Song Taizu (太祖) | 24 Histories

Overview

Song Taizu was a ruler.

PeriodSong, Liao, and Jin

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 960 to AD 968 致書至伐繼恩
Directly stated · History of Song 482, passages 51, 62

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · History of Song 482, passages 51-52, 54

Events and relationships

Ordered campaign
AD 968 八月 · Military · Ruler · With Liu Ji'en (劉繼恩)
Directly stated · History of Song 482, passage 62

References in the histories

History of Song, Chapter 482Volume 482 Biographies 241, Hereditary Houses 5: Liu Jiyuan of the Northern Han Liu Family (Father: Liu Jun; Elder Brother: Liu Ji'en; Appended: Wei Rong, Zhao Wendu, Li Yun, Ma Feng, Guo Wuwei) · 5 passages

Open chapter

初，太祖嚐因界上諜者謂鈞曰：“君家與周氏為世仇，宜其不屈，今我與爾無所間，何為困此一方人也？ Earlier Taizu had once sent a message through a border spy: "Your house and the Zhou were hereditary enemies, so your refusal to submit is understandable. But you and I have no such feud—why make the people of this corner suffer?

太祖哀其言，笑謂諜者曰：“為我語鈞，開爾一生路。” Taizu was touched by the reply and told the spy with a smile, "Tell Jun for me: I am leaving him a way out."

故終其世不加兵焉。 For that reason Taizu never sent troops against him for the rest of his life.

八月，太祖詔伐繼恩。 In the eighth month Taizu ordered a campaign against Ji'en.

至是謀持繼恩首獻太祖，遂乘繼恩無備，白晝挺刃而入，反扃其門，繼恩繞屏環走，霸榮以刃揕胸弑之，年三十四，時立六十日矣。 He now plotted to kill Ji'en and present his head to Taizu. Finding Ji'en off guard in broad daylight, he burst in with drawn blade and barred the door behind him. Ji'en fled around the screens; Barong drove the blade into his chest and killed him. Ji'en was thirty-four and had ruled only sixty days.