Yuwen Hu (宇文護) | 24 Histories

Overview

Yuwen Hu was a Regent and Head of the Six Ministries of Zhou.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Epithet	Jin the Reckless	晉蕩	Jin Dang

Life and dates

Death

AD 572 及護誅
Cause Execution
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 13, passage 18
AD 572 建德初
Execution
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 9, passage 171
AD 572 誅宇文護
Executed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 51, passage 12

Attested activity

AD 558 二年春正月乙未
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 4, passage 24
AD 557 to AD 572 信為宇文護所誅
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 79, passages 37, 69
AD 572 及護誅
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 13, passages 15, 18
AD 560 to AD 572 周冢宰執政
Directly stated · Book of Chen 29, passage 90
AD 561 to AD 572 周大塚宰宇文護
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 61, passage 7
AD 564 四年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 20, passage 206

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AD 557 to AD 572 塚宰宇文護擢
Directly stated · Book of Sui 56, passages 10, 13
AD 557 to AD 572 大塚宰宇文護
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 54, passage 95
AD 557 to AD 572 大塚宰宇文護引為中外兵曹 (context, cf. part-a s0095)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 54, passage 149
AD 534 太祖初入關
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 20, passage 77
AD 557 孝閔帝踐祚
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 20, passages 119-120
AD 557 to AD 572 宇文護執政
Directly stated · Book of Sui 52, passage 125
AD 557 廢帝
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 20, passage 198
AD 572 建德初
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 9, passage 171
AD 572 建德初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 10, passage 37; Book of Zhou 23, passages 376-377
AD 557 to AD 572 晉公護
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 46, passages 150, 172
AD 557 to AD 572 晉公護東討
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 21, passage 108
AD 557 to AD 572 晉公護聞可孝行
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 46, passages 172, 177
AD 556 to AD 572 晉蕩輔政
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 13, passage 136
AD 559 武成元年春正月己酉
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 4, passage 194
AD 557 to AD 572 為宇文護執刀
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 150
AD 557 秋九月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 4, passages 9-10
AD 572 誅宇文護
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 51, passage 12
AD 564 護既得母
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 16, passages 118, 129
AD 564 護聞閻尚存
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 16, passage 110

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Yuwen Xun (宇文訓)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Sui 54, passage 149
Kin of Helan Xiang (賀蘭祥)
cross-cousins 中表
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 20, passage 119
Parent of Princess Xinxing (新興公主)
daughter 女
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 23, passage 376
Child of Lady Yan (閻氏)
mother 母 · maternal line
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 46, passage 174
Child of Lady Yan (閻氏)
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 16, passage 110
Child of Yuwen Hao (宇文顥)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 10, passage 13
Parent of Yuwen Xun (宇文訓)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Sui 54, passage 149
Parent of Yuwen Hui (宇文會)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 10, passage 24
Parent of Yuwen Zhi (宇文至)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 10, passage 145

sons of Duke of Jin Hu 晉公護諸子
Kinship Role sons · Quantity unknown
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 10, passage 209

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Grand Tutor 太師
AD 558 二年春正月乙未 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 4, passage 24
governor-general of Yong Province 雍州牧
AD 558 夏四月己巳 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 4, passage 42
Chancellor 冢宰
Held
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 16, passage 110
Grand Minister 塚宰
Held
Directly stated · Book of Sui 56, passage 10
Grand Steward of the Tomb 大塚宰
Held · Polity Zhou 周
Directly stated · Book of Sui 54, passages 95, 169
regent holding the government 執政
Held
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 13, passage 15

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Duke of Jin 晉公
AD 557 孝閔帝踐祚 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 20, passage 119
Duke of Jin 晉公
Held
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 13, passage 15; Book of Zhou 20, passage 198
Described as
De facto king · Mode named-person-report Speaker Duan Shao (段韶)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 16, passage 114
Held power
AD 557 孝閔帝踐祚 · Regent
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 20, passage 119
execution 誅
Executed
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 13, passage 18

Places and affiliations

AD 557 孝閔帝踐祚
Polity Northern Zhou 周 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Zhou 20, passage 119
Polity Northern Zhou 北周 · Relation Belonged to
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 13, passage 136
Polity Northern Zhou 北周 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 16, passage 110; Book of Zhou 13, passage 15; Book of Zhou 20, passages 198, 206
Polity Northern Zhou 周 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 150; Book of Sui 56, passage 10
AD 534 太祖初入關
At Jinyang 晉陽 · Relation Resided
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 20, passage 77

Works and attributed material

Biography of Hu 護傳
Relation Subject of
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 20, passages 77, 198
Action · Target · With Yuwen Zhi (宇文直)
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 13, passage 16

Events and relationships

Assisted government
AD 556 to AD 572 晉蕩輔政 · Political · Regent
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 13, passage 136
Campaigned east
AD 564 四年 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 20, passage 206
Consulted He Lanxiang on military and state affairs while holding power
AD 557 孝閔帝踐祚 · Political · Power holder · With Helan Xiang (賀蘭祥)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 20, passage 119
Deposed
Political · Principal · With Emperor Xiaomin (孝閔帝)
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 20, passage 198
Dropped promotion
Political · Appointing authority · With Wang Shenhuan (王神歡)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 56, passage 13
Killed He Dun
Political · Perpetrator · With He Dun (賀若敦)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 52, passage 125

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Ordered subordinate to accompany
Administrative · Authority · With Yuwen Xun (宇文訓) · With Person Id Li Che (李徹)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 54, passage 171
Recruited as trusted intimate
Social · Patron · With Li Che (李徹)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 54, passage 169
Requested mother return and peace
AD 564 護聞閻尚存 · Diplomatic · Correspondent · With Lady Yan (閻氏)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 16, passage 110
Returned government
AD 559 武成元年春正月己酉 · Political · Agent · With Emperor Ming of Northern Zhou (周明帝)
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 4, passage 194
Sent envoys to welcome
AD 557 秋九月 · Political · Agent · With Emperor Ming of Northern Zhou (周明帝)
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 4, passage 9
Sent Yuchi Jiong against Luoyang
AD 564 護既得母 · Military · Dispatcher · With Yuchi Jiong (尉遲迥)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 16, passage 118
Supported widow and children
Patronage · Patron · With Jing Ke (荊可)
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 46, passage 177
Relation Political partner of · Person Yuchi Gang (尉遲綱)
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 20, passage 198
Relation Regent of · Person Emperor Ming of Northern Zhou (周明帝)
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 4, passages 184, 194-195
Relation Principal of · Person Dugu Kai (獨孤楷)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 150

Assessments and attributes

Assessment fickle and faithless; outwardly chancellor but in truth a king · Mode named-person-report Speaker Duan Shao (段韶)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 16, passages 113-114
Assessment planted his faction; senior and junior of the imperial house held power and military authority · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 13, passage 136
Assessment treated Li Che with great courtesy because Che was careful, honest, and talented · Mode narrator-report
Directly stated · Book of Sui 54, passage 170

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 16, passage 110; Book of Sui 51, passage 12; Book of Zhou 13, passages 15, 136; Book of Zhou 20, passage 119

References in the histories

Search passages

History

54 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 16Volume 16 Biographies 8: Duan Rong; Duan Shao · 4 passages

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周冢宰宇文護母閻氏先配中山宮，護聞閻尚存，乃因邊境移書，請還其母，並通鄰好。 The mother of Zhou chancellor Yuwen Hu, Lady Yan, had first been assigned to Zhongshan Palace. Learning she still lived, Hu sent a letter through the border asking for her return and proposing neighborly peace.

護外托為相，其實王也，既為母請和，不遣一介之使申其情理，乃據移書即送其母，恐示之弱。 Hu outwardly styled himself chancellor but was in truth a king. He asked peace for his mother's sake, yet sent not a single envoy to state his case — and we would return her on the strength of a letter alone. That would look like weakness.

護既得母，仍遣將尉遲迥等襲洛陽。 Once Hu had his mother, he still sent generals Yuchi Jiong and others to strike at Luoyang.

韶遙謂周人曰：「汝宇文護幸得其母，不能懷恩報德，今日之來，竟何意也？」 Shao shouted across to the Zhou, "You, Yuwen Hu — you have just recovered your mother and cannot repay kindness with gratitude. What do you mean by coming today?"

Book of Chen, Chapter 29Volume 29: Zong Yuanrao; Sima Shen; Mao Xi; Cai Zheng · 1 passage

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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."

Book of Sui, Chapter 51Volume 51 Biographies 16: Zhang Sunlan · 1 passage

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及誅宇文護，以功進封薛國公。 After Yuwen Hu was killed, Lan was raised to Duke of Xue for his part in the plot.

Book of Sui, Chapter 52Volume 52 Biographies 17: Han Qinhu, He Ruobi · 1 passage

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父敦，以武烈知名，仕周為金州總管，宇文護忌而害之。 His father Dun was renowned for martial prowess. He had served the Northern Zhou as Area Commander of Jinzhou until Yuwen Hu, envying him, had him put to death.

Book of Sui, Chapter 54Volume 54 Biographies 19: Wang Zhangshu, Li Yan, Yi Louqian, Tian Rengong, Yuan Heng, Du Zheng, Li Che, Cui Peng · 6 passages

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大塚宰宇文護引為中外兵曹。 Grand Steward of the Tomb Yuwen Hu brought him in as clerk of central and external military affairs.

從護征伐，數有戰功，改封襄武縣公，邑五百戶。 He followed Hu on campaign and won repeated distinction; he was re-enfeoffed as duke of Xiangwu county with a fief of five hundred households.

後事宇文護子中山公訓，甚被親遇。 He later served Yuwen Hu's son, Duke of Zhongshan Xun, and was greatly favored.

大塚宰宇文護引為親信，尋拜殿中司馬，累遷奉車都尉。 Grand Steward of the Tomb Yuwen Hu brought him in as a trusted intimate; he was soon made palace attendant major and rose to commandant of the imperial carriages.

護以徹謹厚有才具，甚禮之。 Because Che was careful, honest, and talented, Hu treated him with great courtesy.

護子中山公訓為蒲州刺史，護令徹以本官從焉。 Hu's son, Duke of Zhongshan Xun, was governor of Puzhou, and Hu ordered Che to accompany him in his existing office.

Book of Sui, Chapter 55Volume 55 Biographies 20: Du Yan, Gao Mai, Er Zhu Chang, Zhou Yao, Du Gukai, Qi Fuhui, Zhang Wei, He Hong, Houmo Chenying · 1 passage

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楷少謹厚，便弄馬槊，為宇文護執刀，累轉車騎將軍。 Kai was cautious and honest as a youth, skilled with horse and lance, served as Yuwen Hu's bodyguard, and rose to General of Chariots and Cavalry.

Book of Sui, Chapter 56Volume 56 Biographies 21: Lu Kai, Ling Huxi, Xue Zhou, Yu Wenbi, Zhang Heng, Yang Wang · 2 passages

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染工上士王神歡者，嘗以賂自進，塚宰宇文護擢為計部下大夫。 A dye-work artisan named Wang Shenhuan had once bought his way forward; Grand Minister Yuwen Hu raised him to senior clerk in the accounting bureau.

護竟寢其事。 Hu ultimately dropped the matter.

Book of Sui, Chapter 61Volume 61 Biographies 26: Yu Wenshu, Guo Yan · 1 passage

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述性恭謹沈密，周大塚宰宇文護甚愛之，以本官領護親信。 Shu was respectful, cautious, and reserved by nature. The Zhou regent Yuwen Hu took a great liking to him and left him in his original post while putting him in charge of the guard of personal confidants.

Book of Sui, Chapter 79Volume 79 Biographies 44: Imperial Affines · 2 passages

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及信為宇文護所誅，羅始見釋，寓居中山，孤貧無以自給。 After Xin was executed by Yuwen Hu, Luo was at last freed. He lived in Zhongshan, alone and destitute, with no way to support himself.

宇文護被誅，始歸長安。 After Yuwen Hu was executed, he was at last allowed to return to Chang'an.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 4Volume 4 Annals 4: Emperor Ming · 6 passages

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及孝閔帝廢，晉公護遣使迎帝於岐州。 After Emperor Xiaomin was deposed, Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu sent envoys to bring the future emperor from Qi Province.

二年春正月乙未，以大冢宰、晉公護為太師。 In spring of the second year, first month, on yiwei day, Grand Preceptor Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu was made grand tutor.

夏四月己巳，以太師、晉公護為雍州牧。 In summer, fourth month, on jisi day, Grand Tutor Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu was made governor-general of Yong Province.

武成元年春正月己酉，太師、晉公護上表歸政，帝始親覽萬機。 In spring of Wucheng year one, on jiyou of the first month, Grand Tutor Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu submitted a memorial returning government, and the emperor began personally overseeing state affairs.

軍旅之事，護猶總焉。 Military affairs remained under Hu's overall command.

唯冀仁兄冢宰，洎朕先正、先父、公卿大臣等，協和為心，勉力相勸，勿忘太祖遺志，提挈後人，朕雖沒九泉，形體不朽。 I ask my elder brother the Chief Minister, together with the worthies who served before, my late father's ministers, and you all, to stand as one, keep one another to the task, and honor the Grand Progenitor's last wish by guiding those who come after. Though I go down to the grave, my purpose need not die with me.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 9Volume 9 Biographies 1: Empresses · 1 passage

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建德初，高祖誅晉國公護，上帝尊號為孝閔帝，以后為孝閔皇后，居崇義宮。 At the beginning of Jiande, High Ancestor Yuwen Yong executed Duke of Jin Guo Yuwen Hu and elevated the emperor's honorific title to Emperor Min; the empress was made Empress Min and resided at Chongyi Palace.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 10Volume 10 Biographies 2: Duke Hao of Shaohui; Duke Lian of Qijian; Duke Luosheng of Juzhuang; Duke Zhong of Yuguo · 11 passages

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(護) (Hu)

顥三子什肥、導、護。 Yuwen Hao had three sons: Shifen, Yuwen Dao, and Yuwen Hu.

護別有傳。 Yuwen Hu has a separate biography.

保定初，詔以晉公護子會紹景公封。 At the beginning of Baoding (561), an edict ordered that Yuwen Hui, son of Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu, should succeed to Duke Jing's enfeoffment.

魏恭帝二年，以護平江陵之功，賜爵江陵縣公。 In the second year of Western Wei Emperor Gong (555), for Yuwen Hu's merit in pacifying Jiangling, he was granted the title Marquis of Jiangling county.

建德初，與護同伏誅。 At the beginning of Jiande (572), he was executed together with Yuwen Hu.

時晉公護諸子及廣弟杞國公亮等，服玩侈靡，踰越制度，廣獨率由禮則，又折節待士，朝野以是稱焉。 At the time the sons of Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu and Guang's younger brother Duke of Qi Yuwen Liang and others were extravagant in dress and luxuries beyond regulations; Guang alone followed ritual propriety, humbled himself to treat scholars, and court and countryside praised him for it.

廣以晉公護久擅威權，勸令挹損，護不能納。 Because Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu had long monopolized authority, Guang urged him to restrain himself; Hu would not heed him.

晉公護誅後，亮心不自安，唯縱酒而已。 After Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu was executed, Yuwen Liang's heart was uneasy, and he indulged only in wine.

以晉公護子至為嗣。 Yuwen Zhi, son of Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu, succeeded to the line.

建德初，〔坐〕父護誅，詔以衞王直子賓為穆公後。 At the beginning of Jiande (572), because of his father Yuwen Hu's execution, an edict made Bin, son of Prince of Wei Yuwen Zhi, heir to Duke Mu.