Five Dynasties · Military Officer

Laogu 老古

Lǎogǔ

Attested AD 916 - AD 922

Passages: 12
Chapters: 3
Histories: 1

Overview

Laogu was a Military Officer.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Salan	撒懶	Sǎlǎn

Life and dates

Death

Expression died 卒
Directly stated · History of Liao 75, passage 61
Died of wounds in battle · At Yunbi 雲碧店
Directly stated · History of Liao 73, passages 195-196

Attested activity

AD 916 to AD 920 太祖即位後
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 73, passage 188
AD 921 to AD 922 神冊末
Directly stated · History of Liao 75, passage 56

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Salade (薩剌德)
descended from 係出
Strongly inferred · History of Liao 66, passage 87
Child of Mother of Laogu (老古母)
mother 母
Directly stated · History of Liao 73, passage 188
Kin of Yelu Xieniechi (耶律斜涅赤)
nephew 侄
Directly stated · History of Liao 73, passage 103
Kin of Xie Niechi (斜涅赤)
nephew 姪 · paternal line
Directly stated · History of Liao 66, passage 63

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Right Pishi xiangwen 右皮室詳穩
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Liao 73, passage 194
Right Pishi Detail Commander 右皮室詳穩
Held
Directly stated · History of Liao 66, passage 63
Xiangwen of the Right Pishi Division 右皮室詳穩
Held
Directly stated · History of Liao 75, passage 56

Places and affiliations

Polity Id liao · Relation Belonged to
Strongly inferred · History of Liao 66, passage 63
Polity Id liao · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Liao 73, passage 188; History of Liao 75, passage 56

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Emperor Taizu of Liao (遼太祖)
Directly stated · History of Liao 75, passage 59

Events and relationships

Guarded against feigned surrender
Military · Officer · With Cige (剌葛)
Directly stated · History of Liao 73, passages 192-193

References in the histories

Search passages

History

12 passages

History of Liao, Chapter 66Volume 66 Tables 4: Imperial Family · 1 passage

姪右皮室詳穩老古。大王頗德。 Nephew: Right Pishi Detail Commander Laogu. King Pode.

History of Liao, Chapter 73Volume 73 Biographies 3: Yelu Helu, Xiao Dilu, Yelu Xieniechi, Yelu Yuwen, Yelu Haili · 6 passages

〈（老古頗德）〉 Laogu and Pide)〉

侄老古、頗德。 His nephews were Laogu and Pide.

老古，字撒懶，其母淳欽皇后姊也。 Laogu, whose style was Salan, was born to Empress Chunqin's elder sister.

老古幼養宮掖，既長，沈毅有勇略，隸太祖帳下。 Laogu was reared in the palace from childhood; grown up, he was grave, resolute, and possessed courage and strategy, and entered service under Taizu's command.

太祖將納之，命老古、耶律欲穩嚴號令，勒士卒，控轡以防其變。 Taizu was about to accept their submission and ordered Laogu and Yelu Yuwen to enforce strict commands, marshal the soldiers, and hold the reins to guard against treachery.

太祖侵燕、趙，遇唐兵雲碧店，老古恃勇輕敵，直犯其鋒。 When Taizu invaded Yan and Zhao and met Tang troops at Yunbi, Laogu relied on his courage, underrated the enemy, and charged straight at their front.

History of Liao, Chapter 75Volume 75 Biographies 5: Yelu Dilie, Yelu Duozhen, Wang Yu, Yelu Tulujiong · 5 passages

神冊末，南伐，以古佐右皮室詳穩老古，與唐兵戰於雲碧店，老古中流矢，傷甚，太祖疑古陰害之。 At the end of the Shence era, during the southern campaign, Gu served as deputy to Laogu, commander of the Right Pishi Division; they fought Tang forces at Yunbi, where Laogu was struck by an arrow and badly wounded. Emperor Taizu suspected that Gu had plotted against him in secret.

古知上意，跪曰：「陛下疑臣恥居老古麾下耶？ Gu understood the emperor's suspicion, knelt, and said, "Does Your Majesty think I was ashamed to serve under Laogu?

及今老古在，請遣使問之。」 Laogu is still alive—send someone to ask him."

太祖使問老古，對曰：「臣於古無可疑者。」 Emperor Taizu did so; Laogu replied, "I have no suspicion of Gu whatsoever."

老古卒，遂以古為右皮室詳穩。 After Laogu died, Gu was appointed commander of the Right Pishi Division.