Five Dynasties · Warlord and Ruler

Ma Yin 馬殷

Attested AD 907 - AD 926

Passages: 18
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Ma Yin was a warlord and Ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 907 to AD 926 梁太祖即位前後至明宗初
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 66, passages 38, 61

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Sibling of Ma Cong (馬賨)
elder brother 兄
younger brother 弟
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 66, passage 55
Parent of Ma Xifan (馬希範)
father 父
son 子
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 66, passage 57

Career and standing

Celestial-Registry Grand General 天冊上將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 66, passage 55
palace attendant and director of the Secretariat 侍中兼中書令
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 66, passage 38
King of Chu 楚王
Enfeoffed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 66, passage 38

Places and affiliations

Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 66, passage 38

Events and relationships

Established tea monopoly and lead iron coinage
Economic · Ruler
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 66, passages 66-68
Sent tribute to Liang and Later Tang
Diplomatic · Tributary
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 66, passages 38, 57, 61

References in the histories

Search passages

History

18 passages

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 66Volume 66: Hereditary House of Chu · 18 passages

梁太祖即位，殷遣使修貢，太祖拜殷侍中兼中書令，封楚王。 After the Liang founder took the throne, Yin sent tribute missions. The emperor made him palace attendant and director of the Secretariat and enfeoffed him as King of Chu.

荊南高季昌以兵斷漢口，邀殷貢使，殷遣許德勛攻其沙頭，季昌求和，乃止。 Gao Jichang of Jingnan blocked the Han River crossing and waylaid Yin's tribute bearers. Yin sent Xu Dexun against Jichang's Shatou base; when Jichang sued for peace, the fighting stopped.

吾聞馬公仁者，待士有禮，吾欲逃死於楚可乎？」 I hear Lord Ma is humane and treats men of talent with courtesy. Could I save my life by fleeing to Chu?"

殷聞師周至，大喜曰：「吾方南圖嶺表而得此人，足矣。」 When Yin learned Shizhou had come, he exclaimed with delight, "I was plotting south into Lingnan, and to gain this man is enough."

殷表師周昭州刺史。 Yin recommended Shizhou as prefect of Zhaozhou.

殷遣秦彥暉攻朗州，彥恭奔於吳，執其弟彥雄等七人送於梁。 Yin sent Qin Yanhui against Langzhou. Yangong fled to Wu, while Yanhui seized Yangong's brother Yanxiong and six others and sent them to the Liang court.

於是澧州向瑰、辰州宋鄴、漵州昌師益等率溪洞諸蠻皆附於殷。 Then Xiang Gui of Lizhou, Song Ye of Chenzhou, Chang Shiyi of Xuzhou, and other leaders of the stream-dwelling tribes all submitted to Yin.

殷請升朗州為永順軍，表張佶節度使。 Yin asked that Langzhou be raised to the Yongshun army district and recommended Zhang Ji as its military commissioner.

殷乃請依唐太宗故事，開天冊府，置官屬。 Yin then petitioned, citing Emperor Taizong's precedent, to establish a Celestial Registry Office with a full staff.

太祖拜殷天冊上將軍，殷以其弟賨為左相，存為右相，廖光圖等十八人為學士。 The Liang founder named Yin Celestial-Registry Grand General. Yin made his brothers Ma Cong left chancellor and Ma Cun right chancellor, with Liao Guangtu and seventeen others as academicians.

末帝時，加殷武昌、靜江、寧遠等軍節度使，洪、鄂四面行營都統。 Under the Last Emperor of Liang, Yin was further given the Wuchang, Jingjiang, and Ningyuan commands and made overall commander of the Hong-E mobile headquarters.

唐莊宗滅梁，殷遣其子希範修貢京師，上梁所授都統印。 After Tang Zhuangzong overthrew Liang, Yin sent his son Ma Xifan to court with tribute and returned the overall-command seal the Liang had bestowed.

莊宗平蜀，殷大懼，表求致仕，莊宗下璽書慰勞之。 When Zhuangzong conquered Shu, Yin was terrified and asked to retire. Zhuangzong sent a sealed letter of reassurance.

明宗即位，遣使修貢，並賀明年正月，荊南高季昌執其貢使史光憲。 When Mingzong succeeded, Yin sent tribute and New Year's greetings, but Gao Jichang of Jingnan seized the envoy Shi Guangxian.

殷遣袁詮、王環等攻之，至其城下，季昌求和，乃止。 Yin sent Yuan Quan, Wang Huan, and others against Jingnan. They reached the city walls, Jichang sued for peace, and the attack ended.

殷初兵力尚寡，與楊行密、成汭、劉龑等為敵國，殷患之，問策於其將高郁，郁曰：「成汭地狹兵寡，不足為吾患，而劉龑志在五管而已，楊行密，孫儒之仇，雖以萬金交之，不能得其歡心。 Early on Yin's forces were still weak, and he faced Yang Xingmi, Cheng Jun, and Liu Yan as enemies. Troubled, he asked his general Gao Yu for counsel. Yu said, "Cheng Jun has little land and few troops—not a real threat. Liu Yan cares only for the Five Guan. Yang Xingmi, Sun Ru's foe, will never be won with gold, however much you spend.

於是殷始修貢京師，然歲貢不過所產茶茗而已。 Yin then began sending tribute to the capital, though each year's offering was only the tea his domain produced.

郁又諷殷鑄鉛鐵錢，以十當銅錢一。 Yu also persuaded Yin to mint lead-iron coins valued at ten for one standard copper cash.