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Overview Names Identity Roles Life and dates Family Origins and identity Career and standing Places and affiliations Works and attributed material Events and relationships Assessments and attributes References in the histories
Overview The translated histories identify Murong Hui as a clan leader, ruler, tribal leader, and warlord. This record brings together 84 passages from 1 chapter across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.
Names Type English Chinese Pinyin
Personal
Murong Hui
慕容廆
Murong Hui
Title
Duke of Liaodong
遼東郡公
Title
Great Shanyu of the Xianbei
鮮卑大單于
Given name
Hui
廆
Hui
Posthumous name
Martial-Proclaimer Emperor
武宣皇帝
Surname
Murong
慕容
Murong
Personal name
Murong Hui
慕容廆
Murong Hui
Title
Xianbei Commander-in-Chief
鮮卑都督
Posthumous name
Xiang
襄
Courtesy name
Yiluogui
弈洛瑰
Yiluogui
Identity
Historicity Historical
Identification Named
Sex Male Roles Clan Leader Ruler Tribal Leader Warlord Life and dates Death Age Attested activity Source Date: Text: 元康四年Western Year: AD 294
Source Date: Text: 八年Western Year: AD 333
Source Date: Text: 咸和五年Western Year: AD 330
Source Date: Text: 太安初Western Year: AD 302
Source Date: Text: 太康十年Western Year: AD 289
Source Date: Text: 太興初Western Year: AD 318
Source Date: Text: 建武初Western Year: AD 317
Source Date: Text: 建興中Western Interval: Start: AD 313End: AD 316
Source Date: Text: 永嘉初Western Year: AD 307
Source Date: Text: 永甯中Western Interval: Start: AD 301End: AD 302
Family
Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.
Ancestor of Murong Jun (慕容俊) Kinship Term: descendantGeneration Distance: 2Line: paternal
Descendant of Muyan (木延) Kinship Term: grandfather / 祖Generation Distance: 2Line: paternalParentage: biologicalSubject Role: grandfatherObject Role: grandson
Descendant of Mohuba (莫護跋) Kinship Term: great-grandfather / 曾祖Generation Distance: 3Line: paternalParentage: biologicalSubject Role: great-grandfatherObject Role: great-grandson
Child of Shegui (涉歸) Kinship Term: father / 父Parentage: biologicalSubject Role: fatherObject Role: sonLine: paternal
Parent of Murong Huang (慕容皝) Kinship Term: heir son / 世子Parentage: biologicalSubject Role: sonObject Role: fatherLine: paternal
Parent of Murong Han (慕容翰) Kinship Term: son / 子Parentage: biologicalSubject Role: sonObject Role: fatherLine: paternal
Parent of Murong Ren (慕容仁) Kinship Term: youngest son / 少子Parentage: biologicalSubject Role: sonObject Role: fatherLine: paternalSubject Birth Order: 99
Career and standing Label: General Who Pacifies the North / Inspector of Pingzhou / 安北將軍、平州刺史Action: appointedDate Context: Source Date: Text: 太興後Western Year: AD 318
Label: Xianbei Commander-in-Chief / 鮮卑都督Action: appointed
Label: posthumous Grand General equal to Three Dukes / 大將軍、開府儀同三司Action: posthumously-awarded
Title: Duke of Liaodong / 遼東郡公Action: advancedDate Context: Source Date: Text: 太興後Western Year: AD 318
Title: Duke of Changli / 昌黎公Action: offered-declined
Status: Great ShanyuAction: self-styledDate Context: Source Date: Text: 永嘉初Western Year: AD 307
Source Date: Text: 國人殺耐，迎廆立之Western Year: AD 285
Places and affiliations Polity Id: eastern-jinRelation: served
Place: Jicheng in Changli / 昌黎棘城
Place: Greater Jicheng / 大棘城Relation: moved-toDate Context: Source Date: Text: 元康四年Western Year: AD 294
Place: Green Mountain on the Tu River / 徒河之青山Relation: moved-toDate Context: Source Date: Text: 太康十年Western Year: AD 289
Works and attributed material Work: Household Instructions / 家令Relation: author
Work: Household Instructions / 家令Relation: author
Kind: letter ·
Role: author ·
Other Person Id: Tao Kan (陶侃) ·
Quoted: trueExplicit ·
jinshu:108:s0111 ,
jinshu:108:s0112 ,
jinshu:108:s0113 ,
jinshu:108:s0114 ,
jinshu:108:s0115 ,
jinshu:108:s0116 ,
jinshu:108:s0117 ,
jinshu:108:s0118 ,
jinshu:108:s0119 ,
jinshu:108:s0120 ,
jinshu:108:s0121 ,
jinshu:108:s0122 ,
jinshu:108:s0123 ,
jinshu:108:s0124 ,
jinshu:108:s0125 ,
jinshu:108:s0126 ,
jinshu:108:s0127 ,
jinshu:108:s0128 ,
jinshu:108:s0129 ,
jinshu:108:s0130 ,
jinshu:108:s0131 ,
jinshu:108:s0132 ,
jinshu:108:s0133 ,
jinshu:108:s0134 ,
jinshu:108:s0135 ,
jinshu:108:s0136 ,
jinshu:108:s0137 ,
jinshu:108:s0138 ,
jinshu:108:s0139 ,
jinshu:108:s0140 Kind: speech ·
Role: speaker ·
Other Person Id: Gao Zhan (高瞻) ·
Quoted: trueKind: speechRole: speakerQuoted: true
Events and relationships Kind: military ·
Role: commander ·
Action: defeated ·
Other Person Id: Sulian (素連) Kind: military ·
Role: commander ·
Action: defeated ·
Other Person Id: Su Yan (大素延) ·
Place: Jicheng / 棘城Assessments and attributes References in the histories Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.
Book of Jin, Chapter 108 Volume 108 Records 8: Murong Hui · 84 passages
慕容廆
Murong Hui
慕容廆，字弈洛瑰，昌黎棘城鮮卑人也。
A Xianbei leader from Jicheng in Changli, style Yiluogui.
廆幼而魁岸，美姿貌，身長八尺，雄傑有大度。
Even young he stood eight chi tall—striking, heroic, broad.
安北將軍張華雅有知人之鑒，廆童丱時往謁之，華甚歎異，謂曰：「君至長必為命世之器，匡難濟時者也。」
Zhang Hua said, "When you grow up you will be an instrument for the age—one who rectifies disaster and aids the times."
因以所服簪幘遺廆，結殷勤而別。
He gave Hui his cap pin and turban as farewell gifts.
涉歸死，其弟耐篡位，將謀殺廆，廆亡潛以避禍。
Uncle Nai seized power and hunted him until kinsmen restored Hui.
後國人殺耐，迎廆立之。
The tribe slew Nai and enthroned Hui.
初，涉歸有憾于宇文鮮卑，廆將修先君之怨，表請討之。
He sought imperial blessing to avenge Shegui's feud with the Yuwen.
廆怒，入寇遼西，殺略甚眾。
He lashed out with raids across western Liaoxi.
帝遣幽州諸軍討廆，戰於肥如，廆眾大敗。
Imperial troops routed him at Feiru.
又率眾東伐扶余，扶余王依慮自殺，廆夷其國城，驅萬餘人而歸。
He shattered Buyeo, drove its king to suicide, and dragged captives home.
東夷校尉何龕遣督護賈沈將迎立依慮之子為王，廆遣其將孫丁率騎邀之。
He Kan tried to crown a new Buyeo king while Murong ambushed the escort.
廆謀於其眾曰：「吾先公以來世奉中國，且華裔理殊，強弱固別，豈能與晉競乎？
He urged submission to Jin, saying, "Since our forefathers we have honored China; Chinese and barbarian orders differ and strength is uneven—how can we vie with Jin?
帝嘉之，拜為鮮卑都督。
The court named him commander over the Xianbei.
廆致敬於東夷府，巾衣詣門，抗士大夫之禮。
He appeared at He Kan's yamen in scholar dress.
何龕嚴兵引見，廆乃改服戎衣而入。
When Kan lined up troops, Hui donned armor instead.
人問其故，廆曰：「主人不以禮，賓復何為哉！」
He said, "If the host shows no courtesy, what should a guest do!"
時東胡宇文鮮卑段部以廆威德日廣，懼有吞併之計，因為寇掠，往來不絕。
Yuwen and Duan rivals feared annexation and raided endlessly.
廆卑辭厚幣以撫之。
He bought quiet with gifts and soft words.
太康十年，廆又遷於徒河之青山。
In Taikang ten he moved to Green Mountain on the Tu River.
廆以大棘城即帝顓頊之墟也，元康四年乃移居之。
He rebuilt Greater Jicheng on Zhuanxu's legendary capital.
永甯中，燕垂大水，廆開倉振給，幽方獲濟。
Yongning floods opened his granaries to Youzhou.
太安初，宇文莫圭遣弟屈雲寇邊城，雲別帥大素延攻掠諸部，廆親擊敗之。
Tai'an brought Yuwen raids he smashed personally.
廆曰：「素延雖犬羊蟻聚，然軍無法制，已在吾計中矣。
He dismissed Su Yan's rabble as leaderless, saying, "Though Yan herds dogs and ants together, his host lacks discipline—I already hold him in my plan.
永嘉初，廆自稱鮮卑大單于。
Yongjia opened with his claim to Great Shanyu.
廆子翰言於廆曰：「求諸侯莫如勤王，自古有為之君靡不杖此以成事業者也。
Murong Han urged royalist war on the bandit chiefs, saying, "Nothing secures a lord like aiding the king—every founder has relied on it.
廆從之。
Hui adopted the plan.
懷帝蒙塵于平陽，王浚承制以廆為散騎常侍、冠軍將軍、前鋒大都督、大單于，廆不受。
Wang Jun's honors could not buy him.
建興中，湣帝遣使拜廆鎮軍將軍、昌黎、遼東二國公。
Emperor Min offered guard-general rank and twin ducal patents.
建武初，元帝承制拜廆假節、散騎常侍、都督遼左雜夷流人諸軍事、龍驤將軍、大單于、昌黎公，廆讓而不受。
Early in Jianwu, Emperor Yuan, acting under provisional authority, appointed Hui Bearer of the Staff, Supernumerary Palace Attendant, commander of the Liaozuo mixed tribes and displaced people, General of Dragon Soaring, Great Shanyu, and Duke of Changli; Hui declined and would not accept.
征虜將軍魯昌說廆曰：「今兩京傾沒，天子蒙塵，琅邪承制江東，實人命所系。
Lu Chang argued only imperial seals could awe rival tribes, saying, "Both capitals have fallen and the Son of Heaven wanders; Langye rules Jiangdong by interim decree—the mandate of life and death rests there.
廆善之，乃遣其長史王濟浮海勸進。
He sent Wang Ji across the sea to urge enthronement.
及帝即尊位，遣謁者陶遼重申前命，授廆將軍、單于，廆固辭公封。
Ming's envoy Tao Liao could not force ducal robes on him.
時二京傾覆，幽、冀淪陷，廆刑政修明，虛懷引納，流亡士庶多繈負歸之。
Clear rule drew refugee elites carrying children on their backs.
廆乃立郡以統流人，冀州人為冀陽郡，豫州人為成周郡，青州人為營丘郡，并州人為唐國郡。
Hui therefore established commanderies to govern the displaced people: those from Ji Province became Jiyang Commandery, those from Yu Province Chengzhou Commandery, those from Qing Province Yingqiu Commandery, and those from Bing Province Tangguo Commandery.
廆覽政之暇，親臨聽之，於是路有頌聲，禮讓興矣。
He audited the school himself until courtesy songs filled the roads.
毖意廆拘留，乃陰結高句麗及宇文、段國等，謀滅廆以分其地。
Bi enlisted Goguryeo, Yuwen, and Duan against Murong territory.
太興初，三國伐廆，廆曰：「彼信崔毖虛說，邀一時之利，烏合而來耳。
The triple alliance trusted Bi's fiction—ripe for divide-and-rule, he said: "They trusted Cui Bi's lies for quick gain—this is a flock without cohesion.
於是三國攻棘城，廆閉門不戰，遣使送牛酒以犒宇文，大言於眾曰：「崔毖昨有使至。」
He locked Jicheng and proclaimed to the host, "Cui Bi had envoys here yesterday."
於是二國果疑宇文同於廆也，引兵而歸。
Two allies suspected Yuwen treachery and marched home.
廆簡銳士配皝，推鋒於前；
He gave Huang crack troops for the van.
廆方陣而進。
Hui rolled forward in formation.
悉獨官自恃其眾，不設備，見廆軍之至，方率兵距之。
Siduguan's overconfidence left camps wide open.
崔毖懼廆之仇己也，使兄子燾偽賀廆。
Bi feigned congratulations through nephew Tao.
廆將燾示以攻圍之處，臨之以兵，曰：「汝叔父教三國滅我，何以詐來賀我乎？」
Hui trapped Tao and said, "Your uncle taught three states to destroy me—why pretend congratulations?"
廆懼，首服。
Tao groveled in terror.
廆乃遣燾歸說毖曰：「降者上策，走者下策也。」
Hui offered surrender or flight, saying, "Surrender is the best plan; flight the worst."
毖與數十騎棄家室奔於高句麗，廆悉降其眾，徙燾及高瞻等於棘城，待以賓禮。
Bi fled to Goguryeo while Murong settled his people at Jicheng.
明年，高句麗寇遼東，廆遣眾擊敗之。
Murong troops beat back Goguryeo's next Liaodong raid.
裴嶷至自建鄴，帝遣使者拜廆監平州諸軍事、安北將軍、平州刺史，增邑二千戶。
Pei Yi's return brought Pingzhou inspector titles and added fiefs.
段末波初統其國，而不修備，廆遣皝襲之，入令支，收其名馬寶物而還。
He raided unprepared Duan Mobo at Lingzhi for horses and loot.
石勒遣使通和，廆距之。
He rebuffed Shi Le's overtures.
勒怒，遣宇文乞得龜擊廆，廆遣皝距之。
Shi Le answered Murong's snub by ordering Yuwen Qidegui north; Huang blocked him.
成帝即位，加廆侍中，位特進。
Chengdi added him palace attendant with eminent precedence.
廆嘗從容言曰：「獄者，人命之所懸也，不可以不慎。
He warned that justice holds lives in the balance, remarking, "Prisons suspend men's lives—there must be no carelessness.
廆於寇難之際，受大晉累世之恩，自恨絕域，無益聖朝，徒系心萬里，望風懷憤。
Murong loyalty endured despite distance.
廆在一方，敢不竭命。
Murong pledged full support from Liaodong.
廆使者遭風沒海。
The first embassy drowned crossing the sea.
其後廆更寫前箋，並齎其東夷校尉封抽、行遼東相韓矯等三十餘人疏上侃府曰：
Murong coordinated a joint petition southward.
惠皇之末，後黨構難，禍結京畿，釁成公族，遂使羯寇乘虛，傾覆諸夏，舊都淪滅，山陵毀掘，人神悲悼，幽明發憤。
Late Emperor Hui's disasters enabled Shi Le.
車騎將軍慕容廆自弱冠蒞國，忠於王室，明允恭肅，志在立勳。
Petition praised Murong youth and loyalty.
廆雖限以山海，隔以羯寇，翹首引領，系心京師，常假寤寐，欲憂國忘身。
Murong fixation on restoration despite barriers.
廆雖率義眾，誅討大逆，然管仲相齊，猶曰寵不足以禦下，況廆輔翼王室，有匡霸之功，而位卑爵輕，九命未加，非所以寵異籓翰，敦獎殊勳者也。
Petition argued Murong deserved kingly rank to command allies.
將佐等以為宜遠遵周室，近准漢初，進封廆為燕王，行大將軍事，上以總統諸部，下以割損賊境。
Petition requested Murong kinghood like Han vassals.
廆得祗承詔命，率合諸國，奉辭夷逆，以成桓文之功，苟利社稷，專之可也。
Kingship empowered lawful campaigns.
而廆固執謙光，守節彌高，每詔所加，讓動積年，非將佐等所能敦逼。
Murong humility delayed acceptance.
八年，廆卒，乃止。
Hui's death in Xianhe eight ended king talks.
帝遣使者策贈大將軍、開府儀同三司，諡曰襄。
Court gave posthumous honors Xiang.
及俊僭號，偽諡武宣皇帝。
Later Former Yan canonized Wu-Xuan.
既達遼西，道路梗塞，乃與開投廆。
Liaoxi obstruction drove him to Murong.
時諸流寓之士見廆草創，並懷去就。
Early refugees wavered over Murong's regime.
廆甚悅，以嶷為長史，委以軍國之謀。
Murong made him chief strategist.
及悉獨官寇逼城下，外內騷動，廆問策於嶷，嶷曰：「悉獨官雖擁大眾，軍無號令，眾無部陣，若簡精兵，乘其無備，則成擒耳。」
Pei said, "Siduguan masses a crowd yet lacks orders or formations—pick elite troops and strike unprepared—he can be captured."
廆從之，遂陷寇營。
The raid succeeded on Pei's advice.
廆威德於此甚振，將遣使獻捷於建鄴，妙簡行人，令嶷將命。
Pei Yi chosen for Jiankang embassy.
初，朝廷以廆僻在荒遠，猶以邊裔之豪處之。
Jiankang underestimated Liaodong.
嶷既使至，盛言廆威略，又知四海英賢並為其用，舉朝改觀焉。
His briefing rewrote metropolitan opinion.
廆後謂群僚曰：「裴長史名重中朝，而降屈於此，豈非天以授孤也。」
Murong told officials, "Chief Clerk Pei bears renowned weight in central court yet bends to us—is Heaven not gifting him to me?"
毖之與三國謀伐廆也，瞻固諫以為不可，毖不從。
Zhan warned against Cui Bi's triple alliance; Bi ignored him.
及毖奔敗，瞻隨眾降於廆。
After Bi's rout Zhan submitted with the refugees.
廆署為將軍，瞻稱疾不起。
Murong named him general; Zhan feigned sickness.
廆敬其姿器，數臨候之，撫其心曰：「君之疾在此，不在餘也。
Murong pressed him personally, saying, "Your ailment lies here, nowhere else.
瞻仍辭疾篤，廆深不平之。
Zhan stayed "ill"; Murong grew bitter.
瞻又與宋該有隙，該陰勸廆除之。
Song Gai baited Murong to execute Zhan.