Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Ruler

Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou 周宣帝

Zhōu Xuān Dì

First attested AD 578; died AD 580

Passages: 10
Chapters: 5
Histories: 2

Overview

Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou was a ruler.

Life and dates

Death

burial mentioned 葬
Directly stated · Book of Sui 43, passage 127
AD 580 周宣帝崩
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 101
Directly stated · Book of Sui 44, passage 12

Attested activity

AD 579 周宣嗣位
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 36, passage 22
AD 580 周宣帝崩
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 101
AD 580 周宣帝葬
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 43, passage 127
AD 578 to AD 579 宣帝即位
Directly stated · Book of Sui 44, passage 11
AD 578 宣帝即位
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 21, passage 57
AD 578 宣帝嗣位
Directly stated · Book of Sui 52, passage 136

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou (周武)
father 父
crown prince 太子
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Sui 52, passages 132, 136
Spouse of Eldest daughter of Empress Wenxian (文獻皇后長女)
empress 后
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 100

Key source chapters

Career and standing

AD 578 宣帝嗣位
Directly stated · Book of Sui 52, passage 136
AD 579 周宣嗣位
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 22

Places and affiliations

Polity Northern Zhou 北周 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 22

References in the histories

Search passages

History

10 passages

Book of Sui, Chapter 36Volume 36 Biographies 1: Empresses and Consorts · 3 passages

周宣嗣位，不率典章，衣褘翟、稱中宮者，凡有五。 When Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou succeeded to the throne, he did not follow the canonical regulations: five women in all wore the empress's hui and di robes and were styled ladies of the Central Palace.

后姊為周明帝后，長女為周宣帝后，貴戚之盛，莫與為比，而后每謙卑自守，世以為賢。 Her elder sister was empress to Emperor Ming of Northern Zhou, and her eldest daughter became empress to Emperor Xuan; no consort kin in the realm was more exalted. Yet the empress always kept herself humble and restrained, and the world regarded her as worthy.

及周宣帝崩，高祖居禁中，總百揆，后使人謂高祖曰：「大事已然，騎獸之勢，必不得下，勉之！」 When Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou died, Emperor Wen remained within the palace and took charge of all government affairs. The empress sent word to him: "The decisive moment has come. Once you are mounted on a beast, you cannot dismount—press forward!"

Book of Sui, Chapter 43Volume 43 Biographies 8: He Jian Wanghong, Yang Chugang, Yang Zichong, Guang De, Wang Xiong · 1 passage

周宣帝葬，備諸王有變，令雄率六千騎送至陵所。 At Emperor Xuan of Zhou's funeral, fearing the princes might cause trouble, the court ordered Xiong to escort the procession to the tomb with six thousand cavalry.

Book of Sui, Chapter 44Volume 44 Biographies 9: Teng Mu Wangzan, Daodao Wangjing, Caiwang Zhiji · 1 passage

宣帝即位，遷吏部中大夫，加上儀同。 After Emperor Xuan came to the throne, Zan was promoted to Grand Master in the Ministry of Personnel and granted the rank of Senior Palace Attendant Companion.

Book of Sui, Chapter 52Volume 52 Biographies 17: Han Qinhu, He Ruobi · 3 passages

周武帝時，上柱國烏丸軌言於帝曰：「太子非帝王器，臣亦嘗與賀若弼論之。」 During the reign of Northern Zhou's Emperor Wu, Supreme Pillar of State Wuwan Gui told the emperor, "The crown prince is no emperor's material. I have discussed this with He Ruo Bi as well."

帝呼弼問之，弼知太子不可動搖，恐禍及己，詭對曰：「皇太子德業日新，未睹其闕。」 The emperor summoned Bi and questioned him. Bi knew the crown prince's position could not be moved and feared for his own life, so he evasively answered, "The crown prince's virtue grows by the day. I have seen no flaw in him."

及宣帝嗣位，軌竟見誅，弼乃獲免。 When Emperor Xuan came to the throne, Gui was eventually executed—and Bi was spared.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 21Volume 21 Biographies 13: Wei Chijiong; Wang Qian; Sima Xiaonan · 2 passages

宣帝即位，以迥為大前疑，出為相州總管。 When Emperor Xuan succeeded, Yuchi Jiong was made grand mentor and posted as governor-general of Xiang Province.

宣帝崩，隋文帝輔政，以迥望位夙重，懼為異圖，乃令迥子魏安公惇齎詔書以會葬徵迥。 After Emperor Xuan's death Yang Jian, later Emperor Wen of Sui, took power as regent; fearing that Yuchi Jiong, long eminent in rank and reputation, might plot against him, he sent Jiong's son Dun, Duke of Wei'an, with an edict summoning Jiong to the capital for the funeral.