Chang Si (常思) | 24 Histories

Overview

Chang Si was a general.

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Kegong	克恭	Kègōng
Alternate name	Uncle Chang	常叔

Life and dates

Death

AD 954 顯德元年春
Age Value: 69 · Reckoning: Sui · Source Text: 年六十有九
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 20
At Luoyang 洛陽
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 150

Age

69
AD 954 顯德元年春 · Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 20

Attested activity

AD 953 三年夏
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 16
AD 948 乾佑初
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 8
AD 949 乾祐二年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 102, passage 93
AD 948 乾祐元年
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 11, passage 19
AD 923 唐莊宗
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 140
AD 908 to AD 923 唐莊宗之為晉王也
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 3

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AD 951 太祖受命
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 13
AD 953 廣順三年
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 148
AD 953 廣順三年五月丁亥
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passage 27
AD 953 廣順三年夏四月戊辰
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passage 13
AD 952 廣順二年秋
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 15
AD 947 to AD 952 思在上黨凡五年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 10
AD 936 晉初
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 4
AD 948 to AD 949 李守貞河中之叛／圍城
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 109, passage 136
AD 947 漢國初建
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 6
AD 947 漢有天下
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 7
AD 948 to AD 949 漢遣白文珂、常思等出軍擊之
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passage 76
AD 947 漢高祖
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passages 142-143
AD 936 to AD 947 漢高祖出鎮並門
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 5
AD 954 顯德元年春
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 20
AD 954 顯德元年春正月甲申
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passage 133

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Chang Renyue (常仁嶽)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 2
Kin of Guo Wei (郭威)
uncle 叔 · Claimed parentage
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 146
Spouse of Wife of Chang Si (常思妻)
wife 妻
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 147
Spouse of Wife of Chang Si (常思妻)
wife 妻
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 14

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Councilor of State 平章事
AD 951 太祖受命 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 13
chief inspector of the Six Armies 六軍都虞候
AD 936 晉初 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 4
acting Grand Guardian 檢校太保
AD 947 漢國初建 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 6
nominal jurisdiction over Deng Prefecture 遙領鄧州
AD 947 漢國初建 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 6
acting Grand Marshal 檢校太尉
AD 947 漢有天下 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 7
military governor of Zhaoyi 昭義軍節度使
AD 947 漢有天下 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 7

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Commissioner with Protocol of the Three Excellencies 開府儀同三司
AD 954 顯德元年春正月甲申 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passage 134
commander of the Hedong fortress garrison 河東牢城都指揮使
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 5
Laocheng garrison commander 牢城指揮使
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 142
Palace Attendant 侍中
AD 952 廣順二年秋 · Concurrent
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 15
military governor of Songzhou 宋州節度使
AD 953 廣順三年夏四月戊辰 · Held · At Songzhou 宋州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passage 13
chief officer of the Long-Duty Guard 長直都校
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 3
commander of the Fengsheng Army 捧聖軍使
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 3
deputy commander of the Six Armies 六軍都虞候
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 141
Long Sword commander 長劍指揮使
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 140
Wusheng military commissioner 武勝軍節度使
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 143
military governor of Pinglu 平盧軍節度使
AD 953 三年夏 · Reassigned
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 16
former Zhaoyi command 舊藩
Recalled
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 9
military governor of Qingzhou 青州節度使
AD 953 廣順三年夏四月戊辰 · Transferred to · At Qingzhou 青州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passages 13, 27
military governor at Song Prefecture 移鎮宋州
AD 952 廣順二年秋 · Transferred
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 15
Director of the Secretariat 中書令
Posthumously granted
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 21
Grand Councilor 中書令
Posthumously granted
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 150
Duke of Lai 萊國公
AD 954 顯德元年春正月甲申 · Advanced
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passage 133

Places and affiliations

AD 951 太祖受命
Polity Later Zhou 周 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 13
AD 936 晉初
Polity Later Jin 晉 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 4
AD 947 漢國初建
Polity Later Han 漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passages 6-7
AD 954 顯德元年春正月甲申
Polity Later Zhou 後周 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passage 133
Polity Later Zhou 後周 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passage 13
At Taiyuan 太原
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 1; New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 139

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AD 953 廣順三年
At Guide / Song 歸德 / 宋 · Relation Governed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 148
AD 953 廣順三年夏四月戊辰
At Qingzhou 青州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passages 13, 27
AD 953 廣順三年夏四月戊辰
At Songzhou 宋州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passages 13, 27
AD 952 廣順二年秋
At Song Prefecture 宋州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 15
AD 947 to AD 952 思在上黨凡五年
At Shangdang 上黨 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 10
AD 954 顯德元年春正月甲申
At Qingzhou 青州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passage 133
At Hedong 河東 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 5
At Luoyang 洛 · Relation Returned to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 19
At Pinglu / Qingzhou 平盧 / 青州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passages 148, 150
At Zhaoyi / Luzhou 昭義 / 潞州 · Relation Governed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passages 143, 145

Works and attributed material

Requested silk be collected for the state
AD 953 廣順三年五月丁亥 · Petition · Author
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passage 27
Memorial · Author · With Taizu (太祖) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 17
Petition · Author · Direct quotation · With Guo Wei (郭威)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 148
He must be coming to scrounge wine. 彼必是來獵酒也。
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 11

Events and relationships

Accompanied
Political · Companion · With Gaozu of Han (漢高祖) · At Bing Gate 並門
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 5
Asked court to levy silk
Political · Petitioner · With Taizu (太祖)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passages 17-18
Came to court
AD 952 廣順二年秋 · Political · Subject
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 15
Dismissed visitor after drink
Personal · Host
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passages 11-12
Enlisted
AD 908 to AD 923 唐莊宗之為晉王也 · Military · Recruit · With Zhuangzong of Tang (唐莊宗)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 3
Failed to control troops
AD 948 乾佑初 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 9

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Ordered to support
AD 948 乾佑初 · Military · Supporting commander · With Taizu (太祖) · At Hezhong 河中
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 8
Released silk and asked levy into state stores
AD 953 廣順三年五月丁亥 · Fiscal · Petitioner · At Songzhou 宋州 · Quantity 41,400 taels of silk 絲四萬一千四百兩
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passage 27
Requested leave to seek physician
Medical · Patient
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 19
Sent against rebels
AD 948 to AD 949 漢遣白文珂、常思等出軍擊之 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passage 76
Sent to punish
Military · Commander · With Li Shouzhen (李守貞)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 109, passage 136
Sheltered orphaned youth
Patronage · Host · With Guo Wei (郭威)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 146
Transferred
AD 953 廣順三年夏四月戊辰 · Appointment · Appointee · At Qingzhou 青州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passage 13
Relation Treated as younger paternal uncle of · Person Taizu (太祖) · Kinship Term younger uncle 季父
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 14

Assessments and attributes

Assessment diligent and capable · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 5
Assessment no reputation worth mentioning; devoted to extortion; coarse and miserly; never hosted staff · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passages 10, 12
Assessment rose without battle merit; stingy yet extortionate · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passages 144-145
contracted wind-paralysis
Illness
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 19
AD 953 廣順三年五月丁亥
Item 41,400 taels of silk from the sun-tax office 日出放得絲四萬一千四百兩 · Relation Released · At Songzhou 宋州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passage 27
Item more than a hundred thousand taels of silk 絲十餘萬兩 · Relation Offered · At Song Prefecture 宋州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 17

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 113, passage 13; Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 1; New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passage 76

References in the histories

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History

27 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 102Volume 102 Book of Later Jin 4: Emperor Yin Annals 2 · 1 passage

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潞州節度使、充河中一行副都署常思加檢校太師； the Lu Prefecture military governor and concurrent deputy commander of the Hezhong campaign Chang Si was given the additional title of Acting Grand Preceptor;

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 109Volume 109 Book of Later Jin 11: Biographies 6: Du Zhongwei, Li Shouzhen, Zhao Siwan · 1 passage

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朝廷命白文珂、常思等領兵問罪，復遣樞密使郭威西征。 The court sent Bai Wenke, Chang Si, and others to punish him, and dispatched Military Affairs Commissioner Guo Wei on a western campaign.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 113Volume 113 Book of Later Zhou 15: Taizu Annals 4 · 3 passages

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戊辰，河中節度使王景移鎮鳳翔，宋州節度使常思移鎮青州，鳳翔節度使趙暉移鎮宋州，河陽節度使王彥超移鎮河中。 On wuchen Wang Jing (Hezhong) moved to Fengxiang, Chang Si (Songzhou) to Qingzhou, Zhao Hui (Fengxiang) to Songzhou, and Wang Yanchao (Heyang) to Hezhong.

丁亥，新授青州節度使常思在宋州日出放得絲四萬一千四百兩，請征入官。 On dinghai newly appointed Qingzhou military governor Chang Si, still at Songzhou, released 41,400 taels of silk from the sun-tax office and asked that it be seized for the state.

甲申，宋州趙暉進封韓國公，青州常思進封萊國公，徐州王晏進封滕國公，鄧州侯章進封申國公，西京武行德進封譙國公，許州郭從義加檢校太師，鳳翔王景進封褒國公，華州孫方諫進封蕭國公。 On jiashen Zhao Hui of Songzhou became Duke of Han; Chang Si of Qingzhou, Duke of Lai; Wang Yan of Xuzhou, Duke of Teng; Hou Zhang of Dengzhou, Duke of Shen; Wu Xingde of Luoyang, Duke of Qiao; Guo Congyi of Xu Prefecture was made acting grand preceptor; Wang Jing of Fengxiang, Duke of Bao; and Sun Fangjian of Huazhou, Duke of Xiao.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 129Volume 129 Book of Later Zhou 31: Biographies 9: Chang Si, Di Guangye, Cao Ying, Li Yanyun, Li Hui, Li Jianchong, Wang Zhongyi, Sun Hanyin, Xu Qian, Zhao Feng, Qi Cangzhen, Wang Huan, Zhang Yanchao, Zhang Ying, Liu Renshan · 10 passages

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常思，字克恭，太原人也。 Chang Si, whose style name was Kegong, came from Taiyuan.

唐莊宗之為晉王也，廣募勝兵，時思以趫悍應募，累從戎役，後為長直都校，歷捧聖軍使。 When Zhuangzong of Tang was still Prince of Jin, he recruited elite troops on a wide scale; Si enlisted then for his swift, fierce prowess, fought in campaign after campaign, later became chief officer of the Long-Duty Guard, and in time rose to command the Fengsheng Army.

漢高祖出鎮並門，奏以思從行，尋表為河東牢城都指揮使，以勤幹見稱。 When Gaozu of Han took up his post at Bing Gate, he had Si accompany him by memorial; Si was soon appointed commander of the Hedong fortress garrison and became known for his diligent, capable service.

乾佑初，李守貞叛於河中，太祖征之，朝廷命思帥部兵以副焉。 In the first year of Qianyou, Li Shouzhen rebelled at Hezhong; Taizu marched against him, and the court ordered Si to lead his division in support.

思在上黨凡五年，無令譽可稱，唯以聚斂為務，性又鄙吝，未嘗與賓佐有酒肴之會。 Si spent five years in all at Shangdang without a reputation worth the name; he devoted himself solely to squeezing revenue, and by nature he was coarse and miserly—he never once shared food and wine with his staff.

嘗有從事欲求謁見者，思覽刺而怒曰：「彼必是來獵酒也。」 Once a staff member asked to see him; Si read the calling card and snapped, "He must be coming to scrounge wine."

太祖受命，就加平章事。 When Taizu received the Mandate, Si was at once made a Councilor of State.

初，太祖微時，以季父待思，及即位，遣其妻入覲，太祖拜之如家人之禮，仍呼曰叔母，其恩顧如是。 In the old days, when Taizu was still obscure, he had treated Si as a younger uncle; after he took the throne he had Si's wife come to court, bowed to her with the courtesy of family, and still called her Aunt—such was the grace he showed them.

廣順二年秋，思來朝，加兼侍中，移鎮宋州。 In the autumn of Guangshun year two, Si came to court, was given the additional title of Palace Attendant, and was transferred to Song Prefecture.

思將赴鎮，奏太祖云：「臣在宋州出鎮，得絲十餘萬兩，謹以上進，請行征督。」 As Si was about to leave for his new command he memorialized Taizu: "When I departed Song Prefecture I had more than a hundred thousand taels of silk, which I respectfully offer upward; please have it levied and collected."

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 11Volume 11 Later Zhou Annals 2: Taizu · 2 passages

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是歲三月，河中李守貞、永興趙思綰、鳳翔王景崇相次反，隱帝遣白文珂、郭從義、常思等分討之，久皆無功。 In the third month of that year Li Shouzhen at Hezhong, Zhao Sixian at Yongxing, and Wang Jingchong at Fengxiang rose one after another. The Hidden Emperor dispatched Bai Wenke, Guo Congyi, Chang Si, and others on separate campaigns, yet month after month they could not break the rebels.

威至河中，自柵其城東，思柵其南，文珂柵其西，調五縣丁二萬人築連壘以護三柵。 At Hezhong Wei walled the east, Chang Si the south, and Bai Wenke the west, while twenty thousand laborers from five counties threw up connecting works to guard the three siegelines.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 49Volume 49 Miscellaneous Biographies 29: Di Guangye, Feng Hui, Huang Fuhui, Tang Jingsi, Wang Jin, Chang Si, Sun Fangjian · 9 passages

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常思 Chang Si

常思字克恭，太原人也。 Chang Si, styled Kegong, came from Taiyuan.

漢高祖為河東節度使，以思為牢城指揮使。 When Han Gaozu governed Hedong, he made Si commander of the Laocheng garrison.

高祖入立，領武勝軍節度使，徙鎮昭義。 When Gaozu took the throne, Si held the Wusheng commission and was shifted to Zhaoyi.

思起軍卒，未嘗有戰功，徒以幸會漢興，遂秉旄節。 Si rose from the ranks without battle merit and held a commissioner’s baton only by the luck of Han’s rise.

初，思微時，周太祖方少孤無依，食于思家，以思為叔，後思與周太祖俱遭漢以取富貴。 When Si was still obscure, young Zhou Taizu was orphaned and ate at his home, calling him uncle. Later both rode Han’s rise to wealth and rank.

周太祖已即位，每呼思為常叔，拜其妻，如家人禮。 Once Zhou Taizu reigned, he always called Si Uncle Chang and bowed to his wife as kin.

廣順三年，徙鎮歸德，居三年來朝，又徙平盧，思因啟曰：「臣居宋，宋民負臣絲息十萬兩，願以券上進。」 In the third year of Guangshun he was moved to Guide. Three years later he came to court, then was shifted to Pinglu. Si petitioned: "When I governed Song, the people owed me one hundred thousand taels in silk interest. I wish to present the bonds to Your Majesty."

思居青州，踰年得疾，歸于洛陽，卒，贈中書令。 At Qingzhou he fell ill within a year, returned to Luoyang, and died. He was posthumously made Grand Councilor.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 52Volume 52 Miscellaneous Biographies 32: Du Zhongwei, Li Zhouzhen, Zhang Yanze · 1 passage

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漢遣白文珂、常思等出軍擊之。 Han sent Bai Wenke, Chang Si, and others out with troops to strike them.