Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · emperor of Liang

Emperor Jianwen of Liang 簡文帝

Liáng Jiǎnwéndì

Attested AD 523 - AD 552

Passages: 24
Chapters: 10
Histories: 3

Overview

Emperor Jianwen of Liang was an emperor of Liang.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Xiao Gang	蕭綱
Temple name	Taizong	太宗	Tàizōng

Life and dates

Death

Killed
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 15

Attested activity

AD 549 太清三年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 166
AD 548 to AD 551 Hou Jing rebellion
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 13, passage 111
AD 548 to AD 552 侯景亂
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 16, passage 32
AD 535 大同元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 24, passages 151-152
AD 547 to AD 549 太清中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 14, passages 52-53
AD 548 太清二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 37, passages 131, 135

Show 5 more source-backed claims

AD 547 太清初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 32, passages 19-20
AD 523 普通四年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 141
AD 549 to AD 551 梁簡文
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 18, passage 34
AD 549 to AD 551 簡文第三而踐尊位
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 79, passage 190
AD 551 to AD 551 簡文遇害
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 15

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Princess Nan'a (南沙公主)
daughter 女
Directly stated · Book of Chen 24, passage 151

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Secretly appointed Xun Lang to fight Hou Jing
Directly stated · Book of Chen 13, passage 111

Places and affiliations

Liang 梁
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Chen 24, passage 151
Liang
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 34

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With He Jingrong (何敬容)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 37, passage 131
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Chen 32, passage 25

Events and relationships

Political · Confined ruler · With Hou Jing (侯景)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 32, passage 23

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Liang 37, passage 131

References in the histories

Search passages

History

24 passages

Book of Chen, Chapter 13Volume 13: Xu Shipu; Lu Xida; Zhou Fu; Xun Lang; Zhou Jiong · 1 passage

臺城陷後，簡文帝密詔授朗雲麾將軍、豫州刺史，令與外藩討景。 After the capital fell, Emperor Jianwen of Liang secretly made him cloud-banner general and inspector of Yu and ordered him, with the outer provinces, to crush Jing.

Book of Chen, Chapter 14Volume 14: Chen Chang; Chen Tanlang · 1 passage

休先少倜儻有大志，梁簡文之在東宮，深被知遇。 Xiuxian was daring and ambitious in youth; when Emperor Jianwen of Liang was crown prince he won deep favor.

Book of Chen, Chapter 16Volume 16: Zhao Zhili; Cai Jingli; Liu Shizhi; Xie Qi · 1 passage

侯景亂，梁簡文帝為景所幽，景歷與南康嗣王蕭會理謀，欲挾簡文出奔，事泄見執，賊黨王偉保護之，獲免。 In Hou Jing's rebellion Emperor Jianwen was held by Jing. Jingli and the heir of Nankang, Xiao Huili, plotted to carry the emperor off, but the plot was discovered and he was arrested. The rebel Wang Wei shielded him and he survived.

Book of Chen, Chapter 18Volume 18: Shen Zhong; Yuan Bi; Liu Zhongwei; Lu Shancai; Wang Zhi; Wei Zai · 1 passage

是時泌兄君正為吳郡太守，梁簡文板泌為東宮領直，令往吳中召募士卒。 At that time his elder brother Junzheng was administrator of Wu commandery. Emperor Jianwen of Liang commissioned Bi as leader of direct service in the eastern palace and sent him to Wu to raise troops.

Book of Chen, Chapter 19Volume 19: Shen Jiong; Yu Li; Ma Shu · 1 passage

及簡文遇害，四方岳牧皆上表於江陵勸進，僧辯令炯製表，其文甚工，當時莫有逮者。 After Emperor Jianwen was killed, governors everywhere sent memorials to Jiangling urging a new throne. Sengbian had Jiong draft them. None of the age could match his craft.

Book of Chen, Chapter 24Volume 24: Zhou Hongzheng; Yuan Xian · 1 passage

以貴公子選尚南沙公主，即梁簡文之女也。 As a nobleman's son he was chosen to marry Princess Nansha, daughter of Liang's Emperor Jianwen.

Book of Chen, Chapter 32Volume 32: Filial Piety · 6 passages

簡文又以不害善事親，賜其母蔡氏錦裙襦、氈席、被褥，單復畢備。 Emperor Jianwen of Liang also, because Buhai was skilled at serving his parents, bestowed on his mother Lady Cai brocade skirts and jackets, felt mats, quilts, and bedding, single and double layers all complete.

侯景之亂，不害從簡文入臺。 During Hou Jing's rebellion Buhai followed Emperor Jianwen of Liang into the Inner City.

及臺城陷，簡文在中書省，景帶甲將兵入朝陛見，過謁簡文。 At the time, the Inner City fell, Emperor Jianwen was in the Secretariat. Jing, in armor and leading troops, entered court for audience at the steps and passed by to pay respects to Emperor Jianwen.

及簡文為景所幽，遣人請不害與居處，景許之，不害供侍益謹。 When Emperor Jianwen was confined by Jing, he sent someone to request that Buhai dwell with him; Jing assented, and Buhai waited on him with ever greater care.

簡文夜夢吞一塊土，意甚不悅，以告不害，不害曰：「昔晉文公出奔，野人遺之塊，卒反晉國，陛下此夢，事符是乎？」 Emperor Jianwen one night dreamed he swallowed a clod of earth and was very displeased. He told Buhai, and Buhai said, "In old times Duke Wen of Jin went into exile; a rustic gave him a clod, and in the end he returned to Jin. Your Majesty's dream—does the matter match this?"

簡文曰：「若天有徵，冀斯言不妄。」 Emperor Jianwen said, "If Heaven sends a sign, I hope these words are not in vain."

Book of Liang, Chapter 30Volume 30: Pei Ziye; Gu Xie; Xu Chi; Bao Quan · 8 passages

會晉安王綱出戍石頭，高祖謂周捨曰：「爲我求一人，文學俱長兼有行者，欲令與晉安遊處。」 When Prince Jin'an Xiao Gang went out to garrison Shitou, Emperor Wu said to Zhou She, "Find me a man accomplished in both letters and learning who also has proper conduct, to keep company with Jin'an."

普通四年，王出鎮襄陽，摛固求隨府西上，遷晉安王諮議參軍。 In the fourth year of Putong the prince went out to govern Xiangyang; Chi firmly requested to follow the headquarters west and was promoted to advisory aide to Prince Jin'an.

王入爲皇太子，轉家令，兼掌管記，尋帶領直。 When the prince entered the capital as crown prince, Chi was transferred to Director of the Palace Household, with concurrent charge of records, and soon afterward was placed in command of the direct guard.

太宗以問摛，摛曰：「《儀禮》云『質明贊見婦于舅姑』。 Emperor Jianwen asked Chi about it. Chi said, "The Ceremonies say, 'At first light the sponsor presents the wife to the husband's parents.'

太宗從其議。 Emperor Jianwen followed his opinion.

太清三年，侯景攻陷臺城，時太宗居永福省，賊衆奔入，舉兵上殿，侍衛奔散，莫有存者。 In the third year of Taiqing, Hou Jing captured Terrace City. At that time Emperor Jianwen resided in the Yongfu quarter; the rebel host rushed in, raised arms, and ascended the hall. The guards fled and scattered; none remained.

太宗嗣位，進授左衛將軍，固辭不拜。 When Emperor Jianwen succeeded to the throne, Chi was advanced to General of the Left Guard, but he firmly declined and did not accept.

太宗後被幽閉，摛不獲朝謁，因感氣疾而卒，年七十八。 Later Emperor Jianwen was confined in seclusion; Chi could not attend court and, afflicted by illness, died at the age of seventy-eight.

Book of Liang, Chapter 37Volume 37: Xie Ju; He Jingrong · 3 passages

敬容尋見東宮，太宗謂曰：「淮北始更有信，侯景定得身免，不如所傳。」 Jingrong soon had an audience in the Eastern Palace, and Taizong said to him, "News has only just come again from north of the Huai: Hou Jing certainly escaped alive, not as the rumors said."

太宗失色，問其故。 Taizong turned pale and asked the reason.

是年，太宗頻於玄圃自講《老》《莊》二書，學士吳孜時寄詹事府，每日入聽。 That year Taizong often personally lectured on the Laozi and Zhuangzi at Xuanpu. The scholar Wu Zi was then attached to the Crown Prince's Household Administrator's office and entered every day to listen.

Book of Sui, Chapter 79Volume 79 Biographies 44: Imperial Affines · 1 passage

吳人見梁武、簡文及詧、巋等兄弟並第三而踐尊位，瓛自以巋之第三子也，深自矜負。 The people of Wu noted that Emperor Wu of Liang, Emperor Jianwen, and the brothers Cha and Kui had all been third sons yet reached the throne. Huan, as Kui's third son, took great pride in this.