Liu Zhijun (劉知俊) | 24 Histories

Overview

The translated histories identify Liu Zhijun as a general, military officer, rebel, and warlord. This record brings together 47 passages from 7 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Liu Zhijun	劉知俊	Liu Zhijun
Surname	Liu	劉	Liu
Nickname	Liu Kaidao	劉開道	Liu Kaidao
Personal name	Liu Zhijun	劉知俊	Liu Zhijun
Personal	Liu Zhijun	劉知俊	Liú Zhījùn
Title	Prince of Dapeng	大彭郡王
Courtesy	Xixian	希賢	Xixian
Personal	Zhijun	知俊
Personal	Zhijun	知俊	Zhijun
Given	Zhijun	知俊	Zhijun

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Strongly inferred · jiuwudaishi:005:s0066, jiuwudaishi:020:s0061, xinwudaishi:044:s0001
Sex: male
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:024:s0167, xinwudaishi:002:s0036, xinwudaishi:023:s0009

Roles

General
Military Officer
Rebel
Warlord

Life and dates

Death

Manner: executed · Authority Person Id: Wang Jian (王建)
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0031

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: Liu Zhijun's Chang'an rebellion · Western Year: AD 909
Explicit event contextual date · xinwudaishi:023:s0009, xinwudaishi:023:s0011
Source Date: Text: 叛梁臣李茂貞、奔蜀 · Western Interval: Start: AD 910 · End: AD 918
Explicit event contextual date · xinwudaishi:044:s0015, xinwudaishi:044:s0026
Source Date: Text: 天祐初 · Western Year: AD 904
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:016:s0126
Source Date: Text: 少事時溥…降梁 · Western Interval: Start: AD 907 · End: AD 912
Explicit event contextual date · xinwudaishi:044:s0003
Source Date: Text: 开平二年至开平四年 · Western Interval: Start: AD 908 · End: AD 910
Explicit event contextual date · xinwudaishi:002:s0036, xinwudaishi:002:s0087
Source Date: Text: 開平三年十一月 · Western Year: AD 909
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:005:s0066
Source Date: Text: 開平中 · Western Interval: Start: AD 907 · End: AD 911
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:024:s0167
Source Date: Text: 開平四年 · Western Year: AD 910
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:020:s0061, jiuwudaishi:020:s0063
Source Date: Text: 開平四年七月 · Western Year: AD 910
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:005:s0133
Source Date: Text: 開平四年九月 · Western Year: AD 910
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:005:s0178

Family

Sibling of Liu Zhihuan (劉知浣)
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Subject Relative Age: elder · Object Role: younger-brother · Subject Role: elder-brother · Shared Parentage: uncertain
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Subject Relative Age: younger · Subject Role: younger-brother · Object Role: elder-brother · Shared Parentage: uncertain

Career and standing

Label: Lu Prefecture campaign commander-in-chief / 潞州行营招讨使 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 开平二年 · Western Year: AD 908
Explicit · xinwudaishi:002:s0036
Label: Zhongwu military governor / western-route campaign commander / 忠武军节度使西路行营招讨使 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 开平二年六月 · Western Year: AD 908
Explicit · xinwudaishi:002:s0044
Label: Acting Grand Mentor and Palace Attendant / 檢校太尉兼侍中 · Action: appointed
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0010
Label: Commander of the Left Vanguard detachment / 左開道指揮使 · Action: appointed
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0003
Label: Military governor of Jingzhou / 涇州節度使 · Action: appointed
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0024
Label: Military governor of Kuangguo / 匡國軍節度使 · Action: appointed
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0006
Label: Military governor of Wuxin / 武信軍節度使 · Action: appointed
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0026
Label: Mobile-camp pacification commissioner / 行營招討使 · Action: appointed
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0009
Label: Western-route mobile-camp pacification commissioner / 西路行營招討使 · Action: appointed
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0009
Label: military governor of Kuangguo / 匡国军节度使 · Action: held
Explicit · xinwudaishi:002:s0036
Label: Prefect of Hai, Huai, and Zheng / 海、懷、鄭三州刺史 · Action: held
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0006
Title: Prince of Dapeng / 大彭郡王 · Action: enfeoffed
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0010
Title: commandery prince / 郡王 · Action: held
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:005:s0178
Status: rebel · Action: entered
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:005:s0066, jiuwudaishi:005:s0080, jiuwudaishi:005:s0178, xinwudaishi:023:s0009
Status: wanted · Action: bounty-issued · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 開平四年九月 · Western Year: AD 910
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:005:s0178, jiuwudaishi:005:s0180

Places and affiliations

Label: Former Shu / 蜀 · Relation: fled-to
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0026
Label: Later Liang / 梁 · Relation: served
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0003
Polity: Qi / 岐 · Relation: defected-to
Explicit · xinwudaishi:002:s0064
Place: Pei in Xuzhou / 徐州沛
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0002
Place: Xuzhou Pei / 徐州沛 · Relation: native-of
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0002

Works and attributed material

Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Zhu Quanzhong (朱全忠)
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0017

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: attacked-Lingzhou · Place: Lingzhou / 靈州 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 開平三年十一月 · Western Year: AD 909
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:005:s0066
Kind: military · Role: rebel commander · Action: captured Chang'an and received support from Zhou Dewei · Other Person Id: Zhou Dewei (周德威)
Explicit · xinwudaishi:023:s0009, xinwudaishi:023:s0011
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: captured-Danzhou
Explicit · xinwudaishi:002:s0061
Kind: rebellion · Role: rebel · Action: closed-passes-and-rebelled · Place: Tongzhou / 同州
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:024:s0167
Kind: political · Role: plotter · Action: consulted-generals-before-revolt · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 開平三年 · Western Year: AD 909
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:005:s0080
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defeated-Kang-Huaiying · Other Person Id: Kang Huaiying (康懷英) · Place: Shengping · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 开平三年十二月 · Western Year: AD 909
Explicit · xinwudaishi:002:s0087, xinwudaishi:002:s0086
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defeated · Place: Mogu / 漠谷 · Opponent: Qi · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 开平二年 · Western Year: AD 908
Explicit · xinwudaishi:002:s0046
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defeated · Other Person Id: Yang Chongben (楊崇本) · Place: Meiyuan / 美原
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0007, xinwudaishi:044:s0008
Kind: flight · Role: fugitive · Action: fled-to-Qi · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 开平三年 · Western Year: AD 909
Explicit · xinwudaishi:002:s0067
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: pressed-Xia · Place: Xia Prefecture / 夏州 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 開平四年七月 · Western Year: AD 910
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:005:s0133, jiuwudaishi:005:s0171
Kind: political · Role: actor · Action: rebelled
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0015
Kind: rebellion · Role: rebel · Action: seized-Liu-Han-and-defected-to-Qi · Other Person Id: Liu Han (劉捍) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 开平三年六月庚戌 · Western Year: AD 909
Explicit · xinwudaishi:002:s0064
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: took-Yan-Bin-Fang · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 开平三年夏四月丙午 · Western Year: AD 909
Explicit · xinwudaishi:002:s0062
Relation: submitted-to · Person Id: Li Maozhen (李茂貞)
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0015
Relation: served · Person Id: Shi Pu (時溥)
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0003

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: heroic bearing and unmatched courage · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0004
Kind: physical-description · Statement: dark-skinned; birth year of the ox
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0029

References in the histories

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

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 5Volume 5 Book of Later Liang 5: Taizu Annals 5 · 6 passages

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靈州奏，鳳翔賊將劉知俊率邠、岐、秦、涇之師侵迫州城。 Lingzhou reported that Fengxiang rebel Liu Zhijun led Bin, Qi, Qin, and Jing troops against the prefectural seat.

初，知俊將叛，謀會諸將詢所宜，仁嗣等持正不撓，悉罹其酷，至是褒贈之。 When Zhijun was plotting revolt he called the generals for counsel; Rensi and the rest stood firm and suffered cruelly—now they were honored in death.

劉知俊攻逼夏州。 Liu Zhijun pressed Xia Prefecture.

初，劉知俊誘沙陀振武賊帥周德威、涇原賊帥李繼鸞合步騎五萬大舉，欲俯拾夏台，節度使李仁福兵力俱乏，以急來告。 Zhijun had drawn Shatuo Zhou Dewei of Zhenwu and Li Jiluan of Jingyuan with fifty thousand horse and foot, thinking Xia would fall at a touch; Li Renfu was spent and cried for help.

丙午，詔曰：「劉知俊貴為方伯，尊極郡王，而乃背誕朝恩，竄投賊壘，固神人之共怒，諒天地所不容。 On bingwu an edict said: "Liu Zhijun was made governor and raised to prince—yet he betrayed the court and fled to rebels; gods and men alike rage and heaven and earth will not hold him.

有生擒劉知俊者，賞錢千萬，授節度使，首級次之； Whoever takes Zhijun alive gets ten million cash and a military governorship; for his head, the next reward;

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 16Volume 16 Book of Later Liang 16: Biographies 6: Ge Congzhou, Xie Yanzhang, He Zhen, Zhang Guiba, Zhang Guihou, Zhang Guibian · 2 passages

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其秋，加檢校司徒，副劉知俊禦邠、鳳之寇，敗之。 That autumn he helped Liu Zhijun beat Bin and Feng raiders.

開平二年夏，劉知俊以同州叛，歸厚副楊師厚、劉鄩等討平之。 Kaiping 2 summer he helped suppress Liu Zhijun at Tong.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 20Volume 20 Book of Later Liang 20: Biographies 10: Xie Tong, Si Maye, Liu Han, Wang Jinrao, Gao Shao, Ma Sixun, Zhang Cunjin, Kou Yanqing · 2 passages

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才逾月，劉知俊據同州反，潛使人以厚利啖將校，遂為部下所執，送於知俊。 Barely a month later Liu Zhijun rebelled at Tongzhou and secretly bribed Han's officers; they seized him and handed him to Zhijun.

知俊縶捍歸於鳳翔，為李茂貞所害。 Zhijun sent Han bound to Fengxiang, where Li Maozhen put him to death.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 24Volume 24 Book of Later Liang 24: Biographies 14: Li Ting, Lu Ceng, Sun Zhi, Zhang Jun, Zhang Yan, Du Xunhe, Luo Yin, Chou Yin, Duan Shen · 1 passage

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既二日，陝府奏同州劉知俊閉關作叛。 Two days later Shaanxi reported that Liu Zhijun of Tong had shut the passes and rebelled.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 2Volume 2 Later Liang Annals 2: Taizu 2 · 11 passages

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壬午，匡国军节度使刘知俊为潞州行营招讨使。 On the day renwu Liu Zhijun, military governor of Kuangguo, was appointed to command the Lu Prefecture campaign.

六月壬寅，忠武军节度使刘知俊为西路行营招讨使，以伐岐。 In the sixth month, on the day renyin, Liu Zhijun of Zhongwu was named commander of the western campaign against Qi.

丙辰，刘知俊及岐人战于漠谷，败之。 On the day bingchen Liu Zhijun met the Qi army at Mogu and won.

刘知俊取丹州。 Liu Zhijun captured Danzhou.

夏四月丙午，知俊克延、鄜、坊三州。 In the fourth month of summer, on the day bingwu, Zhijun seized Yan, Bin, and Fang.

六月庚戌，刘知俊执佑国军节度使刘捍，叛附于岐。 In the sixth month, on the day gengxu, Liu Zhijun arrested Liu Han of Youguo, rebelled, and joined Qi.

刘知俊奔于岐。 Liu Zhijun fled into Qi territory.

及刘知俊战于升平，败绩。 At Shengping he met Liu Zhijun and was routed.

以高萬興降，劉知俊兵攻鄜、延故也。 This was because Gao Wanxing had surrendered and Liu Zhijun's troops were attacking Fu and Yan.

知俊為忠武軍節度使，以同州附岐，今直書知俊叛，而不言地，蓋忠武已見上文。 Zhijun was military governor of Zhongwu and attached Tongzhou to Qi; here the text simply says Zhijun rebelled and does not mention the territory, probably because Zhongwu has already appeared above.

以劉知俊叛故也。 This was because Liu Zhijun had rebelled.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 23Volume 23 Later Liang Biographies 3: Yang Shihou, Wang Jingren, He Gui, Wang Tan, Ma Sixun, Wang Qianyu, Xie Yanzhang · 2 passages

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劉知俊叛，攻陷長安，劉掞、牛存節等攻之，久不克。 When Liu Zhijun rebelled and took Chang’an, Liu Yan and Niu Cunjie besieged him for months without success.

晉周德威攻晉州以應知俊，師厚敗之於蒙坑，以功遷保義軍節度使，徙鎮宣義。 When Zhou Dewei of Jin struck Jin prefecture to aid Zhijun, Shihou crushed him at Mengkeng and, for his merit, was appointed military governor of Baoyi and then transferred to Xuanyi.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 44Volume 44 Miscellaneous Biographies 24: Liu Zhijun, Ding Hui, He Delun, Yan Bao, Kang Yanxiao · 23 passages

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劉知俊 Liu Zhijun

劉知俊，字希賢，徐州沛人也。 Liu Zhijun, styled Xixian, came from Pei in Xuzhou.

少事時溥，溥與梁相攻，知俊與其麾下二千人降梁，太祖以為左開道指揮使。 As a youth he served Shi Pu. When Pu warred with Liang, Zhijun brought two thousand men over to Zhu Wen, who made him commander of the Left Vanguard detachment.

知俊姿貌雄傑，能被甲上馬，輪劍入敵，勇出諸將。 He was a striking man—armored, mounted, sword in hand, he outfought every general in the host.

當是時，劉開道名重軍中。 In those days the name Liu Kaidao carried great weight in camp.

是時，太祖方與諸將攻滄州，知俊不俟命，與康懷英等擊敗崇本，斬馘二萬，獲馬三千匹，執其偏裨百人。 The Founder was at Cangzhou with the main host. Zhijun did not wait for orders: with Kang Huaiying and others he smashed Chongben, took twenty thousand heads, three thousand horses, and a hundred officers prisoner.

李思安為夾城攻潞州，久不下，太祖罷思安，拜知俊行營招討使，未至潞，夾城已破，徙西路行營招討使，敗邠、岐兵於幕谷。 Li Si’an had Jiacheng on Luzhou and could not crack it. Zhu Wen replaced him with Zhijun as mobile-camp pacifier. Luzhou fell before Zhijun arrived; he was moved to the western route, beat Bin and Qi at Mugui.

是時，延州高萬興叛楊崇本降梁，太祖遣知俊會萬興，攻下丹、延、鄜、坊四州，加檢校太尉兼侍中，封大彭郡王。 Gao Wanxing of Yan broke from Chongben and came over to Liang. Zhu Wen sent Zhijun to join him; they took Dan, Yan, Fu, and Fang. Zhijun was made acting Grand Mentor and Palace Attendant and enfeoffed Prince of Dapeng.

知俊功益高，太祖性多猜忌，屢殺諸將，王重師無罪見殺，知俊益懼，不自安。 Zhijun’s fame rose—and so did Zhu Wen’s suspicion. Generals died one after another; Wang Zhongshi was killed though innocent. Zhijun grew afraid and could not rest easy.

太祖已下鄜、坊，遣知俊復攻邠州，知俊以軍食不給未行。 Once Fu and Fang were his, the Founder ordered Zhijun back against Bin. Zhijun would not march: the army had no grain.

太祖幸河中，使宣徽使王殷召知俊。 The Founder went to Hezhong and sent Wang Yin of the Palace Secretariat to fetch Zhijun.