Five Dynasties · Official and Scholar

Xue Rong 薛融

Born c. AD 877; died AD 936 to AD 942

Passages: 6
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Xue Rong was an official and Scholar.

Life and dates

Death

AD 936 to AD 942 晉時
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 56, passage 127

Age

60
Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 56, passage 127

Attested activity

AD 926 to AD 942 明宗至晉
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 56, passage 117

Places and affiliations

At Pingyao, Fen Prefecture 汾州平遙
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 56, passage 116

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Gaozu of Jin (晉高祖)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 56, passages 119, 123

References in the histories

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 56Volume 56 Miscellaneous Biographies 36: He Ning, Zhao Ying, Feng Yu, Lu Zhi, Lü Qi, Xue Rong, He Ze, Wang Quan, Shi Gui, Long Min · 6 passages

薛融，汾州平遙人也。 Xue Rong came from Pingyao in Fen Prefecture.

晉高祖鎮太原，融為觀察判官。 When Later Jin's Gaozu held Taiyuan, Rong served as his judicial adjutant on the observation staff.

高祖徙鄆，欲據太原拒命，延見賓佐，問以可否，而坐中或贊成之，或恐懼不敢言，融獨從容對曰：「融本儒生爾，軍旅之事，未嘗學也，進退存亡之理，豈易言哉！」 Gaozu moved to Yun, planning to hold Taiyuan and defy the throne. He summoned his staff to ask their view. Some in the room approved; others were too frightened to speak. Rong alone answered calmly: "I am only a Confucian scholar. I have never studied military affairs. How can one lightly pronounce on advance or retreat, on survival or ruin?"

高祖入立，拜吏部郎中，兼侍御史知雜事。 When Gaozu took the throne, Rong was appointed Director in the Ministry of Personnel and made Attending Censor in charge of miscellaneous business.

融曰：「文辭非臣所長也。」 Rong said, "Literary composition is not my strength."

時詔修洛陽大內，融上疏切諫，高祖褒納其言，即詔罷其役。 When an edict ordered repairs on the Luoyang palace, Rong submitted a forceful memorial in protest. Gaozu praised his counsel, accepted it, and immediately halted the project.