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南齊書卷五十‧列傳第三十一
Book of Southern Qi, Volume 50 · Biographies 31
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The Two Princes of Emperor Wen; The Seven Princes of Emperor Ming
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Crown Prince Wen Hui had four sons: Empress An gave birth to Zhaoye, Prince of Yulin; the palace woman Lady Xu bore Zhaowen, Prince Gong of Hailing; Lady Chen bore Zhaoxiu, Prince of Baling; Lady Chu bore Zhaocan, Prince of Guiyang.
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巴陵王昭秀字懷尚，太子第三子也。 永明中，封曲江公，千五百戶。 十年，爲寧朔將軍、濟陽太守。 鬱林卽位，封臨海郡王，二千戶。 隆昌元年，爲使持節、都督荊雍益寧梁南北秦七州軍事、西中郎將、荊州刺史。 延興元年，徵爲車騎將軍，衞京師，以永嘉王昭粲代之。 明帝建武二年，通直常侍庾曇隆啓曰：「周定雒邑，天子置畿內之民； 漢都咸陽，三輔爲社稷之衞。 中晉南遷，事移威弛，近郡名邦，多有國食。 宋武創業，依擬古典，神州部內，不復別封。 而孝武末年，分樹寵子，苟申私愛，有乖訓准。 隆昌之元，特開母弟之貴，竊謂非古。 聖明御宇，禮舊爲先，畿內限斷，宜遵昔制，賜茅授土，一出外州。」 詔付尚書詳議。 其冬，改封昭秀爲巴陵王。 永泰元年見殺，年十六。 桂陽王昭粲，太子第四子也。 鬱林立，以皇弟封永嘉郡王，南徐州刺史。 延興元年，出爲使持節、都督荊雍益寧梁南北秦七州軍事、西中郎將、荊州刺史。 明帝立，欲以聞喜公遙欣爲荊州，轉昭粲爲右將軍，中書令。 建武二年，改封桂陽王。 四年，遷太常，將軍如故。 永泰元年見殺，年八歲。
Zhaoxiu, Prince of Baling, whose style name was Huaishang, was Crown Prince Wen Hui's third son. During the Yongming era he was enfeoffed as Duke of Qujiang with a fief of fifteen hundred households. In the tenth year he was appointed General Who Pacifies the North and Governor of Jiyang. When the Prince of Yulin took the throne, Zhaoxiu was enfeoffed as Prince of Linhai with a fief of two thousand households. In the first year of Longchang (494) he was appointed Bearer of the Staff, Area Commander of Jing, Yong, Yi, Ning, Liang, and Northern and Southern Qin, General of the West, and Governor of Jing. In the first year of Yanxing (494) he was recalled as General of the Chariots and Cavalry to guard the capital, and Zhaocan, Prince of Yongjia, replaced him. In the second year of Jianwu (495), Regular Attendant Yu Tanlong memorialized: "When the Zhou fixed their capital at Luoyi, the Son of Heaven settled the people of the capital domain; when Han made its capital at Xianyang, the Three Metropolitans guarded the altars of state. After the Jin moved south, authority slackened over time, and famous nearby commanderies often drew state stipends. When Emperor Wu of Song founded the dynasty on ancient models, he ceased granting separate fiefs within the imperial domain. But in Emperor Xiaowu's later years, favored sons were enfeoffed separately to indulge private affection, contrary to proper norms. In the first year of Longchang, special rank was granted to younger uterine brothers; I submit that this is uncanonical. The sage ruler governs the realm with ancient rites foremost; the limits of the capital domain should follow former institutions, and grants of fief and land should all lie outside the inner provinces." An edict referred the matter to the Masters of Writing for detailed deliberation. That winter Zhaoxiu was reassigned as Prince of Baling. In the first year of Yongtai (498) he was put to death at the age of sixteen. Zhaocan, Prince of Guiyang, was Crown Prince Wen Hui's fourth son. When the Prince of Yulin was installed as emperor, Zhaocan was enfeoffed as Prince of Yongjia as the emperor's younger brother and appointed Governor of Southern Xu. In the first year of Yanxing (494) he was sent out as Bearer of the Staff, Area Commander of Jing, Yong, Yi, Ning, Liang, and Northern and Southern Qin, General of the West, and Governor of Jing. When Emperor Ming took the throne, intending to appoint Yaoxin, Duke of Wenxi, to Jing Province, he reassigned Zhaocan as General of the Right and Director of the Secretariat. In the second year of Jianwu (495) he was reassigned as Prince of Guiyang. In the fourth year (497) he was promoted to Grand Minister of Ceremonies, retaining his rank as general. In the first year of Yongtai (498) he was put to death at the age of eight.
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Emperor Ming had eleven sons: Empress Jing bore Bao Juan, Marquis of Donghun; Bao Xuan, Prince of Jiangxia; Bao Yin, Prince of Poyang; and the Emperor He; Honored Consort Yin bore Bao Yi, Prince Yin of Baling, and Bao Song, Prince of Jinxing; Honored Consort Yuan bore Bao Yuan, Prince of Luling; Virtuous Consort Guan bore Bao You, Prince of Shaoling; Lady of Graceful Demeanor Xu bore Bao Zhen, Prince of Guiyang. All the others died in infancy.
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巴陵隱王寶義字智勇，明帝長子也。 本名明基。 建武元年，爲持節、都督揚南徐州軍事、前將軍、揚州刺史。 封晉安郡王，三千戶。 寶義少有廢疾，不堪出人閒，故止加除授，仍以始安王遙光代之。 轉寶義爲右將軍，領兵置佐，鎮石頭。 二年，出爲使持節、都督南徐州軍事、鎮北將軍、南徐州刺史。 東昏卽位，進征北大將軍，開府儀同三司，給扶。 永元元年，給班劔二十人。 始安王遙光誅，爲都督揚南徐二州軍事、驃騎大將軍、揚州刺史，持節如故。 東府被兵火，屋宇燒殘，帝方營宮殿，不暇脩葺，寶義鎮西州。 三年，進位司徒。 和帝西臺建，以爲侍中、司空，使持節、都督、刺史如故。 梁王定京邑，宣德太后令以寶義爲太尉，領司徒。 詔云：「不言之化，形于自遠。」 時人皆云此實錄也。 梁受禪，封謝沐縣公，尋封巴陵郡王，奉齊後。 天監中薨。
Bao Yi, Prince Yin of Baling, whose style name was Zhiyong, was Emperor Ming's eldest son. His original name had been Mingji. In the first year of Jianwu (494), he was appointed Bearer of Credentials, Area Commander of Yang and Southern Xu, General of the Van, and Governor of Yang Province. He was enfeoffed as Prince of Jin'an with a fief of three thousand households. From childhood Bao Yi suffered a disabling illness and could not appear in public; he therefore received only nominal appointments, while the Prince of Shi'an, Yaoguang, was sent to take his place. Bao Yi was reassigned as General of the Right with troops and staff under him, and garrisoned Stone City. In the second year (495), he was sent out as Bearer of the Staff, Area Commander of Southern Xu, General Who Pacifies the North, and Governor of Southern Xu. When the Marquis of Donghun took the throne, Bao Yi was promoted to General Who Conquers the North, granted an office staff equal to the Three Excellencies, and given attendants to support him. In the first year of Yongyuan (499), he was granted twenty halberd-bearers as an escort. After the Prince of Shi'an, Yaoguang, was put to death, he was made Area Commander of Yang and Southern Xu, General of Agile Cavalry, and Governor of Yang Province, retaining his credentials as before. The Eastern Palace had been ravaged by fire and its buildings left in ruins. The emperor was busy building new palaces and had no time to restore the old quarters, so Bao Yi was stationed in the Western Quarter. In the third year (499), he was promoted to Minister of Education. When Emperor He's Western Terrace was set up, he was appointed Palace Attendant and Minister of Works, while his staff, area command, and governorship remained unchanged. After the Prince of Liang secured the capital, Dowager Empress Xuande ordered Bao Yi appointed Grand Commandant while retaining the Ministry of Education. The edict read: "His wordless transforming influence extends of itself even to the distance." People at the time all said this was a truthful account. When the Liang accepted the abdication, he was enfeoffed as Duke of Xiemu County, and soon after as Prince of Baling to preserve the Qi line. He died during the Tianjian reign (502–519).
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Bao Xuan, Prince of Jiangxia, whose style name was Zhishen, was Emperor Ming's third son. In the first year of Jianwu (494) he was appointed General Who Conquers the Barbarians, placed in charge of the Stone City garrison, and enfeoffed as Prince of Jiangxia. He was then sent out as Bearer of Credentials, Area Commander of E and Si, General of the West, and Governor of E. In the first year of Yongtai (498) he was recalled as General of the Van and placed in charge of the Stone City garrison. Before he could take up the post, the Marquis of Donghun took the throne and Bao Xuan was promoted to General Who Guards the Army. In the first year of Yongyuan (499) he was further promoted to General of the Chariots and Cavalry and replaced Bao Yi, Prince of Jin'an, as Bearer of the Staff, Area Commander of Southern Xu and Yan, and Governor of Southern Xu and Yan, retaining his rank as general.
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Bao Xuan had taken as his consort the daughter of Director of the Imperial Secretariat Xu Xiaosi. After Xiaosi was executed they were separated, and the young emperor sent him two junior consorts in her place. Bao Xuan nursed resentment and secretly plotted rebellion. The following year Cui Huijing raised an army and marched back to Guangling, sending envoys to proclaim Bao Xuan their sovereign. Bao Xuan beheaded the envoys and thereupon mobilized his officers to fortify the city. The emperor sent the cavalry commander Qi Ping and the outer supervisor Huang Linfu to reinforce the garrison at Jingkou. When Huijing was about to cross the Yangzi, Bao Xuan secretly colluded with him, killed Chief Administrator Kong Jin, registrar Lu Chengxu, and also Qi Ping and Huang Linfu, and opened the gates to admit Huijing's forces. He sent Chief Administrator Shen Yizhi and Adviser Liu Kui to deploy the troops. Riding an eight-pole palanquin and holding a crimson command banner, he followed Huijing to the capital, took up quarters in the Eastern City, and crowds of townspeople flocked to join him. After Huijing's defeat, lists were seized of courtiers and commoners who had joined Bao Xuan and Huijing's army. The emperor ordered them burned, saying, "If even Jiangxia went so far, how can I punish anyone else?" Bao Xuan fled and hid for several days before surrendering. The emperor summoned him to the rear hall, wrapped him in a shield enclosure, and had several dozen youths beat drums and horns and gallop around outside, then sent word to Bao Xuan: "When you lately besieged me, you did the same." A few days later he was executed.
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Bao Yuan, Prince of Luling, whose style name was Zhiyuan, was Emperor Ming's fifth son. In the first year of Jianwu (494) he was appointed General of the North, garrisoned Langya City, and enfeoffed as Prince of Luling. He was promoted to General of the Right and placed in charge of the Stone City garrison, then sent out as Bearer of the Staff, Area Commander of Southern Yan, Yan, Xu, Qing, and Ji, General of the Rear, and Governor of Southern Yan. After Wang Jingze was put to death, Bao Yuan was reassigned as Area Commander of Kuaiji, Dongyang, Linhai, Yongjia, and Xin'an and appointed Governor of Kuaiji, retaining his rank as general. In the first year of Yongyuan (499) he was promoted to General Who Pacifies the East. When Emperor He took the throne, he was appointed Palace Attendant and General of the Chariots and Cavalry with an office staff equal to the Three Excellencies, while his area command and governorship remained unchanged. Before he could take up the appointment, he died in the second year of Zhongxing (502).
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Bao Yin, Prince of Poyang, whose style name was Zhiliang, was Emperor Ming's sixth son. Early in the Jianwu era he was enfeoffed as Prince of Jian'an. In the second year (495) he was appointed General of the North and garrisoned Langya City. The following year he was sent out as Bearer of Credentials, Area Commander of Jiang Province, General of the South, and Governor of Jiang. When the Marquis of Donghun took the throne, he was appointed Bearer of the Staff, Area Commander of E and Si, General Who Conquers the Barbarians, and Governor of E. Soon afterward he was promoted to General of the Van. In the second year of Yongyuan (499) he was recalled as General Who Pacifies the Army and placed in charge of the Stone City garrison, but never took up the post. In the third year (500) he was appointed General of the Chariots and Cavalry with an office staff equal to the Three Excellencies and garrisoned Stone City.
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That autumn Zhang Xintai, Governor of Yong, and others plotted an uprising at Xinting to kill the capital's chief commanders; the affair is recorded in Xintai's biography. When the crisis erupted, the former Governor of Southern Qiao Wang Lingxiu rushed to Stone City, rallied the city's officers and available troops, stripped a carriage to its poles, and bore Bao Yin toward the Palace City. Several thousand townspeople followed behind empty-handed, and the capital fell into uproar. Bao Yin reached Old Lady Du's quarter as dusk was falling. The city gates were shut, defenders on the walls shot at them, and the crowd abandoned Bao Yin and fled. After three days in hiding, Bao Yin appeared at the Grass Market commandant's office in military dress. The commandant galloped to report to the emperor, who received Bao Yin in the palace to question him. Bao Yin wept and said, "That day I did not know who forced me into the carriage and carried me off against my will." The emperor laughed and restored his titles.
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When Emperor He was enthroned, the Western Terrace appointed Bao Yin Bearer of the Staff, Area Commander of Southern Xu and Yan, General of the Guard, and Governor of Southern Xu. The young emperor appointed him Bearer of the Staff, Area Commander of Jing, Yi, Ning, Yong, Liang, and Northern and Southern Qin, and Governor of Jing, while retaining his rank as general. When Dowager Empress Xuande held court, the Prince of Liang was made Duke of Jian'an, and Bao Yin was reassigned as Prince of Poyang. In the second year of Zhongxing (502) he plotted rebellion and was put to death.
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Bao You, Prince of Shaoling, whose style name was Zhixuan, was Emperor Ming's ninth son. In the first year of Jianwu (494) he was enfeoffed as Prince of Nanping. In the second year (495) his enfeoffment was changed. In the third year (496) he was appointed General of the North and garrisoned Langya City. In the first year of Yongyuan (499) he was appointed Bearer of Credentials, Area Commander of Northern and Southern Xu, Southern Yan, Qing, and Ji, and Governor of Southern Yan, retaining his rank as commander. Before he could take up the post, he was reassigned as General Who Conquers the Barbarians and placed in charge of the Stone City garrison. He was appointed Governor of Danyang while retaining his garrison duties. After Chen Xianda's rebellion was suppressed, he was sent out as Bearer of Credentials, Area Commander of Jiang Province, General of the Left, and Governor of Jiang. He returned to the capital with his former title and was appointed General of the Central Army and Director of the Palace Library. In the second year of Zhongxing (502) he plotted rebellion, and Dowager Empress Xuande ordered him put to death. Bao Song, Prince of Jinxing, whose style name was Zhijing, was Emperor Ming's tenth son. In the second year of Yongyuan (500) he was appointed General Who Conquers Champions and Governor of Danyang. He was then reassigned as Bearer of the Staff, Area Commander of Southern Xu and Yan, and Governor of Southern Xu, retaining his rank as general. In the first year of Zhongxing (501) Emperor He appointed him Director of the Secretariat. The following year he plotted rebellion and was executed.
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Bao Zhen, Prince of Guiyang, was Emperor Ming's eleventh son. In the second year of Yongyuan (499) he was appointed General of the Palace Guard and General of the North, and placed in charge of the Stone City garrison. In the second year of Zhongxing (502) he plotted rebellion and was executed.
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The historiographer remarks: The 《Spring and Autumn Annals》 records that "the Duke of Zheng defeated Duan at Yan"—thereby sundering the bond of brotherhood and upholding the principle between ruler and subject. Rebellion and loyalty each follow their own momentum; how much more when kin share one flesh—when the Way is spent and fate exhausted, a clash of beaks may yet be tolerated. Yet Bao Xuan took up arms of his own accord and welcomed the ruin of his own house. He never understood that the axe-handle shows the way and calyx and petals must follow together; to seek perfect safety on such terms was to mistake the very likeness of things.