Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Official and General

Shen Wenji 沈文季

Attested AD 473 - AD 479

Passages: 15
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Shen Wenji was an official and General.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 473 to AD 479 元徽初至建元
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 44, passages 253, 263

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Shen Qingzhi (沈慶之)
Qingzhi 慶之 · father of Wenji named in revenge context
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 44, passage 258
Spouse of Wife of Shen Wenji (王氏)
wife 妻
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 44, passage 255

Career and standing

Marquis of Xifeng County 西豐縣侯
AD 479 建元元年 · Enfeoffed · Households 1200
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 44, passage 264
Marquis of Lueyang County 略陽縣侯
Enfeoffed · Households 1000
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 44, passage 260

Places and affiliations

Polity Southern Qi 南齊 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 44, passage 262
Polity Id liu-song · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 44, passage 249

Learning and skills

Skill pipa 琵琶 · Level skilled
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 44, passage 129

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Emperor Wu of Qi (世祖)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 44, passages 123-124, 126

Events and relationships

Killed Dengzhi and clan
Revenge · Avenger · With Shen Youzhi (沈攸之)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 44, passage 259

Assessments and attributes

Assessment sharp commanding bearing; skilled deportment · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 44, passage 119
could drink five dou; drank with wife all day without neglecting duties
Drinking
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 44, passages 255-256

References in the histories

Search passages

History

15 passages

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 44Volume 44 Biographies 25: Xu Xiaosi, Shen Wenji · 15 passages

晉平王休祐爲南徐州，帝問褚淵須幹事人爲上佐，淵舉文季。 When Prince of Jinping Xiu You was assigned to Southern Xuzhou, the emperor asked Chu Yuan for a capable man as chief aide; Yuan recommended Wenji.

文季獨往省墓展哀。 Wenji alone went to visit the tomb and express mourning.

文季飲酒至五斗，妻王氏，王錫女，飲酒亦至三斗。 Wenji could drink up to five dou; his wife was a Wang, daughter of Wang Xi, and she too could drink up to three dou.

文季與對飲竟日，而視事不廢。 Wenji would drink with her facing each other all day long, yet never neglected his official duties.

昇明元年，沈攸之反，太祖加文季爲冠軍將軍，督吳興錢塘軍事。 In the first year of Shengming, when Shen Youzhi rebelled, Grand Marshal Xiao Daocheng additionally made Wenji General Who Conquers Champions and supervisor of military affairs in Qiantang, Wuxing.

至是文季收殺攸之弟新安太守登之，誅其宗族。 At this time Wenji seized and killed Youzhi's younger brother Dengzhi, Administrator of Xin'an, and executed his entire clan.

文季風采稜岸，善於進止。 Wenji's bearing was sharp and commanding, and he was skilled in deportment.

司徒褚淵當世貴望，頗以門戶裁之，文季不爲之屈。 Minister of Works Chu Yuan was the most eminent man of the age and often judged others by family standing; Wenji would not yield to him.

文季數舉酒勸淵，淵甚不平，啓世祖曰：「沈文季謂淵經爲其郡，數加淵酒。」 Wenji repeatedly urged Yuan to drink; Yuan was deeply displeased and reported to the Heir Apparent, "Shen Wenji says that Yuan once served as magistrate in his home commandery and keeps pressing wine on him."

文季曰：「惟桑與梓，必恭敬止。 Wenji replied, "Only the mulberry and catalpa of home—one must approach them with reverence.

遂言及虜動，淵曰：「陳顯達、沈文季當今將略，足委以邊事。」 The talk then turned to northern incursions; Yuan said, "Chen Xianda and Shen Wenji are the foremost strategists of our day—sufficient to entrust with frontier affairs."

文季諱稱將門，因是發怒，啓世祖曰：「褚淵自謂是忠臣，未知身死之日，何面目見宋明帝？」 Wenji resented being called a man of a general's house and in anger reported to the Heir Apparent, "Chu Yuan calls himself a loyal minister—when the day of his death comes, with what face will he meet Emperor Ming of Song?"

世祖笑曰：「沈率醉也。」 The Heir Apparent laughed and said, "Shen is drunk."

後豫章王北宅後堂集會，文季與淵并善琵琶，酒闌，淵取樂器，爲明君曲。 Later, at a gathering in the rear hall of Prince Yuzhang's north residence, Wenji and Yuan were both skilled at the pipa; when the wine was ending Yuan took up the instrument and played the Bright Lord melody.

文季便下席大唱曰：「沈文季不能作伎兒。」 Wenji left his seat and sang loudly, "Shen Wenji cannot play the entertainer!"