Yang Guang (楊廣) | 24 Histories

Overview

Yang Guang was a Sui Prince of Jin who seized succession.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Prince Guang of Jin	晉王廣
Posthumous name	Emperor Yang	煬帝	Yangdi
Temple name	Shizu	世祖	Shìzǔ

Life and dates

Death

AD 618 二年三月丙辰
At Jiangdu Palace 江都宮 · Killed · Authority Yuwen Huaji (宇文化及)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 5, passage 36
AD 618 宇文化及之弑帝
assassinated by Yuwen Huaji
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 88, passage 182
AD 618 宇文化及之弑帝
murdered by Yuwen Huaji
Directly stated · Book of Sui 77, passage 164

Attested activity

AD 594 開皇十四年
Directly stated · Book of Chen 24, passage 193
AD 611 （大業）七年
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passage 209
AD 610 （大業）六年
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 61, passage 208
AD 618 二年三月丙辰
Directly stated · Book of Sui 5, passage 36
AD 604 即位
Directly stated · Book of Sui 52, passages 88, 202
AD 589 及陳滅；歸罪於晉王
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 72, passages 126, 133

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AD 605 to AD 618 大業
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 88, passages 158, 236
AD 611 大業七年
Directly stated · Book of Sui 44, passage 48
AD 607 大業三年
Directly stated · Book of Sui 52, passage 203; Book of Sui 82, passage 91
AD 609 大業五年
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 9, passage 104
AD 605 大業元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 59, passage 15
AD 605 大業元年
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passages 200-201
AD 610 大業六年
Directly stated · Book of Sui 82, passage 117
AD 615 大業十一年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 5, passages 6-7
AD 616 大業十二年
Directly stated · Book of Sui 82, passages 178, 191
AD 608 大業四年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 77, passage 144
AD 618 帝幸江都
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 36, passage 241
AD 589 平陳
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 52, passage 22
AD 600 晉王奪宗謀議／入為太子
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 61, passages 186, 188, 197
AD 589 晉王廣命斬
Directly stated · Book of Chen 7, passage 145
AD 582 晉王廣納妃
Directly stated · Book of Sui 44, passage 32
AD 590 to AD 600 晉王廣鎮揚州
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 77, passage 179
AD 590 晉王廣鎮揚州
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 61, passage 32
AD 605 to AD 618 煬帝、大業年間
Directly stated · Book of Sui 72, passages 235, 240
AD 605 to AD 618 煬帝
Directly stated · Book of Sui 77, passage 219
AD 604 煬帝即位
Directly stated · Book of Sui 44, passage 34; Book of Sui 82, passage 90
AD 605 to AD 618 煬帝嗣位
Directly stated · Book of Sui 43, passage 28
AD 604 煬帝嗣位
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 178
AD 604 煬帝嗣位
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 61, passage 51; Book of Sui 79, passages 60, 100
AD 604 to AD 618 煬帝得不以道
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 36, passage 258
AD 604 煬帝時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 36, passage 54
AD 600 立晉王廣
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 36, passage 143
AD 617 義寧元年
Directly stated · Book of Sui 5, passages 9-10
AD 600 隋
Dated from the passage context · History of Song 13, passage 215
AD 604 to AD 618 隋煬帝
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 22, passages 46, 75
AD 605 to AD 618 隋煬帝巡幸
Directly stated · Book of Chen 7, passage 128
AD 604 高祖于仁壽宮將大漸
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passage 198

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Ancestor of Yang Tan (楊倓)
grandson 諸孫 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · Book of Sui 59, passage 96
Sibling of Yang Yong (楊勇)
brother 兄弟 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 36, passage 143
Spouse of Lady Xiao (蕭妃)
consort 妃
Directly stated · Book of Sui 79, passages 125, 163
Spouse of Empress Xiao (蕭皇后)
empress 后 · Primary marriage
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage
consort 妃 · Primary marriage
husband and wife 夫婦 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passages 188, 195, 199, 257-259; Book of Sui 59, passage 264
Parent of Yang Zhao (楊昭)
eldest son 長子
Directly stated · Book of Sui 59, passage 1
Child of Emperor Wen (隋高祖)
son 子
father 父 · paternal line
father 父
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Sui 36, passages 143, 259; Book of Sui 44, passages 32, 34
Child of Emperor Wen of Sui (隋文帝)
son 子
father 父
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 43, passages 26, 28; Book of Sui 52, passages 22, 88; Book of Sui 79, passage 60
Child of Emperor Gaozu of Sui (隋高祖)
son 子
father 父
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 82, passage 199
Parent of Yuande Heir Apparent (元德太子)
father 父
imperial grandfather 皇祖
heir apparent 太子
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 77, passage 142; Book of Sui 5, passages 1, 53; Book of Sui 43, passage 186
Child of Empress Wenxian (文獻皇后)
son 子
mother 母
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Sui 36, passage 143; Book of Sui 79, passage 100
Sibling of Prince of Yuzhang (豫章王)
my elder brother 吾兄 · Full siblings
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 88, passage 124
Parent of Yang Gao (楊杲)
prince 王 · Uncertain parentage
son 三男
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Sui 5, passage 37; Book of Sui 59, passage 264
Parent of Yang Jian (齊王暕)
prince 王 · Uncertain parentage
Uncertain · Book of Sui 5, passage 37
Parent of Yang Hao (秦王子浩)
prince 王 · Uncertain parentage
Uncertain · Book of Sui 5, passage 38
Parent of Yang Dan (燕王倓)
prince 王 · Uncertain parentage
Uncertain · Book of Sui 5, passage 37
Spouse of Princess Consort Xiao (蕭氏)
princess consort 王妃
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passage 193
Parent of Yang Jian (楊暕)
son 三男
Directly stated · Book of Sui 59, passage 264

Kinship Role sons · Count 3
Directly stated · Book of Sui 59, passage 264

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Posthumously bestowed
AD 618 皇泰元年 · Honor Emperor Ming; temple name Shizu 明皇帝；世祖 · Authority Yang Tong (楊侗)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 59, passage 112
Prince of Jin 晉王
AD 594 開皇十四年 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Chen 24, passage 193
Prince of Henan 河南王
Held
Directly stated · Book of Sui 77, passage 108
Prince of Jin 晉王
Held
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 88, passages 198, 216, 219, 235; Book of Sui 36, passages 143, 153; Book of Sui 77, passage 109
Acceded
Emperor
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 178
Emperor Yang 煬帝
Emperor · Held
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 258

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Honored as
AD 617 義寧元年 · Retired emperor
Directly stated · Book of Sui 5, passage 9
Installed
Crown prince
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 143
forged edict 矯詔
Issued · Authority Emperor Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passage 198
Ordered more than 1,000 armored soldiers to search Yang Jian's residence and investigate him
With Yang Jian (楊暕)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 59, passage 221
Ordered
Execution · With Palace woman who reported rebellion (白后宮人)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passages 243-244
As Emperor Yang 煬帝
Directly stated · Book of Sui 43, passage 28
Crown Prince 太子
AD 600 及王入為太子
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passage 197
Emperor 帝
AD 605 大業元年（即位後）
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 61, passages 199-201
ascended the throne
AD 604 煬帝即位
Directly stated · Book of Sui 82, passage 90
AD 604 煬帝嗣位
Directly stated · Book of Sui 52, passages 88, 202; Book of Sui 61, passage 51
Gained the throne by improper means.
AD 604 煬帝得不以道
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 258
became emperor (Emperor Yang)
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 77, passage 219

Places and affiliations

Sui 隋
Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 79, passage 60
Polity Sui · Relation Associated with
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 59, passage 15
Polity Sui 隋 · Relation Member of
Strongly inferred · Book of Chen 24, passage 193
Polity Sui 隋 · Relation Member of
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passage 186
Polity Sui 隋 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 178; Book of Sui 72, passage 240; Book of Sui 82, passage 90; New Book of Tang 22, passage 46
Polity Name Sui 隋 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passage 51

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At Jiangdu 江都 · Relation Died at
Directly stated · Book of Sui 5, passages 36, 45
At Jiangdu 江都 · Relation Resided at
Directly stated · Book of Sui 43, passage 54

Works and attributed material

Rhapsody of Spirit's Wounding 神傷賦
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 180
Floating Dragon Boat 泛龍舟
Relation Author
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 22, passage 46
Edict · Author · About posthumous honors for Dugu Tuo
Directly stated · Book of Sui 79, passages 100-105
Edict · Author · With Yuwen Shu (宇文述)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passages 19-23
Edict · Author · Quote true
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passages 198-199
Edict · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Sui 44, passages 102-108

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Historian appraisal · Subject · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passages 253, 258-259
Letter · Author · With Xu Ze (徐則)
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 88, passages 198-213; Book of Sui 77, passages 179-188
Memorial · Author · With Emperor Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passage 194
Memorial · Author · With Guo Yan (郭衍)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passage 195
Proclamation · Author · With Xu Ze (徐則)
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 88, passages 219-230; Book of Sui 77, passages 194-202
Question about the uprising · Speaker · With Empress Xiao (蕭皇后), Yang Jian (楊暕) · Mode direct-speech Speaker Yang Guang (楊廣)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 59, passage 237
Speech · Author · With Niu Hong (牛弘)
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 88, passage 172
Speech · Speaker · With He Ruobi (賀若弼)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 52, passage 195
Speech · Speaker · With Yang Zichong (楊子崇)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 43, passage 103
Speech · Speaker · Quote true
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 243
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passage 204
Speech · Author
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 88, passages 169, 171
Statement about sparing Yang Jian · Speaker · With Yang Jian (楊暕), Yang Gao (楊杲) · Mode direct-speech Speaker Yang Guang (楊廣)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 59, passage 229

Events and relationships

Assaulted Lady Xuanhua
Personal · Offender · With Lady Xuanhua (宣華夫人陳氏)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passages 159, 177
Buried bones at Hengan and ordered Buddhist offerings
Ritual · Patron
Directly stated · Book of Sui 52, passage 118
Campaigned Liaodong
AD 611 大業七年 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Book of Sui 44, passage 48
Campaigned
AD 612 to AD 614 煬帝親征遼東 · Military · Commander · At Liaodong 遼東
Directly stated · Book of Sui 5, passage 6
Dispatched Chang Jun mission to Chitu
AD 607 大業三年 · Diplomatic · Ordering authority · With Chang Jun (常駿)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 82, passages 91-92
Forged edict with Yang Su
AD 604 高祖于仁壽宮將大漸 · Political · Instigator · With Yang Su (楊素)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passage 198

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Gained throne improperly
Political · Usurper accession
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 258
Ordered execution
Legal · Authority · With Zhang Lihua (張麗華) · At Taicheng/Qingxi 臺城
Directly stated · Book of Chen 7, passage 145
Plotted to seize succession
Political · Plotter · With Guo Yan (郭衍)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passages 188, 192
Received Wang Ban's self surrender and reported the circumstances to Gaozu
Legal · Receiving authority · With Wang Ban (王頒)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 72, passages 133-134
Received Bali tribute
AD 616 大業十二年 · Diplomatic · Host
Directly stated · Book of Sui 82, passage 191
Received Chang Jun and Nayage at Hongnong
AD 610 大業六年 · Diplomatic · Host · With Chang Jun (常駿)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 82, passage 117
Received Zhenla tribute
AD 616 大業十二年 · Diplomatic · Host
Directly stated · Book of Sui 82, passage 178
Recruited envoys to remote lands
AD 604 煬帝即位 · Diplomatic · Ordering authority
Directly stated · Book of Sui 82, passage 90
Seized succession
Political · Usurper
Directly stated · History of Song 13, passage 215
Sent envoys to console Hua Qiu and honored his household with an imperial marker
Imperial honor · Ruler · With Hua Qiu (華秋)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 72, passage 240
Sought succession with inner help
Political · Plotter · With Lady Xuanhua (宣華夫人陳氏)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 153
Violated Lady Ronghua
Personal · Offender · With Lady Ronghua (容華夫人蔡氏)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 187

Assessments and attributes

Assessment Between father and son he still harbored suspicion and distrust—what bond could remain between husband and wife! · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 259
Assessment coveted throne and twisted succession · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Song 13, passage 215
Assessment disliked-plain-fa-tune-sound · Mode narrative
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 22, passage 75
Assessment extended imperial might to the eight directions; coveted exotic treasures · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Sui 82, passages 199-200
Assessment Having gained the throne by improper means, he thereafter believed that no one could be loyal or trustworthy. · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 258
Item golden snakes and golden camels 金蛇、金駝 · Relation Bestowed · With Lady Xuanhua (宣華夫人陳氏)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 36, passage 154

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passage 186

References in the histories

Search passages

History

138 passages

History of the Northern Dynasties, Chapter 88Volume 88 Biographies 76: Recluses · 11 passages

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天子大悅，賜縑二百匹。 The emperor was greatly pleased and granted him two hundred bolts of silk.

帝曰：「不是。」 The emperor said: 'That is not it.'

帝曰：「是也。」 The emperor said: 'That is it.'

帝不善之，更令虞世基、許善心演為六百卷。 The emperor was displeased with it and ordered Yu Shiji and Xu Shanxin to expand it into six hundred volumes.

于時山東盜賊蜂起，帝令撫慰高陽、襄國，歸首者八百餘人。 At that time bandits rose like bees in the eastern provinces; the emperor ordered him to pacify Gaoyang and Xiangguo, and more than eight hundred surrendered.

宇文化及之弑帝也，引為著作郎，稱疾不起。 When Yuwen Huaji assassinated the emperor, Ze was appointed Compiler, but he pleaded illness and did not take up the post.

晉王廣鎮揚州，聞其名，手書召之曰：「夫道得眾妙，法體自然，包涵二儀，混成萬物，人能弘道，道不虛行。 Prince of Jin Yang Guang held Yangzhou and, hearing his name, personally wrote to summon him: 'The Way obtains the myriad subtleties; its law embodies nature, embraces the two principles, and blends to form the ten thousand things. Man can expand the Way, and the Way does not move in vain.

晉王將請受道法，則辭以時日不便。 The Prince of Jin was about to request instruction in the Way, but Ze declined on the grounds that the time was not suitable.

晉王下書曰：「天台真隱東海徐先生，虛確居宗，沖玄成德，齊物處外，檢行安身。 The Prince of Jin issued a letter: 'The true recluse of Mount Tiantai, Master Xu of Donghai, takes emptiness and certainty as his standard, forms virtue through pure mystery, aligns with things while standing apart, and restrains conduct to secure his person.

晉王聞而益異之，賵物千段，遣畫工圖其狀，令柳{巧言}為之贊。 The Prince of Jin, hearing this, was all the more astonished; he sent a thousand bolts of funeral goods, dispatched a painter to depict his likeness, and ordered Liu Bi to compose a eulogy.

時有建安宋玉泉、會稽孔道茂、丹陽王遠知等，亦行辟穀道，以松水自給，皆為煬帝所重。 At that time there were also Song Yuquan of Jian'an, Kong Daomao of Kuaiji, and Wang Yuanzhi of Danyang, who likewise practiced the Way of grain abstinence and sustained themselves on pine water—all were esteemed by Emperor Yang.

Book of Chen, Chapter 7Volume 7: Empresses and Consorts · 3 passages

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隋煬帝每所巡幸，恆令從駕。 Whenever Emperor Yang of Sui went on tour, he always ordered her to accompany the imperial carriage.

及煬帝為宇文化及所害，后自廣陵過江還鄉里，不知所終。 After Emperor Yang was killed by Yuwen Huaji, the empress crossed the Yangzi from Guangling and returned to her home district. Her end is unknown.

及隋軍陷臺城，妃與後主俱入于井，隋軍出之，晉王廣命斬貴妃，牓於青溪中橋。 When the Sui army took Taicheng, the consort and the Last Emperor hid together in a well. Sui soldiers brought them out, and Guang, Prince of Jin, ordered the noble consort beheaded and displayed at the middle bridge over Qingxi.

Book of Chen, Chapter 24Volume 24: Zhou Hongzheng; Yuan Xian · 1 passage

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開皇十四年，詔授晉王府長史。 In Kaihuang year fourteen he was made chief steward of the prince of Jin's household.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 85Volume 81 Biographies 31: Cui Dunli, Lu Chengqin, Liu Xiangdao, Li Jingxuan, Li Yiyan, Sun Chuyue, Le Yanwei, Zhao Renben · 1 passage

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至如隋煬帝末年，天下喪亂，縱令改張音律，知其終不和諧。 At the end of Sui Yangdi's reign the realm was in chaos; even if you changed the pitches, they would not harmonize.

History of Song, Chapter 13Volume 13 Annals 13: Yingzong · 1 passage

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彼隋晉王廣、唐魏王泰窺覦神器，矯揉奪嫡，遂啟禍原，誠何心哉！ Yet Sui's Yang Guang and Tang's Li Tai coveted the throne, twisted succession, and loosed disaster—what were they thinking?

Book of Sui, Chapter 5Volume 5 Annals 5: Emperor Gong · 7 passages

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及煬帝親征遼東，令於京師總留事。 When Emperor Yang marched personally against Liaodong, he was left in the capital to manage all affairs of state.

義兵入長安，尊煬帝為太上皇，奉帝纂業。 When the volunteer army entered Chang'an, Emperor Yang was given the title of Retired Emperor, and Yang You was enthroned to continue the dynasty.

襁褓之歲，夙遭憫凶，孺子之辰，太上播越，興言感動，實疚于懷。 Still in my swaddling clothes I suffered early bereavement; while still a child the Retired Emperor was driven into exile. The thought of it moves me, and the sorrow weighs ever on my heart.

丙寅，詔曰：「朕惟孺子，未出深宮，太上遠巡，追蹤穆滿。 On bingyin day an edict proclaimed: "I am but a child who has never left the inner palace; the Retired Emperor roams far abroad, following in the footsteps of King Mu of Zhou.

三月丙辰，右屯衞將軍宇文化及殺太上皇於江都宮，右禦衞將軍獨孤盛死之。 In the third month, on bingchen day, Right Garrison Guard General Yuwen Huaji killed the Retired Emperor at the Jiangdu Palace; Right Imperial Guard General Dugu Sheng died defending him.