Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Royal Family Member

Prince Yikang of Pengcheng 彭城王義康

Péngchéng Wáng Yìkāng

Attested AD 420 - AD 453

Passages: 55
Chapters: 9
Histories: 3

Overview

The translated histories identify Prince Yikang of Pengcheng as an administrator, aristocrat, general, and named individual. This record brings together 55 passages from 9 chapters across 3 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Prince Yikang of Pengcheng	彭城王義康	Péngchéng Wáng Yìkāng
Descriptive kinship	Founding Emperor's fourth son	高祖第四子
Descriptive kinship	fourth prince	第四皇子
Title	Grand General	大將軍
Title	Great General	大將軍	Dà jiāngjūn
Personal	Liu Yikang	劉義康	Liu Yikang
Personal	Liu Yikang	劉義康	Liú Yìkāng
Personal	Liu Yikang	義康	Liú Yìkāng
Title	Prince of Pengcheng	彭城王	Péngchéng Wáng
Title	Prince of Pengcheng	彭城王
Title	Prince of Pengcheng	彭城王	Péngchéng wáng
Title	Prince Yikang of Pengcheng	彭城王義康	Péngchéng Wáng Yìkāng
Title	Prince Yikang of Pengcheng	彭城王義康
Title	Right General	右將軍
Personal name	Yikang	義康	Yìkāng
Given	Yikang	義康	Yikang
Personal	Yikang	義康	Yìkāng
Personal	Yikang	義康	Yikang
Given	Yikang	義康	Yìkāng
Personal	Yikang	義康
Personal name	Yikang	義康	Yikang
Surname		劉

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · nanqishu:016:s0030, songshu:058:s0072, songshu:070:s0007, xintangshu:022:s0033
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · songshu:049:s0146, songshu:071:s0062

Roles

Administrator
Aristocrat
General
Named Individual
Official
Royal Family Member
Ruler
Statesman

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 元嘉二十二年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 22 · Western Year: AD 445
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:071:s0055
Source Date: Text: 元嘉四年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 4 · Western Year: AD 427
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:058:s0072
Source Date: Text: 宋元嘉 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Western Interval: Start: AD 424 · End: AD 453
Explicit event contextual date · nanqishu:016:s0030
Source Date: Text: 彭城王義康命為司徒祭酒 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Western Interval: Start: AD 424 · End: AD 449
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:070:s0007, songshu:070:s0015
Source Date: Text: 元嘉三年後 · Western Interval: Start: AD 426 · End: AD 433
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:073:s0041, songshu:073:s0045, songshu:073:s0052
Source Date: Text: 元熙二年 · Western Year: AD 420
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:049:s0146
Source Date: Text: 宋…彭城王義康 · Western Interval: Start: AD 420 · End: AD 453
Explicit · xintangshu:022:s0033
Source Date: Text: 永初三年 · Western Year: AD 422
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:003:s0166
Source Date: Text: 永初元年 · Western Year: AD 420
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:003:s0057

Family

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

Child of Song Gaozu (宋高祖)
Kinship Term: fourth prince / 第四皇子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son · Object Birth Order: 4
Child of Founding Emperor (高祖)
Kinship Term: fourth son / 第四子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son · Object Birth Order: 4
Sibling of Liu Yilong (劉義隆)
Kinship Term: prince/brother / 王 · Shared Parentage: full

Career and standing

Label: Grand General / 大將軍 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 宋元嘉 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Western Interval: Start: AD 424 · End: AD 453
Explicit · nanqishu:016:s0029, nanqishu:016:s0030
Label: Governor of South Yu Province / 南豫州刺史 · Action: appointed
Explicit · songshu:003:s0166
Title En: General of the Right; transferred to Southern Yu Province · Title Zh: 右將軍、南豫州
Explicit · songshu:069:s0017
Title En: General Who Conquers Champions and Governor of Yu Province · Title Zh: 冠軍將軍、豫州刺史
Explicit · songshu:069:s0014
Title: Prince of Pengcheng / 彭城王 · Action: established
Explicit · songshu:003:s0057
Title: Prince of Pengcheng / 彭城王 · Action: held
Explicit · nanqishu:016:s0030, xintangshu:022:s0033
Title En: Prince of Pengcheng · Title Zh: 彭城王
Explicit · songshu:069:s0057
Title En: Prince · Title Zh: 王
Explicit · songshu:069:s0014

Places and affiliations

Polity Id: liu-song · Relation: member-of
Strongly inferred · songshu:071:s0062
Polity Id: liu-song · Relation: served
Explicit · nanqishu:016:s0030

Events and relationships

Type: son · Target Temp Person Key: emperor-gaozu · Note: fourth son
Explicit · songshu:069:s0014
Relation: patron-of · Person Id: Yuan Shu (袁淑)
Explicit · songshu:070:s0007, songshu:070:s0008

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: judged Yan Yanzhi's verses insolent and became furious · Other Person Id: Yan Yanzhi (顏延年) · Provenance: Mode: narrative-report · Source Person Id: Prince Yikang of Pengcheng (彭城王義康)
Explicit · songshu:073:s0051

Source notes

Historicity: historical
Explicit · nanqishu:016:s0030, songshu:071:s0062

References in the histories

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

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 16Volume 16 Treatises 8: Official Posts · 1 passage

宋元嘉用彭城王義康，後無人。 In Song's Yuanjia era Prince Yikang of Pengcheng held it; after that, no one.

Book of Song, Chapter 3Volume 3 Annals 3: Emperor Wu 3 · 2 passages

乙亥，立桂陽公義真為廬陵王，彭城公義隆為宜都王，第四皇子義康為彭城王。 On the day yihai, the Duke of Guiyang, Yizhen, was established as Prince of Luling; the Duke of Pengcheng, Yilong, as Prince of Yidu; the fourth prince, Yikang, as Prince of Pengcheng.

以豫州刺史彭城王義康為南豫州刺史，征虜將軍劉粹為豫州刺史。 The Prince of Pengcheng, Yikang, was made Governor of South Yu Province; General Who Punishes Barbarians Liu Cui was made Governor of Yu Province.

Book of Song, Chapter 49Volume 49 Biographies 9: Sun Chu, Kuai En, Liu Zhong, Yu Qiujin · 1 passage

元熙二年，宋王令書以為高祖第四子義康右將軍司馬。 In the second year of Yuanxi an order from the Prince of Song appointed him Major on the staff of Right General Yikang, the Founding Emperor's fourth son.

Book of Song, Chapter 58Volume 58 Biographies 18: Wang Hui, Xie Hongwei, Wang Qiu · 3 passages

兄曜歷御史中丞，彭城王義康驃騎長史，元嘉四年卒。 His elder brother Yao had served as Imperial Censor and Chief Clerk to Prince Yikang of Pengcheng's Rapid Cavalry staff; he died in the fourth year of Yuanjia.

兄子履進利為行，深結劉湛，委誠大將軍彭城王義康，與劉斌、孔胤秀等並有異志，球每訓厲，不納。 His nephew Lü was greedy and ambitious; he attached himself to Liu Zhan, pledged loyalty to Prince Yikang of Pengcheng, and with Liu Bin, Kong Yinxiu, and others harbored treasonous designs; Qiu admonished him repeatedly, but he would not listen.

自大將軍從事中郎，轉太子中庶子，流涕訴義康不願違離，以此復為從事中郎。 Promoted from Military Assistant on the Great General's staff to Palace Companion of the Heir Apparent, he wept and begged Yikang not to be parted from him, and was therefore restored to his former post.

Book of Song, Chapter 69Volume 69 Biographies 29: Liu Zhan, Fan Ye · 34 passages

高祖入受晉命，以第四子義康為冠軍將軍、豫州刺史，留鎮壽陽。 After Gaozu accepted the Jin mandate and took the throne, he appointed his fourth son Yikang General Who Conquers Champions and Governor of Yu Province and left him to garrison Shouyang.

義康弱年未親政，府州軍事悉委湛。 Yikang was still young and did not administer affairs himself; Zhan was entrusted with all military affairs of the prefecture and province.

義康以本號徙為南豫州，湛改領歷陽太守。 When Yikang was transferred to Southern Yu Province under his existing title, Zhan was reassigned to serve concurrently as Grand Administrator of Liyang.

時彭城王義康專秉朝權，而湛昔為上佐，遂以舊情委心自結，欲因宰相之力以回主心，傾黜景仁，獨當時務。 At that time Prince of Pengcheng Yikang monopolized court power. Zhan, who had once served as his chief aide, entrusted himself to Yikang out of old affection, hoping to use the prince's power to sway the emperor, bring down Jingren, and handle state affairs alone.

義康屢構之於太祖，其事不行。 Yikang repeatedly slandered Jingren to Taizu, but the effort failed.

義康僚屬及湛諸附隸潛相約勒，無敢歷殷氏門者。 Yikang's staff and all of Zhan's followers secretly agreed among themselves that none would dare visit the Yin household.

義康擅勢專朝，威傾內外，湛愈推崇之，無復人臣之禮，上稍不能平。 Yikang usurped power and dominated the court, his authority overwhelming both court and realm. Zhan flattered him ever more extravagantly and no longer observed the deference owed by a subject, and the emperor grew increasingly displeased.

及至晚節，驅煽義康，凌轢朝廷，上意雖內離，而接遇不改。 In his later years he incited Yikang and rode roughshod over the court. Though the emperor inwardly turned against him, his outward treatment of Zhan did not change.

時上與義康形跡既乖，釁難將結，湛亦知無復全地。 By then the emperor and Yikang had already grown estranged, and disaster was imminent; Zhan too knew he could no longer survive unscathed.

高祖相國掾，彭城王義康冠軍參軍，隨府轉右軍參軍，入補尚書外兵郎，出為荊州別駕從事史。 He served as Staff Member to Emperor Gaozu when the latter was Chancellor of State, then as Staff Officer to Prince of Pengcheng Yikang, General Who Conquers Champions; he transferred with the prince's staff to Staff Officer to the General of the Right, entered court as Outer Troops Gentleman of the Masters of Writing, and was sent out as Separate-Chariot Attending Clerk of Jing Province.

義康大怒，左遷曄宣城太守。 Yikang was furious and demoted Ye to Administrator of Xuancheng.

初熙先父默之為廣州刺史，以贓貨得罪下廷尉，大將軍彭城王義康保持之，故得免。 Xixian's father Mozhi had earlier served as Governor of Guang Province; convicted of bribery and sent to the Minister of Justice, he was spared through the protection of Grand General Prince of Pengcheng Yikang.

及義康被黜，熙先密懷報效，欲要朝廷大臣，未知誰可動者，以曄意志不滿，欲引之。 After Yikang was demoted, Xixian secretly resolved to repay his family's debt of gratitude; he wished to win over court ministers but did not know whom he could sway. Seeing that Ye was discontent, he hoped to draw him into the plot.

曄累經義康府佐，見待素厚。 Ye had long served on Yikang's staff and had always been treated generously by him.

及宣城之授，意好乖離。 When Ye received the Xuancheng appointment, his relationship with Yikang turned to estrangement.

綜為義康大將軍記室參軍，隨鎮豫章。 Zong served as Recording Clerk Staff Officer on Yikang's staff as Grand General and accompanied him to his garrison at Yuzhang.

綜還，申義康意於曄，求解晚隙，復敦往好。 When Zong returned, he conveyed Yikang's wish to Ye to heal their late estrangement and restore their former closeness.

況義康姧心釁跡，彰著遐邇，而至今無恙，臣竊惑焉。 Moreover, Yikang's treacherous intent and misdeeds are manifest far and near, yet he remains unharmed to this day—your servant is privately perplexed.

以為義康當之。 He believed Yikang was destined for this role.

綜父述亦為義康所遇，綜弟約又是義康女夫，故太祖使綜隨從南上，既為熙先所獎說，亦有酬報之心。 Xie Zong's father Xie Shu had also been favored by Yikang, and Zong's younger brother Xie Yue was Yikang's son-in-law; Taizu therefore sent Zong south with Yikang. Having been won over by Xixian, Zong too harbored a wish to repay old kindness.

大將軍府史仲承祖，義康舊所信念，屢銜命下都，亦潛結腹心，規有異志。 Zhong Chengzu, a clerk in the Grand General's headquarters whom Yikang had long trusted, made repeated trips to the capital on his orders and secretly gathered trusted followers with rebellious designs.

丹陽尹徐湛之，素為義康所愛，雖為舅甥，恩過子弟，承祖因此結事湛之，告以密計。 Xu Zhanzhi, Intendant of Danyang, had long been beloved by Yikang; though uncle and nephew by marriage, Yikang favored him more than his own sons. Chengzu therefore won Zhanzhi over and disclosed the secret plot.

承祖南下，申義康意於蕭思話及曄，云：「本欲與蕭結婚，恨始意不果。 Chengzu went south and conveyed Yikang's wishes to Xiao Sihua and Ye, saying, "Yikang had wished to arrange a marriage with Xiao and regrets that the plan failed.

與范本情不薄，中間相失，傍人為之耳。」 Yikang's bond with Fan Ye was never shallow; the estrangement between them was the work of meddlers, nothing more."

有法略道人，先為義康所供養，粗被知待； There was the Daoist Falüe, formerly supported by Yikang and moderately well regarded;

又有王國寺法靜尼亦出入義康家內，皆感激舊恩，規相拯拔，並與熙先往來。 and the nun Fajing of Wangguo Temple also frequented Yikang's household. All were grateful for past kindness and plotted to rescue Yikang, maintaining contact with Xixian.

法靜還，義康餉熙先銅匕、銅鑷、袍段、棊奩等物。 When Fajing returned, Yikang sent Xixian gifts of a bronze spoon, bronze tweezers, lengths of robe cloth, a chess case, and other items.

質與蕭思話款密，當仗要之，二人並受大將軍眷遇，必無異同。 Zhi and Xiao Sihua are on intimate terms and must be enlisted; both received the Grand General's favor and will surely not waver.

凡素所不善及不附義康者，又有別簿，竝入死目。 Those they had long disliked and all who did not side with Yikang were entered on a separate register—all marked for death.

彭城王體自高祖，聖明在躬，德格天地，勳溢區宇，世路威夷，勿用南服，龍潛鳳棲，於茲六稔，蒼生饑德，億兆渴化，豈唯東征有《鴟鴞》之歌，陝西有勿翦之思哉！ Prince of Pengcheng springs from Gaozu's line; sagely brilliance is in his person, his virtue reaches heaven and earth, his merit fills the realm. Though the age's road was level and awe-inspiring, he was not employed in southern service—like a dragon hidden and a phoenix perched these six years. The people hunger for his virtue; the millions thirst for his rule—is it only in the east that they sing the 'Owl,' and west of the passes that they cry, do not cut him down?

靈祗告徵祥之應，讖記表帝者之符，上答天心，下愜民望，正位辰極，非王而誰？ Spirits and gods proclaimed auspicious omens; prophecies displayed the marks of an emperor—answering heaven's will above and the people's hopes below—to take the throne at the celestial pole—if not the prince, who else?

熙先以既為大事，宜須義康意旨，曄乃作義康與湛之書，宣示同黨曰： Xixian held that so great an undertaking required Yikang's endorsement; Ye therefore forged a letter from Yikang to Zhanzhi and showed it to the conspirators, which read:

以臣昔蒙義康接盼，又去歲群小為臣妄生風塵，謂必嫌懼，深見勸誘。 Because your servant had once been favored by Yikang, and because petty men last year stirred up trouble for me in vain, they assumed I must harbor fear and resentment, and pressed me deeply with persuasion and enticement.

而義康數懷姧計，苟相崇說，與夫推長戟而犯魏闕，亦何以異哉！ Yet Yikang repeatedly harbored treacherous designs, and to exalt and urge him on—how is that different from pushing a long halberd against the palace gate!

Book of Song, Chapter 70Volume 70 Biographies 30: Yuan Shu · 2 passages

彭城王義康命為司徒祭酒。 Prince of Pengcheng Yikang appointed him libationer of the Minister of Works.

義康不好文學，雖外相禮接，意好甚疏。 Yikang cared little for letters; though he treated Shu with outward courtesy, inwardly he kept his distance.

Book of Song, Chapter 71Volume 71 Biographies 31: Xu Zhan, Jiang Zhan, Wang Sengchao · 8 passages

湛之為大將軍彭城王義康所愛，與劉湛等頗相附協。 Zhanzhi won the favor of Grand General Yikang, Prince of Pengcheng, and aligned himself closely with Liu Tan and his circle.

賊臣范曄、孔熙先等，連結謀逆，法靜尼宣分往還，與大將軍臣義康共相脣齒，備于鞠對。 The traitors Fan Ye, Kong Xixian, and their confederates plotted rebellion; the nun Fajing and Xuanfen carried messages between them; they were bound to Grand General Yikang like lip and teeth—the record of interrogation sets this forth in full.

乃雲臣與義康宿有密契，在省之言，期以為定，潛通姦意，報示天文。 They claimed I had long held a secret pact with Yikang, that remarks in the Secretariat were taken as binding agreements, that I secretly communicated treasonous designs, and reported celestial omens to him.

昔義康南出之始，敕臣入相伴慰，晨夕覲對，經逾旬日。 When Yikang was first sent into exile in the south, I was ordered to keep him company and console him; morning and evening I was in his presence for more than ten days.

初為著作佐郎，遷彭城王義康司徒行參軍，南譙王義宣左軍功曹。 He began as Assistant in the Bureau of Composition, then served on Prince Yikang of Pengcheng's staff and as recorder of the Left Army under Prince Yixuan of Nanqiao.

復為義康司徒主簿，太子中舍人。 He again served as chief clerk on Yikang's secretariat and as attendant in the heir apparent's household.

義康有命，又不從。 Yikang commanded it, and again he refused.

義康欲引與日夕，湛固求外出，乃以為武陵內史，還為司徒從事中郎，遷太子中庶子，尚書吏部郎。 Yikang wished to keep him close at hand; Zhan insisted on leaving court and was made interior minister of Wuling. On his return he became secretariat attendant, then vice-steward of the heir apparent's household, then director of personnel.

Book of Song, Chapter 73Volume 73 Biographies 33: Yan Yanzhi · 3 passages

湛深恨焉，言於彭城王義康，出為永嘉太守。 Zhan hated this deeply and spoke to Prince Yikang of Pengcheng; Yanzhi was sent out as Administrator of Yongjia.

湛及義康以其辭旨不遜，大怒。 Zhan and Yikang, taking his verses as insolent, were furious.

時延之已拜，欲黜為遠郡，太祖與義康詔曰：「降延之為小邦不政，有謂其在都邑，豈動物情，罪過彰著，亦士庶共悉，直欲選代，令思愆里閭。 Yanzhi had already accepted the post, but they meant to banish him to a remote commandery. Emperor Wen wrote to Yikang: "Sending Yanzhi to a minor post is not because he governs badly. Some say that in the capital he stirs people's hearts; his faults are plain and known to all. We only want to replace him and let him repent at home.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 22Volume 22 Treatises 12: Rites and Music 12 · 1 passage

《讀曲》，宋人為彭城王義康作也； "Reading Tune," composed in Song for Prince of Pengcheng Yikang;