Zhuangzong (莊宗) | 24 Histories

Overview

Zhuangzong was a ruler.

PeriodFive Dynasties

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 924 同光二年春
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 197
AD 908 立莊宗為晉王
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 161
AD 923 莊宗即位
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 194

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Taizu (太祖)
installed as Prince of Jin 立莊宗為晉王 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 161

Career and standing

Prince of Jin 晉王
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 161
Zhuangzong 莊宗
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 161
took the throne 即位
AD 923 莊宗即位
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 194

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · With Li Cunxian (李存賢)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 36, passages 195, 197-200

References in the histories

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 36Volume 36 Biographies of Righteous Sons 16: Li Sizhao, Li Siben, Li Si'en, Li Cunxin, Li Cunxiao, Li Cunjin, Li Cunzhang, Li Cunxian · 7 passages

Open chapter

太祖病革，存璋與張承業等受顧命，立莊宗為晉王，晉王以存璋為河東馬步軍使。 At Taizu’s deathbed Cunzhang and Zhang Chengye took his last command and raised Zhuangzong as Prince of Jin; the Prince made Cunzhang commander of Hedong horse and foot.

晉自先王時，嘗優假軍士，軍士多犯法逾禁，莊宗新立，尤患之，存璋一切繩之以法，境內為之清肅。 Since the old prince’s day Jin had indulged the ranks until lawlessness ran wild; the new Prince of Jin feared it most; Cunzhang bound every offense to the statute until the realm went still.

莊宗與劉鄩戰於魏博，梁遣王檀來，乘虛襲太原，存璋以汾州兵入太原距守，以功遷大同軍防禦使，遂為節度使。 While Zhuangzong fought Liu Yun at Weibo, Liang sent Wang Tan to strike Taiyuan in its weakness; Cunzhang rushed Fen troops in to hold the city, won Datong defender, then full governor.

天祐十八年，梁兵攻朱友謙於河中，莊宗遣存賢援友謙。 In Tianyou 18 (921) Liang besieged Zhu Youqian at Hezhong; Zhuangzong sent Cunxian to his aid.

莊宗即位，拜右武衛上將軍。 When Zhuangzong took the throne he made Cunxian general of the Right Martial Guard.

莊宗亦好角觝，嘗與王較而屢勝，頗以自矜，因顧存賢曰：「爾能勝我，與爾一鎮。」 Zhuangzong also loved wrestling; he often wrestled Wang and kept winning until he grew proud. He turned to Cunxian and said: "Beat me and I will give you a command."

同光二年春，幽州符存審病，莊宗置酒宮中，歎曰：「吾創業故人，零落殆盡，其所存者惟存審耳！ In spring of Tongguang 2 Fu Cunshen in Youzhou fell ill. Zhuangzong drank in the palace and sighed: "Of the friends who built this realm with me, nearly all are gone—the only one left is Cunshen!