Five Dynasties · Official and Statesman

Feng Dao 馮道

Attested AD 948 - AD 949

Passages: 3
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Feng Dao was an official and Statesman.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 948 to AD 949 漢遣白文珂、常思等出軍擊之
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passages 84, 86-87

Career and standing

Held
Retired chancellor
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passage 84

Places and affiliations

AD 948 to AD 949 漢遣白文珂、常思等出軍擊之
At Heyang 河陽 · Relation Resided at
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passage 84

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Addressed to Guo Wei (郭威) · Mode quotation Speaker Feng Dao (馮道)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passages 84, 86-87

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 52, passage 84

References in the histories

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 52Volume 52 Miscellaneous Biographies 32: Du Zhongwei, Li Zhouzhen, Zhang Yanze · 3 passages

是時，馮道罷相居河陽，威初出兵，過道家問策，道曰：「君知博乎？」 At that time Feng Dao had retired from the chancellorship and lived at Heyang. When Wei first set out he passed Feng's house to ask advice. Feng said, "Do you know gambling?"

威少無賴，好蒲博，以為道譏之，艴然而怒。 In youth Wei had been a wastrel who loved gambling and thought Feng was mocking him. He flushed with anger.

道曰：「凡博者錢多則多勝，錢少則多敗，非其不善博，所以敗者，勢也。 Feng said, "In gambling, whoever has more money wins more often and whoever has less loses more often. It is not that one gambles poorly—the loser is overcome by circumstances.