Murong Yanchao (慕容彥超)

Overview

Murong Yanchao was a Military Governor and Rebel.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Changed name	Yan	閻氏	Yán
Nickname	Yan Kunlun	閻崑崙	Yán Kūnlún
Alternate name	Yan	閻	Yan

Life and dates

Death

Cause Threw himself into a well
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 11, passage 127
threw themselves into a well 投井死 · With Person Id Wife of Murong Yanchao (慕容彥超之妻)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 102

Attested activity

AD 946 三年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 95, passage 12
AD 950 乾祐三年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 105, passage 36
AD 950 乾祐三年十一月；戰敗
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 10, passages 122, 125
AD 950 乾祐三年十一月
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 11, passages 42, 46, 57
AD 949 乾祐二年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 102, passage 113
AD 948 to AD 951 乾祐至廣順初
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 11

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AD 952 二年春
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 69
AD 952 廣順二年十二月
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 11, passage 88
AD 926 to AD 952 慕容彥超
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passages 50, 53
AD 952 慕容彥超
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 50, passages 14, 22
AD 952 to AD 953 慕容彥超叛於兗州
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 130, passage 40
AD 950 慕容彥超敗走
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 203, 212
AD 952 明年五月，太祖親征
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 102
AD 951 是年兗州慕容彥超反
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 130, passages 125-126

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Sibling of Liu Zhiyuan (劉知遠)
younger brother of the same mother 同產弟 · Full siblings · Through Mother of Liu Zhiyuan (劉知遠母)
uterine younger brother 同產弟 · Maternal half siblings
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 130, passage 104; New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 51
Child of Mother of Han Gaozu and Murong Yanchao (漢高祖與慕容彥超之母)
mother 母 · maternal line
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 51
Child of Mother of Liu Zhiyuan (劉知遠母)
mother 母
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 130, passage 104
Parent of Murong Jixun (慕容繼勛)
son 子
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 102
Spouse of Wife of Murong Yanchao (慕容彥超之妻)
wife 妻
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 102

Key source chapters

Origins and identity

Ethnicity Tuyuhun 吐谷渾
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 51
Tuyuhun tribes 吐谷渾部
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 51

Career and standing

military governor of Zhenning 鎮寧軍節度使
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 55
military governor of Yan Prefecture 兗州節度使
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 130, passage 104
military officer 軍校
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 53
prefect 刺史
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 53
Taining military commissioner 泰寧軍節度使
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 11, passage 52
military governor of Taining 泰寧
Transferred
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 65

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Became
Rebel
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 78
Entered
Exile
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 54
exile to Fangzhou 流於房州
Sentenced
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 54

Places and affiliations

Polity Later Han 後漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 203
Polity Name Later Han 漢 · Relation Royal kin
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 130, passage 104
At Yan / Yanzhou 兗州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passages 67, 76
At Yan Prefecture 兗州 · Relation Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 69

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Hou Yi (侯益)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passages 69-70
Speech · Speaker · With Emperor Yin (隱帝)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passages 73-75
Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 130, passages 107, 139; New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 99

Events and relationships

Besieged and city taken
AD 952 to AD 952 二年春至夏五月 · Military · Defender · At Yan Prefecture 兗州
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passages 69-70
Campaign against Du Chongwei at Wei; urged failed assault
Military · Deputy commander
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passages 56, 63
Captured thief via donkey
Legal · Judge
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 130, passages 121, 124
Defeated and fled
AD 950 慕容彥超敗走 · Military · Commander
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 203
Defeated by
Military · Commander · With Guo Wei (郭威) · At northern suburb 北郊
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 105, passage 36
Defeated
Military · Commander · At Liuzipo 劉子陂
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 11

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Fought Guo Wei and was defeated
Military · Commander · With Guo Wei (郭威)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 125
Fought Zhou forces at Qili; defeated and fled to Yan
Military · Commander
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passages 73, 76
Opposed Khitan
AD 946 三年 · Military · Commander · With Huangfu Yu (皇甫遇)
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 95, passage 12
Rebelled against Later Zhou at Yan
Military · Rebel
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passages 78, 82
Rebelled
Military · Rebel
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 11, passage 88
Rebelled
Rebellion · Leader · At Yan Prefecture 兗州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 130, passages 40, 126
Recaptured captive
AD 946 三年 · Military · Rescuer · With Du Zhimin (杜知敏)
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 95, passage 18
Returned with wounds
AD 946 三年 · Military · Wounded commander · With Huangfu Yu (皇甫遇)
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 95, passage 27
Seized Hou Zan and sent to capital
AD 950 慕容彥超執送京師 · Legal · Captor · With Hou Zan (後贊)
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 212
Relation Deputy to · Person Gao Xingzhou (高行周)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 56
Relation Rival of · Person Gao Xingzhou (高行周)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passages 57, 59

Assessments and attributes

Assessment cunning, deceitful, and greedy for wealth · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 96
Assessment fierce general · Mode named-source-report
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 95, passage 27
dark-skinned and pockmarked (black body, hemp-pitted face)
Physical description
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 130, passage 105
swarthy with a foreign beard 黑色胡髯
Physical description
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 52
Item iron-core silver 鐵胎銀 · Relation Forged and stored
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 130, passages 142, 148
Item iron-core silver 鐵胎銀 · Relation Produced
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 98

Source notes

once passed himself off under the Yan surname
From Murong 慕容 · To Yan 閻
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 130, passage 105
From Murong 慕容 · To Yan 閻氏 · once falsely took the surname Yan
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 52

References in the histories

Search passages

History

73 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 95Volume 95 Book of Later Jin 21: Biographies 10: Huang Fuyu, Wang Qing, Liang Hanzhang, Bai Fengjin, Lu Shunmi, Zhou Huan, Shen Yun, Wu Luan, Di Zhang, Cheng Fuyun, Guo Lin · 4 passages

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三年，契丹率眾屯邯鄲，遇與安審琦、慕容彥超等禦之。 In the third year the Khitans massed at Handan, and Huang Fuyu, An Shenqi, Murong Yanchao, and others went out to oppose them.

杜知敏已為所獲，遇謂彥超曰：「知敏蒼黃之中，以馬授我，義也，安可使陷於賊中！」 Du Zhimin had already been taken. Huang Fuyu said to Yanchao, "In the heat of battle Zhimin gave me his horse — that was an act of loyalty. We cannot leave him in enemy hands!"

遂與彥超躍馬取知敏而還，敵騎壯之。 He and Yanchao then spurred their horses forward, snatched Zhimin back, and returned; the enemy horsemen were impressed.

遇與彥超中數創得還，時諸軍嘆曰：「此三人皆猛將也！」 Huang Fuyu and Yanchao returned with several wounds; the armies at the time exclaimed, "These three are fierce generals!"

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 102Volume 102 Book of Later Jin 4: Emperor Yin Annals 2 · 1 passage

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己未，許州劉信加兼侍中，開封尹侯益進封魯國公，鄆州慕容彥超、青州劉銖並加兼侍中。 On jiwei, Liu Xin of Xu Prefecture was given the additional title of Palace Attendant, Kaifeng intendant Hou Yi was advanced to Duke of Lu, and Murong Yanchao of Yunzhou and Liu Zhu of Qing Prefecture were both given the additional title of Palace Attendant.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 105Volume 105 Book of Later Jin 7: Biographies 2: Imperial Family · 1 passage

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郭威既敗慕容彥超於北郊，隱帝遇弒，威入京師，謂諸大臣密相推戴，及見宰相馮道等，道殊無意。 After Guo Wei routed Murong Yanchao north of the capital and Emperor Yin was murdered, Wei entered the city and asked the chief ministers to back him in secret; when he met Feng Dao and the rest, Dao showed no inclination whatsoever.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 129Volume 129 Book of Later Zhou 31: Biographies 9: Chang Si, Di Guangye, Cao Ying, Li Yanyun, Li Hui, Li Jianchong, Wang Zhongyi, Sun Hanyin, Xu Qian, Zhao Feng, Qi Cangzhen, Wang Huan, Zhang Yanchao, Zhang Ying, Liu Renshan · 1 passage

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二年春，總兵討慕容彥超於兗州，梯沖塹壘，頗有力焉。 In the spring of year two he led troops against Murong Yanchao at Yan Prefecture; in scaling ladders, rams, ditches, and ramparts he played a major part.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 130Volume 130 Book of Later Zhou 32: Biographies 10: Wang Jun, Murong Yanchao, Yan Honglu, Cui Zhoudu · 21 passages

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時慕容彥超叛於兗州，已遣侍衛步軍都指揮使曹英、客省使向訓率兵攻之。 Murong Yanchao had rebelled at Yan Prefecture; the court had already sent Palace Guard infantry commander Cao Ying and guest-bureau commissioner Xiang Xun to attack him.

峻意欲自將兵討賊，累言於太祖曰：「慕容劇賊，曹英不易與之敵耳。」 Jun wanted to take the field himself. Again and again he told the emperor, "Murong is a ferocious rebel—Cao Ying will not easily stand against him."

慕容彥超， Murong Yanchao,

為兗州節度使，彥超即漢高祖之同產弟也。 He served as military governor of Yan Prefecture; Yanchao was a younger brother of the same mother as the Han founder Liu Zhiyuan.

嘗冒姓閻氏，體黑麻面，故謂之閻昆侖。 He had once passed himself off under the Yan surname; dark-skinned and pockmarked, men called him "Yan the Kunlun."

彥超鎮兗州，漢隱帝欲殺周太祖，召彥超，方食，釋匕箸而就道。 While Yanchao governed Yan Prefecture, Emperor Yindi of Later Han plotted to kill Guo Wei and summoned him. Yanchao was in the middle of a meal but set down his utensils and set out at once.

周兵犯京師，隱帝出勞軍，太后使彥超衛帝，彥超曰：「北兵何能為，當於陣上唱坐使歸營。」 When Zhou troops marched on the capital, Yindi went out to review the army. The empress dowager ordered Yanchao to protect the emperor. Yanchao said, "What can northern soldiers do? I will stand on the field and call the commissioner to return to camp."

彥超敗，奔兗，隱帝遇弒。 Yanchao was beaten, fled to Yan, and Yindi was murdered.

周太祖時，彥超進呈鄆州節度使高行周來書，其書意即行周毀讟太祖結連彥超之意，帝覽之，笑曰：「此必是彥超之詐也。」 Under the Zhou founder, Yanchao submitted a letter purportedly from Gao Xingzhou, military governor of Yun Prefecture, whose wording suggested that Xingzhou had slandered the emperor and was conspiring with Yanchao. Guo Wei read it and laughed: "This must be Yanchao's trick."

彥超即率軍府賓佐，步出州西門三十里致祭，迎於開元寺，塑像以事之，謂之「菩薩」，日至祈禱，又令民家豎黃幡以禳之。 Yanchao led his staff on foot thirty li beyond the west gate to offer sacrifice, welcomed the omen at Kaiyuan Temple, and set up an image to worship, calling it the "Bodhisattva." He prayed daily and ordered households to raise yellow banners to ward off ill fortune.

及城陷，彥超方在土星院燃香，急乃馳去。 When the city fell, Yanchao was still burning incense in the Saturn Courtyard; he galloped away in alarm.

〈（《五代史補》：慕容彥超素有鉤距。 (Supplement to the History of the Five Dynasties: Murong Yanchao had long been a master of schemes.

彥超憫之，且曰：「勿憂，吾為汝擒此賊。」 Yanchao took pity on him and said, "Do not worry—I will catch the thief for you."

是年，兗州慕容彥超反。 That year Murong Yanchao rebelled at Yan Prefecture.

慕容彥超之被圍也，乘城而望，見高祖親臨矢石，其勢不可當，退而憂之，因勉其麾下曰：「汝等宜為吾盡命，吾庫中金銀如山積，若全此城，吾盡以為賜，汝等勿患富貴。」 While Murong Yanchao was under siege he climbed the wall and saw the founder himself in the hail of arrows and stones. The assault could not be withstood. He withdrew in dread and urged his men: "Fight to the death for me. Gold and silver in my treasury are heaped like mountains—if we hold the city I will give it all to you. You need not fear for wealth or rank."

初，彥超常令人開質庫，有以鐵胎銀質錢者，經年後，庫吏始覺，遂言之於彥超。 Earlier Yanchao had often run a pawnshop. Some customers pawned silver that was iron at the core. Years passed before a clerk noticed and told Yanchao.

庫吏如其教，於是彥超下令曰：「吾為使長典百姓，而又不謹，遭賊竇刂去，其過深矣。 The clerk obeyed. Yanchao then proclaimed, "As commissioner I am charged with the people, yet I was careless—thieves broke in and stole goods. The fault is grave.

今恐百姓疑彥超隱其物，宜令三日內各投狀，明言質物色，自當陪償之，不爾者有過。」 I fear the people think I have hidden their goods. Within three days each of you must file a statement describing your pawned goods by kind, and I will repay you in full—otherwise you will be at fault."

家本魯中，洎告疾歸裏，慕容彥超初臨，禮待極厚。 His family was from central Shandong. When he fell ill and went home, Murong Yanchao on first taking Yan treated him with the greatest courtesy.

及謀大逆，以宏魯子希俊為鎮寧軍節度副使，在世宗幕下而惡之。 When Yanchao plotted rebellion he made Honglu's son Xijun deputy military governor of Zhenning—but Xijun was on Shizong's staff, and Yanchao resented him.

而性剛烈，又以嘗為諫官，睹兇帥之不法，不忍坐視其弊，因極言以諫彥超，故及斯禍。 His nature was fierce and upright. Having once been a remonstrating officer, he could not sit by while the rebel commander broke the law, and remonstrated with Yanchao to the limit—so he too met this fate.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 10Volume 10 Later Jin Annals 1: Gaozu, Emperor Yin · 2 passages

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壬午，威犯封丘，泰寧軍節度使慕容彥超軍於七里店。 On renwu Guo Wei advanced on Fengqiu while Murong Yanchao of Taining drew up his army at Qilidian.

慕容彥超及郭威戰，敗績，開封尹侯益叛降於威。 Murong Yanchao met Guo Wei in battle and was routed; Hou Yi, governor of Kaifeng, defected to the rebel side.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 11Volume 11 Later Zhou Annals 2: Taizu · 3 passages

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甲辰，及泰寧軍節度使慕容彥超戰於劉子陂，彥超敗，奔於兗州。 On jiachen he met Murong Yanchao of Taining at Liuzipo, routed him, and drove him toward Yanzhou.

十二月，慕容彥超反。 In the twelfth month Murong Yanchao rose in revolt.

彥超投井死，故不書伏誅。 Yanchao died by throwing himself into a well, so the text does not say he “was executed.”

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 18Volume 18: The Later Han Imperial Family · 1 passage

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邠等死，周太祖起兵向京師，慕容彥超敗於劉子陂，帝欲出自臨兵，太后止之曰：「郭威本吾家人，非其危疑，何肯至此！ After their deaths, Taizu of Zhou marched on the capital; Murong Yanchao was defeated at Liuzipo; the emperor meant to take the field himself; the dowager stopped him: “Guo Wei was originally one of our household—had he not been driven to doubt, how would he have come to this!

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 30Volume 30 Later Han Biographies 10: Su Fengji, Shi Hongzhao, Yang Bin, Wang Zhang, Liu Zhu, Li Ye, Nie Wenjin, Hou Zan, Guo Yunming · 2 passages

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慕容彥超敗走，帝宿於七里，文進夜與其徒飲酒，歌呼自若。 Murong Yanchao broke and fled. The emperor slept at Qili. Wenjin spent the night drinking with his men, singing and shouting as if the world were still whole.

隱帝兵敗北郊，贊奔兗州，慕容彥超執送京師，梟首於市。 The Hidden Emperor lost at the Northern Suburb. Zan fled to Yan; Murong Yanchao captured him, sent him to the capital, and had his head hung in the market.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 50Volume 50 Miscellaneous Biographies 30: Wang Jun, Wang Yin, Liu Ci, Wang Huan, Zhe Congruan · 3 passages

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而兗州慕容彥超反跡已露，若陛下出汜水，則彥超入京師，陛下何以待之？」 Murong Yanchao at Yan already shows rebellion. If you cross the Si ford, he will enter the capital—then what?"

從討慕容彥超，為隨駕都部署，率眾先登。 Against Murong Yanchao he was Follow-the-Emperor supreme commander and took the walls first.

自破慕容彥超還，即求解樞密以探上意，太祖慰勞之。 Back from breaking Yanchao he asked to quit the Privy Commission to test the throne; Taizu soothed him.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 53Volume 53 Miscellaneous Biographies 33: Wang Jinchong, Zhao Suwan, Murong Yanchao · 34 passages

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慕容彥超 Murong Yanchao

慕容彥超，吐谷渾部人，漢高祖同產弟也。 Murong Yanchao came from the Tuyuhun people and was a uterine younger brother of Han Gaozu.