Guo Wei (郭威) | 24 Histories

Overview

The translated histories identify Guo Wei as a general and ruler. This record brings together 91 passages from 4 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Guo Wei	郭威	Guo Wei
Title	Founder	高祖	Gaozu
Surname	Guo	郭	Guo
Personal name	Guo Wei	郭威	Guo Wei
Personal name	Guo Wei	郭威	Guō Wēi
Temple name	Taizu	太祖
Temple name	Taizu	太祖	Taizu
Temple name	Taizu	太祖	Tàizǔ
Given name	Wei	威	Wei
Title	Zhou Founder	周太祖	Zhou Taizu
Temple name	Zhou Taizu	周太祖
Title	Zhou Taizu	周太祖
Temple name	Zhou Taizu	周太祖	Zhōu Tàizǔ

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Strongly inferred · jiuwudaishi:127:s0179
Sex: male
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:130:s0013, xinwudaishi:053:s0036

Roles

General
Ruler

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 周太祖入立 · Western Year: AD 951
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:127:s0179
Source Date: Text: 太祖入立 · Western Year: AD 951
Explicit · xinwudaishi:050:s0007
Source Date: Text: 太祖踐阼 · Western Year: AD 951
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:130:s0018
Source Date: Text: 太祖鎮鄴 · Western Year: AD 950
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:130:s0013
Source Date: Text: 廣順 · Western Year: AD 951
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:127:s0064
Source Date: Text: 廣順三年三月 · Western Year: AD 953
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:130:s0084
Source Date: Text: 廣順三年秋九月 · Western Year: AD 953
Explicit · xinwudaishi:050:s0069
Source Date: Text: 廣順元年冬 · Western Year: AD 951
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:130:s0026
Source Date: Text: 明年，太祖有事於南郊 · Western Year: AD 954
Explicit · xinwudaishi:050:s0070
Source Date: Text: 明年五月，太祖親征 · Western Year: AD 952
Explicit event contextual date · xinwudaishi:053:s0102
Source Date: Text: 郭威 · Western Interval: Start: AD 948 · End: AD 954
Explicit event contextual date · xinwudaishi:053:s0036, xinwudaishi:053:s0077

Family

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

Parent of Emperor Shizong (世宗)
Kinship Term: son / 兒 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son

Career and standing

Date Context: Source Date: Text: 太祖踐阼 · Western Year: AD 951
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:130:s0018

Places and affiliations

Polity: Later Zhou / 周 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:127:s0179, jiuwudaishi:127:s0064
Polity Name: Later Zhou / 周 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:130:s0018

Works and attributed material

Kind: edict · Role: author · Other Person Id: Yan Honglu (閻宏魯)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:130:s0159, jiuwudaishi:130:s0160, jiuwudaishi:130:s0161
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Feng Dao (馮道)
Explicit · xinwudaishi:050:s0048
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Gao Xingzhou (高行周)
Explicit · xinwudaishi:053:s0064
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Wang Yin (王殷)
Explicit · xinwudaishi:050:s0065, xinwudaishi:050:s0066
Kind: speech · Role: speaker
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:130:s0079, jiuwudaishi:130:s0080, jiuwudaishi:130:s0081, xinwudaishi:050:s0016

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: personally took Yanzhou; Murong clan destroyed
Explicit · xinwudaishi:053:s0102
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: personally-campaigned · Place: Yan Prefecture / 兗州
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:130:s0127, jiuwudaishi:130:s0130
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: quelled-internal-strife
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:127:s0140
Relation: addressed-as-younger-brother · Person Id: Murong Yanchao (慕容彥超)
Explicit · xinwudaishi:053:s0077

Assessments and attributes

Item: jade belt / 玉帶 · Relation: bestowed · Other Person Id: Murong Yanchao (慕容彥超)
Explicit · xinwudaishi:053:s0077

References in the histories

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

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 127Volume 127 Book of Later Zhou 29: Biographies 7: Lu Wenji, Ma Yisun, He Ning, Su Yugui, Jing Fan · 4 passages

Open chapter

（《歐陽史》：周太祖入立，即拜司空於家。） (The History of Ouyang: When Zhou Taizu took power, Wenji was at once appointed Grand Master of Works at home.)

太祖即位，就加檢校禮部尚書、太子賓客，分司在洛。 When Taizu acceded he was made inspector-general of rites and guest of the heir, with duty at Luoyang.

三年冬，太祖入平內難，禹珪遁入都城，為兵士所擄。 In winter of year three Taizu entered to quell strife. Yugui fled into the capital and was seized by troops.

翌日，太祖令人求之，既見，撫慰甚至，尋復其位。 Next day Taizu sent for him, comforted him deeply, and soon restored his post.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 130Volume 130 Book of Later Zhou 32: Biographies 10: Wang Jun, Murong Yanchao, Yan Honglu, Cui Zhoudu · 39 passages

Open chapter

太祖鎮鄴，兼北面兵馬，峻為監軍，留駐鄴城。 When Guo Wei was military governor at Ye and also commanded the northern armies, Jun served as his military supervisor and remained garrisoned at Ye.

從太祖赴闕，綢繆帷幄，贊成大事，峻居首焉。 He followed Guo Wei to the capital, worked closely with him in the command tent, and helped bring the great enterprise to success—Jun ranked foremost among them.

太祖北征，至澶州，為諸軍擁迫，峻與王殷在京聞變，乃遣侍衛馬軍都指揮使郭崇往宋州，前申州刺史馬鐸往許州，以防他變，二州安然，亦峻之謀也。 When Guo Wei marched north and reached Chanzhou, the armies pressed him to take the throne. Jun and Wang Yin, hearing the news in the capital, dispatched Palace Guard cavalry commander Guo Chong to Songzhou and the former prefect of Shen, Ma Duo, to Xuzhou to forestall any other upheaval. Both prefectures stayed calm—another stroke planned by Jun.

太祖踐阼，加平章事，尋兼右僕射、門下侍郎平章事，監修國史。 When Guo Wei became emperor, Jun was made grand councilor; soon he also held the posts of right vice director of the imperial secretariat, vice minister of the gate department and grand councilor, and supervisor for the compilation of the national history.

時朝廷初建，四方多故，峻夙夜奉事，知無不為，每侍太祖商榷軍事，未嘗不移時而退，甚有裨益。 The dynasty was new and troubles pressed on every side. Jun attended day and night, leaving nothing undone that he could attempt. Whenever he sat with the emperor to weigh military affairs he would not withdraw until hours had passed—his counsel proved of real benefit.

太祖從而順之，則忻然而退； If the emperor agreed, he would withdraw well pleased.

太祖素知其為人，且以佐命之故，每優容之。 Guo Wei had long known his temper, and for his merit in founding the dynasty showed him forbearance time and again.

峻年長於太祖二歲，太祖雖登大位，時以兄呼之，有時呼表字，不忘布衣之契也。 Jun was two years older than the emperor. Though Guo Wei now wore the throne, he would sometimes address him as elder brother, sometimes call him Xiufeng—never forgetting their bond as men in plain cloth.

廣順元年冬，劉崇與契丹圍晉州，峻請行應援，太祖用為行營都部署，以徐州節度使王彥超為副。 In the winter of the first year of Guangshun, Liu Chong and the Khitan besieged Jin Prefecture. Jun asked to lead the relief army; Guo Wei appointed him overall commander of the field headquarters, with Wang Yanchao, military governor of Xuzhou, as his deputy.

將發之前，召宴於滋德殿，太祖出女樂以寵之。 On the eve of departure the court feasted him in the Hall of Nurturing Virtue, and the emperor sent out female musicians to honor him.

及發，太祖幸西莊，親臨宴餞，別賜御馬玉帶，執手而別。 As the army set out, Guo Wei went to the Western Villa and personally feasted him on his departure, then gave him an imperial horse and jade belt and clasped his hands in farewell.

峻至陜駐留數夕，劉崇攻晉州甚急，太祖憂其不可支，議親征，取澤州路入，與峻會合，先令諭峻。 Jun reached Shan and halted several nights. Liu Chong's assault on Jin Prefecture was fierce; the emperor feared the city could not stand and considered leading the campaign himself along the Ze Prefecture road to join Jun, and first sent word to inform him.

時永興軍節度使李洪信，漢室之密戚也，自太祖踐阼，恒有憂沮之意，而本城軍不滿千，峻出征至陜州，以救援晉州為辭，抽起數百人，及劉崇北遁，又遣禁兵千餘人，屯於京兆，洪信懼，遂請入朝。 Li Hongxin, military governor of Yongxing, was a close kinsman of the Han house. Since Guo Wei took the throne he had shown constant unease, yet his city garrison numbered fewer than a thousand. When Jun marched out and reached Shan, he used the relief of Jin Prefecture as a pretext to draft several hundred men from him; and when Liu Chong fled north, Jun sent more than a thousand palace guards to garrison Jingzhao. Hongxin was terrified and petitioned to come to court.

峻軍回，太祖厚加優賜。 When Jun's army returned, the emperor showered him with generous rewards.

峻意欲自將兵討賊，累言於太祖曰：「慕容劇賊，曹英不易與之敵耳。」 Jun wanted to take the field himself. Again and again he told the emperor, "Murong is a ferocious rebel—Cao Ying will not easily stand against him."

太祖默然。 The emperor said nothing.

太祖登極之初，務存謙抑，潛龍將佐未甚進用，其後鄭仁誨、李重進、向訓等稍遷要職，峻心忌之，至是求退，蓋偵太祖之意也。 Early in Guo Wei's reign he had kept his former companions in check and advanced them slowly. Later Zheng Renhui, Li Chongjin, Xiang Xun, and others were gradually promoted to high office. Jun resented it. His request to retire was largely a probe of the emperor's mind.

峻連貢三章，中使宣諭無虛日，太祖嚴駕將幸其第，峻聞之，即馳馬入見，太祖慰勞久之，復令視事。 Jun sent up three memorials in a row. Palace envoys came day after day with the emperor's word. Guo Wei in full procession was about to visit his mansion; Jun heard of it and galloped straight to court. The emperor comforted him at length and ordered him back to office.

及土木之功畢，請太祖臨幸，恩賜甚厚。 When the building was finished he invited the emperor to visit in person, and the gifts showered on him were exceedingly rich.

太祖曰：「樞密院舍宇不少，公更自興造何也？」 Taizu replied: "The Bureau of Military Affairs already has ample quarters—why are you building more on your own?"

巖侄崇勛，居於陳郡，峻為求官田宅以賜之，太祖亦從之。 Yan's nephew Chongxun lived in Chen commandery; Jun secured official land and a mansion for him as a gift, and Taizu agreed.

居無何，邀求兼領青州，太祖不得已而授之。 Before long he pressed to hold Qingzhou as well; Taizu, unable to refuse, granted the post.

翌日，峻奏上交知舉不公，請致之於法，太祖頷之而已。 The next day Jun memorialized that Shangjiao had run the examinations unfairly and asked that he be punished by law. Taizu only nodded.

太祖曰：「進退宰輔，未可倉卒，待徐思之。」 Taizu said: "The appointment and removal of chief ministers must not be rushed. Let us consider it at leisure."

太祖未食，日將亭午，諍之不已。 Taizu had not yet eaten; the sun was nearly at noon, yet Jun argued without stopping.

太祖曰：「節假之內，未欲便行，已俟假開，即依所奏。」 Taizu said: "During the holiday I did not wish to act at once. When the holiday ends I will do as you ask."

太祖見馮道已下，泣曰：「峻淩朕頗甚，無禮太過，擬欲盡去左右臣僚，翦朕羽翼。 Taizu met Feng Dao and the others and wept: "Jun bullies me cruelly and shows outrageous disrespect. He means to drive away every minister at my side and cut off my wings.

周祖親征，遣使諭之。 The Zhou founder took the field in person and sent an envoy to instruct him.

使還具奏，周祖自以手提其耳曰：「幾敗吾事。」）〉 The envoy returned and reported every word. The Zhou founder clutched his own ear and said, "He nearly ruined everything.")〉

彥超鎮兗州，漢隱帝欲殺周太祖，召彥超，方食，釋匕箸而就道。 While Yanchao governed Yan Prefecture, Emperor Yindi of Later Han plotted to kill Guo Wei and summoned him. Yanchao was in the middle of a meal but set down his utensils and set out at once.

周太祖時，彥超進呈鄆州節度使高行周來書，其書意即行周毀讟太祖結連彥超之意，帝覽之，笑曰：「此必是彥超之詐也。」 Under the Zhou founder, Yanchao submitted a letter purportedly from Gao Xingzhou, military governor of Yun Prefecture, whose wording suggested that Xingzhou had slandered the emperor and was conspiring with Yanchao. Guo Wei read it and laughed: "This must be Yanchao's trick."

高祖登極，改乾祐為廣順。 When the founder took the throne he changed the era name from Qianyou to Guangshun.

高祖親征，城將破，忽夜夢一人，狀貌甚偉異，被王者之服，謂高祖曰：「陛下明日當得城。」 The founder marched in person. As the city was about to fall, he dreamed at night of a man of strange and imposing mien in kingly robes who said to him, "Your Majesty will take the city tomorrow."

高祖私謂征兆如此，可不預備乎！ The founder said to himself: With an omen like this, how could he fail to prepare!

高祖意豁然，謂近臣曰：「寡人所夢，得非夫子乎？ His mind cleared at once. He said to his close ministers, "Was the figure in my dream none other than the Master?

高祖曰：「夫子聖人也，百王取則，而又夢告寡人，得非夫子幽贊所及耶？ The founder said, "The Master is a sage whom a hundred kings take as their model. He warned me in a dream—was that not his hidden blessing at work?

慕容彥超之被圍也，乘城而望，見高祖親臨矢石，其勢不可當，退而憂之，因勉其麾下曰：「汝等宜為吾盡命，吾庫中金銀如山積，若全此城，吾盡以為賜，汝等勿患富貴。」 While Murong Yanchao was under siege he climbed the wall and saw the founder himself in the hail of arrows and stones. The assault could not be withstood. He withdrew in dread and urged his men: "Fight to the death for me. Gold and silver in my treasury are heaped like mountains—if we hold the city I will give it all to you. You need not fear for wealth or rank."

及高祖之入也，有司閱其庫藏，其間銀鐵胎者果十有七八。 When the founder entered, officials inspected the treasury. Seven or eight tenths of the silver proved to be iron at the core.

太祖平兗州，詔曰：「閻宏魯、崔周度，死義之臣，禮加二等，所以滲漏澤而賁黃泉也。 When the founder pacified Yan Prefecture, an edict said, "Yan Honglu and Cui Zhoudu died for righteousness. Their rites shall be raised two grades, that seeping favor may reach them even in the yellow springs.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 50Volume 50 Miscellaneous Biographies 30: Wang Jun, Wang Yin, Liu Ci, Wang Huan, Zhe Congruan · 38 passages

Open chapter

周太祖鎮天雄軍，峻為監軍。 While Zhou Taizu held Tianxiong, Jun served as supervising commissioner.

漢隱帝已殺大臣史弘肇等，又遣人殺周太祖及峻等，峻等遂與太祖舉兵犯京師。 The Hidden Emperor had killed Shi Hongzhao and other great ministers, then sent men to kill Taizu and Jun. Jun and the rest joined Taizu and marched on the capital.

太祖監國，以漢太后命拜峻樞密使。 Taizu governed as regent and, by the Empress Dowager’s order, made Jun Privy Commissioner.

太祖將兵北出，至澶州，返軍向京師。 Taizu marched north to Chan, then wheeled the army back on the capital.

是時，太祖已遣馮道迎湘陰公赟於徐州，而漢宗室蔡王信在許州。 Taizu had already sent Feng Dao to meet the Prince of Xiangyin Yun at Xuzhou, while Prince of Cai Xin of the Han house held Xu.

太祖入立，拜峻右僕射、門下侍郎、同中書門下平章事，監修國史。 Taizu took the throne and made Jun Right Vice Director, Gate Attendant-in-Chief, Associate Grand Councilor, and supervisor of the national history.

太祖遣使者翟守素馳至陜州，諭峻欲親征。 Taizu sent Zhai Shousu racing to Shan to say he meant to take the field himself.

是時，太祖已下詔西幸，聞峻語，遽自提其耳曰：「幾敗吾事！」 Taizu had already ordered a western tour. Hearing Jun, he clutched his ear and cried: "I nearly wrecked everything!"

峻與太祖俱起於魏，自謂佐命之功，以天下為己任。 Jun and Taizu had risen together from Wei. He counted his founding merit as his due and shouldered the realm.

凡所論請，事無大小，期於必得，或小不如誌，言色輒不遜，太祖每優容之。 Every petition, large or small, had to succeed; the slightest miss turned his tone rude, yet Taizu indulged him.

峻年長於太祖二歲，往往呼峻為兄，或稱其字，峻由是益橫。 Jun was two years Taizu’s senior. Taizu often called him elder brother or used his style, and Jun grew bolder still.