Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Military Officer and Rebel

Ren Zhou 任胄

First attested AD 532; died AD 545

Passages: 5
Chapters: 3
Histories: 2

Overview

Ren Zhou was a Military Officer and Rebel.

Life and dates

Death

AD 545 大同十一年
Executed after plot was exposed
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 159, passage 6; zizhitongjian:159:s0006a

Attested activity

AD 532 to AD 545 任胄
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 24
AD 545 大同十一年
Dated from the passage context · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 159, passages 3, 6; zizhitongjian:159:s0003a
AD 540 to AD 547 神武時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 39, passage 68

Key source chapters

Career and standing

aide to the chief minister 丞相司馬
Held
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 24
Chancellor's marshal 丞相司馬
Held
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 159, passage 6

Events and relationships

Plotted assassination of Gaozu
Rebellion · Conspirator
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passages 26, 47
Plotted to kill Gao Huan and enthrone Erzhu Wenchang
AD 545 大同十一年 · Rebellion plot · Conspirator · With Gao Huan (高歡)
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 159, passage 6

Assessments and attributes

Assessment loved wine and neglected official business · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 47

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 39, passage 68

References in the histories

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 39Volume 39 Biographies 31: Cui Jishu; Zu Ting · 1 passage

與陳元康、穆子容、任胄、元士亮等為聲色之遊。 With Chen Yuankang, Mu Zirong, Ren Zhou, Yuan Shiliang, and others he pursued music and women.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 48Volume 48 Biographies 40: Imperial Affines · 3 passages

家富於財，招致賓客，既籍門地，窮極豪侈，與丞相司馬任胄、主簿李世林、都督鄭仲禮、房子遠等深相愛狎，外示杯酒之交，而潛謀逆亂。 Rich and hospitable, he leaned on his birth to live in extreme splendor. With Ren Zhou, Li Shilin, Zheng Zhongli, and Fang Ziyuan he feigned convivial friendship while secretly plotting revolt.

任胄令仲禮藏刀於袴中，因高祖臨觀，謀為竊發，事捷之後，共奉文暢為主。 Ren Zhou hid a blade in Zhongli’s trousers; when Gaozu came to watch, they meant to strike—and if they succeeded, to set Wenchang on the throne.

任胄為好酒不憂公事，高祖責之，胄懼，謀為逆。 Ren Zhou drank and neglected duty; rebuked by Gaozu, he turned to treason.

Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Chapter 159Volume 159 Liang Records 15 · 1 passage

東魏儀同爾朱文暢與丞相司馬任冑、都督鄭仲禮等，謀因正月望夜觀打簇戲作亂，殺丞相歡，奉文暢為主。 Eastern Wei's Erzhu Wenchang, Chancellor Gao Huan's marshal Ren Zhou, Commissioner Zheng Zhongli, and others plotted a Lantern-night rising during the fireworks show: kill Gao Huan and make Wenchang ruler.