Liu Jishu (劉季述) | 24 Histories

Overview

Liu Jishu was an eunuch Vice Director and Rebel.

PeriodSui and Tang

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Death

AD 901 天復元年正月朔
Beheaded · Agent Person Id Sun Dezhao (孫德昭)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 137
AD 901 天復元年正月一日
Cause Killed · Authority Sun Dezhao (孫德昭)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 15, passage 149
AD 887 光啟三年十一月
Executed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 209
AD 900 to AD 901 誅劉季述
Execution
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 183, passages 181, 183

Attested activity

AD 900 光化三年
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 136
AD 887 光啟三年十一月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passages 193, 209
AD 900 初，劉季述廢昭宗
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 24
AD 900 劉季述謀廢昭宗
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passages 51, 54-55
AD 901 天復元年正月一日
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 15, passage 149
AD 901 天復元年正月朔
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 137

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AD 900 to AD 901 誅劉季述
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 183, passages 181, 183

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Xizhen (希貞)
nephew 侄 · Through Parent of Xizhen (希貞之親)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 193
Kin of Liu Xizheng (劉希正)
nephew 侄 · paternal line · Through Parent of Liu Xizheng (希正之父)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 51
Parent of Xidu (希度)
adopted son 養子 · Adoptive parentage
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 202
Sibling of Liu Chongchu (劉重楚)
elder brother 兄 · Uncertain siblings
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 205
Sibling of Parent of Liu Xizheng (希正之父)
sibling; parent of his nephew 侄之父 · Uncertain siblings · paternal line
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 51
Sibling of Parent of Xizhen (希貞之親)
sibling 兄弟姊妹 · Uncertain siblings
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 193

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Left Army Rong commissioner 左軍容
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 15, passage 149
Left Vice Director 左中尉
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passages 193-194
execution 伏誅
AD 887 光啟三年十一月 · Suffered
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 209
Suffered
AD 900 to AD 901 誅劉季述 · Execution
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 183, passage 181

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passages 193, 198; New Book of Tang 183, passage 181; New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passages 24, 51

Works and attributed material

Forged edict · Author · Addressed to Zhu Wen (朱溫) · Mode allegation Source Person Id Liu Jishu (劉季述)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 55

Events and relationships

Deposed Zhaozong installed Yu
AD 900 初，劉季述廢昭宗 · Political · Deposer · With Emperor Zhaozong of Tang (唐昭宗)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 24
Deposed Zhaozong with Yan installed Yu
AD 900 劉季述謀廢昭宗 · Political · Deposer · With Emperor Zhaozong of Tang (唐昭宗)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 54
Executed after coup reversal
AD 900 to AD 901 誅劉季述 · Political · Executed target
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 183, passage 181
Forged retired emperor edict to Zhu Wen
AD 900 劉季述謀廢昭宗 · Political · Forger · With Zhu Wen (朱溫)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 55
Rebelled
AD 887 光啟三年十一月 · Political · Leader · Outcome Deposed Zhaozong; installed young ruler
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 198
Relation Deposer of · Person Emperor Zhaozong of Tang (唐昭宗)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passages 24, 54

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Relation Installer of · Person Li Yu (李裕)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 24

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 183, passage 181; New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passages 24, 51, 136

References in the histories

Search passages

History

19 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 15Volume 15 Book of Later Liang 15: Biographies 5: Han Jian, Li Hanzhi, Feng Xingxi, Sun Dezhao, Zhao Keyu, Zhang Shensi · 2 passages

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天復元年正月一日未旦，逆豎左軍容劉季述早入，德昭伏甲要路以俟，追其前驅，邀而斬之，孫承誨等分捕左軍容王仲先黨伍。 Tianfu 1, New Year's dawn, Dezhao ambushed and killed Liu Jishu; Chenghui seized Wang Zhongxian's faction.

德昭馳至，扣閣曰：「逆賊劉季述伏誅矣，請上皇開鑰復皇帝位。」 Dezhao galloped up, knocked on the gate, and cried, "The rebel Liu Jishu has been executed—open the gate and restore the emperor!"

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 18Volume 18 Book of Later Liang 18: Biographies 8: Zhang Wenyu, Xue Yiju, Zhang Ce, Du Xiao, Jing Xiang, Li Zhen · 6 passages

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光啟三年十一月，太祖遣振入奏於長安，舍於州邸，邸吏程岩白振曰：「劉中尉命其侄希貞來計大事，欲上謁，願許之。」 In the eleventh month of Guangqi 3 the Founder sent Zhen to report at Chang'an; lodging at the circuit hostel, clerk Cheng Yan said: "Vice Director Liu has sent his nephew Xizhen to discuss a great matter and wishes an audience—will you allow it?"

既至，岩乃先啟曰：「主上嚴急，內官憂恐，左中尉欲行廢黜之事，岩等協力以定中外，敢以事告。」 When Xizhen came, Yan announced: "The emperor is harsh; the eunuchs are afraid; the Left Vice Director means to depose him—we have joined forces to settle the realm and report this to you."

及振復命，劉季述等果作亂，程岩率諸道邸吏牽帝下殿，以立幼主，奉昭宗為太上皇。 When Zhen returned, Liu Jishu and his party had rebelled; Cheng Yan and the hostel clerks of every circuit dragged the emperor from the hall, enthroned a child, and made Zhaozong Retired Emperor.

振東歸，太祖方在邢、洺，遽還於汴，大計未決，季述遣養子希度以唐之社稷欲輸於太祖，又遣供奉官李奉本、副介支彥勳詐齎上皇誥諭至，皆季述黨也。 Zhen returned east while the Founder was at Xing and Ming and hurried back to Bian before policy was fixed; Liu Jishu sent his adopted son Xidu to hand Tang's realm to him, and Palace Attendant Li Fengben and Vice Messenger Zhi Yanxun with forged retired-emperor edicts—all Jishu's men.

時監軍使劉重楚，季述兄也，舊相張浚，寓於河南緱氏，亦來謂太祖曰：「同中官則事易濟，且得所欲。」 Military inspector Liu Chongchu, Jishu's elder brother, and former chancellor Zhang Jun lodging at Gou in Henan also urged the Founder: "Side with the eunuchs and all goes easily—you get what you want."

未幾，劉季述伏誅，昭宗復帝位，太祖聞之喜，召振，執其手謂之曰：「卿所謀是吾本誌，穹蒼其知之矣！」 Soon Liu Jishu was executed and Zhaozong restored; the Founder rejoiced, summoned Zhen, took his hand and said: "Your plan was always mine—Heaven knows!"

New Book of Tang, Chapter 183Volume 183 Biographies 108: Bi, Cui, Liu, Lu, Zheng, Zhu, Han · 2 passages

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偓嘗與胤定策誅劉季述，昭宗反正，為功臣。 Wo once joined with Yin in planning the execution of Liu Jishu. When Emperor Zhaozong restored the throne, Wo was counted among the meritorious ministers.

偓曰：「陛下誅季述時，余皆赦不問，今又誅之，誰不懼死？ Wo said, "When Your Majesty executed Jishu, all the others were pardoned and left unpunished. If you execute eunuchs again now, who will not fear for his life?

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 43Volume 43 Miscellaneous Biographies 23: Shi Shucong, Li Yanwei, Li Zhen, Pei Di, Wei Zhen, Kong Xun, Sun Dezhao, Wang Jingrao, Jiang Yin · 9 passages

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初，劉季述廢昭宗，立皇太子裕為天子。 Earlier Liu Jishu had deposed Zhaozong and set up Crown Prince Yu as emperor.

昭宗自岐還，太祖見裕眉目疏秀，惡之，謂宰相崔胤曰：「德王嘗為季述所立，安得猶在乎？ When Zhaozong came back from Qi, the Founder looked at Yu’s fine face and hated him. He told Cui Yin: “Jishu made that boy emperor. How is he still breathing?

宦官劉季述謀廢昭宗，遣其侄希正因梁邸吏程巖見振曰：「今主上嚴急，誅殺不辜，中尉懼及禍，將行廢立，請與諸邸吏協力以定中外，如何？」 Eunuch Liu Jishu plotted to depose Zhaozong. His nephew Xizheng came through embassy clerk Cheng Yan to Zhen: “The emperor has turned cruel and kills without cause. The chief eunuch fears for his neck and will depose him. Will you and the clerks act together to settle the court—yes or no?”

振還，季述卒與巖等廢昭宗，幽之東宮，號太上皇，立皇太子裕為天子。 Zhen left. Jishu still deposed Zhaozong with Yan and the rest, locked him in the eastern palace as “Retired Emperor,” and set Crown Prince Yu on the throne.

是時，太祖用兵在邢、洺間，季述詐為太上皇誥告太祖，太祖猶豫，未知所為，振曰：「夫豎刁、伊戾之亂，所以為霸者資也。 The Founder was fighting between Xing and Ming. Jishu forged a retired-emperor edict to him. Zhu Wen wavered. Zhen said: “The disorders of Shu Diao and Yili became the stuff from which hegemons are made.

太祖大悟，乃囚季述使者，遣振詣京師見崔胤，謀出昭宗。 The Founder seized the point, jailed Jishu’s messenger, and sent Zhen to Chang’an to Cui Yin to free Zhaozong.

光化三年，劉季述廢昭宗，幽之東宮，宰相崔胤謀反正，陰使人求義士可共成事者，德昭乃與孫承誨、董從實應胤，胤裂衣襟為書以盟。 In Guanghua 3 (900) Liu Jishu deposed Zhaozong and shut him in the Eastern Palace. Chancellor Cui Yin plotted to restore him and quietly sought men with the stomach for the work. Dezhao, Sun Chenghui, and Dong Congshi answered the call. Yin ripped his robe lining into oath strips.

天復元年正月朔，未旦，季述將朝，德昭伏甲士道旁，邀其輿斬之，承誨等分索餘黨皆盡。 On New Year’s Day of Tianfu 1 (901), before dawn, Jishu was riding to court. Dezhao hid swordsmen along the route, stopped his carriage, and cut off his head. Chenghui and the others ran down every accomplice and killed them to the last man.

德昭馳至，扣門曰：「季述誅矣，皇帝當反正！」 Dezhao raced to the gate and shouted: “Jishu is dead. Your Majesty must take back the throne!”