Five Dynasties · General and Rebel

Shi Jingtang 石敬瑭

Shí Jìngtáng

Attested AD 936

Passages: 6
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Shi Jingtang was a general and Rebel.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Nickname	Shi Lang	石郎

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 936 清泰三年五月戊戌
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 48, passages 58, 60, 69, 71, 73, 77

Family

Kin of Emperor Mo (末帝)
close kinsman 近親
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 48, passage 69

Career and standing

military governor of Hedong circuit 河東節度使
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 48, passage 58
Entered
Rebel
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 48, passage 58
Stripped of offices and titles
AD 936 清泰三年五月壬寅
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 48, passage 60

Places and affiliations

Polity Later Tang 後唐 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 48, passage 58

Works and attributed material

urged emperor to yield throne to Prince of Xu
Memorial · Author
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 48, passages 77-78

Events and relationships

Rebelled at Hedong
AD 936 清泰三年五月戊戌 · Military · Rebel
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 48, passage 58
linked to Prince of E 卿於鄂王
Relation Associated with · Person Prince of E (鄂王)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 48, passage 81

References in the histories

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 48Volume 48 Book of Later Tang 24: Later Emperors Annals 3 · 6 passages

戊戌，昭義奏，河東節度使石敬瑭叛。 On wuxu Zhaoyi circuit reported that Hedong military governor Shi Jingtang had rebelled.

壬寅，削奪石敬瑭官爵，便令張敬達進軍攻討。 On renyin Shi Jingtang's titles and offices were stripped, and Zhang Jingda was immediately ordered to march his army against him.

初，帝疑河東有異志，與近臣語及其事，帝曰：「石郎與朕近親，在不疑之地，流言毀譽，朕心自明，萬一失歡，如何和解？」 Earlier the Emperor had suspected that Hedong harbored disloyal intent. Speaking with close ministers about the matter, he said: "Shi Lang is my close kinsman, one in whom I ought to place unquestioning trust. Rumor may slander or praise him, but my own mind is clear. If by chance we should fall out, how could we ever be reconciled?"

翌日，欲移石敬瑭於鄆州，房暠等堅言不可，司天監趙延乂亦言星辰失度，尤宜安靜，由是稍緩其事。 The next day he wished to transfer Shi Jingtang to Yun Prefecture. Fang Hao and others firmly objected, and Director of the Astronomy Bureau Zhao Yanyi also said the stars were out of their proper courses and that quiet was especially advisable; thereby the matter was put off for a time.

文遇奏曰：「臣聞作舍於道，三年不成，國家利害，斷自宸旨以臣料之，石敬瑭除亦叛，不除亦叛，不如先事圖之。」 Wenyü replied: "I have heard that building a house in the middle of the road takes three years and still is not finished. The welfare of the state rests on Your Majesty's decision. In my judgment, whether Shi Jingtang is removed or left in place, he will rebel either way. It would be better to strike first."

居六七日，敬瑭上章云：「明宗社稷，陛下纂承，未契輿情，宜推令辟。 Six or seven days later Jingtang submitted a memorial saying: "The realm of Emperor Mingzong—Your Majesty has succeeded to it, yet it does not accord with public sentiment. You ought to yield the throne to a worthy successor.