Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi (文宣帝)

Overview

Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi was the founding emperor of Northern Qi.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Gao Yang	高洋	Gao Yang
Posthumous name	Emperor Wenxuan	文宣皇帝
Temple name	Xianzu	顯祖

Life and dates

Death

AD 559 天保十年十月
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 22
AD 559 to AD 560 及帝崩
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 119
AD 559 天保十年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 39
AD 559 文宣之崩
Died
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 34, passage 84
AD 559 文宣崩
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 198
AD 559 文宣皇帝崩
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 36, passage 78

Attested activity

AD 559 天保十年十月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 22
AD 550 天保元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 5, passages 1-2
AD 556 天保七年冬
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 11
AD 558 天保九年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 13
AD 550 context
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 17, passage 196
AD 557 八年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 25

Show 47 more source-backed claims

AD 550 to AD 559 北齊文宣帝自平州三道來侵
Directly stated · History of Liao 32, passage 121
AD 550 受禪之日
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 30, passage 151
AD 550 to AD 559 天保
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 13, passages 46, 161; Book of Northern Qi 27, passage 52; Book of Northern Qi 31, passages 39, 50, 85; Book of Northern Qi 40, passage 79; Book of Northern Qi 43, passages 34, 93; Book of Northern Qi 50, passages 11, 39
AD 556 天保七年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 16
AD 550 to AD 559 天保中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 10, passages 126, 129; Book of Northern Qi 23, passages 83, 85-86, 88
AD 558 天保九年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 21
AD 551 天保二年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 28, passage 30
AD 554 天保五年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 16, passages 75, 93; Book of Northern Qi 18, passages 95, 101
AD 554 天保五年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 50, passage 11
AD 550 天保元年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 34
AD 555 天保六年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 57; Book of Northern Qi 15, passage 255
AD 555 天保六年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 33, passage 16
AD 550 天保初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 28; Book of Northern Qi 25, passage 67
AD 550 天保初
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 21; Book of Northern Qi 15, passage 79; Book of Northern Qi 39, passage 22
AD 559 天保十年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 71; Book of Northern Qi 30, passages 80, 211
AD 559 天保十年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 28, passages 138-139
AD 553 天保四年九月
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 63, passage 38
c. AD 559 天保末年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 98
AD 550 婚夕，顯祖舉酒祝曰
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 23, passage 164
AD 550 to AD 559 文宣
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 11, passages 130, 132; Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 39
AD 559 文宣之崩
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 34, passage 84
AD 550 文宣受禪
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 47, passage 175
AD 550 文宣嗣事
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 15, passages 244-245
AD 559 文宣崩
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 198
AD 550 to AD 559 文宣帝
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 223
AD 550 to AD 559 文宣幸晉陽
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 36, passage 77
AD 557 to AD 559 文宣幸晉陽
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 133
AD 543 to AD 550 文宣為幷州刺史時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 39, passages 62, 74
AD 559 文宣皇帝崩
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 36, passage 78
AD 558 文宣遣兵援送…冊拜琳
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 32, passage 176
AD 549 文襄崩
Dated from the passage context · Book of Wei 110, passage 182
AD 549 文襄遇難，文宣將赴晉陽
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 39, passage 19
AD 558 明年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 37
AD 550 to AD 559 有寵于文宣
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 193
AD 547 武定五年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 3, passage 29
AD 543 武定初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 23, passage 76
AD 546 武定四年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 16, passages 54, 61
AD 547 to AD 549 辛卯後
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 3, passage 157
AD 550 to AD 559 顯祖
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 18, passages 173, 175
AD 550 to AD 559 顯祖
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 46, passage 65
AD 550 to AD 559 顯祖受禪
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 53
AD 550 顯祖受禪
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 16, passage 68; Book of Northern Qi 17, passage 49
AD 550 to AD 559 顯祖時 / 天保
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 49, passage 19
AD 559 顯祖末年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 18, passage 116
AD 550 to AD 559 高洋早已稱帝
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 11, passage 257
AD 550 齊受禪
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 18, passages 91, 105; Book of Northern Qi 35, passage 36
AD 550 齊天保元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 38, passages 12, 15

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Sibling of Prince of Changshan (常山王)
brother 兄弟 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 30, passage 79
Sibling of Emperor Xiaozhao (孝昭帝)
elder brother 兄 · Full siblings
brother 叔/兄 · Full siblings
younger brother by the same mother 母弟 · Full siblings · paternal line
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 1; Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 97; Book of Northern Qi 34, passages 111, 119
Sibling of Prince of Changgung (長廣王)
brother 叔/兄 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 34, passages 111, 119
Sibling of Wenxiang (文襄)
brothers 兄弟 · Full siblings
Duke of Taiyuan Yang 太原公洋 · Full siblings · paternal line
elder brother 兄 · Full siblings
younger brother 弟 · Full siblings
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Northern Qi 39, passages 62, 97; Book of Northern Qi 3, passages 1, 29; Book of Northern Qi 30, passage 75; Book of Northern Qi 31, passages 81, 97
Child of Lou Zhaojun (婁昭君)
conceived Wenxuan 孕文宣
mother 母
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 38; Book of Northern Qi 3, passages 1, 29; Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 92; Book of Northern Qi 34, passage 157
Spouse of Daughter of Zhang Yanzhi
consort 妃 · Secondary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 35, passage 89
Parent of Crown Prince (太子)
crown prince 太子
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 30, passage 209
Spouse of Empress Wenxuan (文宣皇后)
empress 后 · Primary marriage
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 66
Spouse of Empress Li (李皇后)
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage
empress 皇後
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 1; Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 49
Spouse of Li Zu'e (李祖娥)
established the empress 立后 · Primary marriage
Primary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 69
Child of Gao Huan (高歡)
father 父
son 子
Yang 洋 · paternal line
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 1; Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 3; Book of Northern Qi 30, passage 116; Book of Northern Qi 39, passages 62, 74; Book of Northern Qi 31, passages 79, 86; Book of Northern Qi 47, passage 175; Book of Northern Qi 3, passages 1, 29
Parent of Gao Yin (高殷)
father 父
son 子
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 119; Book of Northern Qi 34, passages 85, 111
Parent of Emperor Fei (廢帝殷)
father 父
son 子
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 1; Book of Northern Qi 6, passages 39, 155
Child of Empress Wuming née Lou (武明婁皇后)
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 3
Child of Empress Dowager Wuming (武明皇太后)
son 子
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 1
Parent of Gao Yanzong (高延宗)
raised 養 · Foster parentage
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 11, passage 130
Parent of Emperor Xiaozhao (孝昭帝)
son 子
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 47
Parent of Emperor Wucheng (武成帝)
son 子
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 47
Child of King Gao (高王)
sons 諸兒 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 11, passage 257
Parent of Gao Shaode (高紹德)
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 9, passages 73, 75

Kinship Role brothers · Count 2
Uncertain · Book of Northern Qi 30, passage 79

Key source chapters

Career and standing

governor of Bing 幷州刺史
AD 543 to AD 550 文宣為幷州刺史時 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 39, passage 62
Prince of Ande 安德王
Bestowed · With Gao Yanzong (高延宗)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 11, passage 133
Duke of Taiyuan 太原公
Held
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 3, passage 29; Book of Northern Qi 49, passage 131
Held
Emperor
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 11, passage 257
Arrested and imprisoned Tian’en’s faction, ordering their execution
Ordered executions · With Tian’en (天恩)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 31
Executed Gao Dezheng and gave his wealth to Guiyan
Executed · With Gao Dezheng (高德正)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 156

Show 8 more source-backed claims

Struck Guiyan on the forehead with a horsewhip until blood covered his face
Punished · With Guiyan (歸彥)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 208
Received abdication
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 53
Received abdication
AD 550 顯祖受禪 · Polity Northern Qi 北齊
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 16, passage 68
As Emperor receiving Wei abdication 受魏禪
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passages 27, 56
received the abdication 受禪
AD 550 顯祖受禪
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 17, passage 49
AD 550 魏武定八年五月 / 天保初
Event accepted abdication in midsummer after divination
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 49, passages 57, 61, 64-65
Emperor
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 31, passages 39, 85
AD 550 稱帝
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 11, passage 257

Places and affiliations

Northern Qi 北齊
Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 21
Northern Qi 齊
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 15, passage 79
Polity Eastern Wei 東魏 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 16, passage 61; Book of Northern Qi 39, passage 62
Polity Northern Qi 北齊 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 11, passage 257; Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 223; Book of Northern Qi 16, passage 68; Book of Northern Qi 18, passages 116, 173; Book of Northern Qi 23, passages 83, 164; Book of Northern Qi 30, passage 151; Book of Northern Qi 34, passage 84; Book of Northern Qi 39, passage 22
Polity Northern Qi 北齊 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 11, passage 130
Polity Northern Qi 齊 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 15, passages 244, 246; Book of Northern Qi 18, passages 91, 105; Book of Northern Qi 32, passage 176

Show 4 more source-backed claims

AD 558 天保九年
At Jinyang 晉陽 · Relation Sojourned at
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 13
AD 546 武定四年
At Ye 鄴 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 16, passage 61
At Golden Phoenix Terrace 金鳳台 · Relation Visited
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 19
At Jinyang 晉陽 · Relation Sojourned at
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 133

Learning and skills

c. AD 559 天保末年
Belief Buddhism 內法 · Relation Adherent of
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 98

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Quote false · About crown prince has Han temperament; wish to depose and install Prince of Taiyuan · With Emperor Fei (廢帝殷), Prince of Taiyuan (太原王)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 8
Speech · Speaker · Quote true · About faulted Xing Shao for naming Yin/Zhengdao · With Xing Shao (邢卲)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 60
Speech · Speaker · Quote true · About refused name change: It is Heaven · With Xing Shao (邢卲)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 62
Speech · Speaker · Quote true · About told Xiaozhao to seize throne but not kill Fei · With Emperor Xiaozhao (孝昭帝), Emperor Fei (廢帝殷)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 63
Praised Sihao’s fierce bravery against the Rouran and renamed him
Praise · Speaker
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 105
Letter · Author · Addressed to Cui Xuan (崔暹)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 30, passages 74-75

Show 15 more source-backed claims

AD 550 to AD 559 天保中
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Yang Yin (楊愔)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 23, passages 83-84, 88
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Cui Ang (崔昂)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 30, passages 207-208, 212
AD 550 to AD 559 天保中
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Kai (愷)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 23, passage 86
Judgment · Speaker · Direct quotation · Topic Song Jingye fit to teach emperors
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 49, passage 56
Speech · Speaker · With Sima Ziru (司馬子如) · Mode quotation Speaker Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi (文宣帝)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 18, passage 175
Speech · Speaker · With Yang Yin (楊愔) · Mode quotation Speaker Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi (文宣帝)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 35, passage 36
Speech · Speaker · With Wang Xin (王昕)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 39
Speech · Speaker · With Emperor Xiaozhao (孝昭帝)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 13, passages 69-70
可憐止有此一箇。
Speech · Speaker · With Gao Yanzong (高延宗) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 11, passage 130
Speech · Speaker · With Gao Longzhi (高隆之) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 18, passages 95-96
Speech · Speaker · With Lou Zhaojun (婁昭君)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 40, passages 85, 88
Speech · Speaker · With Yuan Shao (元韶) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 28, passage 139
Speech · Speaker · With Zhang Yao (張耀)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 25, passage 74
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 57; Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 133; Book of Northern Qi 23, passage 164; Book of Northern Qi 28, passage 136
Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 30, passages 176-177, 210; Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 92

Events and relationships

About to receive Wei abdication
Accession · Recipient
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 18, passage 105
Appointed heir
AD 550 to AD 559 文宣帝 · Political · Authority · With Fuhu (伏護)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 223
Beat Xiaozhao with sword ring
Violence · Actor · With Emperor Xiaozhao (孝昭帝)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 35
Captured over one hundred thousand
AD 550 to AD 559 北齊文宣帝自平州三道來侵 · Military · Invader · At Ping prefecture 平州
Directly stated · History of Liao 32, passage 121
Cut Xu Dun beard
Personal · Actor · With Xu Dun (許惇)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 43, passage 93
Dressed as woman
Personal · Humiliator · With Yuan Shao (元韶)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 28, passage 136

Show 33 more source-backed claims

Executed Huan attendants and rebuked Huan
Legal · Authority · With Huan (渙)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 129
Executed sons of
AD 559 顯祖末年 · Legal · Authority · With Gao Longzhi (高隆之)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 18, passage 116
Executed
AD 547 to AD 549 辛卯後 · Legal · Punisher · With Lan Jing (蘭京)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 3, passage 157
Flogged and threatened
Punishment · Authority · With Emperor Xiaozhao (孝昭帝)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 31, passages 115, 117
Had Wenlüe imprisoned
Legal · Authority
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 39
Opened tomb and destroyed remains
AD 559 顯祖末年 · Posthumous punishment · Authority · With Gao Longzhi (高隆之)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 18, passage 117
Ordered killing
AD 558 明年 · Execution · Authority · With Gao Jun (高浚)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passages 37, 44, 46
Ordered Longzhi beaten
Punishment · Authority · With Gao Longzhi (高隆之)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 18, passage 107
Ordered summons of Huan as black omen
Political · Authority · With Huan (渙)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 135
Ordered Wenluo and others to kill Huan
Violent · Authority · With Feng Wenluo (馮文洛)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 139
Permitted Yuanhai to retreat to Mount Linlu and later recalled him
Personal · Patron · With Gao Yuanhai (高元海)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 43
Personally campaigned against the Khitan
Military · Participant
Directly stated · History of Liao 63, passage 38
Personally stabbed
AD 558 明年 · Execution · Perpetrator · With Gao Huan (高渙)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passages 37, 44
Promoted
Political · Authority · With Zhang Yanzi (張晏之)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 197
Raged at and dismissed Kai
AD 550 to AD 559 天保中 · Political · Ruler · With Kai (愷)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 23, passages 83-86, 88
Received abdication from Wei
AD 550 受禪之日 · Political · Accession
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 30, passage 151
Received accusation and later rebuked accuser
Political · Ruler · With Sima Ziru (司馬子如)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 18, passages 173, 175
Refused killing Cui officials
Political · Decision maker
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 18, passage 98
Sent Duan Shao then personally comforted Can
Political · Ruler · With Can (粲)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 15, passages 79, 81
Sent escort and investiture
Military · Orderer · With Prince Zhuang of Yongjia (永嘉王莊)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 32, passage 176
Set the boy astride his belly and had him urinate into his navel
Personal · Foster parent · With Gao Yanzong (高延宗)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 11, passage 130
Shot at Eastern Hills
Leisure · Participant · At Eastern Hills 東山
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 18, passage 95
Slaughtered Yuan clan
AD 559 天保十年 · Political · Instigator
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 28, passages 141-142, 144
Struck crown prince with riding crop
Personal · Authority · With Emperor Fei (廢帝殷)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 21
Succeeded to power
AD 550 文宣嗣事 · Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 15, passage 244
Violated Empress Yuan and humiliated Gao women
AD 555 天保六年 · Personal · Perpetrator · With Empress Yuan of Wenxiang (元氏)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 9, passages 57-59
Visited Jinyang sweet dew omen
AD 550 to AD 559 文宣幸晉陽 · Ritual · Sovereign · At Jinyang 晉陽
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 36, passage 77
Wedding cup blessing
Ritual · Officiant · With Younger Sister of Cui Ling (崔㥄妹)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 23, passage 164
Wished to abandon fortifications
AD 550 文宣嗣事 · Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 15, passage 245
Threatened execution · Authority · With Wang Hong (王紘)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 25, passages 195, 197
Relation Successor of · Person Wenxiang (文襄)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 18, passage 175
Relation Consulted · Person Yang Yin (楊愔)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 11, passage 132
Relation Entrusted government to · Person Gao Longzhi (高隆之)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 18, passage 99

Assessments and attributes

Assessment applauded Shao's merit · About Person Id Duan Shao (段韶) · Mode named-actor Source Person Id Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi (文宣帝)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 16, passage 93
Assessment fell into madness · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 57
AD 550 to AD 559 天保中
Assessment had already lost virtue/restraint · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 23, passage 85
Assessment later gave himself over to wine and cruelty · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 157
Assessment shifting blame to win renown was not great-minister conduct · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi (文宣帝)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 18, passage 100
timid and effeminate; wept when attending Gao Cheng
Character
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 17

Show 1 more source-backed claim

Item two stone horns 二石角 · Relation Bestowed · With Guiyan (歸彥)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passages 205-206

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 16, passage 61; Book of Northern Qi 18, passages 95, 116; Book of Northern Qi 23, passage 164; Book of Northern Qi 28, passage 1; Book of Northern Qi 32, passage 176; Book of Northern Qi 39, passages 19, 62
acted on diviners' warning that the destroyer of the Gao would wear black; avoided Buddhist monks on travels after Gao Huan
Mode hearsay
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passages 132-133
gave Huan's consort Lady Li in marriage to Feng Wenluo as reward for killing Huan
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 10, passage 139

References in the histories

Search passages

History

249 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 3Volume 3 Annals 3: Emperor Wenxiang · 2 passages

Open chapter

壬寅，魏帝詔太原公洋攝理軍國，遣中使敦喻。 On renyin day the emperor issued an edict that Duke of Taiyuan Gao Yang administer military and state affairs and sent a palace envoy to urge him earnestly.

時太原公洋在城東雙堂，入而討賊，臠割京等，皆漆其頭。 At the time Duke of Taiyuan Gao Yang was at the Twin Hall east of the city; he entered and punished the traitors, dismembering Jing and the rest and lacquering their heads.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 5Volume 5 Annals 5: Emperor Fei · 11 passages

Open chapter

廢帝殷，字正道，文宣帝之長子也，母曰李皇后。 Emperor Fei, whose personal name was Yin and style name Zhengdao, was the eldest son of Emperor Wenxuan. His mother was Empress Li.

文宣每言太子得漢家性質，不似我，欲廢之，立太原王。 Emperor Wenxuan often said the crown prince had inherited Han Chinese ways and was nothing like himself; he wanted to depose him and set up the Prince of Taiyuan instead.

七年冬，文宣召朝臣文學者及禮學官於宮宴會，令以經義相質，親自臨聽。 In the winter of the seventh year, Emperor Wenxuan summoned literary officials and ritual specialists to a palace banquet, had them debate passages from the classics, and listened in person.

九年，文宣在晉陽，太子監國，集諸儒講《孝經》。 In the ninth year, while Emperor Wenxuan was at Jinyang, the crown prince acted as regent, gathered the scholars, and expounded the Classic of Filial Piety.

後文宣登金鳳台，召太子使手刃囚。 Later Emperor Wenxuan went up to the Golden Phoenix Terrace, called the crown prince, and ordered him to execute a prisoner with his own blade.

文宣怒，親以馬鞭撞太子三下，由是氣悸語吃，精神時復昏擾。 Emperor Wenxuan flew into a rage and personally struck the crown prince three times with his riding crop. From that time on the prince suffered heart palpitations and a stammer, and his mind would sometimes grow confused.

十年十月，文宣崩。 In the tenth month of the tenth year, Emperor Wenxuan died.

以常山王地親望重，內外畏服，加以文宣初崩之日，太后本欲立之，故愔等並懷猜忌。 Prince Yan of Changshan was a close kinsman with formidable prestige, feared and obeyed at court and beyond. Since the empress dowager had originally wanted to enthrone him when Emperor Wenxuan died, Yang Yin and the others all suspected him.

王薨後，孝昭不豫，見文宣爲祟。 After the prince died, Emperor Xiaozhao fell ill and saw Emperor Wenxuan haunting him as an angry spirit.

初，文宣命邢卲制帝名殷，字正道，帝從而尤之曰：「殷家弟及，『正』字一止，吾身後兒不得也。」 Earlier, Emperor Wenxuan had ordered Xing Shao to devise Yin as the emperor's personal name and Zhengdao as his style. Wenxuan later faulted him for it: "In the house of Yin, brothers succeeded one another, and the character 正 contains a single 'stop.' After I am gone, my son will not have it."

文宣不許曰：「天也。」 Wenxuan refused, saying, "It is Heaven."

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 6Volume 6 Annals 6: Emperor Xiaozhao · 21 passages

Open chapter

孝昭皇帝演，字延安，神武皇帝第六子，文宣皇帝之母弟也。 Emperor Xiaozhao, whose personal name was Yan and style name Yan'an, was the sixth son of Emperor Shenwu and the full younger brother of Emperor Wenxuan.

七年，從文宣還鄴。 In the seventh year he returned to Ye with Emperor Wenxuan.

文宣以尚書奏事，多有異同，令帝與朝臣先論定得失，然後敷奏。 Because memorials from the Secretariat often conflicted, Emperor Wenxuan had the prince and the ministers debate each matter's merits first, and only then bring the decision forward.

帝長於政術，剖斷咸盡其理，文宣歎重之。 The prince had a gift for statecraft; every ruling he handed down went to the heart of the matter, and Emperor Wenxuan marveled at him.

時文宣溺於遊宴，帝憂憤表於神色。 By then Emperor Wenxuan was lost to feasting and pleasure, and the prince's distress and anger showed in his every look.

文宣覺之，謂帝曰：「但令汝在，我何為不縱樂？」 Emperor Wenxuan noticed and said to him, "With you here, why should I not enjoy myself?"

文宣亦大悲，抵杯於地曰：「汝以此嫌我，自今敢進酒者，斬之！」 Emperor Wenxuan was stricken too. He smashed his cup on the floor and cried, "So this is how you see me! From today on, whoever dares set wine before me shall be executed!"

帝不從，因間極言，遂逢大怒。 He would not listen. Seizing a moment alone with Emperor Wenxuan, he spoke with all his force—and provoked a terrible rage.

順成后本魏朝宗室，文宣欲帝離之，陰為帝廣求淑媛，望移其寵。 Empress Shuncheng came from the Wei imperial clan. Emperor Wenxuan wanted the prince to turn from her and secretly searched out worthy beauties for him, hoping to draw his heart elsewhere.

文宣乃立帝於前，以刀環擬脅召被帝罰者，臨以白刃，求帝之短，咸無所陳，方見解釋。 Emperor Wenxuan made the prince stand before him, brandishing the ring of his sword as a threat. He called in those the prince had punished, put bare blades to their throats, and demanded his faults—but none had any charge to bring, and only then was the prince released.

後賜帝魏時宮人，醒而忘之，謂帝擅取，遂以刀環亂築，因此致困。 Later Emperor Wenxuan gave the prince palace women left from Wei times. When he sobered, he forgot the gift, accused the prince of taking them without leave, and beat him savagely with the sword ring until the prince collapsed from his injuries.

皇太后日夜啼泣，文宣不知所為。 The Empress Dowager wept day and night, and Emperor Wenxuan did not know what to do.

先是禁友王晞，乃捨之，令侍帝。 Wang Xi, his friend, had earlier been placed under restriction; now Emperor Wenxuan freed him and set him to wait on the prince.

及文宣崩，帝居禁中護喪事，幼主即位，乃即朝班。 When Emperor Wenxuan died, Xiaozhao remained in the palace to oversee the funeral. Once the young ruler took the throne, he entered the court ranks.

時庭中及兩廊下衛士二千餘人皆被甲待詔，武衛娥永樂武力絕綸，又被文宣重遇，撫刃思效。 More than two thousand guards in the courtyard and along both wings of the hall stood armored, awaiting command. E Yongle of the Military Guard was a fighter without equal, and Emperor Wenxuan had greatly favored him; he gripped his blade, ready to give his life.

顯祖文宣皇帝廟宜奏《文正》之樂，舞《光大》之舞。 The temple of Emperor Wenxuan should use the hymn "Correct Civil Virtue" and the dance "Great Radiance."

庚申，詔以故太師尉景、故太師竇泰、故太師太原王婁昭、故太宰章武王厙狄幹、故太尉段榮、故太師万俟普、故司徒蔡儁、故太師高乾、故司徒莫多婁貸文、故太保劉貴、故太保封祖裔、故廣州刺史王懷十二人配饗太祖廟庭，故太師清河王岳、故太宰安德王韓軌、故太宰扶風王可朱渾道元、故太師高昂、故大司馬劉豐、故太師万俟受洛干、故太尉慕容紹宗七人配饗世宗廟庭，故太尉河東王潘相樂、故司空薛脩義、故太傅破六韓常三人配饗顯祖廟庭。 On the gengshen day, an edict ordered twelve deceased ministers to receive associated sacrifice in the Founding Emperor's temple, including Wei Jing, Dou Tai, Lou Zhao, She Digan, Duan Rong, Wan Sipo, Cai Jun, Gao Gan, Moduo Lou Daiwen, Liu Gui, Feng Zuyi, and Wang Huai; seven others in Emperor Wenxiang's temple, including Princes Yue, Han Gui, and Kezhuhun Daoyuan, Liu Feng, Wan Sipo Shouluogan, and Murong Shaozong; and three more in Emperor Wenxuan's temple—Pan Xiangle, Xue Xiuyi, and Poliuhan Chang.

對曰：「陛下昔見文宣以馬鞭撻人，常以為非，而今行之，非妄言耶？」 He replied, "Your Majesty once saw Emperor Wenxuan lash people with a riding crop and always condemned it; yet now you do the same—is that not saying one thing and doing another?"

時有尚書令史姓趙，於鄴見文宣從楊愔、燕子獻等西行，言相與復讐。 A clerk in the Secretariat surnamed Zhao, while at Ye, saw a vision of Emperor Wenxuan leading Yang Yin, Yan Zixian, and others westward, saying they had come to take revenge.

文宣因循鴻業，內外葉從，自朝及野，群心屬望，東魏之地，舉國樂推，曾未期月，遂登宸極。 Emperor Wenxuan inherited this great enterprise; court and country fell into step, and from the capital to the provinces all looked to him. Throughout Eastern Wei the people rallied to his cause, and within a month he had taken the throne.

文宣崩後，大革前弊。 After Emperor Wenxuan's death he undertook sweeping reforms of earlier abuses.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 9Volume 9 Biographies 1: Empresses and Consorts · 5 passages

Open chapter

文宣將受魏禪，后固執不許，帝所以中止。 When Gao Yang was about to receive the Wei abdication, the empress firmly refused to permit it, and the emperor therefore desisted.

孕文宣則夢大龍，首尾屬天地，張口動目，勢狀驚人； when she conceived Gao Yang she dreamed of a great dragon whose head and tail joined heaven and earth, mouth open and eyes moving, its aspect terrifying;

文宣受禪，尊為文襄皇后，居靜德宮。 When Gao Yang received the abdication, she was honored as Empress of Wenxiang and dwelt in Jingde Palace.

及天保六年，文宣漸致昏狂，乃移居于高陽之宅，而取其府庫，曰：「吾兄昔奸我婦，我今須報。」 By the sixth year of Tianbao, Gao Yang gradually fell into madness; he then moved her to a residence at Gaoyang and seized her storehouses, saying, "My elder brother once violated my wife — now I must repay him."

文宣皇后李氏，諱祖娥，趙郡李希宗女也。 Empress Li of Wenxuan, whose personal name was Zu'e, was the daughter of Li Xizong of Zhao Commandery.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 10Volume 10 Biographies 2: Eleven Princes of Shenwu · 15 passages

Open chapter

神武皇帝十五男：武明婁皇后生文襄皇帝、文宣皇帝、孝昭皇帝、襄城景王淯、武成皇帝、博陵文簡王濟，王氏生永安簡平王浚，穆氏生平陽靖翼王淹，大尒朱氏生彭城景思王浟、華山王凝，韓氏生上党剛肅王渙，小尒朱氏生任城王湝，游氏生高陽康穆王湜，鄭氏生馮翊王潤，馮氏生漢陽敬懷王洽。 Gao Huan, the Shenwu Emperor, had fifteen sons: Empress Wuming née Lou bore Gao Cheng, Gao Yang, Gao Yan, Prince Jing of Xiangcheng Yu, Gao Zhan, and Prince Wenjian of Boling Ji; Lady Wang bore Prince Jianping of Yong'an Jun; Lady Mu bore Prince Jingyi of Pingyang Yan; the Grand Lady Erzhu bore Prince Jingsi of Pengcheng You and Prince of Huashan Ning; Lady Han bore Prince Gangsu of Shangdang Huan; the Lesser Lady Erzhu bore Prince of Rencheng Jie; Lady You bore Prince Kangmu of Gaoyang Shi; Lady Zheng bore Prince of Fengyi Run; Lady Feng bore Prince Jinghuai of Hanyang Qia.

文宣性雌懦，每參文襄，有時涕出。 Gao Yang was by nature timid and effeminate; whenever he attended upon Gao Cheng, tears would sometimes fall.

浚常責帝左右，何因不為二兄拭鼻，由是見銜。 Jun often rebuked those at the emperor's side, asking why they did not wipe Second Elder Brother's nose for him — on this account he came to be resented.

文宣末年多酒，浚謂親近曰：「二兄舊來不甚了了，自登祚已後，識解頓進。 In the last years of Gao Yang's reign he drank heavily; Jun said to those close to him, "Second Elder Brother was never very clear-minded before; since ascending the throne his understanding has suddenly advanced.

文宣戮其左右數人，渙亦被譴。 Gao Yang executed several of his attendants and rebuked Huan himself.

是時文宣幸晉陽，以所忌問左右曰：「何物最黑？」 Gao Yang was then at Jinyang; acting on this fear he asked his attendants, "What is blackest of all?"

帝以渙第七子為當之，乃使庫真都督破六韓伯昇之鄴徵渙。 The emperor decided Huan, as the seventh son, must be the omen, and sent storehouse commissioner Poliuhan Bosheng to Ye to summon him.

渙至紫陌橋，殺伯昇以逃，憑河而度，土人執以送帝。 At Zimo Bridge Huan killed Bosheng and fled; he forded a river, but local men seized him and delivered him to the emperor.

以其妃李氏配馮文洛，是帝家舊奴，積勞位至刺史，帝令文洛等殺渙，故以其妻妻焉。 His consort Lady Li was given to Feng Wenluo — an old household slave of the imperial clan who through long service had risen to provincial governor; the emperor had ordered Wenluo and others to kill Huan, and so gave him Huan's wife.

以滑稽便辟，有寵于文宣，常在左右，行杖以撻諸王。 Glib, amusing, and adept at flattery, he won Gao Yang's favor, kept always at his side, and carried a staff with which he beat the other princes.

帝問其故，對曰：「無官職漢，何須禮。」 Asked why, Shi said, "A Han man without office needs no bow."

帝於是擢拜晏之為徐州刺史。 The emperor promptly made Yanzi governor of Xu Province.

文宣崩，兼司徒，導引梓宮，吹笛，云「至尊頗知臣不」，又擊胡鼓為樂。 When Gao Yang died Shi served as minister of works, led the coffin procession, played the flute saying "The sovereign knew me well," and beat the Hu drum for sport.

濟嘗從文宣巡幸，在路忽憶太后，遂逃歸。 Ji once accompanied Gao Yang on tour; on the road he suddenly missed the empress dowager and fled home.

帝怒，臨以白刃，因此驚恍。 The emperor threatened him with naked steel; from that shock Ji was never right again.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 11Volume 11 Biographies 3: Six Princes of Wenxiang · 3 passages

Open chapter

延宗幼為文宣所養，年十二，猶騎置腹上，令溺己臍中，抱之曰：「可憐止有此一箇。」 Yanzong was raised from childhood by Gao Yang; even at twelve the emperor would set him astride his belly, make him urinate into his navel, hold him close and say, "Poor child — I have only this one."

文宣問楊愔，愔曰：「天下無此郡名，願使安於德。」 Gao Yang asked Yang Yin; Yang said, "No such commandery exists in the realm — let him dwell secure in virtue instead."

保定是周武帝年號，這時高洋早已稱帝，與下文「高王諸兒」云云不符。 Baoding is an era of Emperor Wu of Zhou—by then Gao Yang had long reigned, which cannot square with what follows about "the sons of King Gao."

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 13Volume 13 Biographies 5: Gao Chen; Gao Rui (Northern Qi); Gao Yue (Northern Qi); Gao Mai · 10 passages

Open chapter

顯祖受禪，進封爵為趙郡王，邑一千二百戶，遷散騎常侍。 When Gao Yang received the abdication, Rui's enfeoffment was advanced to prince of Zhao Commandery with a fief of twelve hundred households, and he was transferred to regular attendant of the scattered cavalry.

顯祖特崇其選，乃除叡侍中、攝大都督府長史。 Gao Yang especially honored the selection and made Rui palace attendant and acting chief administrator of the great area commander's office.

叡後因侍宴，顯祖從容顧謂常山王演等曰：「由來亦有如此長史不？ Later, while attending a banquet, Gao Yang casually turned to Prince of Changshan Gao Yan and others and said, "Has there ever been a chief administrator like this?

世宗崩，顯祖出撫晉陽，令岳以本官兼尚書左僕射，留鎮京師。 When Gao Cheng died Gao Yang went out to administer Jinyang and left Yue at his original post while additionally serving as left vice minister of the Masters of Writing, guarding the capital.

顯祖聞而惡之，漸以疏岳。 Gao Yang heard and hated it; he gradually grew distant from Yue.

仍屬顯祖召鄴下婦人薛氏入宮，而岳先嘗喚之至宅，由其姊也。 It happened that Gao Yang summoned a woman of Ye named Xue into the palace; Yue had earlier summoned her to his house — through his elder sister.

文宣之世，亦頻請納，又固不許。 In Gao Yang's reign he also repeatedly asked to turn them in, and again was firmly refused.

勱，字敬德，夙智早成，為顯祖所愛。 Gao Mai, courtesy name Jingde, was precocious from youth and loved by Gao Yang.

後除青州刺史，拜日，顯祖戒之曰：「叔父前牧青州，甚有遺惠，故遣汝慰彼黎庶，宜好用心，無墜聲績。」 Later he was made governor of Qing Province; on the day of investiture Gao Yang admonished him, "Your uncle formerly governed Qing with lasting kindness; therefore I send you to comfort those people. Use your heart well — do not fall from his renown."

天保不辰，易生悔咎，固不可掩其風烈，適以彰顯祖之失德云。 Tianbao was an ill hour, quick to breed regret and blame; yet his heroic stature cannot be hidden — it only throws Gao Yang's fault and his virtue into sharper light.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 14Volume 14 Biographies 6: Guangping Gongcheng; Yangzhou Gong Yongle; Di Zhangbi; Prince of Xiangle, Xiang Guo; Prince of Shangluo, Si Zong; Zi Yuanhai; Di Sihao; Prince of Pingqin, Guiyan; Prince Pu of Wuxing; Changle, Governor of Lingshan; Sizi Fuhu · 11 passages

Open chapter

文宣並收掩付獄，天恩黨十餘人皆棄市，長弼鞭一百。 Gao Yang arrested and imprisoned them all; more than ten of Tian'en's followers were executed in the marketplace, and Changbi was flogged one hundred strokes.

文宣許之。 Gao Yang granted his request.

文宣天保末年敬信內法，乃至宗廟不血食，皆元海所謀。 In the last years of Tianbao, Gao Yang revered and believed in the inner Buddhist law, even to the point that the ancestral temple had no blood offerings — all was Yuanhai's counsel.

及文宣受命，為左衛大將軍。 When Wenxuan took the throne, Sihao was made grand general of the Left Guard.

本名思孝，天保五年，討蠕蠕，文宣悅其驍勇，謂曰：「爾擊賊如鶻入鴉群，宜思好事。」 His original name was Sixiao. In the fifth year of Tianbao, on campaign against the Rouran, Wenxuan delighted in his fierce bravery and said, "You strike the enemy like a goshawk among crows — think on deeds worthy of that gift."

贈司徒，諡曰文宣。 He was posthumously made minister over the masses, posthumous name Wenxuan.

妻魏上黨王元天穆女也，貌不美而甚驕妒，數忿爭，密啟文宣求離，事寢不報。 His wife was a daughter of Yuan Tianmu, Prince of Shangdang of Wei. She was not beautiful and was extremely arrogant and jealous; after repeated angry quarrels, Guiyan secretly petitioned Wenxuan for a separation, but the matter was shelved without reply.

文宣誅高德正，金寶財貨悉以賜之。 When Wenxuan executed Gao Dezheng, he gave Guiyan all of Gao's gold, jewels, wealth, and property.

文宣入庫，賜從臣兵器，特以二石角與歸彥。 Wenxuan entered the armory to distribute weapons among his followers and specially gave the two stone horns to Guiyan.

文宣嘗見之，怒，使以馬鞭擊其額，血被面，曰：「爾反時當以此骨嚇漢。」 Wenxuan once saw it and grew angry. He had Guiyan struck on the brow with a horsewhip until blood covered his face, saying, "When you rebel you should use this bone to frighten the Han."

子懿，卒於武平鎮將，無子，文宣帝以靈山從父兄齊州刺史建國子伏護為靈山後。 His son Yi died as commander of the Wuping garrison without heirs; Emperor Wenxuan appointed Fuhu — son of Jianguo, Governor of Qi Province and Lingshan's elder paternal cousin — to carry on Lingshan's line.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 15Volume 15 Biographies 7: Dou Tai; Wei Jing; Lou Zhao; His Nephew Rui; Kudie Gan; His Son Shiwen; Han Gui; Pan Le · 5 passages

Open chapter

帝怪，遣使就宅問之。 The emperor thought it strange and sent an envoy to his house to inquire.

使者以狀聞之，文宣使段韶諭旨。 The envoy reported the matter; Gao Yang sent Duan Shao to deliver the imperial message.

文宣親詣其宅慰之，方復朝請。 Gao Yang personally visited his house to comfort him; only then did he resume attending court.

文宣嗣事，鎮河陽，破西將楊檦等。 When Gao Yang succeeded to power, Le held the Heyang garrison and routed Western general Yang Piao and others.

時帝以懷州刺史平鑒等所築城深入敵境，欲棄之，樂以軹關要害，必須防固，乃更修理，增置兵將，而還鎮河陽，拜司空。 The emperor wished to abandon fortifications built by Huai Province governor Ping Jian and others, because they lay deep in enemy territory. Pan Le argued that Zhiguan Pass was a vital strongpoint and had to be held; he repaired the works, posted more troops and officers, returned to garrison Heyang, and was appointed minister of works.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 16Volume 16 Biographies 8: Duan Rong; Duan Shao · 4 passages

Open chapter

即令韶從顯祖鎮鄴，召世宗赴軍。 He thereupon ordered Shao to follow Gao Yang in garrisoning Ye and summoned Gao Cheng to the army.

顯祖受禪，別封朝陵縣，又封霸城縣，加位特進。 When Gao Yang received the abdication, Shao was separately enfeoffed in Chaoling County, again enfeoffed in Bacheng County, and granted special advancement.

顯祖嘉之，別以梁氏為安定郡君。 Gao Yang approved; separately Lady Liang was made lady of Anding Commandery.

顯祖嘉其功，詔賞吳口七十人，封平原郡王。 Gao Yang applauded his merit; an edict granted seventy Wu captives and enfeoffed him as prince of Pingyuan Commandery.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 17Volume 17 Biographies 9: Hulü Jin; Hulü Guang; Hulü Xian · 4 passages

Open chapter

顯祖受禪，封咸陽郡王，刺史如故。 When Gao Yang received the abdication, Hulü Jin was enfeoffed prince of Xianyang Commandery, remaining governor as before.

顯祖於是率衆與金共討之於吐賴，獲二萬餘戶而還。 Gao Yang thereupon led troops and together with Hulü Jin attacked them at Tulai, capturing more than twenty thousand households before returning.

顯祖受禮，進號征西，別封顯親縣伯。 When the Founding Emperor received the abdication, Xian's title was advanced to general who campaigns west and he was separately enfeoffed baron of Xianqin County.

顯祖受禪，別封羨陽侯。 When Xianzu received the abdication, Ping was separately enfeoffed as Marquis of Xianyang.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 18Volume 18 Biographies 10: Sun Teng; Gao Longzhi; Sima Ziru · 10 passages

Open chapter

顯祖曾至東山，因射，謂隆之曰：「射堋上可作猛獸，以存古義，何為置人？ Gao Yang once came to the Eastern Hills and, while shooting, said to Gao Longzhi, "At the shooting butts one could make fierce beasts to preserve the ancient meaning — why set up human figures?

初，世宗委任兼右僕射崔暹、黃門郎崔季舒等，及世宗崩，隆之啟顯祖並欲害之，不許。 At first, Gao Cheng entrusted affairs to right vice director Cui Xian, gentlemen attendant Cui Jishu, and others; when Gao Cheng died, Gao Longzhi reported to Gao Yang that they should all be killed, but permission was not granted.

顯祖以隆之舊齒，委以政事，季舒等仍以前隙，乃譖云：「隆之每見訴訟者，輒加哀矜之意，以示非己能裁。」 Because Gao Longzhi was elderly, Gao Yang entrusted government affairs to him; Jishu and the others, still nursing old grievances, slandered him, saying, "Whenever Longzhi sees litigants, he shows them pity, as if to show that he himself cannot judge the case."

顯祖以其受任既重，知有冤狀，便宜申滌，何得委過要名，非大臣義。 Since Gao Yang's commission to him was heavy, when he knew there were unjust cases he should readily have cleared them — how could he shift blame to win renown? This was not the conduct of a great minister.

又帝未登庸之日，隆之意常侮帝。 Moreover, before the emperor had ascended the throne, Longzhi's bearing had often been contemptuous toward him.

帝將受魏禪，大臣咸言未可，隆之又在其中。 When the emperor was about to receive the abdication from Wei, the ministers all said it was not yet permissible — and Longzhi was among them.

帝深銜之。 The emperor deeply resented this.

顯祖末年，既多猜害，追忿隆之，誅其子德樞等十餘人，並投漳水。 In Xianzu's late years, when suspicion and harm were many, he turned his wrath on Longzhi and executed more than ten of Longzhi's sons, including Deshu, casting them all into the Zhang River.

子如乃啟顯祖，言其罪惡，仍勸誅之。 Ziru then reported their alleged crimes to Xianzu and urged him to execute them.

顯祖引子如數讓之曰：「崔暹、季舒事朕先世，有何大罪，卿令我殺之？」 Xianzu summoned Ziru and reproached him: "Cui Xian and Jishu served my predecessor. What great crime had they committed, that you made me kill them?"

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 23Volume 23 Biographies 15: Wei Langen; Cui Ling · 6 passages

Open chapter

武定初，為顯祖諮議參軍。 At the beginning of Wuding he was advisory staff officer to Gao Yang.

楊愔以聞，顯祖大怒，謂愔云：「何物漢子，我與官不肯就！ Yang Yin reported it. Gao Yang flew into a rage and told Yin, "What sort of fellow is this — I offer him office and he refuses!

是時顯祖已失德，朝廷皆為之懼，而愷情貌坦然。 By then Gao Yang had already lost restraint; the whole court feared for Kai, yet his bearing stayed calm.

顯祖切責之，仍云：「死與長史孰優，任卿選一處。」 Gao Yang sharply rebuked him, then said, "Death or the chief clerk's post — which is better? Choose as you will."

顯祖謂愔云：「何慮無人作官職，苦用此漢何為，放其還家，永不收采。」 Gao Yang said to Yin, "Why fear that no one will fill offices — why bother with this fellow? Let him go home and never recall him."

婚夕，顯祖舉酒祝曰：「新婦宜男，孝順富貴。」 On the wedding night Emperor Wenxuan raised his cup and prayed, "May the new bride bear sons, be filial and obedient, rich and noble."

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 25Volume 25 Biographies 17: Zhang Zuan; Zhang Liang; Zhang Yao; Zhang Qi; Xu Yuan; Wang Jun; Wang Hong · 6 passages

Open chapter

顯祖嗣事，遷相府掾。 When Gao Yang succeeded to power he was moved to headquarters staff.

顯祖曾因近出，令耀居守。 Gao Yang once went out on a short trip and left Yao to hold the palace.

至顯祖卽阼之後，起罷州還闕，雖歷位九卿、侍中，常以本官監兵馬，出內驅使，居腹心之寄，與二張相亞。 After Gao Yang took the throne Qi left the provinces and returned to court. Though he held ranks of the nine ministers and palace attendant, he always kept his original post supervising troops, going in and out at command, trusted at the heart of power — second only to the two Zhangs.

顯祖以遠勳舊，特用為領軍府長史，累遷東徐州刺史，入為太中大夫。 Because Yuan was an old meritorious servant, Gao Yang specially made him Chief Clerk of the Headquarters of the General Who Commands the Army. He rose repeatedly to Inspector of East Xu Province and entered the capital as Grand Master of the Palace.

久之，顯祖為儀同開府，引為城局參軍。 After a long while, when Gao Yang was equal in insignia with an opening office, he was brought in as clerk of the city bureau.

天保初，加寧遠將軍，頗為顯祖所知待。 At the beginning of Tianbao he was made general who pacifies the distant and was much known and favored by Gao Yang.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 27Volume 27 Biographies 19: Moqi Pu; Liu Feng; Poliuhan Chang; Jin Zuo; Wei Zican; · 1 passage

Open chapter

頻從顯祖討山胡、茹茹，累有戰功。 He repeatedly followed Gao Yang in campaigns against the Shanhu and Ruru and won repeated battle merit.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 28Volume 28 Biographies 20: Yuan Tan (Eastern Wei); Yuan Bin; Yuan Xiaoyou; Yuan Huiye; Yuan Bi; Yuan Shao (Eastern Wei) · 4 passages

Open chapter

二年，從文宣討契丹還，至白狼河，以罪賜死。 In the second year, returning from campaigning against the Khitan with Gao Yang, at the Bailang River he was ordered to die for his crime.

文宣聞而殺之，亦斬臨淮公孝友。 Gao Yang heard and had him killed; he also beheaded Duke of Linhuai Xiaoyou.

文宣帝剃韶鬚髯，加以粉黛，衣婦人服以自隨曰：「我以彭城為嬪御。」 Gao Yang shaved Shao's beard, painted his face, dressed him in women's clothes and kept him at his side, saying, "I take Prince of Pengcheng as my consort."

文宣謂韶曰：「漢光武何故中興？」 Gao Yang asked Shao, "Why did Emperor Guangwu of Han restore the dynasty?"

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 30Volume 30 Biographies 22: Cui Xian; Gao Dezheng; Cui Ang · 45 passages

Open chapter

顯祖初嗣霸業，司馬子如等挾舊怨，言暹罪重，謂宜罰之。 When Gao Yang first succeeded to the hegemony, Sima Ziru and others, nursing old grudges, said Xian's crimes were heavy and that he ought to be punished.

顯祖從之。 Gao Yang followed this.

帝乃令都督陳山提等搜暹家，甚貧匱，唯得高祖、世宗與暹書千餘紙，多論軍中大事。 Gao Yang then had Commander Chen Shanti and others search Xian's house—it was very poor; only a thousand-odd pages of letters from Gao Huan and Gao Cheng to Xian, mostly discussing great military affairs.

帝嗟賞之。 Gao Yang sighed in admiration.

帝謂羣臣曰：「崔太常清正，天下無雙，卿等不及。」 Gao Yang said to the assembled ministers, "Grand Minister of Ceremonial Cui is pure and upright, without peer under heaven—you do not equal him."