Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Ruler

Emperor Wu 世祖

Shìzǔ

First attested AD 483; died AD 493

Passages: 6
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Emperor Wu was a ruler.

Life and dates

Death

AD 493 俄而上殂
Illness
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passages 142, 152

Attested activity

AD 493 戊寅
Dated from the passage context · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passages 142, 151-152, 159
AD 483 to AD 493 永明之世
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passages 164-166

Career and standing

immediate execution of lawbreaking local officials 封刃行誅
Ordered
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passage 164

Places and affiliations

Polity Southern Qi 南齊 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passage 164

Works and attributed material

testamentary edict 遺詔
Relation Author
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passages 159-162, 176
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passage 166
Testamentary edict · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passages 159-162

Events and relationships

Illness turned grave and briefly lost consciousness
AD 493 戊寅 · Medical · Patient
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passage 142
Revived summoned guards entrusted court to Luan
AD 493 戊寅 · Political · Sovereign · With Luan (鸞)
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passage 151
Relation Relied on · Person Ye (曄)
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passage 171
Relation Valued · Person Luan (鸞)
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passage 175

Assessments and attributes

Assessment attended closely to governance; strict and decisive · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passages 164-165
Assessment fond of feasting, touring, and lavish display · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passage 166

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passage 164

References in the histories

Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Chapter 138Volume 138 Qi Records 4 · 6 passages

戊寅，上疾亟，暫絕； On the day wuyin the emperor's illness turned grave and he briefly lost consciousness;

頃之，上復甦，問太孫所在，因召東宮器甲皆入，以朝事委尚書左僕射西昌侯鸞。 Before long the emperor revived and asked where the crown prince was; he then summoned the Eastern Palace guard, weapons and all, and entrusted court affairs to Left Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Marquis of Xichang, Luan.

俄而上殂，融處分以子良兵禁諸門。 Soon the emperor died, and Rong used Ziliang's troops to seal every gate.

世祖留心政事，務總大體，嚴明有斷，郡縣久於其職，長吏犯法，封刃行誅。 Emperor Wu attended closely to governance, keeping to the broad essentials with strict and decisive judgment; prefectures and counties kept their officials in office for long terms, and when local leaders broke the law he had them executed on the spot.

初，西昌侯鸞為太祖所愛，鸞性儉素，車服儀從，同於素士，所居官名為嚴能，故世祖亦重之。 Earlier Marquis Luan of Xichang had been favored by Emperor Gao; Luan was frugal and plain, his carriage, dress, and retinue no different from an ordinary scholar's, and in every office he held he was known for strict competence—so Emperor Wu also valued him.

世祖遺詔，使竟陵王子良輔政，鸞知尚書事。 Emperor Wu's testamentary edict had Prince Ziliang of Jingling assist in governance and Luan oversee Secretariat affairs.