Liu Taozhi (劉桃枝) | 24 Histories

Overview

Liu Taozhi was a Commander and executioner; suppressed Sihao’s rebellion and executed Guiyan.

Life and dates

Attested activity

c. AD 547 to c. AD 549 世宗時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 49, passage 129
AD 560 乾明元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 34, passage 152
AD 559 天保末
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 30, passage 166
AD 565 天統中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 13, passage 109
AD 574 武平五年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 124
AD 534 to AD 547 高祖時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 50, passage 228

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Garrison General 領軍
Held
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 34, passage 152
Predicted
Bound to another person
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 49, passage 129
Dragged Guiyan in at the emperor’s order and held a blade over him during his execution
Executed another · With Guiyan (歸彥)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passages 200, 202

Events and relationships

Cut off Dezheng's toes
Violence · Executioner · With Gao Dezheng (高德正)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 30, passage 169
Sent by the emperor racing to Jinyang to suppress Sihao’s rebellion
Military · Commander · With Gao Sihao (高思好)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 124
Surrounded Sihao’s two thousand followers, killing all who would not surrender
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 126
Relation Killer of · Person Gao Rui (高叡)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 13, passage 109

References in the histories

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History

11 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 13Volume 13 Biographies 5: Gao Chen; Gao Rui (Northern Qi); Gao Yue (Northern Qi); Gao Mai · 1 passage

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出至永巷，遇兵被執，送華林園，於雀離佛院令劉桃枝拉而殺之，時年三十六。 Leaving the palace he reached Eternal Lane, was seized by soldiers, and sent to Hualin Garden. At Sparrow-Departure Cloister Liu Taozhi strangled him. He was thirty-six.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 14Volume 14 Biographies 6: Guangping Gongcheng; Yangzhou Gong Yongle; Di Zhangbi; Prince of Xiangle, Xiang Guo; Prince of Shangluo, Si Zong; Zi Yuanhai; Di Sihao; Prince of Pingqin, Guiyan; Prince Pu of Wuxing; Changle, Governor of Lingshan; Sizi Fuhu · 4 passages

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帝聞變，使唐邕、莫多婁敬顯、劉桃枝、中領軍厙狄士文馳之晉陽，帝勒兵續進。 Learning of the revolt, the emperor sent Tang Yong, Moduolou Jingxian, Liu Taozhi, and central army commander Kudi Shiwen racing to Jinyang, while he himself led troops in pursuit.

其麾下二千人，桃枝圍之，且殺且招，終不降以至盡。 Taozhi surrounded his two thousand followers, killing and calling them to surrender in turn. None yielded, and all were killed to the last man.

上令都督劉桃枝牽入，歸彥猶作前語望活。 The emperor ordered commander Liu Taozhi to drag him in. Guiyan still spoke as before, hoping to live.

乃載以露車，銜枚面縛，劉桃枝臨之以刃，擊鼓隨之，並子孫十五人皆棄市。 He was loaded onto an open cart, gagged and bound. Liu Taozhi held a blade over him while drums beat along the route — he and fifteen descendants were all executed in the market.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 30Volume 30 Biographies 22: Cui Xian; Gao Dezheng; Cui Ang · 3 passages

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劉桃枝捉刀不敢下。 Liu Taozhi took up the blade but dared not bring it down.

帝起臨階砌，切責桃枝曰：「爾頭卽墮地！」 Gao Yang rose to the stair treads and rebuked Taozhi sharply: "Your head will be next on the ground!"

桃枝乃斬足之三指。 Taozhi then cut off three of his toes.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 34Volume 34 Biographies 26: Yang Yin; Yan Zixian; Song Qindao; Zheng Yi · 1 passage

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