Yuan Faseng (元法僧)

Overview

Yuan Faseng was a Governor and Defector.

PeriodThree Kingdoms and Six Dynasties

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Death

AD 536 大同二年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 18

Age

83
AD 536 大同二年 · Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 18

Attested activity

AD 524 普通五年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 38, passages 26, 29
AD 520 to AD 527 普通中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 32, passage 8
AD 529 中大通元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 15
AD 532 中大通四年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passages 16-17
AD 532 中大通四年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 103-104
AD 515 to AD 528 元法僧反
Directly stated · Book of Wei 24, passage 108

Show 10 more source-backed claims

AD 502 to AD 549 入國
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 39, passage 231
AD 516 十五年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 17, passage 132
AD 536 大同二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 18
AD 529 大通三年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passages 92, 100
AD 528 大通二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 14
AD 525 孝昌元年正月庚申
Directly stated · Book of Wei 111, passage 277
AD 520 to AD 527 普通中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 19
AD 525 普通中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 36, passage 106
AD 524 普通五年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 7
AD 525 普通六年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 37; Book of Liang 55, passage 28

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Zhongkui (鐘葵)
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 5
Descendant of Emperor Daowu (道武帝)
founding ancestor 始祖 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 4
Parent of Yuan Jinglong (元景隆)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 19; Book of Liang 17, passage 132
Parent of Yuan Jingzhong (元景仲)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 19

Kinship Role sons · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 7

Key source chapters

Origins and identity

cadet line of the Northern Wei imperial house 魏氏之支屬
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 3

Career and standing

Grand Commandant 太尉
AD 532 中大通四年 · Advanced
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 16
Bearer of the Staff; Regular Attendant-in-Ordinary; General-in-Chief of Agile Cavalry; open office with Three-Dukes ceremonial rank; Inspector of Yingzhou 使持節、散騎常侍、驃騎大將軍、開府同三司之儀、郢州刺史
AD 532 中大通四年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 17
General of the Champion 冠軍將軍
AD 528 大通二年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 14
Minister of Works 司空
AD 524 普通五年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 9
Palace Attendant 侍中
AD 524 普通五年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 9
Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with the Golden Ornament 金紫光祿
AD 532 中大通四年 · Held concurrently
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 16

Show 14 more source-backed claims

Governor of Xuzhou 徐州刺史
AD 524 普通五年 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 38, passage 26
Inspector of Xu province 徐州刺史
AD 520 to AD 527 普通中 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Liang 32, passage 8
Grand Commandant 太尉
AD 532 中大通四年 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 103
Bearer of the Staff with Full Powers, Area Commander of Xuzhou forces, Inspector of Xuzhou 使持節、都督徐州諸軍事、徐州刺史
Held
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 6
Grand Master of Splendid Happiness 光祿大夫
Held
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 6
Inspector of Xuzhou 徐州刺史
Held
Directly stated · Book of Wei 111, passage 277
Palace Attendant and Grand Commandant, concurrently Army Instructor General 侍中、太尉，領軍師將軍
AD 536 大同二年 · Summoned
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 18
General of Chariots and Cavalry 車騎將軍
AD 529 中大通元年 · Transferred
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 15
Duke of Shian commandery 始安郡公
AD 524 普通五年 · Enfeoffed · Households 5000
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 9
prior court rewards used as model for Yang Kan 賞授一與元法僧同
Held as precedent
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 92
King of Song 宋王
Assumed
Directly stated · Book of Wei 111, passage 277
Assumed
AD 524 普通五年 · Self declared emperor
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 7
Installed
AD 532 中大通四年 · Named sovereign of Eastern Wei
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 17
Received
AD 502 to AD 549 並降恩遇 · High favor
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 231

Places and affiliations

Liang 梁
AD 524 普通五年 · Relation Submitted to
Directly stated · Book of Liang 38, passages 26, 29
AD 524 普通五年
Polity Liang 梁 · Relation Submitted to
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 9
AD 525 普通六年
Polity Liang 梁 · Relation Returned to
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 37
Liang 梁
Relation Submitted to
Directly stated · Book of Liang 32, passage 8
Wei 魏
Relation Defected from
Directly stated · Book of Liang 32, passage 8
Wei 魏
Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Liang 38, passage 26

Show 4 more source-backed claims

Polity Liang 梁 · Relation Entered and served
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 231
Polity Northern Wei 魏 · Relation From
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 39, passage 231
Polity Northern Wei 魏 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 3, 6
At Pengcheng 彭城 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 6

Works and attributed material

I have old ties with Kan and wish to march together. 與侃有舊，願得同行。
AD 532 中大通四年 · Memorial · Author · Mode quoted
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 103-104
Narrative · Subject · Mode narrative
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 11, 14-18

Events and relationships

Entered Liang
AD 502 to AD 549 入國 · Defection · Subject
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 231
Offered Xuzhou territory and submitted; then obeyed Liang orders
AD 524 普通五年 · Political · Defector · With Zhu Yi (朱异)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 38, passages 26, 29
Purged dissenters, enfeoffed sons as kings, deployed commanders
AD 524 普通五年 · Political · Actor
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 7
Rebelled
Military · Rebel leader
Directly stated · Book of Wei 24, passage 108
Rebelled
Rebellion · Leader
Directly stated · Book of Wei 111, passage 277
Received upon arrival with great favor
Court · Recipient
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 11

Show 9 more source-backed claims

Requested return to Liang court as Wei armies approached
Diplomatic · Actor · With Zhu Yi (朱异)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 10
Requested to defect at Pengcheng and was received by Liang forces
AD 520 to AD 527 普通中 · Military · Combatant · With Chen Qingzhi (陳慶之)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 32, passage 8
Returned to court
AD 525 普通六年 · Diplomatic · Returnee · With Yuan Shu (元樹)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 37
Seized garrison and declared himself emperor
AD 524 普通五年 · Political · Actor
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 7
Sent envoys to submit as Liang vassal
AD 524 普通五年 · Diplomatic · Actor · With Emperor Wu (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 9
Sent son
AD 516 十五年 · Military · Dispatcher · With Yuan Jinglong (元景隆)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 17, passage 132
Wei court prepared to attack him
Political · Target
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 8
While on Wei frontier duties conducted raids and killed many
Military · Actor
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 13
Relation Old associate of · Person Yang Kan (羊侃) · Mode self-report Source Person Id Yuan Faseng (元法僧)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 104

Assessments and attributes

Assessment received heavy office, lofty rank, and luxurious favor after entering Liang · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 231
Item hundred armored guards with palace-gate access 甲仗百人，出入禁闥 · Relation Bestowed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 13
Item mansions, female musicians, gold and silk 甲第女樂及金帛 · Relation Bestowed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 12

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 3, 92
Installed as ruler of Eastern Wei but did not take up the position
AD 532 中大通四年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 17