Meng Zhixiang (孟知祥)

Overview

The translated histories identify Meng Zhixiang as a general, official, ruler, and warlord. This record brings together 51 passages from 12 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Meng Zhixiang	孟知祥	Meng Zhixiang
Surname	Meng	孟	Meng
Personal name	Meng Zhixiang	孟知祥	Meng Zhixiang
Personal	Meng Zhixiang	孟知祥	Mèng Zhīxiáng
Personal name	Meng Zhixiang	孟知祥	Mèng Zhīxiáng
Given	Zhixiang	知祥	Zhixiang
Given name	Zhixiang	知祥	Zhixiang
Given	Zhixiang	知祥	Zhīxiáng
Personal name	Zhixiang	知祥

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:040:s0183, jiuwudaishi:051:s0079, jiuwudaishi:062:s0119, jiuwudaishi:072:s0116
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · jiuwudaishi:057:s0008, jiuwudaishi:069:s0038, jiuwudaishi:070:s0070, jiuwudaishi:074:s0045, xinwudaishi:044:s0140
Value: male
Strongly inferred · jiuwudaishi:066:s0064
Value: male
Explicit · xinwudaishi:026:s0132

Roles

General
Official
Ruler
Warlord

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: AD 925-934 · Western Year: AD 925
Explicit event contextual date · xinwudaishi:026:s0132
Source Date: Text: 三年 · Western Year: AD 925
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:069:s0038
Source Date: Text: 初與孟知祥同為中門使 · Western Interval: Start: AD 918 · End: AD 923
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:072:s0116
Source Date: Text: 同光四年 · Western Year: AD 926
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:074:s0045
Source Date: Text: 天成四年春正月 · Western Year: AD 929
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:040:s0183
Source Date: Text: 天成時 · Western Year: AD 926
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:062:s0119
Source Date: Text: 天祐十四年 · Western Year: AD 917
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:057:s0008
Source Date: Text: 夾攻延孝 · Western Year: AD 926
Explicit · xinwudaishi:044:s0140
Source Date: Text: 明宗朝 · Western Interval: Start: AD 926 · End: AD 933
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:066:s0064
Source Date: Text: 知祥僭號于蜀 · Western Year: AD 934
Explicit · xinwudaishi:050:s0127
Source Date: Text: 長興三年四月 · Western Year: AD 932
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:062:s0158
Source Date: Text: 長興初 · Western Year: AD 930
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:070:s0070
Source Date: Text: 長興四年 · Western Year: AD 933
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:051:s0079, jiuwudaishi:051:s0080

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Parent of Daughter of Meng Zhixiang (孟知祥愛女)
Kinship Term: beloved daughter / 愛女 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: daughter
Spouse of Princess Fuqing (福慶公主)
Kinship Term: married down to / 下降 · Union Category: marriage · Subject Role: wife · Object Role: husband
Parent of Meng Chang (孟昶)
Kinship Term: successor-son / 嗣 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father
Spouse of Princess Yuhua (矞華公主)
Kinship Term: wife / 妻 · Union Category: marriage · Subject Role: husband · Object Role: wife

Kinship Role: kin · Count: 1 · Note: bone and flesh in the capital unharmed · Quantity: unspecified kin in capital all unharmed
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:062:s0155

Career and standing

Label: Commissioner of the Central Gate / 中門使 · Action: held
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:072:s0116
Label: Military Governor of Xichuan / 西川節度使 · Action: held
Explicit · xinwudaishi:026:s0132
Label: Western Shu / Xichuan commissioner / 西川節度使 · Action: held
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:040:s0183
Date Context: Source Date: Text: 長興四年 · Western Year: AD 933
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:051:s0082

Places and affiliations

Label: Later Shu / 後蜀 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:051:s0082

Works and attributed material

Kind: memorial · Role: author
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:040:s0183
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Quoted: true · Provenance: Mode: named-source-report · Source Work: Supplement to the History of the Five Dynasties / 五代史補
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:066:s0067

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defeated-Dong-Zhang · Other Person Id: Dong Zhang (董璋)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:062:s0164, jiuwudaishi:062:s0165
Kind: legal · Role: executioner · Action: executed · Other Person Id: Li Yan (李嚴) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 擒斬 · Western Year: AD 933
Explicit · xinwudaishi:026:s0144
Kind: political · Role: rebel · Action: rebelled · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 遂反 · Western Year: AD 934
Explicit · xinwudaishi:026:s0144
Relation: ally-of · Person Id: Dong Zhang (董璋)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:062:s0149
Relation: recommended · Person Id: Guo Chongtao (郭崇韜)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:057:s0013

References in the histories

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

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 40Volume 40 Book of Later Tang 16: Mingzong Annals 6 · 1 passage

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西川孟知祥奏：「支屬刺史乞臣本道自署。」 Meng Zhixiang of Western Shu asked: "I beg that branch prefects be appointed by this circuit itself."

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 51Volume 51 Book of Later Tang 27: Biographies 3: Imperial Family · 2 passages

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〈（《清異錄》：唐福慶公主下降孟知祥。 (Records of Pure Wonders records that Princess Fuqing of Tang was given in marriage to Meng Zhixiang.

時知祥新稱帝，為分主厚待猶子，賜予千計。）〉 Meng Zhixiang had just proclaimed himself emperor; treating them as kin of the fallen house, he received Zhuangzong's sons with great favor and showered them with gifts by the thousand.)〉

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 57Volume 57 Book of Later Tang 33: Biographies 9: Gao Chongtao · 9 passages

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天祐十四年，用為中門副使，與孟知祥、李紹宏俱參機要。 In the fourteenth year of Tianyou he was appointed Vice Commissioner of the Inner Gate and, together with Meng Zhixiang and Li Shaohong, shared in confidential state affairs.

俄而紹宏出典幽州留事，知祥懇辭要職。 Soon afterward Shaohong was sent to administer Youzhou as resident commissioner, and Zhixiang earnestly sought to relinquish his key post.

知祥懼，求為外任，妻矞華公主泣請於貞簡太后。 Meng Zhixiang grew fearful and petitioned for a provincial assignment; his wife, Princess Yuhua, tearfully appealed to Empress Dowager Zhenjian.

莊宗謂知祥曰：「公欲避路，當舉其代。」 Emperor Zhuangzong said to Meng Zhixiang, "If you wish to step aside, you must name your successor."

知祥因舉崇韜。 Zhixiang thereupon nominated Guo Chongtao.

乃署知祥為太原軍在城都虞候。 The emperor then appointed Meng Zhixiang Chief Garrison Officer of the Taiyuan army stationed in the capital.

若西川平定，陛下擇帥，如信厚善謀，事君有節，則孟知祥有焉，望以蜀帥授之。 If the West River circuit is pacified and Your Majesty chooses a governor—one loyal, trustworthy, prudent in counsel, and restrained in service—Meng Zhixiang is such a man. I ask that the Shu command be given to him.

時蜀土初平，山林多盜，孟知祥未至，崇韜令任圜、張筠分道招撫，慮師還後，部曲不寧，故歸期稍緩。 Shu had only just been pacified; bandits still roamed the hills, and Meng Zhixiang had not yet arrived. Guo Chongtao sent Ren Yuan and Zhang Jun along separate routes to win over and settle the countryside, fearing unrest among his followers once the army withdrew—hence the slight delay in their return.

四年正月六日，馬彥珪至軍，決取十二日發成都赴闕，令任圜權知留事，以俟知祥。 On the sixth day of the first month of the fourth year, Ma Yan'gui reached headquarters. They set the twelfth as the day to march from Chengdu for the capital, left Ren Yuan in charge of local affairs, and waited for Meng Zhixiang.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 62Volume 62 Book of Later Tang 38: Biographies 14: Meng Fangli, Zhang Wenli, Dong Zhang · 14 passages

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是時安重誨當國，采人邪謀，言孟知祥必不為國家使，惟董璋性忠義，可特寵任，令圖知祥。 An Chonghui then held power and listened to slanderers who said Meng Zhixiang would never serve the throne, whereas Dong Zhang was loyal and should be specially favored to counter Zhixiang.

又璋之子光業為宮苑使，在朝結托勢援，爭言璋之善，知祥之惡。 Zhang's son Guangye, palace park commissioner, cultivated powerful allies at court and ceaselessly praised his father while denouncing Zhixiang.

先是，璋欲謀叛，先遣使持厚幣於孟知祥，求為婚家。 Before his rebellion Zhang had sent envoys with rich gifts to Meng Zhixiang proposing a marriage alliance.

且言為朝廷猜忌，將有替移，去則喪家，住亦致討，地狹兵少，獨力不任，願以小兒結婚愛女。 He said the court suspected him and would replace him; flight meant ruin, staying meant punishment; his territory was small and his army weak—he could not stand alone—and he asked to marry his son to Zhixiang's daughter.

時知祥亦貳於朝廷，因許以為援。 Zhixiang too was estranged from the court and promised him support.

既而知祥出師以圍遂州，故璋攻閬州得恣其毒焉。 When Zhixiang later marched to besiege Suizhou, Zhang was free to ravage Langzhou at will.

時孟知祥其骨肉在京師者俱無恙焉，因遣使報璋，欲連表稱謝。 Zhixiang's kin in the capital had been spared; he sent word to Zhang proposing a joint memorial of thanks to the throne.

自是璋疑知祥背己，始構隙矣。 From that moment Zhang suspected Zhixiang had betrayed him, and the rift between them began.

三年四月，璋率所部兵萬餘人以襲知祥。 In the fourth month of the third year Zhang led more than ten thousand men in a surprise attack on Zhixiang.

〈（《九國誌·趙季良傳》：季良嘗與知祥從容語曰：「璋性狼戾，若堅守一城，攻之難克。」 (From the biography of Zhao Jiliang in the Records of the Nine Kingdoms: Jiliang once told Zhixiang in private, "Zhang is brutal and savage; if he holds a single city firm, he will be hard to defeat."

及聞璋起兵，知祥憂形於色。 When news came that Zhang had taken the field, worry showed on Zhixiang's face.

知祥與諸將率師拒之，戰於漢州之彌牟鎮。 Zhixiang and his generals marched to meet him and fought at Mizhen in Hanzhou.

知祥親督諸將，與璋戰雞縱橋前，頗為所挫。 Zhixiang personally led his generals against Zhang before Jizong Bridge and was driven back.

廷隱偽遁，璋逐之，知祥與張公鐸繼進，璋軍亂不成列，廷隱整陣，與知祥合擊之，璋軍大敗。）〉 Tingyin feigned retreat; Zhang pursued; Zhixiang and Zhang Gongduo pressed forward; Zhang's army fell into disorder; Tingyin reformed his line and joined Zhixiang in a combined assault that shattered Zhang's force.)〉

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 66Volume 66 Book of Later Tang 42: Biographies 8: an Zhonghui, Zhu Hongzhao, Zhu Hongshi, Kang Yicheng, Yao Yanchou, Song Lingxun · 3 passages

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〈（《五代史補》：初，知祥將據蜀也，且上表乞般家屬。 (The 《Supplement to the History of the Five Dynasties》: When Meng Zhixiang was seizing Shu he asked to move his family.

時樞密使安重誨用事，拒其請，知祥曰：「吾知之矣。」 Privy Council commissioner An Chonghui ruled and refused; Zhixiang said, "I see."

及家屬至，知祥對僚吏笑曰：「天下聞知樞密，將謂天地間未有此，誰知隻銷此百金耶，亦不足畏也。」 When his kin arrived he laughed to his officers, "The world fears the Privy Council as unmatched—yet a hundred taels of gold buys it off; nothing to dread."

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 69Volume 69 Book of Later Tang 45: Biographies 21: Zhang Xian, Wang Zhengyan, Hu Zhuang, Cui Yisun, Meng Hu, Sun Yue, Zhang Yanlang, Liu Yanhao, Liu Yanlang · 1 passage

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會孟知祥鎮蜀川，選北京留守，徊揚言曰：「北門，國家根本，非重德不可輕授； When Meng Zhixiang was posted to govern Shu, the northern capital intendant was to be chosen. Huai proclaimed publicly, "The northern gate is the root of the state; without great virtue it cannot be lightly conferred;

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 70Volume 70 Book of Later Tang 46: Biographies 22: Yuan Xingqin, Xia Luqi, Yao Hong, Li Yan, Li Renju, Kang Sili, Zhang Jingda · 4 passages

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〈（《九國誌·李仁罕傳》：夏魯奇稟朝廷之命，繕治甲兵，將圖蜀，孟知祥與董璋謀先取魯奇，令仁罕攻遂州。）〉 (From the Biography of Li Renhan in the Jiuguo Zhi: Xia Luqi obeyed the court's orders, repaired arms and armor, and prepared to move against Shu. Meng Zhixiang and Dong Zhang plotted to strike him first and ordered Renhan to attack Suizhou.)〉

董璋之叛，與孟知祥攻遂州，援路斷絕，兵盡食窮， When Dong Zhang rebelled, he and Meng Zhixiang besieged Suizhou. Relief routes were cut, the garrison was spent, and provisions ran out,

孟知祥覺之，既至，執而害之。 Meng Zhixiang saw through him, and when Yan arrived he seized and executed him.

〈（《九國誌·王彥銖傳》：李嚴之為監軍也，密懷異謀，知祥數其過，命彥銖擒斬之，嚴之左右無敢動者。）〉 (From the Biography of Wang Yanyin in the Records of the Nine Kingdoms: When Li Yan served as military inspector, he secretly plotted rebellion. Zhixiang listed his offenses and ordered Yanyin to seize and execute him, and none of Yan's attendants dared stir.)〉

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 72Volume 72 Book of Later Tang 48: Biographies 24: Zhang Chengye, Zhang Juhan, Ma Shaohong, Meng Hangqiong · 1 passage

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初與孟知祥同為中門使，及周德威薨，莊宗兼領幽州，令紹宏權知州事。 At first he and Meng Zhixiang served together as Commissioners of the Central Gate. When Zhou Dewei died, Zhuangzong also took command of Youzhou and ordered Shaohong to act as prefect.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 74Volume 74 Book of Later Tang 50: Biographies 126: Kang Yanxiao, Zhu Shouyin, Yang Li, Dou Tingwan, Zhang Qianzhao, Yang Yanwen · 6 passages

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西川孟知祥以兵二萬，與圜合勢攻之。 Meng Zhixiang of western Sichuan brought twenty thousand men and joined Yuan in a combined assault.

〈（《九國誌·李延厚傳》：康延孝入漢州，知祥遣延厚率兵二千會李仁罕討之，將行，誓士卒曰：「今出師不三旬必破賊，乃立功圖賞之日也。 (According to the Annals of the Nine States, biography of Li Yanhou: When Kang Yanxiao seized Han Prefecture, Zhixiang sent Yanhou with two thousand men to join Li Renhan against him. Before marching, Yanhou swore to his troops, "We will break the rebels within thirty days. This is the day to win glory and rewards.

時孟知祥與任圜、董璋置酒高會，因引令延孝檻車至會。 Meng Zhixiang, Ren Yuan, and Dong Zhang were holding a victory banquet and had Yanxiao brought to the feast in his cage.

知祥問曰：「明公頃自梁朝脫身歸命，才平汴水，節制陝郊，近領前鋒，克平劍外，歸朝之後，授爵冊勳，巨鎮尊官，誰與為競！ Zhixiang asked him, "You left the Liang, came over to us, helped pacify Bian, governed Shaan, led the vanguard and conquered the lands beyond the passes. Back at court you were ennobled and richly rewarded with the highest posts. Who could have rivaled you?

知祥因手自注杯以飲之。 Zhixiang filled a cup with his own hand and offered it to him.

孟知祥待之尤厚，偽授本鎮節度使，俾知祥坐獲山南之地，由虔釗之故也。 Meng Zhixiang treated him with exceptional generosity and invested him as military governor of his former circuit. It was largely through Qianzhao that Zhixiang gained the lands of Shannan without a fight.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 26Volume 26 Later Tang Biographies 6: Fu Xi, Wu Zhen, Kong Qian, Zhang Yanlang, Li Yan, Li Renju, Mao Zhang · 7 passages

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其後孟知祥屈強於蜀，安重誨稍裁抑之，思有以制知祥者，嚴乃求為西川兵馬都監。 Later Meng Zhixiang grew bold in Shu. An Chonghui reined him in where he could and looked for a man to hold him in check. Yan asked to be made military inspector of Xichuan horse and foot.

初，嚴與知祥同事莊宗，時知祥為中門使，嚴嘗有過，莊宗怒甚，命斬之，知祥戒行刑者少緩，入白莊宗曰：「嚴小過，不宜以喜怒殺人，恐失士大夫心。」 Long ago Yan and Zhixiang had served Zhuangzong together. Zhixiang was then middle gate attendant. Yan once offended, and Zhuangzong in fury ordered his head. Zhixiang told the executioners to hold, went in, and said: “Yan’s fault is small. A ruler should not kill in heat and lose the scholar-officials’ hearts.”

莊宗怒稍解，命知祥監笞嚴二十而釋之。 Zhuangzong’s rage cooled. He had Zhixiang oversee twenty strokes and set Yan free.

知祥雖與嚴有舊恩，而惡其來。 Zhixiang owed Yan an old debt of life, but he hated seeing him come.

嚴至，知祥置酒從容問嚴曰：「朝廷以公來邪？ Yan arrived. Zhixiang poured wine and asked, calmly: “Did the court send you?

知祥發怒曰：「天下藩鎮皆無監軍，安得爾獨來此？ Zhixiang erupted: “No frontier post in the realm keeps a military inspector. Why should you alone come here?

即擒斬之，明宗不能詰也，知祥由此遂反。 He seized Yan and killed him. Mingzong could not call him to account. From that day Zhixiang turned rebel.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 44Volume 44 Miscellaneous Biographies 24: Liu Zhijun, Ding Hui, He Delun, Yan Bao, Kang Yanxiao · 2 passages

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繼岌遣任圜以七千騎追之，及於漢州，會孟知祥夾攻之，延孝戰敗，被擒，載以檻車。 Jiji sent Ren Yuan with seven thousand horse. At Han, Meng Zhixiang closed the other jaw. Yanxiao lost, was taken, and hauled away in a cage-cart.

圜置酒軍中，引檻車至坐上，知祥酌大卮從車中飲之而謂曰：「公自梁朝脫身歸命，遂擁節旄。 Yuan feasted the army and had the cage-cart drawn to his seat. Zhixiang filled a great cup, drank with the prisoner, and said: “You slipped out of Liang and gave yourself to Tang, and soon you wore a command flag.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 50Volume 50 Miscellaneous Biographies 30: Wang Jun, Wang Yin, Liu Ci, Wang Huan, Zhe Congruan · 1 passage

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以勇力事孟知祥為御者，及知祥僭號于蜀，使典衞兵。 By strength he served Meng Zhixiang as charioteer. When Zhixiang seized the title in Shu, he put Huan in charge of the guard.