1
列傳第三十三齊高帝諸子下
Biographies 33: Sons of Emperor Gao of Southern Qi, Part Two
2
臨川獻王映字宣光，高帝第三子也。 少而警悟，美言笑，善容止。 仕宋位給事黃門侍郎、南兗州刺史，留心吏事，自下莫不肅然，令行禁止。
Ying, Prince Xian of Linchuan, whose style name was Xuangguang, was Emperor Gao's third son. Even as a boy he was remarkably perceptive, with a pleasing voice and smile and elegant deportment. Under the Song he served as Attendant Gentleman at the Yellow Gate and as Inspector of Southern Yanzhou; attentive to administrative affairs, he inspired respect from the lowest clerk upward, and his commands were obeyed without exception.
3
高帝踐阼，為荊州刺史，加都督，封臨川王。 嘗致錢還都買物，有獻計者，於江陵買貨，至都還換，可得微有所增。 映笑曰：「我是賈客邪，乃復求利。」 改授都督、揚州刺史。 蒞事聰敏，府州曹局皆重足以奉禁令，自宋彭城王義康以後，未之有也。
When Emperor Gao took the throne, he was appointed Inspector of Jingzhou with supreme command authority and enfeoffed as Prince of Linchuan. He once sent funds to the capital to purchase goods; an adviser proposed buying merchandise at Jiangling and reselling it in the capital for a modest gain. Ying laughed and said, "Am I a merchant, that I should go seeking profit?" He was then reassigned as supreme commander and Inspector of Yangzhou. He was exceptionally capable in office; every bureau in the prefecture and province trod lightly to heed his orders—nothing comparable had been seen since Prince Yikang of Pengcheng in the Song.
4
永明元年，為侍中、驃騎將軍。 五年，即本號開府儀同三司。 七年薨。 映善騎射，解聲律，工左右書、左右射，應接賓客，風韻韶靡，及薨，朝野莫不惋惜。 贈司空。 九子皆封侯。
In the first year of Yongming he was appointed Palace Attendant and Rapid Cavalry General. In the fifth year he was granted the status of Grand Minister with credentials equal to the Three Dukes. He died in the seventh year. Ying was skilled in horsemanship and archery, versed in musical theory, and adept at writing and shooting with either hand; in receiving guests his manner was graceful and refined. At his death, court and country alike grieved. He was posthumously appointed Minister of Works. All nine of his sons were enfeoffed as marquises.
5
長子子晉，永元初為侍中，入梁為高平太守。 第二子子遊，州陵侯，為黃門侍郎。 謀反，兄弟並伏誅。
His eldest son Zijin served as Palace Attendant at the start of the Yongyuan era; after the Liang dynasty was founded he became Administrator of Gaoping. His second son Ziyou, Marquis of Zhouling, served as Gentleman Attendant of the Yellow Gate. They plotted rebellion, and both brothers were put to death.
6
長沙威王晃字宣明，高帝第四子也。 少有武力，為高帝所愛。 升明二年，代兄映為淮南、宣城二郡太守。 晃便弓馬，初沈攸之事起，晃多從武容，赫弈都街，時人為之語曰：「煥煥蕭四傘。」 其年，遷西中郎將、豫州刺史，監二州諸軍事。
Huang, Prince Wei of Changsha, whose style name was Xuanming, was Emperor Gao's fourth son. From boyhood he showed martial prowess and was a favorite of Emperor Gao. In the second year of Shengming he succeeded his elder brother Ying as Administrator of Huainan and Xuancheng. Huang was adept with bow and horse; when Shen Youzhi's rebellion first broke out, Huang often rode out with a martial escort, dazzling the streets of the capital, and people coined a saying: "Splendid, splendid—Young Master Xiao the Fourth and his parasol." That same year he was promoted to Western Central Army General and Inspector of Yuzhou, with authority over military affairs in both provinces.
7
高帝踐阼，晃每陳政事，輒為典簽所裁，晃殺之。 上大怒，手詔賜杖。 遷南徐州刺史，加都督。 武帝為皇太子，拜武進陵，于曲阿後湖鬥隊，使晃御馬軍，上聞之，又不悅。 臨崩，以晃屬武帝，處以輦轂近蕃，勿令遠出。
After Emperor Gao took the throne, Huang frequently submitted policy proposals, only to have them blocked by his chief clerk; Huang killed the man. The emperor was enraged and sent a personal edict ordering that he be beaten with staves. He was transferred to Inspector of Southern Xuzhou with supreme command authority. When Emperor Wu was crown prince and visited Wujin Mausoleum, chariot teams competed on the rear lake at Qu'e; he had Huang lead the cavalry wing. When the emperor heard of this, he was displeased once again. On his deathbed he entrusted Huang to Emperor Wu, keeping him as a prince near the capital and instructing that he not be posted far away.
8
後拜車騎將軍、侍中。 薨，贈開府儀同三司。 武帝嘗幸鍾山，晃從駕。 以馬矟刺道邊枯櫱，上令左右數人引之，銀纏皆卷聚而矟不出，乃令晃復馳馬拔之，應手便去。 每遠州獻駿馬，上輒令晃于華林中調試之。 高帝常曰：「此我家任城也。」 武帝緣此意，故諡曰威。
Later he was appointed Chariot Cavalry General and Palace Attendant. He died and was posthumously granted the status of Grand Minister with credentials equal to the Three Dukes. Emperor Wu once visited Mount Zhong, and Huang accompanied the imperial procession. He drove his cavalry lance into a withered stump by the road; the emperor had several attendants try to pull it free, but the silver bindings wound tight and the lance would not budge. He then had Huang charge again and wrench it out—it came free instantly in his grip. Whenever distant provinces presented fine horses, the emperor always had Huang break and train them in Hualin Park. Emperor Gao often said, "This one is our family's own Prince of Rencheng." Drawing on this sentiment, Emperor Wu gave him the posthumous title Wei (Martial).
9
武陵昭王曄字宣昭，高帝第五子也。 母羅氏，從高帝在淮陰，以罪誅。 曄年四歲，思慕不異成人，每慟吐血。 高帝敕武帝曰：「三昧至性如此，恐不濟，汝可與共住，每抑割之。」 三昧，曄小字也。 故曄見愛。
Ye, Prince Zhao of Wuling, whose style name was Xuanzhao, was Emperor Gao's fifth son. His mother, of the Luo clan, had accompanied Emperor Gao at Huaiyin and was executed for a crime. At four years old Ye's grief for her was as deep as any adult's; each time he mourned he coughed up blood. Emperor Gao instructed Emperor Wu: "Sanmei's nature is so extreme that he may not survive; you should live with him and always restrain him." Sanmei was Ye's childhood name. For this reason Ye was especially cherished.
10
高帝雖為方伯，而居處甚貧，諸子學書無紙筆，曄常以指畫空中及畫掌學字，遂工篆法。 少時又無棋局，乃破荻為片，縱橫以為棋局，指點行勢，遂至名品。
Though Emperor Gao held a regional governorship, the household was desperately poor; the sons had no paper or brushes for study—Ye traced characters in the air and on his palm to practice writing, and eventually mastered seal script. As a boy he had no chessboard either, so he split reeds into strips and laid them crosswise to make one, calling out moves and positions until he reached master rank.
11
性剛穎俊出，與諸王共作短句詩，學謝靈運體，以呈高帝。 帝報曰：「見汝二十字，諸兒作中，最為優者。 但康樂放蕩，作體不辨有首尾，安仁、士衡深可宗尚，顏延之抑其次也。」
His temperament was bold, sharp, and outstanding; with the other princes he wrote short poems in the manner of Xie Lingyun and presented them to Emperor Gao. The emperor replied: "I have seen your twenty lines—among all my sons' compositions, yours is the finest. But Kangyue is unrestrained—his compositions lack clear structure from beginning to end. Anren and Shiheng are truly worthy of emulation; Yanzhi ranks below them."
12
建元二年，為會稽太守，加都督。 上遣儒士劉瓛往郡，為曄講五經。 武帝即位，曆中書令、祠部尚書。 巫覡或言曄有非常之相，以此自負，武帝聞之，故無寵，未嘗處方嶽。 于御坐曲宴，醉伏地，貂抄肉柈。 帝笑曰：「汙貂。」 對曰：「陛下愛其羽毛，而疏其骨肉。」 帝不悅。
In the second year of Jianyuan he was appointed Administrator of Kuaiji with supreme command authority. The emperor dispatched the scholar Liu Huan to the commandery to instruct Ye in the Five Classics. When Emperor Wu ascended the throne, Ye served successively as Director of the Secretariat and Minister of Rites for the Imperial Temple. Shamans and diviners sometimes claimed Ye bore the marks of an extraordinary destiny; he grew proud on this account. When Emperor Wu heard of it, he withheld favor and never assigned Ye to a major provincial governorship. At an informal banquet before the emperor, he collapsed drunk to the floor, his sable robe sweeping the meat platter. The emperor laughed and said, "You've soiled your sable." He replied, "Your Majesty cherishes the fur but neglects the flesh and bone." The emperor was displeased.
13
性輕財重義，有古人風。 罷會稽還都，齋中錢不滿萬，俸祿所入，皆與參佐賓僚共之。 常曰：「兄作天子，何畏弟無錢。」 居止附身所須而已。 名後堂山為首陽，蓋怨貧薄也。
He valued righteousness over wealth and bore the spirit of the ancients. When he left Kuaiji and returned to the capital, he had fewer than ten thousand coins in his study; he shared all his salary income with his staff and guests. He often said, "With an elder brother as Son of Heaven, why should a younger brother worry about money?" He kept only what he needed for daily life. He named the hill behind his hall Mount Shouyang—a bitter joke about his poverty.
14
嘗于武帝前與竟陵王子良圍棋，子良大北。 及退，豫章文獻王謂曄曰：「汝與司徒手談，故當小相推讓。」 答曰：「曄立身以來，未嘗一口妄語。」 執心疏婞，偏不知悔。 好文章，射為當時獨絕，琅邪王瞻亦稱善射，而不及曄也。
He once played Go before Emperor Wu against Ziliang, Prince of Jingling, and Ziliang suffered a crushing defeat. Afterward, the Prince of Yuzhang said to Ye: "When you play the Minister of State at the board, you ought to yield a little." He answered, "Since I took my stand in life, I have never once spoken falsely." His disposition was blunt and unyielding; he simply knew no regret. He loved literature; in archery he was unrivaled in his day—Wang Zhan of Langye was also praised as an archer but could not match Ye.
15
武帝幸豫章王嶷東田，宴諸長王，獨不召曄。 嶷曰：「風景殊美，今日甚憶武陵。」 上仍呼使射，屢發命中，顧四坐曰：「手何如？」 上神色甚怪，嶷曰：「阿五常日不爾，今可謂仰藉天威。」 帝意乃釋。 後於華林射賭，凡六箭，五破一皮，賜錢五萬文。 又上舉酒勸曄，曰：「陛下常不以此處許臣。」 上回面不答。
Emperor Wu visited the eastern fields of the Prince of Yuzhang and feasted the elder princes, deliberately not summoning Ye. The prince said, "The scenery is exceptionally fine—today I miss Prince Wuling sorely." The emperor still summoned Ye to shoot; arrow after arrow hit the mark. Ye looked around the assembly and said, "How is my hand?" The emperor's expression turned strange. The prince said, "Younger brother Wu is not usually like this—today one might say he draws on Heaven's majesty." The emperor's mood then eased. Later at Hualin Park in an archery contest, of six arrows five pierced a single hide; he was awarded fifty thousand cash. The emperor again raised his cup to toast Ye, and Ye said, "Your Majesty does not usually grant me such a place of honor." The emperor turned away without answering.
16
豫章王于邸起土山，列種桐竹，號為桐山。 武帝幸之，置酒為樂，顧臨川王映：「王邸亦有嘉名不？」 映曰：「臣好棲靜，因以為稱。」 又問曄，曄曰：「臣山卑，不曾棲靈昭景，唯有薇蕨，直號首陽山。」 帝曰：「此直勞者之歌也。」
At his residence the Prince of Yuzhang built an earthen hill and planted paulownia and bamboo in rows, naming it Mount Tong. Emperor Wu visited and set out wine for pleasure, then turned to Prince Ying of Linchuan: "Does your residence also have a fine name?" Ying said, "Your servant loves quiet seclusion, and so I take that as my name." They asked Ye next; Ye said, "Your servant's hill is low—it has never sheltered spirits or splendid vistas, only bracken and ferns; I simply call it Mount Shouyang." The emperor said, "That is simply a laborer's lament."
17
久之，出為江州刺史。 上以曄方出鎮，求其宅給諸皇子，遣舍人喻旨。 曄曰：「先帝賜臣此宅，使臣歌哭有所，陛下欲以州易宅，臣請不以宅易州。」 帝恨之。 至鎮百餘日，典簽趙渥之啟曄得失，征還為左戶尚書。 遷太常卿。 累不得志。
After a long interval he was sent out as Inspector of Jiangzhou. Since Ye had just departed to take up his provincial command, the emperor sought his residence to give to other princes and sent a palace secretary to convey his wishes. Ye said, "The former emperor gave me this residence so I would have a place to mourn and rejoice; if Your Majesty wishes to trade a province for this house, I ask not to trade the house for a province." The emperor took offense. After little more than a hundred days at his post, chief clerk Zhao Wozhi reported on Ye's conduct; he was recalled and appointed Minister of the Left Household. He was transferred to Grand Master of Ceremonies. Again and again he failed to achieve his ambitions.
18
冬節問訊，諸王皆出，曄獨後來，上已還便殿，聞曄至，引見，問之，曄稱牛羸不能取路。 上敕車府給副禦牛一頭。 敕主客自今諸王來不隨例者，不復為通。
At the winter festival audience all the princes set out; Ye alone arrived late. The emperor had already returned to the side hall; hearing Ye had come, he summoned him and questioned the delay. Ye said his ox was weak and could not keep to the road. The emperor ordered the chariot bureau to provide a spare imperial ox. He instructed the chief receptionist that from then on princes who failed to observe protocol would no longer be admitted.
19
公事還，過竟陵王子良宅，冬月道逢乞人，脫襦與之。 子良見曄衣單，進襦於曄。 曄曰：「我與向人亦復何異。」 尚書令王儉詣曄，曄留儉設食，盤中菘菜鱯魚而已。 儉重其率真，為飽食盡歡而去。
Returning from official business he passed the residence of the Prince of Jingling; in the depths of winter he met a beggar on the road and stripped off his padded coat to give him. Ziliang saw Ye thinly clad and offered him a padded coat. Ye said, "What difference is there between me and the man I just gave it to?" Minister Wang Jian called on Ye; Ye kept him for a meal of nothing but cabbage and catfish. Jian valued his unvarnished sincerity, ate his fill, and departed in high spirits.
20
安成恭王暠字宣曜，高帝第六子也。 性清和，多疾。 歷位南中郎將、江州刺史，侍中，領步兵校尉，中書令。 永明九年，為散騎常侍、秘書監，領石頭戍事。 及夏薨。
Gao, Prince Gong of Ancheng, whose style name was Xuanyao, was Emperor Gao's sixth son. His temperament was gentle and mild, and he was frequently ill. He served successively as Southern Central Army General, Inspector of Jiangzhou, Palace Attendant, Colonel of the Footsoldiers, and Director of the Secretariat. In the ninth year of Yongming he was appointed Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Director of the Secretariat Archives, with charge of the Shitou garrison. He died that summer.
21
鄱陽王鏘字宣韶，高帝第七子也。 建元末，武帝即位，為雍州刺史，加都督。 武帝服除，鏘方還，始入覲拜便流涕。 武帝愕然，問其故，鏘收淚曰：「臣違奉彌年，今奉顏色，聖顏損瘦，所以泣耳。」 武帝歎曰：「我復是有此一弟。」
Qiang, Prince of Poyang, whose style name was Xuanshao, was Emperor Gao's seventh son. At the end of the Jianyuan era, when Emperor Wu ascended the throne, he was appointed Inspector of Yongzhou with supreme command authority. When Emperor Wu's mourning period ended, Qiang had only just returned; at his first audience he bowed and burst into tears. The emperor was taken aback and asked why; Qiang dried his tears and said, "I have been absent from Your Majesty for many years; now I see your face again. Your sacred visage has grown thin—that is why I weep." The emperor sighed and said, "I still have a brother like this."
22
累遷丹陽尹。 永明十一年，為領軍將軍。 鏘和悌美令，性謙慎，好文章，有寵于武帝。 領軍之授，齊室諸王所未為，鏘在官理事無壅，當時稱之。 車駕游幸，常甲仗衛從，恩待次豫章王嶷。 其年，給油絡車。
He was repeatedly promoted, eventually becoming Governor of Danyang. In the eleventh year of Yongming he was appointed General of the Guards. Qiang was gentle, agreeable, and handsome, modest and cautious by nature, fond of literature, and in favor with Emperor Wu. The post of General of the Guards had never before been held by a prince of the Qi house; Qiang conducted affairs without backlog and was praised at the time. On imperial tours he was regularly escorted by armed guards; in favor he ranked just below the Prince of Yuzhang. That year he was granted a lacquered carriage with an oiled canopy.
23
隆昌元年，轉尚書左僕射，遷侍中、驃騎將軍、開府儀同三司，領兵置佐。 鏘雍容得物情，為郁林依信。 郁林心疑明帝，諸王問訊，獨留鏘，謂曰：「聞鸞於法身何如？」 鏘曰：「臣鸞于宗戚最長，且受寄先帝，臣等年皆尚少，朝廷之幹，唯鸞一人，願陛下無以為慮。」 郁林退謂徐龍駒曰：「我欲與公共計取鸞，公既不同，我不能獨辦，且復小聽。」 及郁林廢，鏘竟不知。
In the first year of Longchang he became Left Vice Director of the Secretariat, then Palace Attendant, Rapid Cavalry General, and Grand Minister with credentials equal to the Three Dukes, with troops and staff assigned. Qiang was easy in manner and won popular affection; Emperor Yulin trusted and relied on him. Yulin suspected Emperor Ming; when the princes came to pay respects, he alone detained Qiang and said, "What have you heard of Luan's attitude toward the Dharma Body?" Qiang said, "Among the imperial kin Luan is the eldest, and he received the former emperor's trust. We are all still young; Luan alone is the pillar of the court. I hope Your Majesty will not worry about him." Yulin withdrew and told Xu Longju, "I want to join with you in a plot against Luan; since you disagree, I cannot act alone—for now let us wait a little longer." When Yulin was deposed, Qiang knew nothing of it.
24
延興元年，進位司徒，侍中如故。 明帝鎮東府，權威稍異，鏘每往，明帝屣履至車迎鏘，語及家國，言淚俱下，鏘以此推信之。 而宮台內皆屬意於鏘，勸令入宮，發兵輔政。 制局監謝粲說鏘及隨王子隆曰：「殿下但乘油壁車入宮，出天子置朝堂，二王夾輔號令，粲等閉城門上仗，誰敢不同，宣城公政當投井求活，豈有一步動哉！ 東城人政共縳送耳。」 子隆欲定計，鏘以上臺兵力既悉東府，且慮難捷，意甚猶豫。 馬隊主劉巨，武帝時舊人，詣鏘請間，叩頭勸鏘立事。 鏘命駕將入，復回還內，與母陸太妃別，日暮不成行。 典簽知謀告之，數日，明帝遣二千人圍鏘宅，害鏘，謝粲等皆見殺。 凡諸王被害，皆以夜遣兵圍宅，或斧斫關排牆，叫噪而入，家財皆見封籍焉。
In the first year of Yanxing he was promoted to Minister of State while retaining his post as Palace Attendant. Emperor Ming held the eastern residence and his power grew distinct; whenever Qiang visited, Ming would run out in slippers to meet his carriage. Speaking of family and state, they wept together, and Qiang came to trust him. Yet within the palace many looked to Qiang and urged him to enter the palace and raise troops to take charge of government. Control Bureau supervisor Xie Can urged Qiang and Prince Zilong of Sui: "Your Highness need only ride the lacquered carriage into the palace, bring out the Son of Heaven to the audience hall, with the two kings flanking him to issue orders; we will shut the gates and man the walls—who would dare refuse? The Prince of Xuancheng would only throw himself down a well to beg his life—he could not stir a single step! The people of the eastern quarter would simply bind him and hand him over." Zilong wished to fix on a plan; Qiang, seeing that the capital's forces were already entirely at the eastern residence and fearing the coup might not succeed, was deeply hesitant. Cavalry detachment chief Liu Ju, a veteran from Emperor Wu's day, sought a private audience with Qiang and kowtowed to urge him to act. Qiang ordered his carriage to enter the palace, then went back inside to bid farewell to his mother, Grand Consort Lu; by nightfall he still had not departed. The chief clerk learned of the plot and reported it; within days Emperor Ming sent two thousand men to surround Qiang's residence and killed him; Xie Can and the others were all executed. Whenever princes were killed, troops were sent at night to surround their residences, sometimes hacking through gates or battering down walls, shouting as they rushed in; all household property was sealed and inventoried.
25
桂陽王鑠字宣朗，高帝第八子也。 永明七年為中書令，加散騎常侍。 時鄱陽王鏘好文章，鑠好名理，人稱為鄱桂。
Shuo, Prince of Guiyang, whose style name was Xuanlang, was Emperor Gao's eighth son. In the seventh year of Yongming he was appointed Director of the Secretariat with the added rank of Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary. At the time Prince Qiang of Poyang loved literature and Shuo loved philosophical principle; people called them "Poyang and Guiyang."
26
鑠清羸有冷疾，常枕臥，武帝臨視，賜床帳衾褥。 性理偏詖，遇其賞興，則詩酒連日，情有所廢，則兄弟不通。 隆昌元年，加前將軍，給油絡車，並給扶二人。
Shuo was slight and frail with a chronic cold disorder and often kept to his bed; Emperor Wu visited him in person and bestowed bedding and quilts. His temperament was biased and eccentric; when his spirits rose he would drink and write poetry for days; when his mood flagged he would not even speak with his brothers. In the first year of Longchang he was made Forward General and granted a lacquered carriage with oiled canopy, along with two men to support him.
27
鄱陽王見害，鑠遷中軍將軍、開府儀同三司。 不自安，至東府見明帝，及出，處分存亡之計。 謂侍讀山悰曰：「吾前日覲王，王流涕嗚咽，而鄱陽、隨郡見誅。 今日見王，王又流涕而有愧色，其在吾邪？」 其夜三更中兵至，見害。
After Prince Qiang of Poyang was killed, Shuo was transferred to Central Army General and Grand Minister with credentials equal to the Three Dukes. Uneasy in mind, he went to the eastern residence to see Emperor Ming; when he came out he set his affairs in order for life or death. He told his attendant reader Shan Cong, "The other day when I visited the king, he wept and sobbed; yet Poyang and the Prince of Sui were killed. Today when I see the king, he weeps again but with a guilty expression—is it my turn?" That night at the third watch troops arrived and he was killed.
28
始興簡王鑒字宣徹，高帝第十子也。 性聰警。 年八歲，喪所生母，號慕過人，數日中便至骨立。 豫章文獻王聞之，撫其首嗚咽，謂高帝曰：「此兒操行異人，恐其不濟。」 高帝亦悲不自勝。
Jian, Prince Jian of Shixing, whose style name was Xuanche, was Emperor Gao's tenth son. He was clever and perceptive by nature. At eight he lost his birth mother; his cries of grief surpassed any adult's, and within days he was worn to skin and bone. The Prince of Yuzhang heard of it, stroked his head and wept, and told Emperor Gao, "This child's conduct is extraordinary; I fear he may not survive." Emperor Gao too was overcome with grief.
29
先是劫帥韓武方常聚黨千餘人，斷流為暴，郡縣不能禁，行旅斷絕。 鑒行至上明，武方乃出降。 長史虞悰等咸請殺之。 鑒曰：「武方為暴積年，所在不能制，今降而被殺，失信； 且無以勸善。」 於是啟台，果被宥，自是巴西蠻夷凶惡，皆望風降附。 行次新城，道路籍籍，雲陳顯達大選士馬，不肯就征，巴西太守陰智伯亦以為然。 乃停新城十許日，遣典簽張曇皙往觀形勢。 俄而顯達遣使人郭安明、朱公恩奉書貢遺，咸勸鑒執之。 鑒曰：「顯達立節本朝，必自無此。 曇皙還，若有同異，執安明等未晚。」 居二日，曇皙還，說顯達遣家累已出城，日夕望殿下至。 於是乃前。 時年十四。
Earlier the bandit chief Han Wufang had gathered more than a thousand followers, blocked the waterways, and committed violence; commanderies and counties could not suppress him, and travel on the roads ceased. When Jian's procession reached Shangming, Wufang came out to surrender. Chief administrator Yu Yong and the others all urged that he be killed. Jian said, "Wufang has rampaged for years without local control; if we kill him now that he has surrendered, we break faith; and there is no way to encourage those who would do good." He reported to headquarters; Wufang was indeed pardoned, and thereafter the fierce tribes of Baxi all submitted at the news of his approach. Passing Xincheng, travelers reported that Chen Xianda was conscripting men and horses on a large scale and refusing the summons; the Administrator of Baxi, Yin Zhibo, agreed. He halted at Xincheng for some ten days and sent chief clerk Zhang Tanxi to observe the situation. Soon Xianda sent envoys Guo Anming and Zhu Gong'en with letters and tribute; all urged Jian to arrest them. Jian said, "Xianda has stood loyal to this dynasty; he would certainly not do this. When Tanxi returns, if anything is amiss, arresting Anming and the rest will not be too late." Two days later Tanxi returned and reported that Xianda had sent his family out of the city and awaited the prince's arrival from dawn to dusk. He therefore advanced. He was fourteen years old at the time.
30
好學，善屬文，不重華飾，器服清素，有高士風。 與記室參軍蔡仲熊登張儀樓，商略先言往行及蜀土人物。 鑒言辭和辯，仲熊應對無滯，當時以為盛事。
He loved learning and wrote well, disdaining ornate display; his vessels and dress were plain, with the bearing of a lofty gentleman. With his secretarial aide Cai Zhongxiong he climbed Zhang Yi Tower and discussed former worthies, past conduct, and the men of Shu. Jian spoke with grace and eloquence; Zhongxiong answered without hesitation; at the time it was considered a memorable occasion.
31
州城北門常閉不開，鑒問其故于虞悰，悰答曰：「蜀中多夷暴，有時抄掠至城下，故相承閉之。」 鑒曰：「古人云，'善閉無關楗'。 且在德不在門。」 即令開之。 戎夷慕義，自是清謐。 于州園地得古塚，無復棺，但有石槨。 銅器十餘種，並古形； 玉璧三枚； 珍寶甚多，不可皆識； 金銀為蠶蛇形者數斗。 又以朱沙為阜，水銀為池，左右咸勸取之。 鑒曰：「皇太子昔在雍，有發古塚者，得玉鏡、玉屏風、玉匣之屬，皆將還都，吾意常不同。」 乃遣功曹何佇為之起墳，諸寶物一不得犯。
The north gate of the provincial capital was kept shut; Jian asked Yu Yong why; Yong said, "Shu has many violent tribes who sometimes raid to the city walls, so it has traditionally been kept closed." Jian said, "The ancients said, 'When closing is done well, no bar or bolt is needed. It lies in virtue, not in gates." He immediately ordered it opened. The tribes admired his righteousness, and thereafter the region was peaceful. In the provincial park an ancient tomb was uncovered; no inner coffin remained, only a stone sarcophagus. More than ten kinds of bronze vessels, all of ancient form; three jade bi discs; many precious objects that could not all be identified; gold and silver fashioned as silkworms and serpents, amounting to several pecks. Cinnabar was heaped as a mound and mercury formed a pool; those around him all urged that the treasures be taken. Jian said, "When the crown prince was in Yong, an ancient tomb was opened and a jade mirror, jade screen, jade casket, and the like were found—all were to be brought to the capital; I have always disagreed with this." He sent merit officer He Zhu to rebuild the mound; not one precious object was touched.
32
性甚清，在蜀積年，未嘗有所營造，資用一歲不滿三萬。 王儉常歎云：「始興王雖尊貴，而行履都是素士。」 時有廣漢什邡人段祖，以錞於獻鑒，古禮器也。 高三尺六寸六分，圍三尺四寸，圓如筩，銅色黑如漆，甚薄，上有銅馬，以繩縣馬，令去地尺餘，灌之以水，又以器盛水於下，以芒莖當心跪注淳於，以手振芒，則聲如雷，清響良久乃絕。 古所以節樂也。 五年，鑒獻龍角一枚，長九尺三寸，色紅，有文。
His nature was exceptionally pure; during his years in Shu he undertook no construction; his annual expenses did not reach thirty thousand. Wang Jian often sighed, "Though the Prince of Shixing is exalted in rank, his conduct is entirely that of a plain scholar." At the time Duan Zu of Shifang in Guanghan presented to Jian a chunyu, an ancient ritual bell. It stood three chi six cun six fen high, with a circumference of three chi four cun, round as a tube, the bronze black as lacquer and very thin; atop it was a bronze horse suspended by a cord more than a chi above the ground; water was poured in and a vessel set below; a cogongrass stem served as the pivot at the center, and when the stem was shaken the sound was like thunder, the clear tone lingering long before fading. In antiquity it was used to regulate music. In the fifth year Jian presented a dragon horn nine chi three cun long, red in color with markings.
33
江夏王鋒字宣穎，高帝第十二子也。 母張氏有容德，宋蒼梧王逼取之，又欲害鋒。 高帝甚懼，不敢使居舊宅，匿于張氏舍，時年四歲。
Feng, Prince of Jiangxia, whose style name was Xuanying, was Emperor Gao's twelfth son. His mother, of the Zhang clan, possessed beauty and virtue; Emperor Cangwu of Song seized her by force and also wished to harm Feng. Emperor Gao was deeply afraid and dared not let him remain in the old residence, concealing him in the Zhang household; he was then four years old.
34
性方整，好學書，張家無紙劄，乃倚井欄為書，書滿則洗之，已復更書，如此者累月。 又晨興不肯拂窗塵，而先畫塵上，學為書字。
His nature was upright; he loved learning and writing; the Zhang family had no paper, so he wrote on the well railing, washing it when full and writing again—thus for many months. In the mornings he would not brush the window dust but first traced characters in the dust to practice writing.
35
五歲，高帝使學鳳尾諾，一學即工。 高帝大悅，以玉騏驎賜之，曰：「騏驎賞鳳尾矣。」 至十歲，便能屬文。 武帝時，藩邸嚴急，諸王不得讀異書，五經之外，唯得看孝子圖而已。 鋒乃密遣人於市里街巷買圖籍，期月之間，殆將備矣。
At five Emperor Gao had him learn phoenix-tail script; with one lesson he mastered it. Emperor Gao was delighted and bestowed a jade qilin, saying, "The qilin rewards the phoenix tail." By ten he could compose literary pieces. Under Emperor Wu the princely residences were strictly controlled; princes might not read unorthodox books—beyond the Five Classics they were permitted only the Classic of Filial Piety. Feng secretly sent men to the market streets to buy books; within a month he had nearly a complete library.
36
好琴書，蓋亦天性。 嘗覲武帝，賜以寶裝琴，仍於御前鼓之，大見賞。 帝謂鄱陽王鏘曰：「闍梨琴亦是柳令之流亞，其既事事有意，吾欲試以臨人。」 鏘曰：「昔鄒忌鼓琴，威王委以國政。」 乃出為南徐州刺史。 善與人交，行事王文和、別駕江祏等，皆相友善。 後文和被徵為益州，置酒告別，文和流淚曰：「下官少來未嘗作詩，今日違戀，不覺文生於性。」 王儉聞之，曰：「江夏可謂善變素絲也。」
He loved the zither and books—this too was his nature. He once had an audience with Emperor Wu, who bestowed a jeweled zither; he played before the throne and was greatly admired. The emperor said to Prince Qiang of Poyang, "Cha Li's zither ranks with Magistrate Liu; in everything he shows purpose—I wish to test him in governing men." Qiang said, "Long ago Zou Ji played the zither and King Wei of Qi entrusted him with the government." He was therefore sent out as Inspector of Southern Xuzhou. He was skilled at friendship; in office he was close with Wang Wenhe, chief aide Jiang Shi, and others. Later Wenhe was summoned to Yizhou; at the farewell banquet he wept and said, "I have never composed poetry in my life; today at this parting, literature sprang unawares from my nature." Wang Jian heard of it and said, "Jiangxia can truly transform plain silk.
37
工書，為當時蕃王所推。 南郡王昭業亦稱工，謂武帝曰：「臣書固應勝江夏王。」 武帝答：「闍梨第一，法身第二。」 法身昭業小名，闍梨鋒小名也。
He excelled at calligraphy and was esteemed among the princes of his day. Prince Zhaoye of Nankang also claimed skill and told Emperor Wu, "My writing should surely surpass the Prince of Jiangxia." The emperor answered, "Cha Li is first, Dharma Body second." Dharma Body was Zhaoye's childhood name; Cha Li was Feng's childhood name.
38
隆昌元年，為侍中，領驍騎將軍，尋加秘書監。 及明帝知權，蕃邸危懼，江祏嘗謂王晏曰：「江夏王有才行，亦善能匿跡，以琴道授羊景之，景之著名，而江夏掩能於世，非唯七弦而已，百氏亦復如之。」 鋒聞歎曰：「江祏遂復為混沌畫眉，欲益反弊耳。 寡人聲酒是耽，狗馬是好，豈復一豪于平生哉。」 當時以為話言。 常忽忽不樂，著修柏賦以見志，曰：「既殊群而抗立，亦含貞而挺正。 豈春日之自芳，在霜下而為盛。 沖風不能摧其枝，積雪不能改其性。 雖坎壇于當年，庶後凋之可詠。」 時鼎業潛移，鋒獨慨然有匡復之意，逼之行事典簽，故不遂也。 嘗見明帝，言次及遙光才力可委之意，鋒答曰：「遙光之于殿下，猶殿下之于高皇，衛宗廟，安社稷，實有攸寄。」 明帝失色。
In the first year of Longchang he became Palace Attendant and commanded the Valiant Cavalry; soon he was also Director of the Secretariat Archives. When Emperor Ming seized power the princely residences were in peril; Jiang Shi once told Wang Yan, "The Prince of Jiangxia has talent and conduct and excels at concealing his abilities; he taught the zither to Yang Jingzhi—Jingzhi is famous while Jiangxia hides his skill from the world. It is not only the seven strings; the hundred schools are the same." When Feng heard of it he sighed and said, "Jiang Shi is again painting eyebrows on chaos—intending to help, he will only make things worse. I am devoted to music and wine and fond of dogs and horses—how could I change a hair's breadth from the life I have always lived?" At the time this was taken as a memorable saying. He was often restless and unhappy and wrote the "Fu on the Evergreen Cypress" to express his intent: "Standing apart from the multitude yet rising up, it holds to integrity and stands upright. It is not that spring days are fragrant in themselves—it flourishes beneath the frost. Gale winds cannot break its branches; piled snow cannot alter its nature. Though cut down in its season, its later withering may still be worthy of song. At the time the imperial enterprise was shifting in secret; Feng alone was stirred with intent to restore the dynasty, but the acting record-keeper constrained him, and so he did not succeed. He once saw Emperor Ming and in passing mentioned that Yaoguang's talent and strength could be entrusted; Feng answered, "Yaoguang toward Your Highness is as Your Highness was toward Emperor Gao—guarding the ancestral temple and securing the state: the charge is real. Emperor Ming turned pale.
39
鋒有武力，明帝殺諸王，鋒與書詰責，左右不為通。 明帝深憚之，不敢於第收之。 鋒出登車，兵人欲上車防勒，鋒以手擊卻數人，皆應時倒地，遂逼害之。 江斅聞其死，流涕曰：「芳蘭當門，不得不鋤，其修柏之賦乎。」
Feng had martial strength; when Emperor Ming killed the princes, Feng wrote a letter of rebuke, but his attendants would not deliver it. Emperor Ming deeply feared him and did not dare seize him at his residence. When Feng went out and mounted his carriage, soldiers tried to board and restrain him; Feng struck several men with his hand and they fell instantly; he was then killed. Jiang Jiao heard of his death and wept, saying, "When fragrant orchids stand at the gate, they must be uprooted—is it not his fu on the evergreen cypress?"
40
南平王銳字宣毅，高帝第十五子也。 位左戶尚書，朝直勤謹，未嘗屬疾。 永明十年，出為南中郎將、湘州刺史。 延興元年，明帝作輔，害諸王，遣裴叔業平尋陽，仍進湘州。 銳防合周伯玉大言於眾曰：「此非天子意，今斬叔業，舉兵匡社稷，誰敢不同！」 銳典簽叱左右斬之，銳見害，伯玉下獄誅。
Rui, Prince of Nanping, whose style name was Xuanyi, was Emperor Gao's fifteenth son. He served as Minister of the Left Household; at court he was diligent and careful and never claimed illness. In the tenth year of Yongming he was sent out as Southern Central Army General and Inspector of Xiangzhou. In the first year of Yanxing, when Emperor Ming acted as regent and killed the princes, he sent Pei Shuye to pacify Xunyang and then advance into Xiangzhou. Rui's defense coordinator Zhou Boyu declared before the assembly: "This is not the Son of Heaven's will; if we behead Shuye now and raise troops to restore the altars, who would dare refuse!" Rui's chief clerk ordered the attendants to behead Boyu; Rui was killed and Boyu was imprisoned and executed.
41
宜都王鏗字宣儼，高帝第十六子也。 生三歲喪母。 及有識，問母所在，左右告以早亡，便思慕蔬食自悲。 不識母，常祈請幽冥，求一夢見。 至六歲，遂夢見一女人，雲是其母。 鏗悲泣向舊左右說容貌衣服事，皆如平生，聞者莫不歔欷。
Qiang, Prince of Yidu, whose style name was Xuanyan, was Emperor Gao's sixteenth son. He lost his mother at the age of three. When he came to awareness he asked where his mother was; his attendants told him she had died young, and he mourned with plain food and private grief. Never having known his mother, he often prayed in the unseen world, seeking one dream of her. At six he dreamed of a woman who said she was his mother. Qiang wept and described her appearance and clothing to his old attendants; all matched her in life, and those who heard were moved to tears.
42
清悟有學行。 永明十一年，為南豫州刺史、都督二州軍事。 雖未經庶務，而雅得人心。 舉動每為簽帥所制，立意多不得行。 州鎮姑孰，于時人發桓溫女塚，得金巾箱，織金篾為嚴器，又有金蠶銀繭等物甚多。 條以啟聞，郁林敕以物賜之。 鏗曰：「今取往物，後取今物，如此回圈，豈可不熟念。」 使長史蔡約自往修復，纖毫不犯。
He was clear-minded and perceptive, with learning and proper conduct. In the eleventh year of Yongming he was appointed Inspector of Southern Yuzhou with authority over military affairs in both provinces. Though he had not yet handled routine administration, he naturally won people's hearts. His every move was controlled by the chief clerk; many of his intentions could not be carried out. The provincial seat was at Gushu; at the time someone opened the tomb of Huan Wen's daughter and found a gold kerchief box and vessels woven of gold strips, along with many objects such as gold silkworms and silver cocoons. He listed them in a memorial; Emperor Yulin ordered the objects given to him. Qiang said, "If we take objects from the past, later others will take objects from the present—in such a cycle, how can one not think carefully?" He had chief administrator Cai Yue go in person to restore the tomb; not the slightest thing was touched.
43
年十歲時，與吉景曜商略先言往行。 左右誤排柟榴屏風，倒壓其背，顏色不異，言談無輟，亦不顧視。 彌善射，常以堋的太闊，曰：「終日射侯，何難之有。」 乃取甘蔗插地，百步射之，十發十中。
At ten he discussed with Ji Jingyao the former worthies and past conduct. An attendant mistakenly knocked over a nanmu and pomegranate screen, which fell on his back; his expression did not change, his conversation did not pause, and he did not even look around. He excelled at archery and often said the target butt was too wide: "Shooting at the mark all day—what difficulty is there?" He stuck sugarcane stalks in the ground and shot at them from a hundred paces—ten shots, ten hits.
44
永明中，制諸王年未三十，不得畜妾。 及武帝晏駕後，有勸取左右者，鏗曰：「在內不無使役，既先朝遺旨，何忍而違。」
During Yongming a regulation was made that princes under thirty might not keep concubines. After Emperor Wu's death some urged him to take concubines; Qiang said, "Within the residence there are inevitably servants; since this was the former emperor's last command, how can I bear to violate it?"
45
及延興元年，明帝誅高、武、文惠諸子，鏗聞之，馮左右從容雅步，詠陸機吊魏武云：「昔以四海為己任，死則以愛子托人。」 如此者三，左右皆泣。 後果遣呂文顯賚藥往，夜進聽事，正逢八關齋。 鏗上高坐，謂文顯曰：「高皇昔寵任君，何事乃有今日之行？」 答云：「出不獲已。」 於是仰藥。 時年十八。 身長七尺，鏗狀似兄嶷，咸以國器許之。 及死，有識者莫不痛惜。
In the first year of Yanxing, when Emperor Ming killed the sons of Gao, Wu, and Wenhu, Qiang heard of it and, supported by his attendants, walked with easy, graceful steps, reciting Lu Ji's elegy for Cao Cao: "Once he took the four seas as his charge; in death he entrusted his beloved son to another." He did this three times; all around him wept. Later Lü Wenxian was sent with poisoned medicine; at night he entered the audience hall, just as the Eightfold Fast was being observed. Qiang sat on a high seat and said to Wenxian, "Emperor Gao once favored and trusted you—why this action today?" He answered, "I had no choice." He therefore swallowed the medicine. He was eighteen years old. He stood seven chi tall; Qiang resembled his elder brother Ying in appearance, and all regarded him as fit for the highest office. At his death all who knew him grieved.
46
初鏗出合時，年七歲，陶弘景為侍讀，八九年中，甚相接遇。 後弘景隱山，忽夢鏗來，慘然言別，云：「某日命過。 身無罪，後三年當生某家。」 弘景訪以幽中事，多秘不出。 覺後，即遣信出都參訪，果與事符同，弘景因著夢記云。
When Qiang first left the palace compound he was seven; Tao Hongjing served as his reader, and for eight or nine years they were much in contact. Later Hongjing retired to the mountains; suddenly he dreamed Qiang came, speaking mournfully of parting, saying, "On such-and-such a day my allotted life will end. I am without guilt; three years hence I will be born into such-and-such a family. Hongjing questioned him about affairs in the nether world; he mostly kept secrets and would not reveal them. After waking he sent a messenger to the capital to investigate; it matched the events exactly, and Hongjing therefore wrote a record of the dream.
47
河東王鉉字宣胤，高帝第十九子也。 母張氏，有寵于高帝，鉉又最幼，尤所留心。 高帝臨崩，以屬武帝，武帝甚加意焉，為納柳世隆女為妃。 武帝與群臣看新婦，流涕不自勝，豫章王嶷亦哽咽。 及明帝誅高帝諸子，以鉉高帝所愛，亦以才弱年幼，故得全。
Xuan, Prince of Hedong, whose style name was Xuanyin, was Emperor Gao's nineteenth son. His mother, of the Zhang clan, was favored by Emperor Gao; Xuan was also the youngest, and he paid special attention to him. On his deathbed Emperor Gao entrusted Xuan to Emperor Wu; Wu paid him very special attention and married him to the daughter of Liu Shilong. Emperor Wu and the ministers viewed the new bride; he wept uncontrollably, and the Prince of Yuzhang also choked with sobs. When Emperor Ming killed Emperor Gao's sons, because Xuan was beloved by Emperor Gao and was also weak in talent and young, he was spared.
48
初鉉年三四歲，高帝嘗晝臥纏發，鉉上高帝腹上弄繩，高帝因以繩賜鉉。 及崩後，鉉以寶函盛繩，歲時輒開視，流涕嗚咽。 人才甚凡，而有此一至。
Earlier, when Xuan was three or four, Emperor Gao was napping with his hair bound up; Xuan climbed onto his belly to play with the cord, and Emperor Gao gave him the cord. After the emperor's death Xuan kept the cord in a jeweled casket and each year at the proper season would open it to view, weeping and sobbing. His talent was very ordinary, yet he had this one excellence.
49
建武中，高、武子孫憂疑。 鉉朝見，常鞠躬俯僂，不敢正行直視。 尋遷侍中、衛將軍。
During Jianwu the descendants of Gao and Wu were anxious and suspicious. When Xuan attended court he constantly bowed low and stooped, not daring to walk straight or look directly ahead. Soon he was transferred to Palace Attendant and Guard General.
50
鉉年稍長。 四年，誅王晏，以謀立鉉為名，鉉免官，以王還第，禁不得與外人交通。 永泰元年，明帝疾暴甚，乃見害。 聞收至，欣然曰：「死生命也，終不斅建安乞為奴而不得。」 仰藥而卒。 鉉二子在孩抱，亦見殺。
Xuan gradually grew older. In the fourth year Wang Yan was executed on the charge of plotting to establish Xuan; Xuan was removed from office, returned to his residence as a prince, and forbidden contact with outsiders. In the first year of Yongtai Emperor Ming's illness suddenly worsened sharply, and Xuan was then killed. When he heard the arrest had come he said gladly, "Death and life are fate; I would never imitate Jian'an begging to be a slave and failing. He swallowed the medicine and died. Xuan's two sons were still in infancy and were also killed.
51
論曰：豫章文獻王珪璋之質，夙表天姿，行己所安，率由忠敬。 雖代宗之議早隆皇矚，而天倫之愛無虧永明，故知「為仁由己」，不虛言也。 自宋受晉終，馬氏遂為廢姓，齊受宋禪，劉宗盡見誅夷，梁武革齊，弗取前轍，子恪兄弟，並皆錄用，雖見梁武之弘裕，亦表文獻之余慶。 昔陳思表云：「權之所存，雖疏必重，勢之所去，雖親必輕。」 原夫此言，實存固本。 然就國之典，既隨代革，卿士入朝，作貴蕃輔，皇王托體，同稟尊極，仕無常資，秩有恆數，禮地兼隆，易生推擬。 武帝顧命，情深尊嫡，密圖遠算，意在求安。 以明帝同起布衣，用存顧托，遂韜末命于近戚，寄重任於疏親。 以為子弟布列，外有強大之固，支庶中立，可息覬覦之謀，表裏相維，洊隆家國。 曾不慮機能運衡，權可制眾，宗族殲滅，一至於斯。 曹植之言，遠有致矣。
The appraisal says: The Prince of Yuzhang possessed the quality of a ceremonial jade scepter; from early on he showed heaven's endowment; in conduct he followed what was right, always through loyalty and reverence. Though deliberation on the heir was early honored in the imperial gaze, affection within the family was not diminished in Yongming; thus one knows that "benevolence comes from oneself" is no empty saying. From the time Song received Jin's end the house of Ma became a discarded surname; when Qi received Song's abdication the Liu clan was entirely exterminated; when Liang Wu overturned Qi he did not follow the previous course—the brothers Zike and the rest were all employed; though this shows Liang Wu's magnanimity, it also manifests the remaining blessing of the Prince of Yuzhang. In former times Chen Si wrote in a memorial: "Where power resides, though distant one must treat as weighty; where power departs, though close one must treat as light." Considering this saying, it truly exists to strengthen the root. Yet the institution of princely states changed with each dynasty; ministers entering court became honored assistants in the provinces; imperial princes as embodiments of the body shared the same exalted parentage; offices had no fixed stipend, ranks had constant numbers; ritual status was doubly elevated, and rivalry easily arose. Emperor Wu's deathbed charge deeply honored the direct heir; his secret plans and far-reaching calculations aimed at securing the state. Because Emperor Ming rose together from common cloth, he kept the late emperor's trust in mind and therefore concealed the final command among close kin, entrusting heavy responsibility to distant kin. He thought that with sons and younger brothers arrayed, outwardly there would be a strong defense and among the branch lines a central stand could quell covetous schemes; inside and outside mutually sustaining, the house and state would repeatedly prosper. He never considered that when ability can turn the balance and power can control the multitude, the clan kin would be annihilated—to this degree. Cao Zhi's words had far-reaching application indeed.