Murong Chui (慕容垂)

Overview

Murong Chui was a ruler.

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Temple name	the two ancestors	二祖

Life and dates

Death

AD 396 垂臨終
deathbed instructions 臨終
Directly stated · Book of Jin 127, passage 36

Attested activity

AD 341 咸康七年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 109, passage 93
AD 342 咸康七年後明年及隨後紀事
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 109, passage 103
AD 384 垂嗣位／稱燕王
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 127, passages 7, 25
AD 396 垂臨終
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 127, passage 36
AD 384 垂起兵山東
Directly stated · Book of Jin 128, passage 6
AD 386 to AD 396 太祖時（本段無顯明年歲）
Dated from the passage context · Book of Wei 28, passage 216

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AD 376 to AD 400 建國三十九年後至太祖即位前後
Dated from the passage context · Book of Wei 28, passage 180
AD 386 to AD 396 建興
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 128, passage 68
AD 383 後燕慕容垂據鄴
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 101, passage 35
AD 384 to AD 396 慕容垂之世
Directly stated · Book of Jin 128, passage 261
AD 384 to AD 396 慕容垂在位
Dated from the passage context · Book of Wei 39, passage 57
AD 384 to AD 396 慕容垂復居焉
Directly stated · History of Liao 39, passage 170
AD 384 to AD 396 慕容垂時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Wei 98, passage 56
AD 394 慕容永既為慕容垂所滅
Directly stated · Book of Jin 117, passage 54
AD 384 燕王垂即位
Directly stated · History of Yuan 187, passage 111

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Birth Mother of Murong Chui (生母)
birth mother 生母
Directly stated · History of Yuan 187, passage 111
Sibling of Brother of Murong Chui (慕容垂之兄)
elder brother 兄 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Wei 28, passage 218
Sibling of Murong De (慕容德)
younger brother 弟
elder brother 兄
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Jin 127, passage 10
Parent of Murong Bao (慕容寶)
son 子
father 父
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Jin 127, passage 36
Child of Former King of Yan (先王)
former king 先王
Strongly inferred · History of Yuan 187, passage 111
Child of Murong Huang (慕容皝)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Jin 109, passage 93
Parent of Murong Lin (慕容麟)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Wei 28, passages 181, 218

Key source chapters

Book of Jin, Chapter 127 Volume 12 Records 27: Murong De 19 passages
Book of Jin, Chapter 109 Volume 109 Records 9: Murong Huang 2 passages
Book of Jin, Chapter 128 Volume 128 Records 28: Murong Chao 2 passages
Book of Wei, Chapter 28 Volume 23: Wei Cao, Mo Han, Liu Kuren 5 passages
Book of Jin, Chapter 101 Volume 101 Records 1: Liu Yuanhai and Liu Xuan 1 passage

Origins and identity

Ethnicity Xianbei 鮮卑
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 127, passage 7

Career and standing

King of Yan 燕王
AD 384 垂稱燕王
Directly stated · Book of Jin 127, passage 25
AD 384 燕王垂即位
Polity Yan 燕
Directly stated · History of Yuan 187, passage 111

Places and affiliations

Later Yan 後燕
Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Book of Wei 28, passage 216
Later Yan 後燕
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Wei 39, passage 57
Polity Later Yan 後燕 · Relation Founded
Directly stated · Book of Jin 127, passage 25
Polity Later Yan 後燕 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 35; Book of Jin 128, passage 261
Polity Later Yan 後燕 · Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 117, passage 54; Book of Jin 128, passage 68
Polity Later Yan 後燕 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 128, passage 6

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Polity Yan 燕 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · History of Yuan 187, passage 111
Polity Yan 燕 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Jin 109, passage 93
At Ye 鄴 · Relation Occupied
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 35

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Jin 127, passages 33-34

Events and relationships

Advanced
AD 341 咸康七年 · Military · Vanguard
Directly stated · Book of Jin 109, passage 93
Besieged Fu Pi and sent Ping Gui against Wang Yong
Military
Directly stated · Book of Wei 28, passage 180
Debated restoring corporal punishment
Legislative · Debater
Directly stated · Book of Jin 128, passage 68
Deposed empress and installed birth mother for joint sacrifice
Ritual · Actor · With Birth Mother of Murong Chui (生母) · Mode named-speech Speaker Lu Luceng (逯魯曾)
Directly stated · History of Yuan 187, passage 111
Destroyed
AD 394 慕容永既為慕容垂所滅 · Military · Destroyer · With Murong Yong (慕容永)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 117, passage 54
Dwelt again at Longcheng
Political · Ruler · At Longcheng 龍城
Directly stated · History of Liao 39, passage 170

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Fled to Fu Jian
AD 369 to AD 370 垂奔苻堅 · Military · Commander · With Fu Jian (苻堅)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 127, passage 13
Held Ye
Political · Ruler · At Ye 鄴
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 35
Raised troops
AD 384 垂起兵山東 · Military · Commander · At Shandong 山東
Directly stated · Book of Jin 128, passage 6
Received Murong Wen after Liu Kuren’s murder
Political
Directly stated · Book of Wei 28, passage 187
Sent punitive force
AD 386 to AD 396 太祖時（本段無顯明年歲） · Military · Authority · With Liu Xian (劉顯)
Directly stated · Book of Wei 28, passage 218

Assessments and attributes

Assessment a laughingstock for all posterity · Mode named-speech Speaker Lu Luceng (逯魯曾)
Directly stated · History of Yuan 187, passage 111
Assessment praised De as no longer the young Meng of Wu · Mode named-speaker Speaker Murong Chui (慕容垂)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 127, passage 11

References in the histories

Search passages

History

34 passages

Book of Jin, Chapter 101Volume 101 Records 1: Liu Yuanhai and Liu Xuan · 1 passage

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後三十一年，後燕慕容垂據鄴。 Thirty-one years on Murong Chui's Later Yan sat in Ye.

Book of Jin, Chapter 109Volume 109 Records 9: Murong Huang · 2 passages

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率勁卒四萬，入自南陝，以伐宇文、高句麗，又使翰及子垂為前鋒，遣長史王寓等勒眾萬五千，從北置而進。 He took forty thousand veterans through the southern defile against Yuwen and Goguryeo, with Murong Han and Murong Chui as van while Wang Yu led fifteen thousand from Beizhi.

尋又率騎二萬親伐宇文歸，以翰及垂為前鋒。 He soon took twenty thousand horse against Yuwen Gui, with Murong Han and Murong Chui as van.

Book of Jin, Chapter 117Volume 117 Records 17: Yao Xing Part One · 1 passage

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慕容永既為慕容垂所滅，河東太守柳恭等各阻兵自守，興遣姚緒討之。 After Murong Yong had been destroyed by Murong Chui, Liu Gong of Hedong and others held out until Yao Xing sent Yao Xu.

Book of Jin, Chapter 127Volume 12 Records 27: Murong De · 19 passages

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及垂嗣位，改范陽王，稍遷魏尹，加散騎常侍。 When Murong Chui took the throne Murong De was refashioned prince of Fanyang, then advanced to prefect of the Wei capital region and given the concurrent title of regular attendant for scattered cavalry.

德勸垂乘釁討堅，辭旨慷慨，識者言其有遠略，垂竟不能用。 Murong De urged Murong Chui to strike Fu Jian while Qin was divided, speaking with such fire that men of judgment called him far-sighted—yet Murong Chui would not act.

德兄垂甚壯之，因共論軍國大謀，言必切至。 Murong Chui, impressed, began debating statecraft and strategy with him, and Murong De’s advice was always blunt and to the point.

垂謂之曰：「汝器識長進，非復吳下阿蒙也。」 Chui said to him: “Your capacity and insight have advanced; you are no longer the young Meng east of Wu.”

枋頭之役，德以征南將軍與垂擊敗晉師。 At the battle of Fangtou he joined Murong Chui as general who campaigns south and helped shatter the Eastern Jin army.

及垂奔苻堅，德坐免職。 When Murong Chui defected to Fu Jian, Murong De lost his post as an accomplice.

後遇垂敗，徙于長安，苻堅以為張掖太守，數歲免歸。 After Murong Chui’s defeat he was moved to Chang’an, where Fu Jian named him prefect of Zhangye; a few years later he was dismissed and sent home.

堅之敗也，堅與張夫人相失，慕容垂將護致之，德正色謂垂曰：「昔楚莊滅陳，納巫臣之諫而棄夏姬。 When Jian was defeated, he and Consort Zhang lost each other. Murong Chui was about to escort her back, but De, with a stern expression, said to Chui: “When King Zhuang of Chu destroyed Chen, he accepted Wu Chen’s remonstrance and cast aside Xia Ji.

垂不從，德馳馬而去之。 Murong Chui refused to listen; Murong De spurred his horse and rode away in disgust.

還次滎陽，言於垂曰：「昔句踐棲於會稽，終獲吳國。 When he returned and halted at Xingyang, he said to Chui: “In the past Goujian lodged at Kuaiji, yet in the end he gained the state of Wu.

垂不納。 Murong Chui would not listen.

乃從垂如鄴。 Murong De followed him north to Ye.

及垂稱燕王，以德為車騎大將軍，復封范陽王，居中鎮衛，參斷政事。 When Murong Chui declared himself king of Yan he made Murong De grand general of chariots and cavalry, restored his princedom of Fanyang, kept him at court to secure the capital, and gave him a voice in every policy decision.

于時慕容永據長子，有眾十萬，垂議討之。 At that time Murong Yong held Changzi with a hundred thousand men under arms, and Murong Chui planned a campaign against him.

群臣咸以為疑，德進曰：「昔三祖積德，遺詠在耳，故陛下龍飛，不謀而會，雖由聖武，亦緣舊愛，燕、趙之士樂為燕臣也。 The ministers all harbored doubts, and Murong De stepped forward and said: “Formerly the three ancestors accumulated virtue, and their lingering songs are still in our ears. Therefore when Your Majesty rose like a dragon, men gathered without prior plotting; though this was due to your sacred martial power, it also came from old affection, and the men of Yan and Zhao were glad to be subjects of Yan.

兵法有不得已而用之，陛下容得已乎！」 The art of war permits using force when one cannot do otherwise. Can Your Majesty do otherwise?”

垂笑謂其黨曰：「司徒議與吾同。 Murong Chui smiled and told his followers: “The Minister of Education’s view matches my own.

遂從之。 Murong Chui accepted the advice.

垂臨終，敕其子寶以鄴城委德。 On his deathbed Murong Chui ordered Murong Bao to place Ye in Murong De's hands.

Book of Jin, Chapter 128Volume 128 Records 28: Murong Chao · 2 passages

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及垂起兵山東，苻昌收納及德諸子，皆誅之。 When Murong Chui rose in Shandong, Fu Chang arrested Murong Na and Murong De’s sons and put them to death.

父放，慕容垂之世吏部尚書。 His father Feng Fang ran personnel under Murong Chui.

History of Liao, Chapter 39Volume 39 Treatises 9: Geography 3 · 1 passage

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慕容垂復居焉，後為北跋所滅。 Murong Chui returned there; Northern Yan later destroyed it.

Book of Wei, Chapter 28Volume 23: Wei Cao, Mo Han, Liu Kuren · 5 passages

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後慕容垂圍苻丕于鄴，又遣將平規攻堅幽州刺史王永于薊，庫仁自以受堅爵命，遣妻兄公孫希率騎三千，助永擊規，大破之，阬規降卒五千餘人。 When Murong Chui besieged Fu Pi at Ye and sent Ping Gui against Fu Jian's Youzhou inspector Wang Yong at Ji, Liu Kuren—still loyal to the titles Fu Jian had given him—sent his brother-in-law Gongsun Xi with three thousand horse to help Yong rout Gui and massacre more than five thousand of Gui's men who had surrendered.

乘勝長驅，進據唐城，與垂子麟相持。 Riding the victory he drove deep, seized Tangcheng, and locked horns with Chui's son Lin.

乘其駿馬，奔慕容垂。 They mounted his best horse and fled to Murong Chui.

衞辰與慕容垂通好，送馬三千匹於垂，垂遣慕容良迎之。 Wei Chen was on good terms with Murong Chui and sent him three thousand horses; Chui sent Murong Liang to meet the herd.

垂怒，遣子麟、兄子楷討之，顯奔馬邑西山。 Chui in fury sent his son Lin and his brother's son Kai to punish him; Xian fled into the western hills of Mayi.

Book of Wei, Chapter 39Volume 34: Wang Luo Er, Che Lutou, Lu Luyuan, Chen Jian, Wan Anguo · 1 passage

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曾祖副鳩，仕慕容垂為尚書令、臨澤公。 His great-grandfather Fuchiu had served Murong Chui as Director of the Secretariat and been enfeoffed as Duke of Linze.

Book of Wei, Chapter 98Volume 92: Notable Women: Cui Lan's Consort Feng, Feng Zhuo's Consort Liu, Wei Pu's Consort Fang, Hu Changming's Consort Zhang · 1 passage

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父堪，慕容垂貴鄉太守。 Her father Kan served as Administrator of Guixiang under Murong Chui.

History of Yuan, Chapter 187Volume 187 Biographies 74: Wugusunliangzhen, Jia Lu, Lu Luceng, Gong Shitai, Zhou Boqi, Wu Dang · 1 passage

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且燕王垂即位，追廢其母后，而立其生母為后，以配享先王，為萬世笑，豈可復蹈其失乎？」 Moreover, when Murong Chui of Yan took the throne he deposed his empress and installed his birth mother in her place for joint sacrifice with the former king—a laughingstock for all posterity. How can we repeat that error?"