Emperor Xiaozhao (孝昭帝)

Overview

The translated histories identify Emperor Xiaozhao as an aristocrat, official, royal family member, and ruler. This record brings together 83 passages from 13 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Emperor Xiaozhao	孝昭帝	Xiàozhāo dì
Alternate	Changshan	常山
Personal name	Changshan	常山
Title	Duke of Changshan Commandery	常山郡公
Title	Emperor Suzong	肅宗
Title	Emperor Xiaozhao	孝昭帝	Xiàozhāo dì
Posthumous name	Emperor Xiaozhao	孝昭皇帝	Xiàozhāo huángdì
Posthumous name	Emperor Xiaozhao	孝昭皇帝
Title	Emperor Xiaozhao	孝昭皇帝
Title	Emperor Xiaozhao	孝昭帝	Xiaozhao Di
Title	Emperor Xiaozhao	昭帝
Posthumous name	Emperor Xiaozhao	昭帝	Zhaodi
Title	Emperor Xiaozhao	孝昭帝
Title	Emperor Xiaozhao	昭帝	Zhaodi
Title	Emperor Xiaozhao	孝昭	Xiàozhāo
Temple name	Emperor Xiaozhao	孝昭	Xiàozhāo
Personal name	Gao Yan	高演	Gāo Yǎn
Personal name	Gao Yan	高演	Gao Yan
Personal	Gao Yan	高淡
Personal	Gao Yan	高演	Gao Yan
Personal	Gao Yan	高演	Gāo Yǎn
Title	Prince of Changshan	常山王	Chángshān wáng
Title	Prince of Changshan	常山王
Title	Prince of Changshan	常山王	Changshan Wang
Title	Prince of Changshan	常山王	Changshan wang
Title	Prince Yan of Changshan	常山王演	Chángshān wáng Yǎn
Temple	Suzong	肅宗	Suzong
Temple name	Suzong	肅宗
Temple name	Xiaozhao	孝昭	Xiàozhāo
Temple name	Xiaozhao	孝昭	Xiaozhao
Posthumous	Xiaozhao	孝昭
Temple	Xiaozhao	孝昭	Xiaozhao
Temple	Xiaozhao	孝昭	Xiàozhāo
Personal name	Yan	演	Yǎn
Given name	Yan	演	Yǎn
Given name	Yan	演	Yan
Courtesy name	Yan'an	延安	Yán'ān

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · beiqishu:005:s0027, beiqishu:006:s0001, beiqishu:009:s0031, beiqishu:031:s0084, beiqishu:034:s0086, beiqishu:047:s0200, beiqishu:048:s0059
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · beiqishu:007:s0001, beiqishu:014:s0047, beiqishu:035:s0058, beiqishu:040:s0009

Roles

Aristocrat
Official
Royal Family Member
Ruler
Statesman

Life and dates

Death

Date Context: Source Date: Text: 皇建二年十一月 · Western Year: AD 561 · Place: Jinyang Palace / 晉陽宮 · Age: 27
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0104
Date Context: Source Date: Text: before Wucheng enthronement · Western Interval: Start: AD 560 · End: AD 561
Explicit · beiqishu:009:s0033, beiqishu:009:s0089
Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二年，孝昭崩 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0011
Date Context: Source Date: Text: 皇建二年王薨後三旬 · Western Year: AD 561 · Relative: thirty days after death of p001
Explicit · beiqishu:005:s0058
Statement: died · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 皇建末/河清元年 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0084
Explicit · beiqishu:031:s0192

Age

Age: 27 · Reckoning: sui
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0104

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 天保十年十一月乙卯 · Regnal Year: 10 · Lunar Month: 11 · Day: Sexagenary: 乙卯 · Western Year: AD 559
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:005:s0027
Source Date: Text: 乾明元年二月乙巳 · Regnal Year: 1 · Lunar Month: 2 · Day: Sexagenary: 乙巳 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:005:s0038
Source Date: Text: 乾明元年秋八月壬午 · Regnal Year: 1 · Season: autumn · Lunar Month: 8 · Day: Sexagenary: 壬午 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:005:s0047
Source Date: Text: 乾明元年二月己亥 · Regnal Year: 1 · Lunar Month: 2 · Day: Sexagenary: 己亥 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:005:s0035
Source Date: Text: 皇建二年秋 · Regnal Year: 2 · Season: autumn · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:005:s0054
Source Date: Text: Xiaozhao reign · Western Interval: Start: AD 560 · End: AD 561
Strongly inferred · beiqishu:009:s0031, beiqishu:009:s0032, beiqishu:009:s0033
Source Date: Text: 乾明元年 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0043
Source Date: Text: 乾明元年三月甲戌 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0047
Source Date: Text: 乾明元年二月 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:034:s0086
Source Date: Text: 乾明元年八月 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:031:s0158
Source Date: Text: 乾明初 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:007:s0008
Source Date: Text: 天保七年 · Western Year: AD 556
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0016
Source Date: Text: 天保九年 · Western Year: AD 558
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0020
Source Date: Text: 天保五年 · Western Year: AD 554
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0014
Source Date: Text: 天保八年 · Western Year: AD 557
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0019
Source Date: Text: 天保初 · Western Year: AD 550
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0013
Source Date: Text: 天保初 · Western Year: AD 550
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:035:s0116
Source Date: Text: 天保十年 · Western Year: AD 559
Explicit · beiqishu:048:s0061
Source Date: Text: 天保至皇建 · Western Interval: Start: AD 550 · End: AD 561
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:031:s0084, beiqishu:031:s0158
Source Date: Text: 孝昭 · Western Interval: Start: AD 560 · End: AD 561
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:047:s0200
Source Date: Text: 孝昭崩 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:035:s0135
Source Date: Text: 皇建 · Western Interval: Start: AD 560 · End: AD 561
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:038:s0069, beiqishu:038:s0148
Source Date: Text: 皇建二年 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0094
Source Date: Text: 皇建二年 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:007:s0011
Source Date: Text: 皇建二年十一月 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0100, beiqishu:006:s0104
Source Date: Text: 皇建元年八月壬午 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0065
Source Date: Text: 皇建元年十一月辛亥 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0085
Source Date: Text: 皇建初 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:007:s0010
Source Date: Text: 皇建末 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0047
Source Date: Text: 肅宗 · Western Interval: Start: AD 560 · End: AD 561
Explicit · beiqishu:048:s0059
Source Date: Text: 肅宗輔政 · Western Interval: Start: AD 560 · End: AD 561
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:025:s0077, beiqishu:040:s0009
Source Date: Text: 魏元象元年 · Western Year: AD 538
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0003

Family

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

Kin of Kudi Xian'an (厙狄顯安)
Kinship Term: aunt's son / 姑子 · Line: paternal · Intermediary Person Ids: Paternal aunt of Emperor Xiaozhao (親姑)
Sibling of Prince Zhan of Changguang (長廣王湛)
Kinship Term: born of the same mother / 同胞 · Shared Parentage: full · Line: paternal
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Subject Relative Age: elder
Kinship Term: same mother / 同胞 · Shared Parentage: full
Kinship Term: younger brother by the same mother / 母弟 · Shared Parentage: full · Subject Relative Age: younger · Subject Role: younger-brother · Object Role: elder-brother
Sibling of Gao Yang (高洋)
Kinship Term: elder brother / 兄 · Shared Parentage: full · Subject Relative Age: elder
Kinship Term: brother / 叔/兄 · Shared Parentage: full
Kinship Term: younger brother by the same mother / 母弟 · Shared Parentage: full · Subject Relative Age: younger · Line: paternal
Kin of Emperor Fei (廢帝殷)
Kinship Term: close kinsman / 地親
Child of Lou Zhaojun (婁昭君)
Parentage: biological
Kinship Term: conceived Xiaozhao / 孕孝昭 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: son
Parent of Gao Bainian (高百年)
Kinship Term: crown prince / 太子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Kinship Term: son / 子
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological
Sibling of Gao Cheng (高澄)
Kinship Term: elder brother / 兄 · Subject Relative Age: elder · Line: paternal
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Subject Relative Age: elder
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Shared Parentage: paternal-half · Subject Relative Age: younger · Line: paternal
Child of Empress Dowager (皇太後)
Kinship Term: Empress Dowager / 皇太后
Spouse of Empress Shuncheng (順成后)
Kinship Term: empress / 后 · Union Category: primary-marriage
Kinship Term: empress / 后 · Union Category: primary-marriage · Relationship State: active
Spouse of Empress of Xiaozhao (皇后)
Kinship Term: empress / 皇后 · Union Category: marriage · Relationship State: active
Spouse of Empress Yuan (元皇后)
Kinship Term: empress / 皇後 · Union Category: marriage · Subject Role: wife · Object Role: husband
Child of Gao Huan (高歡)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father · Subject Birth Order: 6
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological
Parent of Crown Prince of Xiaozhao (皇太子)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Spouse of Empress Yuan of Xiaozhao (元氏)
Kinship Term: installed as empress / 立為皇后 · Union Category: primary-marriage
Union Category: primary-marriage
Child of Empress Dowager Lou (婁太后)
Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: son
Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological
Child of Empress Dowager Wuming (武明皇太后)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: mother
Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: son
Kin of Prince Rui of Zhaojun (趙郡王叡)
Kinship Term: paternal cousin / 同堂弟 · Line: paternal
Child of Gao Yang (高洋)
Kinship Term: son / 子
Parent of Prince of Leling (樂陵王)
Parentage: biological

Career and standing

Label: Grand tutor / 太傅 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天保十年十一月乙卯 · Regnal Year: 10 · Lunar Month: 11 · Day: Sexagenary: 乙卯 · Western Year: AD 559
Explicit · beiqishu:005:s0027
Label: Grand preceptor / 太師 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年二月己亥 · Regnal Year: 1 · Lunar Month: 2 · Day: Sexagenary: 己亥 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:005:s0035
Label: Recorder of the Masters of Writing / 錄尚書事 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年二月己亥 · Regnal Year: 1 · Lunar Month: 2 · Day: Sexagenary: 己亥 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:005:s0035
Label: Commander of all armies / 都督中外諸軍 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年二月戊申 · Regnal Year: 1 · Lunar Month: 2 · Day: Sexagenary: 戊申 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:005:s0039
Label: Grand chief minister / 大丞相 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年二月戊申 · Regnal Year: 1 · Lunar Month: 2 · Day: Sexagenary: 戊申 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:005:s0039
Label: Commander-in-Chief of all armies at home and abroad / 都督中外諸軍 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0061
Label: Grand Chancellor / 大丞相 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0061
Label: Grand Marshal / 大司馬 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天保九年 · Western Year: AD 558
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0020
Label: Chief Minister of the Secretariat for the combined provinces / 幷省尚書令 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天保五年 · Western Year: AD 554
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0014
Label: Minister of Works / 司空 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天保八年 · Western Year: AD 557
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0019
Label: Recorder of the Affairs of the Secretariat / 錄尚書事 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天保八年 · Western Year: AD 557
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0019
Label: Grand Tutor / 太傅 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天保十年後 · Western Year: AD 559
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:006:s0039, beiqishu:006:s0040
Label: Recorder of the Masters of Writing / 錄尚書 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天保十年後 · Western Year: AD 559
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:006:s0040
Label: Grand Chancellor / 大丞相 · Action: appointed
Explicit · beiqishu:031:s0132
Label: Recorder of the Masters of Writing / 錄尚書事 · Action: held
Explicit · beiqishu:005:s0027
Label: governor of Sizhou / 司州牧 · Action: requested · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0044
Label: Grand Preceptor / 太師 · Action: requested · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0044
Title: Duke of Changshan Commandery / 常山郡公 · Action: granted · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 魏元象元年 · Western Year: AD 538
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0003
Title: prince / 王 · Action: advanced · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天保初 · Western Year: AD 550
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0013
Title: Prince of Changshan / 常山王 · Action: held
Explicit · beiqishu:005:s0027, beiqishu:031:s0084
Status: ill · Action: suffered
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0141, beiqishu:006:s0144
As: Emperor Xiaozhao / 孝昭即位
Explicit · beiqishu:009:s0032
Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年秋八月壬午 · Regnal Year: 1 · Season: autumn · Lunar Month: 8 · Day: Sexagenary: 壬午 · Western Year: AD 560 · Authority Person Id: Empress Dowager Lou (婁太后)
Explicit · beiqishu:005:s0047
Statement: ascended the throne · Date Context: Qualitative: after executing Yang Yin
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0049
Statement: took the throne · Date Context: Qualitative: as recorded at s0165
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0165
Role: emperor · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年八月 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:031:s0158
Date Context: Source Date: Text: 皇建元年八月壬午 · Western Year: AD 560 · Place: Xuande Hall at Jinyang / 晉陽宣德殿
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0065

Places and affiliations

Polity: Eastern Wei / 魏 · Relation: served
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0003
Polity: Northern Qi / 北齊 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · beiqishu:034:s0086
Polity: Northern Qi / 齊 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0065, beiqishu:006:s0167
Place: Wenjing Mausoleum / 文靖陵 · Relation: buried-at · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大寧元年閏十二月 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0106

Works and attributed material

Work: Book of Han / 漢書 · Relation: reader
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0008
Kind: testamentary-edict · Role: author · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 皇建二年 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0011, beiqishu:007:s0013
Kind: edict · Role: author · Quoted: true
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0076, beiqishu:006:s0077, beiqishu:006:s0078, beiqishu:006:s0079, beiqishu:006:s0100, beiqishu:006:s0101, beiqishu:006:s0102, beiqishu:006:s0103
Kind: letter · Role: author · Quoted: true
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0153
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Wang Xi (王晞)
Explicit · beiqishu:031:s0087, beiqishu:031:s0106, beiqishu:031:s0107, beiqishu:031:s0160, beiqishu:031:s0161, beiqishu:038:s0149
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Quoted: true
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0006, beiqishu:006:s0116, beiqishu:006:s0117, beiqishu:006:s0118, beiqishu:006:s0121
Kind: speech · Role: speaker
Explicit · beiqishu:031:s0173, beiqishu:034:s0148, beiqishu:034:s0149, beiqishu:034:s0150, beiqishu:034:s0151

Events and relationships

Kind: political · Role: instigator · Action: asked-empress-dowager-to-execute-yang-yin-faction · Other Person Ids: Empress Dowager Lou (婁太后), Yang Yin (楊愔) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年二月乙巳 · Regnal Year: 1 · Lunar Month: 2 · Day: Sexagenary: 乙巳 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:005:s0053
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defeated · Target: Kumo Xi / 庫莫奚 · Place: beyond the Great Wall / 出長城 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 皇建元年 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0092
Kind: political · Role: ruler · Action: entrusted succession · Other Person Id: Prince Zhan of Changguang (長廣王湛)
Explicit · beiqishu:047:s0202
Kind: political · Role: coup leader · Action: executed Yang Yin and others and promised Wucheng he would be made imperial younger brother · Other Person Id: Yang Yin (杨愊)
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0048
Kind: political · Role: actor · Action: executed-Yang-Yan · Other Person Id: Yang Yin (楊愔)
Explicit · beiqishu:031:s0132
Kind: accident · Role: victim · Action: fell from horse and broke ribs · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 皇建二年 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0148
Kind: medical · Role: sufferer · Action: fell-ill-and-saw-wenxuan-as-baleful-spirit · Other Person Id: Gao Yang (高洋) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 皇建二年九月 · Regnal Year: 2 · Lunar Month: 9 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit · beiqishu:005:s0056, beiqishu:005:s0057
Kind: political · Role: perpetrator · Action: forged-edict-and-executed-officials · Other Person Ids: Yang Yin (楊愔), Yanzi Xian (燕子獻), Kezhuhun Tianhe (可朱渾天和), Song Qindao (宋欽道), Zheng Zimo (鄭子默) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年二月乙巳 · Regnal Year: 1 · Lunar Month: 2 · Day: Sexagenary: 乙巳 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:005:s0038
Kind: political · Role: actor · Action: had Prince of Jinan poisoned then strangled · Other Person Id: Emperor Fei (廢帝殷) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 皇建中 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0139
Kind: political · Role: intercessor · Action: pleaded for Yuan Man · Other Person Id: Yuan Man (元蠻)
Explicit · beiqishu:048:s0061
Kind: political · Role: decision-maker · Action: received-referral-of-military-and-state-affairs · Place: Jinyang / 晉陽 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年三月甲寅 · Regnal Year: 1 · Lunar Month: 3 · Day: Sexagenary: 甲寅 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:005:s0042
Kind: political · Role: actor · Action: seized and executed Yang Yin and associates · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年三月甲戌 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0049, beiqishu:006:s0050
Kind: political · Role: ruler · Action: visited Jinyang while Wucheng remained on guard at the capital
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0047
Kind: political · Role: ruler · Action: was barred at the Cloud-Dragon Gate by Cheng Xiuning until Guiyan intervened
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0164
Kind: accession · Role: emperor · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年八月 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:031:s0158
Relation: student-of · Person Id: Diao Rou (刁柔)
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0010
Relation: friend-of · Person Id: Wang Xi (王晞)
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0028, beiqishu:006:s0037
Relation: student-of · Person Id: Li Tonggui (李同軌)
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0004

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: quick-witted, deep, and decisive · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0107
Assessment: too exacting in small matters · Provenance: Mode: named-source-report · Source Person Id: Pei Ze (裴澤)
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0115
Kind: physical-description · Statement: stood eight feet tall, waist ten spans
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0108

Source notes

Statement: sent Prince Guiyan of Pingqin to escort the Prince of Ji’nan to Bing Province · Other Person Id: Guiyan (歸彥)
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0059
Statement: held Wucheng at Ye holding troops while making his own son Bainian crown prince, causing Wucheng’s discontent
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0049
Statement: kept the Prince of Ji’nan at Ye and divided Wucheng’s power between Kudi Fulian and Hulu Fengle
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0050

References in the histories

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

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 5Volume 5 Annals 5: Emperor Fei · 13 passages

Open chapter

十一月乙卯，以右丞相、咸陽王斛律金爲左丞相，以錄尚書事、常山王演爲太傅，以司徒、長廣王湛爲太尉，以司空段韶爲司徒，以平陽王淹爲司空，高陽王湜爲尚書左僕射，河間王孝琬爲司州牧，侍中燕子獻爲右僕射。 In the eleventh month, on the yimao day, Hulu Jin, Prince of Xianyang and right chief minister, was appointed left chief minister; Prince Yan of Changshan, recorder of the Masters of Writing, became grand tutor; Prince Zhan of Changguang, minister over the masses, became grand commandant; Duan Shao, minister of works, became minister over the masses; Prince Yan of Pingyang became minister of works; Prince Shi of Gaoyang became left vice-director of the Masters of Writing; Prince Xiaowan of Hejian became governor of Sizhou; and Yanzi Xian, palace attendant, became right vice-director.

二月己亥，以太傅、常山王演爲太師、錄尚書事，以太尉、長廣王湛爲大司馬、幷省錄尚書事，以尚書左僕射、平秦王歸彥爲司空，趙郡王叡爲尚書左僕射。 In the second month, on jihai, Prince Yan of Changshan, then grand tutor, was appointed grand preceptor and recorder of the Masters of Writing. Prince Zhan of Changguang, then grand commandant, became grand marshal and recorder of the Masters of Writing in the Bingzhou administration. Prince Guiyan of Pingqin, left vice director of the Masters of Writing, became minister of works, and Prince Rui of Zhaojun became left vice director.

乙巳，太師、常山王演矯詔誅尚書令楊愔、尚書右僕射燕子獻、領軍大將軍可朱渾天和、侍中宋欽道、散騎常侍鄭子默。 On the yisi day Prince Yan of Changshan, grand preceptor, forged an edict and had executed Yang Yin, director of the Masters of Writing; Yanzi Xian, right vice-director; Kezhuhun Tianhe, commanding general of the palace guards; Song Qindao, palace attendant; and Zheng Zimo, attendant of the scattered cavalry.

戊申，以常山王演爲大丞相、都督中外諸軍、錄尚書事，以大司馬、長廣王湛爲太傅、京畿大都督，以司徒段韶爲大將軍，以前司空、平陽王淹爲太尉，以司空、平秦王歸彥爲司徒，彭城王浟爲尚書令。 On the wushen day, Prince Yan of Changshan was appointed grand chief minister, commander of all armies, and recorder of the Masters of Writing. Prince Zhan of Changguang, grand marshal, became grand tutor and metropolitan commander of the capital region. Duan Shao, minister over the masses, became great general; Prince Yan of Pingyang, formerly minister of works, became grand commandant; Prince Guiyan of Pingqin, minister of works, became minister over the masses; and Prince You of Pengcheng became director of the Masters of Writing.

三月甲寅，詔軍國事皆申晉陽，稟大丞相常山王規算。 In the third month, on the jiayin day, an edict declared that all military and civil affairs were to be referred to Jinyang for decision by the grand chief minister, Prince Yan of Changshan.

秋八月壬午，太皇太后令廢帝爲濟南王，令食一郡，以大丞相、常山王演入纂大統。 In the eighth month of autumn, on the renwu day, the grand empress dowager demoted Emperor Fei to Prince of Jinan with the income of a single commandery, and installed the grand chief minister, Prince Yan of Changshan, as successor to the throne.

以常山王地親望重，內外畏服，加以文宣初崩之日，太后本欲立之，故愔等並懷猜忌。 Prince Yan of Changshan was a close kinsman with formidable prestige, feared and obeyed at court and beyond. Since the empress dowager had originally wanted to enthrone him when Emperor Wenxuan died, Yang Yin and the others all suspected him.

常山王憂悵，乃白太后誅其黨，時平秦王歸彥亦預謀焉。 Prince Yan of Changshan grew anxious and asked the empress dowager to execute that faction; Prince Guiyan of Pingqin was also involved in the plot.

皇建二年秋，天文告變，歸彥慮有後害，仍白孝昭，以王當咎。 In autumn of Huangjian 2, ominous celestial signs appeared. Guiyan feared future trouble and again told Emperor Xiaozhao that the prince was the one portended by the omen.

王薨後，孝昭不豫，見文宣爲祟。 After the prince died, Emperor Xiaozhao fell ill and saw Emperor Wenxuan haunting him as an angry spirit.

孝昭深惡之，厭勝術備設而無益也。 Xiaozhao was terrified and deployed every rite for suppressing baleful influence, but none helped.

薨三旬而孝昭崩。 Thirty days after the prince died, Emperor Xiaozhao died as well.

因謂孝昭帝曰：「奪但奪，慎勿殺也。」 He then told Emperor Xiaozhao, "If you take it, take it, but be careful not to kill him."

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 6Volume 6 Annals 6: Emperor Xiaozhao · 7 passages

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孝昭皇帝演，字延安，神武皇帝第六子，文宣皇帝之母弟也。 Emperor Xiaozhao, whose personal name was Yan and style name Yan'an, was the sixth son of Emperor Shenwu and the full younger brother of Emperor Wenxuan.

魏元象元年，封常山郡公。 In the first year of the Yuanxiang era of Wei, he was made Duke of Changshan Commandery.

唯常山王至，內外肅然。 Only when the Prince of Changshan appeared did the palace fall silent and straighten itself.

及文宣崩，帝居禁中護喪事，幼主即位，乃即朝班。 When Emperor Wenxuan died, Xiaozhao remained in the palace to oversee the funeral. Once the young ruler took the throne, he entered the court ranks.

帝時以尊親而見猜斥，乃與長廣王期獵，謀之於野。 Because his rank and kinship made him suspect, Xiaozhao was being pushed aside. He therefore arranged a hunt with Prince Zhan of Changguang and plotted with him in the field.

大寧元年閏十二月癸卯，梓宮還鄴，上諡曰孝昭皇帝。 In the intercalary twelfth month of Daning 1, on guimao, his coffin was returned to Ye, and he was given the posthumous title Emperor Xiaozhao.

孝昭早居臺閤，故事通明，人吏之間，無所不委。 Emperor Xiaozhao had long served in the imperial secretariat, knew its precedents inside out, and was entrusted with every matter great and small.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 7Volume 7 Annals 7: Emperor Wucheng · 5 passages

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世祖武成皇帝，諱湛，神武皇帝第九子，孝昭皇帝之母弟也。 Emperor Wucheng, Gao Zhan, posthumous title Shizu, was the ninth son of Emperor Shenwu and the full younger brother of Emperor Xiaozhao.

帝旣與孝昭謀誅諸執政，遷太傅、錄尚書事、領京畿大都督。 After he and Emperor Xiaozhao plotted to execute the ruling ministers, he was made Grand Tutor, Recorder of the Affairs of the Secretariat, and Metropolitan Commander of the Capital Region.

孝昭幸晉陽，帝以懿親居守鄴，政事咸見委託。 When Emperor Xiaozhao went to Jinyang, the prince remained at Ye as a trusted kinsman, and all government affairs were entrusted to him.

二年，孝昭崩，遺詔徵帝入統大位。 In the second year, Emperor Xiaozhao died. His testamentary edict summoned the prince to succeed to the throne.

乙卯，以司徒、平秦王歸彥為太傅，以尚書右僕射、趙郡王叡為尚書令，以太尉尉粲為太保，以尚書令段韶為大司馬，以豐州刺史婁叡為司空，乙太傅、平陽王淹為太宰，以太保、彭城王浟為太師、錄尚書事，以冀州刺史、博陵王濟為太尉，以中書監、任城王潛為尚書左僕射，以幷州刺史斛律光為右僕射，封孝昭皇帝太子百年為樂陵郡王。 On the yimao day, the emperor reshuffled the highest offices: Prince Guiyan of Pingqin, Minister over the Masses, became Grand Tutor; Prince Rui of Zhao Commandery, Right Vice Director of the Secretariat, became Chief Minister of the Secretariat; Grand Commandant Wei Can became Grand Guardian; Duan Shao became Grand Marshal; Lou Rui became Minister of Works; Prince Yan of Pingyang became Grand Minister; Prince You of Pengcheng became Grand Preceptor and Recorder of the Affairs of the Secretariat; Prince Ji of Boling became Grand Commandant; Prince Qian of Rencheng became Left Vice Director of the Secretariat; Hulu Guang became Right Vice Director of the Secretariat; and Emperor Xiaozhao's crown prince Bainian was made Prince of Leling Commandery.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 9Volume 9 Biographies 1: Empresses and Consorts · 6 passages

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太皇太后密與孝昭及諸大將定策誅之，下令廢立。 The Grand Empress Dowager secretly joined Gao Yan and the great generals in fixing a plan to execute them, and issued an edict deposing one ruler and enthroning another.

孝昭即位，復為皇太后。 When Gao Yan succeeded, she again became Empress Dowager.

孝昭帝崩，太后又下詔立武成帝。 When Emperor Xiaozhao died, the empress dowager again issued an edict enthroning Emperor Wucheng.

孕孝昭則夢蠕龍於地； when she conceived Gao Yan she dreamed of a writhing dragon upon the ground;

孝昭即位，降居昭信宮，號昭信皇后。 When Gao Yan succeeded, she was reduced to Zhaoxin Palace and styled Empress of Zhaoxin.

孝昭即位，立為皇后。 When Xiaozhao took the throne, she was installed as empress.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 14Volume 14 Biographies 6: Guangping Gongcheng; Yangzhou Gong Yongle; Di Zhangbi; Prince of Xiangle, Xiang Guo; Prince of Shangluo, Si Zong; Zi Yuanhai; Di Sihao; Prince of Pingqin, Guiyan; Prince Pu of Wuxing; Changle, Governor of Lingshan; Sizi Fuhu · 9 passages

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皇建末，孝昭幸晉陽，武成居守，元海以散騎常侍留典機密。 At the end of the Huangjian era, Gao Yan visited Jinyang while Gao Zhan remained on guard; Yuanhai, as regular attendant of the scattered cavalry, stayed behind to manage confidential affairs.

初孝昭之誅楊愔等，謂武成云：「事成，以爾為皇太弟。」 When Gao Yan first executed Yang Yin and the others, he had told Gao Zhan, "When the affair succeeds, I will make you imperial younger brother."

昭帝以為濟南應之，乃使平秦王歸彥之鄴，迎濟南赴幷州。 Gao Yan thought the Prince of Ji'nan corresponded to it; he therefore sent Prince Guiyan of Pingqin to Ye to welcome the Prince of Ji'nan to Bing Province.

及孝昭崩，武成卽位，除元海侍中、開府儀同三司、太子詹事。 When Gao Yan died and Gao Zhan ascended the throne, Yuanhai was made palace attendant, opener of a government office equal in protocol to three imperators, and grand tutor to the crown prince.

孝昭將入雲龍門，都督成休寧列仗拒而不內，歸彥諭之，然後得入，進向柏閤、永巷亦如之。 When Xiaozhao was about to enter the Cloud-Dragon Gate, commander Cheng Xiuning drew up his troops and barred the way. Guiyan talked him round — only then was entry granted. The same at Cypress Pavilion and Eternal Lane.

孝昭踐祚，以此彌見優重，每入常在平原王段韶上。 When Xiaozhao took the throne, Guiyan was favored all the more for this — at every audience he was seated above Prince of Pingyuan Duan Shao.

孝昭崩，歸彥從晉陽迎武成於鄴。 When Xiaozhao died, Guiyan went from Jinyang to welcome Wucheng to Ye.

軍已逼城，歸彥登城大叫云：「孝昭皇帝初崩，六軍百萬衆悉由臣手，投身向鄴迎陛下，當時不反，今日豈有異心？ The army was at the walls. Guiyan mounted the ramparts and shouted, "When Emperor Xiaozhao died, a million soldiers passed through my hands. I raced to Ye to welcome Your Majesty — I did not rebel then. Why would my heart be different now?

謂曰：「爾事常山不得反，事長廣得反，反時，將此角嚇漢。」 He said, "Serving Changshan you did not rebel; serving Changguang you rebelled. When you rebel, use these horns to frighten the Han."

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 25Volume 25 Biographies 17: Zhang Zuan; Zhang Liang; Zhang Yao; Zhang Qi; Xu Yuan; Wang Jun; Wang Hong · 2 passages

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