Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Ruler

Emperor Shizu 世祖

Shìzǔ

Attested AD 548 - AD 550

Passages: 19
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Emperor Shizu was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 550 大寶
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 44, passages 169-170
AD 548 太清
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 44, passage 147

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Sibling of Heir Apparent Taizong (太宗)
brother 兄弟 · Paternal half siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 44, passages 2, 179
Spouse of Lady Xu (徐妃)
consort 妃 · Secondary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Liang 44, passages 124, 129
Parent of Fangdeng (方等)
eldest son 長子
Directly stated · Book of Liang 44, passage 128
Spouse of Lady Wang (王夫人)
lady 夫人 · Secondary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Liang 44, passages 124, 167
Parent of Xiao Fangzhu (蕭方諸)
second son 第二子
Directly stated · Book of Liang 44, passage 166
Child of Founding Emperor Gaozu (高祖)
son 子
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 44, passage 146
Parent of Xiao Fangzhi (蕭方智)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Liang 44, passage 126
Parent of Xiao Yuanliang (元良)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Liang 44, passage 124
Spouse of Lady Xia the Worthy (夏賢妃)
worthy consort 賢妃 · Secondary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Liang 44, passage 126

Places and affiliations

Polity Liang 梁 · Relation Belonged to
Directly stated · Book of Liang 44, passage 1

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Xiao Fangzhu (蕭方諸) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Liang 44, passage 169

Events and relationships

Posted consort misconduct
Political · Actor · With Lady Xu (徐妃)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 44, passage 155

Assessments and attributes

Assessment did not grieve at Fang Deng death · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Liang 44, passage 162
Assessment sons opened territories but mostly died untimely after capture by bandits · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Liang 44, passages 179-180

Source notes

Remaining sons all have no biography in this book.
Field unrecorded-sons
Directly stated · Book of Liang 44, passage 127

References in the histories

Search passages

History

19 passages

Book of Liang, Chapter 44Volume 44: Eleven Princes of Taizong; Two Princes of Shizu · 19 passages

太宗十一王世祖二子 The eleven sons of Heir Apparent Taizong; the two sons of Emperor Shizu

世祖諸男：徐妃生忠壯世子方等，王夫人生貞惠世子方諸，其愍懷太子方矩 Emperor Shizu's sons: Lady Xu bore Loyal and Upright Heir Fang Deng; Lady Wang bore Upright and Gracious Heir Fang Zhu; Lamented and Cherished Crown Prince Fang Ju

忠壯世子方等，字實相，世祖長子也。 Loyal and Upright Heir Fang Deng, styled Shixiang, was Emperor Shizu's eldest son.

世祖聞之，又惡方等，方等益懼，故述論以申其志焉。 Shizu heard and also disliked Fang Deng; he grew more afraid and set forth this discourse to declare his intent.

會高祖欲見諸王長子，世祖遣方等入侍，方等欣然升舟，冀免憂辱。 When the Founding Emperor wished to see princes' eldest sons, Shizu sent Fang Deng to attend; he gladly boarded the boat, hoping to escape worry and disgrace.

行至繇水，值侯景亂，世祖召之，方等啓曰：「昔申生不愛其死，方等豈顧其生？」 Reaching Yaoshui he met Hou Jing's rebellion; Shizu summoned him; Fang Deng memorialized, "Formerly Shensheng did not love his life—how would I cherish mine?"

世祖省書歎息，知無還意，乃配步騎一萬，使援京都。 Shizu read the letter, sighed, knew he had no mind to return, and assigned him ten thousand foot and horse to relieve the capital.

宮城陷，方等歸荊州，收集士馬，甚得衆和，世祖始歎其能。 When the palace city fell he returned to Jingzhou, gathered soldiers and horses, and won great harmony among the host—Shizu then sighed at his ability.

世祖觀之甚悅，入謂徐妃曰：「若更有一子如此，吾復何憂！」 Shizu viewed it with great pleasure and said to Lady Xu, "If I had another son like this, what more would I worry about!"

世祖忿之，因疏其穢行，榜於大閣。 Shizu in anger set forth her shameful conduct and posted it on the great gate.

時河東王爲湘州刺史，不受督府之令，方等乃乞征之，世祖許焉。 The Prince of Hedong was inspector of Xiangzhou and did not accept headquarters orders; Fang Deng begged to campaign against him and Shizu granted it.

世祖聞之，不以爲慼。 Shizu heard and did not grieve.

貞惠世子方諸，字智相，世祖第二子。 Upright and Gracious Heir Fang Zhu, styled Zhixiang, was Shizu's second son.

幼聰警博學，明《老》、《易》，善談玄，風采清越，辭辯鋒生，特爲世祖所愛，母王氏又有寵。 From youth clever and broadly learned, he understood the Laozi and Changes, was skilled in Dark Learning, clear in bearing, sharp in argument—especially loved by Shizu, and his mother Lady Wang also held favor.

及方等敗沒，世祖謂之曰：「不有所廢，其何以興。」 When Fang Deng was destroyed Shizu said to him, "Without casting something aside, how can anything rise."

因拜爲中撫軍以自副，又出爲郢州刺史，鎮江夏，以鮑泉爲行事，防遏下流。 He was made Pacifying Central Army as Shizu's deputy, went out as inspector of E, garrisoned Jiangxia, with Bao Quan as acting officer to block downstream.

時世祖遣徐文盛督衆軍，與侯景將任約相持未決。 Shizu sent Xu Wensheng to command armies in stalemate with Hou Jing's general Ren Yue.

世祖追贈侍中、大將軍。 Shizu posthumously made him palace attendant and grand general.

史臣曰：太宗、世祖諸子，雖開土宇，運屬亂離； The historian writes: The sons of Taizong and Shizu, though they opened territories, met chaos and separation;