Five Dynasties · Ruler

Ma Xisheng 馬希聲

First attested AD 930; died AD 932

Passages: 13
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Ma Xisheng was a ruler.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Ruone	若訥

Life and dates

Death

Date Source Date: Text: 長興三年 · Western Year: AD 932
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 66, passage 74

Attested activity

AD 930 to AD 932 長興元年至三年
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 66, passages 74, 204

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Ma Yin (馬殷)
second son 次子
father 父
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 66, passages 201, 205
Child of Lady Yuan (袁夫人)
son 子
mother 母
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 66, passage 77
Sibling of Ma Xifan (馬希範)
younger brother 弟 · Paternal half siblings
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 66, passages 75, 77

Events and relationships

Forged order to kill Gao Yu
Political · Perpetrator · With Gao Yu (高郁)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 66, passage 210

References in the histories

Search passages

History

13 passages

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 66Volume 66: Hereditary House of Chu · 13 passages

殷以潭州為長沙府，建國承制，自置官屬，以其弟賨為靜江軍節度使，子希振武順軍節度使，次子希聲判內外諸軍事，姚彥章為左相，許德勳為右相，李鐸為司徒，崔穎為司空，拓拔常為僕射，馬珙為尚書，文武皆進位。 Yin made Tanzhou the capital as Changsha Prefecture, declared a state, and assumed imperial authority. He appointed his own officials: younger brother Cong as Jingjiang commissioner; son Xizhen as Wushun commissioner; second son Xisheng to oversee military affairs; Yao Yanzhang as left chancellor and Xu Dexun as right chancellor; Li Duo as Minister of Education, Cui Ying as Minister of Works, Tuoba Chang as Vice Director, and Ma Gong as Director of the Secretariat. Civil and military officials all received promotions.

子希聲立。 His son Xisheng succeeded him.

希聲字若訥，殷次子也。 Xisheng, styled Ruone, was Yin's second son.

殷建國，以希聲判內外諸軍事。 When Yin founded the state, he put Xisheng in charge of military affairs.

希聲用事，諜者語希聲曰：「季昌聞楚用高郁，大喜，以為亡馬氏者必郁也。」 Once Xisheng held power, a spy told him: "Jichang heard Chu employs Gao Yu and rejoiced, convinced Yu would destroy the Ma clan."

希聲素愚，以為然，遽奪郁兵職，郁怒曰：「吾事君王久矣，亟營西山，將老焉，犬子漸大，能咋人矣！」 Xisheng was naturally dull and believed it. He abruptly stripped Yu of his command. Yu raged: "I have served my lord for years. I was building a retreat on West Mountain to grow old, and my pup is growing teeth!"

希聲聞之，矯殷令殺郁。 Hearing this, Xisheng forged an order in Yin's name and had Yu killed.

希聲立，授武安、靜江等軍節度使。 When Xisheng succeeded, he received the Wu'an, Jingjiang, and related military commissions.

希聲嘗聞梁太祖好食雞，慕之，乃日烹五十雞以供膳。 Hearing that Liang's founder loved chicken, Xisheng imitated him and had fifty birds cooked every day for his table.

葬殷上潢，希聲不哭泣，頓食雞肉數器而起。 At Yin's burial at Shanghuang, Xisheng did not weep but devoured several platters of chicken and then stood up.

長興三年，希聲卒，追封衡陽王。 In the third year of Changxing (932) he died and was posthumously enfeoffed as King of Hengyang.

殷子十餘人，嫡子希振長而賢，其次希聲與希範同日生，而希聲母袁夫人有美色，希聲以母寵得立，而希振棄官為道士，居於家。 Yin had more than a dozen sons. The legitimate heir Xizhen was eldest and capable. Xisheng and Xifan were born the same day, but because Xisheng's mother, Lady Yuan, was beautiful, he won the throne through her favor, while Xizhen resigned his posts, became a Daoist, and lived at home.

希聲卒，而希範以次立，襲殷官爵，封楚王。 After Xisheng's death, Xifan succeeded in birth order, took over Yin's offices and titles, and was enfeoffed as King of Chu.