Five Dynasties · Diviner and Courtier

Yang Qianlang 楊千郎

Died AD 926

Passages: 8
Chapters: 2
Histories: 2

Overview

Yang Qianlang was a Diviner and Courtier.

Life and dates

Death

AD 926 並誅千郎
Executed · Authority Zhuangzong (莊宗)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 163
AD 926 莊宗敗
killed in same purge as Cunyi 並罹其禍
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 51, passage 36

Attested activity

AD 926 楊千郎用事至被誅
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passages 160, 163
AD 926 莊宗敗
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 51, passages 28, 31

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Wife of Yang Qianlang (楊千郎妻)
wife 妻
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 161
Spouse of Wife of Yang Qianlang (楊千郎妻)
wife 妻
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 51, passage 35

Key source chapters

Career and standing

sorcerer / wonder-worker 妖術人
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 51, passage 31
sorcerer 妖人
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 160
acting director of the Secretariat 檢校尚書郎
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 161
Gentleman of the Secretariat 尚書郎
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 51, passage 35
purple robes 賜紫
Bestowed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 161
granted purple robes 賜紫
Received
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 51, passage 35

Places and affiliations

At Weizhou 魏州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 51, passage 32
At Wei 魏州 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 160

Learning and skills

Skill Mohist arts; commanding spirits; transmuting cinnabar and mercury 墨子術，能役使鬼神，化丹砂、水銀 · Level claimed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 160
Skill Mozi arts / yin spirit arts 墨子術 · Level claimed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 51, passage 32

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 154

References in the histories

Search passages

History

8 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 51Volume 51 Book of Later Tang 27: Biographies 3: Imperial Family · 4 passages

又於妖術人楊千郎家飲酒聚會，攘臂而泣。 He had also been seen drinking with friends at the home of the wonder-worker Yang Qianlang, where he rolled up his sleeves and wept aloud.

楊千郎者，魏州賤民，自言得墨子術於婦翁，能役使陰物，帽下召食物果實之類。 Yang Qianlang was a common man of Weizhou who claimed to have learned Mozi's techniques from his father-in-law and could command spirits of the yin realm: food, fruit, and other provisions would appear from under his cap.

又蒱爪博必勝，人有拳握之物，以法必取。 In finger-wrestling and dice games he never lost, and whatever a man clenched in his fist, Yang could always draw forth by his arts.

皇弟存乂常朋淫於其家，至是與存乂並罹其禍。）〉 Prince Cunyi was a habitual reveler at Yang's house; now Yang and Cunyi alike fell victim to the same purge.)〉

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 14Volume 14: Taizu of Later Tang's Family · 4 passages

是時，魏州妖人楊千郎用事，自言有墨子術，能役使鬼神，化丹砂、水銀。 The Wei sorcerer Yang Qianlang claimed Mohist arts to command spirits and transmute mercury.

莊宗頗神之，拜千郎檢校尚書郎，賜紫，其妻出入宮禁，承恩寵，而士或因之以求官爵，存乂及存渥等往往朋淫於其家。 Zhuangzong made him acting director with purple robes; his wife entered the palace; Cunyi and Cunwo often caroused there.

及崇韜被族，莊宗遣宦官陰察外議以為如何，而宦官因欲盡誅崇韜親黨以絕後患，乃誣言：「存乂過千郎，酒酣，攘臂號泣，為婦翁稱冤，言甚怨望。」 When Chongtao’s clan was killed, eunuchs probed opinion and lied: "Cunyi, drunk at Qianlang’s house, had wailed for his father-in-law in rage."

莊宗大怒，以兵圍其第而誅之，並誅千郎。 Zhuangzong surrounded his house and killed him and Qianlang.