Liang Wenju (梁文矩)

Overview

Liang Wenju was a minister of War.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Deyi	德儀	Deyi

Life and dates

Death

AD 943 天福八年
Cause Illness
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 67
AD 943 to AD 944 十二月庚戌
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 82, passage 55

Age

AD 943 天福八年
Years 59 · Reckoning Sui · At death
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 67

Attested activity

AD 943 to AD 944 十二月庚戌
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 82, passage 55
AD 926 天成初
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passages 58-59
AD 943 天福八年
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passages 67-68
AD 939 天福四年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 78, passage 14
AD 926 to AD 933 明宗
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passages 60-62
AD 907 to AD 923 梁福王友璋
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passages 52-54

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AD 934 清泰初
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 63
AD 923 莊宗遣明宗襲據鄆州
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passages 55-57
AD 931 長興二年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 42, passage 138
AD 936 高祖即位
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passages 64-66

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Jing (景)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 51
Child of Mother of Liang Wenju (梁文矩母)
mother 母
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 55

Key source chapters

Origins and identity

Surname Liang 梁
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 50

Career and standing

Right Remonstrance Councilor 右諫議大夫
AD 926 天成初 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 58
magistrate of Xiangcheng 項城令
AD 907 to AD 923 梁福王友璋 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 53
director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices 太常卿
AD 934 清泰初 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 63
secretary on the Tianping military commission 天平軍節度掌書記
AD 923 莊宗遣明宗襲據鄆州 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 56
Minister of War; formerly western capital vice defender 兵部尚書、前西京副留守
AD 931 長興二年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 42, passage 138
minister of personnel 吏部尚書
AD 936 高祖即位 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 64

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junior preceptor of the heir apparent 太子少師
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 78, passage 14
minister of war 兵部尚書
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 58
observation commissioner adjutant of Yanzhou 兗州觀察判官
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 54
secretary 秘書郎
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 52
in charge of Xuanwu military and prefectural affairs 知宣武軍軍州事
AD 926 天成初 · Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 58
censor-in-chief 御史中丞
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 58
concurrent administrator of the Jingzhao metropolitan prefecture 判京兆府事
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 58
deputy protector of the western capital 西都副留守
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 58
minister of rites 禮部尚書
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 58
retired Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent 太子太保致仕
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 82, passage 55
vice minister of personnel 吏部侍郎
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 58
Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent 太子太傅
AD 943 to AD 944 十二月庚戌 · Posthumously granted
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 82, passage 55
aide 從事
AD 907 to AD 923 梁福王友璋 · Recruited
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 53
grand guardian of the heir apparent 太子太保
Retired as
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 66
Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent (retirement) 太子太保致仕
Retired
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 78, passage 104
junior tutor of the heir apparent 太子少師
AD 936 高祖即位 · Transferred
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 64
grand tutor of the heir apparent 太子太傅
AD 943 天福八年 · Posthumously awarded
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 68
Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent 太子太傅
AD 943 to AD 944 十二月庚戌 · Posthumously granted
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 82, passage 55
Entered
AD 926 to AD 933 明宗 · Mourning for father
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 62
Held
Retired
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 82, passage 55
Left office
Retired
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 66

Places and affiliations

AD 907 to AD 923 梁福王友璋
Polity Later Liang 後梁 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passages 52-53
AD 923 莊宗遣明宗襲據鄆州
Polity Later Tang 後唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passages 55-56, 58
AD 936 高祖即位
Polity Later Jin 後晉 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passages 64, 67
Polity Later Jin 晉 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 82, passage 55
At Yunzhou 鄆州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 50
AD 926 天成初
At Xuanwu Army 宣武軍 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 58

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AD 923 莊宗遣明宗襲據鄆州
At Yunzhou 鄆州 · Relation Traveled to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 55
At Bian 汴 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 57
At Heng 恒 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 57
At Jingzhao 京兆府 · Relation Administered
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 58
At Luoyang 洛陽 · Relation Resided in
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 66
At Xiangcheng 項城 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 53
At Xuzhou 徐方 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 53
At Yanzhou 兗州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 54
Organization Tianping Army 天平軍 · Relation Served on staff of
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 56

Learning and skills

Examined for
Credential collator of the heir apparent 太子校書
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 52
Earned
Credential collator of the heir apparent 太子校書
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 52
Belief Daoist teaching of stillness and purity 清靜之教 · Relation Adherent of
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 65
Skill dietary alchemy / taking elixirs 服食 · Level pursued-to-perfection
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 65

Works and attributed material

上章請退 requested retirement
Memorial · Author · Paraphrased
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 66
Memorial · Author
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 78, passages 15-32
Speech · Subject · With Gaozu (高祖) · Direct quotation · Units s0060 · Mode quotation Speaker Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 60

Events and relationships

Appointed to compile
Deliberation · Participant
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 78, passage 14
Chief minister appointment stopped by mourning
AD 926 to AD 933 明宗 · Political · Intended appointee
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 62
Emulated legends
Scholarly · Admirer · With Master Redpine (赤松)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 65
Emulated legends
Scholarly · Admirer · With Marquis of Liu (留侯)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 65
Followed headquarters transfers
Career · Staff officer · With Mingzong (明宗)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 57
Hoped for chief ministership
Political · Former staff
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 59

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Presented himself
AD 923 莊宗遣明宗襲據鄆州 · Political · Presenter · With Zhuangzong (莊宗)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 55
Returned by hidden route to parents
AD 923 莊宗遣明宗襲據鄆州 · Personal · Son · At Yunzhou 鄆州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 55
Relation Client of · Person Youzhang (友璋)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passages 52-53
Relation Staff of · Person Mingzong (明宗)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passages 56-57

Assessments and attributes

Assessment long forgotten by Mingzong, who called that his own fault · Assessor Person Id Mingzong (明宗) · Mode quotation Speaker Mingzong (明宗)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 61
Assessment served the ruler early with great diligence; public opinion resented that he had not been made chief minister · Assessor Person Id Gaozu (高祖) · Mode quotation Speaker Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 60
developed wind paralysis / rheumatism (風痹)
Illness
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 66
Item several thousand volumes of Daoist texts 道書數千卷 · Relation Collected
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 65

Source notes

Value historical
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 92, passage 50

References in the histories

Search passages

History

14 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 42Volume 42 Book of Later Tang 18: Mingzong Annals 8 · 1 passage

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丁丑，以前西京副留守梁文矩為兵部尚書。 On dingchou former western capital vice defender Liang Wenju became war minister.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 78Volume 78 Book of Later Jin 4: Gaozu Annals 4 · 3 passages

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其詳議官，宜差太子少師梁文矩、左散騎常侍張允、大理卿張澄、國子祭酒唐汭、大理少卿高鴻漸、國子司業田敏、禮部郎中呂咸休、司勛員外郎劉濤、刑部員外郎李知損、監察御史郭延升等一十九人充。 Nineteen officials were appointed to deliberate the project in detail, including Liang Wenju, junior preceptor of the heir apparent; Zhang Yun, left regular attendant; Zhang Cheng, chief judge of the Court of Judicial Review; Tang Rui, chancellor of the Directorate of Education; Gao Hongjian, vice chief judge; Tian Min, vice chancellor of the directorate; Lü Xianxiu, director of the Ministry of Rites; Liu Tao and Li Zhisun, vice directors of the ministries of Personnel and Justice; and Guo Yansheng, investigating censor, among others.

文矩等咸曰：「改前代禮樂刑憲為《大晉政統》，則《堯典》、《舜典》當以《晉典》革名。」 Wenju and the others all objected: "To recast the ritual, music, penal law, and statutes of former dynasties as the 《Comprehensive Institutions of Great Jin》 would mean that the 《Canon of Yao》 and the 《Canon of Shun》 would have to be renamed the 《Canon of Jin》."

壬戌，以太子少師梁文矩為太子太保致仕。 On the renxu day, Liang Wenju, junior preceptor of the heir apparent, was granted retirement as grand guardian of the heir apparent.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 82Volume 82 Book of Later Jin 8: Emperor Shao 2 · 1 passage

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太子太保致仕梁文矩卒，贈太子太傅。 Retired Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent Liang Wenju died and was posthumously made Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 92Volume 92 Book of Later Jin 18: Biographies 7: Yao Yi, Lu Qi, Liang Wenju, Shi Gui, Pei Hao, Wu Chengfan, Lu Dao, Zheng Taoguang, Wang Quan, Han Yun, Li Yi · 9 passages

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梁文矩，字德儀，鄆州人。 Liang Wenju, courtesy name Deyi, was a native of Yunzhou.

梁福王友璋好接賓客，文矩少遊其門，初試太子校書，轉秘書郎。 Prince Youzhang of Fu in Liang loved to entertain guests, and Wenju frequented his household as a young man. He first passed the examination for collator of the heir apparent, then became a secretary.

友璋領鄆州，奏為項城令，及移鎮徐方，辟為從事。 When Youzhang governed Yunzhou he recommended Wenju as magistrate of Xiangcheng. When he transferred his command to Xuzhou he took Wenju on as an aide.

友璋卒，改兗州觀察判官。 After Youzhang's death Wenju became observation commissioner adjutant of Yanzhou.

時莊宗遣明宗襲據鄆州，文矩以父母在鄆，一旦隔越，不知存亡，為子之情，戀望如灼，遂間路歸鄆，尋謁莊宗。 Zhuangzong had sent Mingzong to seize Yunzhou by surprise. Wenju's parents were there, and overnight he was cut off from them with no word of their fate. Filial longing burned in him, and he made his way back to Yun by a hidden route, then presented himself to Zhuangzong.

明宗歷汴、恒二鎮，皆隨府遷職。 Mingzong held the Bian and Heng commands in turn, and Wenju followed him in each transfer.

文矩以嘗事霸府，每懷公輔之望。 Having once served in the founding ruler's headquarters, he always hoped for appointment as chief minister.

時高祖自外鎮入覲，嘗薦於明宗曰：「梁文矩早事陛下，甚有勤勞，未升相輔，外論慊之。」 When Gaozu came from a frontier command to pay court, he once said to Mingzong, "Liang Wenju served you early on with great diligence. He has not been made chief minister, and people outside the court feel the injustice of it."

文矩喜清靜之教，聚道書數千卷，企慕赤松、留侯之事，而服食尤盡其善。 Wenju embraced the Daoist ideal of stillness and purity, gathered several thousand volumes of Daoist texts, and looked up to the legends of Master Redpine and the Marquis of Liu. In dietary alchemy he pursued the art to its fullest.