Ma Yinxun (馬胤孫) | 24 Histories

Overview

Ma Yinxun was an official and Statesman.

Life and dates

Death

AD 953 廣順中
At Luoyang 洛陽
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 91

Attested activity

AD 936 廢帝河陽
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 83
AD 953 廣順
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passages 91-92
AD 936 晉高祖入立
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 84

Family

Kin of Maid of Ma Yinxun
maid 婢
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 92

Career and standing

guest of the heir apparent with separate commission 太子賓客分司
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 91

Learning and skills

Belief Buddhism 佛 · Relation Adherent of
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 85

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Quote true
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 89

Events and relationships

Failed to decide Sikong precedent
Political · Chancellor
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passages 73-74

Assessments and attributes

Assessment called the Three Not Opens · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 82

References in the histories

Search passages

History

12 passages

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 55Volume 55 Miscellaneous Biographies 35: Liu Xu, Lu Wenji, Ma Yinxun, Yao Yi, Liu Yue, Ma Gao, Cui Jujian, Cui Zhuo, Li Yi · 12 passages

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胤孫不通世務，故事多壅塞。 Yinxun understood nothing of practical affairs, and court precedent piled up unresolved.

胤孫皆不能決。 Yinxun could decide none of it.

胤孫責御史臺檢例，臺言：「故事無所見，據今南北班位，常侍在前。」 Yinxun ordered the censorate to search the precedents. The censorate reported: "No precedent can be found. According to the current north and south court ranks, the regular attendant stands in front."

胤孫即判臺狀施行，劉句大怒。 Yinxun approved the censorate report at once. Liu Xu was furious.

胤孫臨事多不能決，當時號為「三不開」，謂其不開口以論議，不開印以行事，不開門以延士大夫也。 Yinxun could rarely decide anything. People called him "the Three Not Opens": he would not open his mouth to debate policy, open his seal to transact business, or open his door to receive gentlemen of the court.

晉兵起太原，廢帝至河陽，是時勢已危迫，胤孫自洛來朝行在，人皆冀其有所建言，胤孫獻綾三百匹而已。 When Jin forces rose in Taiyuan and Emperor Fei reached Heyang, the situation was desperate. Yinxun came from Luoyang to the traveling court. Everyone hoped for counsel; he brought only three hundred bolts of silk.

晉高祖入立，罷歸田里。 When Gaozu of Jin took the throne, Yinxun was dismissed and sent home.

胤孫既學韓愈為文，故多斥浮屠氏之說，及罷歸，乃反學佛，撰《法喜集》、《佛國記》行於世。 Having written in Han Yu's manner, Yinxun had often attacked Buddhism. After his dismissal he took up Buddhism instead and wrote the Collections of Dharma Joy and Record of the Buddha Land, which circulated widely.

人有戲胤孫曰：「公素慕韓愈為人，而常誦傅奕之論，今反佞佛，是佛佞公邪，公佞佛邪？」 Someone joked with Yinxun, saying: "Your Lordship has always admired Han Yu as a man and often recited Fu Yi's arguments. Now instead you fawn on the Buddha. Is the Buddha fawning on you, or are you fawning on the Buddha?"

胤孫答曰：「豈知非佛佞我也？」 Yinxun replied, "Who is to say the Buddha is not fawning on me?"

胤孫卒後，其家婢有為胤孫語者。 After Yinxun's death, a maid in his household began to speak in his voice.

初，崔協為明宗相，在位無所發明，既死，而有降語其家，胤孫又然。 Earlier, when Cui Xie had served Mingzong as chancellor, he had accomplished nothing in office. After his death his household received spirit messages, and the same happened with Yinxun.