Martial Emperor (武皇)

Overview

Martial Emperor was a ruler.

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Epithet	Li of Taiyuan	李太原	Li Taiyuan

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 906 天祐三年六月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 60, passages 76, 79
AD 880 to AD 906 廣明大亂之後
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 60, passages 59, 76

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Worthy son of the Martial Emperor (武皇賢郎)
worthy son 賢郎
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 60, passage 64

Places and affiliations

Polity Jin of Taiyuan 太原 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 60, passages 61, 76

Events and relationships

Employed Li Xiji on staff nearly fifteen years
Personnel · Patron · With Li Xiji (李襲吉)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 60, passage 76
Imprisoned then appointed Wang Jian
Legal · Authority · With Wang Jian (王緘)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 60, passage 84

References in the histories

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 60Volume 60 Book of Later Tang 36: Biographies 12: Li Xiji, Wang Jian, Li Jingyi, Lu Rubi, Li Dexiu, Su Xun · 5 passages

Open chapter

梁祖覽之，至「毒手尊拳」之句，怡然謂敬翔曰：「李公鬥絕一隅，安得此文士！ The Liang Founder read the letter, and at the line "poisonous hands and honored fists" he said with pleasure to Jing Xiang, "Lord Li holds only a corner of the empire—where did he find a writer like this!

又讀至「馬邑兒童」、「陰山部落」之句，梁祖怒謂敬翔曰：「李太原殘喘餘息，猶氣吞宇宙，可詬罵之。」 But when he reached "boys of Mayi" and "Yin Mountain tribes," the Founder turned angry and told Jing Xiang, "Li of Taiyuan is a man on his last breath, yet he still talks as if he could swallow the universe—answer him with abuse."

襲吉在武皇幕府垂十五年，視事之暇，唯讀書業文，手不釋卷。 Xiji served in the Martial Emperor's headquarters for nearly fifteen years; in whatever leisure his duties allowed he read and wrote without setting a book down.

還經太原，屬仁恭阻命，武皇留之。 On his return he passed through Taiyuan; Rengong had meanwhile defied the court, and the Martial Emperor detained him.

緘堅辭復命，書詞稍抗，武皇怒，下獄詰之，謝罪聽命，乃署為推官，曆掌書記。 Jian insisted on returning to complete his mission; his letter was defiant in tone. The Martial Emperor in anger threw him into prison and questioned him. Jian apologized and submitted; he was named investigating officer and later chief secretary.