Sui and Tang · Ruler and Warlord

Li Keyong 李克用

Attested AD 895 - AD 904

Passages: 17
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Li Keyong was a ruler and Warlord.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Temple name	Martial Emperor	武皇	Wu Huang

Life and dates

Death

Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 154

Attested activity

AD 895 乾寧二年
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 147
AD 898 to AD 901 光化之後
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 149
AD 901 to AD 904 天復中
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passages 16, 21

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Lady Chen (陳氏)
palace consort 宮嬪 · Concubinage · AD 895 乾寧二年
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passages 146-147
Spouse of Lady Cao (曹氏)
Lady Cao 曹氏 · Secondary marriage
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 24
Parent of Emperor Zhuangzong (莊宗)
late lord 先君
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passages 24, 26
Spouse of Imperial Grand Consort Liu (劉氏)
principal wife 正室 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 8

Places and affiliations

Polity Jin 晉 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 11
AD 895 乾寧二年
At north of the Wei 渭北 · Relation Encamped at
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 147
AD 901 to AD 904 天復中
At Yunzhou 雲州 · Relation Planned retreat to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 16
At beyond the frontier 塞外 · Relation Took refuge at
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 19

Events and relationships

Abandoned retreat plan
AD 901 to AD 904 天復中 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 21
Campaigned against Wang Xingyu
AD 895 乾寧二年 · Military · Commander · With Wang Xingyu (王行瑜) · At north of the Wei 渭北
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 147
Summoned only Chen
AD 898 to AD 901 光化之後 · Favor · Patron · With Lady Chen (陳氏)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 149
Wanted to attack after Shangyuan
Military · Commander · At Shangyuan Post Station, Bianzhou 汴州上源驛
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 12
Wept at Chen vow
Emotional · Listener · With Lady Chen (陳氏)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 153

References in the histories

Search passages

History

17 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 49Volume 49 Book of Later Tang 25: Biographies 1: Empresses and Consorts · 17 passages

太妃劉氏，武皇之正室也。 Imperial Grand Consort Liu was Li Keyong's principal wife.

考《北夢瑣言》云：晉王李克用妻劉夫人，常隨軍行，至於軍機，多所宏益。 According to the 《Miscellaneous Notes from Northern Dreams》, Liu, wife of Li Keyong, Prince of Jin, often accompanied the army on campaign and contributed greatly to military affairs.

先是，汴州上源驛有變，晉王憤恨，欲回軍攻之。 Earlier, after the incident at Shangyuan Post Station in Bianzhou, Li Keyong, filled with anger, wanted to turn the army around and attack the city.

夫人曰：「公為國討賊，而以杯酒私忿，必若攻城，即曲在於我。 Lady Liu said, "You are campaigning on behalf of the state to suppress rebels. To turn back over a private grudge about a cup of wine—if you insist on attacking the city, the wrong will be on our side.

天復中，周德威為汴軍所敗，三軍潰散，汴軍乘我，晉王危懼，與李存信議，欲出保雲州。 During the Tianfu era, Zhou Dewei was defeated by the Bian army and the three armies broke and scattered. As the Bian forces pressed their advantage, Li Keyong was alarmed and, together with Li Cunxin, discussed abandoning their position and retreating to Yunzhou.

王常笑王行瑜棄城失勢，被人屠割，今復欲效之，何也？ You often mocked Wang Xingyu for abandoning his city, losing his power, and being cut down by others. Why do you now want to do the same?

王頃歲避難塞外，幾遭陷害，賴遇朝廷多事，方得復歸。 Only a few years ago you took refuge beyond the frontier and nearly came to harm. You were able to return only because the court was beset by turmoil.

晉王止行。 Li Keyong abandoned the plan.

太妃曰：「願吾兒享國無窮，使吾獲沒於地以從先君幸矣。 The grand consort said, "I only wish that my son may reign forever. If I can die and follow my late lord, that will be fortune enough for me.

乾寧二年，武皇奉詔討王行瑜，駐軍於渭北，昭宗降朱書御劄，出陳氏及內妓四人以賜武皇。 In Qianning 2 Li Keyong received orders to campaign against Wang Xingyu and encamped north of the Wei. Emperor Zhaozong issued an imperial letter in vermilion and sent Lady Chen and four inner courtesans to bestow upon him.

陳氏素知書，有才貌，武皇深加寵重。 Lady Chen was literate and gifted in talent and beauty. Li Keyong greatly favored her.

及光化之後，時事多難，武皇常獨居深念，嬪媵鮮得侍謁，唯陳氏得召見。 After the Guanghua era, when the times were troubled, Li Keyong often sat alone in deep thought. Consorts and attendants rarely saw him; only Lady Chen was summoned.

陳氏性既靜退，不以寵侍自侈，武皇常呼為阿者。 Calm and retiring by nature, Lady Chen did not grow arrogant from favor. Li Keyong often called her A-Zhe.

及武皇大漸之際，陳氏侍醫藥，垂泣言：「妾為王執掃除之役，十有四年矣，王萬一不幸，妾將何托！ As Li Keyong lay dying, Lady Chen attended his medicines and wept, "I have served you in sweeping and cleaning for fourteen years. If misfortune should befall you, whom shall I rely upon!

既不能以身為殉，願落發為尼，為王讀一藏佛經，以報平昔。」 Since I cannot die with you, I wish to shave my head and become a nun and read the complete Buddhist canon for you, to repay our former days."

武皇為之流涕。 Li Keyong wept at her words.

及武皇薨，陳氏果落發持經，法名智願，後居於洛陽佛寺，莊宗賜號建法大師。 When Li Keyong died, Lady Chen shaved her head and took up the sutras under the dharma name Zhiyuan. She later lived in a Luoyang monastery, and Zhuangzong granted her the title Great Master Jianfa.