Taizu (太祖) | 24 Histories

Overview

Taizu was a ruler.

Life and dates

Death

AD 912 太祖大漸
final illness / deathbed 大漸
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 136

Attested activity

AD 883 to AD 884 太祖初鎮大梁
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 111
AD 907 太祖受禪
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 124
AD 912 太祖大漸
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 136
AD 909 開平三年夏四月
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 126

Career and standing

military governor at Daliang 鎮大梁
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 111
received the abdication / founding 受禪
AD 907 太祖受禪
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 124

Places and affiliations

Polity Later Liang 後梁 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 124
At Daliang 大梁 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 111

Works and attributed material

知公鄉人有才，可與俱來。
Speech · Speaker · With Wang Fa (王發) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 113

Events and relationships

Also governed Huainan
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 120
Entrusted final charge to Xiang; regretted Jin foe
Deathbed charge · Grantor · With Jing Xiang (敬翔)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 136
Fought Cai rebels for years
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 116
Sent Liu Zhijun west against Fu and Yan
AD 909 開平三年夏四月 · Military · Commander · With Liu Zhijun (劉知俊)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 126
Relation Patron of · Person Jing Xiang (敬翔)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passages 113, 117

Assessments and attributes

Assessment barely read; liked proclamations in plain speech · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 113

References in the histories

Search passages

History

11 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 18Volume 18 Book of Later Liang 18: Biographies 8: Zhang Wenyu, Xue Yiju, Zhang Ce, Du Xiao, Jing Xiang, Li Zhen · 11 passages

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時太祖初鎮大梁，有觀察支使王發者，翔里人也，翔往依焉，發以故人遇之，然無由薦達。 The Founder had just begun to hold Daliang; Wang Fa of his home district served as an observation aide, and Xiang attached himself to him; Fa received him as an old friend but could not get him a post.

太祖比不知書，章檄喜淺近語，聞翔所作，愛之，謂發曰：「知公鄉人有才，可與俱來。」 The Founder barely read; he liked proclamations in plain speech; when he heard Xiang's writing he was delighted and told Fa: "Your townsman has talent—bring him with you."

太祖與蔡賊相拒累歲，城門之外，戰聲相聞，機略之間，翔頗預之。 For years the Founder fought the Cai rebels; battle echoed outside the walls, and Xiang took a large share in planning.

太祖大悅，恨得翔之晚，故軍謀政術，一以諮之。 The Founder rejoiced that he had found Xiang so late and consulted him on every military and civil matter.

太祖兼鎮淮南，授揚府左司馬，賜金紫。 When the Founder also governed Huainan he was made Left Assistant Administrator of Yangzhou and given gold and purple.

太祖受禪，自宣武軍掌書記、前太府卿，授檢校司空，依前太府卿勾當宣徽院事。 At the Founder's accession, from chief secretary of the Xuanwu army and former Grand Treasurer he became honorary Minister of Works and still oversaw the Palace Domestic office as Grand Treasurer.

開平三年夏四月，太祖以邠、岐侵擾，遣劉知俊西討鄜、延，深憂不濟，因宴顧翔，以問西事。 In the fourth month of summer, Kaiping 3, with Bin and Qi raiding, the Founder sent Liu Zhijun west against Fu and Yan; deeply worried, he turned to Xiang at a banquet to ask about the western front.

翔剖析山川郡邑虛實，軍糧多少，悉以條奏，如素講習，左右莫不驚異，太祖歎賞久之。 Xiang laid out terrain, prefectures, supplies, and strength in ordered detail as if he had long studied them; the court was astonished and the Founder marveled at length.

翔自釋褐東下，遭遇霸王，懷抱深沉，有經濟之略，起中和歲，至鼎革大運，其間三十餘年，扈從征伐，出入帷幄，庶務叢委，恒達旦不寢，惟在馬上稍得晏息。 From his first post eastward Xiang served a rising hegemon: deep, reserved, and skilled in statecraft. From Zhonghe to the dynastic change—more than thirty years—he campaigned at the Founder's side, entered and left the command tent, and was buried in affairs, often working until dawn and resting only in the saddle.

每有所裨讚，亦未嘗顯諫，上俯仰顧步間微示持疑爾，而太祖意已察，必改行之，故裨佐之跡，人莫得知。 When he wished to counsel he never spoke outright; a slight hesitation in the Founder's glance was enough, and the Founder would change course—so few knew how much he had shaped events.

及太祖大漸，召至御床前受顧托之命，且深以並寇為恨，翔鳴咽不忍，受命而退。 At the Founder's deathbed Xiang received his final charge; the Founder bitterly regretted the Jin foe; Xiang wept and withdrew, unable to bear it.