← Back to 新唐書

新唐書卷七十 表第十上 宗室世系上

新唐書卷七十 表第十上 宗室世系上

Chapter 70 of 新唐書 · New Book of Tang
← Previous Chapter
Chapter 70
Next Chapter →
1
西 西 西 西 西西 西 西 駿西 西 西
In ancient times, when the Zhou held the realm, they enfeoffed seventy states, fifty-three of them bearing the royal surname. Later ages did not see this as mere favoritism; it was meant to exalt the trunk line and strengthen the shielding branches. The system had its flaw: the enfeoffed kin could encroach on the throne and bring the peril of branches outgrowing the trunk. Yet they were still honored and sustained, and the dynasty endured more than four centuries before collapse—perhaps because virtue and power alike were wanting, or because circumstances simply ran that course. Learning from Qin's fall, Han worked to enlarge the imperial clan and make their domains hereditary. When a line died out, once any guilt was cleared the fief was promptly restored so sacrifices could continue—a policy aimed at longevity. Since the Three Dynasties, only Han has enjoyed such enduring rule. Tang ruled the realm for three hundred years, and its descendants multiplied prodigiously—a flourishing house indeed! At first they all held titles and fiefs, but as generations passed and kinship thinned, each rose or fell on personal merit or folly. They mingled with officials of other surnames in office, and some even sank into common life—a cause for deep regret! Still, the degrees of kinship and the lines of descent can be traced, and so the Genealogical Tables of the Imperial Clan are presented here. Preface: The Li clan traces its origin to the Ying surname. Emperor Zhuanxu of the Gaoyang line had a son Daye, whose daughter Nühua bore Gao Yao, styled Tingjian, who served Emperor Yao as Minister of Justice. Gao Yao's line continued through Yi and Encheng. Under Yu, Xia, and Shang they held the post of Minister of Justice for generations, and the clan took the name Li ('minister of justice') from that office. Under King Zhou of Shang, Li Zheng, styled Deling, was Earl of Zhongwu in Yizhou. His upright conduct won no favor with Zhou, and he was put to death for his offense. His wife Lady Qihe of Chen and their son Lizhen fled to the ruins of the Marquis of Yi. They survived by eating the fruit of a tree and changed the clan name from Li (minister of justice) to Li (plum tree). Lizhen married a daughter of the Qihe clan as well and had Changzu, who became a grandee of Chen and settled the family in Ku County. Changzu's line ran through Tongde to Shuozong, a great-great-grandson of Tongde, to whom King Kang of Zhou granted a fief in Ku County. Five generations later came Qian, styled Yuanguo, Senior Censor-in-Chief of Zhou. He married Yingfu of the Yishou clan and had Er, styled Boyang, also called Dan, who served as Grand Astrologer under King Ping of Zhou. Later in the line came Li Zong, styled Zunzu, enfeoffed at Duan by Wei and made Grandee of Ganmu. He had a son Tong, who became Grand General of Zhao. He had a son Dui, who became Chancellor of Zhao. He had a son Ji, Lord of Yang'an in Zhao. He had two sons: Yun and Ke. Ke's son Hong, styled Daohong, was Tutor to the Crown Prince of Qin. He had Xingzu, styled Yushen, also known as Wang, a general of Qin. He had Tan, styled Guiyuan, Marquis of Bairen in Zhao. After entering Qin service he became Censor-in-Chief and was buried west of Bairen. He had four sons: Chong, Bian, Zhao, and Ji. Chong founded the Longxi branch of the clan; Ji founded the Zhao commandery branch. Chong, styled Boyou, served as Administrator of Longxi and was made Duke of Nanzheng. He had two sons: the elder, Pingyan; and the younger, Yao, styled Neide, Administrator of Nan commandery and Marquis of Didao. Yao's son Xin, styled Youcheng, was Grand General and Marquis of Longxi. He had Chao, also called Kang, styled Rengao, a Han Grand General and Administrator of Yuyang. He had two sons: the elder, Yuankuang, Attendant-in-Ordinary; and the younger, Zhongxiang, Administrator of Hedong and General Who Pacifies the West. He campaigned against rebellious Qiang at Suchang, fell in battle, and was posthumously made Grand Commandant. He was buried in the eastern ravine of Didao in Longxi, where the family then settled. He had Bokao, who served as Administrator of both Longxi and Hedong. He had Shang, Magistrate of Chengji, and the family came to reside there. His younger brother Xiang founded the Fanyang branch. Shang's son Guang was Forward General. He had two sons: the elder, Danghu, whose son Ling, styled Shaoqing, was Commandant of Cavalry; and the younger, Gan, styled Youqing, Director of the Palace Secretariat and Marquis within the Passes. He had Yu, styled Zitong. His younger brother Zhong founded the Dunqiu branch. Yu's son Chenggong, styled Chenggong, was Administrator of Henan. He had Xian, styled Jingzong, who served as Administrator of Shu and of Beiping. He had Changzong, styled Boli, Assistant Magistrate of Yuyang. He had Junkuang, styled Shugan, also known as Ziqi, who served as Erudite, Gentleman Consultant, and Grand Master of the Palace. He had Ben, styled Shangming, Gentleman-of-the-Palace and Attendant Censor. He had Cigong, styled Zhongjun, Administrator of Ba and Colonel of the Western Yi. His younger brother Tian founded the Bohai branch. Cigong's son Gui, styled Wenyi, was Administrator of Linhuai under Wei and Minister of Agriculture. His younger brother Qian founded the Duke of Shen branch. Gui's son Long, styled Yanxu, was Magistrate of Chang'an and General of Stacked Crossbows. He had Ai, styled Shiji, Valiant Cavalry General under Jin and Administrator of Wei commandery. He had Yong, styled Junxi, who served as Administrator of Jibei and Dongguan. He had two sons: the elder, Lun, who founded the Danyang branch; and the younger, Rou, styled Deyuan, Administrator of Beidi. Yong's grandson Gai founded the Anyi branch. Rou's son Yan, styled Jizi, served Zhang Jun of Former Liang as Administrator of Tianshui and General of Martial Guards and was made Marquis of Anxi. He had Chang, styled Zhongjian, Lecturer to the Crown Prince of Liang. He had Gao, styled Xuansheng, Martial and Illustrious King of Western Liang and posthumously honored as the Emperor Who Raised the Sage. He had ten sons: Tan, Xin, Rang, Yin, Xun, Fan, Yu, Hong, Tiao, and Liang. Yin founded the General Who Pacifies the Distance branch. His great-great-grandson Xi founded the Pingliang branch. Fan had three grandsons: Cheng, who founded the Guzang branch; Mao, who founded the Dunhuang branch; and Chong, who founded the Vice Director branch. A great-great-grandson, Chenli, founded the Jiang commandery branch. Yu's great-great-grandson Gang founded the Wuling branch. Xin, styled Shiye, was the last ruler of Western Liang. He had eight sons: Xu, Shao, Chong'er, Hongzhi, Chongming, Chongchan, Chongyong, and Chongyou. Chong'er, styled Jingshun, fled to Song after the kingdom fell and became Administrator of Runan. When Northern Wei seized Yuzhou it restored his lands and made him Administrator of Hengnong. He was later captured by the Song general Xue Andu, then served Northern Wei as General Who Pacifies the South and Inspector of Yuzhou. He had Xi, styled Mengliang, posthumously the Founding Ancestor Emperor Xuan, who served Later Wei as Garrison Commander of Jinmen. He had Tianci, styled Dezhen, posthumously the Illustrious Ancestor Emperor Guang. He had three sons: the elder, Qitou, Marquis of Chang'an, whose son Damo served Later Zhou as Supervisor of the Feathered Forest, Groom of the Heir Apparent, and Baron of Chang'an county—his line is not recorded further; the second, the Grand Ancestor; and the third, Qidou.
2
House of the Inspector of Dingzhou.
3
The Grand Ancestor, Emperor Jing, Hu, styled Wenbin, served Later Zhou as Pillar-of-the-State Grand General and was Duke of Xiang of Tang. He had eight sons; the eldest, Yanbo, was born east of the mountains. Later, when the Grand Ancestor entered the passes, Yanbo remained in Northern Qi as Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry. In Wude year 4 he was posthumously made Baron of Nanyang and enrolled in the imperial clan register. Early in Zhenguan that enrollment was revoked. Together with the Guzang, Jiang commandery, and Duke of Wuyang branches they were known as the 'Four Dukes' Sons' houses. In Kaiyuan year 23 they were enrolled again.
4
House of the Duke of Nanyang.
5
House of the Prince of Qiao.
6
House of the Prince of Cai.
7
House of the Prince of Bi.
8
House of the Prince of Yong.
9
House of the Prince of Xun.
10
House of the Great Prince of Zheng.
11
The Ancestral Substitute, Emperor Yuan, Bing, served Zhou as General-in-Chief of Anzhou and Pillar-of-the-State Grand General and was Duke of Ren of Tang. He had four sons: the eldest became the High Ancestor; the second was Prince of Liang, Cheng; the third Prince of Shu, Zhan; and the fourth Prince of Han, Hong.
12
House of the Prince of Liang.
13
House of the Prince of Shu, later known as the House of the Prince of Bohai.
14
The High Ancestor, Emperor Gaozu, had twenty-two sons grouped into fifteen houses: the Princes of Chu (Zhiyun), Jing (Yuanjing), Xu (Yuanli), Han (Yuanjia), Peng (Yuanze), Zheng (Yuanyi), Huo (Yuangui), Guo (Feng), Dao (Yuanqing), Deng (Yuanyu), Shu (Yuanming), Lu (Lingkui), Jiang (Yuanxiang), Mi (Yuanxiao), and Teng (Yuanying). Zhiyun and Yuanjing left no descendants.
15
House of the Prince of Xu.
16
House of the Prince of Han. In Jianzhong year 1 an edict renamed it the House of the Heir of Yan; when Emperor Yizong acceded, the old name was restored.
17
House of the Prince of Peng.
18
House of the Lesser Prince of Zheng, also called the House of the Kind Prince of Zheng.
19
House of the Prince of Huo.
20
House of the Prince of Guo.
21
House of the Prince of Dao.
22
House of the Prince of Deng.
23
House of the Prince of Shu. In Jianzhong year 1 it was renamed the House of the Heir of Ying.
24
House of the Prince of Lu. In Baoying year 1 it was renamed the House of the Heir of Zou.
25
House of the Prince of Jiang.
26
House of the Prince of Mi.
27
House of the Prince of Teng.
28
Emperor Taizong had fourteen sons: the eldest was the Lamented Prince of Hengshan, Chengqian; the second was Prince of Chu, Kuan, who was given in adoption to another line. Next came Prince of Wu, Ke; then Prince of Pu, Tai; then the commoner You, enrolled under the Prince of Pu's genealogy. Then Prince of Shu, Yin; Prince of Jiang, Yun; Prince of Yue, Zhen; the future Emperor Gaozong; Prince of Ji, Shen; Prince of Jiang, Xi; Prince of Dai, Jian; Prince of Zhao, Fu; and Prince of Cao, Ming. Xi, Jian, and Fu were all enrolled under the Prince of Cao's genealogy.
29
House of the Lamented Prince of Hengshan.
30
House of the Prince of Wu.
31
House of the Prince of Pu.
32
House of the Prince of Jiang.
33
House of the Prince of Yue.
34
House of the Prince of Ji.
35
House of the Prince of Cao.
36
Emperor Gaozong had eight sons.
37
House of the Prince of Yan.
38
House of the Prince of Ze.
39
House of the Prince of Xu.
40
House of the Great Crown Prince Zhanghuai of Bin.
41
Emperor Zhongzong had four sons.
42
House of the Prince of Huyang commandery.
43
Emperor Ruizong had six sons.
44
House of the Emperor Who Yielded, also called the House of the Prince of Ning.
45
House of the Kind and Stately Crown Prince, also called the House of the Prince of Shen.
46
House of the Kind and Literary Crown Prince, also called the House of the Prince of Qi.
47
House of the Kind and Illustrious Crown Prince, also called the House of the Prince of Xue.
48
Emperor Xuanzong had twenty-three sons. From Xuanzong onward the princes no longer left the inner quarters, branches were no longer distinguished, and their descendants are largely unrecorded.
49
Emperor Suzong had fourteen sons.
50
Emperor Daizong had twenty sons.
51
Emperor Dezong had eleven sons.
52
Emperor Shunzong had twenty-two sons.
53
Emperor Xianzong had twenty sons.
54
Emperor Muzong had five sons.
55
Emperor Jingzong had five sons.
56
Emperor Wenzong had two sons.
57
Emperor Wuzong had five sons.
58
Emperor Xuanzong had eleven sons.
59
Emperor Yizong had eight sons.
60
Emperor Xizong had two sons.
61
Emperor Zhaozong had seventeen sons.
62
西
[Conclusion] The imperial clan comprised forty-one named houses: the Inspector of Dingzhou; the Duke of Nanyang; the Princes of Qiao, Cai, Bi, Yong, Xun, Zheng (Great), Shu, Chao, Chu (Great), Jing, Xu, Han, Peng, Zheng (Lesser), Huo, Guo, Dao, Deng, Shu, Lu, Jiang, Mi, Teng, Hengshan, Wu, Pu, Jiang, Yue, Ji, Cao, Ze, Crown Prince Zhanghuai, Prince of Huyang, the Emperor Who Yielded, and the Kind and Stately, Kind and Literary, and Kind and Illustrious Crown Princes. The House of the Prince of Shu also includes the Longxi and Bohai branches in its genealogy. Thirty-nine houses are definitively recorded. Throughout the Tang dynasty, eleven members of the imperial clan served as chancellor. The House of the Prince of Xun produced Linpu and Hui; the House of the Prince of Zheng produced Cheng, Shi, and Fu; the House of the Lesser Prince of Zheng produced Mian, Yijian, and Zongmin; the House of the Prince of Hengshan produced Shizhi; the House of the Prince of Wu produced Xian; and the House of the Kind and Illustrious Crown Prince produced Zhirou.
← Previous Chapter
Back to Chapters
Next Chapter →