Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Ruler

Chen Xu 陳頊

Died AD 582

Passages: 64
Chapters: 8
Histories: 1

Overview

The translated histories identify Chen Xu as a general, official, royal family member, and ruler. This record brings together 64 passages from 8 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Chen Xu	陳頊	Chen Xu
Personal name	Chen Xu	陳頊	Chen Xu
Temple name	Emperor Gaozong	高宗	Gaozong
Temple name	Emperor Xuan	高宗
Title	Emperor Xuan	高宗	Gaozong
Title	Emperor Xuan	高宗
Title	Emperor Xuan
Personal	Emperor Xuan of Chen	高宗	Chen Xuandi
Temple	Gaozong	高宗	Gaozong
Temple name	Gaozong	高宗	Gaozong
Title	Grand Tutor	太傅
Title	Prince of Ancheng	安成王
Given name	Xu	頊	Xu
Temple name		高宗

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · chenshu:004:s0015, chenshu:022:s0058, chenshu:023:s0030, chenshu:025:s0023, chenshu:032:s0050, chenshu:036:s0005
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · chenshu:029:s0013
Value: male
Explicit · chenshu:017:s0119

Roles

General
Official
Royal Family Member
Ruler

Life and dates

Death

Place: Hall of Extending Blessings / 宣福殿 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 高宗崩 · Western Year: AD 582
Explicit · chenshu:036:s0051
Explicit · chenshu:029:s0130

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 光大二年正月己亥 · Western Year: AD 568
Explicit · chenshu:004:s0065
Source Date: Text: 天嘉三年 · Western Year: AD 562
Explicit · chenshu:036:s0009
Source Date: Text: 天康元年 · Western Year: AD 566
Explicit · chenshu:004:s0126
Source Date: Text: 天康元年五月庚寅 · Western Year: AD 566
Explicit · chenshu:004:s0015
Source Date: Text: 太建二年 · Western Year: AD 570
Explicit event contextual date · chenshu:023:s0029, chenshu:023:s0030
Source Date: Text: 太建元年 · Western Year: AD 569
Explicit · chenshu:025:s0024
Source Date: Text: 梁承聖中 · Western Interval: Start: AD 552 · End: AD 554
Explicit · chenshu:036:s0006
Source Date: Text: 高宗即位 · Western Year: AD 569
Explicit · chenshu:017:s0119, chenshu:022:s0058
Source Date: Text: 高宗在位 · Western Interval: Start: AD 569 · End: AD 582
Explicit · chenshu:029:s0013, chenshu:029:s0108
Source Date: Text: 高宗崩 · Western Year: AD 582
Explicit · chenshu:036:s0051
Source Date: Text: 高宗輔政至即位 · Western Interval: Start: AD 567 · End: AD 582
Explicit · chenshu:032:s0050, chenshu:032:s0054

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Kin of Chen Bozong (陳伯宗)
Kinship Term: paternal uncle / 叔父 · Line: paternal
Kinship Term: paternal uncle / 叔 · Line: paternal · Generation Distance: 1
Spouse of Empress Liu (柳皇后)
Kinship Term: empress / 皇后 · Union Category: primary-marriage
Parent of Shuling (叔陵)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son · Object Birth Order: 2
Kinship Term: Shuling / 叔陵 · Parentage: biological
Kinship Term: second son / 第二子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father · Subject Birth Order: 2
Parent of the Last Emperor (後主)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Parent of Chen Shujian (陳叔堅)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Parent of Chen Shubao (陳叔寶)
Kinship Term: heir / 太子 · Parentage: biological
Parentage: biological
Child of Chen Baxian (陳霸先)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological
Sibling of Emperor Wen (世祖)
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Shared Parentage: uncertain · Subject Relative Age: elder
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Subject Relative Age: younger

Career and standing

Label: Commander of all armies within and without / 都督中外諸軍事 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天康元年五月庚寅 · Western Year: AD 566
Explicit · chenshu:004:s0015
Label: Grand General of Agile Cavalry / 驃騎大將軍 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天康元年五月庚寅 · Western Year: AD 566
Explicit · chenshu:004:s0015
Label: Recorder of the Masters of Writing / 錄尚書 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天康元年五月庚寅 · Western Year: AD 566
Explicit · chenshu:004:s0015
Label: grand tutor / 太傅 · Action: held
Explicit · chenshu:032:s0050
Label: Grand Tutor / 太傅 · Action: promoted · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 光大二年正月己亥 · Western Year: AD 568
Explicit · chenshu:004:s0065
Label: Minister over the Masses / 司徒 · Action: promoted · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天康元年五月庚寅 · Western Year: AD 566
Explicit · chenshu:004:s0015
Label: extraordinary honors; wear sword and shoes in the hall / 殊禮，劍履上殿 · Action: granted · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 光大二年正月己亥 · Western Year: AD 568
Explicit · chenshu:004:s0065
Action: ascended
Explicit · chenshu:022:s0058
Explicit · chenshu:029:s0108

Places and affiliations

Label: Chen / 陳 · Relation: served
Explicit · chenshu:004:s0015
Polity: Chen / 陳 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · chenshu:022:s0058

Works and attributed material

Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Yuan Xian (袁憲) · Quoted: true
Explicit · chenshu:029:s0134

Events and relationships

Kind: military order · Action: sent Zhang Zhaoda against Ouyang He · Other Person Id: Zhang Zhaoda (章昭達)
Explicit · chenshu:017:s0119
Kind: political · Role: ruler · Action: summoned · Other Person Id: Ouyang He (歐陽紇)
Explicit · chenshu:022:s0058

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: 固天生德，齊聖廣深 · Assessment En: virtuous by nature, sage and far-reaching · Provenance: Mode: named-speech · Speaker Person Id: Dowager Empress Cixun (慈訓太后)
Explicit · chenshu:004:s0115
Item: jade seal / 玉璽 · Relation: presented · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 光大二年五月景辰 · Western Year: AD 568
Explicit · chenshu:004:s0075

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Book of Chen, Chapter 4Volume 4: Emperor Fei · 8 passages

庚寅，以驃騎將軍、司空、揚州刺史、新除尚書令安成王頊為驃騎大將軍，進位司徒、錄尚書、都督中外諸軍事。 On gengyin day Xu, Prince of Ancheng—cavalry general, minister of works, inspector of Yangzhou, and newly appointed director of the Masters of Writing—was made grand general of agile cavalry, promoted to minister over the masses and recorder of the Masters of Writing, and given overall command of armies at court and in the field.

二年春正月己亥，侍中、都督中外諸軍事、驃騎大將軍、司徒、錄尚書、揚州刺史安成王頊進位太傅，領司徒，加殊禮，闰履上殿； On jihai day in the first month of year 2 Xu, Prince of Ancheng—palace attendant, commander of all armies, grand general of agile cavalry, minister over the masses, recorder of the Masters of Writing, and inspector of Yangzhou—was promoted to grand tutor, retained the post of minister over the masses, received extraordinary honors, and was allowed to wear shoes in the audience hall;

五月景辰，太傅安成王頊獻玉璽一。 On jingchen day of the fifth month Grand Tutor Xu, Prince of Ancheng, presented a jade seal.

太傅親承顧託，鎮守宮闈，遺誥綢繆，義深垣屏，而欑塗未御，翌日無淹，仍遣劉師知、殷不佞等顯言排斥。 The Grand Tutor had been entrusted in person to guard the palace; the late emperor's will bound him like a wall—yet the emperor never came to him on the first day of mourning, and on the very next day sent Liu Shizhi, Yin Buxin, and others to push him aside.

盪主侯法喜等，太傅麾下，恆遊府朝，啗以深利，謀興肘腋。 The steward Hou Faxi and others, who served in the Grand Tutor's household and frequented the court, were bought with heavy bribes to strike at close range.

太傅安成王固天生德，齊聖廣深，二后鍾心，三靈佇眷。 Grand Tutor Xu, Prince of Ancheng, is virtuous by nature, sage and far-reaching; both empresses trust him, and heaven and earth mark him out.

及疾將大漸，召高宗謂曰「吾欲遵太伯之事」，高宗初未達旨，後寤，乃拜伏涕泣，固辭。 As his illness deepened he called Emperor Xuan and said, "I mean to follow the Duke of Wu's example of yielding the throne." At first Emperor Xuan did not understand; when he did, he prostrated himself, wept, and refused.

〈宣帝紀〉〈Annals of Emperor Xuan〉

Book of Chen, Chapter 17Volume 17: Wang Chong; Wang Tong; Yuan Jing · 1 passage

高宗即位，遣章昭達率眾討紇，紇將敗之時，恨不納敬言。 When Emperor Xuan came to the throne, he sent Zhang Zhaoda with an army against He. As defeat closed in, He regretted not having listened to Jing.

Book of Chen, Chapter 22Volume 22: Lu Zilong, Qian Daoji, Luo Ya · 1 passage

高宗即位，徵歐陽紇入朝，紇疑懼，乃舉兵來攻衡州，道戢與戰，卻之。 When Gaozong took the throne, he summoned Ouyang He to court. Suspicious and afraid, He raised troops against Hengzhou, but Daoji fought him off.

Book of Chen, Chapter 23Volume 23: Shen Junli; Wang Yang; Lu Shan · 5 passages

二年，高宗以君理女為皇太子妃，賜爵望蔡縣侯，邑五百戶。 In year 2, Emperor Xuan made Junli's daughter consort to the crown prince and granted Junli the title marquis of Wangcai county, with five hundred households.

以家門外戚，早居清顯，歷太子舍人、洗馬、中舍人、高宗司空府從事中郎、廷尉卿。 Because his family were imperial in-laws, he early held prestigious clean posts: secretary to the heir apparent, groom, inner secretary, attendant gentleman in Emperor Xuan's minister of works office, and minister of justice.

高宗即位，太建元年，復除侍中，領左驍騎將軍。 When Emperor Xuan took the throne, in the first year of Taijian Yang was again appointed palace attendant and commander of the left valiant cavalry.

繕子辯惠，年數歲，詔引入殿內，辯惠應對進止有父風，高宗因賜名辯惠，字敬仁云。 Shan's son Bianhui was only a few years old when an edict summoned him into the palace. In his replies and bearing he showed his father's manner, and Emperor Xuan therefore bestowed the name Bianhui, with the style Jingren.

繕兄子見賢，亦方雅，高宗為揚州牧，乃以為治中從事史，深被知遇。 Shan's nephew Jianxian was likewise upright and refined. When Emperor Xuan was governor of Yangzhou, he appointed him clerk for administration, and Jianxian enjoyed his deep favor.

Book of Chen, Chapter 25Volume 25: Pei Ji; Sun Yang · 3 passages

及華皎稱兵上流，高宗時為錄尚書輔政，盡命眾軍出討，委忌總知中外城防諸軍事。 When Hua Jiao rebelled upriver, Emperor Xuan was regent as recorder of the Secretariat. He sent every army against Jiao and put Ji in charge of all city defenses, within and without.

及皎平，高宗即位，太建元年，授東陽太守，改封樂安縣侯，邑一千戶。 After Jiao fell, Emperor Xuan succeeded. In the first year of Taijian (569) Ji was made administrator of Dongyang and re-enfeoffed as Marquis of Le'an with one thousand households.

高宗即位，以瑒功名素著，深委任焉。 When Emperor Xuan succeeded, Yang's record and fame were already great, and the emperor relied on him heavily.

Book of Chen, Chapter 29Volume 29: Zong Yuanrao; Sima Shen; Mao Xi; Cai Zheng · 24 passages

時高宗初即位，軍國務廣，事無巨細，一以咨之，臺省號為稱職。 At the time Emperor Xuan had just come to the throne, and military and state affairs were extensive; on matters great and small he consulted Yuanrao, and the central offices called him equal to his office.

高祖素知於喜，及鎮京口，命喜與高宗俱往江陵，仍敕高宗曰：「汝至西朝，可諮稟毛喜。」 The Founder had long known Xi, and when he was stationed at Jingkou he ordered Xi to go with Emperor Xuan to Jiangling, telling Emperor Xuan, "When you reach the western court, you may consult Mao Xi."

喜與高宗同謁梁元帝，即以高宗為領直，喜為尚書功論侍郎。 Xi and Emperor Xuan together had audience with Emperor Yuan of Liang, who then made Emperor Xuan leader of direct service and Xi merit-evaluation gentleman attendant in the masters of writing.

及江陵陷，喜及高宗俱遷關右。 When Jiangling fell, Xi and Emperor Xuan were both moved west of the passes.

及高宗反國，喜於郢州奉迎。 When Emperor Xuan returned to Chen, Xi welcomed him at Yingzhou.

又遣喜入關，以家屬為請。 Xi was again sent into the passes to request the return of Emperor Xuan's family.

天嘉三年至京師，高宗時為驃騎將軍，仍以喜為府諮議參軍，領中記室。 They reached the capital in Tianjia year 3. Emperor Xuan was then general of agile cavalry, and he made Xi advising staff officer in his headquarters and put him in charge of the central records office.

世祖嘗謂高宗曰：「我諸子皆以『伯』為名，汝諸兒宜用『叔』為稱。」 Emperor Wen once told Emperor Xuan, "All my sons take 'Bo' in their names; your sons should use 'Shu' in their style."

高宗以訪于喜，喜即條牒自古名賢杜叔英、虞叔卿等二十餘人以啟世祖，世祖稱善。 Emperor Xuan consulted Xi; Xi at once listed more than twenty famous men of antiquity such as Du Shuying and Yu Shuqing and reported them to Emperor Wen, and Emperor Wen praised it.

世祖崩，廢帝沖昧，高宗錄尚書輔政，僕射到仲舉等知朝望有歸，乃矯太后令遣高宗還東府，當時疑懼，無敢措言。 When Emperor Wen died, the Deposed Emperor was young and ignorant; Emperor Xuan assumed the recorded affairs of the masters of writing as regent; vice director Dao Zhongju and others knew that court expectation had a direction and therefore forged an empress dowager order sending Emperor Xuan back to the eastern palace; at the time there was doubt and fear, and none dared speak.

喜即馳入，謂高宗曰：「陳有天下日淺，海內未夷，兼國禍併鍾，萬邦危懼。 Xi at once galloped in and told Emperor Xuan, "Chen has held the realm only a short time; within the seas it is not yet pacified; moreover national misfortune has struck together, and the myriad states are in peril and fear.

右衛將軍韓子高始與仲舉通謀，其事未發，喜請高宗曰：「宜簡選人馬，配與子高，并賜鐵炭，使脩器甲。」 Right guard general Han Zigao at first conspired with Zhongju; the affair had not yet broken out; Xi asked Emperor Xuan, "You should select men and horses, assign them to Zigao, and also grant iron and charcoal so he may repair weapons and armor."

高宗驚曰：「子高謀反，即欲收執，何為更如是邪？」 Emperor Xuan was startled and said, "Zigao plots rebellion—we should at once seize him; why do this further?"

高宗深然之，卒行其計。 Emperor Xuan deeply approved and in the end carried out the plan.

高宗即位，除給事黃門侍郎，兼中書舍人，典軍國機密。 When Emperor Xuan came to the throne, Xi was appointed attendant gentleman of the Yellow Gate and concurrently secretariat attendant, managing confidential military and state affairs.

高宗將議北伐，敕喜撰軍制，凡十三條，詔頒天下，文多不載。 When Emperor Xuan was preparing to deliberate on the northern campaign, he ordered Xi to draft military regulations in thirteen articles, which were promulgated throughout the realm; much of the text is not preserved here.

又遣員外散騎常侍杜緬圖其墓田，高宗親與緬案圖指畫，其見重如此。 The court also sent supernumerary regular attendant of the scattered cavalry Du Mian to draw a plan of her burial land; Emperor Xuan personally reviewed the plan with Mian and marked it out. Such was the esteem shown Xi.

及眾軍北伐，得淮南地，喜陳安邊之術，高宗納之，即日施行。 When the mass of armies marched north and gained the lands south of the Huai, Xi presented methods for securing the border; Emperor Xuan adopted them and put them into effect that very day.

高宗不從。 Emperor Xuan did not follow him.

後吳明徹陷周，高宗謂喜曰：「卿之所言，驗於今矣。」 Later Wu Mingche was defeated by Zhou; Emperor Xuan told Xi, "What you said has been verified today."

及高宗崩，叔陵構逆，敕中庶子陸瓊宣旨，令南北諸軍，皆取喜處分。 When Emperor Xuan died, Shuling plotted treason; an order had central palace attendant Lu Qiong proclaim the intent, ordering northern and southern armies alike to take Xi's disposition.

初，高宗委政於喜，喜亦勤心納忠，多所匡益，數有諫諍，事並見從，由是十餘年閒，江東狹小，遂稱全盛。 At first Emperor Xuan entrusted government to Xi; Xi also devoted his heart in loyal service, with much correction and benefit; he often remonstrated and his advice was followed—in more than ten years, though the Jiangdong realm was small, it was called fully flourishing.

唯略地淮北，不納喜謀，而吳明徹竟敗，高宗深悔之，謂袁憲曰：「不用毛喜計，遂令至此，朕之過也。」 Only in seizing land north of the Huai did he not take Xi's advice; Wu Mingche was defeated in the end. Emperor Xuan deeply regretted it and told Yuan Xian, "Had I followed Mao Xi's plan, this would not have happened—it is my fault."

喜既益親，乃言無回避，而皇太子好酒德，每共幸人為長夜之宴，喜嘗為言，高宗以誡太子，太子陰患之，至是稍見疏遠。 As Xi grew closer still, he spoke without reserve. Yet the heir apparent loved wine and nightly revels with his favorites. Xi often remonstrated; Emperor Xuan used this to warn the heir, who secretly resented him and by then had grown somewhat distant.

Book of Chen, Chapter 32Volume 32: Filial Piety · 8 passages

及世祖崩，廢帝嗣立，高宗為太傅，錄尚書輔政，甚為朝望所歸。 When Emperor Wen died, the Deposed Emperor succeeded; Emperor Xuan was grand tutor and recorded affairs of the Secretariat to assist in government, and was greatly where court expectation turned.

不佞素以名節自立，又受委東宮，乃與僕射到仲舉、中書舍人劉師知、尚書右丞王暹等，謀矯詔出高宗。 Buning had always stood on his reputation for integrity and had again been entrusted by the eastern palace. He therefore joined vice director Dao Zhongju, Secretariat attendant Liu Shizhi, right vice director Wang Xian, and others in plotting to forge an edict removing Emperor Xuan.

及事發，仲舉等皆伏誅，高宗雅重不佞，特赦之，免其官而已。 When the affair broke, Zhongju and the rest were all executed. Emperor Xuan had long valued Buning and specially pardoned him, merely stripping his office.

高宗即位，以為軍師始興王諮議參軍，加招遠將軍。 At the time, emperor Xuan took the throne, he was made staff adviser and military strategist to the Prince of Shixing, with the additional rank of recruit-the-distance general.

俄而高宗崩，叔陵肆逆，府僚多相連逮，唯貞與卓獨不坐。 Shortly Emperor Xuan died and Shuling committed outrage; many staff members were implicated and seized—only Zhen and Zhuo were not charged.

太建八年，自周還朝，高宗特降殊禮，賞錫有加。 In Taijian year 8, returning from Zhou, Emperor Xuan granted him special honors and rich rewards.

高宗世有太原王知玄者，僑居于會稽剡縣，居家以孝聞。 In Emperor Xuan's time Wang Zhixuan of Taiyuan lived as a sojourner in Yan county, Kuaiji, and was famed at home for filial piety.

及丁父憂，哀毀而卒，高宗嘉之，詔改其所居清苦里為「孝家里」云。 When his father died he mourned himself to death; Emperor Xuan praised him and renamed his lane, Qingku, "Filial Home Lane."

Book of Chen, Chapter 36Volume 36: Chen Shuling, Prince of Shixing; Chen Bogu, Prince of Xin'an · 14 passages

始興王叔陵字子嵩，高宗之第二子也。 Prince of Shixing Chen Shuling, styled Zisong, was Emperor Gaozong's second son.

梁承聖中，高宗在江陵為直閤將軍，而叔陵生焉。 During Liang's Chengsheng reign, Emperor Gaozong was at Jiangling as direct-gate general when Shuling was born.

江陵陷，高宗遷關右，叔陵留于穰城。 After Jiangling fell, Emperor Gaozong withdrew to Guanzhong while Shuling stayed behind at Rangcheng.

高宗之還也，以後主及叔陵為質。 On Emperor Gaozong's return, the Last Ruler and Shuling were held as hostages.

州縣無敢上言，高宗弗之知也。 Local officials dared not report up the chain, and Emperor Gaozong never learned of it.

高宗譴責御史中丞王政，以不舉奏免政官，又黜其典籤親事，仍加鞭捶。 Emperor Gaozong rebuked censor-in-chief Wang Zheng for not reporting him, stripped Zheng of office, dismissed his recorder and personal staff, and had them flogged besides.

高宗素愛叔陵，不繩之以法，但責讓而已。 Emperor Gaozong had long favored Shuling and would not restrain him by law, only scold him.

及高宗不豫，太子諸王並入侍疾。 When Emperor Gaozong fell ill, the crown prince and all princes came in to attend him.

高宗崩于宣福殿，翌日旦，後主哀頓俯伏，叔陵以剉藥刀斫後主中項。 Emperor Gaozong died in the Hall of Extending Blessings; at dawn the next day, as the Last Ruler lay prostrate in grief, Shuling struck him in the back of the neck with a medicine knife.

自大行皇帝寢疾，翌日未瘳，叔陵以貴介之地，參侍醫藥，外無戚容，內懷逆弒。 From the day the late emperor fell ill, by the morrow he had not recovered; Shuling, in honored rank at the bedside, showed no sorrow outwardly while nursing regicide within.

暠，叔陵舅也，初隨高宗在關中，頗有勤效，因藉叔陵將領歷陽、衡陽二郡。 Hao was Shuling's uncle on his mother's side; he had followed Emperor Gaozong in Guanzhong with some merit and, through Shuling's favor, held command over Liyang and Hengyang.

伯固性嗜酒，而不好積聚，所得祿俸，用度無節，酣醉以後，多所乞丐，於諸王之中，最為貧窶，高宗每矜之，特加賞賜。 Bogu loved wine and would not save; his salary vanished without plan, and when drunk he often begged from others. Among the princes he was the poorest, and Emperor Gaozong often pitied him and gave special gifts.

伯固雅性輕率，好行鞭捶，在州不知政事，日出田獵，或乘眠轝至於草間，輒呼民下從遊，動至旬日，所捕獐鹿，多使生致，高宗頗知之，遣使責讓者數矣。 Bogu was frivolous by nature and fond of the whip. In his province he ignored government, hunted by day, sometimes rode a sleeping litter into the meadows, and called commoners to join him for outings that could last ten days. The deer and boar he took he mostly had brought in alive. Emperor Gaozong knew of it and sent envoys to rebuke him more than once.

後主初在東宮，與伯固甚相親狎，伯固又善嘲謔，高宗每宴集，多引之。 When the Last Ruler was still crown prince in the Eastern Palace, he and Bogu were very close. Bogu was also skilled at banter, and Emperor Gaozong often summoned him to feasts.