Shizong (世宗) | 24 Histories

Overview

Shizong was an emperor Shizong of Later Zhou.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Posthumous name	Emperor Ruiwu Xiaowen	睿武孝文皇帝

Life and dates

Death

AD 959 顯德六年六月癸巳
At Wansui Hall 萬歲殿
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 104

Age

39
AD 959 顯德六年 · Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 104

Attested activity

AD 958 周顯德五年冬
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passages 11-12
AD 940 to AD 953 世宗在民間
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 111
AD 954 世宗戰高平
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 50, passage 89
AD 955 周世宗即位，明年
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 50, passage 129
AD 954 顯德元年
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 69, passages 82-83
AD 959 顯德六年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 1

Show 1 more source-backed claim

AD 954 高平之役
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 121

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Emperor Gongdi (恭帝)
eldest imperial son 皇長子
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 85
Spouse of Later Empress Fu (後符後)
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 84
Parent of Imperial Daughter of Shizong (皇女)
imperial daughter 皇女
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 79
Kin of Daughter of Zhou Taizu (周太祖之女)
kinship 親
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 72
Parent of Zongrang (宗讓)
second son 第二子
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 86
Child of Guo Wei (郭威)
Shizong 世宗 · Adoptive parentage
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passages 64-65
Kin of Guo Wei (郭威)
succeeded the Guo house 承郭氏之後
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 120

Key source chapters

Origins and identity

Chai surname 柴氏
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passages 132, 198

Career and standing

AD 954 to AD 954 承郭氏之後踐祚
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 120

Places and affiliations

Later Zhou 周
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passages 71, 107; Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passages 11-12
AD 959 顯德六年十一月
At Qingling 慶陵 · Relation Buried at
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 108

Works and attributed material

Edict · Author
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passages 8-9
Letter · Author · With Chen Tuan (陳摶)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passages 154-157
Speech · Speaker · With Fan Aineng (樊愛能)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passages 125-127
Speech · Speaker · With Wang Pu (王樸)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passages 183, 186
Speech · Speaker · With Zhang Yongde (張永德)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passages 75-76
Speech · Speaker · With Li Deming (李德明)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passages 141-144

Show 3 more source-backed claims

Speech · Speaker · With Wang Huan (王環)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 50, passage 94
Speech · Speaker · With Zhang Zhaoyuan (張昭遠)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passages 164, 166, 173
Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 195; New History of the Five Dynasties 50, passage 130

Events and relationships

Campaigned on Huai
Military · Commander
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 83
Commissioned music reform
AD 958 周顯德五年冬 · Administrative · Ruler · With Dou Yan (竇儼), Wang Pu (王樸)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passage 13
Defeated
AD 954 高平 · Military · Commander · With Liu Chong (劉崇) · At Gaoping 高平
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passages 121, 124
Executed
Legal · Authority · With Fan Aineng (樊愛能) · At Luzhou 潞州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passages 125, 128
Inspected suspended instruments
AD 958 周顯德五年冬 · Ritual · Ruler
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passage 12
Northern campaign
AD 959 顯德六年 · Military · Commander · At Cangzhou 滄州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passages 33, 35

Assessments and attributes

Assessment excessive keenness and severity in punishment · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 204
Assessment heroic ruler of his age · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 200

References in the histories

Search passages

History

82 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 119Volume 119 Book of Later Zhou 21: Shizong Annals 6 · 61 passages

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顯德六年春正月丁未朔，帝御崇元殿受朝賀，仗衛如式。 On the first day of the first month of spring in the sixth year of Xiande, dingwei, the Emperor held audience in Chongyuan Hall to receive the New Year's felicitations, with the ceremonial guard arrayed according to regulation.

乙丑，賜諸將射於內鞠場。 On yichou, the Emperor granted the generals an archery contest in the inner polo ground.

戊辰，幸迎春苑。 On wuchen, the Emperor visited Yingchun Park.

辛丑，幸迎春苑。 On xinchou, the Emperor again visited Yingchun Park.

甲子，詔以北境未復，取此月內幸滄州。 On jiazi, an edict announced that because the northern frontier had not yet been recovered, the Emperor would visit Cangzhou before the month was out.

〈（《東都事略·張美傳》：世宗北征，以美為大內都點檢。）〉 (Eastern Capital Epitome, Biography of Zhang Mei: on Shizong's northern campaign, Mei was made chief inspector of the inner palace.)〉

是日，帝率諸軍北征。 That same day the Emperor led the armies north.

丁酉，駕御龍舟，率舟師順流而北，首尾數十里。 On dingyou, the Emperor boarded his dragon boat and led the fleet downstream; the column stretched bow to stern for several tens of li.

壬寅，宿於野次。 On renyin, the Emperor encamped in the open field.

時帝先期而至，大軍未集，隨駕之士不及一旅，賴今上率材官騎士以衛乘輿。 The Emperor had arrived ahead of the main army; those with the imperial train numbered less than a regiment. The present sovereign led the skilled cavalry to guard the imperial carriage.

世宗北征，將兵至瓦橋關，內斌為關使，開門請降，世宗以為汝州刺史。）〉 When Shizong campaigned north and brought troops to Waqiao Pass, Neibin was pass commander; he opened the gate and offered surrender, and Shizong appointed him prefect of Ru.)〉

五月乙巳朔，帝駐蹕於瓦橋關。 On the first day of the fifth month, yisi, the Emperor halted at Waqiao Pass.

丙午，帝與諸將議攻幽州，諸將皆以為未可，帝不聽。 On bingwu, the Emperor consulted the generals about attacking Youzhou; they all urged that the time was not right, but he would not heed them.

是夜，帝不豫，乃止。 That night the Emperor fell ill, and the attack was called off.

泉州節度使劉從效遣別駕王禹錫奉貢於行在，帝以泉州比臣江南，李景方歸奉國家，不欲奪其所屬，但錫詔褒美而已。 Liu Congxiao of Quanzhou sent Vice Prefect Wang Yuxi with tribute to the temporary court. The Emperor judged that Quanzhou stood in the same relation as a Jiangnan subject, and since Li Jing had only just returned to allegiance, he did not wish to seize another's domain and merely issued an edict of commendation.

甲戌，上至自雄州。 On jiaxu, the Emperor returned from Xiong Prefecture.

〈（《卻掃編》：周世宗既定三關，遇疾而退，至澶淵遲留不行，雖宰輔近臣問疾者皆莫得見，中外洶懼。 (Retreat and Sweep: after Shizong secured the three passes he fell ill and withdrew; at Chanyuan he lingered and would not move on. Grand councilors and close ministers who came to inquire after his health were none of them admitted, and alarm spread through court and country.

永德然之，乘間為世宗言如群臣旨，世宗問：「誰使汝為此言？」 Yongde agreed and at an opportune moment relayed the officials' plea to Shizong. Shizong asked, "Who put you up to this?"

永德對以群臣之意皆願為此，世宗熟思久之，嘆曰：「吾固知汝必為人所教，獨不喻吾意哉！ Yongde replied that all the officials wished it. Shizong thought long and sighed: "I knew someone had coached you—you alone fail to grasp what I mean!

帝之北征也，凡供軍之物，皆令自京遞送行在。 During the northern campaign, all military supplies were relayed from the capital to the temporary court.

〈（《東都事略·張美傳》：美少為三司小吏、澶州糧料使，世宗鎮澶州，每有求取，美悉力應之，及即位，連歲征討，糧饋無乏，美之力也。 (Eastern Capital Epitome, Biography of Zhang Mei: Mei began as a petty clerk of the three departments and grain commissary at Chanzhou. While Shizong was stationed there, Mei met every request; after his enthronement, supplies never failed through years of campaigning—thanks to Mei.

然每思澶州所為，終不以公忠待之。）〉 Yet Shizong often recalled what had passed at Chanzhou and never treated him with full trust and favor.)〉

癸巳，帝崩於萬歲殿，聖壽三十九。 On guisi, the Emperor died in Wansui Hall at the age of thirty-nine.

其年八月，翰林學士、判太常寺事竇儼上謚曰睿武孝文皇帝，廟號世宗。 In the eighth month of that year, Dou Yan, Hanlin academician and administrator of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, proposed the posthumous title Emperor Ruiwu Xiaowen, with the temple name Shizong.

〈（《五代史補》：世宗在民間，嘗與鄴中大商頡跌氏，忘其名，往江陵販賣茶貨。 (Supplement to the History of the Five Dynasties: while still a commoner, Shizong once traveled with a wealthy merchant of Ye surnamed Xiedie, whose personal name is lost, to Jiangling to trade in tea.

至江陵，見有卜者王處士，其術如神，世宗因頡跌氏同往問焉。 At Jiangling they met a diviner, Recluse Wang, whose skill seemed supernatural; Shizong went with Xiedie to consult him.

世宗雖佯為詰責，而私心甚喜。 Shizong pretended to reprove him but was secretly delighted.

於逆旅中夜置酒，與頡跌氏半酣，戲曰：「王處士以我當為天子，若一旦到此，足下要何官，請言之。」 At an inn that night he set out wine and, half drunk with Xiedie, jested: "Recluse Wang says I am destined to be emperor. If that day comes, what office would you want? Tell me plainly."

若大官為天子，某願得京洛稅院足矣。」 If you become emperor, I would be content with the capital tax bureau."

世宗笑曰：「何望之卑耶！」 Shizong laughed: "How modest your ambition!"

世宗之征東也，駐蹕於高平，劉崇兼契丹之眾來迎戰。 On Shizong's eastern campaign he halted at Gaoping; Liu Chong came to battle with Khitan allies as well.

親軍帥樊愛能等各退衄，世宗赫怒，躍馬入陣，引五十人直沖崇之牙帳。 Guard commanders such as Fan Aineng fell back in defeat. Shizong blazed with anger, spurred his horse into the line, and with fifty men charged straight at Chong's headquarters.

崇方張樂飲酒，以示閑暇，及其奄至，莫不驚駭失次，世宗因以奮擊，遂敗之，追奔於城下。 Chong was feasting with music to show his ease; when Shizong burst upon him, his men panicked. Shizong pressed the attack, routed the enemy, and pursued them to the city wall.

初，劉崇求援於契丹，得騎數千，及睹世宗兵少，侮之，曰：「吾觀周師易與爾，契丹之眾宜勿用，但以我軍攻戰，自當萬全。 Earlier Liu Chong had sought Khitan aid and obtained several thousand horsemen. Seeing Shizong's small force, he despised it and said: "The Zhou army is easy prey. Best not use the Khitan; let my army alone fight and all will be secure.

諸將以為然，乃使人謂契丹主將曰：「柴氏與吾，主客之勢，不煩足下余刃，敢請勒兵登高觀之可也。」 The generals agreed and sent word to the Khitan commander: "Between the Chai house and us this is a contest of host and guest; spare your blades. We ask only that you array your troops on the heights and watch."

洎世宗之陣也，三軍皆賈勇爭進，無不一當百，契丹望而畏之，故不救而崇敗。 When Shizong formed his line, all three armies vied to advance, each man fighting as ten; the Khitan looked on in fear and did not intervene, and Chong was defeated.

論者曰：「世宗患諸將之難制也久矣，思欲誅之，未有其釁，高平之役，可謂天假，故其斬決而無貸焉。 Commentators say: "Shizong had long chafed at unruly generals and wished to execute them but lacked occasion. The Gaoping campaign was heaven's gift; hence he beheaded them without mercy.

世宗既下江北，駐蹕於建安，以書召偽主。 After Shizong had crossed to the north bank of the Yangzi, he halted at Jian'an and summoned the Southern Tang ruler by letter.

偽主惶恐，命鐘謨、李德明為使，以見世宗。 The Southern Tang ruler was alarmed and sent Zhong Mo and Li Deming as envoys to see Shizong.

德明素有詞辯，以利害說世宗使罷兵。 Deming was known for eloquence and sought to persuade Shizong by arguments of advantage and harm to halt the campaign.

世宗且知之，乃盛陳兵師，排旗幟戈戟，為鹿項道以湊禦，然後引德明等入見。 Shizong already knew this and arrayed his troops in full display, with banners, spears, and halberds, forming an avenue of barriers for the imperial approach before admitting Deming and the others to audience.

世宗謂之曰：「汝江南自以為唐之後，衣冠禮樂世無比，何故與寡人隔一帶水，更不發一使奉書相問，惟泛海以通契丹，舍內事外，禮將安在？ Shizong said to them: "You of Jiangnan call yourselves heirs of Tang, with rites and music unmatched in the age—yet separated from me by only a strip of water, you send no envoy with a letter of greeting, but cross the sea to deal with the Khitan, abandoning kin for outsiders. Where is propriety in that?

及見偽主，具陳世宗英烈之狀，非四方所能敵。 When they saw their ruler, they described Shizong's heroic bearing in full—not to be matched anywhere under heaven.

世宗許之，因曰：「叛則征，服則懷，寡人之心也。」 Shizong granted it and said: "Rebellion brings war; submission brings mercy—that is my policy."

論者以世宗加兵於江南，不獨臨之以威，抑亦諭之以禮，可謂得大君之體矣。 Commentators hold that in bringing force against Jiangnan, Shizong confronted them with might yet also instructed them in propriety—the manner of a great prince.

世宗之在位也，以四方未服，思欲牢籠英傑，且以摶曾踐場屋，不得志而隱，必有奇才遠略，於是召到闕下，拜左拾遺。 While Shizong reigned, with the realm not yet united, he wished to win outstanding men; because Tuan had entered the examinations, failed to advance, and retired, he must possess rare talent—so Tuan was summoned to court and made Left Remonstrance and Policy Adviser.

摶不就，堅乞歸山，世宗許之。 Tuan declined and firmly begged to return to the mountains; Shizong granted his request.

未幾，賜之書：「敕陳摶，朕以汝高謝人寰，棲心物外，養太浩自然之氣，應少微處士之星，既不屈於王侯，遂甘隱於巖壑，樂我中和之化，慶乎下武之期，而能遠涉山塗，暫來城闕，浹旬延遇，宏益居多，白雲暫駐於帝鄉，好爵難縻於達士。 Before long he granted him a letter: "To Chen Tuan: You have loftily withdrawn from the world and dwell beyond things, nurturing primordial breath and answering to the star of the recluse. Refusing princes, you hide in cliffs and ravines, delighting in our culture of harmony and rejoicing in this age of martial virtue; yet you crossed mountain paths to visit the capital. For more than ten days we received you, and the benefit was mostly ours. White clouds briefly rested at court; fine rank cannot bind the man of attainment.

初，摶之被召，嘗為詩一章云：「草澤吾皇詔，圖南摶姓陳。 When Tuan was first summoned, he composed a poem: "From the wilds comes Our Emperor's edict; plotting southward is Chen surnamed Tuan.

世宗以張昭遠好古直，甚重之，因問曰：「朕欲一賢相，卿試為言朝廷誰可。」 Shizong greatly valued Zhang Zhaoyuan for his love of antiquity and upright character and asked: "I want a worthy grand councilor. Tell me who in court will serve."

世宗常薄濤之為人，聞昭遠之舉甚驚，曰：「李濤本非重厚，朕以為無大臣體，卿首舉此何也？」 Shizong had always disdained Tao's character; hearing the recommendation he was surprised and said: "Li Tao is not grave by nature; I consider him without the bearing of a great minister. Why recommend him first?"

世宗曰：「今卿言甚公，然此人終不可於中書安置。」 Shizong said: "What you say is fair, yet this man can never be placed in the Secretariat."

凡濤於閨門之內，不存禮法也如此，世宗以為無大臣體，不復任用，宜哉！ Such was Tao's disregard for propriety even within the family; that Shizong held him unfit for high office and did not employ him again was fitting!

世宗志在四方，常恐運祚速而功業不就，以王樸精究術數，一旦從容問之曰：「朕當得幾年？」 Shizong's ambition lay in the four quarters; he often feared his allotted years would pass before his work was done. Because Wang Pu was expert in divination, one day he asked him casually: "How many years shall I have?"

世宗喜曰：「若如卿言，寡人當以十年開拓天下，十年養百姓，十年致太平足矣。」 Shizong rejoiced and said: "If it is as you say, I shall use ten years to conquer the realm, ten years to nurture the people, and ten years to bring great peace—that will suffice."

世宗末年，大舉以取幽州，契丹聞其親征，君臣恐懼，沿邊城壘皆望風而下，凡蕃部之在幽州者，亦連宵遁去。 In Shizong's last years he launched a great campaign against Youzhou. The Khitan, hearing he was campaigning in person, were terrified; border fortresses submitted at sight, and tribal groups at Youzhou fled overnight.

頃之，有父老百餘輩持牛酒以獻，世宗問曰：「此地何名？」 Before long more than a hundred elders came with oxen and wine. Shizong asked: "What is this place called?"

先是，世宗之在民間也，常夢神人以大傘見遺，色如郁金，加《道經》一卷，其後遂有天下。 Earlier, while still a commoner, Shizong often dreamed that a divine man gave him a great umbrella colored like saffron, together with a volume of the Daoist Classic; afterward he came to possess the realm.

且天子姓柴，幽州為燕，燕者亦煙火之謂也，此柴入火不利之兆，安得成功。」 Moreover the emperor's surname is Chai; Youzhou is Yan, and yan also means flame—Chai entering fire is an ill omen; how could he succeed?"

史臣曰：世宗頃在仄微，尤務韜晦，及天命有屬，嗣守鴻業，不日破高平之陣，逾年復秦、鳳之封，江北、燕南，取之如拾芥，神武雄略，乃一代之英主也。 The historian writes: Shizong was lately in obscurity and practiced concealment; when Heaven's mandate fell to him, he inherited the great enterprise. Within days he broke the Gaoping line; within a year he recovered Qin and Feng. North of the Yangzi and south of Yan he took territory as one picks up mustard seeds. Divine in martial prowess and heroic in strategy, he was the heroic ruler of his age.

臣下有過，必面折之，常言太祖養成二王之惡，以致君臣之義，不保其終，故帝駕馭豪傑，失則明言之，功則厚賞之，文武參用，莫不服其明而懷其恩也。 When subordinates erred, he rebuked them to their faces. He often said that Taizu had nurtured the wickedness of the two princes, so that the bond between ruler and minister could not be preserved to the end. Therefore he controlled bold spirits: faults he named plainly, merit he rewarded richly; civil and military alike he employed, and all submitted to his clarity and cherished his grace.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 144Volume 144: Treatises 6 Music 1 · 5 passages

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世宗因親臨樂懸，試其聲奏，見鐘磬之類，有設而不擊者，訊於工師，皆不能對。 Shizong went in person to inspect the suspended instruments and test their sound. He found bells and chimes set out but left unplayed, and when he questioned the craftsmen, none could explain why.

世宗惻然，乃命翰林學士、判太常寺事竇儼參詳其制，又命樞密使王樸考正其聲。 Deeply troubled, Shizong ordered the Hanlin academician and acting director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Dou Yan, to review the regulations in detail, and the Privy Council commissioner Wang Pu to correct the pitches.

世宗善之，申命百官議而行之。 Shizong approved the design and directed all officials to deliberate and put it into effect.

世宗睿武孝文皇帝廟室酌獻，舞《定功之舞》。 For the libation offering at the temple chamber of Shizong, the Rui Wu, Xiao Wen Emperor, the Dance of Fixing Merit was performed.

世宗廟室樂章，翰林學士、判太常寺事竇儼撰。）〉 Those for Shizong's temple chamber were composed by Hanlin academician and acting director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Dou Yan.)〉

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 50Volume 50 Miscellaneous Biographies 30: Wang Jun, Wang Yin, Liu Ci, Wang Huan, Zhe Congruan · 10 passages

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世宗戰高平，樊愛能等軍敗南走，遇詞而止之曰：「軍敗矣，可無前也。」 At Gaoping, Fan Aineng’s men broke south. They met Ci and cried: "The army is lost—go no farther."

詞不聽，輒趣兵以進，世宗嘉之，以為隨駕都部署。 Ci would not hear them and drove his men on. Shizong praised him and made him Follow-the-Emperor supreme commander.

世宗召見環，嘆曰：「三州已降，環獨堅守，吾數以書招之，而環不答，至於力屈就擒，雖不能死，亦忠其所事也，用之可勸事君者。」 Shizong called Huan in and sighed: "Three prefectures yielded; Huan alone held. I wrote again and again; he never answered. Broken, he was taken—he could not die, yet he was loyal. Use him to teach service."

初，周師南征，李景陳兵於淮，舟楫甚盛，周師無水戰之具，世宗患之，乃置造船務於京城之西，為戰艦數百艘，得景降卒，教之水戰。 When Zhou first marched south, Li Jing massed boats on the Huai. Zhou had no river gear. Shizong founded a shipyard west of the capital, built hundreds of warships, and had Jing’s surrendered men teach river war.

明年，世宗再征淮，使環將水戰卒數千，自蔡河以入淮。 Next year Shizong marched on the Huai again and sent Huan with thousands of river troops in from the Cai.

蜀卒與環俱擒者，世宗不殺，悉以從軍，後多南奔於景，世宗待環益不疑。 Shu men captured with Huan, Shizong spared and kept in the ranks. Many later fled south to Jing, yet Shizong trusted Huan all the more.

已而景將許文縝、邊鎬等皆被擒，世宗悉以為將軍，與環等列第京師，歲時賜與甚厚。 Soon Li Jing’s generals Xu Wenzhen, Bian Hao, and the rest were taken. Shizong made them all generals, lodged them with Huan and the others in capital estates, and lavished seasonal gifts on them.

明年又幸淮南，又以環從，遇疾，卒於泗州。 The next year Shizong marched on Huainan again with Huan in his train; he fell ill and died at Sizhou.

周世宗即位，明年，遣王景、向訓攻秦、鳳州，數為環所敗，大臣皆請罷兵。 Shizong took the throne and the next year sent Wang Jing and Xiang Xun against Qin and Feng. Huan beat them again and again, and the ministers all urged withdrawal.

世宗曰：「吾欲一天下以為家，而聲教不及秦、鳳，今兵已出，無功而返，吾有慚焉。」 Shizong said: "I mean to make the realm one household, yet my rule has not reached Qin and Feng. The army is already out—return without victory and I am ashamed."

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 69Volume 69: Hereditary House of Nanping · 6 passages