Kong Zhaoxu (孔昭序)

Overview

Kong Zhaoxu was an official.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 923 to AD 936 後唐
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 96, passage 1
AD 934 to AD 936 清泰
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 127, passage 38

Family

Kin of Kong Chongbi (孔崇弼)
older clansman brother 族兄 · paternal line
younger clansman brother 族弟
Sources vary in certainty · Old History of the Five Dynasties 96, passage 1

Key source chapters

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 96 Volume 96 Book of Later Jin 22: Biographies 11: Kong Chongbi, Chen Baoji, Wang Yu, Zhang Jizuo, Zhen Ruan, Hu Rao, Liu Suiqing, Fang Gao, Meng Chenghui, Liu Jixun, Zheng Shouyi, Cheng Xun, Li Yu, Zheng Xuansu, Ma Zhongji, Chen Xuan 1 passage
Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 127 Volume 127 Book of Later Zhou 29: Biographies 7: Lu Wenji, Ma Yisun, He Ning, Su Yugui, Jing Fan 3 passages

Career and standing

Right Regular Attendant 右常侍
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 127, passage 38
Supervising Censor 給事中
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 96, passage 1
Left Regular Attendant 左常侍
Transferred
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 96, passage 1

Works and attributed material

Memorial · Author
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 127, passage 38

References in the histories

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 96Volume 96 Book of Later Jin 22: Biographies 11: Kong Chongbi, Chen Baoji, Wang Yu, Zhang Jizuo, Zhen Ruan, Hu Rao, Liu Suiqing, Fang Gao, Meng Chenghui, Liu Jixun, Zheng Shouyi, Cheng Xun, Li Yu, Zheng Xuansu, Ma Zhongji, Chen Xuan · 1 passage

Open chapter

孔崇弼，初仕後唐，自吏部郎中授給事中，時族兄昭序繇給事中改左常侍，兄弟同居門下，時論榮之。 Kong Chongbi began his career under Later Tang. Promoted from director in the Ministry of Personnel to supervising censor, he served at the same time as his older kinsman Zhaoxu, who had moved from supervising censor to left regular attendant. With both brothers holding posts in the Secretariat, contemporaries took it as a mark of family distinction.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 127Volume 127 Book of Later Zhou 29: Biographies 7: Lu Wenji, Ma Yisun, He Ning, Su Yugui, Jing Fan · 3 passages

Open chapter

劉句為僕射，性剛，群情嫉之，乃共贊右常侍孔昭序論行香次第，言：「常侍侍從之臣，行立合在僕射之前。」 Liu Gou served as left vice director; his stiffness bred resentment. Courtiers backed Right Regular Attendant Kong Zhaoxu's memorial on incense order, arguing that "a regular attendant attends the sovereign and should walk before a vice director."

同光已來，李琪、盧質繼為僕射，質性輕脫，不能守師長之體，故昭序輕言。 Since Tongguang, Li Qi and Lu Zhi had held the post; Zhi was flighty and failed the senior's demeanor, which emboldened Zhaoxu.

自後日責臺司定例，崔居儉謂南宮同列曰：「從昭序言語，是朝廷人總不解語也。 Afterward he daily demanded the Censorate fix precedent. Cui Jujian told Southern Palace colleagues, "To follow Zhaoxu's words is to say the whole court cannot speak properly.