Five Dynasties · Ruler

Zhou Taizu 周太祖

Attested AD 950

Passages: 5
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Zhou Taizu was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 950 周太祖以樞密使
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 46, passage 176

References in the histories

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 46Volume 46 Miscellaneous Biographies 26: Zhao Zaili, Huo Yanwei, Fang Zhiwen, Wang Yanqiu, An Zhongba, Wang Jianli, Kang Fu, Guo Yanlu · 5 passages

時周太祖以樞密使將白文珂等軍西平三叛，還過洛陽，守恩以使相自處，肩輿出迎。 Zhou’s Taizu, as Bureau of Military Affairs, led Bai Wenke and others west to pacify the three rebellions. Returning through Luoyang, Shou’en treated himself as envoy-minister and came out in a shoulder carriage to welcome him.

太祖怒，即日以頭子命文珂代守恩為留守，而守恩方詣館謁，坐於客次以俟見，而吏馳報新留守視事於府矣。 Taizu was angry. That very day with a head-crest token he ordered Wenke to replace Shou’en as regent. Shou’en was at the guest lodge, sitting in the outer hall to await audience, when clerks galloped word that the new regent was already conducting affairs at the office.

若文珂、守恩皆位兼將相，漢大臣也，而周太祖以一樞密使頭子易置之，如更戍卒。 Wenke and Shou’en both held rank combining general and minister—Han’s great ministers—yet Zhou’s Taizu with one Bureau head-crest token shifted them as easily as changing garrison soldiers.

是時，太祖與漢未有間隙之端，其無君叛上之志，宜未萌於心，而其所為如此者，何哉？ Taizu and Han had not yet any breach, and disloyalty had surely not yet sprouted—why then were his acts such?

太祖既處之不疑，而漢廷君臣亦置而不問，其上下安然而不怪者，豈非朝廷法制綱紀壞亂相乘，其來也遠，既極而至於此歟！ Taizu acted without doubt; Han’s ruler and ministers set it aside without inquiry. Above and below were at ease and thought nothing of it—is this not because court law and discipline had long been ruined, coming from far off, reaching the extreme?