Overview
Emperor Taizu of Song was a ruler.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Life and dates
Attested activity
AD 960 to AD 976 太祖
c. AD 950 to AD 960 太祖側微
Places and affiliations
- Polity Song 宋 · Relation Ruled
Works and attributed material
- Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Zhao Pu (趙普) · Direct quotation
Assessments and attributes
- Assessment magnanimous · Mode historian-judgment
References in the histories
No matching passages.
History of Song, Chapter 256Volume 256 Biographies 15: Zhao Pudi and Younger Brother: Anyi · 10 passages
謂近臣曰：「普事先帝，與朕故舊，能斷大事，嚮與朕嘗有不足，眾所知也。
He told his close ministers: "Pu served the Previous Emperor and was my old friend. He could decide great affairs. It is well known that he and I had our differences in the past.
初，太祖側微，普從之遊，既有天下，普屢以微時所不足者言之。
In the beginning, when Taizu was still obscure, Pu kept company with him. Once Taizu had the realm, Pu repeatedly spoke of slights from their early days.
太祖豁達，謂普曰：「若塵埃中可識天子、宰相，則人皆物色之矣。」
Taizu was magnanimous. He said to Pu, "If one could pick out the Son of Heaven and chief minister from the dust, everyone would be searching for them."
普少習吏事，寡學術，及為相，太祖常勸以讀書。
Pu had trained in clerkly work from youth and had little scholarly learning. Once he became chief minister, Taizu often urged him to read.
嘗奏薦某人為某官，太祖不用，普明日復奏其人，亦不用，明日，普又以其人奏，太祖怒，碎裂奏牘擲地，普顏色不變，跪而拾之以歸，他日補綴舊紙，復奏如初，太祖乃悟，卒用其人。
Once he recommended a certain man for office; Taizu refused. The next day Pu recommended him again—again refused. The next day Pu recommended him once more. Taizu flew into a rage, tore the memorial to shreds, and threw it to the floor. Pu's expression never changed. He knelt, gathered the pieces, and went home. Later he patched the torn paper and submitted the memorial again unchanged. Taizu at last understood and appointed the man.
又有群臣當遷官，太祖素惡其人，不與，普堅以為請，太祖怒曰：「朕固不為遷官。
On another occasion a minister was due for promotion; Taizu had long disliked the man and refused. Pu pressed the matter firmly. Taizu angrily said: "I will not grant this promotion.
且刑賞天下之刑賞，非陛下之刑賞，豈得以喜怒專之。」
Moreover, punishments and rewards belong to the realm, not to Your Majesty alone. How can you wield them purely at the whim of your moods?"
太祖怒甚，起，普亦隨之。
Taizu flew into a rage and stood up; Pu followed right after him.
太祖入宮，普立于宮門，久之不去，竟得俞允。
Taizu went into the palace. Pu stood at the gate and refused to leave. In the end he won his point.
宜預享於大烝，永同休于宗祏，茲為茂典，以答舊勳，其以普配饗太祖廟庭。」
Let him share in the great autumn sacrifice and forever partake of blessings in the ancestral temple. This abundant rite honors his old service—let Pu be paired in sacrifice in Taizu's temple courtyard."