Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Minister of Works

Xu Tanzhi 徐湛之

Xú Zhànzhī

Died AD 453

Passages: 54
Chapters: 4
Histories: 1

Overview

The translated histories identify Xu Tanzhi as an administrator, aristocrat, courtier, and military officer. This record brings together 54 passages from 4 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Xu Tanzhi	徐湛之	Xú Zhànzhī
Posthumous	Duke of Loyal Valor	忠烈公
Title	Marquis of Zhijiang	枝江縣侯
Title	Minister of Works Xu Tanzhi	司空徐湛之
Childhood	Xiantong	仙童	Xiantong
Courtesy	Xiaoyuan	孝源	Xiàoyuán
Personal	Xu Tanzhi	徐湛之
Alternate	Xu Tong	徐童	Xu Tong
Personal	Xu Zhanzhi	徐湛之
Personal	Xu Zhanzhi	徐湛之	Xu Zhanzhi
Personal	Xu Zhanzhi	徐湛之	Xú Zhànzhī
Personal	Xu Zhizhi	徐湛之	Xú Zhànzhī
Surname		徐
Given		湛之

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · songshu:055:s0086, songshu:070:s0113
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · songshu:071:s0002

Roles

Administrator
Aristocrat
Courtier
Military Officer
Named Individual
Official
Rebel
Statesman

Life and dates

Death

Manner: killed · Cause: regicide aftermath · Age: 44 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元嘉三十年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 30 · Western Year: AD 453
Explicit · songshu:071:s0125, songshu:071:s0126

Age

Age: 44 · Reckoning: sui · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元嘉三十年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 30 · Western Year: AD 453
Explicit · songshu:071:s0126

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 元嘉二年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 2 · Western Year: AD 425
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:071:s0019
Source Date: Text: 元嘉二十二年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 22 · Western Year: AD 445
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:071:s0053
Source Date: Text: 元嘉二十四年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 24 · Western Year: AD 447
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:071:s0092
Source Date: Text: 元嘉二十六年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 26 · Western Year: AD 449
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:071:s0101
Source Date: Text: 元嘉二十七年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 27 · Western Year: AD 450
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:071:s0102
Source Date: Text: 元嘉二十八年春 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 28 · Western Year: AD 451
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:071:s0103
Source Date: Text: 元嘉三十年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 30 · Western Year: AD 453
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:071:s0125, songshu:071:s0126
Source Date: Text: 元嘉末 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 30 · Western Year: AD 453
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:071:s0121, songshu:071:s0124
Source Date: Text: 元嘉六年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 6 · Western Year: AD 429
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:071:s0020
Source Date: Text: 世祖即位 · Western Year: AD 453
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:071:s0127
Source Date: Text: 元嘉 · Western Interval: Start: AD 424 · End: AD 453
Explicit · songshu:055:s0086
Source Date: Text: 永初三年 · Western Year: AD 422
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:071:s0011
Source Date: Text: 淑及徐湛之、江湛、王僧綽、卜天與四家 · Western Year: AD 453
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:070:s0111, songshu:070:s0113

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Parent of Daughter of Xu Zhanzhi (徐湛之女)
Kinship Term: daughter / 女 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: daughter
Child of Xu Dazhi (徐逵之)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Child of Princess Kuaiji (會稽公主)
Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: son
Parent of Xu Yuzhi (徐聿之)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Parent of Xu Hengzhi (徐恆之)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Parent of Xu Qianzhi (徐謙之)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Sibling of Xu Chunzhi (徐淳之)
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Shared Parentage: full · Subject Relative Age: elder · Subject Role: elder-brother · Object Role: younger-brother
Sibling of Sister of Xu Zhanzhi (徐湛之妹)
Kinship Term: younger sister / 妹 · Shared Parentage: full · Subject Relative Age: elder · Subject Role: elder-brother · Object Role: younger-sister

Kinship Role: sons · Count: 3
Explicit · songshu:071:s0131

Career and standing

Label: Director of the Central Secretariat / 中書令 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元嘉二十四年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 24 · Western Year: AD 447
Explicit · songshu:071:s0092
Label: Erudite of the National University / 國子博士 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元嘉六年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 6 · Western Year: AD 429
Explicit · songshu:071:s0020
Label: Governor of Nan Pengcheng and Pei / 南彭城沛二郡太守 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元嘉六年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 6 · Western Year: AD 429
Explicit · songshu:071:s0020
Label: Groom of the Heir Apparent / 太子洗馬 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元嘉六年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 6 · Western Year: AD 429
Explicit · songshu:071:s0020
Label: Champion General and Governor of Danyang / 冠軍將軍丹陽尹 · Action: appointed
Explicit · songshu:071:s0049
Label: Director of the Secretariat / 秘書監 · Action: appointed
Explicit · songshu:071:s0022
Label: Forward Army General and Governor of Southern Yan / 前軍將軍南兗州刺史 · Action: appointed
Explicit · songshu:071:s0093
Label: Palace Attendant / 侍中 · Action: appointed
Explicit · songshu:071:s0022
Label: Vice Director of the Masters of Writing / 尚書僕射 · Action: appointed
Explicit · songshu:071:s0106
Label: Assistant in the Bureau of Composition / 著作佐郎 · Action: offered-declined · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元嘉二年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 2 · Western Year: AD 425
Explicit · songshu:071:s0019
Label: Gentleman of the Yellow Gate / 黃門侍郎 · Action: transferred · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元嘉六年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 6 · Western Year: AD 429
Explicit · songshu:071:s0020
Danyang Intendant / 丹陽
Explicit · songshu:069:s0267
Title: Intendant of Danyang
Explicit · songshu:069:s0165
Title: Marquis of Zhijiang / 枝江縣侯 · Action: enfeoffed · Fief Households: 500 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 永初三年 · Western Year: AD 422
Explicit · songshu:071:s0014
Title: Minister of Works / 司空 · Action: posthumous · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 世祖即位 · Western Year: AD 453
Explicit · songshu:071:s0127
Status: pardoned · Action: spared · Authority Person Id: Liu Yilong (劉義隆)
Explicit · songshu:071:s0035
Status: death-sentence-threatened · Action: threatened · Authority Person Id: Liu Yilong (劉義隆)
Explicit · songshu:071:s0030

Places and affiliations

Polity Id: liu-song · Relation: served
Strongly inferred · songshu:071:s0002
Place: Tan in Donghai commandery / 東海郯
Explicit · songshu:071:s0002
Place: Danyang / 丹陽 · Relation: posted-to · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元嘉二十六年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 26 · Western Year: AD 449
Explicit · songshu:071:s0101
Place: Guangling / 廣陵 · Relation: posted-to
Explicit · songshu:071:s0095

Learning and skills

Skill: letter writing / 尺牘 · Level: renowned
Explicit · songshu:071:s0037

Works and attributed material

Work: Record of Offices / 職官記 · Relation: cited
Explicit · songshu:071:s0109
Kind: memorial · Role: author · Mode: quoted
Explicit · songshu:071:s0054, songshu:071:s0055, songshu:071:s0056, songshu:071:s0057, songshu:071:s0058, songshu:071:s0059, songshu:071:s0060, songshu:071:s0061, songshu:071:s0062, songshu:071:s0063, songshu:071:s0064, songshu:071:s0065, songshu:071:s0066, songshu:071:s0067, songshu:071:s0068, songshu:071:s0069, songshu:071:s0070, songshu:071:s0071, songshu:071:s0072, songshu:071:s0073, songshu:071:s0074, songshu:071:s0075, songshu:071:s0076, songshu:071:s0077, songshu:071:s0078, songshu:071:s0079, songshu:071:s0080, songshu:071:s0081, songshu:071:s0082, songshu:071:s0083, songshu:071:s0084, songshu:071:s0085, songshu:071:s0086, songshu:071:s0087, songshu:071:s0088, songshu:071:s0089, songshu:071:s0090

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defended Shitou with crown prince · Place: Shitou / 石頭 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元嘉二十七年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 27 · Western Year: AD 450
Explicit · songshu:071:s0102
Kind: political · Role: whistleblower · Action: exposed Fan Ye plot then confessed incomplete report · Other Person Id: Fan Ye (范曄) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元嘉二十二年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 22 · Western Year: AD 445
Explicit · songshu:071:s0053
Kind: political · Role: accused · Action: implicated in Liu Tan case then spared · Other Person Id: Liu Zhan (劉湛) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 劉湛得罪 · Western Year: AD 440
Explicit · songshu:071:s0030, songshu:071:s0035
Kind: political · Role: victim · Action: killed during Liu Shao's regicide · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元嘉三十年 · Reign Id: liu-song-yuanjia · Regnal Year: 30 · Western Year: AD 453
Explicit · songshu:071:s0124, songshu:071:s0125
Relation: favored-by · Person Id: Prince Yikang of Pengcheng (彭城王義康)
Explicit · songshu:071:s0029
Relation: colleague-of · Person Id: Jiang Zhan (江湛)
Explicit · songshu:071:s0116
Relation: allied-with · Person Id: Liu Zhan (劉湛)
Explicit · songshu:071:s0029

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: extravagant · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · songshu:071:s0043
Assessment: filial and judicious from childhood · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · songshu:071:s0016, songshu:071:s0018
Item: mansions gardens ponds / 室宇園池 · Relation: owned
Explicit · songshu:071:s0039

Source notes

Historicity: historical
Explicit · songshu:071:s0002

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Book of Song, Chapter 55Volume 55 Biographies 15: Zang Dao, Xu Guang, F Long · 3 passages

諶之弟凝之，學涉有當世才具，與司空徐湛之為異常之交。 Chenzhi's younger brother Ningzhi was widely learned and gifted for his age; he formed an unusually close friendship with Xu Tanzhi, Minister of Works.

遷尚書右丞，以徐湛之党，為元兇所殺。 He was promoted to Right Assistant Director in the Secretariat and, as an associate of Xu Tanzhi, was executed by the prime culprit.

亦以徐湛之党，為元兇所殺。 He too, as an associate of Xu Tanzhi, was executed by the prime culprit.

Book of Song, Chapter 69Volume 69 Biographies 29: Liu Zhan, Fan Ye · 14 passages

丹陽尹徐湛之，素為義康所愛，雖為舅甥，恩過子弟，承祖因此結事湛之，告以密計。 Xu Zhanzhi, Intendant of Danyang, had long been beloved by Yikang; though uncle and nephew by marriage, Yikang favored him more than his own sons. Chengzu therefore won Zhanzhi over and disclosed the secret plot.

湛之又謂曄等：「臧質見與異常，歲內當還，已報質，悉攜門生義故，其亦當解人此旨，故應得健兒數百。 Zhanzhi told Ye and the others, "Zang Zhi treats me with exceptional favor and should return within the year. I have already informed Zhi to bring all his students and old associates; he should understand our purpose and can supply several hundred stalwart fighters.

乃略相署置，湛之為撫軍將軍、揚州刺史； They then roughly assigned future posts: Zhanzhi as General Who Pacifies the Army and Governor of Yang Province;

湛之、曄與行中領軍蕭思話、行護軍將軍臧質、行左衛將軍孔熙先、建威將軍孔休先，忠貫白日，誠著幽顯，義痛其心，事傷其目，投命奮戈，萬殞莫顧，即日斬伯符首，及其黨與。 Zhanzhi, Ye, Acting General of the Center Army Xiao Sihua, Acting General Who Protects the Army Zang Zhi, Acting General of the Left Guard Kong Xixian, and General Who Establishes Might Kong Xiuxian, Xixian's younger brother—loyalty shining like the sun, sincerity manifest in hidden and open realms—were pained in heart and wounded in spirit; they risked their lives and brandished weapons, heedless of ten thousand deaths, and on that day cut off Bofu's head and his faction.

昔年使反，湛之奉賜手敕，逆誡禍亂，預睹斯萌，令宣示朝賢，共拯危溺，無斷謀事，失於後機，遂使聖躬濫酷，大變奄集，哀恨崩裂，撫心摧哽，不知何地，可以厝身。 In former years when the envoy returned, Zhanzhi received the emperor's handwritten edict warning against disaster and disorder and foreseeing this danger, ordering him to proclaim to court worthies to rescue the realm together—but lacking resolve in plotting he missed the crucial moment, so that the sacred person suffered cruel death and great calamity suddenly fell. Grief and hatred split his heart; stroking his breast he choked with anguish, not knowing where he might place himself.

熙先以既為大事，宜須義康意旨，曄乃作義康與湛之書，宣示同黨曰： Xixian held that so great an undertaking required Yikang's endorsement; Ye therefore forged a letter from Yikang to Zhanzhi and showed it to the conspirators, which read:

於十一月，徐湛之上表曰：「臣與范曄，本無素舊，中忝門下，與之鄰省，屢來見就，故漸成周旋。 In the eleventh month, Xu Zhanzhi submitted a memorial stating: "Your servant and Fan Ye had no former acquaintance. I was later honored with a post on the Gate Chamber staff, in an office adjacent to his; he repeatedly came to visit me, and thus we gradually became familiar.

詔曰：「湛之表如此，良可駭惋。 The edict stated: "Zhanzhi's memorial is as this—truly shocking and lamentable.

上重遣問曰：「卿與謝綜、徐湛之、孔熙先謀逆，竝已答款，猶尚未死，徵據見存，何不依實。」 The Emperor sent again to ask: "You plotted rebellion with Xie Zong, Xu Zhanzhi, and Kong Xixian—all have confessed, are not yet dead, and documentary evidence still exists. Why not speak according to the facts?"

明日，仗士送曄付廷尉，入獄，問徐丹陽所在，然後知為湛之所發。 The next day armed guards escorted Ye to the Court of Justice. Entering prison, he asked where Xu Zhanzhi, the Danyang Intendant, was—only then learning it was Zhanzhi who had denounced him.

曄曰：「乃是徐童。」 Ye said: "It was Xu Tong, meaning Xu Zhanzhi."

童，徐湛之小名仙童也。 Tong came from Xu Zhanzhi's childhood name, Xiantong.

至是與徐湛之書，云「當相訟地下」。 yet now in a letter to Xu Zhanzhi he wrote, "We shall bring suit against each other in the underworld."

「甲煎淺俗」，比徐湛之； "Cassia decoction is shallow and vulgar" referred to Xu Zhanzhi;

Book of Song, Chapter 70Volume 70 Biographies 30: Yuan Shu · 1 passage

淑及徐湛之、江湛、王僧綽、卜天與四家，於是長給稟祿。 The four households of Shu, Xu Zhizhi, Jiang Zhan, Wang Sengchuo, and Bu Tianyu thereafter received permanent stipends.

Book of Song, Chapter 71Volume 71 Biographies 31: Xu Zhan, Jiang Zhan, Wang Sengchao · 36 passages

列傳第三十一徐湛之江湛王僧綽 Biography 31: Xu Zhanzhi, Jiang Zhan, and Wang Sengchuo

徐湛之，字孝源，東海郯人。 Xu Zhanzhi, styled Xiaoyuan, came from Tan in Donghai commandery.

湛之幼孤，為高祖所愛，常與江夏王義恭寢食不離於側。 Zhanzhi lost his father early and was cherished by Gaozu, who kept him at the side of Prince Yigong of Jiangxia day and night.

外孫湛之，特所鍾愛。 Her grandson Zhanzhi is especially dear to us.

可封枝江縣侯，食邑五百戶。」 Let him be enfeoffed as Marquis of Zhijiang with a fief of five hundred households."

湛之先令取弟，眾咸歎其幼而有識。 Zhanzhi told them to rescue his brother first; everyone marveled that even as a child he showed such judgment.

湛之為大將軍彭城王義康所愛，與劉湛等頗相附協。 Zhanzhi won the favor of Grand General Yikang, Prince of Pengcheng, and aligned himself closely with Liu Tan and his circle.

及劉湛得罪，事連湛之，太祖大怒，將致大辟。 When Liu Tan fell, the case implicated Zhanzhi; Emperor Wen was furious and was about to sentence him to death.

湛之憂懼無計，以告公主。 In dread and despair Zhanzhi confided in the princess.

上亦號哭，湛之由此得全也。 The emperor wept as well, and Zhanzhi was spared.

湛之善於尺牘，音辭流暢。 Zhanzhi wrote with great skill, his phrasing fluent and graceful.

時安成公何勖，無忌之子也，臨汝公孟靈休，昶之子也，並各奢豪，與湛之共以肴膳、器服、車馬相尚。 He Xu, Duke of Ancheng, son of Wuji, and Meng Lingxiu, Duke of Linru, son of Chang, were equally lavish; with Zhanzhi they competed in cuisine, furnishings, dress, and equipage.

湛之二事之美，兼于何、孟。 Zhanzhi surpassed them both in food and finery alike.

湛之遷冠軍將軍、丹陽尹，進號征虜將軍，加散騎常侍，以公主憂不拜。 Zhanzhi was made Champion General and Governor of Danyang, promoted to General Who Pacifies the Barbarians with the additional rank of Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry, but declined the posts while the princess was in mourning.

過葬，復授前職，湛之表啟固辭，又詣廷尉受罪； After the mourning period he was offered his former posts again; Zhanzhi memorialized a firm refusal and presented himself to the Minister of Justice to accept punishment;

二十二年，范曄等謀逆，湛之始與之同，後發其事，所陳多不盡，為曄等款辭所連，乃詣廷尉歸罪，上慰遣令還郡。 In the twenty-second year Fan Ye and others plotted treason. Zhanzhi had initially been involved but later exposed the plot; his report was incomplete, and Fan Ye's confessions implicated him further. He went to the Minister of Justice to confess; the emperor consoled him and sent him back to his post.

湛之上表曰： Zhanzhi submitted a memorial:

廣陵城舊有高樓，湛之更加修整，南望鐘山。 Guangling already had a tall tower; Zhanzhi restored and embellished it to look south toward Zhong Mountain.

湛之更起風亭、月觀，吹台、琴室，果竹繁茂，花藥成行，招集文士，盡遊玩之適，一時之盛也。 Zhanzhi added the Wind Pavilion and Moon View, the Flute Terrace and Zither Room; fruit trees and bamboo flourished, flowers and herbs lined the paths; he gathered literati and enjoyed every diversion—the glory of the age.

時有沙門釋惠休，善屬文，辭采綺豔，湛之與之甚厚。 At the time the monk Huixiu was skilled at composition, his style gorgeous and brilliant; Zhanzhi was very close to him.

二十七年，索虜至瓜步，湛之領兵置佐，與皇太子分守石頭。 In the twenty-seventh year the Northern Wei reached Guabu; Zhanzhi took command and, with the crown prince, jointly defended Shitou fortress.

湛之以為廟算遠圖，特所獎納，不敢苟申私怨。 Zhanzhi regarded their submission as part of the court's long-range strategy and warmly welcomed them, not daring to press a private grudge.

時尚書令何尚之以湛之國戚，任遇隆重，欲以朝政推之。 Director He Shangzhi, seeing that Zhanzhi was an imperial kinsman in high favor, wished to turn court affairs over to him.

湛之亦以《職官記》及令文，尚書令敷奏出內，事無不總，令缺則僕射總任。 Zhanzhi cited the Record of Offices and current regulations: the director presents memorials from within the palace and oversees all affairs; when that post is vacant the vice director assumes full responsibility.

乃使湛之與尚之並受辭訴。 Zhanzhi and Shangzhi were then both ordered to handle petitions and suits.

尚之雖為令，而朝事悉歸湛之。 Though Shangzhi held the directorship, all court affairs passed to Zhanzhi.

曄誅，炳之免，演之、瑀之並卒，至是江湛為吏部尚書，與湛之並居權要，世謂之江、徐焉。 After Fan Ye's execution and Yu Bingzhi's dismissal, and with the deaths of Yanzhi and Yuzhi, Jiang Zhan became Director of Personnel and shared power with Xu Zhanzhi; the age spoke of "Jiang and Xu."

上每有疾，湛之輒入侍醫藥。 Whenever the emperor fell ill, Zhanzhi attended him with medicine.

與湛之屏人共言論，或連日累夕。 He discussed the matter with Zhanzhi in private, sometimes for days and nights on end.

每夜常使湛之自秉燭，繞壁檢行，慮有竊聽者。 Each night he had Zhanzhi carry a candle and patrol the walls, fearing eavesdroppers.

劭入弑之旦，其夕，上與湛之屏人語，至曉猶未滅燭。 On the night before Shao murdered him, the emperor had been speaking with Zhanzhi in private until dawn, candles still burning.

湛之驚起趣北戶，未及開，見害。 Zhanzhi sprang up in alarm and rushed to the north door; before he could open it he was slain.

世祖即位，追贈司空，加散騎常侍，本官如故，諡曰忠烈公。 When Emperor Xiaowu took the throne, Zhanzhi was posthumously made Minister of Works with the additional rank of Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry; his former titles were confirmed; he was posthumously styled Duke of Loyal Valor.

又詔曰：「徐湛之、江湛、王僧綽門戶荼酷，遺孤流寓，言念既往，感痛兼深。 Another edict declared: "The houses of Xu Zhanzhi, Jiang Zhan, and Wang Sengchuo have suffered bitter cruelty; orphaned survivors wander in exile; remembering what has passed fills us with deep grief.

撰畢，送與江湛、徐湛之。 When the compilation was finished it was sent to Jiang Zhan and Xu Zhanzhi.

湛之欲立隨王誕，江湛欲立南平王鑠，太祖欲立建平王宏，議久不決。 Xu Zhanzhi favored Prince Dan of Sui; Jiang Zhan favored Prince Shuo of Nanping; Emperor Wen favored Prince Hong of Jianping; deliberation dragged on without resolution.