Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Ruler

Emperor Wen 太祖

Taizu

Attested AD 423 - AD 432

Passages: 12
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Emperor Wen was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 427 元嘉四年
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 83
AD 432 九年
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 272
AD 424 to AD 427 弟曇首為太祖所任
Dated from the passage context · Book of Song 63, passage 269
AD 423 to AD 424 景平中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Song 63, passages 75, 79

Career and standing

Champion General 冠軍
Held
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 70
Governor of Xuzhou 徐州刺史
Held
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 70
AD 423 to AD 424 景平中
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 79

Places and affiliations

Polity Id liu-song · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 79
At Jiangling 江陵 · Relation Stationed at
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 71
At Pengcheng 彭城 · Relation Stationed at
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 70

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Wang Tanshou (王曇首) · Quote Status quoted
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passages 78-79
Speech · Speaker · Quote Status quoted
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 91

Events and relationships

Could not prevail; enfeoffment dropped
Court · Emperor
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 95
Entered to receive the great succession
AD 423 to AD 424 景平中 · Political · Successor
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 75
Led officers under strict guard
AD 423 to AD 424 景平中 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 77
Ordered Guangmo Gate opened at the third watch
AD 427 元嘉四年 · Court · Emperor
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 83
Punished no one and drew up new regulations
AD 427 元嘉四年 · Legal · Emperor
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 89
Wished to enfeoff Tanshou after Xie Hui's defeat
Court · Emperor · With Wang Tanshou (王曇首)
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passages 91-92

Show 2 more source-backed claims

Yellow dragon bore up his boat
AD 423 to AD 424 景平中 · Omen · Beneficiary
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 78
Relation Compared to · Person Song Chang (宋昌)
Directly stated · Book of Song 63, passage 79

References in the histories

Search passages

History

12 passages

Book of Song, Chapter 63Volume 63 Biographies 23: Wang Hua, Wang Tanshou, Yin Jingren, Shen Yanzhi · 12 passages

及王弘輔政，而弟曇首為太祖所任，與華相埒，華嘗謂己力用不盡，每歎息曰：「宰相頓有數人，天下何由得治！」 When Wang Hong assisted in government and his younger brother Tanshou was entrusted by the Taizu, ranking with Hua, Hua once said his abilities were not fully used and often sighed, "There are suddenly several chief ministers—how can the realm be governed!"

九年，上思誅羨之之功，追封新建縣侯，食邑千戶，諡曰宣侯。 In the ninth year the emperor, remembering the merit of putting Xu Xianzhi to death, posthumously enfeoffed him as marquis of Xinjian county with a fief of one thousand households; his posthumous title was Marquis Xuan.

世祖即位，配饗太祖廟庭。 When Emperor Xiaowu came to the throne, Hua was given paired sacrifice in the temple of Emperor Wen.

太祖為冠軍、徐州刺史，留鎮彭城，以曇首為府功曹。 When the future Emperor Wen was champion general and governor of Xuzhou, left to hold Pengcheng, he made Tanshou merit officer of his headquarters.

太祖鎮江陵，自功曹為長史，隨府轉鎮西長史。 When the prince was posted at Jiangling, Tanshou rose from merit officer to chief clerk, and when the headquarters became General Who Guards the West, he became its chief clerk as well.

高祖甚知之，謂太祖曰：「王曇首，沈毅有器度，宰相才也。 Gaozu thought highly of him and told the prince, "Wang Tanshou is deep, resolute, and broad in capacity—a man fit to be chief minister.

太祖入奉大統，上及議者皆疑不敢下，曇首與到彥之、從兄華固勸，上猶未許。 The prince went in to accept the great succession. The emperor and his advisers were all afraid and hesitated to step down. Tanshou, Dao Yanzhi, and his cousin Hua pressed him hard, but the emperor still would not agree.

率府州文武嚴兵自衛，臺所遣百官眾力，不得近部伍，中兵參軍朱容子抱刀在平乘戶外，不解帶者數旬。 The prince led the civil and military officers of his headquarters and province under strict guard. Officials sent from the court could not approach his ranks. Army adviser Zhu Rongzi stood outside the cabin door of the imperial barge with his sword in his arms and did not unbuckle his belt for several tens of days.

既下在道，有黃龍出負上所乘舟，左右皆失色，上謂曇首曰：「此乃夏禹所以受天命，我何堪之。」 After the abdication, on the road a yellow dragon appeared and bore up the boat in which the new emperor rode. His attendants turned pale. The emperor said to Tanshou, "This is how Yu of Xia received Heaven's mandate—how am I worthy of such a thing?"

上特無所問，更立科條。 The emperor punished no one in particular and instead drew up new regulations.

晦平後，上欲封曇首等，會宴集，舉酒勸之，因拊御床曰：「此坐非卿兄弟，無復今日。」 After Xie Hui was defeated the emperor wished to enfeoff Tanshou and the others. At a banquet he raised his cup to them and, patting the imperial couch, said, "Had it not been for you brothers, I would not be sitting here today."

上不能奪，故封事遂寢。 The emperor could not prevail, and the enfeoffment was dropped.