Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Ruler

Gaozu 高祖

Gāozǔ

Attested AD 498 - AD 548

Passages: 53
Chapters: 3
Histories: 1

Overview

Gaozu was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 548 太清二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 32, passage 147
AD 530 to AD 532 中大通二年後二年內
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 32, passage 115
AD 527 to AD 529 大通初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 32, passages 37, 41
AD 503 二年正月
Directly stated · Book of Liang 20, passage 76
AD 502 天監元年六月
Directly stated · Book of Liang 20, passage 68
AD 502 天監初
Directly stated · Book of Liang 20, passage 48

Show 5 more source-backed claims

AD 505 天監四年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passage 68; Book of Liang 20, passage 168
AD 498 建武五年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passage 218
AD 501 to AD 502 義師起
Directly stated · Book of Liang 20, passage 47
AD 502 高祖撥亂反正
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 7, passage 9
AD 502 高祖踐阼
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passages 30, 222

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Empress Xi Hui (郗徽)
empress 后 · Primary marriage · Widowed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passages 36, 46
Child of Taizu (太祖)
father 父
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Liang 7, passage 17
Parent of Shizu (世祖)
father 父
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 7, passage 187
Parent of Taizong (太宗)
father 父
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 7, passages 11, 180
Parent of Crown Prince Zhaoming (昭明太子)
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passage 92
Parent of Princess Yuyao of Yongxing (玉姚)
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passage 47
Parent of Princess Yuwan of Yongshi (玉婉)
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passage 47
Parent of Princess Yuhuan of Yongkang (玉嬛)
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passage 47
Kin of Zhang Hongji (張弘籍)
maternal uncle 舅
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passage 31
Child of Empress Zhang Shangrou (張尚柔)
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passages 17, 212
Spouse of Noble Consort Ding Lingguang (丁令光)
noble consort 貴嬪 · Secondary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passage 89
Spouse of Ruan Lingying (阮令嬴)
xiurong 脩容 · Secondary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passages 186, 188

Key source chapters

Book of Liang, Chapter 7 Volume 7: Empresses 21 passages
Book of Liang, Chapter 20 Volume 20: Liu Lijian; Chen Bozhi 18 passages
Book of Liang, Chapter 32 Volume 32: Chen Qingzhi; Lan Qin 14 passages

Career and standing

Chancellor of State 相國
Appointed · From Source Date: Text: 中興二年 · Western Year: AD 502
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passage 221
Inspector of Yongzhou 雍州刺史
Appointed · From Source Date: Text: 建武五年 · Western Year: AD 498
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passage 218
Duke of Liang 梁公
Enfeoffed · From Source Date: Text: 中興二年 · Western Year: AD 502
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passage 221
AD 502 高祖卽位
Directly stated · Book of Liang 20, passage 125

Places and affiliations

Liang 梁
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Liang 20, passage 125
Polity Liang 梁 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passages 30, 61
Polity Southern Qi 齊 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passages 218, 221

Learning and skills

Belief Buddhism 佛教 · Relation Patron of
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passage 126

Works and attributed material

Edict · Author
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passages 31-33, 61-66
Military instruction · Speaker · With Chen Qingzhi (陳慶之) · Mode direct-speech Speaker Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 32, passage 107
Personal imperial note · Author · With Chen Qingzhi (陳慶之) · Mode quoted-document Speaker Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 32, passages 37-39
Speech · Speaker · Quote true
Directly stated · Book of Liang 20, passages 84, 105, 110

Events and relationships

Ascended throne
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passages 30, 61, 222
Lost consort early
Family · Husband · With Empress Xi Hui (郗徽)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passage 10
Northern campaign ordered
AD 505 天監四年 · Military · Commander · With Xiao Hong (蕭宏)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 20, passage 168
Ordered Fan Taobang's surrender accepted
AD 548 太清二年 · Political
Directly stated · Book of Liang 32, passage 147

Assessments and attributes

Assessment frugal · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Liang 7, passage 9

References in the histories

Search passages

History

53 passages

Book of Liang, Chapter 7Volume 7: Empresses · 21 passages

高祖撥亂反正，深鑒奢逸，惡衣菲食，務先節儉。 Gaozu ended chaos and restored rule, deeply wary of extravagance, preferring coarse dress and plain fare and putting thrift first.

后，宋元嘉中嬪於文帝，生長沙宣武王懿、永陽昭王敷，次生高祖。 In Song's Yuanjia era she entered Emperor Wen's harem and bore Yi, Prince Xuanwu of Changsha, Fu, Prince Zhao of Yongyang, and later Gaozu.

是月產高祖。 That month she gave birth to Gaozu.

高祖踐阼，追贈穆之光祿大夫，加金章。 When Gaozu took the throne, Muzhi was posthumously made Glory Grand Master with a gold seal.

高祖郗皇后 Empress Xi of Gaozu

建元未，高祖始娉焉。 Near the end of Jianyuan Gaozu first took her as his wife.

建武五年，高祖爲雍州刺史，先之鎮，後乃迎后。 In Jianwu 5, when Gaozu became inspector of Yongzhou, he went to his post first and welcomed the empress afterward.

中興二年，齊朝進高祖位相國，封十郡，梁公，詔贈后爲梁公妃。 In Zhongxing 2, the Qi court advanced Gaozu to chancellor of state and enfeoffed him over ten commanderies as Duke of Liang; by edict, she was posthumously made consort of the Duke of Liang.

高祖踐阼，追崇爲皇后。 When Gaozu took the throne, she was posthumously honored as empress.

高祖霸府建，引爲大司馬諮議參軍，俄遷侍中，領越騎校尉。 When Gaozu set up his hegemony office, Qian was called in as Grand Marshal adviser, soon made Palace Attendant and Colonel of the Yue Cavalry.

高祖受禪，詔曰：「庭堅世祀，靡輟於宗周，樂毅錫壤，乃昭於洪漢。 When Gaozu took the throne, an edict said: "Jianting's line was never cut off in the Zhou royal house; Yue Yi received a fief and shone in great Han.

時高祖於鐘山造大愛敬寺，騫舊墅在寺側，有良田八十餘頃，卽晉丞相王導賜田也。 Gaozu was building the Great Temple of Filial Reverence on Zhong Mountain; Qian's old villa lay beside it, with more than eighty qing of fine fields—the very grant of Jin chancellor Wang Dao.

高祖遣主書宣旨就騫求市，欲以施寺。 Gaozu sent a palace clerk with an imperial message to buy the land for the temple.

高祖怒，遂付市評田價，以直逼還之。 Gaozu grew angry, had the market price assessed, and seized the land outright in return.

高祖丁貴嬪 Noble Consort Ding of Gaozu

高祖臨州，丁氏因人以聞。 When Gaozu held the province, the Ding clan sent word through others.

貴嬪時年十四，高祖納焉。 The Noble Consort was then fourteen, and Gaozu took her in.

高祖義師起，昭明太子始誕育，貴嬪與太子留在州城。 When Gaozu's righteous army rose and Crown Prince Zhaoming was newly born, the Noble Consort stayed in the provincial city with the heir.

及高祖弘佛教，貴嬪奉而行之，屏絕滋腴，長進蔬膳。 When Gaozu spread Buddhism, the honored consort followed it, banishing rich foods and keeping to vegetables long term.

高祖所立經義，皆得其指歸。 Of the sutra meanings Gaozu established, she grasped every import.

建康城平，高祖納爲彩女。 When Jiankang fell, Gaozu took her as a painted attendant.

Book of Liang, Chapter 20Volume 20: Liu Lijian; Chen Bozhi · 18 passages

子仲淵字欽回，聞義師起，率鄉人以應高祖。 His son Zhongyuan, styled Qinhui, hearing the Righteous Army had risen, led the district to answer Gaozu.

天監初，拜郢州別駕，從高祖平京邑。 At Tianjian's opening he was Yingzhou Bieyu and followed Gaozu to pacify the capital.

明年春，遣左右陳建孫送季連弟通直郎子淵及季連二子使蜀，喻旨慰勞。 Next spring Gaozu sent close attendant Chen Jiansun to bring Lijian's younger brother Tongzhilang Ziyuan and Lijian's two sons into Shu with words of comfort.

高祖以西臺將鄧元起爲益州刺史。 Gaozu made western headquarters general Deng Yuanqi Yizhou inspector.

二年正月，高祖遣主書趙景悅宣詔降季連，季連肉袒請罪。 In year two's first month Gaozu sent chief secretary Zhao Jingyue to announce an edict accepting Lijian's surrender; Lijian bared his torso and begged pardon.

季連旣至，詣闕謝，高祖引見之。 When Lijian arrived he went to the palace to give thanks; Gaozu received him.

季連自東掖門入，數步一稽顙，以至高祖前。 Lijian entered by the East Flank Gate, kowtowing every few steps until he stood before Gaozu.

高祖笑謂曰：「卿欲慕劉備而曾不及公孫述，豈無臥龍之臣乎。」 Gaozu laughed and said, "You wished to rival Liu Bei yet could not even match Gongsun Shu—had you no Wolong at your side?"

郢城平，高祖得伯之幢主蘇隆之，使說伯之，卽以爲安東將軍、江州刺史。 When Ying fell, Gaozu took Bozhi's banner-master Su Longzhi to persuade him; Bozhi was named Pacifies-the-East general and Jiangzhou inspector.

高祖謂諸將曰：「伯之此答，其心未定，及其猶豫，宜逼之。」 Gaozu told the generals, "That answer shows Bozhi's heart is not fixed; while he still wavers, press him."

高祖恐其復懷翻覆，密語伯之曰：「聞城中甚忿卿舉江州降，欲遣刺客中卿，宜以爲慮。」 Gaozu feared a fresh betrayal and told him privately, "I hear the city is enraged that you surrendered Jiangzhou; they will send assassins—take care."

會東昏將鄭伯倫降，高祖使過伯之，謂曰：「城中甚忿卿，欲遣信誘卿以封賞。 When Dong Hun's general Zheng Bolun came over, Gaozu sent him to Bozhi, saying, "The city is furious with you and will try to lure you back with honors.

高祖卽位，緭頻造尚書范雲，雲不好緭，堅距之。 After Gaozu took the throne Wei often visited Fan Yun, minister of personnel; Yun disliked him and kept him out.

伯之子虎牙，時爲直閤將軍，高祖手疏龍符罪，親付虎牙，虎牙封示伯之； Bozhi's son Huya was Direct Attendant general; Gaozu wrote Longfu's crimes in his own hand for Huya, and Huya showed his father;

高祖又遣代江州別駕鄧繕，伯之並不受命。 Gaozu also sent a replacement for vice-inspector Deng Shan; Bozhi refused both.

答高祖曰：「龍符驍勇健兒，鄧繕事有績效，臺所遣別駕，請以爲治中。」 He answered Gaozu, "Longfu is a bold fighter; Deng Shan has done real work. Let the court's vice-inspector serve as chief clerk instead."

高祖敕部內一郡處繕，伯之於是集府州佐史謂曰：「奉齊建安王教，率江北義勇十萬，已次六合，見使以江州見力運糧速下。 Gaozu seized Shan in one commandery; Bozhi gathered his staff and said, "By Qi's Prince of Jian'an I lead a hundred thousand northern volunteers at Liuhe; an envoy orders Jiangzhou to haul grain south at once.

高祖遣王茂討伯之。 Gaozu sent Wang Mao to crush Bozhi.

Book of Liang, Chapter 32Volume 32: Chen Qingzhi; Lan Qin · 14 passages

幼而隨從高祖。 From childhood he attended Emperor Wu.

高祖性好棊，每從夜達旦不輟，等輩皆倦寐，惟慶之不寢，聞呼卽至，甚見親賞。 Emperor Wu loved weiqi and often played from dusk until dawn. His attendants all fell asleep from exhaustion, but Qingzhi alone stayed awake and answered every summons—behind this lay deep personal regard.

從高祖東下平建鄴，稍爲主書，散財聚士，常思效用。 When Emperor Wu marched east to take Jianye, Qingzhi followed. He rose to chief secretary, spent his fortune gathering followers, and always looked for a chance to prove himself.

高祖嘉焉，賜慶之手詔曰：「本非將種，又非豪家，觖望風雲，以至於此。 Emperor Wu was delighted and sent Qingzhi a personal note: "You were born neither to a general's house nor to a great clan, yet you reached for wind and cloud and have come this far.

高祖納之，以慶之爲假節、飆勇將軍，送元顥還北。 Emperor Wu agreed and named Qingzhi acting-credentials holder and General of Swift Valor to escort Hao north.

高祖復賜手詔稱美焉。 Emperor Wu sent another personal note of praise.

宜啓天子，更請精兵； Ask the Son of Heaven for more elite troops;

慮慶之密啓，乃表高祖曰：「河北、河南一時已定，唯尒朱榮尚敢跋扈，臣與慶之自能擒討。 Fearing a secret report from Qingzhi, he wrote Emperor Wu: "Hebei and Henan are pacified for now. Only Erzhu Rong still struts defiantly—your servant and Qingzhi can deal with him ourselves.

高祖遂詔衆軍皆停界首。 Emperor Wu ordered all reinforcing armies to halt at the frontier.

乃曰：「主上以洛陽之地全相任委，忽聞舍此朝寄，欲往彭城，謂君遽取富貴，不爲國計，手敕頻仍，恐成僕責。」 He said, "The emperor has entrusted all of Luoyang to you. If he hears you mean to abandon that charge for Pengcheng, he will think you grasp at private gain and ignore the realm. His letters come one after another; I fear we will be blamed as servants who failed their master."

車駕幸白下，臨餞謂慶之曰：「江、淮兵勁，其鋒難當，卿可以策制之，不宜決戰。」 The emperor went to Baixia and, at the farewell feast, told Qingzhi, "Jiang and Huai fighters are fierce and hard to meet head-on. Use strategy, not a pitched battle."

高祖每嘉勞之。 Emperor Wu repeatedly praised and rewarded him.

高祖大喜，敕卽受降，太宗遲疑累日不決，外事發洩，昕弗之知，猶依期而下。 Emperor Wu was delighted and ordered the surrender accepted at once, but the Heir Apparent hesitated for days. The matter leaked. Xin knew nothing and came down on schedule.

慶之警悟，早侍高祖，旣預舊恩，加之謹肅，蟬冕組珮，亦一世之榮矣。 Qingzhi was quick-witted and attended Emperor Wu from youth. Old favor, sober conduct, and the regalia of high office were glory enough for one life.