Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Son of Wang

Cheng 稱

Attested AD 424 - AD 453

Passages: 7
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Cheng was a Son of Wang.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 424 to AD 453 元嘉
Directly stated · Book of Song 55, passage 164

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Wang, wife of Zai (王)
son 息男
Directly stated · Book of Song 55, passage 164

References in the histories

Book of Song, Chapter 55Volume 55 Biographies 15: Zang Dao, Xu Guang, F Long · 7 passages

時會稽剡縣民黃初妻趙打息載妻王死亡，遇赦，王有父母及息男稱、息女葉，依法徙趙二千裏外。 At the time in Yan county of Kuaiji, Huang Chu's wife Zhao beat her stepson Zai's wife Wang to death. Though an amnesty was granted, Wang had parents and children Cheng and Ye from a former marriage; by law Zhao was to be exiled two thousand li.

父子至親，分形同氣，稱之於載，即載之于趙，雖雲三世，為體猶一，未有能分之者也。 Father and son are the closest of kin, sharing one flesh and breath; Cheng is Zai's son and thus Zhao's grandson; though called three generations, in substance they are one body — none can be divided from the rest.

稱雖創巨痛深，固無仇祖之義。 Though Cheng suffers wound beyond measure, there is no principle by which he may take vengeance on his grandmother.

若稱可以殺趙，趙當何以處載？ If Cheng may kill Zhao, what is Zhao to do regarding Zai?

載從而稱不行，豈名教所許？ and if Zai follows while Cheng does not, is that permitted by moral teaching?

如此，稱、趙竟不可分。 Thus Cheng and Zhao cannot ultimately be separated.

趙雖內愧終身，稱當沈痛沒齒，孫祖之義，自不得永絕，事理固然也。」 Though Zhao may bear lifelong shame and Cheng lifelong grief, the bond between grandson and grandmother cannot be severed forever — such is the nature of the case."