Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Ruler

Shizu 世祖

Shìzǔ

First attested AD 550; died AD 565

Passages: 15
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Shizu was a ruler.

Life and dates

Death

AD 565 其年十二月
At Qianshou Hall 乾壽殿
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 50, passages 55, 57

Attested activity

AD 550 to AD 550 天保初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 50, passage 33

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Last Lord (後主)
late emperor / father 先帝
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 50, passages 58, 71

Career and standing

As emperor 踐祚
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 50, passage 41

References in the histories

Search passages

History

15 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 50Volume 50 Biographies 42: Favored by Nobles · 15 passages

天保初，世祖封長廣王，辟士開府行參軍。 Early in Tianbao, Shizu was made Prince of Changguang and took Shikai onto his staff as a traveling adjutant.

世祖性好握槊，士開善於此戲，由是遂有斯舉。 Shizu loved polo, and Shikai's skill at the game opened the way to favor.

後除京畿士曹參軍，長廣王請之也。 He was later made Capital Region Personnel Adjutant at the Prince of Changguang's request.

世祖踐祚，累除侍中，加開府。 When Shizu took the throne, Shikai rose step by step to Attendant-in-Ordinary with the rank of Grand Prefect.

至說世祖云：「自古帝王，盡為灰燼，堯、舜、桀、紂，竟復何異？ He even told Shizu, "Every emperor since antiquity ends as ashes—what difference between Yao, Shun, Jie, and Zhou?

世祖大悅。 Shizu was delighted.

其年十二月，世祖寢疾於乾壽殿，士開入侍醫藥。 In the twelfth month of that year Shizu took to his bed in Qianshou Hall, and Shikai attended him with medicine.

世祖謂士開有伊、霍之才，殷勤屬以後事，臨崩，握士開之手曰：「勿負我也。」 Shizu declared that Shikai had the gifts of Yi Yin and Huo Guang and earnestly entrusted the aftermath to him; dying, he clasped Shikai's hand and said, "Do not betray me."

後主以世祖顧托，深委仗之。 The Later Lord, honoring Shizu's deathbed charge, placed deep trust in him.

世祖時，恒令士開與太后握槊，又出入臥內無復期限，遂與太后為亂。 Under Shizu, Shikai often played polo with the empress dowager and entered the inner quarters without restraint, eventually taking her as a lover.

及世祖崩後，彌自放恣。 After Shizu's death he abandoned all restraint.

肱妙於騎射，便僻善事人，每宴射之次，大為世祖所愛重。 Expert at mounted archery and winning favor, he was a favorite at Shizu's hunts and banquets.

旣為世祖所幸，多令在東宮侍後主，所以大被寵遇。 Shizu had favored him and kept him in the Eastern Palace with the young heir, which won him lasting preferment.

後主居東宮，年幼稚，世祖簡都督二十人送令侍衛，鳳在其數。 While the young Later Lord lived in the Eastern Palace, Shizu chose twenty area commanders to guard him; Feng was one.

世祖時有曹文摽、鄧長顒輩，亦有至儀同食幹者，唯長顒武平中任參宰相，干預朝權。 Under Shizu, Cao Wenbiao and Deng Changyang rose high; only Changyang in Wuping shared in governing.