Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Official and Rebel

Erzhu Wenchang 尒朱文暢

First attested AD 532; died AD 545

Passages: 8
Chapters: 2
Histories: 2

Overview

Erzhu Wenchang was an official and Rebel.

Life and dates

Death

AD 545 大同十一年
Executed after plot was exposed
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 159, passage 6; zizhitongjian:159:s0006a

Attested activity

AD 545 大同十一年
Dated from the passage context · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 159, passages 3, 6; zizhitongjian:159:s0003a
AD 532 to AD 545 尒朱文暢
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 21

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Sibling of Erzhu Wenluo (尒朱文羅)
elder brother 兄
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 29
Sibling of Empress Xiaozhuang of Wei (魏孝莊皇后)
elder sister 姊
elder sister 姊 · Uncertain siblings
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 23; zizhitongjian:159:s0006c
Child of Erzhu Rong (尒朱榮)
father 父
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 21; zizhitongjian:159:s0006b
Sibling of Erzhu Wenlüe (尒朱文略)
younger brother 弟
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 29

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Inspector of Si Province 肆州刺史
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 23
Yitong 儀同
Held
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 159, passage 6
Prince of Changle 昌樂王
Enfeoffed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 22
Household punished
Punishment
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 28

Events and relationships

Plotted to kill Gao Huan and enthrone Erzhu Wenchang
AD 545 大同十一年 · Rebellion plot · Conspirator · With Gao Huan (高歡)
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 159, passage 6
Plotted to seize power after assassinating Gaozu
Rebellion · Conspirator leader
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passages 24, 26

Assessments and attributes

Assessment extreme luxury relying on lineage · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 24

References in the histories

Search passages

History

8 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 48Volume 48 Biographies 40: Imperial Affines · 6 passages

尒朱文暢，榮第四子也。 Erzhu Wenchang was Erzhu Rong’s fourth son.

初封昌樂王。 He was first enfeoffed prince of Changle.

其姊魏孝莊皇後，及四胡敗滅，高祖納之，待其家甚厚，文暢由是拜肆州刺史。 His sister had been Empress Xiaozhuang of Wei; after the Erzhu were overthrown, Gaozu married her and treated her kin lavishly, and Wenchang became inspector of Si Province.

任胄令仲禮藏刀於袴中，因高祖臨觀，謀為竊發，事捷之後，共奉文暢為主。 Ren Zhou hid a blade in Zhongli’s trousers; when Gaozu came to watch, they meant to strike—and if they succeeded, to set Wenchang on the throne.

以其姊寵故，止坐文暢一房。 Thanks to his sister’s favor, only Wenchang’s own household was punished.

以文暢事，當從坐，高祖特加寬貸。 He should have shared Wenchang’s guilt, but Gaozu spared him.

Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Chapter 159Volume 159 Liang Records 15 · 2 passages

東魏儀同爾朱文暢與丞相司馬任冑、都督鄭仲禮等，謀因正月望夜觀打簇戲作亂，殺丞相歡，奉文暢為主。 Eastern Wei's Erzhu Wenchang, Chancellor Gao Huan's marshal Ren Zhou, Commissioner Zheng Zhongli, and others plotted a Lantern-night rising during the fireworks show: kill Gao Huan and make Wenchang ruler.

文暢，榮之子也； Wenchang was Erzhu Rong's son.