Five Dynasties · Official and Hermit

Guo Youwei 郭無為

Guo Wuwei

Attested AD 960

Passages: 15
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

The translated histories identify Guo Youwei as a hermit, official, priest, and scholar. This record brings together 15 passages from 1 chapter across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Guo Youwei	郭無為	Guo Wuwei
Personal	Guo Wuwei	郭無為	Guo Wuwei
Personal	Youwei	無為	Wuwei
Epithet	抱腹山人	抱腹山人

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Value: male
Explicit · xinwudaishi:070:s0090

Roles

Hermit
Official
Priest
Scholar
Statesman

Life and dates

Death

Manner: strangled · Authority Person Id: Liu Jiyuan (劉繼元)
Explicit · xinwudaishi:070:s0145

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 宋興 · Western Year: AD 960
Explicit event contextual date · xinwudaishi:070:s0090, xinwudaishi:070:s0075

Career and standing

Label: chancellor / 相 · Action: appointed
Explicit · xinwudaishi:070:s0097
Label: Remonstrance Officer / 諫議大夫 · Action: appointed
Explicit · xinwudaishi:070:s0097

Places and affiliations

Place: Di Prefecture / 棣州
Explicit · xinwudaishi:070:s0091
Place: Mount Baofu / 抱腹山 · Relation: hid-at
Explicit · xinwudaishi:070:s0096
Place: Mount Wudang / 武當山 · Relation: resided-at
Explicit · xinwudaishi:070:s0092

Learning and skills

Belief: Daoism / 道士 · Relation: adherent-of
Explicit · xinwudaishi:070:s0092

Events and relationships

Kind: political · Role: kingmaker · Action: enthroned · Other Person Id: Liu Jiyuan (劉繼元)
Explicit · xinwudaishi:070:s0132

Assessments and attributes

Kind: physical-description · Statement: broad forehead and beaklike nose
Explicit · xinwudaishi:070:s0091

References in the histories

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

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 70Volume 70: Hereditary House of Eastern Han · 15 passages

承鈞由此益重儒者，以抱腹山人郭無為參議國政。 Thereafter he prized scholars and installed the mountain man Guo Wuwei in counsel.

無為，棣州人，方顙鳥喙，好學多聞，善談辯。 A Di Prefecture man with high brow and hooked nose, widely read and silver-tongued.

周太祖討李守貞於河中，無為詣軍門上謁，詢以當世之務，太祖奇之。 During Guo's siege of Li Shouzhen at Hezhong, Youwei appeared at camp and debated policy; Guo was impressed.

無為去，隱抱腹山。 Youwei retired to Mount Baofu.

承鈞嘗謂郭無為曰：「繼恩純孝，然非濟世之才，恐不能了我家事。」 Chengjun once told Guo Youwei, "Jien is dutiful but no statesman—I doubt he can settle our house's affairs."

無為不對。 Youwei said nothing.

承鈞病臥勤政閣，召無為，執手以後事付之。 Dying in the Diligence Pavilion, he summoned Youwei, clasped his hand, and entrusted the aftermath.

郭無為遣人以梯登屋入，殺霸榮並其黨。 Guo Youwei sent men over the roof and killed Barong and his accomplices.

初，承鈞之語郭無為也，繼恩怨無為不助己，及立，欲逐之而未果，故霸榮之亂，人皆以謂無為之謀，霸榮死，口滅而無知者。 Jien had resented Youwei since Chengjun's remark that he lacked talent; on taking power he tried to oust him and failed—so when Barong struck, rumor blamed Youwei; Barong's death left no witness.

無為迎繼元而立之。 Youwei installed Jiyuan as ruler.

王師北征，繼元閉城拒守，太祖皇帝以詔書招繼元出降，許以平盧軍節度使，郭無為安國軍節度使。 Song's northern expedition found Jiyuan behind closed walls; Taizu offered surrender—Jiyuan as governor of Pinglu, Youwei of Anguo.

無為捧詔色動，而並人及繼元左右皆欲堅守以拒命。 Youwei, reading the edict, wavered—but Bingzhou and Jiyuan's court wanted to hold out.

無為仰天慟哭，拔佩刀欲自裁，為左右所持。 Youwei wept to heaven and tried to fall on his sword; attendants restrained him.

繼元自下執其手，延之上坐，無為曰：「奈何以孤城拒百萬之王師？」 Jiyuan came down, took his hand, and seated him above, while Youwei asked, "How can a lone city defy a million imperial troops?"

宦者衛德貴察無為有異志，以告繼元，繼元遣人縊殺之。 Eunuch Wei Degui detected his disloyalty and told Jiyuan, who had him strangled.