Yuan Xingqin (元行欽)

Overview

The translated histories identify Yuan Xingqin as a courtier, family member, general, and military officer. This record brings together 35 passages from 5 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Yuan Xingqin	元行欽	Yuan Xingqin
Changed	Shaorong	紹榮	Shaorong
Alternate	Shaorong	紹榮	Shaorong
Given name	Xingqin	行欽	Xingqin
Given	Xingqin	行欽	Xingqin
Surname	Yuan	元	Yuan
Personal name	Yuan Xingqin	元行欽	Yuan Xingqin

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:051:s0086, jiuwudaishi:072:s0045
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · jiuwudaishi:065:s0061, jiuwudaishi:070:s0001, xinwudaishi:038:s0024

Roles

Courtier
Family Member
General
Military Officer
Named Individual
Official

Life and dates

Death

Manner: beheaded · Place: Luoyang / 洛陽 · Authority Person Id: Li Siyuan (李嗣源)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0044

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: AD 911-913 · Western Year: AD 911
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:065:s0061
Source Date: Text: 三年 · Western Year: AD 925
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:070:s0020
Source Date: Text: 三月八日夜 · Western Year: AD 926
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:070:s0033
Source Date: Text: 四月一日 · Western Year: AD 926
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:070:s0042
Source Date: Text: 天祐九年 · Western Year: AD 912
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:070:s0003
Source Date: Text: 莊宗怒…取劍來 · Western Interval: Start: AD 908 · End: AD 917
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:072:s0045
Source Date: Text: 莊宗敗 · Western Year: AD 926
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:051:s0086, jiuwudaishi:051:s0088
Source Date: Text: 莊宗顧元行欽 · Western Interval: Start: AD 912 · End: AD 923
Explicit event contextual date · xinwudaishi:038:s0024

Family

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

Child of Li Siyuan (李嗣源)
Kinship Term: adopted son / 假子 · Parentage: adoptive · Subject Role: adopted-son · Object Role: adoptive-father
Spouse of Palace lady favored by Zhuangzong (莊宗所愛宮人)
Kinship Term: wife / 婦 · Union Category: marriage · Relationship State: formed
Spouse of Wife of Yuan Xingqin (元行欽之婦)
Kinship Term: wife / 婦 · Union Category: marriage · Relationship State: widowed

Career and standing

Label: Chief Minister / 同平章事 · Action: appointed
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0019
Label: Grand Guardian in Examinership / 檢校太傅 · Action: appointed
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0013
Label: military governor of Wuning / 武寧軍節度使 · Action: appointed
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0014
Label: overall commander of the scattered guards / 散員都部署 · Action: appointed
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0008
Label: pacification commissioner of the Ye capital field headquarters / 鄴都行營招撫使 · Action: appointed
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0028
Label: prefect of Xinzhou / 忻州刺史 · Action: appointed
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0013
Status: stripped-of-offices · Action: suffered
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0044
Status: captured · Action: suffered · Place: Pinglu County / 平陸縣
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0043

Places and affiliations

Label: Later Tang / 唐 · Relation: served
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0004, jiuwudaishi:070:s0014
Label: Yan / Youzhou under Liu Shouguang / 幽州劉守光 · Relation: served
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0001

Works and attributed material

Kind: speech · Role: addressee · Speaker Person Id: Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang (後唐莊宗) · Quoted: true
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0012

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: attacked · Place: Da'en Mountain / 大恩山 · Other Person Id: Liu Shouguang (劉守光)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0002
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: failed-to-take · Place: Yecheng / 鄴城
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0029
Kind: political · Role: accuser · Action: falsely-accused · Other Person Id: Li Siyuan (李嗣源)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0036
Kind: flight · Role: escort · Action: fled-with · Other Person Id: Empress Liu (劉皇后)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0042
Kind: violence · Role: killer · Action: killed · Other Person Id: Li Congjing (李從璟)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0041
Kind: military · Role: rescuer · Action: rescued · Other Person Id: Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang (後唐莊宗) · Place: Panzhang / 潘張
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0011
Kind: political · Role: captor-killer · Action: seized-and-killed · Other Person Id: Li Congjing (李從璟)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:051:s0086, jiuwudaishi:051:s0088
Kind: military · Role: combatant · Action: surrendered-to · Other Person Id: Li Siyuan (李嗣源)
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0004

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: courageous and favored general · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0005, jiuwudaishi:070:s0013

Source notes

From: Yuan Xingqin / 元行欽 · To: Shaorong / 紹榮 · Note: granted imperial surname and name
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:070:s0008

References in the histories

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

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 51Volume 51 Book of Later Tang 27: Biographies 3: Imperial Family · 2 passages

Open chapter

從璟行至中途，為元行欽所製，復與歸洛下。 Congjing had not gone far when Yuan Xingqin seized him and brought him back to Luoyang.

從莊宗赴汴州，明宗之親舊多策馬而去，左右或勸從璟令自脫，終無行意，尋為元行欽所殺。 When Zhuangzong marched toward Bianzhou, many of Mingzong's kinsmen and old friends rode away. His attendants urged Congjing to flee on his own, but he would not budge, and soon Yuan Xingqin killed him.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 65Volume 65 Book of Later Tang 41: Biographies 17: Li Jianji, Shi Junli, Gao Xinggui, Zhang Tingyu, Wang Sitong, Suo Zitong · 2 passages

Open chapter

守光將元行欽在山北，聞行珪有變，即率部下軍眾以攻行珪。 Shouguang's officer Yuan Xingqin was in the northern hills; when he heard Xinggui had turned, he marched at once with his troops to attack him.

明宗破行欽於廣邊軍，行欽亦降。 Mingzong routed Xingqin at Guangbian and took his surrender as well.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 70Volume 70 Book of Later Tang 46: Biographies 22: Yuan Xingqin, Xia Luqi, Yao Hong, Li Yan, Li Renju, Kang Sili, Zhang Jingda · 29 passages

Open chapter

元行欽，本幽州劉守光之愛將。 Yuan Xingqin had begun as a favorite commander of Liu Shouguang of Youzhou.

守光之奪父位也，令行欽攻大恩山，又令殺諸兄弟。 When Shouguang seized his father's throne, he sent Xingqin against Da'en Mountain and ordered him to kill his brothers as well.

天祐九年，周德威攻圍山州，守光困蹙，令行欽於山北募兵，以應契丹。 In the ninth year of Tianyou, Zhou Dewei besieged Shanzhou. Shouguang, cornered, ordered Xingqin to raise troops north of the mountains to link up with the Khitan.

時明宗為將，攻行欽於山北，與之接戰，矢及明宗馬鞍，既而以勢迫來降。 Mingzong was then a field commander. He attacked Xingqin in the northern hills, and in the fighting an arrow struck Mingzong's saddle. Soon afterward, hard pressed, Xingqin surrendered.

莊宗東定趙、魏，選驍健置之麾下，因索行欽，莊宗不得已而遣之。 When Zhuangzong pacified Zhao and Wei in the east, he picked out the fiercest fighters for his personal command and asked for Xingqin. Zhuangzong, unable to refuse, sent him on.

時有散指揮都頭，名為散員，命行欽為都部署，賜姓，名紹榮。 There was then a corps of scattered guard commanders called the "scattered guards." Zhuangzong made Xingqin their overall commander, granted him the imperial surname, and gave him the name Shaorong.

莊宗好戰，勇於大敵，或臨陣有急兵，行欽必橫身解鬥翼衛之。 Zhuangzong loved combat and was fearless before strong foes. Whenever danger closed in on the field, Xingqin would throw himself into the melee and fight at Zhuangzong's side to cover him.

莊宗得三四騎而旋，中野為汴軍數百騎攢槊攻之，事將不測，行欽識其幟，急馳一騎，奮劍斷二矛，斬一級，汴軍乃解圍，翼莊宗還宮。 Zhuangzong got away with only three or four riders. In the open field several hundred Bian horsemen closed on him with leveled spears, and the outcome hung by a thread. Xingqin recognized their banners, spurred forward alone, slashed two spears apart with his sword, and cut down one man. The Bian troops broke off, and he escorted Zhuangzong back to camp.

嘗因內宴群臣，使相預會，行欽官為保傅，當地褥下坐。 Once Zhuangzong gave an inner banquet for his ministers and invited the commissioners as well. Xingqin held the post of guardian-tutor and was to sit below the floor cushions.

酒酣樂作，莊宗敘生平戰陣之事，因左右顧視，曰：「紹榮安在？」 As the wine warmed and the music began, Zhuangzong recounted the battles of his life, then glanced about and asked, "Where is Shaorong?"

所司奏云：「有敕，使相預會，紹榮散官，殿上無位。」 The master of ceremonies replied, "By imperial order the commissioners were invited to this gathering. Shaorong holds a scattered rank and has no place on the dais."

翌日，以行欽為同平章事，由是不宴百官於內殿，但宴武臣而已， The next day he made Xingqin Chief Minister. After that he no longer entertained all the civil officials in the inner hall, but only his military commanders,

三年，行欽喪婦。 In the third year Xingqin lost his wife.

莊宗有所愛宮人生皇子者，劉皇后心忌之，會行欽入侍，莊宗勞之曰：「紹榮喪婦復娶耶！ Zhuangzong favored a palace woman who had borne him a son, and Empress Liu resented her. When Xingqin came to attend him, Zhuangzong said kindly, "Shaorong, your wife is dead—will you take another?

皇后指所忌宮人謂莊宗曰：「皇帝憐紹榮，可使為婦。」 The empress pointed at the woman she hated and told Zhuangzong, "Your Majesty pities Shaorong—let her become his wife."

皇后即命紹榮謝之，未退，肩輿已出。 The empress at once ordered Shaorong to thank her. Before he had even stepped back, a palanquin was already on its way out.

及貝州軍亂，趙在禮入魏州，莊宗方擇將，皇后曰：「小事不勞大將，促紹榮指揮可也。」 When the Beizhou garrison mutinied and Zhao Zaili seized Weizhou, Zhuangzong was choosing a commander. The empress said, "A trifle like this need not burden a senior general—send Shaorong to take charge and that will do."

乃以行欽為鄴都行營招撫使，領騎二千進討。 Xingqin was appointed pacification commissioner of the Ye capital field headquarters and led two thousand cavalry forward to attack.

及明宗為帥，領軍至鄴，行欽來謁於軍中，拜起之際，誤呼萬歲者再，明宗驚駭，遏之方止。 When Mingzong took command and marched to Ye, Xingqin came to pay his respects in camp. As he straightened from his bow he twice shouted "Long live the Emperor!" by mistake. Mingzong was alarmed and silenced him before he could go on.

既而明宗營於城西，行欽營於城南。 Mingzong then pitched camp west of the city and Xingqin south of it.

三月八日夜，明宗為亂軍所迫，惟行欽之軍不動，按甲以自固。 On the night of the eighth day of the third month the mutineers closed in on Mingzong. Only Xingqin's troops held their ground, keeping their armor on and standing firm.

明宗密令張虔釗至行欽營，戒之曰：「且堅壁勿動，計會同殺亂軍，莫錯疑誤。」 Mingzong secretly sent Zhang Qianzhao to Xingqin's camp with this warning: "Hold your position and do not move yet. We mean to strike the mutineers together—do not misread this and turn on us."

行欽不聽，將步騎萬人棄甲而退。 Xingqin refused to listen and withdrew with ten thousand foot and horse, throwing off their armor as they went.

莊宗覽奏釋然曰：「吾知紹榮妄矣。」 Zhuangzong read the memorial and said with relief, "I knew Shaorong was lying."

因令白從訓與明宗子繼璟至軍前，欲令見明宗，行欽縶繼璟於路。 He sent Bai Congxun and Mingzong's son Jijing to the front so they could meet Mingzong, but Xingqin seized Jijing on the way.

及莊宗出成皋，知明宗在黎陽，復令繼璟渡河召明宗，行欽即殺之，仍勸班師。 When Zhuangzong advanced from Chenggao and learned that Mingzong was at Liyang, he again ordered Jijing to cross the river and summon him. Xingqin killed Jijing on the spot and pressed for a general withdrawal.

四月一日，莊宗既崩，行欽引皇后、存渥，得七百騎出師子門，將之河中就存霸，沿路部下解散，從者數騎而已。 On the first day of the fourth month Zhuangzong died. Xingqin escorted the empress and Cunwo with seven hundred horsemen out the Lion Gate, planning to reach Hezhong and join Cunba. Along the road his men melted away until only a handful of riders were left.

明宗即位，詔削奪行欽在位官爵，斬於洛陽。 After Mingzong took the throne, an edict stripped Xingqin of every office and title he had held, and he was beheaded at Luoyang.

從周德威攻幽州，燕將有單廷珪、元行欽，時稱驍勇，魯奇與之鬥，兩不能解，將士皆釋兵縱觀。 Under Zhou Dewei he attacked Youzhou. The Yan generals Shan Tinggui and Yuan Xingqin were then renowned for valor. Luqi fought them to a standstill, and soldiers on both sides set down their weapons to watch.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 72Volume 72 Book of Later Tang 48: Biographies 24: Zhang Chengye, Zhang Juhan, Ma Shaohong, Meng Hangqiong · 1 passage

Open chapter

莊宗怒，顧元行欽曰：「取劍來！」 Zhuangzong flew into a rage and turned to Yuan Xingqin, saying, "Bring a sword!"

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 38Volume 38 Biographies 18: Zhang Chengye, Zhang Juhan · 1 passage

Open chapter

莊宗顧元行欽曰：「取劍來！」 Zhuangzong shouted to Yuan Xingqin: “Fetch a sword!”