Overview
Emperor Shizong was a Later Zhou emperor recorded in the annals.
IdentityHistorical · Uncertain
Life and dates
Attested activity
Works and attributed material
commissioned and read policy essays on rulership and frontier strategy 命近臣撰論策並親覽
AD 955
issued an edict inviting frank remonstrance and policy criticism 下詔求直言論諫
AD 955
issued comprehensive regulations for Buddhist institutions and ordination 頒定寺院僧尼與度戒條規
AD 955
issued the proclamation opening the Huainan campaign 頒諭淮南州縣之詔
AD 955
ordered the campaigns to recover Qin and Feng 命軍收復秦鳳
AD 955
personally reviewed examination work and confirmed four jinshi 親自覆試並取四人進士
AD 955
References in the histories
No matching passages.
Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 115Volume 115 Book of Later Zhou 17: Shizong Annals 2 · 12 passages
顯德二年春正月辛未朔，帝不受朝賀。
On the xinwei new moon of the first month of spring in Xiande 2, the Emperor declined the usual court congratulations.
帝乃按圖定策，遣許州節度使王彥超、曹州節度使韓通等領兵他徙，築壘於李晏口，以兵戍守，功未畢，契丹眾尋至，彥超等擊退之。
The Emperor studied the maps and sent Xuzhou commissioner Wang Yanchao, Caozhou commissioner Han Tong, and others to relocate troops and build fortresses at Liyankou. Before the work was finished Khitan forces arrived; Yanchao and his colleagues repulsed them.
是月，詔翰林學士承旨徐臺符已下二十餘人，各撰《為君難為臣不易論》、《平邊策》各一首，帝親覽之。
That month the Emperor ordered Hanlin chief Xu Taifu and more than twenty colleagues each to write an essay On the Difficulty of Being Ruler and Minister and a Border-Pacification Stratagem, which he read personally.
〈（《宋史·陶蒨傳》：世宗謂宰相曰：「朕觀歷代君臣治平之道，誠為不易，又念唐、晉失德之後，亂臣黠將，僭竊者多。
(Song Shi, biography of Tao Qian: Shizong told his chief ministers: “I see how hard it is for ruler and minister together to bring order; and after Tang and Jin lost their virtue, rebellious ministers and cunning generals usurped power in great numbers.
世宗自克高平，常訓兵講武，思混一天下，及覽其策，欣然聽納，由是平南之意益堅矣。）〉
Since his victory at Gaoping, Shizong had trained troops and dreamed of unifying the realm; reading these essays he gladly accepted them, and his resolve to conquer the south grew firmer still.))〉
至是，秦、鳳人戶怨蜀之苛政，相次詣闕，乞舉兵收復舊地，乃詔景與宣徽南院使向訓率師赴焉。
Now the people of Qin and Feng, resenting Shu’s harsh rule, came in succession to court begging for troops to recover their lands; the Emperor ordered Wang Jing and Southern Palace Secretariat commissioner Xiang Xun to lead armies there.
〈（《東都事略·王溥傳》：世宗將討秦、鳳，溥薦向拱，遂平之。
(Dongdu Shilüe, biography of Wang Pu: When Shizong prepared to attack Qin and Feng, Pu recommended Xiang Gong, and the region was pacified.
世宗因宴酌卮酒賜之，曰：「成吾邊功，卿擇帥之力也。」）〉
At a banquet Shizong poured him a cup of wine and said: “Our frontier success is owed to your choice of commander.”))〉
世宗欲命以藩鎮，宰相範質不可，乃授郢州刺史。）〉
Shizong wished to give him a military governorship, but Chief Minister Fan Zhi objected, and he received only the Yingzhou prefecture.))〉
先是，帝以西師久次，艱於糧運，命今上乘驛赴軍前，以觀攻戰之勢。
Earlier, because the western army had camped long and supply was difficult, the Emperor sent His present Majesty by post relay to the front to observe the campaign.
及回，具以事勢上奏，帝甚悅，至是果成功焉。
On his return he reported fully on the situation; the Emperor was greatly pleased, and success followed as he had foreseen.
冬十月庚午，召近臣射於苑中，賜金器鞍馬有差。
On gengwu in the tenth month of winter the Emperor summoned close ministers to archery in the park and granted gold vessels, saddles, and horses in varying amounts.