Taizu (太祖) | 24 Histories

Overview

Taizu was a ruler and Warlord.

PeriodFive Dynasties

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Death

AD 908 太祖病革
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 161

Attested activity

AD 908 太祖病革
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 161

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Li Cunxian (李存賢)
adopted as son 養為子 · Adoptive parentage · paternal line
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 168
Parent of Li Cunzhang (李存璋)
adopted son 義兒 · Adoptive parentage · paternal line
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 160
Parent of Zhuangzong (莊宗)
installed as Prince of Jin 立莊宗為晉王 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 161

Career and standing

Taizu 太祖
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 161

References in the histories

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 36Volume 36 Biographies of Righteous Sons 16: Li Sizhao, Li Siben, Li Si'en, Li Cunxin, Li Cunxiao, Li Cunjin, Li Cunzhang, Li Cunxian · 3 passages

Open chapter

存璋，字德璜，初與康群立、恭誌勤等從太祖入關，破黃巢，累遷義兒軍使。 Li Cunzhang, styled Defang, entered the passes with Kang Junli, Gong Zhizhiqin, and others against Huang Chao and rose to command the Adopted Sons Army.

太祖病革，存璋與張承業等受顧命，立莊宗為晉王，晉王以存璋為河東馬步軍使。 At Taizu’s deathbed Cunzhang and Zhang Chengye took his last command and raised Zhuangzong as Prince of Jin; the Prince made Cunzhang commander of Hedong horse and foot.

少為軍卒，善角牴，太祖擊黃巢於陳州，得之，賜以姓名，養為子。 He began as a common soldier and excelled at wrestling; Taizu took him fighting Huang Chao at Chenzhou, gave him the Li name, and adopted him.