's biological
father was actually Li, not he.) His courtesy name of Huizhen came from the I Ching, which the Prince of Xiangdong used
extensively for divination. After the Prince of Xiangdong became emperor (as Emperor Ming) after the assassination of his
nephew Emperor Qianfei (Emperor Xiaowu's son) in 465, he created Liu Yu crown prince in 466 (although the name "Yu"
was not actually settled on until 467). As the Crown Prince grew, he was known as an overly active child who liked
carrying out dangerous tasks, such as climbing flag poles, and he had severe mood swings and was so impulsive that his
attendants could not stop him from taking violent actions. Emperor Ming often had his mother Consort Chen beat him as
punishment. In 470, Emperor Ming set up a separate household for the Crown Prince, as per tradition for crown princes.
In 472, Emperor Ming died, and Crown Prince Yu took the throne as Emperor Houfei at the age of nine. He honored
Emperor Ming's wife Empress Wang Zhenfeng as empress dowager and his mother Consort Chen as "Consort Dowager."
Reign After Emperor Houfei ascended the throne, the government was technically in the hands of two high level officials
that Emperor Ming had entrusted Emperor Houfei to -- Chu Yuan and Yuan Can. However, the close associates of
Emperor Ming, led by Ruan Dianfu (阮佃夫) and Wang Daolong (王道隆), continued to be powerful behind the scenes and
influential, and Chu and Yuan were unable to curb their powers. Chu and Yuan soon added Emperor Houfei's distant
relative Liu Bing to their own rank to be involved in important decisions. In 473, Yuan's mother died, and he left the
government to observe the three-year mourning period. One crisis that Emperor Houfei's administration needed to deal
with almost immediately was that Emperor Houfei's single remaining paternal uncle, Liu Xiufan (刘休范) the Prince of
Guiyang and the governor of Jiang Province (江州, modern Jiangxi and Fujian), was becoming displeased that he was not
made prime minister, as the emperor's uncle. (Emperor Ming had, because he was apprehensive of his brothers taking
power after his death, killed all of his remaining brothers in 471, except for Liu Xiufan, because he considered Liu Xiufan
incompetent and therefore not much of a threat.) In summer 474, Liu Xiufan declared a rebellion, accusing Wang Daolong
and another associate of Emperor Ming, Yang Yunchang (杨运长), of having wrongly instigated the death of Liu Xiuren (刘
休仁) the Prince of Jian'an and Liu Xiuruo (刘休若) the Prince of Baling. Taking lesson from past rebellions that had failed
because they had proceeded too slowly, Liu Xiufan ordered his troops to advance on the capital Jiankang as quickly as
possible, and it took only five days for them to arrive at Jiankang. The general Xiao Daocheng volunteered to face Liu
Xiufan's forces, and while Liu Xiufan's forces were initially able to prevail over Xiao's, the battles were not particularly
decisive. Meanwhile, Xiao was offered a plan of deception by his subordinates Huang Hui (黄回) and Zhang Jing'er (张敬
儿) -- that they would pretend to surrender to Liu Xiufan and then assassinate him, and he agreed with it. Huang and
Zhang then pretended to surrender to Liu Xiufan, but then took the opportunity to kill him. However, Liu Xiufan's troops
were not aware that Liu Xiufan was dead, and they initially continued fighting. Indeed, Liu Xiufan's general Ding Wenhao (
丁文豪) soon engaged and defeated the forces under Wang Daolong's and Liu Mian (刘_), killing Wang and Liu Mian, and
then put the palace under siege. Eventually, though, Ding's forces became aware that Liu Xiufan had died, and began to
collapse on their own. Xiao and Yuan Can (who had returned to the government in light of the emergency) then defeated
Liu Xiufan's remaining troops, ending the rebellion. In light of the victory, Xiao was promoted to be part of the decisionmaking nucleus, along with Yuan, Chu, and Liu Bing. Meanwhile, Emperor Houfei had begun to develop a reputation of
being crazed and lacking in virtue. The people instead were hopeful that his cousin Liu Jingsu (刘景素) the Prince of
Jianping, who was an adult and was considered a kind and generous man, could become emperor. Many army officers
were hoping to join a rebellion by Liu Jingsu, while Yang Yunchang and Ruan Dianfu, who wanted to hold onto power,
wanted to eliminate Liu Jingsu as a potential threat. In 475, they wanted to act on an accusation that Liu Jingsu was
plotting rebellion and arrest him, but were stopped from doing so by Yuan and Xiao. In summer 476, however, one of the
army officers who was hopeful for a Liu Jingsu rebellion fled to Liu Jingsu's headquarters at Jingkou (京口, in modern
Zhenjiang, Jiangsu), falsely telling Liu Jingsu that Jiankang was in disarray and that he needed to quickly proceed to
Jiankang and take the throne. Liu Jingsu therefore started his uprising, but his forces lacked good generals. Meanwhile,
Xiao sent Huang Hui to attack Liu Jingsu, and Huang, while secretly sympathetic of Liu Jingsu's cause, was hesitant to
turn against Xiao because his lieutenants were all Xiao's confidants, and he defeated Liu Jingsu, who was captured and
killed. By 477, Emperor Houfei's reputation was one that was feared and despised, for by this point Empress Dowager
Wang and Consort Dowager Chen had completely lost control of him, and he was doing everything that he pleased. His
guard corps would accompany him, and they killed humans and animals alike that they encountered, often in cruel
manners. Emperor Houfei, indeed, would personally cut the victims open, and if he did not kill on a given day, he would
appear depressed for the day. Because he was leaving and returning to the palace at all times during day or night, the
palace guards would not dare to lock the palace gates, leaving palace defenses open. The situation was getting
sufficiently severe that even Ruan, who had wanted to keep Emperor Houfei in power, instead plotted to depose him, but
was discovered and executed. When Emperor Houfei subsequently received reports that the officials Du Youwen (杜幼文
), Shen Bo (沈勃), and Sun Chaozhi (孙超之) were part of Ruan's conspiracy, he led his guards and personally executed
Du, Shen, Sun, and their households, cutting the bodies to pieces, including even infants. On one particular day, Emperor
Houfei charged into Xiao Daocheng's headquarters and saw Xiao sleeping naked. He was intrigued by the large size of
Xiao's belly, and he woke Xiao up, drew a target on Xiao's belly, and prepared to shoot Xiao with arrows. Xiao pled for his
life, and Emperor Houfei's attendant Wang Tian'en (王天恩) pointed out that if he killed Xiao with an arrow, he would lose
Xiao's belly as a wonderful target -- and so at Wang's suggestion, Emperor Houfei shot Xiao with bone-made round-point
arrows and was pleased when he was able to target Xiao's bellybutton successfully. Xiao became fearful after the
incident, and he initially discussed with Yuan and Chu the possibilities of deposing the emperor, but could not get them to
go along with his plan. Instead, he independently planned with a number of his associates, and he also entered into
agreements with a number of Emperor Houfei's attendants. On the night of Qi Xi in 477, Emperor Houfei's attendant Yang
Yufu (杨玉夫), whom Emperor Houfei had previously threatened to kill, cut off Emperor Houfei's head while he was
asleep, and delivered the head to Xiao via Xiao's subordinate Wang Jingze (王敬则). Xiao immediately went to the palace
with the emperor's head in possession -- and the palace guards had been so terrified by the emperor that they were
supposed to protect that when they heard of his death, there was no mourning but great rejoicing. Xiao issued an edict in
the name of Empress Dowager Wang legitimizing the assassination and posthumously demoting Emperor Houfei to the
title of Prince of Cangwu, while making Emperor Houfei's younger brother Liu Zhun the Prince of Ancheng emperor (as
Emperor Shun). (According to later accusations by Shen Youzhi while starting an uprising against Xiao, Xiao also
exposed Emperor Houfei's body to the elements that it became infested by maggots, although it is not clear whether
Shen's accusation had a basis in fact.)
8) Shun Di 顺帝 Liu Zhun 刘准 477-479 Shengming (升明 sh_ng ming) 477-479 Emperor Shun of LS ((刘)宋顺帝) (467
━479), personal name Liu Zhun (刘准), courtesy name Zhongmou (仲谋), nickname Zhiguan (智观), was an emperor of
the Chinese dynasty LS. He became emperor in 477 after his violent older brother Emperor Houfei was assassinated by
his attendant at the instigation of the general Xiao Daocheng, but in his brief reign was effectively Xiao's puppet. In 479,
Xiao forced him to yield the throne to Xiao, ending LS and starting Southern Qi. Later that year, the former Emperor Shun
was killed by guards who were supposed to protect him, and the Liu clan was soon slaughtered as well. Background Liu
Zhun was born in 467, and ostensibly, his parents were Emperor Ming and Emperor Ming's concubine Consort Chen
Farong -- but history does not provide a conclusive account of his actual parentage. Historical accounts, written during the
succeeding Southern Qi Dynasty, indicate that Emperor Ming was impotent, and that although he had 12 sons, those
were the results of his having seized his brothers' pregnant concubines and kept the children if they bore males, or his
having had his concubines have sexual relations with others. (However, the fact that Emperir Ming's wife Empress Wang
Zhenfeng had two daughters, although no sons, may argue against such allegations, because it appeared rather unlikely
that Emperor Ming would do this over female children─indeed, the allegations stated that he would only do this if his
brothers' concubines bore males─or that the morally upright Empress Wang would engage in sexual relations with
others, thus suggesting that the allegations were made to delegitimize Emperor Ming's sons Emperor Houfei and Liu Zhun
vis-a-vis Southern Qi.) Those accounts allege that his biological father was Emperor Ming's brother Liu Xiufan (刘休范)
the Prince of Guiyang, and his biological mother was a concubine of Liu Xiufan. In any case, whether he was born of
Consort Chen or not, she raised him. In 471, he was created the Prince of Ancheng. After Emperor Ming's death in 472,
Liu Zhun's older brother Liu Yu the Crown Prince became emperor (as Emperor Houfei). Liu Zhun himself was made the
governor of the important capital region, Yang Province (扬州, modern Zhejiang and southern Jiangsu), but actual
governance was carried out by his staff members. In 474, after Liu Xiufan rebelled and sieged the capital Jiankang, the
official Chu Cheng (褚澄), not knowing that assassins sent by Emperor Houfei's general Xiao Daocheng had already
assassinated Liu Xiufan, seized Liu Zhun and surrendered Liu Zhun's headquarters to Liu Xiufan's army, claiming that Liu
Xiufan had declared Liu Zhun to be his son. (Liu Xiufan himself made no such public declaration before his death.)
However, when Liu Xiufan's army later found out that he was already dead, it collapsed, and Liu Zhun was not harmed. By
477, Emperor Houfei had shown himself to be a cruel and violent ruler, often roving outside the palace with his guards
and killing any person or animal that they encountered. Xiao, in fear of being killed by Emperor Houfei, engaged his
associates to have him assassinated, and then used his personal control of the army to effectively force other high level
officials Yuan Can and Liu Bing to grant him near-imperial powers. He then made Liu Zhun emperor (as Emperor Shun),
but the 10-year-old emperor was little more than Xiao's puppet. Reign Upon hearing of Emperor Houfei's death, the
general Shen Youzhi accused Xiao Daocheng of wanting to usurp the throne, and he started a rebellion from his Jing
Province (荆州, modern central and western Hubei), although he then ill-advisedly became bogged down in his progress
in sieging Yingcheng (郢城, in modern Wuhan, Hubei). Meanwhile, an attempted coup by Yuan Can and Liu Bing to seize
back power for the imperial clan failed in late 477, and both Yuan and Liu Bing were killed, permitting Xiao to further
consolidate his power. By spring 478, Shen also had been defeated, and he committed suicide. Xiao no longer had
opposition. He began to have himself bestowed with higher and higher offices and honors, posturing himself for the
throne. He was also gradually assassinating some of Emperor Shun's brothers. In winter 478, Emperor Shun created Xie
Fanjing, the granddaughter of the official Xie Zhuang (谢庄), as his wife and empress. In 479, Xiao first had Emperor Shun
create him the Duke of Qi and grant him the nine bestowments, and then create him the Prince of Qi. in summer 479,
Xiao was prepared to seize the throne, and he prepared a ceremony at which Emperor Shun was to ascend a high
platform and issue an edict giving the throne to him. However, the 12-year-old Emperor Shun was fearful, and he hid
under a statue of a buddha, crying. Xiao sent his general Wang Jingze (王敬则) into the palace, and Empress Dowager
Wang, fearful of what the consequences might be, personally led the eunuchs to search for Emperor Shun as well, finally
finding him. Wang Jingze calmed Emperor Shun with false promises, finally getting him to get on the wagon that Wang
Jingze prepared. He asked Wang, "Are you going to kill me?" Wang responded, "I will not kill you -- just letting you live
elsewhere. Do not be sad -- this is what your Liu clan did to the Sima clan as well." (This was a reference to how Emperor
Shun's great-grandfather Emperor Wu had seized the throne from Jin Dynasty.) Emperor Shun resumed crying, and said,
"When I am reincarnated, may it be that I will never be again reborn in an emperor's household!" Wang brought Emperor
Shun to the platform and had him complete the ceremony. Xiao accepted the throne, ending LS and starting Southern Qi
(as its Emperor Gao). Death Xiao Daocheng created Liu Zhun the Prince of Ruyin and built him a mansion in the vicinity
of the capital Jiankang, but put him under heavy guard. Less than a month after Xiao's taking of the throne, someone rode
a horse near Liu Zhun's mansion, and the guards mistook the situation as someone wanting to seize Liu Zhun and start a
rebellion, so they killed Liu Zhun themselves. Xiao not only did not punish them, but instead awarded them, and
subsequently started a slaughter of the Liu clan. He did, however, bury the former emperor with imperial honors.
Qi Dynasty 479-502
1) Emperor Gao of Southern Qi (Gao Di 高帝 g_o di) Xiao Daocheng (萧道成 xi_o dao ch_ng
479-482
Jianyuan (建元 jian yuan) 479-482 Emperor Gao of Southern Qi ((南)齐高帝) (427━482), personal name Xiao
Daocheng (萧道成), courtesy name Shaobo (绍伯), nickname Doujiang (斗将), was the founding emperor of the Chinese
dynasty Southern Qi. He served as a general under the preceding dynasty LS's Emperor Ming and Emperor Houfei, and,
in 477, fearful that the young but cruel Emperor Houfei would kill him, assassinated Emperor Houfei and seized power,
eventually taking the throne in 479 to start Southern Qi. Background Xiao Daocheng was born in 427. His ancestors
traced their line to the famed Han Dynasty prime minister Xiao He, and if their records were accurate, Xiao Daocheng was
24 generations after Xiao He. During the Jin and LS dynasties, Xiao's ancestors served as low-level officials. His father
Xiao Chengzhi (萧承之) was a general under Emperor Wen of LS, and for his contributions in campaigns against rival
Northern Wei was created the Baron of Jinxing. Xiao Daocheng himself first studied the Confucian classics at the
university set up by Emperor Wen and headed by the hermit Lei Cizong (雷次宗) when he was 12, but by age 15 he was
serving in the military. He continued serving as a military officer during the reigns of Emperors Wen and Xiaowu (Emperor
Wen's son). Under Emperor Ming of LS By the time that Emperor Xiaowu's brother Emperor Ming and Emperor Xiaowu's
son Liu Zixun were fighting for the throne in 466 after the brief reign and assassination of Emperor Xiaowu's son Emperor
Qianfei, Xiao Daocheng was a general, and his allegiance was with Emperor Ming. He participated in the campaign
against the army nominally commanded by Liu Zixun's brother Liu Zifang (刘子房) the Prince of Xunyang and governor of
Kuaiji Commandery (会稽, roughly modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang), and he subsequently defeated the army sent south by
Xue Andu (薛安都) the governor of Xu Province (徐州, modern northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui). For these
contributions, Emperor Ming created him the Marquess of Xiyang and made him the acting governor of South Xu Province
(南徐州, modern western central Jiangsu). Later, he became the governor of Southern Yan Province (南兖州, modern
eastern central Jiangsu), defending the important city of Huaiyin (淮阴, in modern Huaian, Jiangsu). It was said that while
at this post, he began to engage a group of talented followers. During Emperor Ming's reign, there were rumors that Xiao
Daocheng's facial features were unusual and were signs that he would become emperor. By 471, Emperor Ming, who had
already carried out a campaign of killing most of his brothers and some high level officials in fear that they would not be
loyal to his son Liu Yu the Crown Prince after his death, became suspicious of Xiao, particularly because there were also
rumors that Xiao was secretly communicating with Northern Wei. Emperor Ming sent his general Wu Xi (吴喜), a friend of
Xiao's, with a sealed pot of wine to Huaiyin to deliver to Xiao. Xiao became fearful that the wine was poisoned and was
preparing to flee to Northern Wei. Wu secretly told Xiao that the wine was not poisoned, and drank some himself, before
Xiao would dare to drink. Once Wu returned to the capital Jiankang, he assured Emperor Ming that Xiao was loyal, but
after details of Wu's leaking the information to Xiao became known to Emperor Ming, Emperor Ming forced Wu to commit
suicide, but did not take any actions against Xiao. Soon thereafter he recalled Xiao to Jiankang. Xiao's followers largely
suspected that Emperor Ming would kill him and suggested that he resist, but Xiao believed that Emperor Ming would not
do so, and therefore returned to Jiankang, where he became a commanding general of Crown Prince Yu's guards. (In
secret, Xiao told his followers that he believed that LS would not last much longer, and that he would need their support
when opportunity presented itself.) When Emperor Ming grew gravely ill in 472, on the recommendation of the high level
official Chu Yuan (to whom, along with Yuan Can, Emperor Ming entrusted Crown Prince Yu to), who was a friend of Xiao,
Xiao became a commanding general of the capital defense force. Emperor Ming soon died, and Crown Prince Yu took the
throne as Emperor Houfei. Under Emperor Houfei of LS In 474, Emperor Houfei's uncle Liu Xiufan (刘休范) the Prince of
Guiyang and governor of Jiang Province (江州, modern Jiangxi and Fujian), angry that he had not been made the regent,
rebelled and made a quick advancement toward Jiankang. At a major military strategy session, although there were a
number of high level officials, powerful associates of the emperor, and senior generals present, no one dared to speak
first until Xiao Daocheng proposed the strategy of not sending an army out to engage Liu Xiufan but rather defending the
strong defensive posts in the outskirts of Jiankang and not actively engaging Liu Xiufan, forcing him into a stalemate and
causing him to run out of food supplies. Without significant opposition, Xiao's plan was adopted. Liu Xiufan's forces soon
arrived, and he made a direct assault against Xiao's defensive position. With Xiao's approval, his officers Huang Hui (黄回
) and Zhang Jing'er (张敬儿) falsely surrendered to Liu Xiufan, and then further informed Liu Xiufan that Xiao wished to
surrender as well. While pretending to secretly convey the information, Zhang and Huang then assassinated Liu Xiufan.
However, because they had to then discard Liu Xiufan's head to avoid Liu Xiufan's guards, the news was not known
initially, and Liu Xiufan's forces intensified their siege against the various defense positions. Xiao was barely able to hold
his position, but Liu Xiufan's general Ding Wenhao (丁文豪) was able to defeat and kill Liu Mian (刘_) and Wang Daolong
(王道隆) and put the palace under siege. Soon, however, news of Liu Xiufan's death became gradually known, and Ding's
forces collapsed. In the aftermaths of Liu Xiufan's defeat, Xiao was promoted, and he, along with Yuan Can, Chu Yuan,
and Emperor Houfan's distant uncle Liu Bing, were in charge of the affairs of government and known as the "four nobles" (
四贵). In 476, when Emperor Houfei's cousin Liu Jingsu (刘景素) the governor of South Xu Province, who received wrong
information that Jiankang had fallen into a state of confusion, started a rebellion, Xiao coordinated the campaign against
Liu Jingsu (although he did not personally command troops), and LIu Jingsu was defeated and killed. In 477, Emperor
Houfei, by now aged 14, was growing increasingly impulsive and violent, often wandering outside the palace with his
guards and killing all people or animals they encountered. One day, he suddenly charged into Xiao's headquarters, and
saw Xiao sleeping naked. He was intrigued by the large size of Xiao's belly, and he woke Xiao up, drew a target on Xiao's
belly, and prepared to shoot Xiao with arrows. Xiao pled for his life, and Emperor Houfei's attendant Wang Tian'en (王天恩
) pointed out that if he killed Xiao with an arrow, he would lose Xiao's belly as a wonderful target─and so at Wang's
suggestion, Emperor Houfei shot Xiao with bone-made round-point arrows and was pleased when he was able to target
Xiao's bellybutton successfully. Xiao became fearful after the incident, and he initially discussed with Yuan and Chu the
possibilities of deposing the emperor, but could not get them to go along with his plan. Xiao therefore acted on his own,
associating with Emperor Houfei's attendants, and eventually getting one of them, Yang Yufu (杨玉夫), to kill Emperor
Houfei while Emperor Houfei was asleep. Xiao then forced Yuan and Liu Bing to effectively grant him near-imperial
powers, leading to concerns that Xiao would next take the throne. Under Emperor Shun of LS Xiao Daocheng made
Emperor Houfei's brother Liu Zhun the Prince of Ancheng emperor (as Emperor Shun). In response, the general Shen
Youzhi arose with the troops of his Jing Province (荆州, modern central and western Hubei), accusing Xiao of wanting to
usurp the throne. Yuan Can and Liu Bing also believed that that was Xiao's intent, and, as Xiao prepared for a campaign
against Shen, secretly planned another uprising within Jiankang to overthrow Xiao. However, Yuan, believing that the plot
would not succeed without Chu Yuan's support, told Chu of the plot as well, and Chu, who was friendly with Xiao, quickly
informed Xiao. Yuan, not aware of this, continued his preparations, aligning with a number of generals and preparing to
rise. However, Liu Bing panicked during the preparation stage, and fled to Yuan's defense post at the fortress of Shitou
Cheng several hours in advance of the scheduled time, alarming Xiao and allowing him to further start a
counterinsurrection, arresting and killing several generals aligned with Yuan and Liu Bing before they could act. Xiao's
troops then sieged Yuan's defenses at Shitou, killing Yuan and Liu Bing. Meanwhile, the provincial governors that Shen
invited to join him all declined and either resisted him or stood by. Shen nevertheless had a strong army, and the imperial
army generals were apprehensive about facing him. He initially progressed quickly toward Jiankang, but as he went past
Yingcheng (郢城, in modern Wuhan, Hubei), he was provoked by insults of Liu Shilong (柳世隆), the chief of staff for Liu
Zan (刘赞) the Prince of Wuling and governor of Ying Province into stopping and putting the well-fortified Yingcheng under
siege. In 478, with his forces unable to capture Yingcheng, Shen Youzhi's soldiers began to desert. Shen then aggravated
the situation by imposing severe punishments on the commanding officers of deserting soldiers─which in turn caused
them to desert. Shen's officer Liu Rangbing (刘攘兵) then surrendered to Liu Shilong, causing his forces to collapse. He
tried to retreat to Jiangling (the capital of Jing Province), but by the time he did so, Zhang Jing'er, whom Xiao had made
the governor of Yong Province (雍州, modern southwestern Henan and southwestern Hubei) with the intent of having him
attack Shen from the rear, had already captured Jiangling and killed Shen Yuanyan, whom Shen Youzhi had left in charge
of Jiangling. Shen's remaining army, seeing that Jiangling had fallen, collapsed, and he initially tried to flee, but realizing
that his escape route had been cut off, committed suicide. Xiao was now without substantial opposition, particularly after
he killed Huang Hui, who had been implicated in conspiracies with Liu Jingsu and Yuan Can earlier, later that year after
Huang showed signs of insubordination. He began to put his sons into important posts as well. He also engaged the nobly
born official Wang Jian as a key assistant and, with Chu's tacit agreement, started making moves toward the throne,
including quietly assassinating Emperor Houfei's brothers. In 479, over a brief time span of two months, he had Emperor
Shun create him the Duke of Qi, and then the Prince of Qi, and bestow him the nine bestowments, all progressive steps
toward the throne. In summer 479, he forced the fearful Emperor Shun into yielding the throne to him, ending LS and
starting Southern Qi, as its Emperor Gao. Reign A major trend that Emperor Gao tried to start after he took the throne
was a move against wastefulness and luxury and a move toward frugality. He himself appeared to be fairly frugal,
although the actual effects his edicts on those subjects had on his officials and nobles are unclear.
Later in 479, when someone was riding a horse near the mansion of the former Emperor Shun (now the Prince of Ruyin),
the guards that Emperor Gao posted to watch over the former emperor panicked, believing someone was about to start a
rebellion, and they killed the former emperor themselves. Emperor Gao not only did not punish these guards, but he
rewarded them and further carried out a massacre of LS's imperial clan. Later that year, he created his son Xiao Ze, who
had by that point already been known as an able general, crown prince, and created his other sons, as well as Xiao Ze's
oldest son Xiao Zhangmao, princes. Meanwhile, Emperor Gao received reports that Northern Wei was about to make an
attack and claim to be trying to reestablish LS on the behalf of Liu Chang (刘昶) the Prince of Danyang, a son of LS's
Emperor Wen who had in 465 fled to Northern Wei over fears that Emperor Qianfei would kill him. Emperor Gao prepared
the northern borders in anticipation of a major attack, which Northern Wei did launch in winter 479. The Northern Wei
attack, however, after Northern Wei forces made a failed siege of Shouyang. However, realizing that Jiankang was
relatively defenseless (as throughout Jin and LS, a wall had never been built around Jiankang), he started a construction
project to build a wall around Jiankang. Northern Wei and Southern Qi forces would continue to have minor border battles
for another year, until spring 481, but there would be no further major campaigns by either side. In spring 482, Emperor
Gao died. Crown Prince Ze succeeded him as Emperor Wu.
2) Emperor Wu of Southern Qi (Wu Di 武帝 w_ di) Xiao Ze (萧赜 xi_o ze) 482-493 Yongming (永明 y_ng ming)
483-493 Emperor Wu of Southern Qi ((南)齐武帝) (440━493), personal name Xiao Ze (萧赜), courtesy name Xuanyuan (
宣远), nickname Long'er (龙儿), was the second emperor of the Chinese Southern Qi Dynasty. He was considered to be
an able and diligent emperor, although he was also criticized for wastefulness. Background Xiao Ze was born in the LS
capital Jiankang in 440, when his father Xiao Daocheng was just 13 years old. He was the oldest son of his father, and his
mother Liu Zhirong was Xiao Daocheng's wife. By 466, when Xiao Daocheng was a LS general, Xiao Ze was a county
magistrate at Gan County (赣县, in modern Ganzhou, Jiangsi), when he was stuck in the civil war between Emperor Ming,
whose claim his father Xiao Daocheng supported, and Emperor Ming's nephew Liu Zixun, who also claimed the throne.
Because of Xiao Daocheng's support for Emperor Ming, Xiao Ze, who was deep in the territory controlled by Liu Zixun,
was arrested and imprisoned. His associate Huan Kang (桓康) fled with Xiao Ze's wife Pei Huizhao and his two sons Xiao
Zhangmao and Xiao Ziliang (萧子良), and then organized some 100 people, along with Xiao Ze's distant relative Xiao
Xinzu (萧欣祖), to make a surprise attack on Gan and rescue Xiao Ze. Xiao Ze then started an uprising at Gan against Liu
Zixun. After Liu Zixun was defeated later that year, for Xiao Ze's contributions, Emperor Ming created him the Viscount of
Gan, but he declined. In 477, after Xiao Daocheng assassinated Emperor Ming's violent and arbitrary son and successor
Emperor Houfei, the general Shen Youzhi, from his base of Jing Province (荆州, modern central and western Hubei),
started a campaign against Xiao Daocheng. At that time, Xiao Ze, who had just previously been the chief of staff for
Emperor Houfei's brother Liu Xie (刘燮) the governor of Ying Province (郢州, modern eastern Hubei), was returning to
Jiankang with Liu Xie. He had reached Xunyang (寻阳, in modern Jiujiang, Jiangxi) when news of Shen's uprising arrived.
His associates all recommending speeding back to the capital Jiankang, but Xiao Ze instead took up defense position at
Pencou (湓口, also in modern Jiujiang) to block the Yangtze River in anticipation of Shen's advancing east. When Xiao
Daocheng received Xiao Ze's report, he gladly stated, "He is really my son!" (As it turned out, the defense was not
needed, as Shen became mired in his siege of Yingcheng (郢城, in modern Wuhan, Hubei), and eventually his forces
collapsed when he could not capture Yingcheng quickly, but Xiao Ze's tactical setup would have provided additional
difficulty for Shen had he advanced further.) Xiao Ze was subsequently created the Marquess of Wenxi, and then the
Duke of Wenxi, as his father progressed toward taking the throne. In 479, after Xiao Daocheng took the throne from
Emperor Shun, ending LS and establishing Southern Qi as its Emperor Gao, Xiao Ze was created the crown prince.
As crown prince As crown prince, Xiao Ze was often involved in the important matters of state. In 479, for example, when
the official Xie Duo (谢□) publicly displayed refusal to submit to Emperor Gao after he took the throne, Xiao Ze suggested
that Emperor Gao execute Xie to warn others, but Emperor Gao refused, instead finding another excuse to remove Xie. In
480, Xiao Ze's wife, Crown Princess Pei Huizhao, died. He would not have a wife after that point, although he had a
multitude of concubines.
Because Xiao Ze was only 13 years younger than his father Emperor Gao, and he felt that he contributed greatly to the
establishment of Southern Qi, he often interjected himself into governmental matters, and he often used items that were
properly only usable by the emperor. He also trusted his jester Zhang Jingzhen (张景真), who was so luxurious in his
lifestyle to be like an emperor. When the official Xun Boyu (荀伯玉) reported this to Emperor Gao while Xiao Ze happened
to be away from the capital Jiankang to worship the ancestors, Emperor Gao was enraged. Xiao Ze's brother Xiao Ni the
Prince of Yuzhang found this out and quickly rode on a horse to personally warn Xiao Ze. Xiao Ze quickly returned to
Jiankang, and the next day, Emperor Gao sent Xiao Ze's two sons, Xiao Zhangmao the Prince of Nan Commandery and
Xiao Ziliang the Duke of Wenxi, to rebuke Xiao Ze for him and to order Zhang put to death in Xiao Ze's name. It took
about a month for Emperor Gao's furor to subside, after a feast organized by the official Wang Jingze (王敬则) at the
crown prince's palace. For some time, however, Emperor Gao considered replacing Xiao Ze as crown prince with Xiao Ni,
but because Xiao Ni continued to serve his brother faithfully and carefully, their brotherly relations were not affected. In
482, Emperor Gao died, and Xiao Ze took the throne as Emperor Wu. Early reign Immediately after taking the throne,
Emperor Wu posthumously honored his wife Crown Princess Pei as Empress Mu, and he created his oldest son (by her)
Xiao Zhangmao crown prince. He also allowed a number of late-LS officials who had opposed or been opposed by
Emperor Gao, including Shen Youzhi, Yuan Can, Liu Bing, and Liu Jingsu (刘景素), to be reburied with proper honors,
reasoning that they were faithful officials who deserved recognition. He largely handed important governmental matters
himself, while having Wang Jian, Wang Yan (王晏), his brother Xiao Ni, and his son Xiao Ziliang as the key advisors.
However, his associates Lu Wendu (吕文度), Ru Faliang (茹法亮), and Lu Wenxian (吕文显) were also powerful behind
the scenes.In 483, in what is considered a major blot on his record, Emperor Wu, still resentful that Xun Boyu had
informed Emperor Gao of his misbehavior, had Xun and the general Yuan Chongzu (垣崇祖), whom he suspected of the
same and who was a friend of Xun's, put to death under false accusations of treason. He also put to death the ambitious
general Zhang Jing'er (张敬儿) and the official Xie Chaozong (谢超宗). In 485, displeased that Li Shuxian (李叔献) the
governor of Jiao Province (交州, modern northern Vietnam) had been nominally submissive but had actually acted
independently, Emperor Wu sent the general Liu Kai (刘楷) to attack Li. Li, in fear, fled back to Jiankang in submission.
Later that year, Emperor Wu reestablished the national university and merged the imperial research facility
Zongmingguan (总明观) into it, having Wang Jian as its head. In late 485, with the people fearful that Emperor Wu was
using a new census bureau to discover cases of tax fraud and prosecute them, Tang Yuzhi (唐宇之) rose in Fuyang and
captured a number of commanderies, claiming imperial title in spring 486. His rebellion was, however, soon suppressed.
In 487, the migrant Huan Tiansheng (桓天生), who claimed to be a descendant of Huan Xuan, rose in Nanyang, with aid
from Northern Wei. However, after several months, he was defeated. Late reign In 490, in response to peace overtures
that Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei made, Emperor Wu made peace with Northern Wei. In fall 490, Emperor Wu's son
Xiao Zixiang (萧子响) the Prince of Badong and governor of Jing Province, who had been interested in military matters,
was accused of making improper trades of weapon with barbarian tribes. His staff members secretly informed Emperor
Wu of this, and when Xiao Zixiang learned of this, he killed the staff members who reported on him. In response, Emperor
Wu sent a small detachment of soldiers under the command of general Hu Xiezhi (胡谐之), to force Xiao Zixiang to give
up his post and return to Jiankang to receive punishment. Hu, however, mishandled the situation as he refused all
attemptes by Xiao Zixiang to surrender, forcing Xiao Zixiang to engage him in battle and defeat him. Xiao Zixiang
subsequently tried to head to Jiankang alone to confess his guilt, but on the way, he was intercepted by the general Xiao
Shunzhi (萧顺之), whom Crown Prince Zhangmao, who was fearful of Xiao Zixiang, had secretly instructed to find
someway to have Xiao Zixiang killed, and Xiao Shunzhi strangled Xiao Zixiang to death. Emperor Wu, while mourning
Xiao Zixiang, publicly declared his guilt and posthumously demoted him to marquess. In 491, in contravention with the
traditional Confucian ceremonies of ancestral worship, Emperor Wu ordered that his parents (Emperor Gao and his wife
Liu Zhirong) and grandparents (Emperor Gao's father Xiao Chengzhi (萧承之) and mother Chen Daozhi (陈道止) be
offered, as sacrifices, items that they favored as foods, rather than the Confucian requirement of sacrificing one pig, one
cow, and one goat each. The items offered those ancestors, instead, were:
* Emperor Gao: ground pork sauce, pickled vegetable soup
* Liu Zhirong: green tea, fried dough strips, grilled fish
* Xiao Chengzhi: leavened bread, duck porridge
* Chen Daozhi: young bamboo shoots, duck eggs
Emperor Wu was heavily criticized by Confucian scholars for disobeying tradition (particularly because he also
commissioned his sister-in-law, Xiao Ni's wife Princess Yu, to be in charge of the ancestral worship), but this act appeared
to show quite a bit of humanity in his relationship with his parents and grandparents. Also in 491, a project that Emperor
Wu commissioned in 489 -- the revision of the penal statutes to eliminate contradictory provisions in the statutes written
by the Jin officials Zhang Fei (张斐) and Du Yu -- was completed, which greatly eliminated arbitrary and unfair
enforcement of the laws. However, while Emperor Wu also ordered that the national university add a department for legal
studies to eliminate the issue where officials were not familiar with penal laws, the order was not actually carried out. In
493, Crown Prince Zhangmao, to whom Emperor Wu had delegated part of imperial authority late in his reign, died.
Emperor Wu created Crown Prince Zhangmao's son, Xiao Zhaoye the Prince of Nan Commandery, as crown prince to
replace his father. Later that year, he died, and while there was initially an attempt by the official Wang Rong (王融) to
have Xiao Ziliang made emperor instead, Xiao Zhaoye took the throne to succeed Emperor Wu.
The Song Dynasty historian Sima Guang, in his Zizhi Tongjian, had these comments about Emperor Wu:
When Shizu [Emperor Wu's temple name] reigned, he was attentive to the important matters of state, oversaw what
was importantant, was strict and intelligent, and resolute and decisive. He gave his commandery governors and county
magistrate long office terms, and if their subordinates violated the law, he would send the imperial swords to the
governors or magistrates to have them carry out the capital punishments. Therefore, during his era of Yongming, the
people were rich and peaceful, and there was little crime. However, he also favored feasting and gaming, and while he
expressed displeasure at luxuries and wastefulness, he could not avoid them himself.
3) Prince of Yulin (Yu Lin Wang 郁林王 yu lin wang) Xiao Zhaoye (萧昭业 xi_o zh_o ye)
493-494
Longchang (隆昌 long ch_ng) 494 Xiao Zhaoye (萧昭业) (473━494), often known by his posthumously
demoted title of Prince of Yulin (郁林王), courtesy name Yuanshang (元尚), nickname Fashen (法身), was an emperor of
the Chinese dynasty Southern Qi. He is known as the Prince of Yulin because that was the title he was posthumously
demoted to after his granduncle Xiao Luan assassinated him in 494. During his brief reign, he was known as overly
devoting his time on games and pleasure, unaware that the ambitious Xiao Luan had targeted him for removal, and after
his death, Xiao Luan briefly made his brother Xiao Zhaowen emperor, but then seized the throne himself. Background
Xiao Zhaoye was born in 473, when his great-grandfather Xiao Daocheng was a LS general. Initially, after Xiao Daocheng
seized the throne in 479, ending LS and establishing Southern Qi (as its Emperor Gao), Xiao Zhaoye's father Xiao
Zhangmao, as the oldest son of the crown prince Xiao Ze, was created the Prince of Nan Commandery. Xiao Zhaoye's
mother Wang Baoming, Xiao Zhangmao's wife, was created the Princess of Nan Commandery. Xiao Zhaoye himself was
not given any titles at the moment. He was the only son of Xiao Zhangmao born of Princess Wang, as she was not much
favored by her husband.
As Prince of Nan Commandery, then Crown Prince In 482, after Emperor Gao died, Xiao Ze succeeded him as Emperor
Wu. Xiao Zhangmao was created the Crown Prince, and Xiao Zhaoye, as Xiao Zhangmao's oldest son, was given his
father's old title of Prince of Nan Commandery. In 484, at age 11, he married He Jingying as his princess. On the surface,
when Xiao Zhaoye was the Prince of Nan Commandery, he was thought to be studious, careful, filially pious, elegant in
his behavior, and dexterious. Therefore, his grandfather Emperor Wu favored him greatly. However, when not in the
presence of his grandfather or father, Xiao Zhaoye was instead frivolous and spending time with people who were bad
influences. During this time, he lived with his uncle Xiao Ziliang (萧子良) the Prince of Jingling in Xifu (西府), an important
suburb of the capital Jiankang. As Xiao Zhangmao often limited his activities and budget, Xiao Zhaoye often borrowed
money from rich households, who would not dare to refuse. He also duplicated a set of keys for the fortress gates so that
he could spend night time in games at various military camps. Exasperated, his teachers Shi Renzu (史仁祖) and Hu
Tianyi (胡天翼), believing that they and their households would be in trouble regardless of whether they informed this to
Emperor Wu or Crown Prince Zhangmao or not, both committed suicide. Xiao Ziliang's wife Princess Yuan raised him with
love, but Xiao Zhaoye, as he grew, became suspicious that his uncle was interested in taking the throne himself. Xiao
Zhaoye's wife Princess He was known for her adulterous activities, as she carried on affairs with others while she was
princess. The most infamous affair she carried out was with Xiao Zhaoye's attendant Yang Min (杨玟) -- it was said that
they spent day and night together, just like husband and wife. However, He Jingying also was very loving in her
relationship with Xiao Zhaoye, and so Xiao Zhaoye turned a blind eye to her adulterous activities. (Some historians
indicate that there could have also been a sexual relationship between Xiao Zhaoye and Yang Min, suggesting a menage
a trois.) In 493, when Xiao Zhangmao was ill, Xiao Zhaoye displayed great distress, so much so that his own health
appeared to be in jeopardy, and those who saw him were touched. However, as soon as he arrived at his house, he
became happy and feasted. He often requested a witch named Yang to curse his grandfather and father so that he could
become emperor sooner. Soon, Xiao Zhangmao died, and Xiao Zhaoye gave Lady Yang much rewards, believing her
curses to be effective, and asked her to continue to curse his grandfather. Not realizing Xiao Zhaoye's activities, Emperor
Wu created Xiao Zhaoye crown prince to replace Xiao Zhangmao. Princess He was created crown princess, and Crown
Princess Wang became crown princess dowager. Emperor Wu himself soon fell sick, and while Xiao Zhaoye continued to
put on a front of distress, he was in fact quite happy, and when he wrote to Crown Princess He, he wrote one large
character of Xi (喜, meaning "happiness") surrounded by 36 smaller Xi characters. As Emperor Wu fell extremely ill, the
official Wang Rong (王融), who was friendly with Xiao Ziliang, tried to carry out a plot to put Xiao Ziliang on the throne
instead of Xiao Zhaoye. The plot, however, was thwarted by Emperor Wu's cousin Xiao Luan the Marquess of Xichang,
and after Emperor Wu soon died late in 493, Xiao Zhaoye took the throne. Reign Emperor Wu's will instructed Xiao
Zhaoye to entrust governmental matters to Xiao Ziliang and Xiao Luan, but Xiao Zhaoye, believing Xiao Ziliang to be
complicit in Wang Rong's plot, immediately carried out several actions that were intended to show his distrust, leaving
actual power in Xiao Luan's hands while entrusting palace and military matters to several associates he endeared himself
to while he was the Prince of Nan Commandery, while leaving Xiao Ziliang with a highly honored but ceremonial post.
Xiao Zhaoye also ordered Wang to commit suicide. As soon as Emperor Wu was placed in a coffin, Xiao Zhaoye resumed
the playing of music, which was traditionally considered inappropriate during times of mourning. He also took Emperor
Wu's favorite concubine Consort Huo as his own consort -- an act then considered incest -- and, in order to avoid this from
being known, had her name changed to Xu. He honored Crown Princess Dowager Wang as empress dowager, while
creating Crown Princess He empress. He spent his days on feasting, games, and on rewarding his associates, often seen
talking to money, "Before, it was not easy for me to obtain even one of you. Now there is no one to stop me from using
you." The treasury surpluses that the frugal Emperor Gao and the relatively frugal Emperor Wu built up were expended in
less than a year. His associates were selling offices openly, and Xiao Zhaoye not only did not curb them in, but approved
their requests handily. Xiao Luan, seeing that Xiao Zhaoye was not behaving appropriately, began considering deposing
Xiao Zhaoye. He also often counseled Xiao Zhaoye to change his ways, but Xiao Zhaoye did not listen and began to be
suspicious of Xiao Luan, particularly after Xiao Luan subsequently forced him to execute Empress He's lover Yang Min
and his associate Xu Longju (徐龙驹) after accusing them of crimes. He tried to discuss the matter with Emperor Wu's
younger brother Xiao Qiang (萧锵) the Prince of Poyang, who was however opposed to the action. Meanwhile, Xiao
Zhaoye's trusted generals Xiao Chen (萧谌) and Xiao Tanzhi (萧坦之), seeing how frivolous his actions were, instead
secretly joined Xiao Luan's party and was informing Xiao Luan of Xiao Zhaoye's actions. Soon, Xiao Luan was finding
excuses to execute several other associates of Xiao Zhaoye -- including the general Zhou Fengshu (周奉叔), the teacher
Du Wenqian (杜文谦), and the head of the household Qiwu Zhenzhi (綦毋珍之) -- in order to weaken Xiao Zhaoye's
associates. Meanwhile, Xiao Zhaoye's own alertness was reduced after Xiao Ziliang died of anxiety in summer 494. By fall
494, however, Xiao Zhaoye was tired of Xiao Luan, and he plotted with Empress He's uncle He Yin (何胤) to have Xiao
Luan killed. He Yin did not dare to do so, and suggested that Xiao Luan be observed further. Xiao Zhaoye therefore
stopped giving important tasks to Xiao Luan. Xiao Luan then started his coup, in conjunction with Xiao Chen and Xiao
Tanzhi -- and Xiao Zhaoye, not realizing that Xiao Chen and Xiao Tanzhi had betrayed him, sought help from Xiao Chen
when he realized Xiao Luan was beginning an attack on the palace. His hopes were dashed when he saw Xiao Chen
enter the palace. His palace guards were still ready to fight, but Xiao Zhaoye instead fled, and Xiao Chen chased him
down and killed him. Xiao Luan issued an edict in Empress Dowager Wang's name, demoting Xiao Zhaoye to the rank of
prince (with the title of Prince of Yulin, which became the title he was thereafter known for) and making his younger
brother Xiao Zhaowen the Prince of Xin'an emperor.
4) Prince of Hailing (Hai Ling Wang (海陵王 hai ling wang) Xiao Zhaowen (萧昭文 xi_o zh_o wen)
494
Yanxing (延兴 yan x_ng) 494 Xiao Zhaowen (萧昭文) (480━494), formally Prince Gong of Hailing (海陵恭王),
courtesy name Jishang (季尚), was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Southern Qi. He is known as the Prince of Hailing
because that was the title he was demoted to after he was deposed by his granduncle Xiao Luan in 494. (Xiao Luan had
made him emperor earlier in 494 after assassinating his brother Xiao Zhaoye.) After Xiao Luan deposed him and
assumed the throne himself, he had Xiao Zhaowen poisoned. Background Xiao Zhaowen was born in 480, as the second
son of the then-Southern Qi Price of Nan Commandery Xiao Zhangmao, the oldest son of the crown prince Xiao Ze. His
mother was Xiao Zhangmao's concubine Lady Xu. Little is known about his childhood. After the death of his greatgrandfather Emperor Gao in 482, his grandfather Xiao Ze became emperor (as Emperor Wu), and his father Xiao
Zhangmao became Crown Prince. In 486, at age six, Xiao Zhaowen was created the Duke of Linru. In 490, he married
Wang Shaoming, the daughter of the official Wang Ci (王慈), as his duchess. Early in 493, his father Xiao Zhangmao died,
and his older brother Xiao Zhaoye became Crown Prince. Several months later, still in 493, Emperor Wu died as well, and
Xiao Zhaoye became emperor. Xiao Zhaoye created Xiao Zhaowen the Prince of Xin'an. Xiao Zhaoye was a frivolous and
wasteful ruler, spending much time in feast and games. In fall 494, the prime minister Xiao Luan the Marquess of Xichang,
cousin of Emperor Wu, seeing Xiao Zhaoye as an incompetent ruler and believing that Xiao Zhaoye was going to act
against him, carried out a coup and assassinated Xiao Zhaoye. He placed Xiao Zhaowen on the throne to succeed Xiao
Zhaoye. Reign While Xiao Zhaowen, now 14, carried the title of emperor, actual authority was in the hands of Xiao Luan,
and Xiao Luan had himself initially created the Duke of Xuancheng, and then the Prince of Xuancheng. In Xiao Zhaowen's
name, Xiao Luan soon carried out the executions of a large number of princes who were sons of Emperors Gao and Wu,
whom he viewed as threats against himself:
* Xiao Qiang (萧锵), the Prince of Poyang, son of Emperor Gao
* Xiao Zilong (萧子隆), the Prince of Sui, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Zimao (萧子懋), the Prince of Jin'an, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Zijing (萧子敬), the Prince of Anlu, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Rui (萧锐), the Prince of Nanping, son of Emperor Gao
* Xiao Qiu (萧□), the Prince of Jinxi, son of Emperor Gao
* Xiao Kent (萧铿), the Prince of Yidu, son of Emperor Gao
* Xiao Shuo (萧铄), the Prince of Guiyang, son of Emperor Gao
* Xiao Jun (萧钧), the Prince of Hengyang, son of Emperor Gao
* Xiao Feng (萧锋), the Prince of Jiangxia, son of Emperor Gao
* Xiao Zizhen (萧子真), the Prince of Jian'an, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Zilun (萧子伦), the Prince of Baling, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Ziqing (萧子卿), the Prince of Luling, son of Emperor Wu
Initially, Xiao Zhaowen's younger brother Xiao Zhaoxiu (萧昭秀), the Prince of Linhai, was to be killed as well, but was
spared at the last minute. In place of these imperial princes from Emperors Gao and Wu's lines, Xiao Luan, because his
own sons were young, installed his nephews Xiao Yaoguang (萧遥光), Xiao Yaoxin (萧遥欣), and Xiao Yaochang (萧遥昌)
in important posts. Less than three months after Xiao Zhaowen became emperor, Xiao Luan issued an edict in the name
of Xiao Zhangmao's wife Empress Dowager Wang Baoming, stating that Xiao Zhaowen was not sufficiently intelligent and
healthy to be emperor, giving the throne to Xiao Luan, who then took the throne as Emperor Ming. After reign The edict
deposing Xiao Zhaowen created him the title of the Prince of Hailing. About a month after he was removed from the
throne, however, Xiao Luan, on pretenses that Xiao Zhaowen was ill, sent imperial physicians to see him, but instead
instructed the physicians to have him poisoned. Xiao Zhaowen was given the posthumous name Gong (恭, meaning
"respectful") and buried with great honors, but not imperial honors.
5) Emperor Ming of Southern Qi - Ming Di 明帝 Xiao Luan 萧鸾 494-498
Jianwu (建武 jian w_) 494-498 Yongtai
(永泰 y_ng tai) 498 Emperor Ming of Southern Qi ((南)齐明帝) (452━498), personal name Xiao Luan (萧鸾), courtesy
name Jingqi (景栖), nickname Xuandu (玄度), was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Southern Qi. He was a nephew of
the founding emperor Emperor Gao, who later became prime minister during the reign of Emperor Gao's great-grandson
Xiao Zhaoye.
Believing that Xiao Zhaoye was an incompetent emperor who might act against him, Xiao Luan carried out a coup d'etat
and assassinated Xiao Zhaoye. After briefly making Xiao Zhaoye's brother Xiao Zhaowen emperor, he deposed Xiao
Zhaowen as well, and took over himself as emperor. During his reign, he was known for being exacting and demanding,
but also being frugal. He is seen as a very dark figure in history, because he slaughtered the surviving sons of Emperor
Gao and Emperor Gao's son Emperor Wu, despite their kindness toward him. Background Xiao Luan was born in 452. His
mother's name is lost to history, and his father was Xiao Daosheng (萧道生), a mid-low-level official during LS. Xiao
Daosheng died early, and Xiao Luan was raised by Xiao Daosheng's younger brother Xiao Daocheng, a LS general. He
had two brothers, Xiao Feng (萧凤), who was older, and Xiao Mian (萧缅), who was younger. Xiao Daocheng was said to
have loved Xiao Luan greatly, even more so than his own sons. In 472, at the age of 20, Xiao Luan was made a county
magistrate, and during the next few years, as his uncle's powers increased, he was promoted through a number of
positions, becoming a general in 478. When Xiao Daocheng took over the throne from Emperor Shun of LS in 479, ending
LS and establishing Southern Qi, he created Xiao Luan the Marquess of Xichang. During Emperors Gao and Wu's reigns
During the reigns of Emperors Gao and Wu, Xiao Luan was steadily promoted, until he reached the higher echelon of
power late in the reign of Emperor Wu. He was well regarded by the public and officials alike for his humble attitude and
frugality in living, as he did not use luxury items and took on the clothing of an ordinary member of the intelligentsia. At
one time, Emperor Wu considered making him the minister in charge of the civil service, but Emperor Wu changed his
mind after the idea was opposed by the official Wang Yan (王晏), who believed that Xiao Luan was capable but did not
know powerful clans well, and therefore would be ill-equipped to handle the civil service, which at the time weighed the
officials' lineages heavily in decisions. Xiao Luan was friendly with Emperor Wu's son Xiao Ziliang (萧子良) the Prince of
Jingling, who served as prime minister. However, Emperor Wu's crown prince Xiao Zhangmao did not like him, and Xiao
Ziliang had to defend Xiao Luan before Xiao Zhangmao, and often endorsed Xiao Luan to Emperor Wu. As a result, after
the Xiao Zhangmao's death in 493, Emperor Wu, who was himself ill later in the year, designated Xiao Ziliang and Xiao
Luan in his will to be the two individuals in charge of the government for his new crown prince, Xiao Zhangmao's son Xiao
Zhaoye. Xiao Luan was subsequently instrumental in discovering and thwarting the plot of the official Wang Rong (王融),
who tried to divert succession of the throne to Xiao Ziliang. When Emperor Wu died soon thereafter, Xiao Zhaoye
succeeded to the throne. During Xiao Zhaoye's reign As a result of Wang Rong's plot, Xiao Zhaoye distrusted Xiao
Ziliang, and while he granted Xiao Ziliang highly honored titles, actual power rested in Xiao Luan's hands. Soon, however,
Xiao Zhaoye demonstrated himself to be a frivolous ruler, spending most of his time in feast and games while expending
the treasury surpluses that Emperors Gao and Wu had built up. Xiao Luan tried several times to counsel him to change
his ways, with no changes in his behavior, and Xiao Zhaoye in fact began to suspect Xiao Luan and wanted to kill him, but
could not resolve to do so, particularly after he consulted with his granduncle (Emperor Wu's son) Xiao Qiang (萧锵) the
Prince of Poyang, and Xiao Qiang opposed the action. Meanwhile, Xiao Luan also became suspicious that Xiao Zhaoye
was going to kill him, and therefore began to set up relationships with key generals -- including Xiao Chen (萧谌) and Xiao
Tanzhi (萧坦之), both of whom were well-trusted by Xiao Zhaoye -- while finding pretexts to remove close associates of
Xiao Zhaoye, including Xiao Zhaoye's wife Empress He Jingying's lover Yang Min (杨玟), the eunuch Xu Longju (徐龙驹),
the general Zhou Fengshu (周奉叔), the teacher Du Wenqian (杜文谦), and the head of the household Qiwu Zhenzhi (綦
毋珍之). However, Xiao Zhaoye appeared to be unaware of Xiao Luan's actual intentions, and his own alertness
decreased after Xiao Ziliang died of anxiety in summer 494. By fall 494, however, Xiao Zhaoye was tired of Xiao Luan,
and he plotted with Empress He's uncle He Yin (何胤) to have Xiao Luan killed. He Yin did not dare to do so, and
suggested that Xiao Luan be observed further. Xiao Zhaoye therefore stopped giving important tasks to Xiao Luan. Xiao
Luan then started his coup, in conjunction with Xiao Chen and Xiao Tanzhi -- and Xiao Zhaoye, not realizing that Xiao
Chen and Xiao Tanzhi had betrayed him, sought help from Xiao Chen when he realized Xiao Luan was beginning an
attack on the palace. His hopes were dashed when he saw Xiao Chen enter the palace. His palace guards were still ready
to fight, but Xiao Zhaoye instead fled, and Xiao Chen chased him down and killed him. Xiao Luan issued an edict in
Empress Dowager Wang's name, demoting Xiao Zhaoye to the rank of prince (with the title of Prince of Yulin, which
became the title he was thereafter known for) and making his younger brother Xiao Zhaowen the Prince of Xin'an
emperor.
During Xiao Zhaowen's reign While Xiao Zhaowen, now 14, carried the title of emperor, actual authority was in the hands
of Xiao Luan, and Xiao Luan had himself initially created the Duke of Xuancheng, and then the Prince of Xuancheng. In
Xiao Zhaowen's name, Xiao Luan soon carried out the executions of a large number of princes who were sons of
Emperors Gao and Wu, whom he viewed as threats against himself:
* Xiao Qiang (萧锵), the Prince of Poyang, son of Emperor Gao
* Xiao Zilong (萧子隆), the Prince of Sui, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Zimao (萧子懋), the Prince of Jin'an, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Zijing (萧子敬), the Prince of Anlu, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Rui (萧锐), the Prince of Nanping, son of Emperor Gao
* Xiao Qiu (萧□), the Prince of Jinxi, son of Emperor Gao
* Xiao Kent (萧铿), the Prince of Yidu, son of Emperor Gao
* Xiao Shuo (萧铄), the Prince of Guiyang, son of Emperor Gao
* Xiao Jun (萧钧), the Prince of Hengyang, son of Emperor Gao
* Xiao Feng (萧锋), the Prince of Jiangxia, son of Emperor Gao
* Xiao Zizhen (萧子真), the Prince of Jian'an, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Zilun (萧子伦), the Prince of Baling, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Ziqing (萧子卿), the Prince of Luling, son of Emperor Wu
Initially, Xiao Zhaowen's younger brother Xiao Zhaoxiu (萧昭秀), the Prince of Linhai, was to be killed as well, but was
spared at the last minute. In place of these imperial princes from Emperors Gao and Wu's lines, Xiao Luan, because his
own sons were young, installed his nephews Xiao Yaoguang (萧遥光), Xiao Yaoxin (萧遥欣), and Xiao Yaochang (萧遥昌)
in important posts. Less than three months after Xiao Zhaowen became emperor, Xiao Luan issued an edict in the name
of Xiao Zhangmao's wife Empress Dowager Wang Baoming, stating that Xiao Zhaowen was not sufficiently intelligent and
healthy to be emperor, giving the throne to Xiao Luan, who then took the throne as Emperor Ming. Reign Emperor Ming
was commonly regarded as an intelligent and frugal ruler, and he took a hands-on approach to governance. He was,
however, also known for his suspecting nature, and few high level officials could feel safe during his reign. He also
periodically continued to kill the descendants of Emperors Gao and Wu, as he perceived them to be threats to his own
sons. Each time he conducted these killings, he would first offer incenses (presumably to Emperors Gao and Wu) and cry
bitterly, before carrying out the actions. Emperor Ming created his second son Xiao Baojuan crown prince, as his oldest
son Xiao Baoyi (萧宝义) was said to be so disabled that he could not speak (and was also not born of Emperor Ming's
wife Liu Huiduan (刘惠端), who had died in 489, long before he became emperor). As Emperor Ming's sons were young,
he entrusted great responsibilities to his nephews Xiao Yaoguang, Xiao Yaoxin, and Xiao Yaochang. When Xiao
Zhaowen was removed from the throne, the edict that Emperor Ming issued in Empress Dowager Wang's name created
him the Prince of Hailing. About a month after he was removed from the throne, however, Emperor Ming, on pretenses
that Xiao Zhaowen was ill, sent imperial physicians to see him, but instead instructed the physicians to have him
poisoned. Xiao Zhaowen was given the posthumous name Gong (恭, meaning "respectful") and buried with great honors,
but not imperial honors. Meanwhile, Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei used Emperor Ming's usurpation of the throne as a
pretense to launch a major attack against Southern Qi in late 494. After several largely inconclusive battles, however,
Northern Wei forces abandoned the campaign in spring 495. As soon as the campaign was over, Emperor Ming executed
Xiao Chen, one general he was allied with during the coup against Xiao Zhaoye, and Xiao Chen's broothers, as he
suspected Xiao Chen of plotting a coup. He also, on pretense that they were plotting with Xiao Chen, executed Emperor
Wu's sons Xiao Ziming (萧子明) the Prince of Xiyang, Xiao Zihan (萧子罕) the Prince of Nanhai, and Xiao Zizhen (萧子贞)
the Prince of Shaoling. In 497, he also killed the high level official Wang Yan, who had also participated in the coup
against Xiao Zhaoye, on suspicion of plotting against him.
In fall 497, Northern Wei's Emperor Xiaowen launched another major attack on Southern Qi. The results were again
largely indecisive, although the key border city Wancheng (宛城, in modern Nanyang, Henan) fell to Northern We, as did
Xinye (新野, also in modern Nanyang). Meanwhile, during the campaign, with Emperor Ming himself being ill, he, in
consultation with Xiao Yaoguang, executed 10 more princes from Emperor Gao's line -- all of the surviving sons of
Emperors Gao and Wu and Xiao Zhangmao:
* Xiao Xuan (萧铉), the Prince of Hedong, son of Emperor Gao
* Xiao Ziyue (萧子岳), the Prince of Linhe, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Ziwen (萧子文), the Prince of Xiyang, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Zijun (萧子峻), the Prince of Hengyang, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Zilin (萧子琳), the Prince of Nankang, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Zimin (萧子玟), the Prince of Yongyang, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Zijian (萧子建), the Prince of Xiangdong, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Zixia (萧子夏), the Prince of Nan Commandery, son of Emperor Wu
* Xiao Zhaocan (萧昭粲), the Prince of Guiyang, son of Xiao Zhangmao
* Xiao Zhaoxiu (萧昭秀), the Prince of Baling, son of Xiao Zhangmao
What was particularly unusual about Emperor Ming's actions in executing these princes was that after he executed them,
he ordered the high level officials to accuse these princes of crimes and seek their executions -- and then he first formally
rejected the recommendations, and then accepted them. This was largely perceived as an attempt by him to be seen as
only doing what was necessary. In summer 498, the retired general Wang Jingze (王敬则), believing that Emperor Ming
was about to have him executed, rebelled from his retirement place of Kuaiji (会稽, in modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang). He
claimed to want to support Emperor Gao's grandson (the son of Xiao Ni the Prince of Yuzhang) Xiao Zike (萧子恪) the
Marquess of Nankang as leader. As a result, Emperor Ming, again with counsel from Xiao Yaoguang, ordered all of the
male descendants of Emperors Gao and Wu into the palace, ready to poison them. However, after Xiao Zike fled back to
the capital Jiankang and showed that he was not part of Wang's rebellion, Emperor Ming changed his mind at the last
moment and spared them. About 20 days after the start of Wang's rebellion, he was killed in battle, and his rebellion
dissipated. Three months later, Emperor Ming died. Crown Prince Baojuan succeeded him as emperor (later to be known
as the Marquess of Donghun).
6) Marquess of Donghun - Dong Hun Hou 东昏侯 Xiao Baojuan (萧宝卷 xi_o b_o ju_n) 499-501 Yongyuan (永元
y_ng yuan) 499-501 Xiao Baojuan (萧宝卷) (483━501), ne Xiao Mingxian (萧明贤), commonly known by his
posthumously demoted title of Marquess of Donghun (东昏侯), courtesy name Zhizang (智藏), was an emperor of the
Chinese dynasty Southern Qi. He was known as a violent ruler who executed high level officials at his whim, and this
drew several major rebellions, the last of which, by his general Xiao Yan, overthrew him and eventually his dynasty, with
Xiao Yan establishing Liang Dynasty. He is known as the Marquess of Donghun because Xiao Yan demoted him to that
title after he was killed in a siege of the capital Jiankang. Background Xiao Baojuan was born in 483, when his father Xiao
Luan was a mid-high level official and the Marquess of Xichang, as the cousin of Emperor Wu. His original name was
Xiao Mingxian. He was Xiao Luan's second son, and his mother Liu Huiduan (刘惠端) was Xiao Luan's wife. (His only
older brother Xiao Baoyi (萧宝义) was born to Xiao Luan's concubine Lady Yin.) His mother Marchioness Liu had three
other sons, Xiao Baoxuan (萧宝玄), Xiao Baoyin, and Xiao Baorong, before dying in 489.
In 494, with Emperor Wu's frivolous and incompetent grandson Xiao Zhaoye as emperor and with Xiao Luan as his prime
minister, Xiao Luan carried out a coup d'etat and overthrew Xiao Zhaoye. (It was around this time that Xiao Baojuan's
name was changed from Mingxian to Baojuan.) Xiao Luan initially made Xiao Zhaoye's younger brother Xiao Zhaowen
emperor, but after further cementing his power, including killing many sons of both Emperor Wu and Emperor Wu's father
Emperor Gao, Southern Qi's founding emperor, Xiao Luan took over the throne himself (as Emperor Ming). As Xiao
Baojuan's older brother Xiao Baoyi was said to be severely disabled and unable to talk, Xiao Baojuan, as the second son
and the oldest born of Xiao Luan's wife, was created crown prince. As crown prince Not much is known about Xiao
Baojuan's activities as crown prince. What is known was that Emperor Ming often told him about how Xiao Zhaoye had
considered killing him, and warning him that he needed to act decisively. It was also said that he disliked studies but
rather liked to spend time in games, and that he was an introvert who did not like to talk. In 495, his father gave the
daughter of his official Chu Cheng (褚澄), Chu Lingqu, to him as his crown princess in marriage. In 496, he had a comingof-age ceremony. In 498, during the rebellion of the retired general Wang Jingze (王敬则), despite the fact that Wang's
army was some distance away from the capital Jiankang, Xiao Baojuan mistook a fire as a sign that Wang's army was
near the capital and changed into a jumpsuit to try to flee, but subsequently Wang's army was defeated. In fall 498,
Emperor Ming died. Xiao Baojuan succeeded to the throne as emperor. Reign Emperor Ming's will left a group of high
level officials in charge of the government -- Xiao Baojuan's cousin Xiao Yaoguang (萧遥光) the Prince of Shi'an, the
prime minister Xu Xiaosi (徐孝嗣), the trusted Jian Si (江祀) and his brother Jiang You (江佑), Xiao Baojuan's uncle Liu
Xuan (刘暄), and the general Xiao Tanzhi (萧坦之). Xiao Baojuan himself was anxious to exercise imperial authority, but
often spent his time in games with his close associates, whom he often awarded money. The high level officials,
particularly Jiang Shi, tried to curb his behavior, and this brought great resentment from the young emperor, who was
described as not liking meetings with officials but favored eunuchs, bodyguards, and messengers. He created his wife
Crown Princess Chu empress, and created his only known son Xiao Song (萧诵), by his concubine Consort Huang, crown
prince. With the young emperor's lack of virtues becoming evident, Jiang Shi began a discussion among high level
officials to depose him and to replace him with his younger brother Xiao Baoxuan the Prince of Jiangxia. However, Liu
Xuan disliked Xiao Baoxuan, and Xiao Yaoguang used this to steer the discussion to making himself emperor. However,
Liu opposed this as well, and Xiao Yaoguang, in 499, in anger, unsuccessfully tried to assassinate Liu, who then reported
the plot to Xiao Baojuan. Xiao Baojuan immediately had Jiang Shi and Jiang You arrested and executed. Xiao Yaoguang,
in fear, feigned illness and resigned, but subsequently feared that Xiao Baojuan would execute him anyway, and started a
rebellion, putting the palace under siege. Xiao Baojuan's forces, commanded by Xiao Tanzhi and two other generals, Zuo
Xingsheng (左兴盛) and Cao Hu (曹虎), counterattacked, and put Xiao Yaoguang's headquarters under siege, capturing
and executing him. In the aftermaths of Xiao Yaoguang's rebellion, Xiao Baojuan now controlled more power than before,
and initially he promoted Xu Xiaosi, Xiao Tanzhi, liu Xuan, Cao Hu, as well as the official Shen Wenji (沈文季), to reward
them for their contributions and loyalty during Xiao Yaoguang's rebellion. However, less than a month later, Xiao Baojuan,
upon reports by his associates who disliked Xiao Tanzhi, had him arrested and executed. Soon, the same fate fell Liu and
Cao, and from this point on, the entire government was in fear, not knowing whom the emperor would next kill. Two
months later, Xu and Shen, as well as Shen's nephew Shen Zhaolue, were killed as well. Upon hearing how Xiao Baojuan
was slaughtering the high level officials, the senior general Chen Xianda (陈显达), then the governor of Jiang Province (江
州, modern Jiangxi and Fujian), started a rebellion, advancing quickly on Jiankang and reaching the outskirts of the capital
in less than a month, around new year 500. However, Chen then died in battle, and his rebellion was defeated. After Chen
was defeated, Xiao Baojuan became even more arbitrary in his behavior. He liked to visit many places outside the palace,
but did not like to have people see his face, and so would first send guards to expel people from their homes and
business before heading to the location. Anyone who did not evacuate, either willfully or not, would be executed. By this
point, the common people began to resent the emperor as well. In spring 500, in fear, the general Pei Zhaoye (裴叔业),
the governor of Yu Province (豫州, modern central Anhui), surrendered the important city Shouyang to rival Northern Wei.
Xiao Baojuan sent the generals Cui Huijing (崔慧景) and Xiao Yi (萧懿) to try to recapture Shouyang. However, as soon
as he left the capital region, Cui announced that because of the emperor's violent character, he was starting a rebellion to
overthrow the emperor. He persuaded Xiao Baojuan's brother Xiao Baoxuan to join him, and in just 12 days they reached
the capital and put the palace under siege. However, Cui, believing that victory was at hand, did not carry out the
campaign diligently, and Xiao Baojuan sent messengers to recall Xiao Yi to try to save the capital. Xiao Yi advanced
quickly back on the capital and defeated Cui, who fled but was killed during flight. Xiao Baoxuan was executed. After Cui's
death, Xiao Baojuan grew even more confident, and his associates quickly controlled the government. He favored his
concubine Consort Pan Yunu, awarding her and her father Pan Baoqing (潘宝庆) with many things. Pan Baoqing often
falsely accused other people of crimes and had them executed, seizing their property. Xiao Baojuan also carried out a
large number of construction projects and often demanded tributes of luxury items from the people -- and his associates
used this opportunity to demand even more things, and the people grew weary. To award Xiao Yi, Xiao Baojuan had
made him prime minister after he defeated Cui Huijing, but he soon grew suspicious of Xiao Yi as well, and with his
associates persuading him to, he soon forced Xiao Yi to commit suicide in winter 500. Xiao Yi's brother Xiao Yan, the
governor of Yong Province (雍州, modern northwestern Hubei) thus declared a rebellion from his provincial capital
Xiangyang. Xiao Baojuan sent the general Liu Shanyang (刘山阳) to attack Xiao Yan, but, in fear of a surprise attack from
Liu Shanyang, Xiao Yingzhou (萧颖胄), the chief of staff for Xiao Baojuan's brother Xiao Baorong, who served as the
titular governor of Jing Province (荆州, modern central and western Hubei), instead joined Xiao Yan and surprised and
killed Liu Shanyang. Both Xiao Yan and Xiao Yingzhou then declared that they wanted to overthrow Xiao Baojuan and
make Xiao Baorong emperor. Xiao Yingzhou remained at Jiangling with Xiao Baorong, while Xiao Yan attacked east. Xiao
Yan's progress was not fast but was steady, and