Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Official and Statesman

Mao Xi 毛喜

c. AD 516 - AD 587

Passages: 42
Chapters: 3
Histories: 1

Overview

Mao Xi was an official and Statesman.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Bowu	伯武	Bowu

Life and dates

Death

AD 587 禎明元年
Age Value: 72 · Reckoning: Sui · Cause Illness on the road
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 151

Age

72
Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 151

Attested activity

AD 562 天嘉三年
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 92
AD 571 太建三年
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 113
AD 566 to AD 568 廢帝時
Directly stated · Book of Chen 7, passage 55
AD 587 禎明元年
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 149
AD 583 至德元年
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 132
AD 582 高宗不豫
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 24, passage 175

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Mao Cheng (毛稱)
grandfather 祖 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 80
Child of Mao Qizhong (毛栖忠)
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 81
Child of Lady Yu (庾氏)
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 113
Parent of Mao Chuchong (毛處沖)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 153

Kinship Role Poyang brothers as proposed avengers · Count 2 · 鄱陽兄弟 unnamed plural
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 139

Key source chapters

Career and standing

censor-in-chief 御史中丞
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 117
minister of personnel 吏部尚書
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 129
minister of personnel 吏部尚書
AD 582 高宗不豫 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Chen 24, passage 175
Marquis of Dongchang County 東昌縣侯
Households 500 · Enfeoffed
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 111
Marquis of Dongchang 東昌縣侯
Households 900 · Increased
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 131
Entered
Mourning leave
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 113

Places and affiliations

Polity Chen 陳 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 108
At Yangwu in Xingyang 滎陽陽武
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 79
At west of the passes / Guan You 關右 · Relation Relocated to
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 86

Learning and skills

Skill cursive and clerical script 草隸 · Level skilled
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 82

Works and attributed material

collected works in ten scrolls 集十卷
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 152
military regulations in thirteen articles 軍制凡十三條
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 109
Speech · Speaker · With Chen Xu (陳頊) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passages 97-101, 103, 105-106, 121-124
Speech · Speaker · With Chen Xu (陳頊)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 7, passage 55

Events and relationships

Escorted
Diplomatic · Envoy · With Empress Liu (柳皇后)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passages 89, 91
Prepared defense
Military · Defender · At Yongjia 永嘉
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 146
Received deathbed charge
AD 582 高宗不豫 · Political · Recipient · With Chen Xu (陳頊)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 24, passage 175
Secured regency
Political · Counselor · With Chen Xu (陳頊)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passages 96, 102
Relation Adviser of · Person Chen Xu (陳頊)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 7, passage 55
Relation Advisor of · Person Chen Xu (陳頊)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passages 84, 133

Show 1 more source-backed claim

Relation Patron of · Person Chen Baxian (陳霸先)
Uncertain · Book of Chen 29, passage 84

Assessments and attributes

Assessment deeply understood affairs and aided the ruler · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 189

References in the histories

Search passages

History

42 passages

Book of Chen, Chapter 7Volume 7: Empresses and Consorts · 4 passages

高宗將出，而諮議毛喜止之曰：「今若出外，便受制於人，譬如曹爽，願作富家翁不可得也。」 Emperor Xuan was about to leave when adviser Mao Xi stopped him and said, "Go out now and you fall under another's hand—as with Cao Shuang, you may wish only to be a rich man and cannot even have that."

高宗乃稱疾，召師知留之與語，使毛喜先入言之於后。 Emperor Xuan then feigned illness, summoned Shizhi and kept him talking, and sent Mao Xi ahead to speak to the empress.

喜又言於廢帝，帝曰：「此自師知等所為，非朕意也。」 Xi also spoke to the Deposed Emperor, who said, "That was Shizhi and his party—not my wish."

喜出以報高宗，高宗因囚師知，自入見后及帝，極陳師知之短，仍自草敕請畫，以師知付廷尉治罪。 Xi came out and told Emperor Xuan, who then seized Shizhi, went in to see the empress and the emperor, laid out Shizhi's crimes, drafted the edict himself, and sent Shizhi to the court of trials.

Book of Chen, Chapter 24Volume 24: Zhou Hongzheng; Yuan Xian · 1 passage

及高宗不豫，憲與吏部尚書毛喜俱受顧命。 When Emperor Gaozong fell ill, Xian and minister of personnel Mao Xi both received his deathbed charge.

Book of Chen, Chapter 29Volume 29: Zong Yuanrao; Sima Shen; Mao Xi; Cai Zheng · 37 passages

宗元饒司馬申毛喜蔡徵 Zong Yuanrao; Sima Shen; Mao Xi; Cai Zheng

毛喜字伯武，滎陽陽武人也。 Mao Xi, styled Bowu, came from Yangwu in Xingyang commandery.

喜少好學，善草隸。 Xi loved learning from youth and was skilled in cursive and clerical scripts.

高祖素知於喜，及鎮京口，命喜與高宗俱往江陵，仍敕高宗曰：「汝至西朝，可諮稟毛喜。」 The Founder had long known Xi, and when he was stationed at Jingkou he ordered Xi to go with Emperor Xuan to Jiangling, telling Emperor Xuan, "When you reach the western court, you may consult Mao Xi."

喜與高宗同謁梁元帝，即以高宗為領直，喜為尚書功論侍郎。 Xi and Emperor Xuan together had audience with Emperor Yuan of Liang, who then made Emperor Xuan leader of direct service and Xi merit-evaluation gentleman attendant in the masters of writing.

及江陵陷，喜及高宗俱遷關右。 When Jiangling fell, Xi and Emperor Xuan were both moved west of the passes.

世祖即位，喜自周還，進和好之策，朝廷乃遣周弘正等通聘。 When Emperor Wen came to the throne, Xi returned from Zhou and offered a plan for peace; the court then sent Zhou Hongzheng and others to open diplomatic exchange.

及高宗反國，喜於郢州奉迎。 When Emperor Xuan returned to Chen, Xi welcomed him at Yingzhou.

又遣喜入關，以家屬為請。 Xi was again sent into the passes to request the return of Emperor Xuan's family.

周冢宰宇文護執喜手曰：「能結二國之好者，卿也。」 Yuwen Hu, Zhou's chief minister, took Xi by the hand and said, "The one who can bind friendship between our two states is you."

天嘉三年至京師，高宗時為驃騎將軍，仍以喜為府諮議參軍，領中記室。 They reached the capital in Tianjia year 3. Emperor Xuan was then general of agile cavalry, and he made Xi advising staff officer in his headquarters and put him in charge of the central records office.

府朝文翰，皆喜詞也。 The headquarters' court documents were all drafted by Xi.

高宗以訪于喜，喜即條牒自古名賢杜叔英、虞叔卿等二十餘人以啟世祖，世祖稱善。 Emperor Xuan consulted Xi; Xi at once listed more than twenty famous men of antiquity such as Du Shuying and Yu Shuqing and reported them to Emperor Wen, and Emperor Wen praised it.

喜即馳入，謂高宗曰：「陳有天下日淺，海內未夷，兼國禍併鍾，萬邦危懼。 Xi at once galloped in and told Emperor Xuan, "Chen has held the realm only a short time; within the seas it is not yet pacified; moreover national misfortune has struck together, and the myriad states are in peril and fear.

以喜之愚，須更聞奏，無使奸賊得肆其謀。」 In my foolishness I must hear the matter reported again, and not let treacherous villains carry out their plot."

右衛將軍韓子高始與仲舉通謀，其事未發，喜請高宗曰：「宜簡選人馬，配與子高，并賜鐵炭，使脩器甲。」 Right guard general Han Zigao at first conspired with Zhongju; the affair had not yet broken out; Xi asked Emperor Xuan, "You should select men and horses, assign them to Zigao, and also grant iron and charcoal so he may repair weapons and armor."

喜答曰：「山陵始畢，邊寇尚多，而子高受委前朝，名為杖順，然甚輕狷，恐不時授首，脫其稽誅，或愆王度。 Xi replied, "The imperial tomb has only just been completed and border enemies are still many; Zigao was entrusted by the former court and is known as holding to obedience, yet he is very frivolous and impetuous—I fear he will not promptly surrender his head; if we hasten to punish him, we may transgress royal measure.

高宗即位，除給事黃門侍郎，兼中書舍人，典軍國機密。 When Emperor Xuan came to the throne, Xi was appointed attendant gentleman of the Yellow Gate and concurrently secretariat attendant, managing confidential military and state affairs.

高宗將議北伐，敕喜撰軍制，凡十三條，詔頒天下，文多不載。 When Emperor Xuan was preparing to deliberate on the northern campaign, he ordered Xi to draft military regulations in thirteen articles, which were promulgated throughout the realm; much of the text is not preserved here.

以定策功，封東昌縣侯，邑五百戶。 For his merit in settling the succession plan, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Dongchang county with five hundred households.

又遣員外散騎常侍杜緬圖其墓田，高宗親與緬案圖指畫，其見重如此。 The court also sent supernumerary regular attendant of the scattered cavalry Du Mian to draw a plan of her burial land; Emperor Xuan personally reviewed the plan with Mian and marked it out. Such was the esteem shown Xi.

及眾軍北伐，得淮南地，喜陳安邊之術，高宗納之，即日施行。 When the mass of armies marched north and gained the lands south of the Huai, Xi presented methods for securing the border; Emperor Xuan adopted them and put them into effect that very day.

又問喜曰：「我欲進兵彭、汴，於卿意如何？」 He again asked Xi, "I wish to advance troops to Peng and Bian—what do you think?"

喜對曰：「臣實才非智者，安敢預兆未然。 Xi replied, "My talent is truly not that of the wise; how would I dare to foretell what has not yet happened?

後吳明徹陷周，高宗謂喜曰：「卿之所言，驗於今矣。」 Later Wu Mingche was defeated by Zhou; Emperor Xuan told Xi, "What you said has been verified today."

及高宗崩，叔陵構逆，敕中庶子陸瓊宣旨，令南北諸軍，皆取喜處分。 When Emperor Xuan died, Shuling plotted treason; an order had central palace attendant Lu Qiong proclaim the intent, ordering northern and southern armies alike to take Xi's disposition.

初，高宗委政於喜，喜亦勤心納忠，多所匡益，數有諫諍，事並見從，由是十餘年閒，江東狹小，遂稱全盛。 At first Emperor Xuan entrusted government to Xi; Xi also devoted his heart in loyal service, with much correction and benefit; he often remonstrated and his advice was followed—in more than ten years, though the Jiangdong realm was small, it was called fully flourishing.

唯略地淮北，不納喜謀，而吳明徹竟敗，高宗深悔之，謂袁憲曰：「不用毛喜計，遂令至此，朕之過也。」 Only in seizing land north of the Huai did he not take Xi's advice; Wu Mingche was defeated in the end. Emperor Xuan deeply regretted it and told Yuan Xian, "Had I followed Mao Xi's plan, this would not have happened—it is my fault."

喜既益親，乃言無回避，而皇太子好酒德，每共幸人為長夜之宴，喜嘗為言，高宗以誡太子，太子陰患之，至是稍見疏遠。 As Xi grew closer still, he spoke without reserve. Yet the heir apparent loved wine and nightly revels with his favorites. Xi often remonstrated; Emperor Xuan used this to warn the heir, who secretly resented him and by then had grown somewhat distant.

初，後主為始興王所傷，及瘡愈而自慶，置酒於後殿，引江總以下，展樂賦詩，醉而命喜。 Earlier Houzhu had been wounded by the Prince of Shixing. When his wounds healed he celebrated alone, set wine in the rear hall, summoned Jiang Zong and others, spread music and composed verse, and when drunk called for Xi.

于時山陵初畢，未及踰年，喜見之不懌，欲諫而後主已醉，喜升階，陽為心疾，仆于階下，移出省中。 The imperial tomb had only just been completed and a full year had not yet passed. Xi was displeased and wished to remonstrate, but Houzhu was already drunk. Xi mounted the steps, feigned heart trouble, collapsed on the steps, and was carried out of the secretariat.

後主醒，乃疑之，謂江總曰：「我悔召毛喜，知其無疾，但欲阻我懽宴，非我所為，故姦詐耳。」 When Houzhu woke he grew suspicious and said to Jiang Zong, "I regret calling Mao Xi. I know he is not ill—he only wanted to spoil my feast. That is not my way; he is deceitful."

乃以喜為永嘉內史。 Xi was then made interior minister of Yongjia.

喜至郡，不受俸秩，政弘清靜，民吏便之。 When Xi reached the commandery he took no salary; his rule was open and quiet, and people and officials were well served.

遇豐州刺史章大寶舉兵反，郡與豐州相接，而素無備禦，喜乃修治城隍，嚴飾器械。 When Fengzhou inspector Zhang Dabao rebelled, the commandery bordered Fengzhou but had never been defended. Xi repaired walls and ditches and arrayed weapons.

喜在郡有惠政，乃徵入朝，道路追送者數百里。 Xi had ruled with kindness; when he was recalled to court, escorts followed him for hundreds of li.

毛喜深達事機，匡贊時主。 Mao Xi deeply understood circumstances and aided the ruler of his time.