Zhao Yan (趙岩) | 24 Histories

Overview

Zhao Yan was an official and Courtier.

Life and dates

Death

AD 923 同光元年十月己卯
Executed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 5, passage 97

Attested activity

AD 907 開平元年五月十一日
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 11, passage 52
AD 923 龍德三年冬十月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 172
AD 921 龍德元年二月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 76
AD 913 plot against Yougui
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 23, passage 28
AD 913 乾化三年二月
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 3, passage 8
AD 912 友珪立
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 94

Show 11 more source-backed claims

AD 923 同光元年十月己卯
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 5, passage 97
AD 923 已而梁亡
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 165
AD 923 梁亡
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 50, passage 119
AD 923 梁末用事
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 44, passage 98
AD 915 梁貞明初
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 130, passages 3, 5
AD 915 to AD 923 為趙岩輩所援
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 58, passage 154
AD 910 to AD 923 租庸使表巡官
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 68, passage 146
AD 923 莊宗入汴
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 51
AD 917 貞明三年十二月己巳
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 9, passages 43, 50, 52
AD 913 to AD 915 趙巖等…謂趙巖、張漢傑
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 13, passages 183, 191
AD 923 龍德三年夏
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 32, passages 21-22

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Princess Changle (長樂公主)
married 降 · Marriage
married to 降 · Marriage
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 11, passage 52
Kin of Zhao Chongxun (趙崇勛)
nephew 侄 · paternal line
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 130, passage 57
Spouse of Unnamed Liang princess, wife of Zhao Yan (梁公主)
princess 公主 · Primary marriage
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 13, passage 183
Kin of Youzhen (友貞)
son-in-law 婿
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 44, passage 98

Zhao clan destroyed when Liang fell
Kinship Role clan · Count 0 · Negated true
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 130, passage 6

Key source chapters

Career and standing

court favorite / petty official 小人
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 32, passage 21
Rent and Corvée commissioner 租庸使
AD 917 貞明三年十二月己巳 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 9, passages 43, 52
imperial son-in-law / commandant 駙馬都尉
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 13, passage 183
Imperial Son-in-law Commander 驸马都尉
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 3, passage 8
Rent and Corvée commissioner 租庸使
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 76
clan exterminated 滅其族
AD 923 同光元年十月己卯 · Clan exterminated
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 5, passage 97

Places and affiliations

AD 917 貞明三年十二月己巳
Polity Later Liang 後梁 · Relation Served
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 9, passages 43, 52
Polity Later Liang 梁 · Relation Served
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 5, passage 97

Works and attributed material

Success depended on one word from Pacification Commissioner Yang to the palace guard.
Counsel · Speaker · Speaker Zhao Yan (趙岩) · With Yang Shihou (楊師厚) · Mode direct-quotation Speaker Zhao Yan (趙岩)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 23, passages 28-29
Speech · Speaker · With Liang Last Emperor (末帝)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 94
Speech · Speaker · Quoted · Summary warned the Last Emperor that no one's loyalty could be assured if he left the tower · With Later Liang Last Emperor (末帝) · Mode direct-quotation Speaker Zhao Yan (趙岩)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 172
Emperors who receive the Mandate must perform this rite—Your Majesty should see it through. 帝王受命，須行此禮，願陛下力行之。
Speech · Speaker · With Emperor (帝) · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Zhao Yan (趙岩)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 9, passage 52

Events and relationships

Delivered imperial seal
AD 913 乾化三年 · Political · Envoy · With Youzhen (友貞)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 3, passage 16
Intervened
Political · Intercessor · With Li Qi (李琪)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 58, passage 154
Opposed accepting Wang Deming's request for aid
Political · Adviser
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passages 75-76
Plotted with
AD 913 乾化三年二月 · Political · Conspirator · With Youzhen (友貞)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 3, passage 8
Urged
AD 917 貞明三年十二月己巳 · Political · Advisor · With Emperor (帝) · Action detail urged the Emperor to sacrifice to Heaven
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 9, passage 52
AD 917 貞明三年十二月己巳
Relation Advisor of · Person Emperor (帝)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 9, passage 52

Show 1 more source-backed claim

Relation Intercessor for · Person Li Qi (李琪)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 58, passage 154

Assessments and attributes

Assessment petty man who manipulated power · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 158

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 5, passage 97; New History of the Five Dynasties 32, passage 21

References in the histories

Search passages

History

33 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 9Volume 9 Book of Later Liang 9: Later Emperors Annals 2 · 1 passage

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時租庸使趙岩勸帝郊天，且言：「帝王受命，須行此禮，願陛下力行之。」 Rent and Corvée commissioner Zhao Yan urged Heaven-sacrifice, saying: "Emperors who receive the Mandate must perform this rite—Your Majesty should see it through."

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 10Volume 10 Book of Later Liang 10: Later Emperors Annals 3 · 2 passages

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宰臣敬翔請許之，租庸使趙岩等以為不可，乃止。 Jing Xiang favored acceptance; Zhao Yan and others refused, and the court declined.

或勸帝西奔洛陽，趙岩曰：「勢已如是，一下此樓，誰心可保。」 Some urged flight to Luoyang; Zhao Yan said: "Once you leave this tower, who will stand with you?"

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 11Volume 11 Book of Later Liang 11: Biographies 1: Empresses and Consorts · 1 passage

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長樂公主，降趙岩，開平元年五月十一日封。 Princess Changle wed Zhao Yan and was enfeoffed on 11 v, Kaiping 1.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 58Volume 58 Book of Later Tang 34: Biographies 10: Zhao Guangfeng, Zheng Jue, Cui Xie, Li Qi, Xiao Qing · 1 passage

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會琪除吏是試攝名銜，改「攝」為「守」，為頃所奏，梁帝大怒，將投諸荒裔，而為趙岩輩所援，罷相，為太子少保。 Once, while Qi was issuing an appointment with a probationary title, he changed the designation from 'acting' to 'holding the post.' Qing reported this, and the Liang emperor was furious and was about to banish him to the remote frontier. Zhao Yan and others intervened on his behalf. He was removed as chief minister and made crown prince junior tutor.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 68Volume 68 Book of Later Tang 44: Biographies 20: Xue Tinggui, Cui Yi, Liu Yue, Liu Ye, Feng Shunqing, Dou Mengzheng, Li Baoyin, Gui Ai, Kong, Miao, Zhang Wenbao, Chen Yi, Liu Zan · 1 passage

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久之，租庸使趙岩表為巡官，累遷至戶部員外郎，職如故。 Eventually Grain-Tax Commissioner Zhao Yan recommended him as touring officer, and he rose to outer-court director in the Ministry of Revenue while keeping the same duties.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 73Volume 73 Book of Later Tang 49: Biographies 25: Mao Zhang, Nie Yu, Wen Tao, Duan Ning, Kong Qian, Li Ye · 2 passages

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韜素善趙岩，每依附之。 Tao had long been close to Zhao Yan and habitually relied on his patronage.

莊宗入汴，岩恃韜與己素厚，遂奔許州。 When Emperor Zhuangzong entered Bian, Yan counted on his long friendship with Tao and fled to Xuzhou.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 130Volume 130 Book of Later Zhou 32: Biographies 10: Wang Jun, Murong Yanchao, Yan Honglu, Cui Zhoudu · 4 passages

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時租庸使趙巖訪筠於其第，筠召峻聲歌以侑酒，巖悅，筠因以贈之，頗得親愛。 At that time Zhao Yan, commissioner for rent and corvée labor, called on Yun at his mansion. Yun had Jun sing to enliven the wine. Yan was delighted, and Yun presented Jun to him as a gift; he soon won Zhao's warm regard.

時峻以前事趙巖，頗承寵愛，至是欲希贈官立碑。 Jun had once served Zhao Yan and enjoyed his favor; now he hoped to win a posthumous office and a commemorative stele.

或謂峻曰：「趙巖以諂佞事君，破壞梁室，至今言者無不切齒，茍如所欲，必貽物議。」 Someone warned him: "Zhao Yan flattered his sovereign and ruined the Liang house; men still speak of him with clenched teeth. If you have your way, you will invite scandal."

巖侄崇勛，居於陳郡，峻為求官田宅以賜之，太祖亦從之。 Yan's nephew Chongxun lived in Chen commandery; Jun secured official land and a mansion for him as a gift, and Taizu agreed.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 3Volume 3 Later Liang Annals 3: Later Emperors · 2 passages

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二月，驸马都尉赵岩至东都，王私与之谋，遣马慎交之魏州，见杨师厚计事。 In the second month Imperial Son-in-law Commander Zhao Yan came to the eastern capital. Youzhen conferred with him in secret and sent Ma Shenjiao to Weizhou to win Yang Shihou to their cause.

象先遣赵岩持传国宝至东都，请王入洛阳，王报曰：「夷门，太祖所以兴王业也，北拒并汾，东至淮海，国家藩镇，多在东方，命将出师，利于便近。」 Xiangxian sent Zhao Yan with the imperial seal to the eastern capital, inviting Youzhen to Luoyang. He answered: “Yimen is where Taizu founded the dynasty. It commands the north against Bing and Fen and the Huai and sea in the east. Most of our provinces lie eastward, and campaigns are easier when the court stays near the front.”

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 5Volume 5 Later Tang Annals 2: Zhuangzong 2 · 1 passage

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殺李振、趙巖、張漢傑、朱珪，滅其族。 Li Zhen, Zhao Yan, Zhang Hanjie, and Zhu Gui were put to death and their families wiped out.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 13Volume 13: The Later Liang Imperial Family · 2 passages

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太祖外孫袁象先與駙馬都尉趙巖等，謀與末帝討賊。 Taizu’s grandson by a daughter, Yuan Xiangxian, joined the imperial son-in-law Zhao Yan and others in a pact with the Last Emperor to overthrow the usurper.

明日，謂趙巖、張漢傑曰：「幾與卿輩不相見。」 Next day he told Zhao Yan and Zhang Hanjie: “I almost never saw you again.”

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 23Volume 23 Later Liang Biographies 3: Yang Shihou, Wang Jingren, He Gui, Wang Tan, Ma Sixun, Wang Qianyu, Xie Yanzhang · 1 passage

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已而末帝謀討友珪，問於趙巖，巖曰：「此事成敗，在招討楊公爾。 Later the Last Emperor plotted against Yougui and asked Zhao Yan. Yan said: “Whether this succeeds or fails rests on Pacification Commissioner Yang.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 32Volume 32 Biographies of Martyrs to Virtue 12: Wang Yanzhang · 6 passages

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而梁末帝昏亂，小人趙巖、張漢傑等用事，大臣宿將多被讒間，彥章雖為招討副使，而謀不見用。 The Last Emperor was lost; Zhao Yan and Zhang Hanjie ran the court, and veteran ministers and generals were slandered aside. Yanzhang was deputy campaign commander, but no one listened.

是時，段凝已有異志，與趙巖、張漢傑交通，彥章素剛，憤梁日削，而嫉巖等所為，嘗謂人曰：「俟吾破賊還，誅奸臣以謝天下。」 By then Duan Ning was already playing a double game, dealing with Zhao Yan and Zhang Hanjie. Yanzhang was blunt; he watched Liang shrink day by day and hated the court’s petty men. He often said: "When I break the enemy and march home, I will kill the traitors and answer the realm."

巖等聞之懼，與凝葉力傾之。 Zhao Yan and the rest heard and were terrified; they and Ning united to destroy him.

其破南城也，彥章與凝各為捷書以聞，凝遣人告巖等匿彥章書而上己書，末帝初疑其事，已而使者至軍，獨賜勞凝而不及彥章，軍士皆失色。 When the south city fell, Yanzhang and Ning each sent victory dispatches. Ning’s men told Zhao Yan to bury Yanzhang’s report and push Ning’s instead. The Last Emperor doubted at first—then the envoy reached camp and rewards went to Ning alone. The soldiers went white.

趙巖等從中日夜毀之，乃罷彥章，以凝為招討使。 Zhao Yan and the rest tore at him day and night. Yanzhang was stripped of command; Ning took his place.

彥章馳至京師入見，以笏畫地，自陳勝敗之跡，巖等諷有司劾彥章不恭，勒還第。 Yanzhang raced to the capital and laid the battle out on the floor with his tablet. Zhao Yan and the rest had the authorities charge him with disrespect and send him home.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 44Volume 44 Miscellaneous Biographies 24: Liu Zhijun, Ding Hui, He Delun, Yan Bao, Kang Yanxiao · 1 passage

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趙巖婿也，張漢傑婦家，皆用事。 Zhao Yan is his son-in-law; Zhang Hanjie is his wife’s people—both rule.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 45Volume 45 Miscellaneous Biographies 25: Zhang Quanyi, Zhu Youqian, Yuan Xiangxian, Zhu Hanbin, Duan Ning, Liu Qi, Zhou Zhiyu, Lu Siduo · 5 passages

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末帝留守東都，以大事謀於趙巖，巖曰：「此事如反掌耳，但得招討楊令公一言諭禁軍，則事可成。」 The Last Emperor held Luoyang and asked Zhao Yan. Yan said: “This is easy as turning your hand—one word from Yang the Commandant to the forbidden army, and it is done.”

是時，末帝昏亂，小人趙巖、張漢傑等用事，凝依附巖等為奸。 The Last Emperor was lost; Zhao Yan, Zhang Hanjie, and their kind ruled. Ning rode their coattails into treachery.

而凝與彥章各自上其功，巖等從中匿彥章功狀，悉歸其功於凝。 Ning and Yanzhang each filed merit. Yan’s clique buried Yanzhang’s report and gave Ning the whole credit.

凝因納金巖等，求代彥章，末帝惑巖等言，卒以凝為招討使，軍於王村。 Ning bought Yan with gold and asked to replace Yanzhang. The Last Emperor listened; Ning became pacification commissioner at Wangcun.

明日，凝奏：「故梁奸人趙巖、張漢傑等十餘人侮弄權柄，殘害生靈，請皆族之。」 Next day he memorialized: “Liang’s villains Zhao Yan, Zhang Hanjie, and a dozen more played with power and ruined the people—exterminate every clan.”

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 50Volume 50 Miscellaneous Biographies 30: Wang Jun, Wang Yin, Liu Ci, Wang Huan, Zhe Congruan · 3 passages

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租庸使趙巖過筠家，筠命峻歌佐酒，巖見而悅之。 Grain commissioner Zhao Yan visited Zhang Jun’s house. Zhang Jun had Wang Jun sing for the wine, and Yan was pleased.

是時巖方用事，筠因以峻遺巖。 Yan was then in power, and Zhang Jun gave Jun to him.

梁亡，巖族誅，峻流落民間。 When Liang fell, Yan’s clan was executed and Jun was cast adrift among the people.