1
陽平王京兆王濟陰王汝陰王樂浪王廣平王
The Princes of Yangping, Jingzhao, Jiyin, Ruyin, Leliang, and Guangping
2
景穆皇帝十四男。 恭皇后生文成皇帝。 袁椒房生陽平幽王新成。 尉椒房生京兆康王子推、濟陰王小新成。 陽椒房生汝陰靈王天賜。 樂良厲王萬壽、廣平殤王洛侯，母並闕。 孟椒房生任城康王雲。 劉椒房生南安惠王楨、城陽康王長壽。 慕容椒房生章武敬王太洛。 尉椒房生樂陵康王胡兒。 孟椒房生安定靖王休。 趙王深早薨，無傳，母闕。 魏舊太子後庭未有位號，高宗即位，恭宗宮人有子者，並號為椒房。
Emperor Jingmu fathered fourteen sons. Empress Gong bore Emperor Wencheng. Consort Yuan of the Pepper Chambers bore Xincheng, Prince You of Yangping. Consort Wei of the Pepper Chambers bore Tui, Prince Kang of Jingzhao, and Xiao Xincheng, Prince of Jiyin. Consort Yang of the Pepper Chambers bore Tiansi, Prince Ling of Ruyin. Wanshou, Prince Li of Leliang, and Luohou, Prince Shang of Guangping—both lack recorded mothers. Consort Meng of the Pepper Chambers bore Yun, Prince Kang of Rencheng. Consort Liu of the Pepper Chambers bore Zhen, Prince Hui of Nan'an, and Changshou, Prince Kang of Chengyang. Consort Murong of the Pepper Chambers bore Tailuo, Prince Jing of Zhangwu. Consort Wei of the Pepper Chambers bore Hu'er, Prince Kang of Leling. Consort Meng of the Pepper Chambers bore Xiu, Prince Jing of Anding. Prince Zhao Shen died young without a biography; his mother is not recorded. Under the old Wei the crown prince's inner quarters had no formal titles; at Gaozong's accession every Gongzong consort who had borne a son was styled of the Pepper Chambers.
3
陽平王新成，太安三年封，拜征西大將軍。 後為內都大官。 薨，諡曰幽。
Xincheng, Prince of Yangping, received his fief in Tai'an year 3 and was made General Who Pacifies the West. He later served as Director of the Inner Palace. He died and was posthumously titled Prince You.
4
長子安壽，襲爵。 高祖賜名頤。 累遷懷朔鎮大將，都督三道諸軍事，北討。 詔徵赴京，勗以戰伐之事。 對曰：「當仰仗廟算，使呼韓同渭橋之禮。」 帝嘆曰：「壯哉王言！ 朕所望也。」 未發，遭母憂，詔遣侍臣以金革敦喻。 既殯而發，與陸叡集三道諸將議軍途所詣。 於是中道出黑山，東道趨士盧河，西道向侯延河。 軍過大磧，大破蠕蠕。 頤入朝，詔曰：「王之前言，果不虛也。」 後除朔州刺史。 及恒州刺史穆泰謀反遣使推頤為主。 頤密以狀聞，泰等伏誅，帝甚嘉之。 世宗景明元年，薨於青州刺史，[2]諡曰莊王。 傳國至孫宗胤，肅宗時，坐殺叔父賜死，爵除。
His eldest son Anshou succeeded to the title. Gaozu granted him the name Yi. He rose to Grand General of Huaiyuan Garrison and commander of the three northern routes on campaign. He was summoned to the capital and exhorted on the conduct of war. He answered, "We should trust the court's strategy and bring the khan to homage as at Weiqiao Bridge." The emperor sighed. "What bold words from the prince! That is exactly what I hope for." Before he marched he entered mourning for his mother; attendants were sent to urge him back to duty under the metal-and-leather rule. Once the burial was done he took the field; with Lu Rui he convened the three-route commanders to fix the line of march. The center column crossed Black Mountain, the east column pressed the Shilu River, and the west column the Houyan River. Crossing the Great Marsh they shattered the Rouran. On Yi's return an edict read, "Your earlier boast was no empty boast." He was later appointed inspector of Shuozhou. When Hengzhou inspector Mu Tai rebelled he sent messengers offering Yi the leadership. Yi reported in secret; Tai and his party were put to death, and the emperor richly rewarded him. In Shizong's Jingming year 1 he died in office at Qingzhou,[2] and was posthumously titled Prince Zhuang. The title passed to his grandson Zongyin; under Suzong he was executed for murdering his uncle and the fief was extinguished.
5
頤弟衍，字安樂，賜爵廣陵侯。 位梁州刺史，表請假王，以崇威重。 詔曰：「可謂無厭求也，所請不合。」 轉徐州刺史，至州病重，帝敕徐成伯乘傳療。 疾差，成伯還，帝曰「卿定名醫」，賚絹三千匹。 成伯辭，請受一千。 帝曰：「詩云『人之云亡，邦國殄瘁。』 以是而言，豈惟三千匹乎？」 其為帝所重如此。 後所生母雷氏卒，表請解州。 詔曰：「先君餘尊之所厭，禮之明文，季末陵遲，斯典或廢。 侯既親王之子，宜從餘尊之義，便可大功。」 後卒於雍州刺史，諡曰康侯。 衍性清慎，所在廉潔，又不營產業，歷牧四州，皆有稱績，亡日無斂屍具。 子暢。
Yi's brother Yan, courtesy name Anle, was made Marquis of Guangling. As Liangzhou inspector he asked to be made acting king so his authority would carry more weight. The edict answered, "This is sheer greed—the request is denied." Moved to Xuzhou, he fell gravely ill on arrival; the emperor sent Xu Chengbai by express relay to heal him. When Yan recovered and Chengbai returned, the emperor said, "You are a physician of name indeed," and gave him three thousand bolts of silk. Chengbai refused and asked for only one thousand. The emperor said, "The Odes say, 'When worthy men are lost, the state withers. By that measure, would three thousand bolts be enough?" So highly did the emperor value him. Later, when his birth mother Lady Lei died, he asked to resign his post. The edict read, "The rites plainly say what a former prince's residual honor forbids; in late days that canon was often abandoned. As a king's son you should follow residual honor and observe only the greater mourning period." He later died as Yongzhou inspector and was posthumously titled Marquis Kang. Yan was sober and careful, incorrupt in every post, and built no estates; through four governorships he won praise, yet the day he died his household could not furnish a burial shroud. His son was Chang.
6
暢弟融，字叔。 融貌甚短陋，驍武過人。 莊帝謀殺尒朱榮，以融為直閤將軍。 及尒朱兆入洛，融逃人間。
Chang's younger brother Rong, courtesy name Shu. Rong was remarkably short and plain of face, yet fiercer in arms than most men. When Emperor Zhuang plotted Erzhu Rong's death, Rong was made Direct-Gate General. When Erzhu Zhao took Luoyang, Rong vanished into the crowd.
7
衍弟欽，字思若。 位中書監、尚書右僕射、儀同三司。 欽色尤黑，故時人號為黑面僕射。 欽淫從兄麗妻崔氏，為御史中尉封回劾奏，遇赦免。 尋除司州牧。 欽少好學，早有令譽，時人語曰：「皇宗略略，壽安、思若。」 及晚年貴重，不能有所匡益，識者輕之。 欽曾託青州人高僧壽為子求師，師至，未幾逃去。 欽以讓僧壽。 僧壽性滑稽，反謂欽曰：「凡人絕粒，七日乃死，始經五朝，便爾逃遁，去食就信，實有所闕。」 欽乃大慚，於是待客稍厚。 後除司空公，封鉅平縣公。 於河陰遇害，贈假黃鉞、太師、太尉公。
Yan's brother Qin, courtesy name Siruo. He served as Director of the Secretariat, Right Vice Minister of the Masters of Writing, and Pillar of State of the third rank. Qin's complexion was unusually dark, and men called him the Black-Faced Vice Minister. Qin seduced his cousin Li's wife, née Cui; Censor-in-Chief Feng Hui impeached him, but an amnesty spared him. He was soon made governor of Sizhou. Qin loved books from youth and won early fame; people said, "Among the royal house, take Shou'an and Siruo." In his later eminence he offered the court little counsel, and discerning men held him cheap. Qin once asked Gaosengshou of Qingzhou to find his son a tutor; the man came, then fled within days. Qin blamed Gaosengshou. Gaosengshou, a born jester, shot back: "A man who stops eating dies in seven days; yours lasted five mornings and bolted—he chose faith over food, and plainly lacked something." Qin flushed with shame and afterward treated guests a little more generously. He was later made Duke of Works and enfeoffed Duke of Juping county. He was killed at Heyin and posthumously granted the yellow battle-axe, Grand Preceptor, and Grand Duke of the State.
8
子子孝，字季業。 早有令譽，年八歲，司徒崔光見而異之曰：「後生領袖，必此人也。」
His son Zixiao, courtesy name Jiye. He won early fame; at eight Minister of State Cui Guang marveled at him and said, "The next generation's leader will be this boy."
9
子太興，襲。 拜長安鎮都大將，以黷貨，削除官爵。 後除祕書監，還復前爵，拜統萬鎮將，改封西河。 後改鎮為夏州，仍以太興為刺史。 除守衞尉卿。 初，太興遇患，請諸沙門行道，所有資財，一時布施，乞求病愈，名曰「散生齋」。 及齋後，僧皆四散，有一沙門方云乞齋餘食。 太興戲之曰：「齋食既盡，唯有酒肉。」 沙門曰：「亦能食之。」 因出酒一斗，羊脚一隻，食盡猶言不飽。 及辭出後，酒肉俱在，出門追之，無所見。 太興遂佛前乞願，向者之師當非俗人，若此病得差，即捨王爵入道。 未幾便愈，遂請為沙門，表十餘上，乃見許。 時高祖南討在軍，詔皇太子於四月八日為之下髮，施帛二千匹。 既為沙門，更名僧懿，居嵩山。 太和二十二年終。
His son Taixing succeeded. As Grand General of Chang'an Garrison he was removed from office and title for corruption. He was later Director of the Secretariat, restored to his former rank, made commander of Tongwan Garrison, and re-enfeoffed in Xihe. When the post was renamed Xiazhou, Taixing stayed on as inspector. He was appointed Acting Commandant of the Guards. When Taixing first fell ill he had monks perform rites and gave away his entire fortune to beg a cure—a feast he called the Life-Scattering Fast. When the fast ended the monks scattered; one lingered, asking for leftovers. Taixing teased him: "The fast fare is spent—only wine and meat are left." The monk said, "I can eat those as well." They brought a dou of wine and a sheep's leg; he ate everything and still claimed hunger. When he had gone, the wine and meat remained untouched; men chased him beyond the gate but found no one. Taixing prayed before the Buddha that such a visitor could not be ordinary; if he recovered he would surrender his title and take orders. He soon recovered, petitioned repeatedly to become a monk, and after a dozen memorials was allowed. Gaozu was then campaigning in the south; the crown prince was ordered to tonsure him on the eighth day of the fourth month and grant two thousand bolts of silk. As a monk he took the name Sengyi and dwelt on Mount Song. He died in Taihe year 22.
10
子昴，字伯暉，襲。 薨。
His son Ang, courtesy name Bohui, succeeded. He died.
11
子悰，字魏慶，襲。 孝靜時，累遷太尉、錄尚書事、司州牧、青州刺史。 薨於州，贈假黃鉞、太傅、司徒公，諡曰文。 [3]悰寬和有度量，美容貌，風望儼然，得喪之間，不見於色。 性清儉，不營產業，身死之日，家無餘財。
His son Cong, courtesy name Weiqing, succeeded. Under Xiaojing he became Grand Marshal, Recorder of the Masters of Writing, governor of Sizhou, and inspector of Qingzhou. He died in office and was posthumously granted the yellow battle-axe, Grand Tutor, and Duke of the State with the title Wen. [3]Cong was open-handed and even-tempered, handsome, and grave in bearing; fortune and misfortune alike left his face unchanged. He lived plainly and built no estates; the day he died his household had nothing left.
12
昴弟仲景，性嚴峭。 莊帝時，兼御史中尉，京師肅然。 每向臺，恒駕赤牛，時人號「赤牛中尉」。 太昌初，為河南尹，奉法無私。 時吏部尚書樊子鵠部下縱橫，又為盜竊，仲景密加收捕，悉獲之，咸即行決，於是豪貴寒心。 出帝將西行，授仲景中軍大都督，留京師。 齊獻武王欲至洛陽，仲景遂棄妻子而遁。
Ang's brother Zhongjing was severe by nature. Under Emperor Zhuang he also served as Censor-in-Chief, and the capital grew orderly. He always drove a red ox to the bureau, and men called him the Red-Ox Censor. Early in Taichang he was Intendant of Henan and enforced the law without favor. Minister of Personnel Fan Zihe's men were running riot and stealing; Zhongjing seized them in secret, executed them on the spot, and the great families trembled. As Emperor Chu prepared to move west, Zhongjing was made Grand Commander of the Central Army and left to hold the capital. When King Xianwu of Qi marched on Luoyang, Zhongjing deserted wife and children and fled.
13
子沖，襲。 無子，國絕。
His son Chong succeeded. He left no sons, and the fief died out.
14
太興弟遙，字太原。 有器望，以左衞將軍從高祖南征，賜爵饒陽男。 世宗初，遭所生母憂，表請解任，詔以餘尊所厭，不許。
Taixing's younger brother Yao, courtesy name Taiyuan. Talented and respected, he followed Gaozu south as Left Guard General and was made Baron of Raoyang. Early in Shizong's reign he mourned his birth mother and asked to resign; an edict cited residual honor and refused.
15
肅宗初，累遷左光祿大夫，仍領護軍。 遷冀州刺史。 [4]遙以諸胡先無籍貫，姦良莫辨，悉令造籍。 又以諸胡設籍； 當欲稅之，以充軍用。 胡人不願，乃共構遙，云取納金馬。 御史按驗，事與胡同，遙坐除名。 遙陳枉不已，敕有司重究，乃披雪。 遷右光祿大夫。
At Suzong's accession he rose to Left Grand Master of the Palace while still commanding the Guard Army. He was made inspector of Jizhou. [4]Because the frontier Hu had no household registers and criminals could not be told from honest men, Yao ordered every household registered. He also registered the Hu clans; he meant to tax them to fund the army. The Hu resisted and jointly accused Yao of taking gold and horses in bribes. The censorate investigated, found the charges matched, and Yao was removed and struck from office. Yao protested his innocence until an edict ordered a new inquiry and he was cleared. He was restored as Right Grand Master of the Palace.
16
時冀州沙門法慶既為祅幻，遂說勃海人李歸伯，歸伯合家從之，招率鄉人，推法慶為主。 法慶以歸伯為十住菩薩、平魔軍司、定漢王，自號「大乘」。 殺一人者為一住菩薩，殺十人為十住菩薩。 又合狂藥，令人服之，父子兄弟不相知識，唯以殺害為事。 於是聚眾殺阜城令，破勃海郡，殺害吏人。 刺史蕭寶夤遣兼長史崔伯驎討之，敗於煮棗城，伯驎戰沒。 凶眾遂盛，所在屠滅寺舍，斬戮僧尼，焚燒經像，云新佛出世，除去舊魔。 詔以遙為使持節、都督北征諸軍事，帥步騎十萬以討之。 法慶相率攻遙，遙並擊破之。 遙遣輔國將軍張虯等率騎追掩，討破，擒法慶并其妻尼惠暉等，斬之，傳首京師。 後擒歸伯，戮於都巿。
In Jizhou the monk Fazheng had taken up demonic sorcery and won over Li Guibo of Bohai; Guibo's household and neighbors followed, and they set Fazheng at their head. Fazheng named Guibo Ten-Abiding Bodhisattva, Marshal of the Army That Pacifies Demons, and King Who Settles the Han, while he called himself Mahayana. One murder made a One-Abiding Bodhisattva; ten murders made a Ten-Abiding Bodhisattva. They brewed frenzy-drugs; under their spell kin no longer recognized one another and knew only slaughter. They raised a mob, killed Fucheng's magistrate, stormed Bohai commandery, and butchered officials and clerks. Inspector Xiao Baoyin sent Acting Chief Clerk Cui Bolin against them; Bolin was beaten at Zhuzao city and killed. The rebels swelled, razing monasteries, slaughtering monks and nuns, and burning sutras and icons, proclaiming a new Buddha come to sweep away the old demons. Yao was commissioned bearer of the staff, commander of the northern expedition, and led a hundred thousand foot and horse against them. Fazheng massed to strike Yao; Yao broke every attack. Yao sent Assistant General Zhang Niu and others in pursuit; they crushed the sect, seized Fazheng with his wife the nun Huihui, beheaded them, and sent the heads to the capital. Guibo was later taken and executed in the capital market.
17
初，遙大功昆弟，皆是恭宗之孫，至肅宗而本服絕，故除遙等屬籍。 遙表曰：「竊聞聖人所以南面而聽天下，其不可得變革者，則親也，尊也。 四世而緦服窮，五世而袒免，六世而親屬竭矣。 去茲以往，猶繫之以姓而弗別，綴之以食而弗殊。 又律云議親者，非唯當世之屬親，歷謂先帝之五世。 謹尋斯旨，將以廣帝宗，重盤石。 先皇所以變茲事條，為此別制者，太和之季，方有意於吳蜀，經始之費，慮深在初，割減之起，暫出當時也。 且臨淮王提，分屬籍之始，高祖賜帛三千匹，所以重分離； 樂良王長命，亦賜縑二千匹，所以存慈眷。 此皆先朝殷勤克念，不得已而然者也。 古人有言，百足之蟲至死不僵者，以其輔己者眾。 臣誠不欲妄親太階，苟求潤屋，但傷大宗一分，則天子屬籍不過十數人而已。 在漢，諸王之子不限多少，皆列土而封，謂之曰侯，至于魏晉，莫不廣胙河山，稱之曰公者，蓋惡其大宗之不固，骨肉之恩疏矣。 臣去皇上，雖是五世之遠，於先帝便是天子之孫，高祖所以國秩祿賦復給衣食，后族唯給其賦不與衣食者，欲以別外內限異同也。 今諸廟之感，在心未忘； 行道之悲，倏然已及。 其諸封者，身亡之日，三年服終，然後改奪。 今朝廷猶在遏密之中，便議此事，實用未安。」 詔付尚書博議以聞。 尚書令任城王澄、尚書左僕射元暉奏同遙表。 靈太后不從。 卒，諡曰宣公。
Yao and his brothers had worn greater mourning for Gongzong; by Suzong's reign that original tie was spent, and they were removed from the imperial registry. Yao memorialized: "I hear that the sage faces south to rule the realm; what cannot be changed are kinship and honor. At the fourth generation the finest mourning ends; at the fifth the shoulder is bared; at the sixth, kinship is spent. Beyond that, men still share a surname without being severed, and share a meal without being set apart. The law also says that in weighing kin one counts not only the living generation but the former emperor's five generations. Tracing that intent, it was meant to widen the imperial house and steady the realm's pillars. The late emperor changed this statute only because in the Taihe years his mind was on Wu and Shu; startup costs frightened him at the outset, and the cuts were a temporary measure. When Prince Ti of Huaiyang was first struck from the rolls, Gaozu gave him three thousand bolts of silk to mark how heavy the parting was; Prince Changming of Leliang received two thousand bolts to preserve affectionate regard. Those were all the former court's reluctant concessions—things done because there was no choice. The ancients said a centipede does not stiffen until death because so many legs still support it. I do not seek to climb high or swell my household, but it grieves me that the great house loses a branch and the Son of Heaven's registry holds barely a dozen names. Under Han every king's son, however many, received a fief as marquis; under Wei and Jin enfeoffments sprawled across the land as dukes, for they feared a weak great house and thinning kinship. Though I stand five generations from Your Majesty, to the late emperor I was still the Son of Heaven's grandson; Gaozu restored rank, salary, and grain and again granted food and clothing—whereas the empress's kin received grain but not clothing, to mark inner from outer. The debt owed the ancestral temples is not yet forgotten; the grief of walking the mourning rites has suddenly come upon us. For every enfeoffed prince, only when three years' mourning after his death is finished should titles be altered or withdrawn. The court is still in stifled grief, yet this is already debated—truly the time is not right." An edict referred the memorial to the Masters of Writing for broad deliberation. Minister of State Prince Cheng of Rencheng and Left Vice Minister Yuan Hui memorialized in agreement with Yao. Empress Dowager Ling would not agree. He died and was posthumously titled Duke Xuan.
18
遙弟恒，字景安，粗涉書史。 恒以春秋之義，為名不以山川，表求改名芝。 [5]歷位太常卿、中書監、侍中。 後於河陰遇害。 贈太傅、司徒公，諡曰宣穆公。
Yao's brother Heng, courtesy name Jing'an, had a rough schooling in the classics and histories. Following the Spring and Autumn rule that names do not borrow mountains and rivers, Heng asked to change his name to Zhi. [5]He rose to Director of the Imperial Sacrifices, Director of the Secretariat, and Palace Attendant. He was later killed at Heyin. He was posthumously made Grand Tutor and Duke of the State with the title Duke Xuanmu.
19
濟陰王小新成，和平二年封。 頗有武略。 庫莫奚侵擾，詔新成率眾討之。 新成乃多為毒酒，賊既漸逼，便棄營而去。 賊至，喜而競飲，聊無所備。 遂簡輕騎，因醉縱擊，俘馘甚多。 後位外都大官。 薨，贈大將軍，諡曰惠公。
Xiao Xincheng, Prince of Jiyin, received his fief in Heping year 2. He showed real talent in war. When the Kumo Xi raided the frontier, Xincheng was ordered to lead troops against them. Xincheng brewed great stores of poisoned wine; as the enemy closed in he abandoned camp and withdrew. The raiders came, drank eagerly, and for a while had no guard up. He then led light cavalry and struck the drunk camp, taking many prisoners and heads. He later became Director of the Outer Palace. He died and was posthumously made Grand General with the title Duke Hui.
20
子鬱，字伏生，襲。 位開府。 為徐州刺史，以黷貨賜死，國除。
His son Yu, courtesy name Fusheng, succeeded. He held the rank that opens the government. As Xuzhou inspector he was executed for corruption and the fief abolished.
21
長子弼，字邕明，剛正有文學。 位中散大夫。 以世嫡應襲先爵，為季父尚書僕射麗因于氏親寵，遂奪弼王爵，撗授同母兄子誕。 於是弼絕棄人事，託疾還私第。 世宗徵為侍中，弼上表固讓。 入嵩山，以穴為室，布衣蔬食。 卒。 建義元年，子暉業訴復王爵。 永安三年，追贈尚書令、司徒公，諡曰文獻。 初，弼嘗夢人謂之曰：「君身不得傳世封，其紹先爵者，君長子紹遠也。」 弼覺，即語暉業。 終如其言。
His eldest son Bi, courtesy name Yongming, was upright and literate. He served as Central Scattered Grandee. As legitimate heir he should have taken the title, but his uncle Li, Vice Minister of the Masters of Writing, used the Yu family's favor to strip Bi and hand the fief to his uterine brother's son Dan. Bi then abandoned public life, pleaded illness, and withdrew to his house. Shizong summoned him as Palace Attendant; Bi firmly declined by memorial. He went to Mount Song, lived in a cave, and ate coarse greens in plain cloth. He died. In the first year of Jianyi his son Huiye petitioned to restore the princely title. In Yong'an year 3 he was posthumously made Director of the Masters of Writing and Duke of the State with the title Wenxian. Bi once dreamed a voice saying, "You will not hold the fief in life; your eldest son Shaoyuan will restore the line." He woke and told Huiye at once. In the end it came to pass as he had said.
22
暉業，少險薄，多與寇盜交通。 長乃變節，涉子史，亦頗屬文，而慷慨有志節。 歷位司空、太尉，加特進，領中書監，錄尚書事。 齊文襄嘗問之曰：「比何所披覽？」 對曰：「數尋伊霍之傳，不讀曹馬之書。」 暉業以時運漸謝，不復圖全，唯事飲啗，一日三羊，三日一犢。 又嘗賦詩云：「昔居王道泰，濟濟富羣英。 今逢世路阻，狐兔鬱縱橫。」 齊初，降封美陽縣公，開府儀同三司、特進。 暉業之在晉陽也，無所交通，居常閑暇，乃撰魏藩王家世，號為辨宗室錄，四十卷，行於世。
Huiye in youth was treacherous and shallow and trafficked with bandits. He later reformed, read histories, wrote a little, and grew generous and resolute. He rose to Duke of Works and Grand Marshal, with special advancement, Director of the Secretariat, and Recorder of the Masters of Writing. Prince Wenxiang of Qi once asked him, "What have you been reading lately?" He answered, "I keep to the tales of Yi Yin and Huo Guang; I do not read the books of the Caos and Simas." Seeing the age fail, Huiye gave up saving himself whole and gave himself to feasting—three sheep a day, a calf every three days. He once wrote: "Once the royal way was tranquil, and hosts of worthies flourished. Now the road is blocked, and foxes and hares run wild." At Qi's founding he was demoted to Duke of Meiyang county with the ranks Opening the Government, Pillar of State, and special advancement. At Jinyang he kept to himself; in idle hours he compiled the genealogies of Wei princes into the Records for Distinguishing the Imperial Clan in forty juan, which circulated widely.
23
暉業弟昭業，頗有學尚，位諫議大夫。 莊帝將幸洛南，昭業立於閶闔門外，扣馬諫，帝避之而過，後勞勉之。 位給事黃門侍郎、衞將軍、右光祿大夫。 卒，諡曰文侯。
Huiye's brother Zhaoye was learned and served as Remonstrating Grandee. When Emperor Zhuang meant to visit the southern capital, Zhaoye stood at the Changhe Gate, seized the bridle, and remonstrated; the emperor passed around him, then later praised him. He served as Attendant-in-Ordinary of the Yellow Gate, Guards General, and Right Grand Master of the Palace. He died and was posthumously titled Marquis Wen.
24
鬱弟偃，字仲琁，位太中大夫。 卒。
Yu's brother Yan, courtesy name Zhongxuan, was Grand Master of the Palace. He died.
25
子撫，字伯懿，襲。 莊帝初，為從兄暉業訴奪王爵。
His son Fu, courtesy name Boyi, succeeded. Early in Zhuang's reign he petitioned through his cousin Huiye to recover the princely title.
26
拜雍州刺史，為政嚴酷，吏人患之。 其妻崔氏誕一男，麗遂出州獄囚死及徒流案未申臺者，一時放免。 遷冀州刺史，入為尚書左僕射。 帝問曰：「聞公在州，殺戮無理，枉濫非一，又大殺道人。」 對曰：「臣在冀州可殺道人二百許人，亦復何多？」 帝曰：「一物不得其所，若納諸隍，況殺道人二百而言不多。」 麗脫冠謝，賜坐。 卒，諡曰威。
As Yongzhou inspector he ruled with harsh cruelty, and officials and people groaned under him. When his wife Lady Cui bore a son, Li emptied the provincial prison of the condemned and every exile whose case had not yet reached the capital. Moved to Jizhou, he then entered the capital as Left Vice Minister of the Masters of Writing. The emperor said, "I hear that in your province you killed without cause, wronged many, and slaughtered monks in great numbers." He answered, "In Jizhou I killed only some two hundred monks—how is that many?" The emperor said, "If a single creature is wronged it is as though cast into a ditch—how then when two hundred monks die and you call it few?" Li doffed his cap and apologized; he was given a seat. He died and was posthumously titled Wei.
27
子顯和，少有節操，歷司徒記室參軍。 司徒崔光每見之曰：「元參軍風流清秀，容止閑雅，乃宰相之器。」 除徐州安東府長史。 刺史元法僧叛，顯和與戰被擒，執手命與連坐。 顯和曰：「顯和與阿翁同源別派，皆是盤石之宗，一朝以地外叛，若遇董狐，能無慚德。」 遂不肯坐。 法僧猶欲慰喻，顯和曰：「乃可死作惡鬼，不能坐為叛臣。」 及將殺之，神色自若。 建義初，贈秦州刺史。
His son Xianhe in youth had integrity and served as Recorder in the Department of State. Whenever Cui Guang, Minister of Education, met him, he said, "Adjutant Yuan is graceful and poised—born to stand at the head of the government." He was then made chief administrator of Xuzhou's Andong sub-office. When Inspector Yuan Faseng rose in rebellion, Xianhe fought him, was taken, and Faseng seized his hand and bade him share the bench of the condemned. Xianhe said, "My uncle and I spring from one root, though our lines diverge—we are both bedrock of the house. Yet in one morning you cast your land to rebellion. Faced with Dong Hu's brush, how could your honor not burn?" He refused to sit. Faseng still tried to soothe him; Xianhe said, "I would sooner die a vengeful ghost than sit among rebel ministers." When the moment of execution came, his face did not change. At the opening of the Jianyi era he was posthumously made Inspector of Qin Province.
28
汝陰王天賜，和平三年封，[6]拜鎮南大將軍、虎牢鎮都大將。 後為內都大官。 高祖初，殿中尚書胡莫寒簡西部敕勒豪富兼丁者為殿中武士，而大納財貨，簡選不平。 眾怒，殺莫寒及高平假鎮將奚陵，於是諸部敕勒悉叛。 詔天賜與給事中羅雲督諸軍討之。 前鋒敕勒詐降，雲信之，副將元伏曰：「敕勒色動，恐將有變，今不設備，將為所圖。」 雲不從。 敕勒輕騎數千襲殺雲，天賜僅得自全。 後除征北大將軍、護匈奴中郎將。 累遷懷朔鎮大將，坐貪殘，恕死，削除官爵。 卒，高祖哭於思政觀，贈本爵，葬從王禮，諡曰靈王。
Prince Tianci of Ru'nan was enfeoffed in Heping year 3 [6] and named Great General Who Guards the South and grand commander of the Tiger Cage garrison. Later he became Grand Inner Palace Attendant. Early in Gaozu's reign, Hu Mohen, Director of the Hall of the Center, culled wealthy western Tiele households with military obligations into palace guards—and took heavy bribes, choosing unfairly. The tribes rose in fury, killed Mohen and Xi Ling, acting commander at Gao Ping, and every Tiele division rebelled. The throne ordered Tianci and Luo Yun, attendant-within-the-palace, to lead the armies against them. The Tiele vanguard pretended to submit; Yun trusted them. Vice-commander Yuan Fu said, "Their faces shift—they may turn. Without precautions we will be ambushed." Yun would not listen. Thousands of Tiele light horse struck and killed Yun; Tianci barely got away alive. He was later made Great General Who Pacifies the North and Colonel Protector of the Xiongnu. He rose to grand commander of Huaishuo Garrison, then was condemned for rapacity and cruelty; execution was remitted but rank and titles were stripped. At his death Gaozu wept at the Hall of Governance and Thought, restored his original title in death, buried him with princely honors, and styled him Prince Ling.
29
子逞，字萬安。 卒於齊州刺史，諡曰威。
His son Cheng, styled Wan'an. He died as inspector of Qi Province and was posthumously styled Wei.
30
逞子慶和，東豫州刺史。 為蕭衍將所攻，舉城降之。 衍以為北道總督、魏王。 至項城，朝廷出師討之，望風退走。 衍責之曰：「言同百舌，膽若鼷鼠。」 遂徙合浦。
Cheng's son Qinghe became Inspector of East Yu Province. Attacked by one of Xiao Yan's generals, he surrendered the city. Yan made him commander-in-chief of the northern route and Prince of Wei. He reached Xiangcheng; the court marched against him; he fled at the first wind of their banners. Yan scolded him: "You speak with a hundred tongues and fight with a mouse's heart." He was exiled to Hepu.
31
逞弟汎，字普安。 自元士稍遷營州刺史。 性貪殘，人不堪命，相率逐之，汎走平州。 後除光祿大夫、宗正卿，封東燕縣男。 於河陰遇害。
Cheng's younger brother Fan, styled Pu'an. From prince of the blood he rose step by step to Inspector of Ying Province. His greed and cruelty drove the people to rise together and expel him; Fan fled to Ping Province. Later he was made Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Director of the Imperial Clan, enfeoffed Baron of Dongyan. He was killed at Heyin.
32
天賜第五子脩義，字壽安，涉獵書傳，頗有文才，為高祖所知。 自元士稍遷左將軍、齊州刺史。 脩義以齊州頻喪刺史，累表固辭。 詔曰：「修短有命，吉凶由人，何得過致憂憚，以乖維城之寄。 違凶就吉，時亦有之，可聽更立館宇。」 於是移理東城。 脩義為政，寬和愛人，在州四歲，不殺一人，百姓以是追思之。 遷秦州刺史。 肅宗初，表陳庶人禧、庶人愉等，請宥前愆，賜葬陵域。 靈太后詔曰：「收葬之恩，事由上旨，藩岳何得越職干陳！」 在州多受納。
Tianci's fifth son Xiuyi, styled Shou'an, read widely and wrote well; Gaozu noticed him. From prince of the blood he rose to Left General and Inspector of Qi Province. Qi had lost one inspector after another; Xiuyi memorialized again and again to refuse the post. The edict read, "Life's span is fated; luck rests in the living—why heap fear on fear and betray the charge to guard the realm? Turning ill fortune to good has its seasons; you may build new offices." He moved his administration to the eastern city. Xiuyi governed gently and loved the people; in four years he executed no one, and the province mourned him when he left. He was transferred to Inspector of Qin Province. When Suzong came to the throne he memorialized for the degraded princes Xi and Yu, asking pardon and burial in the imperial necropolis. Empress Dowager Ling replied, "Burial is the sovereign's gift—how may a border prince overstep and plead it?" In office he took many bribes.
33
累遷吏部尚書。 及在銓衡，唯專貨賄，授官大小，皆有定價。 時中散大夫高居者，有旨先敍，時上黨郡缺，居遂求之。 脩義私已許人，抑居不與。 居大言不遜，脩義命左右牽曳之。 居對大眾呼天唱賊。 人問居曰：「白日公庭，安得有賊？」 居指脩義曰：「此座上者，違天子明詔，物多者得官，京師白劫，此非大賊乎？」 脩義失色。 居行罵而出。 後欲邀車駕論脩義罪狀，左僕射蕭寶夤諭之，乃止。
He rose to Minister of the Masters of Writing. At the helm of appointments he sold every office; great and small posts each had their price. Palace Attendant Ju Gao had been slated for early promotion; when Shangdang commandery fell vacant, Ju asked for it. Xiuyi had already promised the post elsewhere and denied Ju. Ju shouted abuse; Xiuyi had attendants haul him away. Before the whole court Ju cried to Heaven and called him a thief. Someone asked Ju, "In open court at noon—where is the thief?" Ju pointed at Xiuyi and said, "That man on the dais defies the Son of Heaven—richest bidder wins rank; this is open robbery in the capital—is he not the thief?" Xiuyi's face went white. Ju left still shouting curses. Later he meant to waylay the imperial carriage and accuse Xiuyi; Xiao Baoyin, Left Vice Director, talked him down.
34
二秦反，假脩義兼尚書右僕射、西道行臺、行秦州事，為諸軍節度。 脩義性好酒，每飲連日，遂遇風病，神明昏喪，雖至長安，竟無部分之益。 元志敗沒，賊東至黑水，更遣蕭寶夤討之，以脩義為雍州刺史。 卒於州，[7]贈司空，諡曰文。
When the Two Qins rose, Xiuyi was made concurrent Right Vice Director, Western Route grand mobile office, and acting governor of Qin, commanding the armies. Xiuyi loved wine and drank for days; wind sickness struck, his mind dimmed, and even at Chang'an he could not command. Yuan Zhi was destroyed; rebels reached Blackwater; Baoyin was sent again, and Xiuyi made Inspector of Yong Province. He died in office [7], was posthumously made Minister of Works, and styled Wen.
35
子均，位給事黃門侍郎。
His son Jun was Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate.
36
樂浪王萬壽，和平三年封，拜征東大將軍，鎮和龍。 性貪暴，徵還，道憂薨。 諡曰厲王。
Prince Wanshou of Lelang was enfeoffed in Heping year 3, made Great General Who Pacifies the East, and garrisoned Helong. Greedy and brutal, he was recalled and died of grief on the road. Posthumous name: Prince Li.
37
子康王樂平，襲。 薨。
His son, Prince Le Ping of Kang, succeeded. He died.
38
子長命，襲。 坐殺人賜死，國除。
His son Changming succeeded. Condemned to death for murder; the fief was abolished.
39
子忠，肅宗時，復前爵，位太常少卿。 出帝汎舟天淵池，命宗室諸王陪宴。 忠愚而無智，性好衣服，遂著紅羅襦，繡作領，碧紬袴，錦為緣。 帝謂曰：「朝廷衣冠，應有常式，何為著百戲衣？」 忠曰：「臣少來所愛，情存綺羅，歌衣舞服，是臣所願。」 帝曰：「人之無良，乃至此乎！」
His son Zhong, under Suzong, recovered the old title and became Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Emperor Chu drifted on the Celestial Abyss Pool and summoned the clan princes to feast. Zhong was dull and witless, mad for dress; he came in red gauze with an embroidered collar, indigo trousers, brocade hems. The emperor said, "Court dress has its form—why come in acrobat's colors?" Zhong said, "Since boyhood I have loved silk and gauze; singing robes and dancing dress are all I ask." The emperor said, "To lack decency so utterly—how far you have fallen!"
40
廣平王洛侯，和平二年封。 薨，諡曰殤。 無子，後以陽平幽王第五子匡後之。
Prince Luohou of Guangping was enfeoffed in Heping year 2. He died; posthumous name Shang. He had no son; later Kuang, fifth son of Prince You of Yangping, was made his heir.
41
匡字建扶，性耿介，有氣節。 高祖器之[8]謂曰：「叔父必能儀形社稷，匡輔朕躬，今可改名為匡，以成克終之美。」
Kuang, styled Jianfu, was stiff-backed by nature, with spirit and backbone. Gaozu favored him [8] and said, "Uncle, you will brace the altars and steady my throne; take the name Kuang now, that you may finish what you begin."
42
世宗即位，累遷給事黃門侍郎。 茹皓始有寵，百僚微憚之。 世宗曾於山陵還，詔匡陪乘，又命皓登車。 皓褰裳將上，匡諫止，世宗推之令下，皓恨匡失色。 當時壯其忠謇。 世宗親政，除肆州刺史。 匡既忤皓，懼為所害，廉慎自修，甚有聲績。 遷恒州刺史，徵為大宗正卿、河南邑中正。
When Shizong succeeded, Kuang rose to Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. Ru Hao first won favor; officials learned to fear him. Returning from the tombs, Shizong set Kuang beside him and told Hao to mount the carriage too. Hao gathered his skirts to climb in; Kuang barred him; Shizong shoved Hao down; Hao glared, bloodless. Men of the time praised his blunt loyalty. When Shizong took the reins himself, Kuang was made Inspector of Si Province. Having crossed Hao, Kuang feared assassination, tightened his conduct, and won a name for clean rule. He was moved to Heng Province, then recalled as Grand Director of the Imperial Clan and rectifier of Henan.
43
匡奏親王及始藩、二藩王妻悉有妃號，而三藩已下皆謂之妻，上不得同為妃名，而下不及五品已上有命婦之號，竊為疑。 詔曰：「夫貴於朝，妻榮於室，婦女無定，升從其夫。 三藩既啟王封，妃名亦宜同等。 妻者，齊也，理與己齊，可從妃例。」 自是三藩王妻名號始定。 後除度支尚書。 匡表引樂陵、章武之例，求紹洛侯封，詔付尚書議。 尚書奏聽襲封，以明興絕之義。
Kuang argued that first- and second-rank princes' wives were consorts, but third rank and below were merely "wives"—too low to share "consort," yet above the titled ladies of fifth rank—and asked that the rule be clarified. The edict said, "Honor the man at court and the wife shines at home; a woman's rank is not fixed—she rises with her husband. Third-rank princes now hold royal fiefs; their wives should share the title consort. Wife means equal; in principle she stands level with her lord—let her follow the consort rule." From then the titles of third-rank princes' wives were fixed. Later he was made Minister of Revenue. Kuang cited Leling and Zhangwu and asked to revive Luohou's fief; the matter went to the Masters of Writing. They recommended allowing succession, to show the principle of reviving extinct lines.
44
匡與尚書令高肇不平，常無降下之色。 時世宗委政於肇，朝廷傾憚，唯匡與肇抗衡。 先自造棺，置於廳事，意欲輿棺詣闕，論肇罪惡，自殺切諫。 肇聞而惡之。 後因與太常劉芳議爭權量，遂與肇聲色。 御史中尉王顯奏匡曰：
Kuang clashed with Director Gao Zhao and never bowed his head. Shizong left power to Zhao; the court bent before him—only Kuang held the line. He had built his own coffin and set it in the hall, meaning to haul it to the gates, denounce Zhao, and die in protest. Zhao heard and hated him for it. Later he quarreled with Liu Fang over weights and measures and fell into open feud with Zhao. Censor-in-Chief Wang Xian accused Kuang, writing:
45
自金行失御，羣偽競興，禮壞樂崩，彝倫攸斁。 大魏應期，奄有四海。 高祖孝文皇帝以睿聖統天，克復舊典。 乃命故中書監高閭廣旌儒林，推尋樂府，依据六經，參諸國志，以黍裁寸，將均周漢舊章。 屬雲構中遷，尚未云就。 高祖睿思玄深，參考經記，以一黍之大，用成分體，準之為尺，宣布施行。
Since Jin lost the mandate, pretenders multiplied; ritual and music shattered and the great norms fell. Great Wei rose to its season and took the realm within the four seas. Emperor Xiaowen, sage and cultured, ruled with heaven's wit and restored the old canons. He ordered former Secretariat Supervisor Gao Lu to scour the schools, recover the Music Bureau, ground the work in the Six Classics and state histories, cut the inch from millet grain, and align Zhou and Han measure. The capital was still on the move; the work was not finished. His thought ran deep; from the classics he took one millet-grain as module for the whole foot, made it law, and proclaimed it.
46
暨正始中，故太樂令公孫崇輒自立意，以黍十二為寸，別造尺度，定律刊鍾。 皆向成訖，表求觀試。 時敕太常卿臣芳，以崇造既成，請集朝英，議其得否。 芳疑崇尺度與先朝不同，察其作者，於經史復異，推造尠據，非所宜行。 時尚書令臣肇、清河王懌等以崇造乖謬，與周禮不同，遂奏臣芳依周禮更造，成訖量校，從其善者。 而芳以先朝尺度，事合古典。 乃依前詔書，以黍刊寸，並呈朝廷，用裁金石。 于時議者，多云芳是，唯黃門侍郎臣孫惠蔚與崇扶同。 二途參差，頻經考議。 而尚書令臣肇以芳造。 崇物故之後，而惠蔚亦造一尺，仍云扶。 [9]以比崇尺，自相乖背。 量省二三，謂芳為得。 而尚書臣匡表云劉孫二尺，長短相傾，稽考兩律，所容殊異。 言取中黍，校彼二家，云並參差，抑中無所，[10]自立一途，請求議判。 當時議者，或是於匡。 兩途舛駁，未即時定。 肇又云，權斛斗尺，班行已久，今者所論，豈喻先旨。 宜仰依先朝故尺為定。
In Zhengshi, former Director of Imperial Music Gongsun Chong devised his own scheme—twelve millet to the inch—new measure, new pitch, new bells. When all was ready he asked for trial before the court. The throne told Grand Director Fang to assemble the court's experts and judge Chong's finished work. Fang found Chong's foot unlike the prior dynasty's, checked makers against the classics, found the basis thin, and said it must not pass. Zhao, Prince Yi of Qinghe, and others said Chong erred against the Zhou Rites and urged Fang to remake by Zhou measure, then compare and take the better. Fang held the old foot already matched antiquity. He followed the earlier edict, cut the inch from millet, and presented it to tune bells and stones. Most debaters sided with Fang; only Sun Huiwei, Yellow Gate Attendant, backed Chong. Two paths diverged; debate ran again and again. Director Zhao favored what Fang had made. After Chong died, Huiwei forged another foot and still claimed his own side. [9] Laid beside Chong's foot, the two measures contradicted each other. On measurement, two or three tests favored Fang. Kuang of the Masters of Writing wrote that Liu's foot and Sun's foot tilted against each other, and when tested against the two pitch laws their capacities diverged sharply. He proposed a middle millet, compared both schools, found neither sound [10], set his own path, and asked the court to decide. Some debaters then sided with Kuang. The quarrel collided and was not settled. Zhao said weights, bushels, and feet had long been law—today's quarrel could not match the old intent. The prior dynasty's foot should stand as fixed.
47
自爾以後，而匡與肇厲言都座，聲色相加，高下失其常倫，噂競無復彝序。 匡更表列，據己十是，云芳十非。 又云：「肇前被敕旨，共芳營督，規立鍾石之名，希播製作之譽。 乃憑樞衡之尊，藉舅氏之勢，與奪任心，臧否自己。 阿黨劉芳，遏絕臣事，望勢雷同者接以恩言，依經按古者即被怒責。 雖未指鹿化馬，移天徙日，實使蘊藉之士，聳氣坐端，懷道之夫，結舌筵次。」 又言：「芳昔與崇競，恒言自作，今共臣論，忽稱先朝。 豈不前謂可行，輒欲自取，後知錯謬，便推先朝。 殊非大臣之體，深失為下之義。 復考校勢臣之前，量度偏頗之手，臣必刖足內朝，抱璞人外。」 囂言肆意，彰於朝野。
After that Kuang and Zhao shouted across the chief seat; rank lost its order and debate lost its ritual. Kuang listed charges again: his ten points true, Fang's ten false. He wrote, "Zhao was issued an edict to supervise with Fang, to name the bells and stones and win the fame of their making. He leaned on the minister's scale and his kin's power; grant and denial, praise and blame, were his alone. He favored Liu Fang, blocked my work, flattered those who echoed him, and raged at those who held to the classics. He had not yet turned deer to horses or moved heaven—but reserved scholars held their breath at court and honest men bit their tongues at the feast." He added, "Fang once fought Chong and called every measure his own; now, debating me, he hides behind the prior dynasty. First he said his scheme would work and meant to claim it; when error showed, he pushed it on the old emperors. That is not how great ministers behave, nor how subordinates should serve. Before power's skewed hand I shall lose my feet in court and carry jade in the street." His wild words rang through court and market.
48
然匡職當出納，獻替所在，斗尺權度，正是所司。 若己有所見，能練臧否，宜應首唱義端，早辨諸惑，何故默心隨從，不關一言，見芳成事，方有此語。 計芳才學，與匡殊懸，所見淺深，不應相匹。 今乃始發，恐此由心，[11]借智於人，規成虛譽。 況匡表云：「所據銅權，形如古誌，明是漢作，非莽別造。」 及案權銘云：「黃帝始袓，德布於虞，虞帝始袓，德布於新。」 若莽佐漢時事，寧有銘偽新之號哉。 又尋莽傳云，莽居攝，即變漢制度。 考校二證，非漢權明矣。 復云：「芳之所造，又短先朝之尺。」 臣既比之，權然相合。 更云：「芳尺與千金堰不同。」 臣復量比，因見其異。 二三浮濫，難可據準。 又云：「共構虛端，妄為疑似，託以先朝，云非己製。」
Yet Kuang's duty was intake and remonstrance—and weights and measures were his office. If he truly saw the flaw he should have spoken when it mattered—why stay silent until Fang succeeded, then cry fraud? Fang's learning towers above Kuang's; their depth cannot be compared. Now he speaks late—I fear vanity [11], borrowing others' wit for hollow fame. Kuang also said his bronze weight matched the ancient record—clearly Han, not Mang's new forge. The inscription read: "Yellow Emperor's first ancestor, virtue to Yu; Yu the Emperor's first ancestor, virtue to Xin." If Mang served Han, why would the inscription bear the false name Xin? Mang's biography says that in regency he changed Han institutions at once. The two proofs show it is no Han weight. He also said Fang's foot falls short of the prior dynasty's. I compared them—the weight matches exactly. He further said Fang's foot differs from the Qianjin weir mark. I measured again and saw the difference. Two or three loose points—too weak to serve as standard. He also charged them with forging doubt and pinning it on the prior dynasty, saying it was not their work.
49
臣按此欺詐，乃在於匡，不在於芳。 何以言之？ 芳先被敕，專造鍾律，管籥優劣，是其所裁，權斛尺度，本非其事。 比前門下索芳尺度，而芳牒報云：「依先朝所班新尺，復應下黍，更不增損，為造鍾律，調正分寸而已。」 檢匡造時在牒後一歲，芳於爾日，匡未共爭，已有此牒，豈為詐也？ 計崇造寸，積黍十二，羣情共知； 而芳造寸，唯止十黍，亦俱先朝詔書。 以黍成寸，首尾歷然，寧有輒欲自取之理？ 肇任居端右，百僚是望，言行動靜，必副具瞻。 若恃權阿黨，詐託先詔，將指鹿化馬，徙日移天，即是魏之趙高，何以宰物。 肇若無此，匡既誣毀宰相，訕謗明時。 豈應談議之間，便有指鹿之事； 可否之際，輕生刖足之言。 趙高矯惑，事屬衰秦； 卞和抱璞，時遇暴楚。 何宜以濟濟之朝，而有斯謗者哉！ 阻惑朝聽，不敬至甚，請以肇、匡並禁尚書，推窮其原，付廷尉定罪。
The deceit is Kuang's, not Fang's. Why? Fang was issued an edict to make bells and pitch; pipes were his—but weights and bushels were never his charge. When the Secretariat asked his measure, Fang replied: "I follow the prior dynasty's promulgated foot, lower millet unchanged—only tuning bells and pitch." Kuang forged his measure a year later; that day he had not yet quarreled with Fang—the document already existed; where is the fraud? All knew Chong made the inch from twelve millet; Fang's inch used only ten—both cited prior edicts. The millet-to-inch chain is explicit in the record—who could seize it for himself? Zhao stands at the minister's right hand; the hundred officials watch him—word and deed must match their gaze. If he curries power, fakes old edicts, and would turn deer to horses or move heaven, he is Wei's Zhao Gao—how can he govern? If Zhao did none of this, Kuang has slandered the chief minister and mocked a bright age. Should debate hold turning-deer affairs; at the moment of judgment, talk of cutting off one's feet? Zhao Gao's fraud belonged to fallen Qin; Bian He embracing jade met brutal Chu in its season. Why should so teeming a court hear such slander! They block the court's ear—insubordination at its height—bar Zhao and Kuang from the Masters of Writing and send both to the Court Director for sentence.
50
詔曰「可」。 有司奏匡誣肇，處匡死刑。 世宗恕死，降為光祿大夫。
The edict said, "Approved." The offices ruled Kuang had slandered Zhao and sought death. Shizong remitted death and made him Grand Master of Splendid Happiness.
51
又兼宗正卿，出為兗州刺史。 匡臨發，帝引見於東堂，勞勉之。 匡猶以尺度金石之事，國之大經，前雖為南臺所彈，然猶許更議，若議之日，願聽臣暫赴。 世宗曰：「劉芳學高一時，深明典故，其所據者。 與先朝尺乃寸過一黍，何得復云先朝之意也？ [12]兗州既所執不經，後議之日，何待赴都也。」
He was also made Grand Director of the Imperial Clan and sent out as Inspector of Yan Province. As Kuang set out, the emperor received him in the Eastern Hall and comforted him. Kuang still called measure and bells the state's great warp; though the Southern Terrace had impeached him, he might debate again—if debate came, he asked leave to hurry to court. Shizong said, "Liu Fang's learning towers over his age; he knows antiquity—what he relies on. His foot's inch exceeds the prior dynasty's by one millet—how can he call that the old intent? [12] Yan is already beyond your warrant; when debate comes, why return to the capital?"
52
肅宗初，入為御史中尉。 匡嚴於彈糾，始奏于忠，次彈高聰等免官，靈太后並不許。 以違其糾惡之心，又慮匡辭解，欲奬安之，進號安南將軍，後加鎮東將軍。
At Suzong's opening he entered as Censor-in-Chief. Kuang impeached fiercely—first Yu Zhong, then Gao Cong—the Empress Dowager permitted none. It crossed her will; fearing he would quit, she promoted him—first General Who Pacifies the South, then General Who Guards the East.
53
匡屢請更權衡不已，於是詔曰：「謹權審度，自昔令典，定章革歷，往代良規。 匡宗室賢亮，留心既久，可令更集儒貴，以時驗決。 必務權衡得衷，令寸籥不舛。」 又詔曰：「故廣平殤王洛侯，體自恭宗，茂年薨殞，國除祀廢，不祀忽諸。 匡親同若子，私繼歲久，[13]宜樹維城，永茲盤石，可特襲王爵，封東平郡王。」 匡所制尺度訖，請集朝士議定是非。 詔付門下、尚書、三府、九列議定以聞。 太師、高陽王雍等議曰：「伏惟高祖創改權量已定，匡今新造，微有參差。 且匡云所造尺度與漢志王莽權斛不殊。 又晉中書監荀勗云，後漢至魏，尺長於古四分有餘。 於是依周禮，積黍以起度量，惟古玉律及鍾，遂改正之。 尋勗所造之尺與高祖所定，毫釐略同。 又侍中崔光得古象尺，于時亦準議令施用。 仰惟孝文皇帝，德邁前王，睿明下燭，不刊之式，事難變改。 臣等參論，請停匡議，永遵先皇之制。」 詔從之。
Kuang would not stop asking to remake measure; an edict said, "Careful weight and examined measure are ancient canon; fixing chapters and changing calendars are old good rules. Kuang of the clan is worthy and has long studied this; let him gather scholars and decide in season. Let the scales hit true center and inch and pitch pipe never miss." Another edict said, "Prince Shang Luohou sprang from Gongzong, died young, and left no heir—the line broke and sacrifice ceased. Kuang stood to him as a son for years [13]; let him be bedrock of the realm—inherit specially as Prince of Dongping." When Kuang's measure was done, he asked the court to judge right and wrong. The edict sent it to Secretariat, Masters of Writing, Three Offices, and Nine Columns for debate. Prince Yong of Gaoyang and others wrote, "Gaozu fixed weight and measure; Kuang's new foot diverges slightly. Kuang says his foot matches the Han Monograph's Mang weight and bushel. Jin's Xun Xu said that from Later Han to Wei the foot ran more than four parts longer than antiquity. By the Zhou Rites they raised measure from millet, took ancient jade pitch pipes and bells, and corrected them. Xu's foot and Gaozu's foot differed only by hairs. Cui Guang, Attendant-in-Chief, also found the ancient elephant foot-rule; the court approved it for use. Xiaowen's virtue passed prior kings; his pattern is not to be lightly changed. We jointly ask to stop Kuang's debate and forever follow the prior emperor's system." The edict agreed.
54
匡每有奏請，尚書令、任城王澄時致執奪，匡剛隘，內遂不平。 先所造棺猶在僧寺，乃復修事，將與澄相攻。 澄頗知之。 後將赴省，與匡逢遇，騶卒相撾，朝野駭愕。 澄因是奏匡罪狀三十餘條，廷尉處以死刑。 詔付八座議，特加原宥，削爵除官。 三公郎中辛雄奏理之。 後特除平州刺史，徙青州刺史，尋為關右都督，兼尚書行臺。 遇疾還京。 孝昌初，卒，諡曰文貞。 後追復本爵，改封濟南王。
Whenever Kuang memorialized, Director Prince Cheng of Rencheng blocked him; Kuang, narrow by nature, seethed inwardly. The coffin he had built still stood in a temple; he prepared again to attack Cheng. Cheng knew it well enough. Going to the ministry he met Kuang; their escorts collided; court and market gaped. Cheng memorialized more than thirty crimes; the Court Director sentenced Kuang to death. The throne referred the case to the Eight Seats; Kuang was specially pardoned, stripped of his title, and dismissed from office. Langzhong Xin Xiong of the Three Ducal Offices submitted a memorial to adjudicate the matter. He was later made inspector of Ping, then of Qing, and soon commander-in-chief of Pass West with a concurrent Masters of Writing field staff. Illness brought him back to the capital. He died early in Xiaochang and was posthumously styled Wen Zhen. Later his original title was restored posthumously and he was re-created prince of Jinan.
55
第四子獻，襲。 齊受禪，爵例降。 [14]
The fourth son, Xian, inherited. After Qi took the throne, enfeoffments were lowered by precedent. The text is deficient.
56
校勘記
Textual notes
57
魏書卷十九上諸本目錄此卷注「闕」。 百衲本、南本、汲本、局本卷末有宋人校語云：「魏收書景穆十二王列傳卷上亡。」 殿本考證云：「魏收書亡，後人所補。」 按此傳以北史卷一七景穆十二王傳補，間有溢出字句，當出於高氏小史。
Every edition's table of contents marks Wei shu juan 19a as "lacunose." Bai nang, Southern, Ji, and Bureau editions end with a Song note: "Wei Shou's scroll of Jingmu Twelve Princes, upper volume, is lost." The Palace Kaozheng adds: "Wei Shou's text is lost; later hands filled it in." Note: This life was patched from Beishi juan 17 (Jingmu Twelve Princes); stray phrases occasionally must come from Gaoshi xiaoshi.
58
世宗景明元年薨於青州刺史諸本「元」作「六」，殿本作「元」。 北史卷一七百衲本此字缺，他本或作「六」。 按景明無六年，頤死於景明元年十一月，見卷八世宗紀，今從殿本。
"Died as Qing inspector in Shizong Jingming year 1": most editions read yuan (1) as liu (6); the Palace text has yuan. Beishi juan 17: Bai nang lacks the character; other witnesses read "six." Note: Jingming had no year 6; Yi died eleventh month, Jingming 1 (juan 8, Shizong annals); the Palace reading is adopted.
59
諡曰文墓誌集釋元悰墓誌 〈圖版一００〉 云：「諡曰文靖。」 墓誌與傳諡號不同者甚多，也有誌載諡而傳缺，傳載而誌缺。 有的是先後改諡，有的是原諡不美，子孫私改，有的是後來補諡，不獨誌、傳有異，誌與誌間亦常不合，很難判斷是非。 今後凡諡號異同有無均不出校記。
"Posthumous title Wen": Muzhi jishi, epitaph of Yuan Cong 〈plate 100〉 reads: "Posthumous title Wen Jing." Epitaphs and lives often disagree on posthumous styles; sometimes the stele records a title the biography omits, sometimes the reverse. Some reflect later renamings, some ugly originals privately softened by heirs, some belated supplements—not only stele against biography but stele against stele; right and wrong are hard to settle. Hereafter posthumous variants will not be recorded in collation notes.
60
遷冀州刺史自此句至下文「遷右光祿大夫」一段北史卷一七無。 按墓誌集釋元遙墓誌 〈圖版一０六〉 說他景明時「出拜鎮軍將軍、冀州刺史，入除護軍，加右光祿大夫。 延昌中，淮泗不靜，加征南大將軍、南征諸軍事」。 則遙為冀州刺史，在元恪的景明年間； 是由冀州刺史入為右光祿大夫、護軍，非如此傳所云以左光祿大夫，領護軍，出為冀州，更不在「肅宗初」。 此段當是補此傳者採自高氏小史或他書，弄錯了時間，遂致先後倒置。 下文又說「遷右光祿大夫」，實即前「左光祿大夫」的重出 〈北史已誤「右」為「左」〉 ，插入的痕跡甚顯。
"Made inspector of Ji": from here through "made Right Bearer of the Bright Insignia" Beishi juan 17 has no parallel. Note: Muzhi jishi, epitaph of Yuan Yao 〈plate 106〉 says that in Jingming he "went out as general stabilizing the army and Ji inspector, came in as guardian of the army with the added rank of right Bearer of the Bright Insignia. In Yanzhou, with trouble on Huai and Si, he was further named general pacifying the south and commander of southern campaign armies." So Yao's tenure as Ji inspector fell in Yuan Ke's Jingming era; he entered from Ji as right Bearer of the Bright Insignia and guardian of the army—not, as this life has it, as left Bearer leading the guard and then going out to Ji, and certainly not at "the beginning of Suzong." The interpolator likely lifted this block from Gaoshi xiaoshi or another source, botched the dates, and reversed the sequence. The later line "transferred to Right Bearer of the Bright Insignia" merely repeats the earlier "Left Bearer of the Bright Insignia" 〈Beishi already corrupts you (right) to zuo (left)〉 —the seam of interpolation is obvious.
61
表求改名芝按上云「遙弟恒」，則其人初名恒，後改芝。 據卷八世宗紀正始三年八月見「元恒」，而卷九肅宗紀孝昌二年六月丙子、孝昌三年正月甲申，卷一０孝莊紀武泰元年四月己亥，卷五八楊椿傳並見「元恒芝」。 疑初名「恒」，後加「芝」字。
"Memorial to rename Zhi": above calls him "Yao's younger brother Heng"—so his original name was Heng, later Zhi. Shizong annals, juan 8, Zhenshi 3.8, cite Yuan Heng; Suzong annals (juan 9), Xiaochang 2.6 bingzi and 3.1 jiashen, Xiaozhuang annals (juan 10) Wutai 1.4 jihai, and Yang Chun's biography (juan 58) cite Yuan Heng Zhi. He probably began as Heng and later added the character Zhi.
62
汝陰王天賜和平三年封按天賜於和平二年七月戊寅，與小新成、萬壽同日封，見卷五高宗紀，這裏「三」當是「二」之訛。 下樂浪王萬壽傳同訛。
"Prince of Runan Tiansi enfeoffed Heping 3": juan 5 (Gaozong) has wuyin day, seventh month, Heping 2, when he was enfeoffed with Xiaoxincheng and Wanshou—here "3" corrupts "2." The life of Prince Wanshou of Yuele below repeats the error.
63
高祖器之諸本「祖」作「宗」，北史卷一七作「孝文」。 按元匡乃元濬 〈高宗〉 弟新成子，若這裏作「高宗」，則下文元濬稱之為「叔父」，豈非顛倒？ 北史作「孝文」，補此傳者依魏書例，改作「高祖」，「祖」訛「宗」，今改正。
"Gaozu valued him": editions read zu as zong; Beishi juan 17 has Xiaowen. Note: Yuan Kuang was Yuan Jun's 〈Gaozong〉 younger brother Xincheng's son; calling him Gaozong here would make Yuan Jun's "paternal uncle" below nonsensical. Beishi reads Xiaowen; the patcher, following Wei shu style, wrote Gaozu; zu corrupted to zong—now restored.
64
而尚書令臣肇以芳造 〈至〉 仍云扶按此段文義不可解。 「造」下、「扶」下當有脫文。
But Minister Ling Zhao of the Masters of Writing, on Fang's measure 〈to (lacunose)〉 still said Fu. Note: This passage will not parse. Text is missing after zao (fabrication) and after Fu.
65
抑中無所張森楷北史校勘記云：「疑『抑』是『折』之誤。」 按通志卷八四下正作「折」，疑是。
"Yi in the center has nothing": Zhang Senkai's Beishi collation (suspected yi corrupts zhe)." Note: Tongzhi juan 84 lower reads zhe; the emendation is likely right.
66
恐此由心張森楷云：「『此』疑當是『非』字，作『此』則與文義不相應。」
"Fear this comes from the heart": Zhang Senkai suspects ci (this) should be fei (not)—ci will not parse.
67
劉芳學高一時深明典故其所據者與先朝尺乃寸過一黍何得復云先朝之意也按前贊劉芳，後不應說他所據與「先朝尺」不合云云。 據上王顯彈文，說「芳造寸，唯止十黍」，則所謂「寸過一黍」，明非斥芳，恐是指元匡所造尺。 這裏「其所據者」下當有脫文。 大概是說劉芳根據的是「先朝」所頒尺，而元匡所造則「寸過一黍」，故下文斥責元匡「所執不經」。 今於「其所據者」下句斷。
The passage praises Liu Fang's learning yet faults his standard against the "former-dynasty foot" while calling the inch one millet too long and still invoking court intent—after praising Fang, the censure of his measure against the "former-dynasty foot" is incoherent. Wang Xian's memorial above says Fang's inch used exactly ten millet; "one millet too long" therefore targets Kuang's rule, not Fang's. Text is missing after "what he relied on." Likely Fang followed the court's former promulgated foot, whereas Kuang's inch ran one millet long—hence the later charge that Kuang's standard was uncanonical. The sentence is broken after "what he relied on."
68
私繼歲久按上文明云元恪 〈世宗〉 時，匡已求紹洛侯封，經尚書議奏襲封，則並非私繼，且襲封已久。 不知何以前後矛盾。
"Privately succeeding for many years": above Yuan Ke is named 〈Shizong〉 when Kuang had already petitioned to inherit Shaoluohou, the Masters of Writing deliberated and memorialized the succession—hardly a private adoption, and long settled. Why the account contradicts itself is unclear.