Five Dynasties · Ruler and General

Zhuangzong 莊宗

First attested AD 918; died AD 926

Passages: 10
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Zhuangzong was a ruler and General.

Life and dates

Death

AD 926 同光四年二月
Internal turmoil · Source Note 遇內難而崩
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passages 46, 59

Attested activity

AD 918 十二月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passages 26-27
AD 926 同光四年二月
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 46
AD 923 是歲，莊宗即位於鄴，改元同光
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 41

Career and standing

AD 923 是歲，莊宗即位於鄴，改元同光
At Ye 鄴 · Era Name Tongguang 同光
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 41

Places and affiliations

Polity Later Tang 唐 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 41
AD 918 十二月
At Desheng Ford 德勝渡 · Relation Advanced camp to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passages 26-27, 37
AD 926 同光四年二月
At Bian 汴 · Relation Arrived northwest of
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passages 46, 56

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Extent Unit Ids s0056
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 56

Events and relationships

Appointed Mingzong against Zhao Zaili
AD 926 同光四年二月 · Military · Ruler · At Ye 鄴 · With Mingzong (明宗)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 46
Completed unification after Liang destroyed
AD 923 是歲 · Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passages 40, 45
Fought major battle
AD 918 十二月 · Military · Commander · At Huliupo 胡柳陂
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passages 26-27
Held high mound with infantry
AD 918 十二月 · Military · Commander · At Huliupo 胡柳陂
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passages 26-27, 29
Sent Mingzong to take Yun
AD 923 是歲，莊宗即位於鄴，改元同光 · Military · Ruler · At Yun 鄆 · With Mingzong (明宗)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 41
Troops collapsed and defected to Mingzong
AD 926 同光四年二月 · Military · Commander · With Mingzong (明宗)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passages 46, 57

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 27

References in the histories

Search passages

History

10 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 75Volume 75 Book of Later Jin 1: Gaozu Annals 1 · 10 passages

十二月，莊宗與梁軍大戰於胡柳陂，眾號十萬。 In the twelfth month Zhuangzong fought a major battle with the Liang army at Huliupo. The forces on both sides were said to number one hundred thousand.

莊宗率步眾五千，固守高陵以避敵之銳。 Zhuangzong led five thousand infantry and held a high mound to avoid the enemy's sharpest thrust.

由是梁人勢削，莊宗進營德勝渡。 From this the Liang forces' strength was broken, and Zhuangzong advanced his camp to Desheng Ford.

是歲，莊宗即位於鄴，改元同光，遣明宗越河，懸軍深入以取鄆。 That year Zhuangzong took the throne at Ye, changed the era name to Tongguang, and sent Mingzong across the river with a detached force to advance deep and take Yun.

既而平汴水，滅梁室，成莊宗一統，集明宗大勛，帝與唐末帝功居最，莊宗朝官未顯者，以帝不好矜伐故也，唯明宗心知之。 Thereafter they pacified the Bian region and destroyed the Liang dynasty, completing Zhuangzong's unification and securing Mingzong's greatest achievements. The Emperor and Tang's Last Emperor ranked highest in merit, yet he was not prominent among Zhuangzong's court officials because he did not like boasting of his deeds. Only Mingzong knew it in his heart.

同光四年二月，趙在禮據鄴為亂，朝廷遣元行欽招之不下，群議紛然，以為非明宗不可，莊宗乃以明宗為統帥。 In the second month of the fourth year of Tongguang, Zhao Zaili seized Ye in rebellion. The court sent Yuan Xingqin to summon him, but he would not submit. Opinion in court was divided, and many held that only Mingzong could handle it. Zhuangzong therefore made Mingzong supreme commander.

明宗受霍彥威勸，將自訴於天子，遂佯諾。 Mingzong, persuaded by Huo Yanwei, intended to plead his case personally to the emperor and therefore pretended to agree.

及明宗入汴，莊宗親統師亦至城之西北五里，登高嘆曰：「吾不濟矣！」 When Mingzong entered Bian, Zhuangzong, leading his army in person, also reached a point five li northwest of the city. He climbed high and sighed, "I am undone!"

由此莊宗從兵大潰，來歸明宗。 From this Zhuangzong's following troops collapsed in great disorder and came over to Mingzong.

俄而莊宗遇內難而崩。 Before long Zhuangzong met internal turmoil and died.