Sui and Tang · Official

Zhao Zong 趙縱

Attested AD 767 - AD 782

Passages: 7
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Zhao Zong was an official.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 782 建中三年正月
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 129, passages 23, 25, 44
AD 767 大歷二年正月
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 192

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Guo Ziyi (郭子儀)
son-in-law 婿 · Through Daughter of Guo Ziyi (郭子儀女)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passages 37-38
Spouse of Daughter of Guo Ziyi (郭子儀女)
son-in-law 女婿 · Marriage
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 192
Spouse of Daughter of Guo Ziyi (郭子儀女)
wife 妻
son-in-law 婿 · Marriage
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 37

Career and standing

military adjutant of Xunzhou 循州司馬
AD 782 建中三年正月 · Demoted
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 23
Grand Stable Master 太仆卿
AD 782 建中三年正月 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 23
Vice Minister of Works 工部侍郎
AD 767 大歷二年正月 · Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 192
demotion only 左貶而已
AD 782 建中三年正月 · Demoted
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 44
sent to the Censorate 下御史臺
AD 782 建中三年正月 · Detained
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 23
imprisonment 下獄
AD 782 建中三年正月 · Imprisoned
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 129, passages 25, 34

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 192; Old Book of Tang 129, passage 23

Events and relationships

Conveyed secret edict
AD 767 大歷二年正月 · Diplomatic · Messenger · With Guo Ziyi (郭子儀)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 192
Denounced by slave for secret misconduct
AD 782 建中三年正月 · Legal · Accused · With Dangqian (當千)
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 23
Relation Master of · Person Dangqian (當千)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 23

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 23

References in the histories

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 129Volume 125 Biographies 75: Zhang Yi, Liu Congyi, Xiao Fu, Liu Hun · 7 passages

建中三年正月，太仆卿趙縱為奴當千發其陰事，縱下御史臺，貶循州司馬，留當千於內侍省。 In the first month of the third year of Jianzhong, Grand Stable Master Zhao Zong was denounced by his slave Dangqian for secret misconduct. Zhao Zong was sent to the Censorate and demoted to military adjutant of Xunzhou, while Dangqian was retained in the Palace Domestic Service.

伏見趙縱為奴所告下獄，人皆震懼，未測聖情。 I observe that Zhao Zong was reported by a slave and sent to prison. Everyone is shaken with fear, unable to discern Your Majesty's intent.

今趙縱非叛逆，奴實奸兇，奴在禁中，縱獨下獄，考之於法，或恐未正。 Zhao Zong is not a rebel, while the slave is truly treacherous and vicious. The slave remains in the palace while Zhao Zong alone is sent to prison. Examined under the law, I fear this may not be correct.

歿身未幾，墳土僅乾，兩婿先已當辜，趙縱今又下獄。 Not long after his death, the earth on his grave had barely dried. Two sons-in-law had already been found guilty, and now Zhao Zong has been sent to prison as well.

設令縱實抵法，所告非奴，才經數月，連罪三婿。 Even if Zhao Zong truly merited punishment under the law, the accuser was not a slave, and within only a few months three sons-in-law have been punished in succession.

臣非私趙縱，非惡此奴，叨居股肱，職在匡弼，斯昌大體，敢不極言。 I am not acting privately for Zhao Zong, nor do I bear personal hatred toward this slave. Occupying a place at Your Majesty's right hand, my duty is to assist and correct. On a matter of such broad principle, I dare not speak less than fully.

上深納之，縱於是左貶而已，當千杖殺之。 The emperor deeply accepted the memorial. Zhao Zong was merely demoted, and Dangqian was beaten to death.