Zhifang (直方) | 24 Histories

Overview

Zhifang was a Military Officer.

Life and dates

Death

AD 881 to AD 885 中和歲
Killed · Cause Plot leaked; surrounded by Huang Chao's troops · Authority Huang Chao (巢)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 129

Attested activity

AD 857 十一年
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 125
AD 849 三年冬
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 123
AD 881 to AD 885 中和歲
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 127
AD 860 to AD 874 咸通中
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 126

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Zhongwu (仲武)
father 父
son 子
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 121

Career and standing

General of the Golden Guard 金吾將軍
AD 849 三年冬 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 123
Sima of Liuzhou 柳州司馬
Demoted to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 124
commander of the Feathered Forest Guard 羽林統軍
AD 860 to AD 874 咸通中 · Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 126
vice military governor of Youzhou 幽州節度副使
Inherited
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 121
General of the Right Martial Guard 右驍衛將軍
AD 857 十一年 · Transferred
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 125
Entered
Killed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 129

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demotion for repeated offenses 以罪累貶
Demoted
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 124

Places and affiliations

Tang 唐
Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 121
AD 857 十一年
At Eastern Capital 東都 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 125
At Liuzhou 柳州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 124

Events and relationships

Feared mutiny by officers and soldiers
Political · Subject
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 122
Fled to court under hunting pretext
AD 849 三年冬 · Political · Subject
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 123
Harbored officials and plotted to seize Huang Chao
AD 881 to AD 885 中和歲 · Military · Plotter · With Huang Chao (巢)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passages 127-128

Assessments and attributes

conduct often lawless; feared officers and soldiers might turn against him
Character
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 122
reckless and violent by nature; committed robbery and extortion
Character
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 124

References in the histories

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 180Volume 176 Biographies 126: Li Zongmin, Yang Sifu, Yang Yuqing, Ma Zhi, Li Rangyi, Weipi, Zhou Chi, Cui Guicong, Zhengsu, Lu Shang · 4 passages

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子直方子直方，以幽州節度副使襲父位。 His son Zhifang succeeded to his father's post as vice military governor of Youzhou.

直方性率暴，行豪奪之事，以罪累貶柳州司馬。 Zhifang was reckless and violent by nature and committed acts of robbery and extortion; for repeated offenses he was demoted to Sima of Liuzhou.

中和歲，賊巢犯闕，公卿恃其豪，多隱藏於第。 During the Zhonghe era, when Huang Chao's rebels stormed the capital, many high officials relied on Zhifang's boldness and took refuge in his mansion.

直方納招亡命，謀欲劫巢。 Zhifang recruited fugitives and plotted to capture Huang Chao.