Emperor Xiaozhao (孝昭帝)

Overview

Emperor Xiaozhao was a Third emperor of Northern Qi, who reigned from AD 560 to 561.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Gao Yan	高演	Gao Yan
Courtesy name	Yan'an	延安	Yán'ān
Temple name	Suzong	肅宗
Alternate name	Changshan	常山

Life and dates

Death

AD 561 皇建二年十一月
At Jinyang Palace 晉陽宮 · Age 27
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 104
AD 560 to AD 561 before Wucheng enthronement
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passages 33, 89
AD 561 二年，孝昭崩
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 11
AD 561 孝昭臨崩
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 13, passage 76
AD 561 皇建二年王薨後三旬
Relative thirty days after death of p001
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 58
AD 561 皇建末/河清元年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 84

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Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 192

Age

27
Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 104

Attested activity

AD 559 天保十年十一月乙卯
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 27
AD 560 乾明元年二月乙巳
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 38
AD 560 乾明元年秋八月壬午
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 47
AD 560 乾明元年二月己亥
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 35
AD 561 皇建二年秋
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 54
AD 560 to AD 561 Xiaozhao reign
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 9, passages 31-33

Show 26 more source-backed claims

AD 560 乾明元年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 43
AD 560 乾明元年三月甲戌
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 47
AD 560 乾明元年二月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 34, passage 86
AD 560 乾明元年八月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 158
AD 560 乾明初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 8
AD 556 天保七年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 16
AD 558 天保九年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 20
AD 554 天保五年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 14
AD 557 天保八年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 19
AD 550 天保初
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 13
AD 550 天保初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 35, passage 116
AD 559 天保十年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 61
AD 550 to AD 561 天保至皇建
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 31, passages 84, 158
AD 560 to AD 561 孝昭
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 47, passage 200
AD 561 孝昭崩
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 35, passage 135
AD 560 to AD 561 皇建
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 13, passage 76; Book of Northern Qi 38, passages 69, 148
AD 561 皇建二年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 94
AD 561 皇建二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 11
AD 561 皇建二年十一月
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passages 100, 104
AD 560 皇建元年八月壬午
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 65
AD 560 皇建元年十一月辛亥
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 85
AD 560 皇建初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 10
AD 561 皇建末
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 47
AD 560 to AD 561 肅宗
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 59
AD 560 to AD 561 肅宗輔政
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 25, passage 77; Book of Northern Qi 40, passage 9
AD 538 魏元象元年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 3

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Kudi Xian'an (厙狄顯安)
aunt's son 姑子 · paternal line · Through Paternal aunt of Emperor Xiaozhao (親姑)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 121
Sibling of Emperor Wucheng (武成帝)
born of the same mother 同胞 · Full siblings · paternal line
younger brother 弟
same mother 同胞 · Full siblings
younger brother by the same mother 母弟 · Full siblings
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 102; Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 47; Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 1
Sibling of Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi (文宣帝)
elder brother 兄 · Full siblings
brother 叔/兄 · Full siblings
younger brother by the same mother 母弟 · Full siblings · paternal line
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 1; Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 97; Book of Northern Qi 34, passages 111, 119
Kin of Emperor Fei (廢帝殷)
close kinsman 地親
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 52
Child of Lou Zhaojun (婁昭君)
conceived Xiaozhao 孕孝昭
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 39; Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 1; Book of Northern Qi 31, passages 91, 98; Book of Northern Qi 34, passage 157
Parent of Gao Bainian (高百年)
crown prince 太子
father 父
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 15; Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 85; Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 49
Sibling of Gao Cheng (高澄)
elder brother 兄 · paternal line
younger brother 弟
younger brother 弟 · Paternal half siblings · paternal line
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 4; Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 81
Child of Empress Dowager (皇太後)
Empress Dowager 皇太后
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 61
Spouse of Empress Shuncheng (順成后)
empress 后 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passages 30, 85
Spouse of Empress of Xiaozhao (皇后)
empress 皇后
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 189
Spouse of Empress Yuan (元皇后)
empress 皇後
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 59
Child of Gao Huan (高歡)
son 子
father 父
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 1; Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 1; Book of Northern Qi 31, passages 79, 84
Parent of Crown Prince of Xiaozhao (皇太子)
father 父
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 31, passages 167-168
Spouse of Empress Yuan of Xiaozhao (元氏)
installed as empress 立為皇后 · Primary marriage
Primary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passages 86, 88
Child of Empress Dowager Wuming (武明皇太后)
son 子
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passages 1-2
Kin of Gao Rui (高叡)
paternal cousin 同堂弟 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 121
Child of Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi (文宣帝)
son 子
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 47
Parent of Prince of Leling (樂陵王)
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 92

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Grand tutor 太傅
AD 559 天保十年十一月乙卯 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 27
Grand preceptor 太師
AD 560 乾明元年二月己亥 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 35
Recorder of the Masters of Writing 錄尚書事
AD 560 乾明元年二月己亥 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 35
Commander of all armies 都督中外諸軍
AD 560 乾明元年二月戊申 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 39
Grand chief minister 大丞相
AD 560 乾明元年二月戊申 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 39
Commander-in-Chief of all armies at home and abroad 都督中外諸軍
AD 560 乾明元年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 61

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Grand Chancellor 大丞相
AD 560 乾明元年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 61
Grand Marshal 大司馬
AD 558 天保九年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 20
Chief Minister of the Secretariat for the combined provinces 幷省尚書令
AD 554 天保五年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 14
Minister of Works 司空
AD 557 天保八年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 19
Recorder of the Affairs of the Secretariat 錄尚書事
AD 557 天保八年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 19
Grand Tutor 太傅
AD 559 天保十年後 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 6, passages 39-40
Recorder of the Masters of Writing 錄尚書
AD 559 天保十年後 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 40
Grand Chancellor 大丞相
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 132
Recorder of the Masters of Writing 錄尚書事
Held
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 27
governor of Sizhou 司州牧
AD 560 乾明元年 · Requested
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 44
Grand Preceptor 太師
AD 560 乾明元年 · Requested
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 44
Duke of Changshan Commandery 常山郡公
AD 538 魏元象元年 · Granted
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 3
prince 王
AD 550 天保初 · Advanced
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 13
Prince of Changshan 常山王
Held
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 27; Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 84
Suffered
Ill
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passages 141, 144
As Emperor Xiaozhao 孝昭即位
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 32
AD 560 乾明元年秋八月壬午
Authority Lou Zhaojun (婁昭君)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 47
ascended the throne
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 49
took the throne
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 165
AD 560 乾明元年八月
Emperor
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 158
AD 560 皇建元年八月壬午
At Xuande Hall at Jinyang 晉陽宣德殿
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 65

Places and affiliations

Polity Eastern Wei 魏 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 3
Polity Northern Qi 北齊 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 34, passage 86
Polity Northern Qi 齊 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passages 65, 167
AD 561 大寧元年閏十二月
At Wenjing Mausoleum 文靖陵 · Relation Buried at
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 106

Works and attributed material

Book of Han 漢書
Relation Reader
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 8
AD 561 皇建二年
Testamentary edict · Author
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passages 11, 13
Edict · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passages 76-79, 100-103
Letter · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 153
Speech · Speaker · With Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi (文宣帝)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 13, passage 71
Speech · Speaker · With Wang Xi (王晞)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 31, passages 87, 106-107, 160-161; Book of Northern Qi 38, passage 149

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Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passages 6, 116-118, 121
Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 173; Book of Northern Qi 34, passages 148-151

Events and relationships

Asked empress dowager to execute yang yin faction
AD 560 乾明元年二月乙巳 · Political · Instigator · With Lou Zhaojun (婁昭君), Yang Yin (楊愔)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 53
Defeated
AD 560 皇建元年 · Military · Commander · Target Kumo Xi 庫莫奚 · At beyond the Great Wall 出長城
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 92
Entrusted succession
Political · Ruler · With Emperor Wucheng (武成帝)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 47, passage 202
Executed Yang Yin and others and promised Wucheng he would be made imperial younger brother
Political · Coup leader · With Yang Yin (杨愊)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 48
Executed Yang Yan
Political · Actor · With Yang Yin (楊愔)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 132
Fell from horse and broke ribs
AD 561 皇建二年 · Accident · Victim
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 148

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Fell ill and saw wenxuan as baleful spirit
AD 561 皇建二年九月 · Medical · Sufferer · With Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi (文宣帝)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passages 56-57
Forged edict and executed officials
AD 560 乾明元年二月乙巳 · Political · Perpetrator · With 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)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 38
Had Prince of Jinan poisoned then strangled
AD 560 皇建中 · Political · Actor · With Emperor Fei (廢帝殷)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 139
Pleaded for Yuan Man
Political · Intercessor · With Yuan Man (元蠻)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 61
Received referral of military and state affairs
AD 560 乾明元年三月甲寅 · Political · Decision maker · At Jinyang 晉陽
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 42
Seized and executed Yang Yin and associates
AD 560 乾明元年三月甲戌 · Political · Actor
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passages 49-50
Visited Jinyang while Wucheng remained on guard at the capital
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 47
Was barred at the Cloud Dragon Gate by Cheng Xiuning until Guiyan intervened
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 164
AD 560 乾明元年八月
Accession · Emperor
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 158
Relation Student of · Person Diao Rou (刁柔)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 10
Relation Friend of · Person Wang Xi (王晞)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passages 28, 37
Relation Student of · Person Li Tonggui (李同軌)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 4

Assessments and attributes

Assessment quick-witted, deep, and decisive · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 107
Assessment too exacting in small matters · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Pei Ze (裴澤)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 115
stood eight feet tall, waist ten spans
Physical description
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 108

Source notes

sent Prince Guiyan of Pingqin to escort the Prince of Ji’nan to Bing Province
With Guiyan (歸彥)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 59
held Wucheng at Ye holding troops while making his own son Bainian crown prince, causing Wucheng’s discontent
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 49
kept the Prince of Ji’nan at Ye and divided Wucheng’s power between Kudi Fulian and Hulu Fengle
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 50

References in the histories

Search passages

History

87 passages

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

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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 13Volume 13 Biographies 5: Gao Chen; Gao Rui (Northern Qi); Gao Yue (Northern Qi); Gao Mai · 4 passages

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高祖令常山王共臥起，日夜說喻之。 Gao Huan had Prince of Changshan Gao Yan share bed and board with him, exhorting him day and night.

叡後因侍宴，顯祖從容顧謂常山王演等曰：「由來亦有如此長史不？ Later, while attending a banquet, Gao Yang casually turned to Prince of Changshan Gao Yan and others and said, "Has there ever been a chief administrator like this?

演對曰：「陛下垂心庶政，優賢禮物，須拔進居蟬珥之榮，退當委要之職，自昔以來，實未聞如此銓授。」 Yan replied, "Your Majesty attends to the myriad affairs of government with care, honors the worthy and treats them with courtesy — at promotion one should occupy the glory of the cicada ear ornament; at retirement one should hold weighty posts of trust. From antiquity until now, truly none has heard of such an appointment."

孝昭臨崩，預受顧托，奉迎世祖於鄴，以功拜尚書令，別封浮陽郡公，監太史，太子太傅，議律令。 When Gao Yan faced death he received the imperial testament in advance, welcomed Gao Zhan at Ye, and for his service was appointed director of the masters of writing; he was separately enfeoffed duke of Fuyang Commandery, made supervisor of the grand astrologer, grand preceptor to the crown prince, and charged with deliberating on the code of laws.

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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