Five Dynasties · Ruler

Meng Zhixiang 孟知祥

First attested AD 926; died AD 934

Passages: 7
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Meng Zhixiang was a ruler.

Life and dates

Death

AD 934 明德元年
died 卒
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 64, passage 119

Attested activity

AD 926 to AD 934 兩川至卒
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 64, passage 115

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Meng Chang (孟昶)
third son 第三子
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 64, passage 115

References in the histories

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 64Volume 64: Hereditary House of Later Shu · 7 passages

昶，知祥第三子也。 Chang was Zhixiang's third son.

知祥為兩川節度使，昶為行軍司馬。 While Zhixiang held both river circuits, Chang served as campaigning marshal.

知祥僭號，以昶為東川節度使、同中書門下平章事。 When Zhixiang declared himself emperor, he made Chang military commissioner of Eastern River and Associate Director of the Secretariat.

知祥病，昶監國。 When Zhixiang fell ill, Chang served as regent.

知祥已卒而秘未發，王處回夜過趙季良，相對泣涕不已，季良正色曰：「今強侯握兵，專伺時變，當速立嗣君以絕非望，泣無益也。」 Zhixiang was dead but the news had not yet been announced. Wang Chuhui visited Zhao Jiliang at night, and they wept together without end. Jiliang said sternly: "Powerful lords now hold armies and watch for any opening. Establish the heir at once to forestall ambition—tears will not help."

然昶年少不親政事，而將相大臣皆知祥故人，知祥寬厚，多優縱之，及其事昶，益驕蹇，多逾法度，務廣第宅，奪人良田，發其墳墓，而李仁罕、張業尤甚。 Yet Chang was young and left government largely to others. His generals and chief ministers were Zhixiang's old companions; Zhixiang had been indulgent with them, and under Chang they grew still more arrogant and lawless, enlarging their mansions, seizing fertile land, and opening graves—Li Renhan and Zhang Ye worst of all.

王處回、趙廷隱相次致仕，由是故將舊臣殆盡。 Wang Chuhui and Zhao Tingyin retired in succession, and with them nearly all of Zhixiang's old generals and ministers were gone.