Kou Yanqing (寇彥卿)

Overview

Kou Yanqing was a general and Military Commissioner.

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Junchen	俊臣	Junchen

Life and dates

Death

AD 918 貞明四年
At his garrison post 鎮
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 173

Age

57
AD 918 貞明四年 · Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 173

Attested activity

AD 901 to AD 904 天復中
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 152
AD 907 太祖受禪
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 162
AD 912 太祖遇弑
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 167
AD 907 to AD 912 攻邠寧
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 44, passage 22
AD 913 末帝嗣位
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 169
AD 908 歲餘
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passages 162-163

Show 5 more source-backed claims

AD 915 貞明初
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 171
AD 918 貞明四年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passages 171, 173
AD 909 開平三年十一月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 5, passage 67
AD 907 to AD 911 開平中
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 68, passage 31
AD 908 開平二年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 157

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Kou Guan (寇琯)
grandfather 祖 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 141
Child of Kou Yi (寇裔)
father 父
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 141

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Acting Grand Guardian 檢校太保
Added · From Source Date: Text: 太祖受禪 · Western Year: AD 907
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 162
Acting Grand Tutor 檢校太傅
Added
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 166
southeast campaign overall commander 東南面行營都指揮使
AD 908 開平二年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 157
city street commissioner 街使
Appointed · From Source Date: Text: 歲餘 · Western Year: AD 908
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 163
defense commissioner of Xiangzhou 相州防禦使
Appointed · At Xiangzhou 相州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 165
grand general of the Left Golden Crow Guard 左金吾衛大將軍
Appointed · From Source Date: Text: 歲餘 · Western Year: AD 908
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 163

Show 16 more source-backed claims

military commissioner of Dengzhou 鄧州節度使
Appointed · At Dengzhou 鄧州 · From Source Date: Text: 貞明初 · Western Year: AD 915
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 171
military commissioner of Heyang 河陽節度使
Appointed · At Heyang 河陽
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 166
military commissioner of Huazhou 華州節度使
Appointed · At Huazhou 華州 · From Source Date: Text: 太祖受禪 · Western Year: AD 907
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 162
military commissioner of Xingyuan (in absentia) 遙領興元節度使
Appointed · At Xingyuan 興元 · From Source Date: Text: 末帝嗣位 · Western Year: AD 913
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 169
overall commander of the southeast campaign to suppress and recruit 東南面行營都招討使
Appointed · From Source Date: Text: 末帝嗣位 · Western Year: AD 913
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 169
senior general of the Right Golden Crow Guard 右金吾衛上將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 170
middle-rank general of the Left Guard 左衛中郎將
AD 908 to AD 912 歲餘後 · Demoted
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passages 163-164
Jinwu street commissioner 金吾街使
AD 907 to AD 911 開平中 · Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 68, passage 31
Palace Attendant 侍中
Posthumously granted
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 174
field army array marshal 行營諸軍排陣使
Retained
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 165
Welcome-the-Chariot Bold and Brave Merit Subject 迎鑾毅勇功臣
Granted
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 155
Palace Attendant (posthumous) 侍中
Posthumously granted
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 174
Entered
AD 908 to AD 912 歲餘後 · Demoted
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 164
frontier defender 藩後
Frontier lord · Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 179
impeached by the censorate 為御史府所彈
AD 908 to AD 912 歲餘後 · Impeached
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passages 163-164
demotion to General of the Patrol 責授遊擊將軍
Suffered
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 68, passage 39

Places and affiliations

Later Liang 後梁
Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passages 162, 169
Polity Name Later Liang · Relation Served or associated
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 140
At Daliang 大梁
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 140
AD 907 太祖受禪
At Huazhou 華州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 162
AD 913 末帝嗣位
At Xingyuan 興元 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 169
AD 915 貞明初
At Dengzhou 鄧州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 171

Show 3 more source-backed claims

At Heyang 河陽 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 166
At Hua Prefecture 華州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 5, passage 67
At Xiangzhou 相州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 165

Learning and skills

Skill books and histories 書史 · Level fond
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 148
Skill mounted archery 騎射 · Level skilled
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 148

Works and attributed material

Painted portrait and offered sacrifice
Ritual act · Actor · With Taizu (太祖)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 167
Received edict to relieve Anlu
Edict · Recipient
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 172

Events and relationships

Appointed Huazhou military commissioner
AD 907 太祖受禪 · Political · Appointee · With Taizu (太祖)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 162
Attacked Bin Ning
AD 909 開平三年十一月 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 5, passage 67
Attacked Huainan
AD 908 開平二年 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passages 157-159
Caused death
Legal · Perpetrator · With Liang Xian (梁現) · At Tianjin Bridge 天津橋
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 68, passage 31
Painted imperial portrait and made offerings
AD 912 太祖遇弑 · Ritual · Mourner · With Taizu (太祖)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 167
Pushed old man from Tianjin Bridge to death
AD 908 to AD 912 歲餘後 · Legal · Perpetrator · At Tianjin Bridge 天津橋
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passages 163-164

Show 6 more source-backed claims

Relieved Anlu siege and defeated Huai forces
AD 915 to AD 918 貞明初 · Military · Commander · At Anlu 安陸
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passages 171-172
Resisted Huai rebels
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 170
Wept recalling former court
Personal · Speaker
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 168
Relation Client of · Person Youzhen (友貞)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 169
Relation Client of · Person Taizu (太祖)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passages 162, 164, 167
Relation Peer of · Person Zhang Cunjing (張存敬)
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 179

Assessments and attributes

Assessment abused favor, jealous, and fond of killing; despite fame, despised by men of judgment · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 175
Assessment capable, bright, and shrewd in serving his lord · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 175
Assessment met the occasion of climbing the dragon scales and fittingly became a frontier lord · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 179
eight chi tall, high nose, square face, voice like a bell
Physical description
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 147
AD 912 太祖遇弑
Item imperial portrait 御容 · Relation Made
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 167
Item One Zhang Crow black horse 一丈烏 · Relation Received · With the Founder (太祖)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 151

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 20, passage 162

References in the histories

Search passages

History

22 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 5Volume 5 Book of Later Liang 5: Taizu Annals 5 · 1 passage

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帝遣陝州康懷英、華州寇彥卿率兵攻迫邠、寧，以緩朔方之寇。 The Emperor sent Kang Huaiying of Shaan and Kou Yanqing of Hua to strike Bin and Ning and ease the Shuofang threat.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 20Volume 20 Book of Later Liang 20: Biographies 10: Xie Tong, Si Maye, Liu Han, Wang Jinrao, Gao Shao, Ma Sixun, Zhang Cunjin, Kou Yanqing · 15 passages

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寇彥卿，字俊臣，大梁人也。 Kou Yanqing, styled Junchen, came from Daliang.

太祖鎮汴，以彥卿將家子，擢在左右。 When the Founder governed Bian he kept Yanqing, a general's son, at his side.

羅紹威將殺牙軍，遣使告於太祖，太祖命彥卿使於魏，密與紹威謀之。 When Luo Shaowei moved against the guard corps he asked the Founder for help; the Founder sent Yanqing to Wei to conspire with him.

竟成其事，彥卿之力也。 The plot succeeded largely through Yanqing's efforts.

彥卿身長八尺，隆準方面，語音如鍾。 Yanqing stood eight feet tall, with a high nose and square face, and a voice like a bell.

太祖每言曰：「敬翔、劉捏、寇彥卿，蓋為我而生。」 The Founder would say: "Jing Xiang, Liu Han, and Kou Yanqing might as well have been made for me."

太祖有所乘烏馬，號「一丈烏」，嘗以賜彥卿。 The Founder once gave him his black charger, the "Ten-foot Crow."

時彥卿為諸道馬步軍都排陣使。 Yanqing then served as overall battle-line marshal for the allied forces.

〈（案《通鑒》：開平二年，帝從吳越王錢鏐之請，以亳州團練使寇彥卿為東南面行營都指揮使，使擊淮南。 (The 《Zizhi Tongjian》 says: In Kaiping 2, at Wuyue king Qian Liu's request the Emperor named Kou Yanqing of Bozhou overall commander of the southeast campaign against Huainan.

十一月，彥卿率眾一千襲霍丘，為土豪朱景所敗； In the eleventh month Yanqing led a thousand men against Huoqiu and was beaten by the local chief Zhu Jing;

《九國誌·朱景傳》：梁祖聞景名，命寇彥卿率勁騎三千襲霍丘，圖取景，且諭梁祖之意令降，景率其徒戰於丘墟林澤中，射死者無數，彥卿兵折力殫而去。）〉 The 《Nine States Chronicle · Biography of Zhu Jing》 says the Liang Founder sent Yanqing with three thousand elite cavalry to take Huoqiu and capture Jing, offering surrender terms; Jing fought him in scrub and marsh, killing many; Yanqing withdrew with his force spent.）〉

一日，過天津橋，有老人誤衝其趨道者，排之，落橋而斃，為御史府所彈，太祖不得已，責授左衛中郎將。 Once on Tianjin Bridge an old man blundered into his path; Yanqing shoved him off the bridge to his death; the censors impeached him, and the Founder reluctantly demoted him to middle-rank general of the Left Guard.

及太祖遇弑，彥卿追感舊恩，圖御容以奠之。 After the Founder was murdered, Yanqing painted his portrait and made offerings in memory of old kindness.

彥卿貞幹明敏，善事人主，然怙寵作威，多忌好殺，雖顯立功名，而猶為識者之所鄙焉。 Yanqing was capable and shrewd in serving his prince, yet abused favor, was jealous and bloodthirsty, and despite his fame men of judgment held him in contempt.

存敬有提鼓之勞，彥卿遇攀鱗之會，俱為藩後，亦其宜哉！ Cunjin had served at the drum; Yanqing caught the rise of the dragon; each became a frontier lord—as was only fitting!

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 68Volume 68 Book of Later Tang 44: Biographies 20: Xue Tinggui, Cui Yi, Liu Yue, Liu Ye, Feng Shunqing, Dou Mengzheng, Li Baoyin, Gui Ai, Kong, Miao, Zhang Wenbao, Chen Yi, Liu Zan · 5 passages

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開平中，金吾街使寇彥卿入朝，過天津橋，市民梁現者不時回避，前導伍伯捽之，投石欄以致斃。 During Kaiping, Jinwu street commissioner Kou Yanqing came to court and crossed Tianjin Bridge. A townsman named Liang Xian failed to clear the way in time; Kou's escort guards seized him and hurled him against a stone railing, killing him.

彥卿自前白於梁祖，梁祖命通事舍人趙可封宣諭，令出私財與死者之家，以贖其罪。 Yanqing reported the matter himself to the Liang founder, who ordered palace usher Zhao Kefeng to announce that Yanqing should pay compensation from his private funds to the victim's family in lieu of punishment.

沂奏劾曰：「彥卿位是人臣，無專殺之理。 Yi submitted an impeachment memorial: "Yanqing is a subject of the throne and has no right to kill on his own authority.

梁祖惜彥卿，令沂以過失論，沂引鬥競律，以怙勢力為罪首，下手者減一等。 The Liang founder was reluctant to punish Yanqing and told Yi to treat the case as negligence. Yi cited the statute on brawling, naming abuse of power as the principal offense and reducing the penalty by one degree for those who carried out the act.

沂表入，責授彥卿遊擊將軍、左衛中郎將。 When Yi's memorial was received, Yanqing was demoted to general of the patrol and middle general of the Left Guard.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 44Volume 44 Miscellaneous Biographies 24: Liu Zhijun, Ding Hui, He Delun, Yan Bao, Kang Yanxiao · 1 passage

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韓遜告急，太祖遣康懷英、寇彥卿等攻邠寧以牽之。 Han Xun cried for help. The Founder sent Kang Huaiying, Kou Yanqing, and others against Bin and Ning to tie Maozhen down.