Five Dynasties · Ruler

Emperor Shizong 世宗

Shìzōng

First attested AD 947; died AD 951

Passages: 65
Chapters: 3
Histories: 2

Overview

Emperor Shizong was a ruler.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Wuyu	兀欲	Wùyù
Changed name	Ruan	阮	Ruan
Regnal name	Emperor of Heaven's Gift	天授皇帝	Tianshou Huangdi
Alternate name		元欲

Life and dates

Death

AD 951 天祿五年秋
Assassinated · Killed by Chage (察割)
Directly stated · History of Liao 77, passage 84
Assassinated · With Shuzha (述軋)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 31
AD 951
Killed by Shuzha, Aoliseng, and their forces · At Dashen Marsh
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 178

Attested activity

AD 947 to AD 951 Chronology stated or entailed by s0025, s0178
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 73, passages 25, 178
AD 951 周廣順元年
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 70, passages 156-157
AD 951 天祿五年
Directly stated · History of Liao 77, passage 84
AD 947 太宗崩後即位
Directly stated · History of Liao 77, passage 10

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Human Emperor King (人皇王)
direct eldest son 嫡長
Directly stated · History of Liao 77, passages 138, 192
Kin of Shulu (舒嚕氏)
grandmother 祖母
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 33
Kin of Emperor Taizu of Liao (遼太祖)
legitimate grandson 嫡孫
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 25
Child of Yelü Bei (突欲)
son 子
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 1
Spouse of Wife of Wuyu (兀欲妻)
wife 妻
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 17

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Emperor of Heaven's Gift
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 56
Prince of Eternal Peace 永康王
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 157
Prince of Yongkang
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 2
Imprisoned
Target Person Id Shulu (舒嚕氏)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 73, passages 39, 111
AD 947
At Central Capital
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 25

Places and affiliations

Polities liao, Khitan
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 2
Polity Id liao · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Liao 77, passage 10

Learning and skills

Skill painting
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 32

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · History of Liao 77, passages 31, 49, 57, 69

Events and relationships

Attacked Xing Prefecture and seized Neiqiu
AD 948 · Event attacked Xing Prefecture and seized Neiqiu · Historical event
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 174
Relation Fictive kin uncle of · Person Liu Chong (劉崇)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 157

Source notes

From Wuyu · To Ruan
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 56

References in the histories

Search passages

History

65 passages

History of Liao, Chapter 77Volume 77 Biographies 7: Yelu Wuzhi, Yelu Hou, Yelu Antuan, Yelu Wa, Yelu Tuiyu, Yelu Talie · 30 passages

太宗崩，諸大臣立世宗，太后聞之，怒甚，遣皇子李胡以兵逆擊，遇安端、劉哥等於泰德泉，敗歸。 After Emperor Taizong died, the senior ministers enthroned Emperor Shizong. When the empress dowager heard of this she was furious and sent the prince Li Hu with an army to oppose them; at Taidede Spring he met Anduan, Liuge, and their forces, was defeated, and withdrew.

李胡盡執世宗臣僚家屬，謂守者曰：「我戰不克，先殪此曹！」 Li Hu seized the families of all of Shizong's ministers and officials and told the guards, "If I cannot win this fight, I will kill every one of them first!"

時屋質從太后，世宗以屋質善籌，欲行間，乃設事奉書，以試太后。 Wuzhi was then with the empress dowager. Shizong knew that Wuzhi was adept at strategy and wished to drive a wedge between them, so he fabricated a pretext and sent a letter to probe the empress dowager.

屋質對曰：「李胡、永康王皆太祖子孫，神器非移他族，何不可之有？ Wuzhi replied, "Li Hu and Prince Yongkang are both Taizu's descendants; the throne will not pass outside the clan—what objection can there be?

太后宜思長策，與永康王和議。」 Your Majesty should think of a lasting settlement and negotiate peace with Prince Yongkang."

萬一永康王見聽，廟社之福。」 If Prince Yongkang should listen, it will be a blessing for the realm."

屋質進曰：「太后與大王若能釋怨，臣乃敢進說。」 Wuzhi stepped forward and said, "If Your Majesty and the great king can lay aside your grievances, only then dare I speak."

又曰：「大王何故擅立，不稟尊親？」 He went on, "Why did the great king enthrone himself without consulting his mother?"

大王見太后，不少遜謝，惟怨是尋。 When the great king met the empress dowager he showed little deference or apology and nursed only resentment.

屋質曰：「太后若授永康王，順天合人，復何疑？」 Wuzhi said, "If Your Majesty invests Prince Yongkang, you will follow Heaven's will and the people's wish—what doubt remains?"

李胡厲聲曰：「我在，兀欲安得立！」 Li Hu cried out harshly, "While I live, how can Wuyu be enthroned!"

萬口一辭，願立永康王，不可奪也。」 Every voice calls for Prince Yongkang's enthronement, and that wish cannot be denied."

乃許立永康。 She then agreed to enthrone Prince Yongkang.

則當立永康王。」 then Prince Yongkang should be enthroned."

會耶律安摶來，意與吼合，遂定議立永康王，是為世宗。 Yelu Antuan then arrived with the same view as Hou, and together they resolved to enthrone Prince Yongkang, who became Emperor Shizong.

穆宗以其父吼首議立世宗，故不顯用。 Because Muzong knew his father Hou had led the plan to enthrone Shizong, he did not give him prominent office.

世宗在藩邸，尤加憐恤，安摶密自結納。 While Shizong was still at his princely residence he showed Antuan especial kindness, and Antuan secretly pledged himself to him.

太宗伐晉還，至欒城崩，諸將欲立世宗，以李胡及壽安王在朝，猶豫未決。 When Taizong died at Luancheng on his return from the Jin campaign, the generals wished to enthrone Shizong, but with Li Hu and Prince Shou'an still at court they hesitated.

時安摶直宿衛，世宗密召問計。 Antuan was then on palace guard duty; Shizong secretly summoned him to ask his counsel.

安摶曰：「大王聰安寬恕，人皇王之嫡長； Antuan said, "Your Highness is wise, calm, and magnanimous, the eldest son of Emperor Ren by the direct line;

先帝雖有壽安，天下屬意多在大王。 though the late emperor also had Prince Shou'an, the realm's hopes rest chiefly on Your Highness.

先帝嘗欲以永康王為儲貳，今日之事，有我輩在，孰敢不從！ The late emperor once wished to make Prince Yongkang heir apparent; with us here today, who would dare refuse!

安摶對曰：「大王既知先帝欲以永康王為儲副，況永康王賢明，人心樂附。 Antuan replied, "Your Highness already knows the late emperor wished Prince Yongkang as heir; moreover he is worthy and wise, and the people are eager to follow him.

乃整軍，召諸將奉世宗即位於太宗柩前。 They marshaled the army, summoned the generals, and enthroned Shizong before Taizong's bier.

穆宗即位，以立世宗之故，不復委用。 When Emperor Muzong took the throne, because Antuan had helped enthrone Shizong he was no longer given office.

窪與耶律吼定策立世宗，乃令諸將曰：「大行上賓，神器無主，永康王人皇王之嫡長，天人所屬，當立； Wa and Yelu Hou resolved to enthrone Shizong, then told the generals, "The late emperor has departed; the throne stands vacant. Prince Yongkang is the direct eldest son of Emperor Ren and Heaven's chosen heir—he should be enthroned;

世宗即位，賜宮戶五十，拜於越。 When Emperor Shizong took the throne, he granted Wa fifty palace households and invested him as yuyue.

世宗即位，為惕隱。 When Emperor Shizong took the throne, he was made tiyin.

後將葬世宗，頹昱懇言於帝曰：「臣蒙先帝厚恩，未能報； Later, when Shizong was to be buried, Tuiyu earnestly said to the emperor, "I received great favor from the late emperor and have been unable to repay it;

太宗崩，非安摶、吼、窪謀而克斷，策立世宗，非屋質直而能諫，杜太后之私，折李胡之暴，以成橫渡之約，則亂將誰定？ When Taizong died, had Antuan, Hou, and Wa not schemed with firm resolve to enthrone Shizong; had Wuzhi not been upright and able to remonstrate, checking the empress dowager's partiality and breaking Li Hu's violence to complete the peace at the ford crossing—who would have ended the chaos?

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 70Volume 70: Hereditary House of Eastern Han · 5 passages

契丹永康王兀欲與旻約為父子之國，旻乃遣宰相鄭珙致書兀欲，稱姪皇帝，以叔父事之而已。 Khitan Prince of Eternal Peace Wuyu agreed with Min on a father-and-son state; Min sent Chancellor Zheng Qing to write Wuyu, styling himself Nephew Emperor and treating Wuyu only as uncle.

兀欲遣燕王述軋、政事令高勳以冊尊旻為大漢神武皇帝，并冊旻妻為皇后。 Wuyu sent Prince of Yan Shuzha and Director of Government Affairs Gao Xun with investiture documents to ennoble Min as Divine Martial Emperor of Great Han and Min's wife as empress.

兀欲性豪儁，漢使者至，輒以酒肉困之，珙素有疾，兀欲彊之飲，一夕而以醉卒。 Wuyu was bold and convivial; whenever Han envoys came he overwhelmed them with food and wine. Qing had long been ill, but Wuyu forced him to drink, and he died drunk overnight.

然兀欲聞旻自立，頗幸中國多故，乃遣其貴臣述軋、高勳以自愛黃騮、九龍十二稻玉帶報聘。 Yet when Wuyu heard Min had declared himself sovereign, he was pleased that the Central States were in turmoil and sent his honored ministers Shuzha and Gao Xun with his cherished yellow steed and a nine-dragon jade belt of twelve rice strands in return courtesy.

已而兀欲為述軋所弒，述律代立。 Not long after, Wuyu was murdered by Shuzha, and Shulü came to the throne.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 73Volume 73: Appendix on the Four Barbarians 2: Khitan 2 · 30 passages

兀欲，東丹王突欲子也。 Wuyu was a son of Tuyu, the Dongdan King.

突欲奔于唐，兀欲留不從，號永康王。 When Tuyu defected to Tang, Wuyu remained in Khitan territory and refused to go with him, taking the title Prince of Yongkang.

德光滅晉，兀欲從至京師。 After Deguang overthrew Jin, Wuyu accompanied him to the capital.

德光殺繼旻、彥紳，籍其家貲，悉以賜兀欲。 Deguang put Jimin and Yanshen to death, inventoried their estates, and bestowed everything on Wuyu.

德光死欒城，兀欲與趙延壽及諸大將等俱入鎮州。 When Deguang died at Luancheng, Wuyu entered Zhen Prefecture with Zhao Yanshou and the other senior commanders.

延壽自稱權知軍國事，遣人求鎮州管鑰于兀欲，兀欲不與。 Yanshou proclaimed himself provisional overseer of military and state affairs and sent men to demand the keys to Zhen Prefecture from Wuyu, but Wuyu refused.

兀欲妻，延壽以為妹，五月朔旦，兀欲召延壽及張礪、李崧、馮道等置酒，酒數行，兀欲謂延壽曰：「妹自上國來，當一見之。」 On the first day of the fifth month Wuyu invited Yanshou, Zhang Li, Li Song, Feng Dao, and others to drink; after several rounds he said, "My wife has just arrived from the north—she is your sister by marriage and you should meet her."

延壽欣然與兀欲俱入。 Yanshou went in with Wuyu in high spirits.

食頃，兀欲出坐，笑謂礪等曰：「燕王謀反，鎖之矣。 Before long Wuyu reappeared and told Li and the rest with a smile, "The Prince of Yan was plotting rebellion; I have put him in chains.

兀欲召延壽廷立而詰之，延壽不能對。 Wuyu had Yanshou brought before him in the hall and interrogated him; Yanshou had no reply.

兀欲宣德光遺制曰：「永康王，大聖皇帝之嫡孫，人皇王之長子，可於中京即皇帝位。」 Wuyu announced Deguang's testament: "Prince of Yongkang, legitimate grandson of the Great Sage Emperor and eldest son of the Human Emperor, shall ascend the throne at the Central Capital."

蕭翰聞德光死，棄汴州而北，至鎮州，兀欲已去。 Xiao Han, hearing of Deguang's death, abandoned Bian Prefecture and marched north; when he reached Zhen Prefecture, Wuyu was already gone.

兀欲為人俊偉，亦工畫，能飲酒，好禮士，德光甞賜以絹數千匹，兀欲散之，一日而盡。 Wuyu was tall and striking, painted well, drank heavily, and honored men of letters; Deguang had once given him thousands of bolts of silk, which he gave away until none remained within a day.

兀欲已立，先遣人報其祖母述律。 Once enthroned, Wuyu first reported to his grandmother Shulü.

乃率兵逆兀欲，將廢之。 She marched against Wuyu to remove him.

兀欲留其將麻荅守鎮州，晉諸將相隨德光在鎮州者皆留之而去。 Wuyu left his general Mada to guard Zhen Prefecture and detained the Jin officials who had accompanied Deguang there before setting out.

述律所將兵多亡歸兀欲。 Much of Shulü's army deserted to Wuyu.

兀欲乃幽述律於祖州。 Wuyu imprisoned Empress Dowager Shulü at Zuzhou.

已而，兀欲囚之，後死于木葉山。 Soon Wuyu imprisoned her, and she later died at Mount Muye.

兀欲更名阮，號天授皇帝，改元曰天祿。 Wuyu took the name Ruan, styled himself Emperor of Heaven's Gift, and proclaimed the era Tianlu.

德光滅晉，以為邢州節度使，元欲立，命守鎮州。 After the fall of Jin he became military commissioner of Xing; when Wuyu was enthroned he was left to hold Zhen Prefecture.

漢乾祐元年，兀欲率萬騎攻邢州，陷內丘。 In the first year of Qianyou of Later Han, Wuyu led ten thousand cavalry against Xing Prefecture and seized Neiqiu.

兀欲立五年，會諸部酋長，復謀入寇，諸部大人皆不欲，兀欲彊之。 In his fifth year on the throne Wuyu summoned the tribal chiefs to plan another raid south. The elders refused, but Wuyu pressed them.

燕王述軋與太寧王嘔里僧等率兵殺兀欲於大神淀。 Prince of Yan Shuzha, Prince of Taining Aoliseng, and others killed Wuyu at Dashen Marsh.

初，兀欲常遣使聘漢，使者至中國而周太祖入立。 Wuyu had often sent envoys to the Han court; they arrived just as Zhou Taizu took power.

太祖復遣將軍朱憲報聘，憲還而兀欲死。 Taizu sent General Zhu Xian on a return embassy; by the time Xian came back, Wuyu was dead.

又二日，至赤崖，翰與兀欲相及，遂及述律戰于沙河。 Two days on to Red Cliff, where Han joined Wuyu and they battled Empress Dowager Shulü on the Sha River.

述律兵敗而北，兀欲追至獨樹渡，遂囚述律于撲馬山。 Shulü was beaten and fled north; Wuyu chased her to Dushu Ford and imprisoned her at Puma Mountain.

兀欲時卓帳于此，會諸部人葬德光。 Wuyu had camped there to gather the tribes for Deguang's burial.

兀欲入祭，諸部大人惟執祭器者得入。 Wuyu entered to sacrifice; only elders bearing ritual vessels were admitted.