Guo Ziyi (郭子儀) | 24 Histories

Overview

Guo Ziyi was a general.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Epithet	Fenyang	汾陽

Life and dates

Death

AD 781 歿身未幾
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 37

Attested activity

AD 759 二年
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 104
AD 759 五日
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 50
AD 779 十四年
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 153, passage 56; Old Book of Tang 157, passage 84
AD 758 十月
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 46
AD 767 大歷二年正月
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 191
AD 742 天寶初
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 131, passages 102-103

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AD 755 to AD 781 安史之亂至大曆
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 173, passage 266
AD 763 屬吐蕃寇陷京師，代宗幸陜
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 136
AD 777 to AD 779 常袞當國
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 150, passages 72, 82
AD 782 建中三年
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 150, passage 12
AD 781 建中二年
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 150, passage 12
AD 780 建中初
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 130, passages 190, 192
AD 780 建中初十月
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passages 191-192
AD 758 戰汲郡
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 141, passage 23
AD 756 to AD 781 朔方節度
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 85
AD 781 歿身未幾
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 37
AD 756 肅宗北幸
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 130, passages 52-53
AD 756 肅宗北幸平涼
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 126, passage 52
AD 756 to AD 759 與郭子儀掎角至圍相州
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 138, passages 32, 45
AD 756 to AD 762 郭子儀嘗領朔方軍
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 138, passage 130
AD 757 郭子儀為關內副元帥
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 3
AD 755 to AD 763 關畿用兵時
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 138, passages 204-205

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Zhao Zong (趙縱)
son-in-law 婿 · Through Daughter of Guo Ziyi (郭子儀女)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passages 37-38
Ancestor of Guo Chongtao (郭崇韜)
four generations from the Prince of Fenyang 去汾陽王四世 · 4 generations
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 57, passage 181
Parent of Daughter of Guo Ziyi (郭子儀女)
daughter 女 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 37
Parent of Daughter of Guo Ziyi (郭子儀女)
daughter 女 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 192

Kinship Role sons-in-law · Count 2 · two sons-in-law already found guilty, besides Zhao Zong
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passages 37-38
Kinship Role sons-in-law · Count 3 · three sons-in-law punished in succession, including Zhao Zong
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 38

Key source chapters

Career and standing

commander of the Shuofang army 領朔方軍
AD 756 to AD 762 郭子儀嘗領朔方軍 · Formerly held
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 138, passage 130
commander-in-chief and Minister of Works 元帥司徒
AD 759 二年 · Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 104
Guannei and Hedong deputy commander-in-chief and Chief Councilor 關內河東副元帥、中書令
AD 767 大歷二年正月 · Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 191
deputy commander-in-chief of Guannei 關內副元帥
AD 763 屬吐蕃寇陷京師，代宗幸陜 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 136
vice commander-in-chief of Guannei 關內副元帥
AD 757 郭子儀為關內副元帥 · Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 3
military commissioner of Shuofang 朔方節度
Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passage 52; Old Book of Tang 130, passage 52

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Military Commissioner of Shuofang 朔方節度使
Held
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 138, passage 205
Minister of Works 司徒
Held · From Source Date: Text: 十月 · Western Year: AD 758
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 46
Shuofang military governor 朔方節度
Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 85
Shuofang military governor 朔方節度使
Held · From Source Date: Text: 十月 · Western Year: AD 758
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 46
Exalted Father 尚父
AD 779 十四年 · Granted
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 153, passage 56
Exalted Father 尚父
AD 779 十四年 · Granted
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 157, passage 84
Meritorious Father 尚父
Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passage 192
Grand Preceptor 尚父
Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 36
Prince of Fenyang 汾陽王
Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passage 192
Suffered
Gravely ill
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 150, passage 12

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passages 46, 104, 191; Old Book of Tang 126, passages 52, 192; Old Book of Tang 127, passage 136; Old Book of Tang 129, passages 3, 85; Old Book of Tang 153, passage 56; Old Book of Tang 157, passage 84; New Book of Tang 138, passage 32; New Book of Tang 173, passage 266
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 138, passages 130, 205
AD 759 二年
At Gushui 谷水 · Relation Encamped at
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 104
AD 759 五日
At Gushui 谷水 · Relation Encamped at
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 50
AD 757 郭子儀為關內副元帥
At Guannei 關內 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 3
At Shuofang 朔方 · Relation Posted to · From Source Date: Text: 十月 · Western Year: AD 758
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 46

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At Shuofang 朔方 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passage 52

Works and attributed material

Memorial · Author · With Li Han (李涵)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passage 52

Events and relationships

Besieged
Military · Commander · With An Qingxu (安慶緒) · At Xiangzhou 相州 · From Source Date: Text: 十月 · Western Year: AD 758 · Until Source Date: Text: 二年六月六日 · Western Year: AD 759
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 46
Besieged
Military · Commander · At Xiangzhou 相州
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 138, passage 45
Coordinated with
Military · Commander · With Li Siye (李嗣業)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 138, passage 32
Enfeoffment rites revived
Ritual · Honorand
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 153, passage 56
Household slaves shown executed accuser
AD 782 建中三年正月 · Legal · Household head · With Dangqian (當千)
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 45
Ordered to punish
AD 767 大歷二年正月 · Military · Commander · With Zhou Zhiguang (周智光)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 191

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Prepared to march
AD 767 大歷二年正月 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 193
Received revived investiture rites
AD 779 十四年 · Ritual · Honorand
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 157, passage 84
Regrouped
AD 759 五日 · Military · Commander · At Gushui 谷水
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 50
Servant killed sheep during slaughter ban
AD 780 建中初十月 · Legal · Household principal
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passages 191-192
AD 767 大歷二年正月
Military · Recipient of surrender · With Li Hanyu (李漢惠)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 114, passage 194
Relation Requested appointment of · Person Di Wuqi (第五琦)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 136
Relation Superior of · Person Lu Sigong (路嗣恭)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 138, passage 205
Relation Recommender of · Person Li Han (李涵)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passage 52
Relation Former subordinate of · Person Qi Qiu (齊丘)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 3
Relation Superior of · Person Zhang Yi (張鎰)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 3
Relation Commander of · Person Feng Heqing (馮河清)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 85

Assessments and attributes

Assessment authority too great; exposing a small fault shows he does not manipulate power · Mode quotation Speaker Pei Xu (裴谞)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passages 195-196
Assessment greatest merit among generals · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Zhang Yi (張鎰)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 35
Assessment highest rank among subjects as Grand Preceptor · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Zhang Yi (張鎰)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 36

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passage 52; Old Book of Tang 129, passage 3; New Book of Tang 138, passage 130; New Book of Tang 173, passage 266

References in the histories

Search passages

History

39 passages

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 114Volume 110 Biographies 60: Li Guangbi, Wang Sili, Deng Jingshan, Xin Yunjing · 7 passages

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十月，與朔方節度使司徒郭子儀、河東節度使太尉李光弼等九節度同圍安慶緒於相州。 In the tenth month he joined Shuofang governor Guo Ziyi, Hedong governor Li Guangbi, and eight other commanders in besieging An Qingxu at Xiangzhou.

五日，至新鄭縣，聞郭子儀已整眾屯谷水，李光弼還太原，炅憂懼，仰藥而卒。 On the fifth he reached Xinzheng and learned that Guo Ziyi had regrouped at Gushui while Li Guangbi had gone back to Taiyuan. In fear and despair Jiong took poison and died.

元帥司徒郭子儀鎮谷水，乃以瑱為陜州刺史，充陜、虢等州節度，並潼關防禦、團練、鎮守使。 Commander Guo Ziyi held Gushui; Zhen was made Governor of Shaanzhou, military governor of Shaan and Guo, and defense commissioner of Tong Pass.

大歷二年正月，密詔關內河東副元帥、中書令郭子儀率兵討智光，許以便宜從事。 In the second year of Dali, in the first month a secret edict ordered Guo Ziyi to march against Zhiguang with full discretion.

時同、華路絕，上召子儀女婿工部侍郎趙縱受口詔付子儀，縱裂帛寫詔置蠟丸中，遣家童間道達焉。 The Tong-Hua road was cut; the Emperor had Ziyi's son-in-law Zhao Zong take an oral edict written on silk in a wax ball and sent by a secret messenger.

子儀奉詔將出師，華州將士相顧攜貳。 Guo Ziyi prepared to march; the men of Hua looked at one another in doubt.

智光大將李漢惠自同州以其所管降子儀。 Zhiguang's general Li Hanyu came over from Tongzhou with his command.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 126Volume 122 Biographies 72: Zhang Xiancheng, Lu Sigong, Qu Huan, Jin Hanheng, Yang Chaocheng, Fan Ze, Li Shuming, Pei Zhou · 4 passages

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朔方節度郭子儀奏為關內鹽池判官。 Guo Ziyi, military commissioner of Shuofang, recommended him as salt-pond administrator for the region within the passes.

尚父、汾陽王郭子儀隸人殺羊以入，門者覺之，谞列奏狀，上以為不畏強禦，累遣宣諭。 The Meritorious Father, Prince of Fenyang Guo Ziyi, had a servant kill a sheep and bring it in. The gate guards detected it, and Xu submitted a detailed memorial. The emperor thought he did not fear the powerful and repeatedly sent imperial commendation.

或謂谞曰：「郭公有社稷功，豈不為蓋之？」 Someone said to Xu, "The Prince has rendered great service to the state—would you not cover for him?"

且郭公威權太盛，上新即位，必謂黨附者眾。 Moreover the Prince's authority is too great. The emperor has newly taken the throne and is sure to think his faction numerous.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 127Volume 123 Biographies 73: Liu Yan, Di Wuqi, Ban Hong, Ban Shao, Li Xun · 1 passage

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屬吐蕃寇陷京師，代宗幸陜，關內副元帥郭子儀請琦為糧料使、兼御史大夫，充關內元帥副使。 When Tibetan forces stormed the capital and Emperor Daizong withdrew to Shaan, Guo Ziyi—the deputy commander of Guannei—asked that Di Wuqi serve as grain commissioner and censor-in-chief, and as his second-in-command.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 129Volume 125 Biographies 75: Zhang Yi, Liu Congyi, Xiao Fu, Liu Hun · 5 passages

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郭子儀為關內副元帥，以嘗伏事齊丘，辟鎰為判官。 When Guo Ziyi served as vice commander-in-chief of Guannei, he recruited Zhang Yi as a staff judge, having once served under Qi Qiu himself.

將帥之功，莫大於子儀； Among generals, none has greater merit than Guo Ziyi;

人臣之位，莫大於尚父。 and among subjects, none holds a rank higher than Grand Preceptor.

鎰乃令召子儀家僮數百人，以死奴示之。 Zhang Yi then summoned several hundred of Guo Ziyi's household slaves and showed them the dead slave.

初以武藝從軍，隸朔方節度郭子儀，以戰功授左衛大將軍同正； He first entered the army through martial skill and served under Shuofang military governor Guo Ziyi. For battle merit he was appointed Left Guard Grand General with irregular status;

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 130Volume 126 Biographies 76: Li Kui, Li Han, Chen Shaoyou, Lu Yue, Pei Xu · 4 passages

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朔方節度郭子儀奏為關內鹽池判官。 Guo Ziyi, military commissioner of Shuofang, recommended him as judge of the salt ponds within the passes.

尚父、汾陽王郭子儀隸人殺羊以入，門者覺之，谞列奏狀，上以為不畏強禦，累遣宣諭。 The Esteemed Father, Guo Ziyi, Prince of Fenyang, had a servant slaughter a sheep and bring it in. The gate guards caught him, and Xu memorialized the offense. The emperor praised his fearlessness before the powerful and repeatedly commended him.

或謂谞曰：「郭公有社稷功，豈不為蓋之？」 Someone asked him: "The Duke has saved the dynasty—would you not cover this for him?"

且郭公威權太盛，上新即位，必謂黨附者眾。 The Duke's power is too great. The new emperor is sure to suspect that his following is too large.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 131Volume 127 Biographies 77: Yao Lingyan, Zhang Guangcheng, Yuan Xiu, Qiao Lin, Zhang She, Jiang Zhen, Hong Jinglun, Peng Yan · 1 passage

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朔方節度郭子儀辟為掌書記，尋拜監察御史。 Guo Ziyi, military governor of Shuofang, recruited him as chief secretary; he was soon appointed Inspector.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 150Volume 146 Biographies 96: Xue Bo, Bao Fang, Li Ziliang, Li Shuo, Yan Shou, Xiao Xin, Du Ya, Wang Wei, Li Ruochu, Yu Qi, Lu Zheng, Yan Ping, Zheng Yuan, Du Jian, Pei Bin, Xue Pi · 2 passages

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明年，尚父郭子儀病篤，上御紫宸，命誼持制書省之。 The following year, when Guo Ziyi, the Esteemed Father, lay gravely ill, the emperor went to Zichen Hall and ordered Yi to carry an imperial writ and visit him.

子儀臥不能興，以手叩頭謝恩已。 Ziyi was too ill to rise and could only knock his head with his hand in gratitude for the imperial favor.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 153Volume 149 Biographies 99: Yu Xiulie, Ling Huhuan, Gui Chongjing, Xi Zhi, Zhang Jian, Jiang Yi, Liu Deng, Shen Chuanshi · 1 passage

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會加郭子儀尚父，以冊禮久廢，至是復行之。 Guo Ziyi was given the title Exalted Father. The enfeoffment rites had long fallen into disuse and were now revived.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 157Volume 153 Biographies 103: Yao Nanzhong, Liu Nai, Yuan Gao, Duan Pingzhong, Xue Cuncheng, Lu Tan · 1 passage

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會加郭子儀尚父，以冊禮久廢，至是復行之。 Guo Ziyi was given the title Exalted Father. The enfeoffment rites had long fallen into disuse and were now revived.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 57Volume 57 Book of Later Tang 33: Biographies 9: Gao Chongtao · 3 passages

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同列豆盧革謂崇韜曰：「汾陽王代北人，徙家華陰，侍中世在雁門，得非祖德歟？」 His colleague Doulu Ge said to Guo Chongtao, "The Prince of Fenyang came from northern Dai and moved his family to Huayin. Your family has roots in Yanmen for generations—surely this is ancestral grace?"

崇韜應曰：「經亂失譜牒，先人嘗雲去汾陽王四世。」 Guo Chongtao answered, "The genealogies were lost in the chaos, but our ancestors once said we were four generations from the Prince of Fenyang."

及征蜀之行，於興平拜尚父子儀之墓。 On the march into Shu, he paid his respects at Xingping at the tomb of the Honorary Prince of Guo, Ziyi.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 138Volume 138 Biographies 63: · 6 passages

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