Gao Xianzhi (高仙芝)

Overview

Gao Xianzhi was a general and Official.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Epithet	Korean slave	高麗奴	Gaoli nu

Life and dates

Age

twenty-some years old
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 5

Attested activity

AD 747 七月十三日辰時
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 9, 13, 42
AD 756 十四載十二月
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 148-151, 153-154, 161
AD 750 九載
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 72
AD 747 仙芝軍還至河西
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 43, 46
AD 749 八載
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 71
AD 747 其年六月
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 43, 61

Show 17 more source-backed claims

AD 747 其月末
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 43, 45
AD 750 其載
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 75
AD 755 十三日
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 83
AD 755 十二月
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 81
AD 755 十四載
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 77
AD 755 十四載十一月
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 78-79
AD 751 十載
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 128
AD 755 及安祿山反
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 244
AD 747 天寶六年
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 112
AD 747 天寶六年十二月
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 113
AD 747 天寶六載九月
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 43-44
AD 747 天寶六載八月
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 43
AD 737 to AD 747 年三十餘
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 92
AD 747 to AD 751 知留後時
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 117
AD 751 襲取石國及大食之敗
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 138, passages 15-16
AD 747 討勃律
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 138, passages 6, 8
AD 741 開元末
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 7, 102

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Sheji (舍雞)
father 父
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 2, 4
Parent of Son of Gao Xianzhi (仙芝子)
son 子
Sources vary in certainty · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 71
Kin of Mother of Zheng Dequan (鄭德詮母)
wet nurse / foster mother 乳母
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 117, 124
Spouse of Wife of Gao Xianzhi (高仙芝妻)
wife 妻
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 124

Origins and identity

Group Korean 高麗 · Mode speech Speaker Fumeng Lingcha (夫蒙靈察)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 46-47, 57
Korean / man of Koguryo 高麗人
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 1

Career and standing

Censor-in-Chief 御史大夫
AD 755 十四載十一月 · Appointed concurrently
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 80
Mobile-Camp Military Commissioner 行營節度使
AD 747 七月十三日辰時 · Appointed · Authority Emperor Xuanzong (玄宗)
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 9
Grand General of the Left Golden Crow Guard with regular appointment 左金吾衛大將軍同正員
AD 749 八載 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 71
acting censor-in-chief 攝御史中丞
AD 747 其年六月 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 61
Grand Master of Splendid Happiness 鴻臚卿
AD 747 其年六月 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 61
Military Commissioner of the Four Garrisons 四鎮節度使
AD 747 其年六月 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 61

Show 21 more source-backed claims

Grand General of the Right Forest of Feathers 右羽林大將軍
AD 750 其載 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 76
Military Commissioner of Hexi 河西節度使
AD 750 其載 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 75
Prefect of Wuwei 武威太守
AD 750 其載 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 75
deputy commander against the rebels 副
AD 755 十四載十一月 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 79
Military Commissioner of Anxi 安西節度使
AD 747 天寶六年十二月 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 113
Deputy Protector of Anxi 安西副都護
AD 741 開元末 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 7
overall commander of the Four Garrisons' forces 四鎮都知兵馬使
AD 741 開元末 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 7
attendant appointment of Feng Changqing 補為傔
Appointed · With Feng Changqing (封常清)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 100
General of Resist-the-Enemy 遊擊將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 4
general 將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 5
Commander-in-Chief 都知兵馬使
AD 737 to AD 747 年三十餘 · Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 92
General 將軍
AD 737 to AD 747 年三十餘 · Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 92
Commander-in-Chief of Anxi military forces 安西都知兵馬使
Held · Mode speech Speaker Fumeng Lingcha (夫蒙靈察)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 54-55
commissioner of Khotan 於闐使
Held · Mode speech Speaker Fumeng Lingcha (夫蒙靈察)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 48-49
Deputy Protector-General of Anxi 安西副都護使
Held · Mode speech Speaker Fumeng Lingcha (夫蒙靈察)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 52-53
garrison commander of Yanqi 焉耆鎮守使
Held · Mode speech Speaker Fumeng Lingcha (夫蒙靈察)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 50-51
Military Commissioner of the West 西節度使
AD 751 十載 · Transferred
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 128
Duke of Miyun commandery 密雲郡公
AD 755 十四載 · Enfeoffed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 77
Grand Master for Splendid Happiness with the Ceremonial of the Three Dukes 開府儀同三司
AD 750 其載 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 75
special advancement 特進
AD 749 八載 · Granted
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 71
Duke of Miyun 密雲郡公
AD 755 十四載 · Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 77

Places and affiliations

Polity Koguryo 高麗 · Relation Origin
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 1
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 4, 7, 9, 61, 71, 81, 92, 148-149; New Book of Tang 138, passage 6
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 244
At Koguryo 高麗
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 1
AD 747 仙芝軍還至河西
At Hexi 河西 · Relation Returned to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 46
AD 747 其月末
At Bomichuan 播密川 · Relation Returned to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 45

Show 8 more source-backed claims

AD 750 其載
At Wuwei 武威 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 75
AD 755 十二月
At Shanzhou 陜州 · Relation Encamped at
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 81
AD 747 天寶六載九月
At Lianyunbao on the Bole River 婆勒川連雲堡 · Relation Returned to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 44
AD 747 天寶六載八月
At Chifotang road 赤佛堂路 · Relation Withdrew by
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 43
AD 741 開元末
At Anxi 安西 · Relation Posted to
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 7
At Anxi 安西 · Relation Traveled to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 4
At Tong Pass 潼關 · Relation Defended
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 88-89
At Tong Pass 潼關 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 149, 156

Learning and skills

Skill mounted archery 騎射 · Level skilled
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 3

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Fumeng Lingcha (夫蒙靈察)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 49, 51, 53, 55
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Cheng Qianli (程千里)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 64
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Bi Sichen (畢思琛)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 65-66, 68-69
AD 747 七月十三日辰時
Message · Author · With King of Lesser Bolü (小勃律國王) · Direct quotation
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 33
AD 747 七月十三日辰時
Speech · Speaker · With Bian Lingcheng (邊令誠) · Direct quotation
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 19
AD 747 七月十三日辰時
Speech · Speaker · With Xi Yuanqing (席元慶) · Direct quotation
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 35

Show 8 more source-backed claims

AD 747 七月十三日辰時
Speech · Addressee · Direct quotation
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 27-28
AD 747 七月十三日辰時
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 25
victory memorial 告捷書
Memorial · Commissioner · With Liu Dan (劉單)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 45
Order · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 138, passage 8
Speech · Speaker · With Liu Tiao (劉眺) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 108
Speech · Speaker · With Feng Changqing (封常清) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 95
Speech · Speaker · With Li Siye (李嗣業) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 138, passage 19
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 125

Events and relationships

Army set out
AD 755 十二月 · Military · Commander · At Wangchun Pavilion 望春亭
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 81
Assigned inspection duty
Appointment · Commander · With Changqing (常清)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 151
Attacked Daxi
AD 741 開元末 · Military · Commander · With Feng Changqing (封常清)
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 102-103
Campaigned
Military · Commander · At Balur 勃律
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 138, passages 6, 8, 11
Captured
AD 747 天寶六載八月 · Military · Commander · With King of Bolü (勃律王) · At Bolü 勃律
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 43
Conquered
AD 750 九載 · Military · Commander · At Shi 石國 · With King of Shi (石國王)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 72

Show 45 more source-backed claims

Continued deference
Personal · Subordinate · With Fumeng Lingcha (夫蒙靈察)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 62
Crossed the flooded Bole without wetting banners or saddles and formed ranks
AD 747 七月十三日辰時 · Military · Commander
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 18
Defeated and lost army
AD 755 及安祿山反 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 244, 285
Defeated by Arabs
Military · Commander
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 138, passage 16
Defeated Lesser Bolu
AD 747 天寶六年 · Military · Commander · At Lesser Bolü 小勃律
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 112
Divided the army into three columns toward Lianyunbao
AD 747 七月十三日辰時 · Military · Commander
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 11-13
Entered court
AD 749 八載 · Political · Subject
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 71
Entered court
AD 750 其載 · Political · Subject
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 75
Executed five or six chieftains loyal to Tibet
AD 747 七月十三日辰時 · Legal · Authority
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 38
Left Bian Lingcheng with more than three thousand sick and weak to hold the fort and advanced
AD 747 七月十三日辰時 · Military · Commander · With Bian Lingcheng (邊令誠)
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 24
Marched from Anxi via Baraghan, Wusede, Kashgar, Congling garrison, Bomichuan, and Telmanchuan
AD 747 七月十三日辰時 · Military · Commander
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 10
Mostly ignored
Political · Commander · With Bian Lingcheng (邊令誠)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 153
Ordered the vine bridge cut so arriving Tibetan forces could not cross
AD 747 七月十三日辰時 · Military · Commander
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 39
Ordered to punish Lesser Bolü after prior commissioners failed
AD 747 七月十三日辰時 · Military · Commander · With Emperor Xuanzong (玄宗)
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 9
Ordered to lead and recruit
AD 755 十四載十一月 · Military · Deputy commander · At Guanzhong 關輔
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 80
Persuaded the king of Bolü and the princess to surrender and pacified the kingdom
AD 747 七月十三日辰時 · Military · Commander · With King of Lesser Bolü (小勃律國王)
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 42
Pursued by night, killing five thousand, capturing a thousand, seizing over a thousand horses
AD 747 七月十三日辰時 · Military · Commander
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 21-22
Refused as attendant
Refusal · Rejector · With Feng Changqing (封常清)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 94-95, 99
Repaired defenses and repelled rebels
Military · Defender · At Tong Pass 潼關
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 88-89
Repeatedly promoted by Fumeng Lingcha
Career · Protege · With Fumeng Lingcha (夫蒙靈察)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 6
Sacrificed three victims to the Bole River
AD 747 七月十三日辰時 · Ritual · Officiant · At Bole River 婆勒川
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 16
Saw little use under Tian Renwan and Gai Jiayun
Career · Subordinate
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 6
Seized by stratagem
Military · Commander · At Stone Kingdom 石國
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 138, passage 15
Sent horsemen in Anüyue dress to feign a welcome so the army would descend Tanjuling
AD 747 七月十三日辰時 · Military · Commander
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 26, 28-29
Sent Xi Yuanqing and Helou Yurun ahead to repair the bridge and road
AD 747 七月十三日辰時 · Military · Commander
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 32
Soldiers refused to descend and asked where he was leading them
AD 747 七月十三日辰時 · Military · Addressee
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 27
Stormed the heights from the chen hour to the si hour and inflicted a great defeat
AD 747 七月十三日辰時 · Military · Commander
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 20
Threatened flogging then released
Legal · Authority · With Wang Tao (王滔)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 70
Withdrew to defend
Military · Commander · At Tong Pass 潼關
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 149
Withdrew to Tong Pass after distributing and burning Taiyuan depot stores
Military · Commander · With Feng Changqing (封常清)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 86-88
Relation Deputy of · Person Wan, Prince of Rong (榮王琬)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 79
Relation Superior of · Person Changqing (常清)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 150-151
Relation Served under · Person Tian Renwan (田仁琬)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 6
Relation Promoted by · Person Fumeng Lingcha (夫蒙靈察)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 6
Relation Protege of · Person Fumeng Lingcha (夫蒙靈察)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 49, 56
Relation Successor of · Person Fumeng Lingcha (夫蒙靈察)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 61, 113
Relation Campaign companion of · Person Bian Lingcheng (邊令誠)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 13
Relation Commanded · Person Xi Yuanqing (席元慶)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 32-33
Relation Superior of · Person Feng Changqing (封常清)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 100, 115
Relation Served under · Person Gai Jiayun (蓋嘉運)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 6
Relation Commanded · Person Helou Yurun (賀婁餘潤)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 32
Relation Commanded · Person Jia Chongguan (賈崇瓘)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 12
Relation Intended successor of · Person An Sishun (安思順)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 75
Relation Commanded · Person Zhao Chongpin (趙崇玭)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 11
Relation Treated as brother · Person Zheng Dequan (鄭德詮)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 117

Assessments and attributes

Assessment astonished at Changqing's complete draft · With Feng Changqing (封常清) · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 105
Assessment bold, decisive, and ferocious in battle · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 3
Assessment gave freely and refused no request · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 74
Assessment greedy by nature · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 73
Assessment has a man's face but a woman's heart · Object Person Id Cheng Qianli (程千里) · Mode speech Speaker Gao Xianzhi (高仙芝)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 64
Assessment led untrained troops and market recruits against the rebels and lost · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 285

Show 7 more source-backed claims

Assessment mad for ordering a crossing of the flooded river · Mode named-source-report Witness officers and soldiers
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 17
Assessment the rebels' failure to take the pass was Xianzhi's doing · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 89
handsome appearance (美姿容)
Physical description
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 3
Item Gao Xianzhi's old troops 高仙芝舊卒 · Relation Former commander of
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 244
Item household wealth in the tens of thousands 家財鉅萬 · Relation Possessed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 74
Item more than ten great blocks of se-se gemstone, five or six camel-loads of gold, famous horses and jades 大塊瑟瑟十餘石、真金五六馲駝、名馬寶玉 · Relation Seized · At Shi 石國
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 73
Item thousand-shi seed estate east of the city 城東一千石種子莊 · Relation Lost to · With Bi Sichen (畢思琛) · Mode speech Speaker Gao Xianzhi (高仙芝)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 66

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 1, 43, 148, 244
already held general's rank equal in grade to his father Sheji (p002)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 5

References in the histories

New Book of Tang, Chapter 138Volume 138 Biographies 63: · 6 passages

Open chapter

高仙芝討勃律，署嗣業及中郎將田珍為左右陌刀將。 During Gao Xianzhi's expedition against Balur, Siye and Central Regiment Director Tian Zhen were appointed commanders of the left and right mo-blade units.

仙芝潛軍夜濟信圖河，令曰：「及午破賊，不者皆死。」 Xianzhi stole across the Xintu River at night with his army, declaring: "Break the enemy by noon, or every man dies."

初，仙芝特以計襲取石，其子出奔，因構諸胡共怨之，以告大食，連兵攻四鎮。 Xianzhi had earlier taken the Stone Kingdom by surprise; the ruler's son fled abroad and stirred the western peoples to common grievance, appealing to the Arabs to join forces against the Four Garrisons.

仙芝率兵二萬深入，為大食所敗，殘卒數千。 Xianzhi marched twenty thousand men deep into enemy country and was beaten by the Arab army, escaping with only a few thousand survivors.

仙芝曰：「吾方收合餘盡，明日復戰。」 Xianzhi replied: "I am still rallying what is left of the army—we will fight again tomorrow."

會拔汗那還兵，輜餉塞道不可騁，嗣業懼追及，手梃鏖擊，人馬斃僕者數十百，虜駭走，仙芝乃得還。 Ferghana troops were returning on the same road, their wagons choking the pass so that no one could ride freely. Fearing pursuit, Siye fought hand to hand with a club, killing scores of men and horses until the enemy fled in terror and Xianzhi could at last escape.